News Archive

As the year inches toward its close, the Santa Rosa County School District has checked a number of boxes to provide for future growth.

In 12 months, the district has opened one new school – East Bay K-8 – and has a second K-8 under construction in the north end of the county.

The 823rd REDHORSE squadron will conduct monthly training Dec. 16 consisting of approximately four detonations starting around 8 a.m. The detonations may cause local residents to hear or feel the vibrations from these charges. The charges will continue throughout the day. The training will occur at the Hurlburt Field Range.
REDHORSE officials advise if the humidity is high or if there is cloud coverage, the effects can seem louder and closer than on clear days.

Larry the Navarre Beach giraffe on Gulf Boulevard isn’t the only long-necked attraction in town. In addition to the glimpse drivers often get of the giraffes at Gulf Breeze Zoo, there’s a giraffe made out of recycled auto parts in Martha Powell’s yard.

Powell, who lives on Ferris Drive just a few doors down from the Holley by the Sea boundary, has named her giraffe Emily and dressed her in a Santa hat for the season.

During District 4 Commissioner Dave Piech’s monthly Zoom meeting Dec. 13, he gave updates on everything from the status of sidewalks near East Bay K-8 to what he’d heard about Elevate Navarre.

Here are some of the highlights:

Since the resignation of former Santa Rosa County Administrator Dan Schebler and Assistant Administrator Mark Murray, the commissioners knew it would be a long process to find their replacements.

Holley-Navarre Fire District continues to see a decrease in call volume with 272 emergency calls for the month of November, according to HNFD’s monthly activity report.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 16 to celebrate construction on the new Pensacola Regional Operations Center (PROC) “James T. Moore Building.”

Daniel Balsavich, assistant principal at Holley-Navarre Primary School, was unanimously recommended to become the new principal of HNPS at the Dec. 9 Santa Rosa County School Board meeting. Balsavich will fill the vacancy left by Alexandra Timmons, who was recently promoted to director of risk management for the school district.

In northwest Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is formally accepting the Cypress Dunes community in Santa Rosa Beach and U.S. Air Force Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County into the BearWise Community Recognition Program. Both communities have met the six BearWise Basics, as well as passed ordinances requiring trash be kept secure from bears.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the time extension for the Navarre Bayside Park renovation Dec. 9, making the completion time 215 calendar days.