Recount – not runoff – could decide Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 election
Almost 48 hours after polls closed Tuesday, it’s still unclear who won Santa Rosa County’s District 2 Board of County Commissioners seat.
Jubilee developer sets third town hall meeting
Neighbors of the proposed Jubilee project northeast of Pace still have questions about the master-planned community, and some are spreading misinformation, developer Ron Reeser told the Press Gazette Aug. 24.
Pastor’s wife defrauded Milton Faith Baptist Church out of nearly $165,000, FDLE says
A Milton woman was arrested by Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents after an investigation alleging she defrauded Faith Baptist Church in Milton over a period of six years.
Tight Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 race may result in recount
58 votes and .2 percent of the vote.
That is all that separates Kerry Smith from Jeff Ates in the Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 seat.
That .2 per cent of the vote is significant as an automatic recount is triggered when vote-getters are not separated by more than .5 percent of the vote.
Rebekah Jones wins appeal, looks to Aug. 23 primary
Rebekah Jones is now in the clear for the Aug. 23 primary thanks to a judgement handed down from the Florida Court of Appeals, First District on Aug. 22.
As Navarre Press reported last week, Jones had been involved in a court fight with Peggy Schiller, who is running against her for the Democratic nomination for Congressional district one. The winner of the primary will face incumbent Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Leavins, Santa Rosa Correctional see responsibility as opportunity
Every day, Donald Leavins goes to work at Santa Rosa Correctional Institute, a level six prison facility. Leavins has been warden of the prison since May 2021.
With around 2460 incarcerated men, Santa Rosa Correctional Institute has a lot of needs and responsibilities. Something Leavins does not take lightly.
Nine horses removed from cruelty situation
Alaqua Animal Refuge, in conjunction with the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), removed a total of nine horses from a residence in Holt on Thursday and Friday of this past week resulting in an open investigation for abuse and neglect.
Rabies alert issued in East Milton
Following a reported positive test result for rabies in a kitten, the Florida Department of Health has issued an alert for the East Milton area. The alert was issued on Aug. 10 and will be in effect for 60 days.
The Department of Health wants all residents and visitors in Santa Rosa County to be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if they are not vaccinated. An animal with rabies could infect other wild or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies.
Residents remain skeptical of Jubilee CDD plans
Despite assurances from developers that community development districts are the “best possible way to develop” a community, some neighbors of the massive Jubilee project northeast of Pace still are skeptical.
Ron Reeser, managing partner of The Eagle Group, which owns the roughly 2,700 -acre Jubilee property, hosted a town hall meeting Monday at Gather at Alyssa’s in Pace to explain what a community development district (CDD) is, how it works and why he believes it will be an asset to the county.
Jubilee developers plan ‘town hall’ meetings Monday, Tuesday
Jubilee developer The Eagle Group has scheduled two “town hall” meetings this week to explain how creating a community development district to finance the massive project will help “growth pay for growth.”
The meetings are from 5-7 p.m. Monday and 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, both at Gather at Alyssa’s, a recently opened event center at 4580 Chumuckla Highway in Pace.


















