It’s an organized sort of chaos.

Another month, another series of meetings! Here’s a couple of things to look out for on the Board of County Commissioners meeting agenda, from firework bans to $2 million grants. The meeting will take place August 11, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. in the County Administration Offices at 6495 Caroline Street in Milton. 

The Council on Aging of West Florida cut their senior meal program from five days a week to four recently, trying to find ways to ensure the longevity of the program as inflation rises and the future of their funding remains uncertain.

Milton’s new Walmart Neighborhood Market held its grand opening on August 6, throwing an event to celebrate the new location in style.

Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink departed July 24 on his first international trip as SecAF, traveling throughout the U.S. Asia-Pacific area of responsibility to reinforce international partnerships and meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting the Department of the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise.

Newly-installed drag reduction devices called Finlets are currently undergoing flight testing on MC-130Js. Finlets are passive, fin-like devices attached to the rear of the aircraft which smooth airflow and reduce drag, enhancing fuel efficiency and improving operational capabilities.

Between June and July, Holley-Navarre Fire Department responded to 11 separate gas leaks – each caused by fiber optic boring activity. The fiber lines, owned by Live Oak Fiber, inadvertently struck underground gas lines maintained by Okaloosa Gas District, prompting repeated shelter-in-place orders for local residents.

A 47-year-old Milton man was arrested for the shooting death of a 41 year old woman at a residence in the Milton area Friday evening, Aug. 1. Curtis Marvin Johnson, 47, is charged with homicide. In his arrest report, the charge is de-scribed as “murder dangerous depraved without premeditation.”

In January 2017, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office received an over $12,000 donation to purchase a new K-9. The unit’s police dog, Ziggy, worked with the county until 2022, when he retired with his handler. Now, after three years of retirement, Ziggy has been diagnosed with two different types of cancer: carcinoma in his front nasal cavity, and a transitional-cell carcinoma on his bladder.

The City of Milton announced its intention to begin construction on Magnolia Avenue starting this week, August 4-8, before continuing moving on to their construction on Lakeshore Drive.