The 2023 high school football season had its share of big moments. Navarre won a district championship for the second straight year and Jay enjoyed a turnaround season that resulted in a playoff berth. Pace went 8-2 but was left out of the playoffs despite its record.
Tourism is one of the chief economic drivers of Florida and Santa Rosa County is no exception. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Navarre Beach and other places in the county to spend money on things like hotels, restaurants, canoeing and camping.
Happy 2024! We are looking forward to the new year. We have two additional team members joining us within the first eight days of the new year, and we interviewed a very good candidate for Crestview today. One of our new team members will be “newsworthy” because of her history with Santa Rosa Press Gazette. You can “read all about it” next week. Can you tell I’m excited about having more help? The week between Christmas and New Year’s we have been getting computers and offices ready for our new team, clearing out a storage unit – one of three. Yes, we are the culprits keeping all the storage units in business.
A Mexican restaurant in Tiger Point remains closed following a fire early morning, Wednesday, Nov. 27. The blaze began sometime before 12:35 a.m., Nov. 27, at Rio Bravo Mexican Grill, located at 3755 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
Commissioners approve lease amendment for beach RV Park
Late into the special zoning board meeting Thursday night, Santa Rosa County Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve an amendment to Santa Rosa Development’s lease to allow an RV Park on the beach. Commissioner Sam Parker, Colten Wright and James Calkins voted in favor of the amendment, and Commissioners Kerry Smith and Ray Eddington opposed.
The Gulf Breeze Zoo announced the birth of a baby reticulated giraffe. Staff were on hand monitoring as Kenya, a 14-year-old giraffe, gave birth to the 6’3” 160 lb. male on July 13 shortly before midnight. The baby giraffe has not been officially named yet. Both mother and baby are healthy and thriving.
To keep up with the population growth, Midway Fire District Chief Jonathan Kanzigg, announced plans to double the number of fire stations from two to four.
It’s time to highlight some of the top volleyball players from our coverage area in 2023.
Baker had the most memorable season, winning a 1A state title, while Navarre and Jay both earned runner-up honors in their respective districts and made the regional tournament.
While the Blue Angels were flying over northwest Florida for their annual July show, not all Blue Angel pilots were in the skies. Bill Wheat, a Navarre resident, was watching from the comfort of a chair. At 91, Wheat is one of the oldest living Blue Angels. Wheat was the leader of the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron from 1967 to 1969 and has plenty of stories from his time with the Blue Angels and as a Vietnam veteran.
