The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) today advised residents there has been an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity in areas of Santa Rosa County.

A human case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed and there is a heightened concern additional residents will become ill. Santa Rosa County Mosquito Control and DOH-Santa Rosa continue surveillance and prevention efforts. DOH-Santa Rosa wants to remind residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure.

Three months ago, the District One Medical Examiner’s Office Board of Directors – DOMES – was focused on buying property in Milton for its new facility. Last week, the number of potential sites blossomed to four.

“Up until July, the board’s consensus was (that the new building would be in) Santa Rosa County,” DOMES Chief Executive Officer Dan Shebler said Sept. 28 at a special facilities meeting. “Walton County has offered us free land in one of its industrial parks; that makes four potential sites.”

On Tues., Sept. 20, parents of children who attend Woodlawn Beach Middle School received calls from the school concerning an incident which had taken place earlier in the day involving a student, a possible fake gun, and several of the students’ peers.

Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day, according to 22Challenge.org, a nonprofit corporation committed to increasing suicide awareness and prevention among veterans and first responders. That’s one suicide every 65 ½ minutes.

On Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Navarre Park, American Legion Post No. 382 and American Legion Riders Chapter 382 of Navarre will hold the second annual Challenge 22 event to raise money to support 22Challenge.org efforts.