The U.S Army Special Operations Command has issued a “Duty to Warn” notification regarding a potential terrorist threat targeting retired senior officials who previously served in the Department of Defense with roles in the Syria/Iraq theater.

The owner of several Mexican restaurants in Northwest Florida and Alabama has been ar-rested on a slew of charges related to the mishandling of COVID-19 era federal loans. Cesar Campos-Reyes, 52, is charged with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the charges stem from an alleged scheme involving federal program fraud.

Former Florida Department of Education Commissioner and University of West Florida Interim President Manny Diaz Jr. officially began his new position on July 14, marking the end of Dr. Martha Saunders’ eight-year stretch as UWF President. University Public Relations and Diaz held a press conference July 16 to officially introduce him to faculty and staff members, as well as provide a forum for Diaz to answer questions about his plans for the school.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with Florida Highway Patrol and other law enforcement partners throughout the region in Panama City to officially kick off Operation Southern Slow Down Monday, July 14.

Santa Rosa County dropped all charges against Victoria Elsenpeter, who was previously charged with grand theft after roughly $3,800 went missing from the Clerk of Courts and Comptroller.

Pace Library ended their part of the county’s summer reading program with a bang on July 15, putting on an educational and interactive display for all in attendance. The interactive experience was presented by Animal Tales Southeast, a safe and licensed animal education program. The presentation from Animal Tales included a frog, beardless dragon, legless lizard, kookaburra bird, kinkajou (a member of the raccoon family that resembles a lemur) and a snake, all from varying continents.

The Milton Police Department kicked off their Operation Safety Cone program in style on July 16 with a sweet treat at The Sweet Greek’s new location in Milton. Operation Safety Cone is a new type of enforcement the MPD will be rolling out this summer, during which officers will be on the lookout for children demonstrating positive behaviors in the community, like crossing the street safely, wearing bike helmets, helping others in the community and picking up litter. If a child is spotted demonstrating good behaviors, officers will present them with a ticket to get a free ice cream cone from The Sweet Greek.

In May, the Milton City Council approved phase one of the Locklin Lake restoration project focused on dredging the lake. Residents made rampant vegetative growth concerns with the project clear at a July 16 homeowner’s association meeting, held in conjunction with the City of Milton.

The Wolfe Creek Forest Project has earned the Sabal Innovative Partnership Award from the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, recognizing the collaboration among The Longleaf Alliance, Trust for Public Land, Florida Forest Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever program, Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Santa Rosa County.

With the growth of Santa Rosa County’s human population comes an influx of pets, such as cats and dogs.

To keep pets, and their owners, in check, the county has leash laws enforced by Santa Rosa County Animal Services. The leash laws pertain to various areas of the county, namely in population centers such as Navarre, Midway, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace and Jay.