News Archive

Tucker receives Hall of Fame honor

Donna Tucker, who retired as the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce’s president and CEO in 2023, was given the chamber’s Hall of Fame Award at a ceremony in late January.

Dr. Antjuan Marsh urges people to ignore ‘voices of captivity’

The New Year’s Day service at New Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Bagdad celebrated the 161st anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. While the event focused on that landmark proclamation, guest speaker Dr. Antjuan Marsh urged listeners to instead champion ‘spiritual emancipation.’ “No man, no congress, can do what God can do,” Marsh said. “The Emancipation Proclamation could not set you free from sin; there is only one ‘Great Emancipator,’ one God who will deliver you from evil.” During his message, Marsh used the Biblical story of David illustrating how the eventual King of Israel ignored “voices of captivity” from family members, friends and others who explained why he couldn’t or shouldn’t attempt a feat and instead, actively pursued God’s purpose for his life. “If you’re still (living), God has a purpose for you,” Marsh said. “In 2024, don’t hear the voices of captivity, listen to the voices of emancipation. Go for God, who has a purpose for you and a plan for you.” 

Milton’s plans for wastewater treatment plant dies (1/25/24)

Saddled with a wastewater treatment plant below capacity to meet the growing city of Milton’s needs and a deadline to remove effluent from the Blackwater River, the city floundered with funding, expiring grants and inadequate locations to build a new treatment plant and effluent disposal system.

Three individuals were arrested for racist graffiti at Milton High School. The arrest report detailing the graffiti incident on Nov. 27 reveals who did it and how they were caught.

Milton City Council were presented with two options on Dec. 19 during their special meeting to discuss the wastewater treatment plant: Fast-track or blank page.

The sheriffs of four counties in Florida’s 1st Congressional District have endorsed Jimmy Patronis in his run for Congress. Sheriff Chip Simmons of Escambia, Sheriff Bob Johnson of Santa Rosa, Sheriff Eric Aden of Okaloosa, and Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. of Walton County announced their support for the Florida Chief Financial Officer’s campaign on Dec. 20.

According to report from Florida Highway Patrol, on Dec. 18 at approximately 10:35 a.m. a fatal crash involving a log truck, propane delivery truck, and two passenger vehicles occurred on Quintette Road at the intersection of Tunnel Road. 

Santa Rosa County Animal Services is temporarily closing all cat adoption operations at the shelter facility until Friday, Dec. 27 due to illness.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 176 schools and five districts that earned the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation. Santa Rosa County being one of the five school districts.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has announced its intent to close six prison camp facilities across the United States, including Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Pensacola. In addition to the prison camp facilities, the Bureau of Prisons is also closing Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin in California.