News Archive

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners held its reorganizational meeting this morning in Milton, seating two new board members and electing the chairman and vice chairman for the coming year. Judge Robert Hilliard, himself a former county commissioner, administered the oaths of office to new District 4 Commissioner Ray Eddington and District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith. The new board elected District 5 Commissioner Colten Wright to be chairman and District 1 Commissioner Sam Parker to serve as vice chairman until November 2023.

The Holley Navarre Water System, Inc. will hold its Annual Meeting including election of director on January 17, 2023. The meeting will be called to order at 7 a.m. and voting will take place from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. at The Club at Hidden Creek.

Sides fired their opening salvos Thursday in Santa Rosa County’s upcoming water war.

At a workshop planned to review the county’s wellfield protection ordinance, discussion quickly turned to the future of its drinkable water supply.

Santa Rosa County has extended Navarre Pier Funplex’s contract, managed by local attorney Ken Fountain, to manage the Navarre Beach Pier by six years, through 2029, and at least two commissioners wanted to give them even more time.

This Thanksgiving, Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) is offering residents an opportunity to foster a pet through a short term foster program. Home for the Pawlidays, the name of the foster program, will last for the week during Thanksgiving. On Tues., Nov. 22 or Wed., Nov. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m., foster parents can pick up a pet from SRCAS and foster them through the holiday and drop them off Mon., Nov. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

While many people’s eyes were on federal and statewide elections across the country, there was plenty of intrigue in local races in Santa Rosa County. The big story of the night in Santa Rosa County was the ousting of District Four County Commissioner Dave Piech by fellow Republican Ray Eddington.

New details have emerged from the arrest of John William Kapolczynski Jr., a former NJROTC instructor and substitute teacher at Navarre High. Kapolczynski, 46, of Navarre, was initially arrested on Nov. 4 for obscene communication, public order crimes, and a sex offense. On Nov. 11, Kapolczynski’s charges were changed to lewd and lascivious behavior. He is currently out on $25,000 bond, according to Santa Rosa County Jail View.

If you were anywhere near NAS Whiting Field this past week, you may have seen a large variety of helicopters dotting the skies. The Naval Air Station hosted the 32nd annual Naval Helicopter Association Gulf Coast “Fleet Fly In” from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4.

The Fleet Fly In is designed to provide several days of training and knowledge sharing to Training Air Wing Five students. The event helps flight students prepare to make career decisions on selecting their fleet aircraft platform.