By Jamie Gentry on August 24, 2017
Beautification project, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, East River Boat Ramp, florida department of transportation, Holley, Melvin Engineering, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Navarre Beach welcome sign, Palm trees, Paradise Advertising, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Commission Meeting, State Road 87, Sunshine Laws, U.S.Highway 98
Local
Love them or hate them, more signs in the same style as the Navarre Beach welcome sign may be coming to Navarre along State Road 87. The new signage is part of a proposed beautification project along the road that welcomes many tourists to the Navarre area. The improvements would cost an estimated $525,000. The […]
By Jamie Gentry on August 23, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, double taxation, Eglin Air Force Base, escambia county, Escambia County Land Conveyance Act, fee simple titles, florida panhandle, Gulf Islands National Seashore, gulf of mexico, Hurlburt Field, Land conservation, lease fees, Navarre Pass, Preservation clause, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa exemption, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Rosa Sound, Sen. Bill Nelson, Sen. Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz
Local
When the U.S. Senate returns to Capitol Hill in September from its monthlong vacation, the members will be considering national issues such as reforming health care and rewriting the tax code. But along with the big issues, there is a measure on the agenda that will directly affect only two counties in the Florida Panhandle. […]
By Jamie Gentry on July 27, 2017
Casino Beach, Casino Beach Bar and Grill, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Community Life Church, Joy Grace, Matt LaFon, Navarre, Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Fishing Pier, Robin Jones, South Santa Rosa County, special needs adults, Thursday Respite Program, World of Beer
Local
Casino Beach Bar and Grill in Pensacola stepped up to help their neighbors in Navarre July 19 through the Thursday Respite Fundraiser. During the event 20 percent of all drink and food sales made at the restaurant and bar were donated to the respite program. Owner Matt LaFon said it was the least he could […]
By Jamie Gentry on July 13, 2017
Beach vendors, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Commissioner Sam Parker, Gulf Boulevard, Janell Stephens, Mobile food vendors, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Phillip Stephens, Rocky D's BBQ, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Commissioner meeting, Sunset Beach Services, Tamara Davis, Tropical Sno, VIP Beach Rentals
Beach, Local
Gourmet lemonade and homemade popsicles were on the chopping block Monday as the Board of County Commissioners unanimously squashed an attempt to change beach vendor regulations. Currently, the county ordinances do not allow mobile vendors on public beach land, but lemonade business owner Tamara Davis and popsicle makers Phillip and Janell Stephens want to change […]
By Staff Reporters on July 13, 2017
Beach Monkey Bar, Bob Benaquis, Cocodrie's, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Erskine Funderburg, Liollo's Management Corporation, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach bridge, Navarre Beach Causeway, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Palms of Navarre LLC, Rocco's Italian Bistro, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Sylvia Martin, T.C.'s Front Porch
Beach, Local
Tentative plans for local restauranteur Bob Benaquis to sublease the vacant restaurant site on Navarre Beach may have fallen through, but that hasn’t stopped property leaseholder Sylvia Martin from closing in on her goal to find a tenant. Located at the front of the parking area for the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier at the foot […]
By Bart Steele on July 12, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Rob Williamson Listening Tour, D. R. Horton Inc., drainage infrastructure, effluent, Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, flood mitigation, Gulf Breeze, Holley by the Sea, Navarre, Navarre Beach Utilities, public works, RESTORE Act funds, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Rosa Sound, Tiger Point Community Center, tiger point golf club, treated wastewater, Yvonne Harper
Headlines
At the first stop on his third annual listening tour, Board of County Commissioners Chairman Rob Williamson took the opportunity to chastise the Holley By the Sea homeowners association in Navarre for its lack of drainage infrastructure. During the informal July 6 roundtable at Tiger Point Community Center in Gulf Breeze, Williamson, District 4 commissioner, […]
By Jamie Gentry on July 6, 2017
Attorney Roy Andrews, Beach restaurant, Bob Benaquis, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Sam Parker, Erskine Funderburg, Handshake deal, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach bridge, Navarre Beach Causeway, Palms of Navarre LLC, Rocco's Italian Bistro, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Sylvia Martin, T.C.'s Front Porch
Beach, Local
Coming over the bridge onto Navarre Beach, visitors are greeted by nesting shore birds and rolling sand dunes. They are also greeted by a vacant building in need of repair. Once a bustling Italian restaurant, the building has sat empty collecting sand for a year and a half. The vacancy has cost the county an […]
