News Archive

The cold weather shelter for the homeless and heatless will open on the nights of Tuesday, Oct. 31, and Wednesday., Nov. 1, at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Those who want to stay at the shelter must arrive between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests. 

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is holding a campaign rally in Navarre Oct. 30. According to Gaetz’s Office, the rally will be held at Navarre Park by the Santa Rosa County Visitor Center.

A University of West Florida graduate team placed first and undergraduate team placed second at the HR Florida Conference Student Case Competition held during the annual HR Florida Leadership Conference in Orlando on Oct. 13 and 14.

Last week, Florida Sen. Doug Broxson, Gulf Breeze-R, told Santa Rosa County residents that he will sponsor a bill creating an authority to oversee water-related utilities north of the Yellow River and bills to reform how county fire districts are funded.

Late into the special zoning board meeting Thursday night, Santa Rosa County Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve an amendment to Santa Rosa Development’s lease to allow an RV Park on the beach. Commissioner Sam Parker, Colten Wright and James Calkins voted in favor of the amendment, and Commissioners Kerry Smith and Ray Eddington opposed.

Air Force Special Operations Command welcomed Air Attachés from 12 various allied and partner nations to Hurlburt Field, Florida, October 23, 2023. 

Attaché tours are a key function of the Department of the Air Force Foreign Liaison Office, which organizes the engagements to enhance partners’ understanding of American history and culture and enable firsthand experience with U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force operations and structure.

The decision to raise your right hand and take the Oath of Office can feel like a huge leap of faith. This was the case for U.S. Air Force Capt. Donsha Watkins, 9th Reconnaissance Wing chaplain, who pondered this decision for many years.

The ex-boyfriend of Cassie Carli, the woman who was found in a shallow grave in Springville, Alabama, will have his day in court in January 2024. Marcus Spanevelo, 36, is facing the charge of abuse of a corpse.

Under Alabama law, a person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if they knowingly treat a human corpse in a way that would “outrage ordinary family sensibilities.” The abuse of a corpse charge carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years if a conviction is obtained.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Kerry Smith is expected to file a defamation lawsuit against local builder Edwin Henry after learning Henry bankrolled a campaign mailer in 2022 claiming Smith had been convicted of domestic violence “several” times.

“Yes, I want to go after him,” Smith told Navarre Press on Thursday, Oct. 19. “I know Edwin Henry; he knows me. He knew this wasn’t true.”

The Santa Rosa County school board approved a health insurance program for school district teachers and other employees at a special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The health insurance program for 2024 was a point of contention at the Oct. 12 board meeting and was tabled until the special meeting. The insurance committee, which comes up with recommendations for the school board when it comes to insurance and risk management, met twice in October to hammer out the details of a plan that would be agreeable to district employees and the district itself.