Deputy finds bags of marijuana in car’s console
A Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested 34-year-old Kazeric Darnell Freeman Wednesday after allegedly finding bags containing marijuana in the console area of his vehicle.
According to a Walton County news release, Deputy Steve Key...
Meet the new master of disaster in Walton County
The new point man at the Emergency Operations Center, Capt. Joe Preston, said coming in during the middle of a hurricane season and a waning oil crisis is “a little rough.”
The “biggest challenge” is “getting up to speed,” the new...
PHOTO SHARE: Marne Rasche finds big snake in the road
Marnie Rasche of Santa Rosa Beach took this photo. “How would you like to come home and find this on your street?” she asked. “This snake was seen Aug. 13 on Sugar Drive in Santa Rosa Beach. The police took charge.” Share your photos with The...
Grit & Grace reborn with new twists History of Walton County comes alive in new production
Grit & Grace, Walton County’s official Folk Life Production, is returning to the stage Sept. 9-11 at Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs.
Established in 2000, productions have taken a hiatus since 2007.
“This is our rebirth,” said G&G...
Fears of oil in inland waters grow after fish kill
With the Clyde B. Wells Bridge visible to the east, the air carried a heavy stench as 10-year-old Chandler Gibson emptied nets containing the scooped remains of a fish kill in Choctawhatchee Bay last Saturday.
“I love to fish out here and he does...
GAME PLAN — Recruiter helps parents, student athletes prepare for playing on college level
When it comes to getting a scholarship to play ball, George Henshaw has a plan.
Henshaw, former NFL coach and recruiter for the National Collegiate Scouting Association, shared a step-by-step plan with more than a dozen athletes at South Walton High...
PARTY LINE: Vine to Wine packs the house
Destin Charity Wine kickoff — Vine to Wine — Aug. 27 at Sago Palms saw a full house of folks turning out to sample winners for the upcoming Taste of the Beach. Todd Vucovich, Michael McIntosh, Len Olsen, Kathy Fly Bridges, John Russell, Lori...
‘Alabama Charlie’ helps local fan get ‘Back to The Beach’ with Vince Gill
After he read about Santa Rosa Beach resident Vicki Gatliff’s troubles getting tickets for the upcoming Vince Gill concert, “Alabama” Charlie McPeak took matters into his own hands.
The eight-year Destin resident told The Log that he offered to...
PCB man survives shark bite, plane crash, heart attack, gun shot
PANAMA CITY BEACH — The top of Mark Rush’s head was covered in a cap, keeping the results of a near fatal gunshot wound a tantalizing secret.
But when he finally removed the hat Monday afternoon to reveal his skull, there was no trace of the...
Associate teachers will not be used in Walton County this year
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Associate teachers will not be used in Walton County schools this year.
The School Board and teachers union failed to reach an agreement to implement the program designed to help Florida schools skirt strict state-imposed class...
‘THE JOY OF FENCING’: A sports where cunning trumps brute force may soon be coming to Walton County (PHOTOS and VIDEO)
Master-At-Arms, Robert Drake, wants to spread the “poison” of traditional swashbuckling sword play to Walton County area neighborhoods.
“You just have to use deceit and treachery; it’s very much a mental sport,” said the 34-year-fencing...
Autopsy results for Santa Rosa Beach man: No foul play
SANTA ROSA BEACH -The autopsy results for the 60-year-old man found dead Friday on Blue Bell Circle have found no foul play.
According to a press release from the Walton County Sheriff's Office, Robert Storm died from a self-inflicted gun shot...
LETTER: Animal lovers, We need your help
Everyone is invited to the first public meeting of the Friends of the Walton County Animal Shelter, Inc., on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. A nationally recognized speaker from the Humane Society of the United States will first...
LETTER: Stop negating the north; there is no ‘South Walton’
I agree with the writer of “Borders matter” (letter, Aug. 8), but perhaps she should take her own advice.
After correcting the writer of the Green Berets article on the proper dateline for Sandestin, she signed her letter with the location ...
COLUMN: Are you ready for some football (and some hypocrisy)?
I grew up loving football. Years ago, if you wanted to crack a bank vault in my hometown, a Friday night when the stadium lights are on would be your best bet.