By Jamie Gentry on June 29, 2017
Amy Cozart, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Coastal Barrier Resources System, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, education, flood insurance, Gulf Coast Discovery Center, marine life, National Flood Insurance Program, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fire Station, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Navarre Beach Marine Park, Navarre Beach Marine Science Station, Northwest Florida Marine Education and Discovery of Gulf Ecosystems Inc., Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa Sound, University of West Florida
Local
Navarre Beach’s Gulf Coast Discovery Center has cleared another hurdle toward construction, but it’s also facing a new set of questions. The Discovery Center project was approved as part of a larger multiyear plan for BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill RESTORE Pot 1 funds submitted by Santa Rosa County to the U.S. Treasury, which will […]
By Jamie Gentry on June 29, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Commissioner Sam Parker, Gulf Boulevard, James Calkins, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Rocky D's BBQ, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Terrie Masters, Tom Schumack, Tropical Sno
Business
Tropical Sno, located on Navarre Beach, cleared the final hurdle to keeping their doors open June 22, but they are going to have to find space for some extra parking spaces. The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to support the zoning board’s recommendation to change the future land use for the snow cone and […]
By Rob Johnson on April 27, 2017
Attorney Roy Andrews, Chris Thomas, Coastal Concessions LLC, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Edgar Doubleday, Fusion World LLC, Lagerhead's restaurant, lawsuits, Legal battle, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Navarre Pier, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Commissioner meeting, Santa Rosa County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Scott Rayner, South Santa Rosa, Stephanie Maddox
Local
Threatened with possible eviction from their Navarre Beach Pier business, the embattled principals who run it bought more time this week with a three-year-late payment of $3,250 on their revenue-sharing pact with the county. County Attorney Roy Andrews backed off his recent ultimatum to Coastal Concessions LLC over the company’s unauthorized subcontract with an outside […]
By Jamie Gentry on April 26, 2017
Bill Anderson, Carol Anderson, Clopton Circle, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Emerald Coast Wildlife Zoological Park, florida panhandle, Highway 87, Holley, Holley Navarre, Navarre, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Susan Levielle
Headlines
The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge can officially call Navarre its new home. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed a motion Monday to rezone a roughly 2.2-acre piece of property to allow relocation of the refuge’s rehabilitation center, animal ambassadors and marine rescue unit. Read the full article in the April 27 issue of Navarre […]
By Rob Johnson on April 19, 2017
Chief Nick Anderson, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Sam Parker, drainage improvments, Holley by the Sea, LOST funds, Navarre, Pea Ridge area, Recreational parks, road resurfacing, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Firefighters Association, Scott Kemp, Sheriff Bob Johnson, South Santa Rosa, Tom King Bayou East Branch Channel Restoration, Yvonne Harper
Headlines
Millions in improvements to drainage in Holley by the Sea (HBTS) could lose a funding opportunity following the second meeting of the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the future of the new local option sales tax (LOST) funds. Read the full article in the April 20 issue of Navarre Press. Subscribe online at navarrepress.com […]
By Jamie Gentry on April 12, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, East Bay Boat Ramp, Edgewood Drive, florida department of transportation, Gulf Boulevard, Heart of Navarre, Navarre, Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Navarre Beach bridge, Navarre Beach Marine Park, Navarre Chamber, Navarre Community Access Road, Panhandle Butterfly House, Paradise Advertising, Pensacola Sign & Graphics, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, South Santa Rosa, State Road 87, U.S.Highway 98, Whispering Pines Boulevard
Headlines
Congestion from U.S. Highway 98 through Navarre might have an alternative route in the future as the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed Monday the approval of a feasibility study for creating an alternative. Read the full article in the April 13 issue of Navarre Press. Subscribe online at navarrepress.com for as little as $38 […]
By Jamie Gentry on April 6, 2017
Attorney Roy Andrews, Bill Anderson, Buddy Page, Cloptons Circle, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Sam Parker, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Holley, Navarre, Okaloosa Island, rezoning, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa county Zoning Board, State Road 87, Steve Hall, susan leveille, wildlife refuge
Local
