News Archive

The Florida Department of Health is the first in the nation to receive national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board.

There are more than 500 children in temporary foster homes in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.  They have been abused, neglected or abandoned.  While some may eventually return to their birth families, the rest will need adoptive families. 

The potential developer looking at the property located at 8459 Gulf Blvd., is currently conducting his due diligence which includes the pre-application meeting with Santa Rosa County, a marketing analysis and submitting proposals to potential hotel flags (brands). The total number of units will depend on the brand because different brands have different square foot requirements.

The congressional race for U.S. House District 1 is heating up with numerous candidates who have recently filed an intent to run.  A total of 2,298 signatures of registered voters are required to enable a candidate to actually qualify in lieu of paying a hefty $10,440 qualifying fee. The signatures must be received by the Florida Division of Elections Office in Tallahassee by May 23, 2016.  The qualifying period is June 20, 2016 at noon through June 24, 2016 at noon. So far, here are those individuals who have entered the race:

Holley resident and Hurlburt Field Intelligence Squadron member Douglas J. Plate, 53, was arraigned in Pensacola on March 17 after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with receipt, possession and access with intent to view child pornography.

Tyler Clayton Hale, 40, and Jennifer Leslie Pope, 41, both of Adams Street in Fort Walton Beach were arrested and charged with Human Trafficking and Deriving Support from the Proceeds of Prostitution.

Plans for two new restaurants, a gas station-convenience store and an expression of interest in building a 17-story hotel on Navarre Beach all emerged last week to give South Santa Rosa County prospects for its biggest commercial development year since before the Great Recession.

A 13 year old is said to be responsible for starting what turned into a brush fire on Flintwood Street behind one of the homes.  Holley-Navarre Fire Department was dispatched to the 50-foot-by-80-foot fire, and once on scene Battalion Chief Howie Rounsaville realized that because of windy conditions, the fire was spreading quickly.  Other units were called to the scene and the Squad 41 brush truck pulled in between two homes and quickly attacked the fire and kept it from spreading. 

The travel by certain Santa Rosa County officials at taxpayers’ expense to numerous trade shows, government conferences and industry seminars is raising questions about the value of some trips.

True love isn’t an easy thing to find in any lifetime. William (Bill) Festing and Marie Wager, however, have found it together in their 90s. This coming Saturday at 2 p.m., the two will be joined in marriage in a private ceremony at The Beacon Senior Living Facility in Gulf Breeze. Festing’s son-in-law will officiate the wedding ceremony, and the two will be expecting some 50 guests in attendance, including their closest friends and family. The couple’s wedding ceremony will be held in the beautiful dining hall of the facility.