News Archive

When out on patrol, Santa Rosa County sheriff’s deputies know to keep their eyes out for anything suspicious.

While most incidents involve people, Deputy Dwayne Smith encountered something with two wings Thursday, Aug. 20, around 11 a.m.

A man was arrested after allegedly yelling, cussing and recording voters at Santa Rosa County Auditorium in Milton Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Marc Jon Manchon, 40, is charged with felony battery, resisting an officer, disturbing the peace and violating election law, which is a felony.

On a night when many in Navarre were paying attention to the Florida primary elections, Holley-Navarre Water System’s (HNWS) board of directors was making plans for its own election.

Each January, HNWS holds an annual meeting, during which members elect candidates to serve on the water board. At its Aug. 18 meeting, the board appointed a director to the canvassing board, approved the election calendar and discussed candidate qualifications.

Two vehicles collided at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 (Navarre Parkway) and Coral Street in Navarre on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The proposed Navarre Beach boardwalk is currently out for bid.

The project, which is officially called the Navarre Beach Event Hall and Boardwalk Complex, has been in discussion for years, but plans picked up steam in 2025. Now, in 2026, the county appears to be moving forward with the project despite growing opposition.

One of the nation’s largest homebuilders is moving into the Florida Panhandle.

PulteGroup, an Atlanta-based development company, is opening a new division to support company growth and meet the strong demand for new homes across Florida.

Holley-Navarre Fire District got what it asked for.

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Navarre voters supported a fire assessment increase. According to the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections, the ballot measure received 3,727 “yes” votes to 2,839 “no” votes. Percentage-wise, the vote was 56.76 percent to 43.24 percent.

Navarre Beach wastewater treatment plant filters, sifts, dilutes and cleans around 250,000 gallons of wastewater per day.

After leaving a house, condominium or business on Navarre Beach, wastewater travels to 1411 Utility Drive, where it is treated until finally being pumped into Santa Rosa Sound. The county-owned facility is permitted to dispense up to 700,000 gallons per day into the waterway.

A proposal to build a 150-foot cell tower behind the Walmart in Tiger Point drew a recommendation of denial from the Santa Rosa County Zoning Board on Aug. 13 after residents said the project would worsen flooding problems in their neighborhoods.

With U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis taking 71 percent of the vote districtwide in the Aug. 18 Florida primary, the first-term congressman from Panama City will face off against Democratic challenger Gay Valimont in the November general election.