Crestview Council Backs Ban on Data Centers
Crestview City Council voted 4-0 to direct staff to develop an ordinance that would prohibit data centers within the city. The move comes as officials consider future development, potential annexation and infrastructure needs around roughly 1,400 acres of underdeveloped property near the recently completed bypass.
Who was Jackie Cochran? More About this FAMOUS Female Flier
From the poverty of a Panhandle cotton mill to the cockpit of an F-86 Sabre, Jacqueline Cochran redefined American aviation. As the leader of the WASPs during WWII and the first woman to break the sound barrier, this Emerald Coast local’s legacy remains a soaring testament to perseverance and innovation.
Okaloosa County may help fund animal control using surtax funds
The Okaloosa County Surtax Committee voted to advance a proposal that would use $600,000 in tourism surtax funds to help pay for animal control services. County officials say the funding would support a scaled-back “Animal Control Light” program after PAWS ends its contract with the county this fall.
Don’t Throw It Away Yet: Free Pickup Returns to Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach residents will have two opportunities to clean up their homes this August through free bulky-item pickup and a one-day tire collection event. The city is encouraging residents to take advantage of the annual programs to safely dispose of unwanted household items and old tires.
Tropical Depression 2 likely to become Tropical Storm Bertha; minimal impact expected for FL Panhandle
Tropical Depression 2 is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha while remaining offshore of the Florida Panhandle. Okaloosa County remains under a Tropical Storm Watch, though officials say impacts should be limited to heavy rain, gusty winds, dangerous surf and possible minor coastal flooding through Tuesday.
The unknown Civil War battle you’ve never heard of at this unique Florida vacation destination
On a quiet summer morning in 1861, a minor skirmish at East Pass, Florida—later dubbed the “Battle of Destin”—marked a tense confrontation between the USS Water Witch and local Confederate militia. This brief, bloodless exchange near the Choctawhatchee Bay reveals the war’s grip on the local community, specifically the family of Leonard Destin, whose loyalties were tested amid the shifting tides of the American Civil War.
CIVIL WAR HISTORY: Destin demands ship’s quick return
When the Civil War reached the bayous of the Choctawhatchee Bay, Leonard Destin, a Connecticut native living in Florida, faced a dangerous dilemma. Suspected of harboring federal sympathies and living as a squatter on naval land, Destin’s life became a high-stakes negotiation when he boarded the USS Water Witch in July 1861 to reclaim his confiscated fishing boat. His actions, intended only to secure his livelihood, inadvertently fueled the suspicions of the local Confederate Walton Guards, placing him and his family at the center of the conflict.
Stars, Stripes, and Smiles Fill Grayton Beach: Today on 30A
Thousands filled Grayton Beach for its annual Fourth of July Parade featuring patriotic floats, water cannons, classic cars and unforgettable family fun.
The Creek’s unexpected, costly disaster at Shoal River
On Independence Day, 1837, the militiamen cornered the Creek warriors at a bend in the Shoal River, which, if you look at it on a map, eerily resembles Horseshoe Bend. The 70 or so Jackson County militiamen engaged about 100 Creek, just a portion of the total number of warriors estimated in the area, and routed them. As they fled across the river, they left between eight and ten dead Creek behind, according to Pensacola State Historian Brian Rucker. Jackson County’s men took three wounded in the 20-minute battle.
Opinion: I Installed Solar. My Co-op Charged Me for It
A Florida Panhandle solar owner says electric cooperatives are undermining rooftop solar through fees, poor transparency, and policies that discourage renewable energy adoption.
