News Archive

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.

At this time, Hurricane Ian is not projected to hit our area, but that doesn’t mean it won’t have an impact.

The latest update from US National Weather Service Mobile says that while Hurricane Ian is expected to generally stay east of this area of the Florida Panhandle, Northwest Florida will still see some impacts.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services has received a $25,000 grant from Florida Animal Friend to assist with the community cat program.

The program provides free or reduced-cost neuter/spay for community cats. This funding will allow free neuter/spay and rabies vaccination services for up to 500 cats in Santa Rosa County communities. Participants can begin scheduling appointments Sat., Oct. 1.

A change in the land development code now allows CEFCO to move forward with building a gas station and convenience store in Navarre at High School Boulevard and Highway 87 South after Santa Rosa County Planning and Zoning approved the plan on Sept. 12.

According to Santa Rosa County Community Planning, Zoning, and Development Director Shawn Ward, the County Commissioners adopted a new land development code in August 2021, which eliminated the requirement for 500 feet between residential housing and underground fuel tank storage.

Navarre’s Homecoming Court for 2022 has been announced. The king will be named at Friday’s pep rally and the queen will be announced at the football game between Navarre and Leon Friday night at Bennett C. Russell Stadium. The seniors on the court are Londyn Clark, Kada Beihl, Renee Harris, Sailor Reynolds, Hope Francis, Oliva […]

The Santa Rosa County Commission is scheduled to hear a request this morning that, if approved, would allow an RV park on Navarre Beach and, possibly, end a lawsuit against the county.

“I’m going to recommend, if the commission is inclined to grant the lease amendment, that it be conditioned on the plaintiff ending litigation,” County Attorney Tom Dannheisser told Navarre Press on Thursday, Sept. 15. “It all depends on how it plays out at the meeting.”

Special to Navarre Press The Florida Department of Agriculture and consumer Services’ planned closure of thousands of acres of area waters to shellfi sh harvesting is based on continuous high fecal bacterial counts. Ultimately, this will impact many businesses, recreational shellfish gatherers and many more.

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a settlement with Wells Fargo and Company and Wells Fargo Bank and GreatBanc Trust Company – a plan trustee – that recovers more than $131.8 million for the retirement plan’s participants after a department investigation found that, from 2013 through 2018, the fund overpaid for company stock purchased for the plan.

With the sea turtle nesting season ending in October, the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center is looking forward to the fall and next year. Over the summer, as she does every summer, NBSTCC founder and director Cathy Holmes has kept track of sea turtles nesting along Navarre Beach through the Navarre Beach Turtle Patrol.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget for Santa Rosa County includes a record investment in capital projects, thanks partly to federal stimulus spending and higher property values.

“This is new for our county to have this much money set aside for infrastructure in the budget process, so it’s a big deal,” Sabrina White, the county’s assistant budget director, said. “It’s exciting times in Santa Rosa County.”