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
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
