The DeFuniak Springs Police Department says a 7-year-old child may have fired a handgun outside a school bus yesterday afternoon. Officers responded to North 20th Street about 3:30 p.m. and investigators determined that the 7-year-old had found a 9 mm Ruger pistol in a vehicle in front of a home and fired a round in…… MORE
Category Archives: Uncategorized
SENTENCE REDUCTION APPEAL
A former Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy, convicted for sex crimes involving a minor, is asking for a reduced sentence. Walter Thomas Jr. was convicted in August 2016 of three counts of unlawful activity with a 16-year-old and was sentenced to 30-years in prison. State Attorney Bill Eddins said his office opposes any sentence reduction, and…… MORE
SAUFLEY FIELD CONTAMINATED WATER WELLS
The Navy says it has completed its testing of private water wells near Saufley Field in Escambia County after some tested positive for dangerous chemicals. 20 wells were tested and eight showed levels of chemicals used in fire-fighting foam that were above EPA standards. Further sampling reveals that 13 wells are now potentially unsafe to…… MORE
FORMER UNITED WAY CHAIRMAN ARRESTED
The former board chairman of what was the United Way of Santa Rosa County has been arrested and charged with grand theft. David Willhoit, who was elected chairman of the board in January, is accused of making two unauthorized withdrawals of $3,200 from the charity’s bank account. Kyle Holley, the organization’s current acting administrator, told…… MORE
ALABAMA FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN MARIANNA
A woman wanted in Alabama for her failure to appear on a homicide charge has been arrested in Marianna. 35-year-old Sara Butner of Pensacola was driving an S.U.V. stolen in Pensacola. Butner’s driver’s license had been suspended for failure to pay traffic fines, and there was an active warrant for her arrest in Mobile, Alabama…… MORE
LYNN CITY MANAGER RESIGNS
Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White has turned in his resignation, a week after he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The resignation was accepted by the Lynn Haven City Commission. White had been on paid leave after his arrest Sunday, March 17th after he was charged with pointing a…… MORE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH SET
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a fire weather watch for Wednesday. The watch will last from Wednesday morning through the late afternoon in the eastern Panhandle counties, including Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, Jackson, Holmes and Washington Counties. The Weather Service says low humidity and steady winds means fires are more likely to spread…… MORE
EARTHQUAKE FOLLOW-UP
More information has come in about the latest earthquake in Northwest Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude 2.7 quake occurred at 6:40 a.m. near Century in North Escambia County. The epicenter was first reported by the USGS to be in Alabama, but further analysis of the data Monday determined the center to be…… MORE
FLORIDA MINIMUM AGE TO POSSESS TOBACCO
Legislation that would raise the minimum age from 18 to 21 for Floridians to possess tobacco or vaping products is working its way through the Florida Senate. The Senate Health Policy Committee voted in favor of the measure Monday. In addition to raising the minimum age to 21, the bill also prevents sale of tobacco…… MORE
CANADIAN DRUG AVAILABILITY
Floridians could gain access to cheaper prescription drugs from Canada if the federal government agrees under legislation approved Monday by a Florida State Senate committee. U.S. spending on prescription drugs tops $1,000 per person annually and is 30 to 190 percent higher than nine other western countries. Under the Senate bill, a vendor would be…… MORE
