News Archive

“It was time,” University of West Florida President Dr. Martha Saunders said when asked about her decision to resign from her role.

Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd is calling on the public to help preserve history.

Byrd recently announced the State Archives of Florida is seeking photographs for its newest photographic collection, “Weather, Disaster and Recovery.” Photos associated with this collection will include hurricane damage, historic floods and recovery and cleanup efforts.

A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis will require teenagers earning their learner’s permit to complete a six-hour driver’s safety course, in addition to a driving rules knowledge test.

The current safety course, known as Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education, is four hours in length.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) is joining forces with Petco Love, a national nonprofit organization working to lead and inspire change for pets – and animal welfare organizations across the country, on a shared mission to help reunite lost pets with their families should they ever go missing, through Petco Love Lost. Sadly, according to industry statistics, one in every three pets will go missing in their lifetime.

St. Paul United Methodist Church has entered its golden years.

In July, the church will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding. The church began in 1955 with a single building as its sanctuary. That building still stands but now serves as the church’s fellowship hall.

As a strong line of severe weather made its way through the Navarre area Monday evening, June 23, emergency crews from across south Santa Rosa County had their hands full.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., there were at least five calls for service answered by first responders, namely Holley Navarre-Fire District and Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District. Midway Fire District also ran a call in HNFD’s district at the time.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) is proudly joining forces with Petco Love, a national non-profit working to lead and inspire change for animals, and animal welfare groups across the state of Florida on a shared mission to find homes for 2,000 dogs and cats in shelters. The Petco Love Florida MEGA Pet Adoption Event will take place June 27-29 in Petco pet care centers and local animal shelters.

Navarre Beach is often thought of as a vacation destination, somewhere to put your feet up after a long journey. For Kyndal Ray Edwards, that journey has been longer than most.

Florida Power and Light has been working throughout Santa Rosa County to harden the power grid ahead of hurricane season.

“We are planning for storm season year-round,” vice president and general manager of FPL’s Northwest Florida region, JT Young, told the Gazette. “Year-round, we’re in the process of either preparing for the storm by strengthening our grid…or we’re responding to storms, which can occur outside storm season as well.”

June 23, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined the U.S. Marshal for the Central District of Florida William Berger to announce the rescue of 60 children as part of Operation Dragon Eye in the Tampa Bay Area.

As a result of the multiagency operation, eight defendants were arrested, including one on charges of human trafficking.