News Archive

The Bible-based, intensive and yearlong Prison Fellowship Academy program at the Okaloosa Correctional Institution “taught me to open up about a lot of things buried deep in my soul,” Richmond Fishburn III told his 13 fellow inmate graduates at the Oct. 16 academy graduation ceremony.

Cesiano’s Italian Restaurant might begin serving as Laurel Hill’s second restaurant within the next couple of months or so, according to businessman Shane Cannon.

At the new gastro pub called Eagle’s Nest at Blackwater, customers will find a family-friendly atmosphere, fun activities, dozens of TVs to get their fill of college and pro football games, and quality meals at affordable prices, said the restaurant’s executive chef, Justin Robinson.

Wayne Whitman, of Baker, estimates he taught music to about 10,000 children during his more than three decades as a band director.
On the weekend of Nov. 18-19, the 78-year-old retiree will be inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame at Stetson University in Deland.

Crestview officials plan to replace the splash pad and playground at the popular Children’s Park in 2024.

A 25-year-old Crestview man died in a traffic crash on Saturday on State Road 85 at Antioch Road.

The city of Laurel Hill eventually will be responsible for maintaining the roads in the future White Oak Estates subdivision, the Laurel Hill City Council agreed on Oct. 5.

Around late September, Crestview resident Pastina Cooper had most of the trees and brush removed from a small parcel she co-owns on the northwest corner of East First Avenue and Alabama Street. Accumulated trash, including a burnt mattress, also was removed from the site, where many homeless people had often previously stayed.

A suspension bridge, an historic gristmill and abundant serene scenes of nature thrill hikers on a 6.5-mile roundtrip trek by Krul and Bear lakes within the Blackwater River State Forest in northeast Santa Rosa County.

The Healthy Communities group of the Okaloosa County Health Improvement Partnership hosted a press conference on Oct. 2 to highlight October as National Pedestrian Safety Month.
“Here in Okaloosa County, between 2020 and 2022, there have been 31 pedestrian/cyclist deaths” that occurred from crashes with motor vehicles, Crestview Mayor J.B. Whitten said at the conference in the County Administration Building in Shalimar. “During the same time, there were 479 crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists, of which 65 resulted in serious injuries. It’s time to do something about these tragedies.”