TOP NEWS
Commission Trio Shuts Down $147K Board Room Renovation
During today’s county commission meeting, Commissioners Rhett Rowell, Ray Eddington and Bobby Burkett put the brakes on a plans to spend roughly $147,000 to renovate the board’s meeting room. Commissioners Kerry Smith and Colten Wright spoke out against stopping the project. Pace resident Cindy Smith spoke out against the spending, referring back to last week’s … read more
Citizens Oppose Commissioners Spending $147K on Meeting Room Renovations
Local watchdog Jerry Couey and others spoke out this morning against Santa Rosa County spending money renovating the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room. Commissioners on Thursday will decide whether or not to spend $147,0787 on the project, which is aimed to improve the “aesthetics” and “functionality” of the space. Couey stated that citizens are … read more
Colby Lee Swift Inks With BMG & WME
Pictured (L-R): Chris Oglesby (BMG), Lance Roberts (WME), Colby Lee Swift, Amy Hendon Scott (BMG), Alex Luebbert (WME), Bobby Walkup and Trippy Phillips (Hollow Point Management). Photo: Terry Wyatt Colby Lee Swift has signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG, and with WME for booking. “I knew from the first time I saw Colby play … read more
Commissioners Reject Rowell’s Proposal to Protect Farmland
District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell, right, presenting the 2025 Conservation Hall of Fame award to Lewie Joe Smith during the Feb. 5 Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Awards Banquet. Photo courtesy Jeff Snow. Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell on Tuesday asked fellow commissioners to allocate a portion of future local … read more
Patterson’s Law Could Change How Florida Handles Child Abuse Investigations
Florida Senator Dr. Barbara Shareif has filed legislation which could change how child abuse investigations are handled. The legislation is named for a South Florida couple whose twins inherited their Mom’s genetic disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and were taken into state custody. Inspired by cases where parents were wrongly accused or physicians or medical workers misunderstood … read more
HNWS Director “Appalled” By Preserve Navarre Email Claiming “Clean Sweep” of Utility Election
“Incorporation is dead,” stated Holley-Navarre Water System Secretary Carmen Reynolds during Monday’s reorganization meeting of the utility’s board of directors, following concerns over an email recently distributed by Wes Siler of the pro-incorporation group Preserve Navarre. Siler, who lost attempts in 2024 and 2025 to get elected to HNWS’ board, sent a Jan. 26 mass … read more
FACE$ OF DCF ADOPTION$ FOR FEDERAL MONEY: Theresa’s story
FACE$ OF DCF ADOPTION$ FOR FEDERAL MONEY is a new series we’re starting to expose how the Florida Department of Families (DCF) rakes in federal money by removing kids from their families, placing them in state custody, and then adopting them out to others. This “system” was established after President Bill Clinton’s 1997 Adoption and … read more
