The Florida Panhandle chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention held their 5th annual Paddle for Prevention at Juana’s Pagodas May 22. Everyone was invited to paddleboard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Santa Rosa Sound to raise awareness for suicide prevention or honor anyone they have lost to suicide.
As of Monday, more than 7.65 million people were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Florida. Here is a breakdown of fully vaccinated people by age group:
Santa Rosa County Zoning Board member Sam Mullins was asked to disqualify himself from voting on a particular agenda item by an audience member at a meeting May 13. Tony Hughes, the audience member who requested Mullins’ disqualification, says this is the result of an incident that occurred at a February Board of County Commissioners meeting.
A large sign detailing what behavior is unlawful at government meetings greeted those attending the May 13 Santa Rosa County School District Board meeting.
There were also at least nine Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office deputies, some in full K9 tactical gear, ready to deal with noncompliance.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday updated COVID-19 recommendations to allow fully vaccinated people to be maskless in any setting, unless masks are required by federal or state rules or by businesses that people are entering.
State wildlife officials are trying to better understand increased encounters between sharks and people fishing in Florida waters.
The incidents haven’t made the waters deadlier. But as conservation efforts have helped some shark species repopulate, the encounters appear more prevalent amid reports of sharks consuming catch before it’s brought onto boats or shortly after it is released back into the water, said Jessica McCawley, director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Marine Fisheries Management.
Endangered birds nesting along Navarre Beach Causeway will receive additional protections again this year after a 4-1 vote by Santa Rosa commissioners Tuesday evening. District 2 Commissioner James Calkins opposed the protections.
A 33-year-old man was arrested after the vehicle he was driving struck a child who got out of the backseat of another car and darted across Gulf Boulevard. The accident happened about 7 p.m. Saturday on Navarre Beach.
Ryan Morgan of Fort Lauderdale was charged with driving without a valid license. According to a Florida Highway Patrol media release, Morgan was driving westbound when the 10-year-old boy got out of another vehicle and ran across the road. The Pace boy, who first responders said has autism, was critically injured but expected to recover, the release said. The road was dark and the shoulder was limited, the report said. Morgan stopped immediately after the crash.
