News Archive

Developers try to change attitudes

When developers pitched their plans to build the 2,700-acre, 7,000-plus-unit, master-planned Jubilee community northeast of Pace in 2022, they often did so at tense meetings packed with concerned residents and vocal opposition. They tried a more low-key approach on June 29, inviting interested residents to meet with them individually at the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce offices.

The cold weather shelter for the homeless and/or heatless will be open Thur., Dec. 28, Fri., Dec. 29 and Sat., Dec. 30 at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Those who would like to stay at the shelter must arrive between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Only service animals (with verification of rabies vaccination) are permitted to stay with guests. No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. unless brought in by law enforcement. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. each morning.

1. Milton city manager drama

The Milton City Council on July 11 voted unanimously to hire Scott Collins to replace the retiring Randy Jorgenson as city manager. On July 15, Collins withdrew from contract negotiations citing concerns about the process and “a coordinated undercurrent effort…to make either this contract negotiation or my initial contract unsuccessful.”

Construction Career Days

More than 1,000 students from Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties participated in the Northwest Florida Construction Career Days program at the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds in East Milton. More than 80 public and private agencies participated in the event organized by the Florida Department of Transportation to encourage high school students to consider the wide variety of careers available in the construction industry.

Calkins objects to board appointee

Commissioner James Calkins criticized Democrats and any Republican who doesn’t agree with his political views at last Thursday’s regular Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Jorgenson announces plans to retire

Randy Jorgenson, who began his career in the City of Milton Planning Department more than a decade ago and became city manager in 2018, announced that he would retire in September.

Whiting Aviation taxiway design

The Santa Rosa County Commission approved spending almost $700,000 to design the taxiway that will link Whiting Aviation Park to NAS Whiting Field’s runway, moving the project a step closer to reality.

FDOT preparing to begin U.S. 90 design project

The Florida Department of Transportation “will make every effort, within reason” to accommodate stakeholders’ wishes when designing the expansion of U.S. Highway 90 through downtown Milton, a spokesperson said last month.

Amazon’s Milton delivery station

Amazon expanded to Milton Nov. 9, 2022, and opened a delivery station at the Santa Rosa County Industrial Park in East Milton off U.S. Highway 90.

Nine water systems serving residents in north Santa Rosa County have united to oppose a proposed utility authority they worry would absorb their operations and raise customers’ rates.