In the American South, food takes a place on the cultural mantel piece along with rocking chairs and banjo music. Even in today’s South, where people are more transient and familial connections to the past are often forgotten, you can still find hole-in-the-wall restaurants serving family recipes of gumbo, fried fish, slaw or barbecue. Chances are if you take a seat at one of these places, you might find yourself sharing a meal with John T. Edge.

Students from 16 schools in Santa Rosa County descended upon Pace High School’s football field for the inaugural north end edition of the Zack Butler Memorial Sports Ability Games Thursday, April 3. Named for a physical education teacher and coach who lost his battle with cancer in 2022, the Sports Ability Games are designed to expand the field of opportunity for special needs students in athletics.

Northwest Florida has a new representative in Washington, D.C. Jimmy Patronis, the Republican nominee for U.S. House District 1, defeated Democratic candidate Gay Valimont Tuesday, April 1 to replace Matt Gaetz.

After resigning from Santa Rosa District Schools last October, Kelly Short, 57, has been arrested on larceny charges related to her time as director of the district’s Office of Professional Learning. Short is accused of engaging in financial improprieties, which amounted to her allegedly stealing from the district over a two-year period. The arrest comes after a monthslong investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

There are few places in the world where you can walk through swamps, prairies, beaches, flat woods and a Civil War battlefield. In Florida, you can see this all in a matter of a month, or if you are Deanna Doane, 19 days. At 26 years old, Doane recently completed the fastest supported known time in Florida National Scenic Trail history.

A Navarre woman’s 2022 death has reentered the spotlight as her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child was set to go on trial April 28 for allegedly kidnapping her, which resulted in her death. The federal trial of Marcus Spanevelo, who is alleged to have transported Navarre resident Cassie Carli’s body to Alabama and buried it in a shallow grave in Springville, a 40-minute drive from Birmingham, is being examined by a capital review committee to see if he could possibly face the death penalty.

According to Santa Rosa County Economic Development, Santa Rosa County is the eighth fastest growing population in Florida with 203,752 current residents.

Of current residents, approximately 23.6% are between the ages of zero and 19. With rapid growth occurring in Santa Rosa the school district is forced to contend with ever evolving facility needs. To meet those needs, Santa Rosa County District Schools has invested in the K-8 school model, which combines elementary level students (K-5) with middle school students (6-8th grade) into one school environment.

Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office executed a court order at Gulf Coast Guns in Milton to seize assets or “collateral” due on a “defaulted” loan. Photos and video were shown of deputies emptying the store of inventory. But throughout the day, supporters voiced their support for the store on social media. The Sheriff’s Office said they were following the orders of the court and had no other involvement in the civil case.

Just before noon Tuesday, Feb. 25, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office executed a court order at Gulf Coast Guns in Milton. The order, which was issued by a Judge in Santa Rosa County, dealt with the seizing of items from the gun store.

Earlier this month, several members of the Facebook group, “Navarre Locals,” posted about receiving tickets for failing to stop for school buses. In Florida, it is a violation of the law to pass a school bus that is stopped and picking up or dropping off students.

Many of those who posted felt they had been involved in scenarios where they didn’t deserve a ticket. Erica G. made a post Feb. 12 describing an incident in which she failed to stop for a bus at a red light.