Aug 21, 2014
Renfro sentenced to 45 years
40-year-old Ramon Wade Renfro of Pace was sentenced to 45 years in prison Aug. 13 by Circuit Judge John F. Simon, who also issued a 5-year concurrent sentence for violation of a pre-existing felony probation from 2011.
Aug 21, 2014
Melvin pushes elevators for overpass
Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Jim Melvin is pushing Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials to consider the county’s proposal to include elevators in a Navarre pedestrian overpass, which could be constructed in 2018.
Aug 21, 2014
County employees get merit raises
For the second year in a row, county employees are getting pay raises. Commissioners Aug. 14 approved a 5 percent merit raise for employees with five years or less time on the job. Those who have worked with the county for more than five years will receive 2.5-percent raises.
Aug 21, 2014
They’re back
Students and parents filed in local schools Monday, Aug. 18, to launch the new school year. Lines were long and parking was scarce forcing many back-to-schoolers to get an early morning workout as they hiked varied distances to reach their destinations, many of them hauling school supplies.
Aug 21, 2014
Dual enrollment up, costs to districts down
More area students are participating in dual enrollment classes, but the Santa Rosa and Escambia County School Districts are getting a break on the cost, thanks to an agreement with Pensacola State College (PSC).
Aug 21, 2014
Cyclist airlifted after non-vehicular collision
A cyclist was transported Aug. 15 by Lifeguard helicopter 1 after hitting an object while traveling south on Highway 87 on the East River Bridge.
Aug 21, 2014
Santa Rosa County teen killed in car crash
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is investigating a two-car crash from Sunday night that claimed the life of a Baker teenager. According to the FHP, 13-year-old Shawn McLaughlin was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that happened on Highway 4 east of Jay.
Aug 21, 2014
Stormwater fee increasing in Gulf Breeze
During the city’s budget review process, Public Services Director Vernon Prather noted that the city’s stormwater utility’s projected budget would be about $30,000 in the red. To wipe out the deficit, the City Council voted Aug. 17 to increase the city’s stormwater management utility fee from $4.50 to $5.07.
Aug 21, 2014
New Deputy City Manager brings experience to Gulf Breeze
Curt Carver spent nearly three decades working in city government in Illinois, and now he is bringing his experience to the City of Gulf Breeze. Carver was selected to be Deputy City Manager from a pool of nearly 100 applicants.
Aug 21, 2014
Airport traffic highest in more than 3 years
Pensacola International Airport reported that passenger traffic through the airport in July was the highest monthly total since May 2011. According to the report released Aug. 18, 153,476 passengers used the airport, which was about a 6.5 percent increase over July 2013 results.