News Archive

The Santa Rosa Island Authority is thrilled to announce that local naval aviator and retired Marine Corps Major Paul Entrekin is celebrating his 30th season as Air Boss of the Pensacola Beach Air Show this year.

Have you ever wondered who controls the schedule for all the aerial acts, mass formations, high-speed jet demonstrations and pyrotechnics at every show? Enter the Air Boss.

As the Air Boss, Entrekin has the primary responsibility for coordinating all air show operations within the demonstration area and plays a critical role in ensuring a safe, efficient and entertaining air show every year. All of this while also meeting the latest standard air show regulations.

More school vouchers. Expanded restrictions on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity. Limits on using TikTok. Carrying guns without concealed-weapons licenses. A larger Florida State Guard.

Rip currents can prove deadly for beachgoers. According to the National Weather Service’s 2023 surf zone fatalities list (Jan. 1 to June 24), Florida leads the way with 27 fatalities, only two of which were non-rip current related. In nearby Bay County, Panama City Beach had seven drownings from June 15 to June 24. All of which were related to rip currents.

A new RV resort is being planned for the south side of Highway 98, along Woodhaven Lane. Ayana RV Resort, which sits on a 3.51-acre lot, will feature 31 RV pads, a 3,278 square-foot office building, a pool and deck, two stormwater ponds and fencing around the property. There are also plans for five live oak trees to be on the property, according to the site plans.

Holley Navarre Water System’s Board of Directors met June 20 to discuss a number of topics but wound up spending a good portion of the meeting discussing commercial impact fees for RV parks and other businesses. A few months ago, several businesses, who are members of the water system, came forward with complaints surrounding the amount of money they were being charged for impact fees. The issue brought out Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce chair Steve Rhodes, who addressed the board during that meeting in April.

State Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, said Thursday that he would introduce legislation incorporating Navarre Beach if the Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association brings him an incorporation package that “checks every single box that’s laid out in the law.” “I’m not for or against incorporation,” he said. “My only role in that procedure is to introduce the bill to the legislature.”

Dr. Elaine Sharp of Gulf Breeze is facing possible criminal charges and the loss of her ability to practice medicine following an investigation into a possible ‘pill mill’ scheme being run out of her office, allegedly contributing to the overdose death of a patient. On June 22, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) issued an emergency restriction of Sharp’s license to practice as a medical doctor in the State of Florida. Under the order, she can still practice but cannot order or prescribe controlled medications.

The Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office (TDO) released the results of a community survey, which ended June 1. The survey asked for public input concerning possible future amenities and projects for the Navarre and Navarre Beach areas. Approximately 1,695 people answered the survey. There was a list of seven Navarre Beach amenities people were told to rank from top priority to lowest priority.

If you have been driving on East Bay Blvd. at any point over the last few months, you might have taken a detour down Edgewood Drive or Bergren Road. This alternate route is being used because of ongoing construction work by Santa Rosa County and its contractors. The County is replacing and upgrading cross drains at seven sites across East Bay Blvd. and along the pedestrian multi-use path adjacent to the roadway. A cross drain, sometimes referred to as a culvert, is a structure designed to drain water away from a roadway or development. These cross drains channel water runoff into East Bay.

Commissioner James Calkins — whose wife, Mariyah, is president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter — added consideration of such a resolution to the June 22 regular meeting agenda and several conservative social media sites on Wednesday began encouraging supporters to attend the meeting to lobby the commission to pressure the Santa Rosa County […]