Local Prison Guard Jailed for Child Abuse Connected to Fentanyl Case
Local Prison Guard Jailed for Child Abuse Connected to Fentanyl Case
Ke Anthony Blackmon, 29, and Averee Savage, 27, are both in Santa Rosa County Jail facing federal charges, including possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing Fentanyl. Savage reportedly recently became an informant against Blackmon. On Monday, Dynisha Blunt, a corrections officer at Santa Rosa Correctional Institute, … read more
Family Opens Tropical Smoothie Café in Pace, Plans Milton Café
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
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
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
OPINION: Is Due Process Dead in Santa Rosa County Family Dependency Court?
OPINION: 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
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
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
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
Candidates Must Qualify by Friday for Local Judicial Races
Candidates Must Qualify by Friday for Local Judicial Races
Several local judicial terms are expiring, creating an opportunity for challengers, who must qualify by 12 noon EDT on Friday, April 24. Filing is done via the Florida Division of Elections in Tallahassee. The deadline to file via petitions has passed; therefore, a qualifying fee is required. CIRCUIT JUDGES First Judicial Circuit Judge positions pay … read more
Santa Rosa Market Tightens as Inventory Drops and a $6.7M Record Sale Makes Headlines
Santa Rosa Market Tightens as Inventory Drops and a $6.7M Record Sale Makes Headlines
Homes are selling faster and for more money — and a $6.7M Gulf-front sale just set a new benchmark for the region. The Santa Rosa County housing market entered spring 2026 firmly in seller’s market territory, with the latest data from Realtors Property Resource painting a picture of tightening supply and renewed buyer urgency. Months … read more
