News Archive

The Gulf Breeze Police Department has matched DNA obtained from a sexual assault victim to the man who employed her. Marco Antonio Girao was arrested Oct. 29 on a charge of sexual battery for the assault that took place at his home in late July, according to the warrant affidavit from the police department.

Motorists can expect intermittent lane closures from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 as crews perform concrete operations, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Crews will begin major roadway widening and reconstruction activities on the $70.4 million U.S. 98 widening and improvement project from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive in Santa Rosa County, according to a Friday morning email from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Three Veterans Day events will take place in Santa Rosa County on Thurs., Nov. 11. Activities are as follows:

The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) has updated the flight schedule for Friday and Saturday’s Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show performances. The updated schedule reflects that Airbase Georgia will replace its F4U Corsair with a North American P-51 Mustang, a World War II-era long-range fighter plane, and now includes the addition of a U.S. Navy F-35 Lightning II demonstration to the air show.
 

A group of 26 former Gulf Breeze Flea Market vendors has found refuge at the former Iron Gargoyle Antique Mall building in Gulf Breeze.

In the last week, Karenia brevis was detected in varying concentrations across Northwest Florida. Karenia brevis, which causes red tide, contains toxins that can be harmful to humans.

It was found at background and very low concentrations in and offshore of Escambia County (in two samples), background to low concentrations in Santa Rosa County (in three samples), background to medium concentrations in Okaloosa County (in 12 samples), very low to medium concentrations in Bay County (in 16 samples).

During the Oct. 26 meeting, District 5 Commissioner Colten Wright expressed his idea that staff add the resume of any appointee that comes before the board.

Wright’s reasoning is to provide transparency for Santa Rosa citizens, giving them the opportunity to see the prospective appointee’s qualifications to represent them on a volunteer board.

The Santa Rosa County School District has partnered with Cognia, an international education accreditation association, to create a strategic plan for the district’s next five years. In October, a series of surveys were issued to students, teachers, families and the public to garner feedback.

On Oct. 26, Florida’s state delegation that included Sen. Doug Broxson, Rep. Robert Alexander “Alex” Andrade and Rep. Jayer Williamson approved two local bills to be put on the next Florida legislative session.