Judicial candidates size up the lay of the legal landscape
Judicial candidates striving to rule over the District 1 Circuit Court made their case before the court of public opinion at a recent forum held at the Coastal Branch Library.
Cannon Laws shielded the candidates for the most part from questions...
Cross-Dressed for success: Tax Collector’s employees strut the catwalk for a good cause
For those who think our local Tax Collector’s Office is full of a bunch of money-grabbing old fuddy duddies, think again.
“I am the most masculine man you would want to meet and people can’t believe I’m doing this, and I wouldn’t be if it...
Deputies crack auto burglary ring
Over the past three months, deputies with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating a series of auto burglaries in the Freeport, Choctaw Beach and South Walton areas. Information gathered during the investigation led deputies to...
South Walton doctor sacrifices race to aid injured cyclist
Dr. Steven Donchey trained for a year to compete last weekend in what he said is the hardest bicycle race in the world.
He took time off from his practice at Bluewater Orthopedics to travel from his home in South Walton County to Colorado to compete...
DeFuniak Springs police clean up the streets
This past week members of the DeFuniak Springs Police joined with the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.
The Task force worked together targeting violent fugitives, giving the people in a local community a better sense of security....
WCPW: Annouces partial road closer for Mussett Bayou Road next week
Walton County Public Works advises that one lane of traffic will be closed off on Mussett Bayou Road in south Walton County next week due to construction. Weather permitting, work crews will be changing out a cross pipe on the road Aug. 23...
Beaches of South Walton lands Vince Gill for free concert
The Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) announced today that Grammy-winner Vince Gill will present a free outdoor “Back to the Beach” concert Saturday, Sept. 25, in Beaches of South Walton as part of the TDC’s ongoing efforts to...
Report reveals Walton EOC director Barker resigned after improper relationship
Mike Barker, former director of the Walton County Emergency Operations Center, did not resign to pursue career opportunities, but because he’d been caught having a sexual relationship with a subordinate.
An investigative report to be released...
Candidate: Islam is against everything America stands for
PANAMA CITY — A Congressional candidate told local high school and middle school students Tuesday that Islam’s plan is to destroy the American way of life.
“I’m totally against it. If I had my way, it would pretty much be over my dead...
Candidate: Islam is against everything America stands for
PANAMA CITY — A Congressional candidate told local high school and middle school students Tuesday that Islam’s plan is to destroy the American way of life.
“I’m totally against it. If I had my way, it would pretty much be over my dead...
Science learning center in the running for Pepsi prize::Pepsi’s Refresh for the Gulf project is giving out 1.3 million in grants to support efforts to assist communities striken by oil spill.
FREEPORT- Pepsi is putting their money where their mouths are by helping raise money for Gulf states affected by the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill through their Pepsi Refresh for the Gulf project.
The basic philosophy behind Pepsi’s ...
DOH: Walton County Community Focus Group on healthcare
The Walton County Health Advisory Board recently launched a countywide healthcare assessment, and they are asking for your feedback. Join the Community Focus Group today, Aug. 17, to share your thoughts on the quality of healthcare available in...
WCSD: Schools to implement new security system
All Walton County School District schools are implementing the EasyLobby Visitor Management System for all visitors this school year.
The new program tracks all visitors on campus thus providing a safer environment for students. The system...
OIL UPDATE: Storm brings oil to Walton beaches; County may reconsider pulling warning signs
Recent weather conditions continue to wash oil from Deepwater Horizon ashore on Walton County beaches from Topsail Hill Preserve to Seaside.
According to Floridadisater.org, various tar covered items and tar patties were found within Topsail Hill...
X MARKED THE SPOT: Hidden shipwreck found off Sandestin (PHOTOS)
Last spring I wrote about a map that once showed the location of a large under-water wreck.
Later, another chart showed a boiler where the wreck had been once detailed.
The “X” map mystery lay off Four Mile Point.
Four Mile Point is on the...
