News Archive

On Sept. 16, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees recommended and unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Charles L. Karr to president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Karr is a native of Gulf Breeze and has been in the University of Alabama System for the better part of three decades.

The Okaloosa Gas Navarre Fishing Rodeo is celebrating its 10th anniversary of the first weekend in October. This year’s event will take place Oct. 1 and 2 in conjunction with Santa Rosa County’s Fish Navarre Weekend.

Admission to the Navarre Beach Pier is free for the event weekend and, as a bonus, Santa Rosa County will offer a 10% discount on annual walking and fishing passes. This is the only time during the year that the annual passes are discounted. For more information see FishNavarreWeekend.com.

Outgoing Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Bob Cole issued a good-natured challenge to his fellow commissioners at last week’s final budget hearing.

“I’m happy to say that in the years I’ve served on this board, I’ve never raised the millage,” said Cole, who is retiring when his fifth fouryear term ends later this year. “So, that’s a goal you guys can set – for 20 years you can’t change the millage.”

Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day, according to 22Challenge.org, a nonprofit corporation committed to increasing suicide awareness and prevention among veterans and first responders. That’s one suicide every 65 ½ minutes.

On Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Navarre Park, American Legion Post No. 382 and American Legion Riders Chapter 382 of Navarre will hold the second annual Challenge 22 event to raise money to support 22Challenge.org efforts.

The man charged in the disappearance of Cassie Carli is set to go on trial in October.

Marcus Spanevelo, 35, appeared in video court on Thurs., Sept. 22, where a judge set the final date a plea deal can be done and when the jury trial will start. The final due date for a plea deal will be Oct. 7 at 9 a.m. and the jury trial is set to begin on Mon., Oct. 10.

Special to Navarre Press Oysters are becoming sparse in the Panhandle. In addition to loss of reef habitat, thousands of acres of waters will be closed to shellfish harvesting by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services because of high fecal coliform bacteria counts. Commercial fisherman Pasco Gibson said what used to be 150, 60-pound nets per harvest is down to barely a five-gallon bucket.

Massage therapy has quickly become a center of health and wellness for some people. Professional massage can reduce stress, muscle pain or soreness, improve circulation and improve immune function. There is an organization that serves to promote and protect the industry, the Florida State Massage Therapy Association.

A Navarre man is behind bars after repeatedly harassing his neighbor in her yard, one time while completely nude. Thomas Phillip, 60, was arrested after Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigated a pattern of behavior all caught on video by the victim, Phillip’s neighbor.

According to the arrest report, the incident began on Sept. 17, when a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the 8100 block of Molina St. in Navarre for a mentally ill person.

Gulf Islands National Seashore has closed the Florida areas of the park to all visitors since 8 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 25, in preparation for then Tropical Storm Ian.

Closed areas include the Fort Pickens Area, Perdido Key Area (Johnson Beach), Opal Beach, and Okaloosa Area.

The Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center is issuing words of warning for anyone considering any outdoor burning activities in the coming days: Use extreme caution or simply don’t do it.

According to the Florida Forest Service, it has been more than two weeks since most of the three-county area (Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties) has seen rainfall and wildfire danger is on the rise. Add to that a forecast calling for increased winds and low humidity for the next three days and firefighters are bracing for the possibility of significant fire activity.