Mar 10, 2023
Family sues Sheriff’s Office, school board over Baker Act incident
The family of a disabled boy is suing the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, school board of Santa Rosa County, High Road School of Santa Rosa and multiple individuals for a December 2021 incident involving the Baker Acting of the then 8-year-old boy.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 13 in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola, accuses David Daniels, a former school resource officer at High Road School of Santa Rosa, of unlawfully “manhandling, handcuffing and Baker Acting” the boy, who is referred to as “Little B” in the lawsuit.
Mar 10, 2023
No students injured after school bus rear ended
A Santa Rosa County District Schools’ school bus was involved in a traffic accident Thursday afternoon, but no injuries were reported.
A bus carrying 23 students from Avalon Middle School was driving on U.S. Highway 90 near the intersection of Watkins Street when it had to stop due to traffic ahead.
Mar 9, 2023
Parker apologizes for slur, insists ‘no intent’ to offend
Sam Parker apologized Thursday for using an ethnic slur attracting international attention while critics continue calling for his resignation from the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners.
Mar 8, 2023
Citizens ask for Parker’s resignation after use of racial slur
A videotape showing Santa Rosa County Commissioner Sam Parker using a term offensive to Jewish people is attracting national attention.
Mar 8, 2023
Medical Examiner’s Office negotiating funding plan for new facility in Milton
At the District One Medical Examiner Services (DOMES) board’s meeting in December, legislative funding for a new facility was a big topic of concern. Dan Schebler, director of operations for DOMES, proposed taking the interlocal agreement the counties had put to the wayside and bringing it forward to Northwest Florida’s legislators with a $3 million buy-in from each county as had been discussed in July 2022.
Over the past couple of months since that meeting, the DOMES board has met monthly to try and hammer out a plan for the upcoming legislative session, which is set to begin March 7. The legislative session is important as DOMES is looking for matching state funding for a proposed facility in Santa Rosa County.
Mar 6, 2023
Arrest made in Milton High ‘swatting’ case
At a news conference Monday, March 6, Sheriff Bob Johnson announced an arrest in a swatting case related to a gun threat was called into Milton High School last year.
Brad Parga, 17, of Guttenberg, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with felony fraud for a false report of using firearms in a violent manner and disturbing the peace by interfering with school administration functions, which is a misdemeanor.
Mar 3, 2023
Barn-raising just one sign of My Father’s Arrows’ growth
Dozens of volunteers gathered at My Father’s Arrows’ property on County Road 178 south of Jay on Feb. 23-24 for a “barn-raising,” lending their time and effort to help build a 15,000-square-foot therapeutic equine arena and hay shelter for the non-profit, non-denominational Christian children’s ministry.
Feb 28, 2023
Patriot Fest introduces STEAM opportunities to Pace families
The future visited Pace for a few hours last week.
Pace schools presented the first Patriot Fest – “a community event focused on infusing STEAM activities and lessons into the history of America” – Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Pace High School’s football stadium.
Feb 25, 2023
New crab trap regulation goes into effect in March
The more than 25,000 Floridians with recreational crab traps will soon have to make some changes.
A new Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission regulation, which went into effect March 1, requires crab traps to have a rigid opening no larger than six-by-two inches.
The purpose of this change is to help reduce the bycatch of diamondback terrapins in crab traps.
Feb 24, 2023
Jay High celebrates National FFA week
To say Jay High School’s FFA plays a big role in life at the school would be an understatement. With 100 members between the middle and high school chapter (one-fifth of the student population), Jay FFA is perhaps the most prominent intracurricular organization in the school.
This past week, Jay’s FFA held several events in honor of National FFA week, as well as to recognize the agricultural heritage of the Town of Jay. For those not familiar with the organization, FFA stands for Future Farmers of America, but the official name is the National FFA Organization.