News Archive

A Pensacola contractor has been arrested for larceny of over $15,000 after not performing work on a Gulf Breeze woman’s home. Jesse Wayne LaCoste, 30, owner of LaCoste Construction Group, was arrested on Nov. 30 after Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated him for two years for not completing work he was contracted to do in 2020 and 2021.

Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. – A year after a terrible car accident impacting four Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Airman 1st Class Matthew Sharp’s journey of recovery is a story of hope and determination.

Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. – The 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron embarked on a mission to enhance its operational readiness through a 96-hour bivouac field training exercise at the Tyndall Air Force Base Silver Flag training site, starting Nov. 6, 2023.

The Costa Family of Costa Enterprises McDonald’s has announced their Bluewater Bay and Niceville restaurants will be transferring to new owners, Tim and Stacey Hughes, beginning December 15, 2023.

The cold weather shelter for the homeless and/or heatless will open on the night of Wednesday, Dec. 6 at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Those who would like to stay at the shelter must arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests. No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. unless brought in by law enforcement. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. each morning.

The following Santa Rosa County offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Dec. 26 for Christmas:

By Terry Spencer – The head of the Florida Republican Party, whose wife is a founder of one of the nation’s most prominent conservative groups, has been accused of rape, leading Gov. Ron DeSantis to call for his resignation, roiling the state’s conservative politics and creating accusations of hypocrisy from Democrats and LBGTQ+ activists.

A Mexican restaurant in Tiger Point remains closed following a fire early morning, Wednesday, Nov. 27. The blaze began sometime before 12:35 a.m., Nov. 27, at Rio Bravo Mexican Grill, located at 3755 Gulf Breeze Parkway.

The heavy rain forecasted for Saturday has led organizers of a few Christmas events to cancel or reschedule. Here is what we know so far:

Hurlburt Field’s Annual Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting is RESCHEDULED for Thursday, Dec. 7 from 4-7 p.m. at Memorial Air Park.

Santa Rosa County District Schools will host a groundbreaking for the new Southend High School on Wednesday, December 6, 1:30 p.m. at 5760 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze.