Tourism is an important part of Santa Rosa County’s economy, as members of Leadership Santa Rosa Class 38 found out in July.

Leadership Santa Rosa Class 38 visited various locations across the Navarre area July 17 for “Tourism Day: A Wild Ride Through Santa Rosa County,” which offered a firsthand look at hospitality and attractions in the tourism industry.

The new animal clinic, Snip Happens, held their ribbon cutting July 31 to commemorate a momentous occasion eight years in the making.

Jimmy Forrest Robinson III was indicted July 29 for First Degree Murder by Illegal Distribution of Controlled Substances by State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden’s Office.

Gulf Breeze High School teacher Molly Mersereau was arrested July 29 following the Gulf Breeze Police Department’s investigation of a Crime Stoppers tip.

Distinguished University of West Florida biology professor Dr. Wade Jeffrey has earned global recognition with a ranking by ScholarGPS. The academic ranking platform named Jeffrey a “Highly Ranked Scholar,” placing him in the top .05% worldwide in the field of life sciences. Scholars are recognized for their significant contributions to research, as measured by publication count, citations and h-index.

Milton City Council called a special meeting for Saturday, July 19 to review next year’s budget and set millage rates for the city. The council, in a supermajority vote, ultimately decided to raise millage rates by 1.128 mill and opt out of Santa Rosa County’s Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing Unit. The decision will result in net savings for homeowners in fiscal year 2026, while also allowing Milton to offset Community Redevelopment Area losses.

Longtime Milton resident Myrtle Wolfe will celebrate her 100th  birthday on Aug. 3, a centennial occasion that not many have the honor of reaching.

STOA Architects, Inc. shared updates on the Navarre Beach Boardwalk Project and new Navarre Beach welcome center with the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners during their biweekly commission committee meeting July 21. The project and plans presented to the board feature an elevated beach walkway, a main boardwalk complex with spaces for around eight vendors or local artisans, a food truck plaza and an open pavilion.

The University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities announces “After Hours with the Artist: Sunken Series,” a compelling cross-disciplinary collaboration between the Florida Public Archaeology Network and The Art Gallery at UWF that blends art, archaeology and public engagement in a novel way. This after-hours event highlights the work of artist Jenna Zydlo, whose Sunken Series exhibit reimagines maritime archaeology through intricately crafted ceramics inspired by a fictional 17th – 18th century Spanish shipwreck.

Santa Rosa County’s July 24 special rezoning meeting agenda prompted emotional responses from both attendees and commissioners, with contention surrounding case 2025-23-RSS. This case concerned a seven-acre piece of property in the 3200 block of Country Lane in Milton, located between the Moors and Avalon Beach properties.