Commissioner Rhett Rowell Advocates for Farmland Conservation, Using Sales Tax Money for Preservation
Commissioner Rhett Rowell Advocates for Farmland Conservation, Using Sales Tax Money for Preservation
Milton resident Vernon Compton expressed support for utilizing LOST funding for land conservation Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell today asked fellow commissioners to approve a plan to protect prime farmland in the northern end of the county, and the board also discussed whether or not to earmark a portion of local option … read more
Commissioner Kerry Smith Faces Criticism over Hwy. 90 Traffic
Commissioner Kerry Smith Faces Criticism over Hwy. 90 Traffic
Kerry Smith, right, showed visible signs of frustration during today’s county commission meeting Multiple citizens during today’s Santa Rosa County Commission meeting called out District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith, accusing him of failing to adequately address Hwy. 90 traffic congestion during his four-year term and trying to do something months before his re-election. Back in … read more
Betty Fountain Presented with Prestigious Industry Award
Betty Fountain Presented with Prestigious Industry Award
The Navarre Area Board of Realtors on Wednesday presented Navarre Broker Betty Fountain with its highest accolade – the Rebecca Ann Evans Award, which commemorates the life and contributions of the late president for unselfish service to NABOR, to the real estate community and to the quality of life in the Greater Navarre Area. … read more
County Staff Produce East Milton Master Plan
County Staff Produce East Milton Master Plan
A master plan for Pace was completed in 2006, and one for Navarre was put together in 2018. Now county staff have put together one for East Milton. Commissioners during yesterday’s meeting discussed the ineffectiveness of the two prior plans and expressed hope the new plan would be implemented instead of shelved. The board also … read more
Commission Trio Shuts Down $147K Board Room Renovation
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
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
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
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
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
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
