News Archive

An elaborate multi-agency investigation dubbed Operation Wolves Blanket has resulted in the arrest of 12 men on charges of child solicitation.

Over a five-day period, Walton County Sheriff’s Office conducted the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation to target those seeking out children for sexual activity.

On Jan. 27, the commissioners allowed an apartment complex to be built within a Highway Commercial Development (HCD) district, moving forward the plan of a large mixed-use development.

The 215-day long Navarre Bayside Park project end date was postponed after the commissioners gave additional construction requirements to the developers.

Another RV Park request came before the commissioners during the Jan. 27 meeting, but a decision is still yet to be made on approving or denying the project after the commissioners voted to continue the item at the March 24 meeting.

First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida Judge Darlene F. Dickey ruled that the Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners must hold a quasi-judicial hearing for Adams Sanitation after it was canceled.

A hearing was scheduled between the trash hauling company and the commissioners for Sept. 9, 2021, for Adams to appeal the commissioners’ decision to deny their trash collection permit.

A 60-year-old Milton man has been charged for multiple sexual-related crimes in Navarre. Paul Powell has been charged with sexual battery with weapon or force of victim as well as indecent exposure and obstructing justice by hindering with communication information, according to Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office documents.

He was arrested 10 days ago, but the information was not released by the Sheriff’s Office until Jan. 31. 

After several months of relative stability, Santa Rosa County is again facing staffing challenges, with three of its top employees resigning in the last few weeks.

James Cook, the interim head of Public Works, Chris Phillips, the head of Development Services, and Erica Grancagnolo, the associate director of the Economic Development agency have all resigned.

Nearly 200 people, many of them young teens, attended Wednesday’s Celebration of Life service for 13-year-old Sophia Fenner.

They sat quietly as photos of Sophia filled the twin screens in front of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.

It’s hard to imagine today, but just over 100 years ago the coastal plains of America from Virginia to eastern Texas were covered by about 92 million acres of longleaf pines.

Fortunately, we have folks like Vernon Compton who care about preserving and restoring the 1.3 million acres left in northwest Florida and South Alabama.

The Navarre Beach renourishment project will continue for the next 12 months as the commissioners voted Monday to add a revised grant work plan to Thursday’s regular meeting.