Bank robber gets 15 year prison sentence
Bank robber gets 15 year prison sentence
The Holley man charged with robbing the Navarre Centennial Bank back in 2015 will spend the next 15 years of his life behind bars. State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Tuesday that Joel Anthony Beauchemin entered a plea before his trial to Robbery without a Weapon. The plea was accepted and the Holley resident will be in … read more
Commissioners delay courthouse discussion
Commissioners delay courthouse discussion
Santa Rosa County Commissioners this morning decided to wait until a full board of five is sworn before holding further discussions about funding a new county courthouse. Voters during the Aug. 30 primary election shot down a third effort by the county to levy a local sales tax to fund a new county courthouse in … read more
Meet our new commissioner!
Meet our new commissioner!
Write-in candidate Caleb Boudreaux has withdrawn from the race for the Santa Rosa County District 1 seat, leaving Sam Parker of Pace to fill the vacancy left by that district’s former commissioner — newly elected Florida House District 3 Representative Jayer Williamson. Parker won the Aug. 30 primary by a 60-40 margin, defeating fellow realtor … read more
Dangerous surf with potentially deadly rip currents
Dangerous surf with potentially deadly rip currents
Surf at all area beaches is “dangerous” for any level of swimmer” as a result of Tropical Storm Hermine, stated a 5:53 advisory from the National Weather Service. NWS issued a high surf advisory for areas of the Florida Panhandle, including Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Escambia Counties. Additionally, a coastal flooding advisory was also continued. Both advisories are in effect … read more
TD #9 strengthens to become Tropical Storm Hermine
TD #9 strengthens to become Tropical Storm Hermine
Tropical Depression Nine was updated this afternoon to Tropical Storm Hermine. The 1 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center revealed the storm has sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving north at 2 mph. It is presently about 395 SSW of Apalachicola. A Tropical Storm watch is in effect for areas east of … read more
New bus stop in highway construction zone scares family
New bus stop in highway construction zone scares family
A family which resides in the Holley community is frightened after receiving news that a Santa Rosa County School bus stop in their driveway is being moved to a “stop sign” at a nearby a construction zone on a busy four-lane highway. Donna and Joey Tolbert live on a 1.2-acre parcel on Hwy. 87 S, where … read more
Courthouse tax fails; Infrastructure tax approved
Courthouse tax fails; Infrastructure tax approved
A third attempt to get voters to approve a tax to fund a new county courthouse has failed. However, the effort led by a political action committee to push for a half-penny sales tax for infrastructure improvements was successful. By a 60-40 margin, voters in the Aug. 30 primary approved a half-percent local option sales … read more
‘They’ve been through a lot’
‘They’ve been through a lot’
“I’ve never been through a hurricane. I’ve heard the horror stories of Hurricane Ivan. But I still want to step up and help.” Those words came from Kim Jones, a Woodlawn Beach resident who took it upon herself to help rally people together to collect donations to help the Louisiana flood victims. Two weeks ago, … read more
Recycling is back
Recycling is back
After nearly nine months of throwing out recyclables along with trash, recycling service will resume in Santa Rosa County around the end of September. The service was on hold while awaiting construction of a $10.6 million Emerald Coast Utilities Authority recycling facility in Escambia County adjacent to the Perdido Landfill. ECUA handles recyclables for Santa … read more
Teens cause lockdowns
Teens cause lockdowns
Three Fort Walton Beach teens are facing numerous charges after they attempted to break into several homes in Navarre, prompting a high speed chase, which forced soft lockdowns of three area schools. The teenagers, later identified as Donald Fuggerson, 16, Isiah Soto, 15, and Tyrell Marshall, 15, were seen breaking into a home on Commodore Street … read more
