News Archive

In February 1996, Keith Jesperson, the serial killer known nationally as the “Happy Face killer,” admitted to an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigator he was responsible for killing a “Jane Doe” in August 1994, and dumping her body near the Holt exit on Interstate 10.

Okaloosa County Commissioners Paul Mixon and Nathan Boyles, who represent commission districts 1 and 3, respectively, look forward to the results of the county’s up to $1 million “North Planning Study” that’s expected to help guide growth in the unincorporated area north of the Eglin Air Force Base Reservation.

The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department’s recently adopted fiscal year 2024 budget includes $421,000 worth of tourist development tax money for a potential welcome center on the north end of the county.

The end finally might be in sight for the widening of the two-lane P.J. Adams Parkway to four lanes on the south end of Crestview.
This 1.7-mile-long project began in late 2019, includes many above- and below-ground utility line relocations and is scheduled to be substantially completed in the spring of 2024, Okaloosa County Public Works Director Jason Autrey said on Sept. 27.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Christopher Roy Poppell, 45, of Crestview, on 30 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, one count of promotion of sexual performance of a child, and one count of use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

Vaneesa Harrington, assistant principal of Richbourg School in Crestview, recalls the moment that inspired her in 2019 to start a food pantry at the school.

Listening to people tell their stories has been one of the best parts of the Rev. Mark Broadhead’s long run as a minister.
“I have loved leading worship, and one of the great things about being a pastor is you just get to know people on a deeply personal level, and you get to play a part in their lives and let them know that no matter what they’re going through, God is right there with them,” Broadhead said on Sept. 26.

An ordinance that provides more-stringent residency restrictions on sexual offenders and predators in Crestview took effect immediately after being adopted by a majority of the City Council on Sept. 25.

A millage rate of 6.85 mills and a budget of more than $74 million for fiscal year 2024 were unanimously adopted by the Crestview City Council after it conducted its final public budget hearing on Sept. 25.
The new budget year starts on Oct. 1.

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 1:20 p.m. (central time) Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 1:20 p.m. CT/2:20 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 4.