The window for congregations to “disaffiliate” from the United Methodist Church ended Dec. 31. Almost a quarter of the UMC’s 30,000 churches – about 7,500 – chose to leave the denomination. The Way UMC in Pace is not among the defectors.

The Old Testament prophet Elijah shows Christians what to do when they’re “the last dreamer still standing,” the Rev. Dr. Russell Wright Sr. told a full sanctuary Sunday at Mt. Pilgrim African Baptist Church in Milton.

Florida House Bill 385 passed the chamber’s Judiciary Committee on Monday, Jan. 8. Its sponsor, State Rep. Joel Rudman said he expect the whole House to vote on the measure Wednesday.

Pastor Jeremy Rich, a Milton native, was the featured speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast this morning. He based his message on the title of King’s last book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”

The City of Milton is looking for office space. City Manager Scott Collins thought he’d found it, but the city council balked at paying almost $200,000 for a three-year lease.

More than 400 speedskaters from across the United States and several other nations are in Milton for the 10th Annual Emerald Coast Inline Challenge at Weber’s Skate World, 6056 Stewart St. Plans call for indoor competition, which began this morning, to last through Saturday with outdoor racing on Weber’s new state-of-the-art outdoor track on Saturday and Sunday.

James Calkins hinted last year that he was working on a project to bring more recreation to north Santa Rosa County. He unveiled his plan Monday at the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners’ committee meeting.

Sydney Nowling knew in fourth grade what she wanted to be when she grew up: Nellie Dobson.

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, but guest speaker Dr. Antjuan Marsh urged listeners to champion spiritual emancipation.