Commissioner Piech “optimistic” ADA beach access mats will return soon – possibly in 30 days
Commissioner Piech “optimistic” ADA beach access mats will return soon – possibly in 30 days
Santa Rosa County District 4 Commissioner Dave Piech is praising the county engineering staff and Shelly Alexander, environmental programs coordinator, for working with state officials to expedite permitting for ADA beach access mats, which were removed mid-September due to a lack of state permitting. “I’m optimistic they’ll be back soon,” Piech told South Santa Rosa … read more
Holley-Navarre Fire District Captain on administrative leave for alleged misconduct
Holley-Navarre Fire District Captain on administrative leave for alleged misconduct
Holley-Navarre Fire District Captain Shawn Laws is currently on administrative leave pending multiple investigations regarding alleged misconduct. Laws has been on leave for around two months. HNFD Chief Ron Norton told South Santa Rosa News the administrative leave was extended after additional investigations were added. “The District has taken this matter very seriously and has … read more
Escambia family named 2019 Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
Escambia family named 2019 Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year
Russell Brothers Farm has received the distinction of the 2019 Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. This annual award recognizes private landowners that have done a remarkable job of sustainably managing forests on their property. Russell Brothers’ Farm exemplifies a legacy of family forest managed not only for wood that may one day be … read more
Pensacola man found guilty of attempting to entice a minor for child porn
Pensacola man found guilty of attempting to entice a minor for child porn
Holley’s 2012 mug shot from Escambia County Jail Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Florida this week secured convictions in two separate trials involving child exploitation, including charges of production of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor. The guilty verdicts, from trials in Tallahassee and Gainesville, were announced today by Lawrence Keefe, … read more
State Python Action Team captures record python
State Python Action Team captures record python
Cynthia Downer and Jonathan Lopez captured the large adult female python ever caught by the Python Action Team, weighing 98 pounds, 10 ounces, on Sept. 22 at Big Cypress National Preserve. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Python Action Team has now removed 900 Burmese pythons from the wild in Florida, including a … read more
6 days added for recreational red snapper fishing
6 days added for recreational red snapper fishing
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) last week announced six additional recreational red snapper fishing days for Gulf waters. The season for private recreational anglers and state for-hire operations will be open on the following Saturdays and Sundays: October 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27. “Florida is the fishing capital … read more
Navarre Raiders at the Next Level
Navarre Raiders at the Next Level
Colorado State Freshman Dante Wright pictured with his family (photo courtesy Stacy Wright) Navarre has had one of the area’s most successful high school football programs over the last decade, and that Friday-night success has allowed the Raiders to send some important players to the next level. Players such as Dante Wright, who currently leads … read more
Son-in-law shot during surprise birthday visit
Son-in-law shot during surprise birthday visit
A Gulf Breeze family is devastated, following the fatal accidental shooting of a son-in-law, who had made a surprise late night visit for his father-in-law’s birthday. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and First Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office this morning hosted a joint press, revealing the tragic details. According to Johnson, the incident took … read more
Former Santa Rosa Correctional Insitute officer sentenced to 18 months in prison
Former Santa Rosa Correctional Insitute officer sentenced to 18 months in prison
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that on October 1st, Circuit Court Judge Darlene Dickey sentenced former Correctional Officer Mia Martinez-Welch, 22 years of age, to 18 months state prison after she entered a plea to Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communications Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Felony and Introduction of Contraband. The charges stemmed … read more
Florida Forest Service suspends burn authorizations in three-county Blackwater area
Florida Forest Service suspends burn authorizations in three-county Blackwater area
In light of extremely dry and dangerous conditions, officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center will not be issuing authorizations for broadcast or pile burns effective Wednesday until further notice. Burn authorizations will not be issued until conditions improve and the area receives significant rainfall. There are no burn bans in effect. Authorizations … read more
