University of West Florida junior Aidan Enfinger was selected to spend a week in Japan for the Kakehashi Project, a Japanese government-sponsored program that aims to promote mutual understanding between Japan and other nations by fostering personal connections and cultural exchange.
A Navarre woman’s 2022 death has reentered the spotlight as her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child was set to go on trial April 28 for allegedly kidnapping her, which resulted in her death.
The federal trial of Marcus Spanevelo, who is alleged to have transported Navarre resident Cassie Carli’s body to Alabama and buried it in a shallow grave in Springville, a 40-minute drive from Birmingham, is being examined by a capital review committee to see if he could possibly face the death penalty.
After four years of loyal service, my laptop keyboard seems to be failing. Certain, high-volume letters now require more persuasion. Often, I must double back to coax their participation. One frequently used letter that now requires extra attention is the letter ‘G.’ Based on a video about regional accents produced by a linguistics expert, it seems that my laptop has embraced life here in the south and has developed a drawl. The first pass at typing this column yielded words like “failin’” and “typin’,’’ and in certain contexts I could get away with leaving them as is. It is a different matter with the reluctant keys for “A” and “T.” They have decided to renegotiate their contract since without their participation, many words are not words at all.
Navarre is 100 years old this year, 2025, and Navarre Press turns 25 years old in May of this year. We wish we had been here to record the entire 100 years or more of history. However, we have the next best thing. When we purchased the Santa Rosa Press Gazette, we also acquired the archives of the Milton Gazette which has been around since 1910. That is a lot of history. A huge part of our job is to preserve local history. Each issue is a snapshot into the life of our community. Today’s news is tomorrow’s history. We record celebrations, challenges, and the everyday events that shape our collective identity.
The Navarre Press recently reported on efforts by Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association (NBLRA) leaders Gary Buroker and Drew Ruthrauff to pursue fee simple title for beach properties. While resolving issues such as double taxation is an understandable goal, we, as concerned residents, believe it is essential to carefully consider the potential long-term impacts of such a fundamental shift in land ownership on our community.
Commissioner Kerry Smith said he went out of town over the weekend and came back to read our editorial in the Feb. 20 issue. At first, he said he was angry, but he read it a second time and said we were right. We are not celebrating over being right – we are celebrating because change has been made. And one commissioner had the guts to direct the change.
Navarre’s growth is no secret. With more people comes more development, particularly for businesses and housing. Here are some of the developments currently underway you might have seen around Navarre.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet recently met in Okaloosa County to discuss issues surrounding immigration enforcement and how best to coordinate state efforts with those of the federal government.
DeSantis and the state Legislature held a special session this past month which saw the arrival of new laws focused on giving localities more authority to go after illegal immigrants, toughened penalties for those illegal immigrants found guilty of crimes such as child rape and murder, and created boards to help streamline the process.
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is excited to announce a groundbreaking collaboration between the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) and the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation (FCSF) that will introduce a unique addition to the UMA’s seventh annual installation. The Menina of the Reef: An Infinite Message (La Menina del Arrecife: Un Mensaje Infinito) sculpture by Spanish artist Antonio Azzato will be fabricated and deployed in the summer 2025 to raise awareness of FCSF’s mission to provide support and peace of mind to cancer patients in Florida.
