We hope you enjoy our Sports Guide in this issue of Navarre Press. A few years ago, our sports reporter, Brian Lester, went from covering one high school to making sure we have coverage for eight high schools. That is a huge leap in coverage. Thankfully, we have had help from high school yearbook staff and others that want to get on the field and courts and report on the games. Brian has done a phenomenal job. We have an opening for a sports reporter in Crestview if you know of anyone that might be interested.

Don’t miss the story on 2B about one of our few remaining independent veterinarians in Navarre, Natalie Dyson of St. Francis Veterinary Center.  Dr. Dyson was given a plaque from the Navarre Beach Fire Department and the Lifeguard Ambulance Service for her life saving efforts after opening up her office after hours to help save Sydney, the rottweiler. We featured Sydney’s ordeal on the cover of the July 12 issue of Navarre Press.

Every day, week and month is busy in the news business because news never sleeps. However, this month has been especially busy, and we are only halfway through. We have high school graduations to cover and a Visitor Guide to design, get to press and then distribute before Memorial Day Weekend. On top of that, we have staff taking vacations and going to graduations for their family members. And it is Navarre Press’s 25th Anniversary in a week and a half. We have known this milestone anniversary was coming for the last – 25 years, actually. However, we haven’t slowed down enough to even think about it.  Maybe we will have something ready by the end of the year. Navarre Press began with the first graduating class of Navarre High School – so this is Navarre High School’s 25th graduating class which is set to graduate on Friday, May 30. 

Happy Birthday, Navarre! Last week was Navarre’s 100-year birthday according to county records and plat maps. The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce held a birthday party last week complete with birthday cake and blowing out the candles. Thankfully there were only three candles, a 1, and two zeroes.  I felt privileged to be able to blow out one of the zeroes. Cindy Davidson with Centennial Bank blew out the number 1 – which is very appropriate since the bank is Centennial, and we are celebrating 100 years.  Her company also is a sponsor – also very appropriate.  Frankie Gibbs, who has been working on the centennial for more than two years also blew out a zero. We have some exciting plans for the paper in the coming months leading up to the Gala on June 21. Can’t wait to hear when the tickets are going to be on sale. You will definitely see an announcement in Navarre Press.

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.