Eight additional harvest days have been added to the 2026 Gulf private recreational red snapper season, allowing harvest to remain open continuously from Oct. 9 through Oct. 22.

These additional days will align recreational red snapper fishing opportunities across Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

Santa Rosa County is proposing to reformat its Land Development Code to make it easier to maintain and use, though county officials say no development regulations would be changed.

Santa Rosa County Animal Services will set pet adoption fees at just $10 for its Fall Fest Adoption Event on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the shelter in Milton, according to a news release from Santa Rosa County officials.

Santa Rosa County libraries will adjust their operating hours beginning Monday, Oct. 5. The change will affect all five libraries in the area, according to a news release from Santa Rosa County officials.

Santa Rosa Tax Collector’s Offices will be closed on Monday, October 12, for an in-service training day.

Starting in 2028, U.S. Highway 90 will begin to be repaved from Stewart Street to the Okaloosa County line, FDOT announced Sept. 24.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Green, former command chief of Air Force Special Operations Command, was found guilty of four offenses in violation of two articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including indecent recording in violation of Article 120c and possessing, viewing and producing child pornography in violation of Article 134.

A Pace woman who shot her husband in 2022 and then tried to have her husband “knocked off” by a hitman was sentenced to 60 years in prison by Santa Rosa County Judge Clifton Drake.

With drug overdose deaths recent rise statewide and across the country, local health officials and educators in Santa Rosa County are strengthening prevention efforts aimed at the county’s youngest residents.

After more than four decades in the newspaper business, Tim Smolarick is bringing his experience and passion for local journalism to Sandpaper Publishing as group publisher.