TOP NEWS
Family Opens Tropical Smoothie Café in Pace, Plans Milton Café
On any given day in Pace, you might walk into Tropical Smoothie Café and think you are just grabbing a smoothie. But for Amanda and Jarrett Melvin, this café is something much deeper. It is personal. It is purposeful. And at the center of it all is their daughter, Aeris. Aeris is not just part … read more
DCF Settles Infant Death in Foster Care Lawsuit
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) took custody of an infant from a hospital, placing it with foster caregivers Kevin and Tiffany Herrman of Milton. The boy died while in their care in 2023, and a related lawsuit was recently settled. No news of the infant’s death happened when it occured; however, a … read more
OP-ED on Teachers Salary Impasse Vote from School Board Chairwoman Carol Boston
Public school funding in Florida is not a future concern—it is a present and growing crisis. Here in Santa Rosa County, that reality is no different. As Chairwoman of the School Board for the last two years, I have ensured every board member understands the financial trajectory we are on. State funding constraints, rising costs, … read more
Is Due Process Dead in Santa Rosa County Family Dependency Court?
Justice isn’t blind in dependency court in Santa Rosa County, Florida. She’s brazenly doing the bidding of the Florida Department of Children and Families, which needs to be investigated by a third party. The problems include: Children taken from their homes under armed police escort and sometimes kept by DCF without due process and placed … read more
UPDATE: Navarre Child Back in Santa Rosa County, DCF Workers Replaced
A Navarre girl has reportedly been returned to Santa Rosa County after the Florida Department of Children and Families took her to a foster caregiver in Jacksonville nearly two years ago. The agency had also sought to terminate the parental rights of her mother, Joy Zuraff, over differing opinions regarding the child’s cystic fibrosis treatment. … read more
Santa Rosa Teachers “Win” Raise Despite Peden and Boston Opposition
It’s a win for Santa Rosa County District Schools teachers, who will receive a 2% recurring salary increase for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, following an impasse. District 4 School Board Member Charles Elliott made the motion, seconded by District 2 Board Member Elizabeth Hewey. District 1 Board Member Linda Sanborn was the deciding vote for it. … read more
The Quiet Expansion of Surveillance: Why Flock Cameras Should Concern Us All
There’s a dangerous assumption taking hold across America: that if a technology helps solve crime, it must be worth the cost. On the surface, automated license plate reader systems—like those deployed by Flock Safety—seem like an obvious win. Cameras capture vehicles entering and leaving neighborhoods, alert law enforcement to stolen cars, and provide investigative leads. … read more