Legal ABZ’s time for the classroom
It’s back-to-school time and teachers can get their ABZ’s of school law to help them navigate the ever growing legal potholes in and out of the classroom.
“The ABZ’s of School Law For Teachers” was written to give back to the profession she...
COLUMN: Home sales to struggle
Talk around the coffee table is that plugging the hole in the Gulf was all the real estate market needs to rally. Not so fast, the problem with real estate reminds me of Whack A Mole. Gene Epstein rounded up the usual suspects-soft economy, increased...
MADE IN THE SHADE: Student innovates solution to sun at Bay Elementary
Students are going to feel a lot cooler on the playground this year thanks to Maia Billman’s award-winning writing.
Bay Elementary School installed a large sunshade that it was awarded when Billman’s essay won the Florida Society of Dermatology...
Happy trails, until we meet again: Walton continues to relocate sea turtles (PHOTOS and VIDEO)
At daybreak dedicated turtle lovers arrived at a nest carefully buried by its mother about six weeks ago, to do what they once thought unthinkable; dig up the eggs and ship them away.
Sharon Maxwell, Dawn Ratcliff, Jennifer Jones and Joe Burton...
LETTER: Recognize emotional manipulation for what it is
It’s so easy to get “riled up” these days. Actually, it seems to be the new “normal.” If we’re not upset, angry, afraid, or indignant about something, we might be accused of being apathetic or “out of the loop” or heaven forbid, that...
Planting seeds through serving, learning, inspiring
If you have a love of something, how can you use that love to change your world?
That’s the question Joe Moore asks.
Moore has a love of all things related to biology, conservation and sustainability. He uses that passion as he takes students on...
Bass anglers raise funds for Children in Crisis
Bass anglers from the community came out in force to have fun and support Children in Crisis at the American General Life & Accident Insurance Company 1st Annual CIC Bass Tournament. The charity tournament kicked off at beautiful Hammock Bay in...
DOH: Long-term oil impact health advisory guidance for counties
TALLAHASSEE – In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Gulf coast impacted counties established new long-term criteria...
EPA finds buried oil on Walton County Beaches
According to operations and response website, Floridadisater.org, officials from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency were on Walton County’s Beaches this week digging holes and finding product as deep as 14 inches under the sand.
The sand...
Ron Hart: All shook up
The day comes when all the kids are gone. We sent our youngest kid off to NYU, the middle one back to the U of M to see what they can do with him, and our oldest to medical school this week. At times like this parents worry about many things to do...
Sandestin Celebration Fishing Tournament to be held Aug. 25-29 First major tournament in the region celebrates reopened fishing waters
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will be the home of the Sandestin Celebration Fishing Tournament this Aug. 25-29.
This new tournament celebrates the favorable conditions in the Gulf of Mexico plus the reopening of Federal fishing waters, and will...
Scientific Samaritans: Amid a “science and math crisis in this country,” Good Samaritan Institute is born in South Walton
Nestled among mature trees along County Road 393N across from South Walton’s main fire station rests an obscure brick building.
Most don’t know that the meeting rooms inside are a destination for educators and cancer researchers from across the...
FDOT: Ribbon cutting ceremony for recently completed section of US 331 South
The Walton County Board of Commissioners and the Florida Department of Transportation will have a ribbon cutting ceremony for the recently four-laned segment of U.S. 331 South at 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at Bentley’s by the Bay, 24200 U.S. Hwy. 331S, which...
Walton County schools back in session (PHOTOS)
Eleven-year-old Jessica Anth waited in the front office of Emerald Coast Middle School.
She had recently moved to the area from Georgia and said the anticipation of the morning had her tossing and turning the night before.
“I’m nervous and...
Matsuriza Taiko Drummers to perform at Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Walton Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the world renowned Matsuriza Taiko Drummers will perform at the fourth annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner Aug.19.
Matsuriza began in 1983 at the Epcot Japan Pavilion of Walt Disney World in Orlando and...
