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.

Over the past several years, Oriole Beach Elementary School has hosted an event named ‘White Cane Day’ to recognize a blind student enrolled at the school and bring awareness of blindness and other conditions to fellow students.

The annual event has been a big success, with students and teachers participating in a variety of activities to show what life would be like without the use of vision.

Holley Navarre Water System board of directors met Feb. 17 to discuss, among other things, strategic planning options.

Earlier this year, the board told HNWS staff of its desire to create a five-year strategic plan. The plan would lay out a series of goals for the system and how the board could reach them with respect to budget constraints.

Recently, a string of bear depredations has raised concerns among some Navarre residents.

A depredation is the act of attacking or plundering in a destructive assault. The term is used when bears attack livestock, crops, beehives or other property.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 63 depredations in the agency’s West Panhandle Bear Management Unit in 2025, an increase from 29 reported in 2024 and 21 reported in 2023. Other statistics for the region indicate an increase in bear-human interactions, which could signal a growing bear population.

While South Santa Rosa County may not be the agricultural boon that the north end is, one classroom at West Navarre Intermediate School is working to ensure students grow in their agricultural knowledge.

Fourth-grade teacher Michelle Tucker has introduced plants, chickens and other agricultural subjects to her students for at least the past three years.

With an art career spanning 40 years, Dan Beck has built a name for himself.

Beck, an impressionist painter, has won numerous awards and recognitions for his artwork, which bridges traditional impressionism and contemporary art concepts.

Midway Fire District Station 37 hosted firefighters from multiple departments across south Santa Rosa County late last month.

Over three days, Midway, Holley-Navarre and Navarre Beach fire departments participated in high-intensity firefighter rescue training. The three districts are part of the South Santa Rosa Fire Alliance and work together for training and other events.

Northwest Florida Construction Career Days celebrated a record-breaking sixth year in 2026.

The annual construction and transportation career fair drew more than 1,400 students and chaperones from schools across seven Northwest Florida counties. Counties involved in this year’s event included Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties.

Colton Tucker is anything but average.

An A-grade student, top of his class and a dirt bike enthusiast, Tucker recently added the honor of Sunshine State Scholar to his burgeoning resume.