While the causes of the weekend wildfires are still under investigation, Joe Zwierzchowski, Public Information Officer for the Florida Forest Service, says low humidity and winds fanned the flames of both.  “Typically we don’t see this in the overnight hours, but low humidity and high winds make for larger flame heights, and they move more quickly,” Zwierzchowski said. 

Most agree that Santa Rosa County needs a new courthouse. What can’t be agreed on is how big, how much, funding sources, or where to put it. The City of Milton wants it to stay in downtown Milton. Milton’s City Manager Brian Watkins made a presentation to the commissioner showing the “status of action” on the downtown properties previously identified as needed for a courthouse in the proximity of the existing courthouse. Out of eight parcels, two had been purchased by the City of Milton and four were in some form of negotiations and two properties had “no action.” 

Finally, what we’ve all been anxiously awaiting. The Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners Sept. 24 approved a draft multiyear implementation plan submitted by RESTORE council members at its county commission meeting.  The 15 projects submitted total $3.7 million.