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Gulf state leaders lobby for oil spill funds

MILTON — A coalition of more than 20 elected officials from five Gulf Coast states recently returned from Washington, D.C., where they met with lawmakers to urge them to...

Revelers wait out delay to enjoy Mardi Gras parade (VIDEO, SLIDESHOW)

OKALOOSA ISLAND — Although delayed about an hour and a half, hundreds of revelers still lined Santa Rosa Boulevard on Saturday to enjoy the Mardi Gras on the Island Parade....

Okaloosa to consider refunding water and sewer deposits

Okaloosa County Commissioner Bill Roberts wants the county to considering returning service deposits to longtime water and sewer customers. “If it doesn’t affect our...

Two charged in reported carjacking in DeFuniak Springs

Police have made two arrests in connection with a reported carjacking Thursday. Jacob Dillion Rhodes, 20, of Niceville, was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated assault,...

VICTORA: Angry Birds doesn’t matter, which is why it matters a lot

When I was in college, back in the days when all video games were in arcades, I was a bit obsessed with a few of them. I liked PacMan and Astroids and one that involved...

Drake won't seek re-election, endorses Coley

PANAMA CITY — In November, Rep. Jimmy Patronis predicted a legislative session characterized by political infighting brought on by territorial battles in the redistricting...

Local real estate prices slip in January

Real estate prices fell in much of Northwest Florida last month. Metro Market Trends recently released its January real estate sales reports for Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton...

School Board to vote on STEMM Center

The Okaloosa County School Board is set to decide Monday evening whether or not to go forward with a proposed STEMM Center at the old Valparaiso Elementary School. The...

Airman shoots himself in calf

NICEVILLE — Emergency crews were called to an accidental shooting early Friday morning. According to David Birch, assistant chief with the East Niceville Fire Department, an...

New details emerge in allegations against coach

An investigation of the former baseball coach at Navarre High School was launched after students made multiple allegations against him, according to a document in his personnel...

Residents skeptical of funding options for 331 bridge

MIRAMAR BEACH — About 60 people gathered Tuesday night for an informational meeting on the proposal to build a second two-lane bridge over Choctawhatchee Bay. Several Walton...

UPDATE: Niceville home destroyed in fire (VIDEO, SLIDESHOW)

NICEVILLE — A home at 307 Niceville Ave. was destroyed after it caught fire Thursday afternoon. A family of four was home when the fire started, but they all got out safely,...

Fire destroys shed behind home

CRESTVIEW — A Thursday afternoon fire destroyed a shed containing an Artic Cat four-wheeler, a motorcycle, a generator and a gun safe, fire officials said. Crestview...

Man charged with sexual battery of two young girls

CRESTVIEW — A Baker man was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery of two young girls. Douglas Lundy Harlson, 68, molested the children at his home in Baker on...

DeFuniak Springs police investigate carjacking

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Two men reported that they were victims of a carjacking at the corner of S. Park Street and Railroad Avenue about 11:15 a.m. Thursday. The men were in a...

'Slavery in the United States is not something from the past'

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Inspector George Collins started following an investigative trail in 2003 that has led him to become a leading expert on human trafficking and...

UPDATE: All lanes on Marler bridge reopen after crash

DESTIN —A moving truck and a cargo truck collided on the Marler bridge Tuesday afternoon, bringing traffic to a halt. The trucks collided about 2:45 p.m. in the westbound...

EMS to get new station at old wastewater plant

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County EMS soon will have a new home at the old Garnier’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ocean City. In the next few weeks, county crews...

Motorcyclist in fair condition after collision (SLIDESHOW)

FORT WALTON BEACH — A motorcyclist was injured when he collided with a car at the intersection of Racetrack Road and Eglin Parkway Tuesday Tuesday night. Christopher Smith,...

AmericanTowns Heroes: Ariana Hargis is a Real Livesaver

Ariana Hargis is the kind of lifeguard you want on duty when your loved ones are in the pool. She's a quick-thinking, focused professional with eyes in the back of her head. When...

Couple plead not guilty in child’s death

CRESTVIEW — Grant Sherwin and Nichole Allen pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of aggravated child abuse by aggravated battery and child neglect. They are accused of...

Nine indicted in alleged land schemes

A Freeport subdivision development called Riverwalk never got off the ground, but two Colorado men apparently made a lot of money selling lots there as investment opportunities....

Bald eagles appear to rebound in the region (SLIDESHOW)

October through May is breeding season for bald eagles, which means observant people might catch a glimpse of the large birds foraging in coastal areas. Several have been spotted...

Santa Rosa plans to seek vendors for Navarre Beach

MILTON — Navarre Beach could be getting some new food and entertainment vendors just in time for spring break. Santa Rosa County commissioners on Thursday will vote on...

Walton approves funding increase for fire departments

Walton County commissioners have approved a $30,000 increase in funding over last year for Argyle and Liberty fire departments. The approval late last month for fiscal 2011-12...

