Santa Rosa moves forward on new judicial center
MILTON — Design work on Santa Rosa County’s new judicial center can begin, and the county staff now is focused on finding the most suitable location. County commissioners on Thursday unanimously...
View ArticleJoseph Floyd trial to begin Monday
CRESTVIEW — More than a year after he was indicted for racketeering, former Crestview Police Maj. Joseph Floyd will go to trial Monday. The Crestview Police Department run by Floyd and then-Chief...
View Article91-year-old recovering from duck attack (VIDEO, GALLERY)
FORT WALTON BEACH — A 91-year-old man is recovering from injuries he suffered Wednesday when he was an attacked by a Muscovy duck at a local park. Wilmer Neumann was walking with his grandson at Ferry...
View ArticleAirman records his first album of Christian music
SHALIMAR — Scott Lassiter held a copy of his self-titled CD, Scott Lassiter & The Raw Truth,and smiled. A dream he never thought would come true has. “You never know what can happen,” Lassiter...
View ArticleNOAA trims forecast for busy hurricane season
WASHINGTON (AP) — This Atlantic hurricane season may not be quite as busy as federal forecasters once thought, but they still warn of an unusually active and potentially dangerous few months to come....
View ArticleA workforce often overlooked
Navigating today’s job market is challenging for most people, but it can be especially difficult for workers with disabilities. At Horizons of Okaloosa County, a nonprofit organization that serves...
View ArticleKetchel, Goodwin prefile for County Commission
Two Republicans have prefiled to run for District 2 seat on the Okaloosa County Commission in next year’s election. Trey Goodwin of Fort Walton Beach prefiled July 2. Carolyn Ketchel of Shalimar...
View ArticleBeedie recognized as Home Rule Hero
FORT WALTON BEACH - The Florida League of Cities has recognized Fort Walton Beach City Manager Michael Beedie with a 2013 Home Rule Hero Award. Beedie was honored for efforts to advance the League of...
View ArticleNew Navarre bridge study requested
MILTON - Santa Rosa County will ask the Florida-Alabama Transportation Organization to conduct a study that ultimately could result in the construction of a new Navarre Beach bridge. Commissioners...
View ArticleLocal treasure hunters always up for the search
As Gill Guerre steps onto a neatly mowed vacant lot, his metal detector starts to whine. The pitch rises and falls as he sweeps the wand back and forth. “Getting a lot of signals here,” he says, head...
View ArticleCrestview continues to work to trim budget
CRESTVIEW — City department heads have trimmed some $290,000 off their preliminary budgets, but there still is almost $616,000 to go, City Clerk Betsy Roy says. “The happy, happy, happy news is the...
View ArticleHurlburt airman found dead at Arizona base
HURLBURT FIELD — A local airman was found dead Friday night at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., Hurlburt Field officials confirmed Saturday. The airman’s identity had not been released...
View ArticleReligion in Red Bay
RED BAY — On a hot summer Sunday, regulars file into the town’s United Methodist Church just before the 11 a.m. service. Noticing new faces waiting inside, the entire congregation warmly embraces the...
View ArticleA quiet hurricane season so far (GALLERY, LINKS)
FORT WALTON BEACH — If you were thinking it’s been a quiet year for hurricanes, forecasters say you shouldn’t let your guard down. The worst is yet to come. “Still 75 percent of the season to go,”...
View ArticleBear sightings increase dramatically in the last 10 years
FORT WALTON BEACH — Shelia Boutwell says her nightly visitors are so frequent she doesn’t even take photos. The bears have just become a part of the neighborhood. “Every other day we’re picking trash...
View ArticleFriends shocked at news of Crestview man’s death
In a grainy video taken in February, Dale Smith took a breath before singing in harmony with his friend Chaise Rawles. “God’s been good in my life. I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to...
View ArticleSaturday’s Emerald Coast Power Expo promotes fitness for all ages
OKALOOSA ISLAND —Buddy Stone locked eyes and hands with his opponent. The spectators’ hoots and cheers became deafening as the pair stood with their hands clasped. The only sign of a struggle was...
View ArticleGirl’s memorial continues by U.S. Highway 98
DESTIN — For the first time in 11 years, Belinda Meadors was not able to visit her daughter’s memorial along U.S. Highway 98. “It’s really breaking my heart,” Meadors said Saturday. But her friends...
View ArticleSting rays injure two people in Gulf
NAVARRE BEACH - Two people were stung by stingrays and two others nearly-drowned Saturday. One person was stung at Navarre Beach State Park and another near Homeport Drive, according to Navarre Beach...
View ArticleThree injured in wreck on U.S. 98 in Destin
DESTIN — A two-car wreck on U.S. Highway 98 near Destin Commons snarled traffic on Sunday afternoon. Three people were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries after the wreck about 3 p.m.,...
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