CONFIRMED: Remains of DeFuniak man who vanished in 2016 found on Eglin reservation
Skeletal remains discovered on Eglin Air Force Base property have been positively identified as John Thomas “JT” Watson, a DeFuniak Springs man who vanished in 2015. While the breakthrough brings a measure of closure to Watson’s family after a decade of searching, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that the active investigation into his disappearance and death is far from over.
Swimmer Fighting For Life After Miramar Beach Rescue
A swimmer was hospitalized in critical condition Thursday after struggling in the Gulf near Miramar Beach while attempting to reach offshore buoys.
Walton Officials Push for Urgent Ban on Data Centers
Walton County commissioners and residents are moving quickly to stop future data centers, warning the facilities could drain water supplies, strain the electric grid, and permanently alter the county’s character.
“Stop Fighting and Start Fixing”: Jim Bagby Makes His Case in Walton County District 4
In a Republican primary that’s shaping up as a referendum on growth, governance, and the future of Walton County, Jim Bagby is pitching himself as the candidate of practical change — someone who wants fewer political fights and more long-delayed problems finally solved. Bagby, a former Destin City Councilman and longtime local leader, is running for Walton County Commission, District 4. He laid out specific benchmarks by which he says voters can judge his first term if he’s elected.
DETAILS: Embattled Walton Leader Arrested for Domestic Violence
Scott Brannon, the Walton County Director of Governmental Coordination and former County Commissioner, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery/domestic violence on May 14. Critics accuse him of holding a “no-show” job, though Mid Bay News has not been able to independently verify this. Brannon is ordered to appear in court on June 1.
The return of ‘School Prayer?’ This candidate’s spicy take you’ll love or hate:
Walton County School Board District 3 candidate Gordon Porter, a senior project manager, is running on a platform that blends professional expertise in fiscal oversight and construction management with an ideologically driven push for conservative change. He is challenging two-term incumbent Bill Eddins Junior, hoping to close the three percent margin he lost by in the last election. Porter emphasizes a need for a proactive budgeting mindset and design oversight for the district’s construction boom, arguing his value is in managing “large sums of money”. Ideologically, Porter aligns with an “America First” worldview, defining school board members as “gatekeepers” against liberal drift and advocating for a thorough review of the curriculum, including American history, math, and science, while challenging DEI policies. A central plank of his campaign is returning prayer and teaching the Bible as a core cultural text in schools, even if it means anticipating and structuring legal challenges to existing case law. He also pledges to quickly move for live-streamed school board meetings to increase transparency.
Dangerous Swamps, Smart Drones, and the New Future of Mosquito Control
South Walton Mosquito District officials say their expanding drone mosquito control program is improving safety, reducing environmental impact, and helping crews treat thousands of acres more efficiently across Walton County.
How Sacred Heart Is Raising the Bar in Patient Care
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, recognizing its performance in patient safety and care standards.
Will Walton County fight in the legal battle of Dune Allen beach?
Walton County Commissioners narrowly avoided filing an amicus brief in the 15-year battle for Dune Allen beach access, compromising on a formal resolution amid accusations of political “pussy-footin’ around” and warnings that legal action could “cripple” secret negotiations.
Inside Gaetz and DeSantis’s Redistricting Plan for Florida
Florida lawmakers are heading into a rare mid-decade special session to redraw the state’s congressional map after explosive population growth — but State Sen. Don Gaetz says Northwest Florida’s Districts 1 and 2 are likely to remain unchanged as the focus shifts to booming Central and South Florida.
