News Archive

When the Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners doubled the gas tax in 2015, the total gas tax became 12 cents per gallon. But how is the use determined? What can it be spent on?

The skies around Northwest Florida are almost always occupied. At any point in time, you can see commercial airliners taking off from Pensacola International Airport or Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, fighter jets and C-130s soaring above the region’s various military installations, and the Blue Angels training along the coastline.

It was an unordinary day at Holley-Navarre Middle School when a teacher walked into the library wearing a military uniform, April 3, 2024. Surrounded by students, family and friends, he would be presented the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight two years ago — back when he was an evaluator flight engineer at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers once said, “give me 18 inches of daylight, that’s all I need.” While Sayers was talking about running lanes in football, the Blue Angels have also lived by that moniker.

A Galaxy far, far away will be a little closer to home for Navarre High School’s Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students this April.

On Friday, April 19, Bennett C. Russell Stadium, where the Navarre Raiders play football, will become the site of ‘Raider Wars 2024.’ The Raider Wars, which is “Star Wars” themed, is the latest installment of the annual Navarre High Raider Games.

“An answered prayer.” That’s how Austyn Evans describes knowing her two-year-old son, Conrad, now has a kidney after an agonizing search for a donor. Although the search took them from Northwest Florida to Texas and then to Georgia, the donor turned out to be closer to home (in fact, the donor lives in their home).

Phone scams are on the rise in the State of Florida. This is according to the Office of Inspector General, which has received reports from residents and former residents since April 4. The Santa Rosa County Clerk’s Office wants to make residents aware of this scam and how it is being perpetrated.

Community members interested in becoming adoptive parents are invited to join FamiliesFirst Network for an Adoption Family Spring Fest. This day of games, food and prizes will be held Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Liza Jackson Park, 338 Miracle Strip Parkway in Fort Walton Beach.

Since 1997, Sodexo has been the food vendor for Santa Rosa District Schools, supplying food and drink to students across the county. On Thursday, April 11, the district announced the longtime partnership was ending.

With the expansion of artificial reefs across the Panhandle, more and more people are partaking in underwater recreation in the Gulf and in the intercoastal waterways. As more visitors come to our area, there is more risk for something going awry, meaning first responders have to be ready to answer the call.