News Archive

Freshwater fisheries researchers and managers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) successfully released 3,300 hatchery-raised shoal bass fingerlings (young fish) into the Chipola River in May.

Guy Thompson, the former Mayor of Milton, was released from the federal prison he was staying in two years before his set release date.

On January 17, 2020, Thompson was sentenced to 51 months in prison for embezzling over $650,000 from the United Way of Santa Rosa County, which he ran for 39 years. The sentencing came after the FBI and IRS investigated Thompson’s finances for the years of 2011-2018.

The zoning board discussed two potential townhome developments for Gulf Breeze Parkway. Beckie Cato from Forest Bay Estates presented the two projects at the May 12 meeting, one on the 5700 block and the other on the 4800 block of Gulf Breeze Parkway. The two areas are owned by the same person, but they are currently zoned as Highway Commercia Developments. The goal is to create two townhome developments.

Magdalene’s, Inc. has been in the works for two years, and on Thursday, April 28, the non-profit closed on their home. The building will be the site of a safe house for female survivors of human trafficking.

In August of 2019, David Williams, who operated a massage parlor on Fordham Parkway in Gulf Breeze, was arrested.

As the price of homes increase, so do the taxes that go with their sales. Documentary (or doc) stamp taxes have not technically gone up, but due to the increase in prices on homes and other properties, citizens could be paying more.

At the end of May every year, Americans come together to commemorate and honor the sacrifices of those who have served in the military.

Although Memorial Day focuses on the sacrifices of those who died defending the United States, the veterans who survived still carry with them the scars of war.

The county held an open workshop for the community on Wednesday, April 27, to explain the new MyGovernment Online website that Santa Rosa will be utilizing.

The Board of County Commissioners heard a request to develop an RV park.

The hearing came during the Special Rezoning Meeting that occurred on Thursday, April 28.

Editor’s Note: We will be meeting with Rep. Matt Gaetz, who represents the 1st District of Florida, on a regular basis to ask him questions about his representation of our district in Congress and initiatives that he is working on to the benefit of our district and our country.

How does your faith help you in your role as a Congressman?
Faith does two things it raises the ceiling on what you believe is possible. The word of God shows us that we don’t always know what is ahead of us.

Eric Sines heads out on the Santa Rosa Sound on his paddleboard, the water calm, the sun shining and the wind blowing lightly on a Wednesday morning in Navarre.

The conditions are perfect, according to Eric, who is doing a photo shoot on this day along with an interview ahead of his rapidly approaching big moment, that being the opportunity to represent Santa Rosa County and the state of Florida in the Special Olympics USA Games next month in Orlando.