Fentanyl Catapults Panhandle Counties to Top Spot for Per Capita Opioid Death Rate in Florida
Fentanyl Catapults Panhandle Counties to Top Spot for Per Capita Opioid Death Rate in Florida
As deadly fentanyl from Mexico continues to exacerbate the national opioid crisis claiming thousands of lives across the country, Florida is also suffering the effects. A recent report shows that the Pensacola Medical Examiner District now has the state’s highest per capita opioid death rate. To warn Floridians in the four-county district, Attorney General Moody, … read more
OPINION: City of Milton Descends into Caustic Circus Run by Madhat Mayor
OPINION: City of Milton Descends into Caustic Circus Run by Madhat Mayor
It’s hard for the Milton City Council to get any actual work done lately because current Mayor Heather Lindsay is an ineffective leader who allows meetings to turn into a circus of citizens running back and forth to the microphone, disrupting council meetings. Decorum has been tossed aside, and mayhem prevails in The City Where … read more
Cousin Charged in Murder of Gulf Medical Founder
Cousin Charged in Murder of Gulf Medical Founder
Friends and family of Gulf Medical Founder Stephen Lee Jernigan packed the chapel during his funeral last Friday. Many expressed a desire to see justice for the murder which cut short Jernigan’s extraordinary life at 70 years of age. Jernigan’s cousin, 53-year-old Robert Patrick Jernigan, known as “Bobby,” was booked July 20 into Santa Rosa … read more
County Faces Lawsuit after Trio Amends $15-20M Award
County Faces Lawsuit after Trio Amends $15-20M Award
A vote changing July 13 bid rankings was not not published on the July 27 county commission meeting agenda. However, H. Miller Caldwell III, managing partner of Caldwell Associates Architects, showed up after being tipped off ahead of time by a county commissioner. The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners on July 13 directed … read more
Commissioner Kerry Smith Doubles Down on Calling Local Vet a “Coward”
Commissioner Kerry Smith Doubles Down on Calling Local Vet a “Coward”
A Persian Gulf Veteran and District 1 resident, who had not previously met Santa Rosa County District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith, was perplexed by an insulting email reply from Smith, who doubled down yesterday on calling Senior Chief Geoff Ross, USN, Ret., a “coward.” “I answered Mr. Ross on my very public county email with … read more
Council Members Call Mayor’s Special Meeting a “Witch-hunt”
Council Members Call Mayor’s Special Meeting a “Witch-hunt”
Milton City Council Members Jeff Snow and Roxanne Meiss labeled a special meeting called for this evening by Mayor Heather Lindsay a witch-hunt. Snow went on to deem Lindsay’s behavior “unprofessional” and “disgraceful.” The actions that led up to tonight’s meeting started with Scott Collins, the top candidate to replace retiring City Manager Randy Jorgensen, … read more
Commissioner Smith Addressed Male Veteran as a Female and Erroneously Called Him “Cowardly”
Commissioner Smith Addressed Male Veteran as a Female and Erroneously Called Him “Cowardly”
During public forum at the July 13 Santa Rosa County Commission meeting, Senior Chief Geoff Ross, USN, Ret., a Persian Gulf War veteran, spoke out about emails he received from Santa Rosa County District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith, accusing the elected official of erroneously calling him (cowardly) for quitting a political race, which Ross actually … read more
School Superintendent Calls Some Local Book Challenges “Legitimate”
School Superintendent Calls Some Local Book Challenges “Legitimate”
Santa Rosa County Schools’ Instructional Technology Specialist Ruth Witter, pictured at the podium during Monday’s school board meeting, provided an update, including details on how materials are selected for the Santa Rosa County Schools library system. “When we go to our vendors, we are shopping from a place, we are selecting from a place that … read more
Eglin to Host Delisting of Threatened Fish Species
Eglin to Host Delisting of Threatened Fish Species
The Okaloosa darter population, which once numbered fewer than 10,000, has grown to more than 600,000. Photo by Bill Tate/FWS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on June 27 announced the removal of the Okaloosa darter from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, and an August 2 ceremony has been planned to celebrate … read more
SRSO: Foul Play Suspected in Death of Gulf Medical Founder
SRSO: Foul Play Suspected in Death of Gulf Medical Founder
Homicide Investigation on Schnoor Rd. Yesterday evening, 7/19/2023, deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1800 block of Schnoor Rd. in reference to a death investigation. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies located the victim, Stephen Lee Jernigan, 70 years old, deceased. Detectives with our Major Crimes Unit are continuing … read more
