Holley Navarre Water System board of directors approved a plan to send out Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to a handful of qualified companies for the purpose of bad debt service solicitations.

Since October, the board has repeatedly inquired about pursuing the outstanding debt of current and former customers through a collection agency. The board instructed staff to solicit information from debt collection agencies to give the board a better understanding of process.

Most days, jumping off the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier isn’t a welcomed sight. Monday, Feb. 16, wasn’t one of those days.

The Navarre Beach Lifeguards hosted a lifeguard development course, which is meant to help foster water safety, rescue skills and beach safety knowledge in current lifeguards. The Emerald Coast Lifesaving Association, a nonprofit focused on lifeguard training in Northwest Florida, is the organization behind the event.

The claims process for veterans to acquire their benefits can be burdensome, to say the least.

According to the VA, the average time to complete a disability related claim this year is 84.7 days. The claim review process can take even longer depending on the type of claim filed, how many injuries or disabilities claimed, how complex the injuries are and how long it takes the VA to collect evidence needed for a decision.

Santa Rosa County District Schools is close to opening its Center for Innovation.

Katelyn Kent, district public information and family and community outreach officer, anticipates a ribbon cutting for the new facility will be held in the spring.

Pensacon, the annual pop culture convention held at Pensacola Bay Center, was back in full force Friday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 22.

At 6:26 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, firefighters from Holley-Navarre, Midway and Navarre Beach fire districts descended upon a residential structure fire at 1735 Villa Vizcaya Drive.

Upon arrival, firefighters from HNFD Engine 41 saw smoke pouring out of the second floor, filling up most of the cul-de-sac with a haze.

Santa Rosa County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is holding a four-part event across two weekends to train county residents how to be prepared for emergencies and help their neighbors out when disaster strikes.

The basic CERT course will serve as an overview of emergency response. The first part of the course will be held Friday, Feb. 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Additional dates are Feb. 21 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Feb 27 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and Feb. 28 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins was in Santa Rosa County Monday, Feb. 9, to talk about the proposed 2026 budget and meet with Sheriff Bob Johnson, who announced he was endorsing the politician to be the next governor of Florida.

Collins, an Army combat veteran who was seriously injured during his time in Afghanistan, entered the gubernatorial race in January. He was previously a member of the state Senate and became lieutenant governor in August 2025, following Jeanette Nunez’s appointment to the presidency of Florida International University.

With the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution Annex in Milton as his backdrop, Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced the Governor’s intentions to spend $373.9 million of Florida’s 2026 budget on pay raises for correctional officers and staff.

The pay raise funding is part of a proposed $565.7 million investment in Florida’s prisons as part of the Floridians First Budget. Collins said the proposal will increase per hour pay from $22 to $28 for certified correctional officers, probation officers and inspectors.

On March 4, Midway Baptist Church will introduce its Awana club.

Awana is a global, nondenominational Christian youth ministry mostly known for its club-based programming. Started in 1950, Awana, which is an acronym of “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed,” has come to work with over 60,000 churches.