News Archive

Roughly 30 Navarre residents attended a Feb. 3 public meeting to discuss $400,000 in proposed enhancements to Navarre Park, which could begin in September 2016 if the county receives a Land and Water Conservation (LWC) grant.

Construction work will take place at the new flyover bridge on U.S. 98 at Hurlburt Field over the next two weeks. The north/south traffic lanes across Highway 98 will be closed during construction (schedule below) to allow the contractor’s personnel and equipment to safely install the massive structural beams for the bridge. Highway 98 through traffic will be reduced to a single lane. Cody Avenue traffic north and south will have detours to nearest median U-turn point east or west.

A Navarre man who struck and killed a bicyclist while traveling on U.S. 98 will not face criminal charges following a homicide investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. 

To reduce the projected $50 million price tag of a new judicial facility voters last year rejected Santa Rosa County Commissioners today are expected to direct HOK architectural firm to explore phased reconstruction of adjacent support buildings and refurbishment of the current county courthouse.

“We need to get back to preparing our kids for life rather than preparing our kids for the workforce,” local activist Debbie Gunnoe said.

Seventy-five years ago, the government cut 65-year-old Ida May Fuller a check. It was numbered 00-000-001 — the first Social Security payout.

Gov. Rick Scott’s 2015-16 “Keep Florida Working Budget” recommendations provide $8 million to serve Florida elders. Included is $5 million in new funding to support Florida elders most in need of services and $3 million in continued support of the Statewide Public Guardianship Office. 

For the most part, feral cats are at home outdoors. They keep their distance from humans, and help with rodent control. But since they aren’t spayed or neutered, their population continues to increase, leaving more and more animals vulnerable to life-threatening situations.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service recently updated its Pocket Ranger app for smartphones to include a global-positioning feature that shows the exact proximity of the user to each public-beach access point in Florida, along with information and locations for the 171 state parks and trails.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF) recently announced its Sailors of the Quarter for the first quarter fiscal year 2015. This awards program is designed to give recognition to the top performing sailors at various levels of enlisted service. The Sailor of the Quarter is the top performing first class petty officer. The Junior Sailor of the Quarter is the best performing second class petty officer. Lastly, the Blue Jacket of the Quarter is the most impressive sailor in the junior ranks.