OPINION: Buzzards Circle for District 2 Seat as Traffic Congestion Clogs Incumbent’s Chances
OPINION: Buzzards Circle for District 2 Seat as Traffic Congestion Clogs Incumbent’s Chances
District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith has badly mistreated a multitude of citizens, some of whom say he’s failed keep his 2022 “Roads Before Development” campaign promise and that Hwy. 90 traffic woes have worsened. Now Smith finds himself facing those same constituents, asking them to rehire him to the $94,046 job of representing them four … read more
Candidate Ordered to Leave After Verbally Accosting Others Outside County Building
Candidate Ordered to Leave After Verbally Accosting Others Outside County Building
R.C. Pittman, a candidate for the Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 seat, this morning was ordered by law enforcement to leave the area outside the administrative building after he verbally accosted others, following today’s commission meeting. Pittman during the meeting had expressed frustration that his name had been brought up during Tuesday’s board meeting. … read more
Turtle Conservation Center President Admits to Fatal Shooting of Neighbor’s Pet Duck
Turtle Conservation Center President Admits to Fatal Shooting of Neighbor’s Pet Duck
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center President Becky Harger, pictured, admitted to shooting her neighbor’s pet duck. Smugglers Cove subdivision resident Carla Encarnacion says she is devastated after a neighbor fatally shot her 10-month-old pet duck, Maverick. Becky Harger, president of the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, has admitted to intentionally shooting the duck, … read more
County Commissioners Unanimously Approve Controversial Camera Enforcement System
County Commissioners Unanimously Approve Controversial Camera Enforcement System
Santa Rosa County Commissioners this morning unanimously approved moving forward with amending ordinances to allow automated law enforcement of speeding in school zones, using cameras and citations issued by an automated process. Navarre resident Larry Seal was one of several citizens who spoke in opposition, telling the board that he had been wrongfully ticketed by … read more
OPINION: Could a Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge More Quickly Resolve Milton’s Hwy. 90 Congestion?
OPINION: Could a Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge More Quickly Resolve Milton’s Hwy. 90 Congestion?
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) last evening hosted a public workshop, which was focused on 2026 transportation priorities, including discussions on historic downtown Milton highway improvements. Citizens who missed the workshop can still submit comments on those priorities online (see below). During the 90-minute workshop, I didn’t notice any Santa Rosa County Commissioners in … read more
Will County Commissioners Choose Automated Law Enforcement as New Revenue Source?
Will County Commissioners Choose Automated Law Enforcement as New Revenue Source?
Santa Rosa County Commissioners tomorrow morning will host one of two public hearings required to amend county ordinances to allow automated law enforcement of speeding in school zones, using cameras and citations issued by an automated process. The board would manage any revenues generated by the new system, if approved. The automated equipment will utilize … read more
Scammers Target Santa Rosa Citizens with False Jury Duty Info
Scammers Target Santa Rosa Citizens with False Jury Duty Info
Gulf Breeze Chief of Police Rick Hawthorne says his agency has responded to multiple reports of scammers posing as Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement officers, claiming there was an arrest warrant due to the victim allegedly missing jury duty. “This is the second or third report we’ve taken,” Hawthorne told South Santa Rosa … read more
Zoning Board Member Mark Locklin Loses Personal Variance Request
Zoning Board Member Mark Locklin Loses Personal Variance Request
The Santa Rosa County Zoning Board on February 12 voted to recommend approval of a personal variance request by a fellow board member Mark Locklin. However, following an appeal by a third party, county commissioners denied the request during last night’s rezoning meeting. Locklin abstained from voting on Feb.12. but the following Zoning Board members … read more
Patronis Introduces Warrior Road Act to Prioritize Funding for Military Readiness
Patronis Introduces Warrior Road Act to Prioritize Funding for Military Readiness
Northwest Florida may be one of America’s best-kept secrets. Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Okaloosa counties are home to about 25,000 active-duty service members and nearly 100,000 veterans, not including their families. I’m proud to represent a community that continually puts service before self. I fight for them every day in Washington, because the policies coming out … read more
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
