As the U.S. House of Representatives and the rest of the nation wrapped up 2025, Navarre Press spoke with Jimmy Patronis, the Republican representative of Florida’s 1st Congressional District, about his expectations and legislative priorities for 2026.
In 2025, Santa Rosa County approved 70 commercial projects. Approximately 31 of those projects are in Gulf Breeze, Tiger Point, Midway, Navarre or Holley.
Navarre Press has compiled a list of some of the projects that have been approved. Several of these projects have already been completed, while others haven’t broken ground.
Holley Navarre Water System is holding an election in January to decide who will join the board of directors in 2026. There are four candidates vying for three seats.
Navarre Press recently held a forum for candidates to share their thoughts on the water system and to answer members’ questions. The forum was held Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the HNWS-owned The Club at Hidden Creek.
Navarre Press reporter Hansen Hasenberg recently visited Auburn University during the school’s homecoming weekend, which featured homecoming festivities, a stadium tour and a football game.
Toilet paper hanging from trees is something most only see in their youth when tee-peeing a neighbor’s house as a prank—but at Auburn University, it’s tradition.
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.
We were privileged to contribute to the Navarre Centennial celebration Saturday night. Our very own Jonathan Crider, Ph.D., served as guest speaker and offered a wonderful perspective on the past century of the place we proudly call home. Jon knows this history better than anyone on our team, having researched and written the historical stories for Navarre Press years ago, back when he was part of our staff. We used to tease him that writing for the paper was his first glimpse into life as Sandi Kemp’s future son-in-law. He passed every test with flying colors and was warmly welcomed into both our family and the Kemp family.
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.
For Christians around the world, Easter represents a time of renewal, and a time of remembrance of the death of Jesus and his resurrection. However you choose to celebrate Easter, whether it is in Church or in your backyard hunting for Easter eggs or both, we at Navarre Press wish you a day of renewal. Consider it perhaps a transfiguration of sorts; a shedding of whatever is old and stale and an embrace of new things, habits and ideas. We can all use that in our life, no matter your belief.