All the cops would be at the game and no one would notice until Monday morning. If...
From the rubble of Katrina a Fire is born: Brenda Darr witnesses the best and worst of humanity while riding out the killer storm and its aftermath (PHOTOS)
Brenda Darr lived in New Orleans for 16 years before opening her restaurant Fire in an old abandoned firehouse on Annunciation Street just outside the Warehouse District.
She opened the eatery in June 2005.
Two months later, Darr, along with the rest...
LETTER: If our children are the future let’s act like it
Children are our future. I think the Walton County School Board and more importantly the superintendent need to be reminded of this.
The overwelming concern with Walton schools is the budget. Experienced teachers were terminated in favor of the...
RON HART: Don’t take the bait: Ignore Mosque near Ground Zero
NEW YORK -- President Obama said he has “no regrets” about endorsing a mosque/Islamic community center near Ground Zero.
This was between vacations and right before he started his trip around the country to raise money and campaign for Democrats...
FAT AND HAPPY: More than just a pizza joint, Fat Clemenza is a best-kept Italian secret (PHOTOS)
It’s a Monday night and while business at most restaurants would be slow on this night of the week, that is not the case at Fat Clemenza.
It’s a full house, enticing aromas fill the air, and Dominic Damiano is making the rounds from table to...
Stephen Baldwin to bring Thunder Response Team to Walton County (PHOTOS)
Actor, radio host, and filmmaker Stephen Baldwin is continuing to take action to help clean up the devastating aftermath caused by April’s oil spill in the Gulf region. Despite the news that the oil spill has been capped, there are still millions...
WHEELHOUSE COMES FULL CIRCLE: Landmark restaurant space will return to 30A as developers plan a culinary campus
A South Walton landmark on County Road 30A, The Wheelhouse Restaurant, is getting a new lease on life.
Victoria and Skip Moore bought the property in April and plan to rebuild a restaurant on the site, plus a little lagniappe.
The Wheelhouse...
LETTER: After oil spill it’s time to pump up the volume
Now what?
BP has apparently killed their oil well permanently, but their secret is no secret anymore.
Oil companies have always withheld information about their drilling activities. Except for the tragic blowout three months ago, I doubt any of us...
LETTER: It’s time to think outside the bureaucratic box
I read about the County Commission candidates telling us the wonderful things they want to do to hold down operating costs. I guess this "feel good" talk is supposed to encourage us to accept the increased millage rates.
However, in the same Sun...
STAR CHAMBER: ‘Celebrity’ affair brings in more than $40,000
The Walton County Chamber’s 4th annual celebrity waiter dinner brought in more than $40,000 last week to fund the Chamber’s upcoming leadership programs.
More than 300 Chamber supporters and community business leaders attended the dinner held...
Primary election results bring smiles and ‘jelly rolls’
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — His seasoned-radio voice bounced down the vacant hallways, relaying primary election polling results live to radio listeners from the Walton County Courthouse.
“Use to be everyone would come here,” said Art Dees, the...
LETTER: Tea Party time! We scored big in primary elections
With eight of their 10 endorsed candidates winning in the county primary elections, the Walton County Tea Party Patriots are celebrating the success of their choices. Of the selected candidates, only Mike Hill, State Senate District 2, and Mike...
‘ARTISTIC DIFFERENCES’: Jones & Co. split after more than two decades together
An era spanning 21 years ended last week when popular local band Jones & Co. split with sax man Al Alvarado.
Alvarado attributed the split to “artistic differences.”
Known for walking and working the crowd while blowing his horn, Alvarado began...
CHICK HUETEL: The WWII airplane mystery of Choctawhatchee Bay
Recently, I reported the discovery by the Hoey family of the missing boiler that could have been part of a long-ago bay steamboat. Many have searched but the Hoey’s made a plan and found the site!
But bad weather and murky water made it...
Man shot at DeFuniak Springs home; Police investigating
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS - Police are investigating a shooting at a home on Constitution Avenue that left a man wounded.
DeFuniak Springs officers responded to a call about a self-inflicted gunshot wound early Tuesday, according to a Police Department news ...
