News Archive

Santa Rosa County Federal Credit Union recently concluded a community coat drive to help keep local students warm during the winter months.

Grace Carbaugh is stepping down as president and CEO of the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, the chamber announced Jan. 22.

The announcement was made in a post on the chamber’s Facebook page. Carbaugh has led the organization for the past five years. Her final day will be at the end of February.

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.