Okaloosa County commissioners have voted to open their beaches without any hour restrictions, effective immediately. Beach hours had been restricted to 6:30-9 a.m. and 4:30-7 p.m. because of COVID-19 but, those restrictions no longer apply. However, Crab Island businesses will remain closed until the National Park activates those businesses permits.… MORE
Category Archives: Uncategorized
JURY TRIALS STILL SUSPENDED
The Florida Supreme Court has extended the suspension of jury trials until July 2nd. The emergency order, issued Monday by Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady, increases the list of proceedings state courts will conduct by remote technology during the coronavirus pandemic. For first-degree murder cases, the order suspends until July 2 some requirements for in-person…… MORE
OPENING DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA BUSINESSES
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said he is supportive of the idea of closing Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola to allow restaurants and retailers to use the road for dining and shopping during the coronavirus pandemic. The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce endorsed the idea of closing the street. However, the Downtown Improvement Board said many…… MORE
INTERNATIONAL PAPER FINES
International Paper will have to pay $190,000 in penalties and implement a 1 million-dollar environmental mitigation project because they exceeded state limitations on the toxicity of wastewater from the paper-making process. They also must pay a $10,000 fine each time it fails certain water quality tests. International Paper is permitted to discharge 24 million gallons…… MORE
SANTA ROSA COUNTY WILDFIRE
The Florida Forest Service is fighting a wildfire in Santa Rosa County, north of Interstate 10 and east of Avalon Boulevard. A spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said the blaze was not threatening any structures. The Forest Service has six tractor plow units, two brush trucks and one helicopter at…… MORE
CRAB ISLAND POPULAR SITE
Hundreds of vessels, gathered at Crab Island, the submerged island party spot in Choctawhatchee Bay, over the weekend. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says recreational vessel occupancy is limited to no more than 10 people per vessel and requires a minimum distance of 50 feet between the vessels. Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies said…… MORE
DEPUTY HITS PEDESTRIAN
A 14-year-old girl riding her bicycle in Crestview was hurt Sunday night when struck by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. The deputy was southbound on Ferdon Boulevard near Cobb Road around 8 p.m., when she turned into his path, The teenager was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical wirh non-life-threatening injuries.… MORE
FLORIDA GAS PRICES
Prices at Florida gas pumps may be about to rise. Mark Jenkins, spokesman for the Triple “A” Auto Club Group, says gas prices have plummeted 65 cents in the past 10 weeks, but the lifting of stay-at-home restrictions means more drivers will be on the road and he expects demand for gasoline will begin to…… MORE
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY VIRUS CASES
The Florida Department of Health says two Escambia County long-term care facilities have each had four COVID-19 deaths each. So far there have been 12 total corona virus fatalities in Escambia County. Southern Oaks Care Center on West Gregory Street has had four deaths, three were residents and one was a staff member. The facility…… MORE
DEPUTY ARRESTED
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been arrested and fired, accused of stealing money orders from a vehicle after making an arrest. A woman reported money orders had been stolen from a vehicle driven by her boyfriend. He was later arrested by 37-year-old Deputy William Henley on outstanding warrants. The women discovered the money…… MORE
