In recent years, the state of Florida has pushed for greater educational opportunities for trade and vocational training. On April 16 and 17, students from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties were given the opportunity to go to Milton to take part in Northwest Florida Construction Career Days.

Cook: County to advertise bids for old courthouse

Santa Rosa County staff members were preparing a request for proposals about what to do with the old courthouse in downtown Milton, according to County Administrator DeVann Cook.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Sam Parker is suing Chris Smith and his business, Gulf Coast Gun & Outdoor LLC, for using and profiting from Parker’s name and likeness without authorization.

Leonardo breaks ground

Leonardo Helicopters broke ground on a new facility at Whiting Aviation Park in Milton, near NAS Whiting Field, on Friday, July 28.

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.

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.

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.