News Archive

Months after Cassie Carli’s body was found in a barn in Alabama, autopsy results have not been released. For the Carli family, the wait to find out exactly what happened to their loved one has been “agonizing.”

Carli went missing on March 27 following a custody exchange with her ex-boyfriend, Marcus Spanevelo, for their four-year-old daughter, Saylor. The exchange took place in the boat ramp parking lot on Navarre Beach near Juana’s. It was the last place she was seen alive.

Many people remember Sept. 11, 2001. Where they were. What they were doing. How they saw it.

While most watched that day’s events from various places around the country and world, Rich LaGrua saw it up close and personal.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) and Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to save the lives of cats and dogs in America’s shelters by 2025, are teaming up for another adoption campaign to encourage people to choose to adopt, not buy, their next pet.

“We’ve seen an influx in our homeless animal population over the last year or so, right in line with nationwide trends, we’re hoping these reduced adoption fees will encourage more adoptions and find homes for some of our long-time residents,” Dr. Megan Arevalo, SRCAS Veterinarian, said.

Santa Rosa County will resume its recycling program Wed., Sept. 21, dependent on ECUA reopening their recycling facility on Mon., Sept. 26. To help ensure it is successful, county staff will be taking extra steps to ensure collected recyclables are not contaminated with non-recyclable garbage. Staff will visually inspect each load of recyclable materials to ensure it will be accepted by ECUA’s processing facility.

WastePro (franchised waste hauler for the county) will resume its recycling program on Mon., Sept. 26. Residents who utilize non-franchised haulers are encouraged to reach out to them regarding any changes in their recycling program.

The proposed Navarre Town Center has a new look.

A rendering by DAG Architects from August reveals several updates to the town center concept, which Bob Benaquis, owner of TC’s Front Porch, has been working on with architects and other developers. Benaquis has been trying to get a town center for Navarre for over a decade but has only recently gained traction in moving ahead with plans.

The biggest update to the Navarre Town Center is the idea of having a pedestrian walkover to connect Navarre Park to the north side of Highway 98, where the town center would be.

If you went to Navarre High School at any point in time, then you are likely familiar with Julia Stapleton. She spent the past 39 years teaching around 8,000 students. Stapleton, who is originally from Illinois, moved to Florida in 1982 and began teaching in 1983.

Stapleton spent the last 26 years at Navarre High, mostly as an art teacher and later as a department chair. She was the third person hired at the school when it first opened back in 1996.

The strip of land between Broad Street and the Blackwater River is one of eight “anchor” areas identified in Milton’s 2015 Riverfront Master Plan, but a city official said last month the economy is hampering efforts to develop the property.

The decision of where and how to move the District One Medical Examiner’s Office is still up in the air. On Aug. 18, Escambia County Commissioners discussed two options to look at in Escambia County.

The two options being presented by Escambia County are the old Baptist facility on Moreno and E Streets and creating an extension on Sacred Heart’s campus, where the current facility is.

1. A new photo series from the Tourism Development Office, “The Santa Rosa County Adventure Tourism Photo Shoot 2022” will highlight different experiences people can have outdoors in Santa Rosa County.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Santa Rosa Women’s Club will hold their first meeting of the club year, which runs through May 2023, on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The Club is a non-profit organization that does charitable and community service work.

Campy Boggy Creek, a “serious fun” camp for children with serious illnesses in Eustis, Fla., is the program for the GFWC Santa Rosa Woman’s Club’s meeting.