Comander wins big in Walton GOP primary; voters oust longtime School Board member
Walton County Republicans kept the present and rejected the past on Tuesday, choosing incumbent Sara Comander over former commissioner Ro Cuchens as their nominee for the District 4 seat on the County Commission.
Comander, bidding for a second...
Evening fire damages DeFuniak Springs home
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Fire Marshal's are investigating the cause of a fire at a home on Colquit Street.
First responders were on the scene of the home fire around 6 p.m. and worked for nearly four hours Tuesday evening.
DeFuniak Springs Fire Chief...
Boyd dodges bullet in race for U.S. House
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- All seven incumbent U.S. House members in Florida who drew primary opposition won their races Tuesday, with only Rep. Allen Boyd having a close call.
Also, in South Florida state Sen. Federica Wilson of Miami Gardens defeated...
PARTY LINE: Guess who came to dinner? Celebrity waiters and waiting on celebrities
Wow, did Walton County’s Chamber put on a fantastic event last Thursday night! I expected the Celebrity Waiter Dinner to be a nice little dinner, but it definitely offered wow factor. Kudos to Valencia Williamson. Michelle Ray was one of the...
Search continues for diver missing at Vortex Springs
PONCE DE LEON — The search continues for a missing Tennessee diver at Vortex Springs north of Ponce de Leon on State 81.
Divers made another attempt Monday to find out if 30-year-old Ben McDaniel's body is in the rear of a 1,600-plus-feet cave,...
Walton County Citizen Services offices relocate
Effective Aug. 26 the Walton County Citizen Services, Veteran Services, and HUD/Section 8 offices will be moved from N. 6th Street in DeFuniak Springs Bld. 76 to the Emergency Operations Center Annex at 63 BoPete Manor Road.
This address is located...
Sheriff Shows Appreciation to WCI Canine Team
Sheriff Adkinson recently presented members of the Walton Correctional Institute Canine Team with Challenge Coins as an expression of his appreciation for their excellent work.
Capt. Bobby Howell, Sgt. Alan Godwin, Officer Damon Bird, Officer...
Wreck on Highway 98 in Miramar Beach (PHOTOS)
Traffic slowed down a bit Monday morning after a traffic crash near the intersection of Mack Bayou Road on Highway 98 east. No details were available at the time.
Weekend storms ignite two House fires in South Walton
South Walton experienced spectacular thunder and lightning storms this past weekend. While these storms offer an impressive display of Mother Nature’s power, they bring a very real danger to homeowners. On two separate occasions homes were...
BREAKING NEWS: Tiger Woods divorce finalized in Bay County (UPDATED)
Tiger Woods and his Swedish-born wife officially divorced Monday, nine months after his middle-of-the night car crash outside his home set off shocking revelations that the world's most famous athlete had been cheating on his wife.
"We are sad...
FROM THE MUSIC FEST AT HARBORWALK (VIDEO)
The walton Sun in conjunction with its partners at NeighborVision offer this live report from the Clean Coast Music and Arts Fest at HarborWalk Village. To learn more about NeighborVision, click here.
DECISION DAY DRAWS NEAR: Florida congressional hopefuls find plenty of common ground
Florida’s congressional candidates’ battle focused more on President Obama and the federal government than a competition between the mostly like-minded candidates.
Independent contender Diane Berryhill said, “We should be arresting our...
WSCO: Fugitive apprehension leads to meth lab
On Thursday, August 19, 2010 Walton County Deputies apprehend Peter Lee Cotton a fugitive from justice since July 2010. During his apprehension Investigators with the Vice-Narcotics Unit uncovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab. ...
New Emergency Management Leadership
On August 12, 2010 the Walton County Sheriff’s Office appointed Capt. Joe Preston as the Division Chief and Director of Emergency management and Public Safety Communications. Capt. Preston has over nine years experience with the Walton County...
Worries persist as Health Department sounds all clear
Pam Hulsey is ready to escape an oil spill she claims has made her family sick.
The Santa Rosa Beach family returned to Walton County this week to pack up and say their final goodbyes before heading to North Carolina.
“Brittany spent (a recent)...
