Dec 11, 2014
Navarre shop owner sentenced for tax fraud
Patrick Alfred Anderson, 62, of Laughlin, Nev., was sentenced last week to two years in federal prison for income tax fraud. Anderson operated shops throughout the panhandle, including one in Navarre.
Dec 11, 2014
Cold weather shelter needs male volunteers
Although temperatures dropped below the threshold for the county’s only south Santa Rosa cold weather shelter to activate, the facility remained closed Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 due to a lack of male volunteers.
Dec 11, 2014
Florida leaders discuss big issues facing state
Expanding health care coverage, solving water problems, improving education and handling issues like legalizing medical marijuana and gambling were among the topics Florida leaders discussed during a summit Dec. 5.
Dec 11, 2014
High court rejects BP appeal of spill settlement
The Supreme Court is leaving in place BP’s multibillion-dollar settlement with lawyers for businesses and residents over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Dec 11, 2014
Bridge authority chairman resigns
Morgan Lamb, chairman of the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority, which oversees the Garcon Point Bridge, announced his resignation last week.
Dec 11, 2014
County seeks proposals for $4.3 million in local RESTORE funding
Millions of dollars are about to start flowing from monetary penalties associated with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Santa Rosa County plans to announce Dec. 16 the availability of roughly $4.3 million for local projects. It’s the first of several phases of RESTORE funding directly allocated to the county.
Dec 11, 2014
Quinn earns lifetime achievement award
The Zoological Association of America Nov. 13 presented Pat Quinn, founder of Gulf Breeze Zoo, with a Lifetime Achievement Award during its annual conference held at Pensacola Beach. The award recognizes Quinn’s decades of dedication and countless contributions to the zoological industry.
Dec 11, 2014
Teacher salary negotiations stalled
Despite holding nine negotiation sessions since September, representatives from Santa Rosa Professional Educators (SRPE), the county’s teachers’ union, and Santa Rosa County District Schools officials have yet to agree upon teacher salaries.
Dec 11, 2014
County hires lobbyist
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners voted Dec. 3 to hire the Tallahassee-based lobbying firm of Johnson & Blanton. The county will contract the firm to lobby local interests at the state level for $60,000 per year.
Dec 11, 2014
Former teacher gets probation on DUI charge
A former Santa Rosa County teacher arrested April 18 on a DUI charge made an early plea deal, receiving one year’s probation. Additionally, a third-degree felony count for cruelty against a child was dropped by prosecutors.