Jul 3, 2025
Avalon Beach developers heavily fined by DEP
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection handed out hefty fines July 2 to Avalon Beach developers Kip Walker (Damon Drive) and Thomas Cornelison (Furlong Drive) of $197,250 and $67,500, respectively, for their role in allowing red clay sediment into Mulat Bayou over the past year or more.
Jul 3, 2025
State funding for county project vetoed by governor
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 June 30 after vetoing line items totaling $567 million, including several proposed Santa Rosa County projects. The final 2025-2026 budget added up to $117.9 billion, less than the previous year’s and marking the second consecutive year of reduced state spending.
Jul 3, 2025
County holds East Milton Master Plan meeting
On June 30 Santa Rosa County held the East Milton Master Plan Meeting, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. During the meeting residents expressed concerns and shared feedback for consideration in planning for land spanning Blackwater River east to the county line and south to the Yellow River.
Jul 3, 2025
Flashback: B-52 Stratofortress – first operational delivery
June 29, 2025, marks the 70th anniversary of the first operational Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 Stratofortress delivery to the 93rd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Castle Air Force Base, Calif. The aircraft, RB-52B (52-8711), departed the Boeing Moses Lake testing facility at Larson AFB, Wash., and performed a seven-hour training mission prior to the delivery to Castle AFB.
Jul 2, 2025
Pace High School NJROTC named Most Outstanding Unit in the Nation
On Monday, June 30, Pace High School’s NJROTC was named the Most Outstanding Unit in the Nation. This is the highest honor awarded by the Naval Service Training Command, and consideration included over 600 NJROTC programs nationwide.
Jul 2, 2025
Therapy dog ‘Langley’ helps first responders
First responders have a difficult job. They are often the difference between life and death, a stressful profession in which it’s necessary to keep yourself mentally healthy. For Santa Rosa County’s Lifeguard Ambulance Service, this is where therapy dog Langley comes in.
Jul 1, 2025
Pensacola man pleads guilty to multi-million dollar drug trafficking, money laundering crimes
Rayvaughn L. Andrews, 41, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering offenses. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Jul 1, 2025
Care within chaos
Bright green paintballs whizzed through the humid air in all directions. Many zoomed past or contacted the advancing three-Airmen team desperately trying to reach a casualty 50 yards away.
Jun 30, 2025
UWF teams up with Pensacola Police to introduce patrol planning tool to enhance community safety
An applied research project led by Dr. Nicholas Hasan Buker, chair and professor in the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies at the University of West Florida, has produced a new evidence-based approach to designing police patrol beat borders.
Jun 30, 2025
UWF President Saunders speaks on resignation
“It was time,” University of West Florida President Dr. Martha Saunders said when asked about her decision to resign from her role.