Seashell collecting is a popular pastime for beachgoers across Florida.

Along the Emerald Coast, common finds include alphabet cones, Venus shells, lightning whelks, scallop shells, clam shells and Florida fighting conches. While the names may be unfamiliar to some, the appearance of these shells is recognizable to many Floridians.

For 16 years, Caroline Ireland has led the chorus program at Navarre High School.

In that time, she has become a steady presence in the school’s gymnasium building. While Ireland said she loves the school, she will move to a new school next school year.

Following the success of their Pensacola campus, Transformation Church is expanding their sphere of influence, creating a Gulf Breeze area campus.

Transformation Church’s new campus is located at the former home of Coast Community Church, which was absorbed into the church plant. The address is 3141 Gulf Breeze Parkway, just east of Oriole Beach Road.

First Baptist Church of Navarre spent part of last month focusing on reaching out to the community. Working alongside 30 members of the 2nd Baptist Church of Springfield, Missouri, FBCN conducted a three-day local missions initiative, called “Bless Navarre,” which featured church volunteers preparing 100 gift bags for teachers and staff at Holley-Navarre Middle School and painting the school’s multipurpose room.

Fears over what may happen to endangered species in the Gulf of America have heightened after the Endangered Species Committee, also known as the “God Squad,” exempted all oil and gas projects in the Gulf from Endangered Species Act regulations, including penalties for violations of federal law.

Conservation groups say the exemption could jeopardize species throughout the Gulf, including the critically endangered Rice’s whale. The committee took the action after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called ongoing litigation against oil companies a “threat” to national security.

Expansion will begin April 16 at the Betty J. Pullum Family YMCA in Navarre.

Military spouses often balance multiple roles, including housekeeper, parent and worker. Many handle these responsibilities while their active-duty spouse is deployed or at work.

Lyndsey Akers is no exception.

Holley Navarre Water System is set to receive a $3.46 million grant for the Tom King Bayou area septic-to-sewer project. The funds will cover planned construction costs at three selected locations in the Tom King Bayou area, with a potential of 189 connections.

Santa Rosa County is distributing the funds, but the grant comes from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

A series of dolphin deaths in the Florida Panhandle has raised concerns and prompted an investigation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As of March 23, 44 dolphins have washed ashore in the Florida Panhandle this year. Since March 1, 23 dolphins have stranded from Escambia to Gulf counties, with most occurring between March 6 and 11 in Bay and Gulf counties. Many of the dolphins have died.

Holley-Navarre Intermediate and Primary schools are collecting donations for Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. These donations will help support ECWR’s mission of rescuing and rehabilitating animals in Santa Rosa County. The donation drive began March 24 and will run through April 8.