Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Colten Wright says that a proposed amendment on the November ballot that would eliminate property taxes on certain homesteaded properties would guarantee cuts to public safety, infrastructure and other core county services.
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Milton’s police chief highlights community outreach
Milton Police Chief Jennifer Frank told City Council members the department has secured $25,000 worth of tactical equipment at no cost to the city while expanding community programming that includes women’s self-defense classes, high school emergency management training and an inaugural Citizen Police Academy.
Milton’s gas line replacement project takes next steps
The City of Milton’s natural gas line replacement project is advancing, with crews nearing completion of work on Alabama Street and adjacent roadways.
Two truck drivers arrested after fuel pump tampering
Two semi-truck drivers are behind bars after authorities say they tampered with diesel fuel pumps in Milton, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office provides summer boating tips
Sgt. Curtis Meltzer has spent four summers on Santa Rosa County’s waterways. He’s seen propeller strikes, drunk boaters and kids swimming underwater at boat ramps as boaters sit idle nearby. His message heading into another busy season is simple: know what you’re doing before you put the boat in gear.

Shoutout to Milton High School
I want to give a shout-out to the staff at Milton High School! It is obvious how deeply the staff cares about the kids and how hard they work every day to ensure every student’s needs are met. While no school is perfect, their genuine concern and dedication truly make all the difference.
Shoutout to unnamed very caring individuals
My husband and I were waiting outside a local restaurant to meet friends for dinner. We observed a woman holding the arm of a man with a cane. He was having great difficulty stepping down from the curb to get to his vehicle. It appeared that he might have been recovering from a stroke. My husband walked over to assist them. The three were quickly joined by other adults, young and old. After awhile, the group was able, with care and patience, to help him step off the curb and to his vehicle.
Shoutout to Co-Workers
Priscilla W. is giving a shoutout to BURNS and MCRAE. You guys are awesome to work with. I love working with you guys. We work great as a team!!!
Shoutout to the Milton Community!
Give a shoutout to someone who went above and beyond for you or our community!
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Santa Rosa County Schools say the time is now for enrollment

Santa Rosa County District Schools is asking parents of incoming kindergarteners to register their children as soon as possible for the 2026-27 school year.
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Sports

Coaching at Jay means a lot to former player Brett Watson
Brett Watson is one of the best to ever play softball for the Jay Royals, winning a state championship with them in 2022.
Now a coach, Watson typically doesn’t talk with her team about her own personal experiences as a player. But rather she shares advice on what matters most as an athlete.
Congrats to our Athletes and Students of the Week!




Next chapter ahead for nearly 600 Pace High graduates
Members of Pace High’s Class of 2026 punctuated their academic careers Friday with their graduation at the Bay Center in Pensacola.
Food Raising Friends help students in need in Santa Rosa County
While it may not look like much from the outside, a one-story building off Stewart Street stocks canned food and shelves of peanut butter for students in need across Santa Rosa County.
Stage Crafters mourns loss of beloved stage manager Pamela Strecker
Before every performance, Pamela Strecker made one final walk.
She moved through the backstage area from one side to the other, checking on every actor, calling out final cues, making sure nothing had been missed. Then, just before heading up to the booth, she would turn around, look out at the cast and raise a hand in the air.
“Be brilliant.”
It caught on. Cast members started saying it to each other.
Strecker,61, who served as stage manager and eight-year president of Stage Crafters Community Theater in Fort Walton Beach, died earlier this month after a battle with cancer. She had been part of the organization for more than two decades, arriving as a shy backstage helper in 1999 and becoming the heartbeat of one of Northwest Florida’s most beloved volunteer arts organizations.


















