News Archive

With the growth of Santa Rosa County’s human population comes an influx of pets, such as cats and dogs.

To keep pets, and their owners, in check, the county has leash laws enforced by Santa Rosa County Animal Services. The leash laws pertain to various areas of the county, namely in population centers such as Navarre, Midway, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace and Jay.  

First responders have a difficult job. They are often the difference between life and death, a stressful profession in which it’s necessary to keep yourself mentally healthy. For Santa Rosa County’s Lifeguard Ambulance Service, this is where therapy dog Langley comes in.

Oriole Beach Road will have resurfacing work begin on Monday, July 14. The work will be from Highway 98 to Bay Street and is anticipated to be complete by Friday, July 18, weather permitting. Flaggers will be in the area to direct traffic. Drivers should expect delays and use caution in the area.

With a population of 200,000 and growing, Santa Rosa County first responders must be as prepared as ever to meet the needs of the community. Add an influx of tourists each spring and summer and you have a serious need to be ready for disasters and incidents.

Spring and summer are the times of year when most wildlife in Northwest Florida are active. With greater activity means a greater chance they might need medical attention. That is when wildlife rescues, such as Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge in Navarre, save the day.

With the growth of sports tourism, as well as a desire from county residents for more recreational amenities, Santa Rosa County officials are looking to add more sports recreational opportunities on the south end of the county.

One place the county is currently planning to add sports recreation is Navarre Beach.

UPDATE: A portion of Sevilla Street has been reopened. Following cross drain work, Sevilla Street, starting at 8304 Sevilla Street, has reopened. Original post: Sevilla Street in Navarre will be closed at 8304 Sevilla Street beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, for cross drain work. Weather permitting, the road is expected to reopen on Wednesday, July 9.

The 2025-2026 school year will be a year of change for school cellphone policies, namely for schools with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This includes primary, intermediate, elementary, middle and K-8 schools.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 June 30 after vetoing line items totaling $567 million, including several proposed Santa Rosa County projects. The final 2025-2026 budget added up to $117.9 billion, less than the previous year’s and marking the second consecutive year of reduced state spending.

Navarre local David Biggar has always been fascinated by weather. Since he was a young boy, you could say his head was “in the clouds” – in a good way, daydreaming about studying weather for the rest of his life. And that’s exactly what he did, retiring this year after working 40 years as a meteorologist.