News Archive

At Sandspur Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Navarre, Anna Hackney cares for a wide range of animals. Over the past nine years, she has taken in mammals and reptiles, but her work has focused largely on rescuing and rehabilitating shorebirds and birds of prey.

Local officials and regional agencies are using January’s Human Trafficking Awareness Month to draw attention to risks facing children and adults in Northwest Florida, emphasizing that trafficking remains a concern in the region.

Navarre Beach Bridge will undergo a series of routine bridge inspections beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18 and ending Thursday, Feb. 19.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently announced a change in policy regarding how driver license exams are proctored.

Starting Friday, Feb. 6, all driver license knowledge and skills examinations will be administered exclusively in English. The state also mentioned in a press release that exams must be taken without an interpreter.

A group of people from Maryland say they may’ve found a way to remove microplastics from waterways.
The group, spearheaded by Doug Hood, recently visited Santa Rosa County to conduct experiments with their microplastic removal process, known as PEARL.

The Holley Navarre Water System board of directors reorganization meeting is usually a time to determine what committees directors will serve on. This year, the mood was a bit more contentious.

Director Pamela Hardy made a proposal to address ethical issues and potential conflicts arising from political affiliations.

The Junior Leadership Santa Rosa program visited Naval Air Station Whiting Field earlier this month to learn about military aviation and other elements of the station’s operations.

Junior Leadership Santa Rosa, a program for high school juniors, is designed to help students gain insights into their communities’ industries and government. The goal is to forge leaders who are knowledgeable and invested in their communities.

It was March 6, 2024, when Joy Zuraff returned home from the park with her 5-year-old daughter, Kenlee. The afternoon had been ordinary — swings, sunshine, a brief escape from the medical stress that had shadowed their lives. Then Zuraff’s phone rang. A friend told her the Department of Children and Families planned to stop by, take a quick look at Kenlee and close the case.

What happened next would upend her family’s life.

Santa Rosa County is in preliminary talks with the U.S. Navy to acquire a 694-acre airfield adjacent to the Northwest Florida Industrial Park at I-10.

The airfield, known as Santa Rosa Outlying Field, is still in use by the Navy. If you’ve driven on Highway 87 South near Interstate 10 exit 31, then you’ve likely seen orange and white helicopters flying.

In addition to Monday, Jan. 26, and Tuesday, Jan. 27, the cold weather shelter for the homeless and/or heatless will be open on the nights of Wednesday, Jan. 28, Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Jan. 30 at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton.