News Archive

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners will meet Monday, June 9 in Milton to discuss several issues, including a graffiti ordinance and an update to MSBU fire districts, and recognize the achievements of local 4-H archers. Here is what you need to know about the upcoming meeting.

Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners approved plans for the expansion of Twelve Oaks Recovery Center with some minor caveats based on community input. With the expansion, Twelve Oaks will increase their patient capacity by 26 beds and add a 7,500 square foot facility for therapy meeting rooms and dining. Additionally, the recovery center is adding or updating the fencing surrounding its property to better accommodate a neighboring subdivision’s residents. A parking lot with 50 to 60 spaces is also being added to meet the facility’s needs.

Perfect Blend, which moved into Harvest Village in 2021, has a new location.

Starting June 4, the coffee shop will be in Suite 29 in Harvest Village, just four doors down from their old location. Monday, June 2, Perfect Blend held its final day of business in the old location.

A crash on Navarre Beach Causeway over Memorial Day weekend left one person seriously injured and another person in handcuffs.

Saturday, May 24, at 9:50 p.m., a pickup truck was traveling in the southbound lane on Navarre Beach Causeway, directly off the bridge. At the same time, a Dodge Nitro SUV was traveling in the northbound lane.

On June 9, the Santa Rosa County Commissioners will be talking about moving forward two Municipal Services Taxing Units to fund road and infrastructure projects and a Municipal Service Benefit Unit for stormwater maintenance.

At the Pensacola Propeller Club’s annual meeting held May 22, Firefighter Justin Price of Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District was recognized as the Maritime First Responder of the Year for his exceptional dedication and service.

Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District had their hands full Wednesday morning, May 28, when three houses on Navarre Beach caught fire simultaneously.

The three houses were the victims of lightning strikes from a series of thunderstorms which rolled through the area late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

This past Memorial Day, those at Navarre Park’s celebration were introduced to Ryan Blackwell, a Navy veteran and survivor of the 2019 NAS Pensacola terrorist attack, which took the lives of three Navy servicemembers. During the attack, Blackwell was shot six times. He managed to help others escape before finding his way to the hospital, something he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for. He also received a Purple Heart.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing listing the rare, swamp-dwelling ghost orchid as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Only found in Florida and western Cuba, the ghost orchid is at risk of extinction due to multiple threats, including poaching, habitat loss, and habitat degradation. The Service is not proposing critical habitat given it would increase the threat of poaching on this species. 

Branch Properties, the owner and developer of Elevate Navarre, a 332-unit apartment complex with amenities, has obtained a $47 million loan to refinance its holding.