People with disabilities and their families sometimes feel as if they are on the outside looking in when it comes to inclusion in their community and even their church. A new ministry is trying to change that feeling for Escambia and Santa Rosa residents.

Beyond Sunday Fellowship, a faith-based 501c3 organization, was founded by a group of parents and volunteers who saw a growing need for community amongst Northwest Floridians with disabilities, whether mental or physical.

Most people don’t want to find themselves in a courtroom appearing before a judge, but for Navarre High School’s Mock Trial Team, it’s a privilege.

Led by teacher Ray Gentry, the team consists of around 16 students. Recently, the team went to a trial competition against other schools in Florida’s First Circuit. The competition was held at Escambia County Courthouse in Pensacola.

Santa Rosa County School Board recognized two people for their efforts to bring Career and Technical Education into the classroom and to enhance learning opportunities for students.

A political dispute over funding for immigration enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security has led to a partial government shutdown that is affecting federal employees, including those who work for the Transportation Security Administration.

With TSA employees not being paid during the shutdown, several airports are experiencing staffing shortages that have led to longer security lines. At airports in Atlanta, Houston and New Orleans, wait times have stretched several hours.

Navarre United Methodist Church’s Kids Choir hosted an event called “Rising Praise” on Sunday, March 8.

The worship concert featured 12 songs performed by 14 choir members, all between the ages of 3 and 11.

Sandra Williams, a 71-year-old woman died after striking the back of a school bus in the eastbound left lane of Highway 98 Wednesday, March 11. The incident occurred near Sunrise Drive in Navarre.

Holley-Navarre Fire District was dispatched to the scene at 1:50 p.m. and found the woman’s vehicle, a Chevrolet, partially underneath the school bus.

Around 2:05 p.m., a paramedic with HNFD declared the driver deceased.

The Navarre Beach Lifeguards returned to a foggy Navarre Beach Saturday, March 7.

The lifeguards will be looking to follow up a successful 2025, which saw over 1.9 million visitors, 1.5 million preventative actions, 6,337 assists and zero drownings.

Rachel Clearman has had music in her heart since she was 7 years old. That’s when she began playing piano.

Fast forward 14 years and Clearman is now in Nashville, pursuing her dream of becoming a recording artist.

The University of West Florida is known for its trails as well as its academics.

Much of the trails traverse through longleaf pine forests. The plant, which once spread over 90 million acres across America, is famously fire-resistant and relies on fires to clear out dead underbrush to make room for its seedlings.

Fourteen students from Holley Navarre Middle School and one student from Navarre High School are advancing to the State Science and Engineering Fair.

The 15 students competed in the 71st West Florida Regional Science Fair at the University of West Florida. According to Santa Rosa County District Schools, this year’s fair featured 56 projects, 60 student participants, six schools across two counties and more than $3,500 in awards.