News Archive

Four Air Commandos with the 1st Special Operations Communications Squadron made the leap into the U.S. Space Force during a ceremony Feb. 5 2021.

The communications Airmen formally transitioned into their new roles as Guardians after taking the oath of enlistment from their flight commander in front of their closest wingmen and family members, while also livestreaming the ceremony for dozens of others to join in safely from home.

Slight revisions have been made to ease the process for students returning to school after being quarantined for a school-based COVID exposure, according to Santa Rosa Superintendent of Schools Karen Barber.

She told the school board Thursday night that students can now return to school with a negative COVID PCR test at Day 8.

The Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) announced Thursday morning that it will add Southwest Airlines to the lineup. Southwest service begins May 2021.

The Santa Rosa County Board has leased the former Bealls store at 6209 Highway 90 West in Milton’s Parkmore Plaza to become a mass
vaccination site.

County administrator Dan Schebler signed the paperwork last week under the COVID-19 Local State of Emergency that’s under effect. Commissioners formally supported the action Thursday.

Investigators were called to a death investigation at the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office detention facility. An inmate was located in a cell and appeared to be deceased, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. Emergency life saving measures were immediately provided by deputies and facility medical staff.

At this time, Major Crimes Detectives are working this case as a possible suicide, the release said, adding that it appears to be an isolated incident. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

One person’s very large mulch pile is a next-door neighbor’s rat- and termite-infested heap of danger.

Self-inserted into the dispute between adjacent property owners was the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners second-guessing a code violation citation issued by the county Code Enforcement Department.

The owner of the “Turner House,” a large, Hurricane Ivan-battered and deteriorating beach house at 7315 Gulf Boulevard on Santa Rosa Island has agreed to make the property suitable for human habitation.

It has been almost two years since Santa Rosa County bought a house in Holley by the Sea. Officials didn’t set out to buy the house.

The county bought the property for $275,000 because it was prone to flooding.

The U.S. Navy is preparing to sample drinking water wells near Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field beginning in March.

The Navy will be sampling drinking water wells within a designated sampling area for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. 

The Holley by the Sea Improvement Association lost two board members earlier this month, both apparently unexpectedly.