Close commissioner vote allows residential rezoning
On Dec. 9, the commissioners narrowly approved a rezoning of a parcel of land that the zoning board previously recommended be denied without objection.
Driver fails to slow for stopped I-10 traffic, causes collision
A 54-year-old man from Crawfordville, Florida caused a Thursday afternoon accident in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 at the beginning of the Blackwater River Bridge. He was not injured, but his passenger received minor injuries.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, he failed to notice that traffic had completely stopped in front of him and struck a vehicle carrying a 34-year-old Crestview woman and a 3-year-old girl. Neither were injured.
Georgia man indicted in Navarre Beach fatal shooting
A man accused of driving from Georgia specifically to kill a Navarre Beach man was indicted by a grand jury Dec. 14. John Patrick Gillebeau, a 60-year-old from Ellijay, Georgia, has been charged with first degree premeditated murder in the death of Victor Stephen Trial.
Hit and run driver turns himself in seven months after fatal wreck
A Mobile, Alabama man who turned himself in seven months after a fatal hit and run accident in Navarre on U.S. Highway 98 has been arrested and charged. Johnny Mosely, who is 25, has been identified as the driver of the box truck that struck and killed Robert Triplett Sr. as he was walking to work on the morning of March 2.
Cutting down heritage tree has new price tag: $10,000
After some confusion, the BOCC voted to maintain the current fees for all development services except for the cost to remove heritage trees.
Commissioner puts eyes, tires on roads needing repair
When citizens contact their commissioners, two items top their list of concerns. One is stormwater management, which translates into flooded yards, streets and, sometimes, homes.
Clerk of courts audit: Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful ‘has seen better days’
A Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful (KSRB) audit conducted by an investigator with the Clerk of the Circuit Court concluded that the organization has “seen better days” and that it is unable to pay its bills.
KSRB is the umbrella organization for the Panhandle Butterfly House (PHB), which has floundered since relocating from Navarre Park to make way for renovations. KSRB funds have always been kept separate from PHB, the audit notes.
Impact fee notices raise business owner ire
A group of small business owners gathered Monday to talk commercial impact fees with officials from Holley-Navarre Water System (HNWS).
Grand jury indicts Georgia man for Navarre Beach murder charge
The Santa Rosa grand jury indicted John Patrick Guillebeau Dec. 14 on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder for his alleged role in the death of Navarre Beach resident Victor Trial.
District continues to grow, add campuses
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.
















