News Archive

The Milton Fire Department responded to a fire at the old Berryhill Elementary School building, 6751 Berryhill St., about 11 p.m. Sunday and battled the blaze throughout the night and into Monday afternoon.

Flames gutted most of the 96-year-old brick building. The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis warns Floridians of a recent cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering” or “pig slaughtering” in which victims are enticed to put more and more money into a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme only to “fatten them up” before a scammer disappears with vast sums of their cryptocurrency.

Holley Navarre Fire District responded to a motor vehicle crash at Sunrise Dr. and Hwy. 98. Lifeguard EMS crew arrived first on-scene. Two of the passengers, a six-year-old girl and a 19-year-old female were declared as “Trauma Alerts” and taken by ambulance.

Holley-Navarre Fire District will conduct a hearing on Aug. 22 at its station on Esplanade Street to receive public comment on proposed assessments for the district’s upcoming fiscal year.

A public notice was sent out to citizens via mail and according to that notice, the total annual fire services revenue to be collected within the district is estimated to be $3 million for the fiscal year Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.

Eglin Federal Credit Union recently announced it will start developing a property located on the corner of Tiger Lake Drive and Highway 98 in Gulf Breeze. The short term plan is to install two drive-thru ATM/Video Tellers in 2023.

According to a press release from Eglin Federal Credit Union, this will look similar to the drive-thrus currently being constructed near Niceville High School as well as the site at Jonquil Avenue NW and Mary Esther Cutoff NW in Fort Walton Beach, and the recently announced location in DeFuniak Springs. Construction of a full-service branch in Gulf Breeze is expected to begin in 2024.

Navarre residents and visitors are being advised to stay out of the water near Navarre Park West.

The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) has issued a water quality advisory for the Navarre Park West area. The health department advises against any water-related activities at this location due to the potential for high bacteria levels.

The transition to the MHS Genesis Electronic Health Record System will begin on 24 Sep 22. As healthcare teams adapt their clinic practices to new, standardized workflows, patients can expect to see an increase in wait times and a reduction in available appointments.

Recycling services in Santa Rosa County continue to be temporarily suspended. The Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA) Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) has temporarily closed due to equipment malfunctions and supply chain issues related to repair parts. As a result, the MRF will not be able to receive recycling materials until further notice. Due to the temporary closure of the MRF, Waste Pro (franchised waste hauler for the county) recycling services will continue to be suspended until the facility reopens.

On Aug. 1, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced that more than $26 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians during the month of July.

According to a press release from Patronis’ Office, more than $1.7 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to Florida citizens since Patronis became CFO in 2017.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) invites the community to attend an Adoption Luau event at the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter, 4451 Pine Forest Rd. in Milton. The event is 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 13. The Luau will include fun-loving dogs, $5 adoptions, Mister Softee ice cream, children’s activities and more. Volunteers with Upper Room Church will also be helping with the event.