News Archive

There was a sea of pink running across Navarre Beach’s multiuse path Saturday, Oct. 17.

Despite a week of hurricane-related concerns, Pink Pirates, a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on breast cancer awareness, was able to hold its 12th annual Pink Pirates 5K. The event is the organization’s primary fundraiser, helping provide mammograms to those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Beginning Friday, October 23, residents can call the Debris Removal Information Line at 833-495-3919 for questions and concerns related to storm debris removal in Santa Rosa County.

The info line will be available seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Brandon Aydelott, 30, who killed his mother, Sharon, on Christmas Eve 2013, appeared in court Oct. 21 to request a day pass and community pass.

Aydelott, who was found not guilty of his mother’s murder by reason of insanity, has been in a Tallahassee-area mental health facility called the Apalachee Center since 2024, following a decade in the state hospital at Chattahoochee. Since his arrival at Apalachee Center, Aydelott has been moved to a lower-security unit within the facility.

Theresa Mitchell, a gymnastics coach and social media content creator from Navarre, was set to be sentenced Oct. 14 for crimes related to child sexual abuse material.

A decision of what’s next for Mitchell will now wait until December.

Santa Rosa County will participate in the 2026 Day of Caring and invites residents to join in spreading holiday cheer to area heroes. Community members are encouraged to decorate stockings and write holiday cards for area military personnel and veterans.

From Saturday, Oct. 12, and well into the following week, American Legion Post 382 members and volunteers cleared debris, placed items into rented U-Haul pods and tried putting back together their beloved Legion building after Hurricane Isaias ripped off most of the roof.

“We worked all day Monday, all day Tuesday, got the pods on Wednesday and worked all day Today (Thursday, Oct. 15),” said Loreen Skobel, American Legion Post 382’s post adjutant.

The Santa Rosa County Library System announces that the Navarre Library will reopen Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during regular operating hours following temporary closures caused by the recent hurricane.

(By Jim Turner) Some Panhandle counties continue to show lingering effects from Hurricane Isaias through gas prices, but others remain low more than a week after the storm swept through the area.

According to AAA, an average gallon of gas in Florida was $4.08 on Monday, 1 cent higher than a week earlier.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge has spent much of mid-October recovering from Hurricane Isaias, which brought heavy winds to Northwest Florida Oct. 9.

Much like other places around the region, ECWR had to deal with many downed trees. According to Pascal Robin, executive director of ECWR, the property had 40 to 50 downed trees due to the hurricane.

Working through the adoption and foster care systems can be difficult and test a person’s faith. That’s where a new Community Life Church adult ministry group comes into play.

Led by Amanda and Branson Maynard, the adoption and foster care group meets weekly to provide support to families that have, or are considering, adoption and foster care.