Lawmen say man helped himself to other man's checkbook
CRESTVIEW - A 23-year-old man is accused of helping himself to another man's checkbook, writing a check to himself, and faking the account-holder's signature, lawmen say. Crestview Police were told by...
View Article‘Newborn’ photos of 13-year-old cause stir
CRESTVIEW — Latrell Higgins’ photographs look like a typical newborn’s pictures. He looks dreamy and innocent as he perches on an airy white bed in all the traditional poses: cupping his face,...
View ArticleMatt Gaetz to propose new rules for death penalty cases
State Rep. Matt Gaetz said legislation he plans to introduce Monday could cut nearly five years off the average inmate’s stay on death row. The death penalty reform bill, which Gaetz was putting the...
View ArticleStolen items returned, suspect arrested
SANTA ROSA BEACH - A suspect in the burglary of a home on Loblolly Bay Drive was arrested Friday and some of the stolen items were returned to the owners, according to the Walton County Sheriff's...
View ArticleEglin’s F-35 flight simulators integral part of pilot training (VIDEO)
EGLIN AFB — To use the military’s new multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art F-35 flight simulators, pilots must first be in the dark. When a pilot steps into the expansive room that houses a...
View ArticleTrooper, man hit during traffic stop
MIRAMAR BEACH — A Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a man who had been pulled over for suspected drunken driving were injured Friday night when a motorist rammed the trooper’s patrol car into them...
View ArticleVICTORA: A lot of people make a difference; so can you
In the six weeks since we started featuring people who make a difference, I have heard about so many interesting people in our community. In case you’ve missed it, we feature these inspiring stories...
View ArticleOkaloosa officials wait for state auditors
Okaloosa County officials say they are not sure when the state Auditor General’s Office will begin its audit of county finances and the Clerk of Court’s office. The state’s Joint Legislative Auditing...
View ArticleDestin struggles with development guidelines
DESTIN — High rises and large developments may have a tougher time getting off the ground if it’s up to the City Council. “If it were up to me, I’d kill the Tier III immediately,” Councilman Jim Bagby...
View ArticleThousands have a taste at gumbo festival (GALLERY)
SANDESTIN — At 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Jon Seeling, owner of 98 BBQ, began heating up 55 gallons of gumbo. Over the previous eight days he had cooked small batches of the smoky chicken and sausage...
View ArticleMan pleads no contest in death of 2-year-old son
CRESTVIEW — A man has pleaded no contest to four counts of child neglect and one count of homicide in connection with the death of his 2-year-old son in 2011. Grant Sherwin, 29, still faces one count...
View ArticleAccident on U.S. 98 cuts power to 1,200
DESTIN - About 1,200 Gulf Power customers lost electricity power Saturday morning after a car hit a utility pole along U.S. Highway 98 near Benning Drive. One vehicle was involved in the 4:30 a.m....
View ArticleCar crashes into skating rink
FORT WALTON BEACH - No one was injured after a car hit the side of Fort Walton Skating Center on Saturday afternoon, according to Fort Walton Beach Police Department. A driver behind the wheel for the...
View ArticleHouse blaze sparks 7-acre brush fire
MIDWAY - A house fire on East Bay Boulevard sparked a wildfire Saturday afternoon. Firefighters with the Florida Forest Service were called to the scene about 4 p.m., said Joe Zwierzchowski, a...
View ArticleChoctaw girls headed to Final Four
They did it again. Four nights after rallying from 13 points back to beat Pine Forest in the Region 1-6A semifinal, Choctaw’s Lady Indians were back at it Saturday night, this time coming back from an...
View ArticleDestin Airport reopens after runway overhaul
DESTIN — Within minutes of the Destin Airport’s refurbished runway opening Friday morning, planes were touching down. “We had our first incoming arrival at 6:03 a.m.,” Okaloosa County Deputy Airports...
View ArticleCoyotes worry Destin residents
DESTIN — Coyotes have been making residents uncomfortable lately. Mike Sherry, who lives on Calhoun Avenue near Clement Taylor Park, was taking his regular evening walk last week with his chocolate...
View ArticleHorizons to celebrate start of expansion project
FORT WALTON BEACH — Just one year ago, hope for continuing Horizons of Okaloosa County’s day-care center seemed dim. Monday, the center is announcing its groundbreaking on renovations to improve and...
View ArticleOkaloosa Island’s main water tank wins contest
Okaloosa Island’s main water tank, covered with a shimmering blue-green mural depicting the Emerald Coast, has been named Tnemec 2012 Tank of the Year. Tnemec, a leading industrial coating company,...
View ArticleBeach runners break world records
MIRAMAR BEACH — Courtney Davwalter crossed the finish line Sunday afternoon in front of a sparkling blue and green Gulf of Mexico and hunched over in the white sand to catch her breath. She had been...
View Article