Unexpected medical problems have prompted postponement of a decision on the fate of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge’s attempts to move to the Navarre area. The site under discussion is a parcel of donated land in Holley on Cloptons Circle, off State Road 87. Refuge officials announced in December 2016 that they were seeking to […]
By Rob Johnson on March 15, 2017
Barbara Petersen, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, electronic communications, Florida Law, Florida Supreme Court, Government officials, Greater Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Judy Morehead, Mobile Guard, Navarre, Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Sam Morley, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Commssioners, Sunshine Week, Text Guard, text messaging, texting, Thursdays in the Park, tracking system
Government, Headlines
The current national Sunshine Week initiative (March 12-18) to educate the public about the importance of transparency in government finds Santa Rosa lagging in how it watchdogs officials’ mobile phone text messaging. Unlike a growing number of Florida counties, Santa Rosa has neither formal guidelines on officials’ use of text messaging nor modern tracking technology […]
By Jamie Gentry on March 9, 2017
Coastal Concessions LLC, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Don Salter, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Commissioner Sam Parker, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, half-cent local option sales tax, Loggerheads restaurant, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Pier, Navarre Pier, Paradise Advertising, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Scott Rayner, South Santa Rosa, Stephanie Maddox, tourist attraction
Local
County Commission Chairman Rob Williamson has a vision of what the Navarre Beach pier should look like in coming years. He said he would like to see coffee and ice cream shops, retail opportunities, rental activities and an expanded stand-alone restaurant. “I believe we could be tripling that revenue,” he said. The Board of County […]
By Jamie Gentry on March 2, 2017
Christina Forrest, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Don Salter, David Farrow, environmental protection agency, Escambia County Democratic Women's Club, Florida, Grover T's restaurant, Hurricane Betsy, Jeff Miller, Marilyn Farrow, Mexican border, Milton, Navarre, Navarre Beach Leaseholders Association, Navarre Pass, Obamacare, Pat Cook, politics, President Donald Trump, property taxes, Rodney King, Santa Rosa County, Simple title fees, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, Veterans Affairs
Local
U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz spent most of his inaugural Open Gaetz Day Thursday touring Santa Rosa County and discussing his views and the views of his constituents on issues including Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, building a wall at the Mexican border and Obamacare. Read the full article in the March 2 issue of […]
By Rob Johnson on March 2, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, don gaetz, Enterprise Florida, Florida Rep. Jayer Willamson, Fred Piccolo, Johnson and Blanton, lawmakers, Pete Gandy, Richard Corcoran, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Sen. Doug Broxson, Sen. Jeff Brandes, Whiting Field
Headlines
Don’t be a “Fraidy Cat.” That’s what current and former lawmakers advise in response to the recent timidity of Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Rob Williamson about supporting resolutions that oppose bills backed by influential Tallahassee legislators. Williamson expressed concerns twice last week about two requests for board resolutions—written statements in disagreement with proposed new […]
By Jamie Gentry on February 22, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, Greater Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce, Judy Morehead, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Navarre Chamber, Navarre Park, Norm Crowder, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff Bob Johnson, South Santa Rosa, Thursdays in the Park, Tony Alexander, U.S.Highway 98
Headlines
Discussion of the future of the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s Thursday’s concert series got intense at Monday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting as chamber president Judy Morehead and Commission Chairman Rob Williamson tangled over past conversations involving the event. The NBACOC has applied to have the 2017 concert series on Navarre Beach Gulf-side […]
By Jamie Gentry on February 16, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, drainage improvements, Ed Carson, First responders' communications radio, half-cent local option sales tax, Jonathan Kanzigg, LOST committee, Moving Santa Rosa Foward, Navarre, Public Safety, Radio tower, RESTORE BP Oil funds, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Firefighters Association, Santa Rosa County voters, Scott Kemp, Surtax Oversight Committee, Tamara Fountain
Local, Santa Rosa County
Debate over what projects will be funded and who decides on those projects left the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) without a clear path forward for the estimated $39.5 million to be collected on the half cent local option sales tax, or LOST, Tuesday following the board’s annual Planning Workshop. Read the full article in […]
By Editorial on February 16, 2017
Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, drainage improvements, Ed Carson, editorial, First responders' radio tower, Holley by the Sea, local option sales tax funds, Local-Option Sales Tax, Navarre, Pace, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Scott Kemp, Surtax Oversight Committee, Tax dollars, Tax payers
Navarre Press Editorial
The county has published their proposed spending plan for an estimated $39 million in local option sales tax funds, and not surprisingly folks aren’t happy with the distribution. The projects listed are clearly important. The first responders’ radio tower that is listed at a price of $750,000 should have been built years ago. It is […]
By Jamie Gentry on February 7, 2017
Board of County Commissioners, budget, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, half-cent local option sales tax, Local-Option Sales Tax, LOST, Moving Santa Rosa Forward, planning workshop, Scott Kemp
Headlines
Debate over what projects will be funded and who decides on those projects left the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) without a clear path forward for the estimated $39 million to be collected on the half cent local option sales tax, or LOST, Tuesday following the board’s annual Planning Workshop. A proposal by County Administrator […]
By Jamie Gentry on February 1, 2017
capital expenditures, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commission Don Salter, half-cent sales tax, law enforcement, Local-Option Sales Tax, pay increase, Public Safety, Salary raises, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Comissioner meeting, Santa Rosa County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Santa Rosa officers, Sheriff Bob Johnson, SRSO
Headlines
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s deputies could expect raises as early as Aug. 1 thanks to a reallocation of up to $290,000. Santa Rosa County Commissioners voted to allocate the sum for 2017 as well as up to $1.6 million from the 2018 budget toward one time raises for the sheriff’s deputies. The $290,000 is part of […]
By Jamie Gentry on January 26, 2017
ARC of Santa Rosa, ARC of the Emerald Coast, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Deborah Linton, Dixie Road, exceptional adult training facility, Exceptional Adults, financial support, medicaid, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, special needs
Local
As ARC of Santa Rosa, the county’s only exceptional adult day training facility, struggles to keep services in the county, the county commission is taking a deeper look into the need for these services. ARC of Florida CEO Deborah Linton said county commission chairman Rob Williamson approached the group to request that they bring a […]
By Jamie Gentry on January 12, 2017
Amy Cozart, captial equipment, Citizen oversight group, Colten Wright, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, Dean Easterwood, Ears 2 Hear, Ed Carson, Edwin Henry, first responders, Frederick Borrow, Greater Navarer Area Chamber of Commerce, Half-penny sales tax, infrastructure, Infrastructure Surtax Committee, Jack Bonney, James Calkins, Local-Option Sales Tax, Moving Santa Rosa Foward, recreation resources, Santa Rosa County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County voters, Scott Kemp, Tamara Fountain, Tony Alexander, Tool Shack, Transportation
Local
Collection of a half penny sales tax is underway and county commissioners made their final recommendations Monday for the Infrastructure Surtax Committee, a citizen oversight group. The tax, passed by Santa Rosa voters, is expected to net roughly $35 million over its five year lifetime. These dollars are limited to infrastructure uses including transportation and […]
By Jamie Gentry on January 12, 2017
bed taxes, Bill Geist, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Brandi Whitehurst, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Bob Cole, Evelyn Fine, Florida's Playground, focus groups, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Tourism and Seafood Promotional Funds Grant, infrastructure, Jack Sanborn, Julie Morgan, Mid-Florida Marketing and Research Inc., Navarre, Paradise Marketing, Public laws, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Tax dollars, TDC Meeting, Ton Merrick, Tourism Development Committee board, Tourism Development Committee Strategic Plan, Tourism Development Office, tourism staff, Vernon Compton, Zeitgeist DMOproz
Local
After three months of research and a roughly $14,000 tab, a strategic plan presented to and approved by the Tourism Development Committee board Friday would request additional tourism staff be placed on the county’s payroll. Plan creator Bill Geist of Zeitgeist DMOproz said the focus of the plan is to make the TDC a “trusted […]
By Jamie Gentry on January 4, 2017
Amendment 2, Beckie Cato, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, cannabis, Charlotte's Web legislation, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Florida, Florida Association of Counties, florida department of health, Florida Medical Association, Florida Senate Health Policy Committee, Florida voters, medical marijuana, Melissa Kuipers Blake, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, THC, treatable illnesses
Headlines, Health
After more than 70 percent of Florida’s voters approved an amendment to the state’s constitution broadening allowable use of medical marijuana, law makers at the state and local level were scrambling to put regulations in place and sort out fact from fiction as Amendment 2 went into effect Jan. 3. As the Florida Senate Health […]
