After a lengthy discussion about rezoning rural residential agriculture land with perturbed Santa Rosa residents, the zoning board obliged the concerned citizens’ request by denying Sterling Fibers’ proposition.

The Santa Rosa Zoning Board will consider Thursday evening whether to recommend changing zoning on a 54-acre parcel in Pace to allow possible expanded or active borrow pit operations.

The request is being made by Sterling Fibers, Inc. The parcel is at the end of Sterling Way west of Bell Lane.

Ira Mae Hewatt-Bruce’s life and contributions to Navarre and the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce were celebrated last week when family members, friends, Chamber and community members gathered June 30 to dedicate a room in her honor.

Navarre High School, which ended the school year with just over 2,200 students, isn’t far from reaching its full capacity of 2,369.

With that in mind and more growth on the way, Santa Rosa County School District officials are in the process of negotiating for a parcel of land between Navarre and Gulf Breeze that would be ideal for a new high school.