E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center hosts first open house celebration
The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will host its first “Open House” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11. The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured, and activities for all ages...
Freeport swimming pool to reopen
After being shut down nearly two weeks ago, the city’s public swimming pool will reopen this weekend.
The Walton County Health Department gave its approval Tuesday after it ordered the pool closed because of broken safety equipment, a broken ...
WCSO: Sheriff Adkinson will discuss seized assets at press conference Tuesday
Sheriff Adkinson will host a press conference, with the US Attorney's Office, Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Walton County Sheriff's Office in DeFuniak Springs. The press conference will be in reference to seized assets being shared among...
Advertorial: For a song Free music fest at Sandestin draws stars, songwriters
Nationally-acclaimed singer/songwriters will converge on Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort next weekend for a free two-day concert intended to rock the Village of Baytowne Wharf.
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13 at Hammerhead’s Bar & Grill...
WCSD: Portables will provide relief to school ‘busting at the seams’
Van R. Butler Elementary is literally “busting at the seams” with a 877 students enrolled as of Friday, Aug. 6. In order for the school to be compliant with the Florida Constitutional Amendment of Class-Size Reduction Amendment, portables will...
‘I bleed SoWal’: After three decades, Bobby Johnson moving family to uncharted waters
Bobby Johnson has lived in South Walton since 1980 and has pretty much seen it all.
When his family first moved from Rockford, Ill., when he was 13 years old to Dogwood Street in Seagrove, there were no restaurants, banks, supermarkets, dry cleaners,...
Sandestin Celebration Fishing Tournament set for Aug. 25
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will be the home of the Sandestin Celebration Fishing Tournament this Aug. 25-29.
This new tournament celebrates the favorable conditions in the Gulf of Mexico and will bring the fishing and boating community together...
Freeport residents bicycle from Oregon to Florida (PHOTO GALLERY)
FREEPORT — Some people called them crazy and others admired their determination, but few were without opinions when they learned Brandin and Deb Shost were going to ride their bicycles across the United States.
The Freeport couple decided to...
RON HART: The narrow View reveals a wide gap
ROSEMARY BEACH — A buddy in Memphis e-mailed me the following, which has been described (presumably by men) as the "joke of the year:"
“Two women were sitting quietly together, minding their own business.”
It explains why The View has been such...
WCSO: Investigation leads to “elaborate indoor marijuana grow.” (PHOTOS and MUG)
DeFuniak Springs, FL – On August 06, 2010, Investigators with Walton County Sheriff’s Office Vice-Narcotics Unit, along with Investigators from Crestview Police Department, uncovered an elaborate indoor marijuana grow located at 44 Carol Lane in...
As cleanup crews stand down, problems linger
When BP cleaning contractors secured the property across the street from Smiling Fish Café, owner George Barnes thought it would be a “solution” to the oil-spill nightmare washing up onshore.
“As things progressed, 20 Port-O-Lets, hay ride...
WCSD: School buses will return students to school August 12
School buses will begin transporting students to and from schools in Walton County beginning Thursday, Aug. 12. Bus routes are available. click here. The Walton County school District asks for everyone to please use caution when approaching a bus...
U.S. 98 improvements make highway more pedestrian and bicycle friendly
The U.S. 98 improvement project in Walton County is complete. Construction crews concluded the $1.3 million construction effort on time in late July.
The project included removing and replacing the asphalt pavement along a 1.5-mile section...
Resident, foundation, plantation in running for Pepsi’s ‘Do Good for the Gulf’ grants
The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center is in the running for $250,000 through the Pepsi Refresh for the Gulf Project. If the Center wins through the most votes, the funds would go towards educating students in the Florida Panhandle about the...
‘Gulf Coast Warriors’ fight oil with T-shirts
The Emerald Coast has another ally in the fight against oil.
Black T-shirts bearing a daunting reminder about a gulf in peril not only keep people aware of the disaster, but also empower everyone by giving anyone a chance to help.
The T-shirts are...
