News Archive

Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties had a positivity rate last week higher than all but three other Florida counties.

Of the COVID tests issued, 35.2% were positive from Aug. 14 to Aug. 20 in these two counties. Three other counties – Hamilton, Hardee and Union – had higher rates. Those counties have a total population of less than 60,000 – one third that of Santa Rosa’s population.

The Santa Rosa County Zoning Board voted to approve a request to allow the construction of a water well at the 4000 and 4004 Block of Bell Lane in Pace in a 7-1 vote.

One day after a Naval helicopter crash that seriously injured an instructor and student, clean up was underway at the location of the mishap.

After hundreds of man-hours put into rewriting the Santa Rosa Land Development Code, the Board of County Commissioners voted to approve the code as written, which does not include one key aspect that residents have pushed for.

A record amount of bed tax dollars was collected in June, with the figure topping $860,000.

A Milton women and three children were injured Thursday afternoon when she swerved to avoid someone who cut her off and lost control of her minivan.

The vehicle rolled several times in the median, seriously injuring two of the children. The driver and one of the other children sustained minor injuries. The accident happened at about 5 p.m. near mile marker 25, according to the Florida HIghway Patrol media release.

A Milton woman driving an Okaloosa County School bus Wednesday was injured when an 18-year-old girl rear-ended the bus on U.S. Highway 90. The teen, who was from DeFuniak Springs, did not survive the collision.

Since Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson announced their resignation, the BOCC have been looking for a replacement for the firm. District 1 Commissioner Sam Parker provided a possible solution during Thursday’s BOCC work session, since only one other law firm has reached out.

Work on the new Publix development on the southeastern edge of the county is well underway and the lease for the new grocery store has been signed.

The 43,387-square-foot supermarket and 2,100-square-foot liquor store are being built on 10 acres of land at the northwest corner of U.S. Highway 98 and Rosewood Drive.

Despite concerns from nearby residents, the Santa Rosa County Zoning Board approved a request to allow an educational institution at the 6000 Block of Tanglewood Drive in Milton.