News Archive

Kite flying has been known to be child’s play, but not necessarily for a group of kite flying enthusiasts who have formed The Emerald Coast Kite Flyer’s Club. Members like Tonya Layton take a lot of pride in their handmade kite creations. She showed off the kite that she made herself, a dolphin she named Marty, at the club’s recent gathering at Opal Beach. Many club members bring family and friends to weekend “Club Fun Flys” the third Sunday of each month or whenever the club wants to get together.  

The Florida Highway Patrol reported a Gulf Breeze man is hospitalized after being struck by a car, while riding his bicycle Saturday along Highway 98 in Santa Rosa County.

One adult and one juvenile are charged with aggravated assault for allegedly attacking a Santa Rosa County Animal Control Officer Saturday in Pace.

It hasn’t been a good final year for West Navarre Primary School Principal Sandi Eubanks, who is set to retire in November. At the end of April during the historic rain event, her school received the worst flooding damage of any Santa Rosa school. During cleanup efforts, her school was hit by grand theft with the loss estimated at more than $10,000 but less than $20,000.

A traffic stop Sunday in Navarre resulted in a man being charged with multiple felony weapon and drug charges. According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, 50-year-old Desmond Paul Desautels was charged with engaging in a criminal offense subsequent offense, a first degree felony, delivering methamphetamine, a second degree felony and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, a third degree felony.

Santa Rosa County has officially been without a recycling contractor since May 12, when a bankruptcy court approved the county’s request to break its agreement with West Florida Recycling. The commissioners at their meeting today are expected to decide what company will take West Florida Recycling’s place and what services will be offered.

Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Jim Melvin anticipates commissioners will discuss a move to basically eliminate Navarre Beach lease fees later this month. The issue has been stirred by a Navarre Beach hotel developer’s request for a lease amendment at $1 per year and other credits. That request came after a court decision upheld the assessment of property taxes on beach leaseholders.

The Navarre man accused of shooting a woman and himself in a Hartington Road home during the early morning hours of June 6 is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail on more than$1 million bond.

Gainesville, Fla. — The University of Florida and The Village retirement community in Gainesville have partnered to offer UF Health Vitality Mind, a research program dedicated to maximizing brain health in older adults.

Washington (AP) – Research shows a common antidepressant may cut production of one of the chief suspects behind Alzheimer’s, a new avenue in the hunt for drugs to prevent the devastating brain disease.