News Archive

It didn’t take long for the interest in science to be generated at the inaugural Bioblitz May 21 at Naval Live Oaks, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. — After spending the past few weeks watching “Top Gun” and videos of the F-35 Lightning II, Christian Loafman was ready for his May 18 visit here as its first F-35A Pilot for a Day. “I feel the need, the need for speed,” the 9-year-old said.

Primary and intermediate schools in the Navarre area let out June 1, and for many parents with children ages 5-12, this means finding somebody to look after the little ones.

Both of the U.S. military’s high-drama, high-dollar flying teams suffered crashes on the same day this week, but supporters say the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels are worth the money and the risk because they’re vital to recruitment and help citizens feel good about their military.

Chicago  — Taking Social Security benefits early comes with a price, yet more than 4 in 10 Americans who are 50 and over say they’ll dip into the program before reaching full retirement age.

Steve and Nicki King of Holley by the Sea have three dogs, two of which are special needs.  Alfie, age 12, is an Old English Sheepdog who has a little trouble getting up and down in his older age.  He wears a special harness that allows the Kings to give him a lift up when he needs it.  And he gets good aqua-therapy in their pool with his life vest on.  “You can see him relax as soon as he is in the water far enough to take the weight off of him,” Nicki said. 

Fishing is a big part of Pete Della Ratta’s life. Not only does he enjoy doing it, but he loves educating students about it, whether it’s at various fishing clinics throughout the area in the summer months or taking seventh-graders on a fishing field trip each year.

Hurlburt Field, Fla. – Nearly 10 months after he was killed in action, Capt. Matthew D. Roland will be posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal, the nation’s third-highest valorous combat decoration, for actions taken before his death, Aug. 26, 2015, in Afghanistan.

The risk of a state-imposed regulatory moratorium on new sewer hookups by Holley-Navarre Water System is being exaggerated so the company can build a controversial wastewater treatment unit in the Williams Creek residential neighborhood.

Mike Sandler signed a confidentiality agreement before he joined the BentProp expedition this year in the Republic of Palau on a mission to find downed planes and vessels that may contain remains of MIAs from WWII.  Sandler, a resident of Navarre, and a retired chief master sergeant from Hurlburt Field,  was one of only three new selectees this year for the task after a nationwide search by BentProp.  Sandler returned in mid-April and when asked if he found anything, he would say, “We found a lot of places where there isn’t anything.”