The Okaloosa County School District has been named one of only five districts in Florida to earn the prestigious Purple Star District designation, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday.

Crestview resident Anterious McClain, 33, was arrested on numerous charges Friday after the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at the Hilton Motel, 353 W. James Lee Boulevard (U.S. Highway 90), in Crestview.

The mayor’s seat and two City Council seats will be on the ballot in the city of Laurel Hill’s municipal election on March 11.

At Monday’s Crestview City Council meeting, members of the Knights of Columbus Council 7968 of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church donated $4,500 to help cover the costs of the city’s Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station 1.

Crestview voters in 2020 approved a city charter amendment that realigned the three City Council precincts to better balance the number of voters in each precinct.

In their new book, Crestview City Manager Tim Bolduc and city Administrative Services Director Jessica Leavins aim to show what it looks like to turn a stagnant, regulation-focused organization into a much more professional one that seeks ways to solve problems.

Tristan Cole Parker of Midlothian, Texas, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for charges stemming from a vehicle crash that killed an off-duty deputy just east of Laurel Hill a little over two years ago.

Former Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles, who launched a campaign Monday in House District 3, announced endorsements from Republican state Sens. Don Gaetz and Jay Trumbull, state Reps. Shane Abbott and Alex Andrade, and former state Rep. Jayer Williamson, according to a story posted Tuesday on floridapolitics.com.

Laurel Hill – Amidst the frenzy of gift shopping, card writing, cookie baking and turkey basting, a small north Okaloosa County church invites its neighbors from far and near to pause, take a breath, and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Tallahassee – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced record-breaking visitation numbers in 2023. Tourists to Florida were found to have spent a record $131 billion in the state—an increase of 5% over 2022—in addition to $36.9 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue. Florida remains the premier travel destination of the nation and the world.