News Archive

Santa Rosa County Judge Matt Gordon has been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to one of two open First Judicial Circuit judge seats.

Around 100 people packed the engine bay at the Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District on Tuesday, April 21, to voice concerns over a district plan to change how residential properties used as short-term rentals are assessed.

Short-term rentals, also called transient public lodging establishments, are defined by state statute as “any unit, dwelling, building or group of buildings within a single complex of buildings which is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, or which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests.”

In recognition of April as Sexual Awareness Month, Emerald Coast Victim Services (ECVS) recently held a Bagels and Boundaries event at Navarre Bakery.

The event offered an opportunity for ECVS to showcase its services and inform the public about healthy relationships. ECVS is a nurse-led, trauma-sensitive program that provides medical forensic care, advocacy and other forms of support for individuals impacted by violence, particularly sexual assault.

After hours of pointed arguments, emotional appeals and tense deliberation, the Santa Rosa County School Board voted April 22 to give district teachers a fully recurring 2% salary increase, ending months of failed negotiations and leaving union leaders relieved.

Navarre resident Joy Zuraff was back in court Thursday for a dependency hearing in a two-year battle to retain her parental rights over her daughter, Kenlee.

The smell of Thai food cooking. The sight of a martial arts demonstration. The sound of Thai music over a loudspeaker.

These are some of the experiences that greet visitors at Wat Florida Buddharam. On Sunday, April 12, the Buddhist temple hosted a celebration of Songkran, the Thai New Year.

Santa Rosa County recently held its first annual volunteer appreciation event to recognize volunteers at county owned and managed departments. The event was held at Santa Rosa County Auditorium.

The Navarre Park splash pad is expected to open May 1.

Navarre Community Access Road is heralded as a solution to Highway 98 congestion issues through Navarre.

The 16-mile, two-lane Community Access Road, which has already undergone a Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) Study, is slated to be a combination of expanded residential roadways and new roads going east and west from Edgewood Drive to Panhandle Trail. Other alternate plans would have it extend to Fox Den Drive or Whispering Pines Boulevard.

It’s never too early to have a plan. This weekend, residents across Santa Rosa County are invited to a free Disaster Services Expo on Sunday, April 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Bayview Community Center, located at 2001 E. Lloyd St. in Pensacola.