The overcast weather did not stop the rain of colorful beads, sweet treats, and toys for every boy and girl thrown at this year’s Mardi Gras Parade.

The 2025 Milton Mardi Gras Parade hosted by the Krewe of Airship Pirates brought smiles to adults and children alike on Feb. 15.

The Florida Department of Health and Students Working Against Tobacco, support the banning of not just cigarettes at public parks, but all tobacco use. At the county commission meeting Feb. 10, they shared why.

Santa Rosa County ordinances state park visitors must comply with no smoking at parks where signage is posted. But those signs may need to be changed to no tobacco, as local groups are advocating to have ordinance language expanded to include e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

The Friends of Santa Rosa Veterans Treatment Court received a $9,000 check from Pirates on the Panhandle, a social club based in Navarre. The money was raised at the Pirate Plunge, held Jan. 1, 2025. The photo was taken by Santa Rosa Press Gazette Reporter Hansen Hasenberg.

Brandt and Samantha Hendricks of Hendricks & Son Farms were announced as the winners of the 2024 Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement in Agriculture award. The award is given to young farmers and ranchers who demonstrate excellence in innovation, problem-solving and creativity.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., United Way of West Florida will be hosting a distribution for children’s coats at the Pensacola State College Century Campus in Building 1, 440 E. Hecker Road in Century. This event is open to Santa Rosa County residents.

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, as well as county, state, and Florida Department of Transportation officials, met at the corner of Highway 90 and Avalon Boulevard Wednesday, Jan. 29, to commemorate two public servants of yesteryear.

Every year the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce celebrates local businesses, leaders, and notable citizens who have made an impact in the community. On Jan. 17 award winners for the year 2024 were announced followed by the installation of new commerce members.

For the past five years, Chumuckla Community Church has faithfully given boxes filled with food donations to the local community.

Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in all waters from Franklin County to the Florida/Alabama state line must be removed from the water before Jan. 5, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.

New Milton City Councilmembers drew a large crowd at the Milton City Hall on Dec.10 for their commencement ceremony.