Community News
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 · Walton County
DeFuniak Springs Unveils Five-Year Pavement Improvement Plan
DeFuniak Springs is implementing a five-year pavement improvement plan from 2027-2031 to proactively maintain its 83 miles of roadways, shifting from reactive repairs to preventative care.
Two Walton County Fire Rescue Chiefs Complete Florida Leadership Program
Battalion Chiefs Christopher Brown and Travis Cook of Walton County Fire Rescue completed an elite two-year leadership program sponsored by the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Missing DeFuniak Springs Man Identified 10 Years After Disappearance
Skeletal remains discovered on Eglin Air Force Base property have been identified as John Thomas Watson, a DeFuniak Springs man missing since August 2015. DNA analysis confirmed the identification after a decade of uncertainty.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
District 4 Residents Air Concerns Over E-Bikes, Drainage, Pickleball Courts
Walton County Commissioner Donna Johns drew a standing-room-only crowd Thursday to discuss e-bikes on sidewalks, drainage problems, and pickleball court placement in District 4.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
E-bike Safety, Drainage Top Concerns at District 4 Meeting
County Commissioner Donna Johns hosted a packed townhall meeting Thursday to address District 4 concerns ranging from e-bike safety to park upgrades.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Santa Rosa Beach Tennis Center Redevelopment on Track for Fall Opening
Santa Rosa Beach's Tennis Center redevelopment is progressing toward a fall opening, with crews pouring foundations and preparing pickleball court sites.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Walton County to Revise Development Code Based on Roundtable Input
Walton County will use feedback from roundtable meetings to rewrite sections of its Land Development Code and streamline the permitting process.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Santa Rosa County Can Submit Deepwater Horizon Restoration Projects
Santa Rosa County can submit project ideas for $8.8 billion in Deepwater Horizon restoration funds managed by a federal and state trustee council.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
MISSING DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN IDENTIFIED 10 YEARS AFTER DISAPPEARANCE
Authorities identified skeletal remains found on Eglin Air Force Base property as John Thomas Watson, missing since August 2015. DNA analysis confirmed the identification after a decade-long investigation.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Walton County Sheriff's Office Oversees 600-Person Operation Across Three Divisions
The Walton County Sheriff's Office operates three divisions with over 600 staff members. Services include law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical transport, detention operations, and animal control across the county.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Walton County Switches to OpenGov for Vendor Bids
Walton County began using OpenGov in February 2024 to manage vendor bids and proposals. Vendors can register free accounts to receive bid alerts.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Gentle Hound Mix, Jade, Seeks New Home in Santa Rosa Beach
Jade, a gentle three-year-old hound mix weighing 41 pounds, became an owner surrender on May 26, 2026, and seeks a new home in Santa Rosa Beach.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Four-Year-Old Lab Mix Needs Home in Santa Rosa Beach
Saban, a friendly four-year-old Lab/GSP mix, seeks a permanent home in Santa Rosa Beach. The well-trained dog is good with kids, cats and other dogs.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Toro Toro Miami
Toro Toro Miami will offer a four-course prix fixe menu with live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2024, featuring dishes like Wagyu Short Rib and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Battalion Chief McElyea Wins State Cadet Advisor Award
Walton County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief TJ McElyea won the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association Cadet Advisor of the Year award for founding and leading Cadet Post 850.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
DeSantis Rejects Florida Gas Tax Pause Amid $4/Gallon Spike
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down calls to suspend the state's 25-cent gas tax, warning drivers won't feel relief at pumps hitting $4 a gallon. Despite pleas from Democrats and Palm Beach County leaders, he cited past failures and oil market volatility. As global tensions rise, Florida motorists brace for pain at the pump.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
DeSantis Signs 9 Key Florida Laws on Safety, Schools and Traffic
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new laws Thursday in Tallahassee, tackling unlicensed drivers, church security and body camera privacy amid rising public safety concerns. Most take effect July 1, joining nearly 60 others passed this year. From stricter traffic penalties to expanded school guardians, the measures aim to bolster security across the Sunshine State.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Florida's Lab-Grown Meat Ban Survives Federal Court Challenge
Nearly two years after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning cultivated meat sales in Florida, a federal appeals court upheld the controversial law as constitutional. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from California-based Upside Foods, cementing Florida's status as the first state to prohibit lab-grown meat—a move critics say protects the traditional livestock industry rather than consumers.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Florida Launches Mandatory Hurricane Drills Across All 67 Counties
With hurricane season looming just weeks away, Florida's Division of Emergency Management has rolled out mandatory public safety drills statewide to sharpen readiness. The initiative targets all 67 counties, urging residents to stock seven days of supplies and master evacuation protocols. Officials warn that recent storms underscore the need for swift action amid rising threats.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
DeSantis Greenlights UFC, Colleges in Florida's New License Plates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill unleashing eight new specialty license plates, from UFC fighters to South Florida high schools and military academies. Drivers can start pre-ordering Oct. 1, but only if 3,000 vouchers sell in two years. With over 2.3 million special tags already on roads, these could boost scholarships, mental health and more.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026