Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Milton Thursday to present a $2.36 million Broadband Opportunity Grant to Santa Rosa County leaders.

The popular Republican governor visited the historic Imogene Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 2, to announce the first Broadband Opportunity Grant Program awards to expand broadband internet for Florida’s underserved communities. The Santa Rosa grant will help bring high-speed internet to 791 homes and businesses in the county. Statewide, the program is committing more than $144 million for 58 projects in 41 counties, impacting almost 160,000 unserved residential, educational, business and community locations.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the Historic Imogene Theatre in Milton today to announce the state has committed more than $144 million to expand high-speed internet services.

At 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, students and teachers evacuated Hobbs Middle School. A fire alarm had gone off due to a small fire in a bathroom at the school. 

According to Santa Rosa District Schools public information officer Dr. Tonya Shepherd, firefighters arrived shortly after the fire alarm went off. They put out the fire at around 8:50 a.m., which was reportedly small and contained, and students returned to class at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Lucille Silva Dixon believes she’s on a mission from God.
“A vision from God inspired me to pursue teaching,” Dixon told the Press Gazette.

A Milton man was arrested Monday night in connection with the shooting death of Johnny Gene Davis, 31, in early January.

Colten Wright, chairman of the Santa Rosa County Commission, said last week that, sooner or later, property next to State Road 87 will be developed for commercial uses.

Florida Sen. Doug Broxson, recently appointed Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, once lived in Milton. City officials hope that connection will work in their favor during the coming budget process.

The City of Milton will unveil a historical marker at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Jernigan’s Landing remembering the Lumberton Incident, the violent murder in 1837 of a Creek man by settlers in what is now Milton.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Deputy David Daniels Tuesday, Jan. 24, on a felony lewd and lascivious charge.

On Monday, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was informed that a report of misconduct had been made against Daniels to the Department of Children and Families. Immediately after receiving the report, the Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes detectives began to investigate the reported incident.

The National Weather Service in Mobile is predicting severe weather conditions in the overnight hours of Tuesday night for our area. Santa Rosa County has been placed under an enhanced risk for severe weather.

Main threats include Tornadoes (a strong (EF2+) tornado is possible) and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, the line of storms will move east of I-65 during the overnight hours after midnight and impact the western Florida Panhandle during this time.