February, 2012 News from Shelter House

from:Shelter House

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. For such a large problem - one in five high schoolers report being physically or sexually...

'Dreams really do come true'

Jenna Rae Montgomery knows that dreams can come true. The 1996 Niceville High School graduate is still reeling after walking the red carpet Jan. 29 at the 18th Screen Actors Guild...

Santa Rosa officials fight to protect local military bases

MILTON — With proposed military cuts and another possible Base Realignment and Closure initiative coming in 2013 or 2015, a fight is coming to protect local military...

Randall Holcombe’s trial delayed again

The racketeering trial of former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office employee Randall Holcombe has been postponed until April 30. But prosecutor Russ Edgar said he thinks the...

Man threatens to kill woman and blow her house up with dynamite

FREEPORT — A Freeport man who broke into a home Sunday afternoon and threatened the residents was arrested after a brief scuffle with deputies. Britton Wayne Bush, 34, is...

Destin man charged with racketeering

DESTIN — Investigators with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said there may be additional victims connected to a scam involving a Destin man who posed as a real...

40 years with Niceville's dynamic duo, Wise and Corbin

NICEVILLE — On Aug. 2, 1971, Randall Wise was appointed the city’s mayor. About 10 minutes later, Lannie Corbin was hired as the city’s clerk. He was promoted to...

Lockheed: Foreign investors will offset F-35 program

FORT WALTON BEACH — Eglin Air Force Base may be able to boast the largest F-35 fleet in the world, but the Joint Strike Fighter is most certainly a global project....

Destin lays out regs for solar, wind generation systems

ENERGIZED: City gets ‘proactive' as it lays out regs for solar, wind generation systems in Destin

Pedestrian critical after being hit by van (SLIDESHOW)

FORT WALTON BEACH —A pedestrian was thrown 50 feet after he was hit by a van while crossing Racetrack Road on Saturday night. Robert Riggins, 58 years old from Milton, was...

State investigating Bud Day

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed a special prosecutor to help investigate allegations that 86-year-old Medal of Honor recipient Bud Day was paid $84,000 a year for a job he...

VICTORA: Leprechauns’ pranks will end all too soon

When my nieces were young, my brother and sister-in-law used to play tricks on them right before St. Patrick’s Day. Things would be misplaced or hidden. A chair might find...

Destin recount confirms results; Marler ousts Weidenhamer

CRESTVIEW — Cyron Marler was officially declared the winner of the fourth seat on the Destin City Council on Saturday, ousting incumbent Tom Weidenhamer. After a recount of...

U.S. 98 closure poses challenge for some commuters

HURLBURT FIELD — Confusion and frustration abound as residents prepare to deal with the upcoming closure of U.S. Highway 98 early Sunday. The Air Force will shut down the...

Man charged with renting vacant homes illegally (MUG)

DESTIN — A 40-year-old man has been charged with racketeering after he rented out vacant homes without the owners’ authorization, according to the Okaloosa County...

Deputy charged with DUI had been in trouble before

DESTIN — An Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with DUI after a motorcycle wreck Thursday night. Sgt. Ted Cason, 48, of Shalimar, was suspended without...

Recount to be held in Destin election; Mary Esther’s results will not be re-examined

A recount will be held this morning to determine the fourth winner in Destin’s City Council election, but Mary Esther’s results will not be reviewed. Okaloosa County...

Super Bowl means business: Restaurants prep for the big game

Chris Sehman isn’t rooting for either team in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday. He just hopes for overtime. “I want triple overtime; let’s have everyone eating a lot...

Both sides claim win in Shalimar annex case

Both camps in the legal battle over the future use of the Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex in Shalimar are claiming victory this week. Judge Michael Overstreet of the 14th...

The heat's on: La Place offers array of handmade hot sauces (VIDEO)

FORT WALTON BEACH — It started in Duane and Nina Selph’s kitchen. Now the couple are spreading the word about their homemade sauces, most recently by placing first in...

Election: New blood could mean changes for Valparaiso

VALPARAISO — As a candidate for the City Commission, Kay Hamilton coined the phrase “I want to get out of the litigation business and into the communication...

Man critical after running off roadway, hitting fence

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A 52-year-old man is in critical condition after a Thursday night wreck. Glenn Royce King of DeFuniak Springs was driving his 2005 Chevrolet PT Cruiser...

Sheriff’s workers shave heads to fight cancer (PHOTOS)

Members of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office shaved their heads Thursday to raise more than $2,300 to help cancer patients cover their medical bills. Communications Officer...

Police continue to investigate fatal shooting of Will Bowen

FORT WALTON BEACH — When police officers arrived at 35A Alder Ave. shortly after midnight Jan. 26, they found Will Bowen lying on the floor bleeding profusely from a gunshot...

Okaloosa teachers union files complaint against district

The Okaloosa County Education Association has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the Okaloosa County School District and School Board. Attorneys for OCEA filed the...