According to a Florida Highway Patrol report the woman was traveling north in an SUV on C.R 393 and was approaching Staghorn Road at 6 p.m An SUV driven by a 28-year-old Crestview man also was traveling north and The woman was pronounced dead on scene by medical personnel was flown by helicopter to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash Copyright © document.currentScript.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', '' + new Intl.DateTimeFormat(document.documentElement.lang, {year: 'numeric'}).format() + ''); Crestview News Bulletin. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy Builders FirstSource celebrated the grand opening of its new 50,000-square-foot truss manufacturing facility in DeFuniak Springs creating 50 jobs and expanding its presence in Northwest Florida The company is hosting an open house Thursday allowing contractors and construction industry professionals to tour the facility and a ribbon cutting with the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce The state-of-the-art facility serves the Central Gulf Coast market with three production lines working simultaneously producing 12-to-14 sets of trusses per day The plant employs a team of 12 in-house truss designers with a combined 150 years of experience Builders who attend the event will receive 15% off their next truss package Attendees can also enter to win prizes including two custom entry doors from BFS Gulf Armor and a Frameport 2-Panel Shaker door package valued up to $3,000 The event is being presented in partnership with Contractors Connect a networking group for construction professionals that hosts monthly meetups throughout the Emerald Coast is the nation’s largest supplier of structural building products and services for new residential construction and remodeling The company operates approximately 590 locations across 43 states the company has 19 locations across the Florida Panhandle and Alabama Gulf Coast including five in Walton County — two lumberyards Discount for custom home builders is limited to one discounted truss package per builder Discount for track home builders is limited to one discounted truss package per county Join the best local newsletter read by thousands of locals each weekday morning make a detour and explore this small Florida town Modern cottage-style homes now available for less than $200K DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS)— a top national homebuilder and featured on America's Most Trustworthy Companies and World's Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek—announced that its Century Complete brand is now selling cottage-style homes in DeFuniak Springs Specifically located in Mossy Head—an unincorporated community on the outskirts of DeFuniak Springs with convenient proximity to Crestview—the new homes from Century Complete are affordably priced from the $190s Offering a desirable mix of city and nature DeFuniak Springs boasts charming touches like the 260-acre Chipley Park—encircling spring-fed Lake DeFuniak—the Chautauqua Vineyards & Winery and proximity to Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Learn more and explore available homes at www.CenturyCommunities.com/MossyHead "DeFuniak Springs is brimming with classic Florida charm and that's what these modern cottage-style homes are designed to complement," said Dave Roberts Executive Vice President of Field Operations "Mossy Head provides affordability and quality in an area surrounded by natural beauty These new homes are an exceptional opportunity for area homebuyers." Even More Homes Coming Soon to Meadow Creek in Nearby Crestview! Single-family homes offering up to 4 bedrooms Learn about Meadow Creek and join the interest list today at www.CenturyCommunities.com/MeadowCreek While our state-of-the-art online homebuying process allows you to buy on your terms—24 hours a day 365 days a year—we also offer in-person assistance from local experts at our sales studio DISCOVER THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING Century Complete is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in Florida allowing homebuyers to easily find their best fit and purchase when they're ready—all while continuing to work with their local real estate agent of choice Homebuyers can further streamline the homebuying process by financing online with Century Complete's affiliate lender Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying and featured among America's Most Trustworthy .. and featured on America's Most Trustworthy.. Construction & Building Residential Real Estate Real Estate Banking & Financial Services Do not sell or share my personal information: Subscribe Now By Caroline Eubanks The town of DeFuniak Springs is the kind of Old Florida community you might expect in a Southern gothic novel with its sprawling oak canopy and the mysterious DeFuniak Lake which on a map looks like a nearly perfect circle Just along the lake’s edge stands a clapboard building with a red door that resembles a small chapel or schoolhouse You can immediately tell the Walton-DeFuniak Library which opened in 1887 and is the oldest continuously operated library in the state This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply These days you don’t need a library card to check out the inside which seems to stretch like the inside of Mary Poppins’s bag it has since been expanded and sits at a tidy 3,000 square feet.  Inside you’ll find a few cabinets with special copies of books including a signed first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird that was in circulation until 2001 kept missing each other due to scheduling conflicts and there was a note slipped under the door written on an envelope: ‘Merry Christmas and Happy New Year A table holds a selection of the titles banned by Florida school systems, which are offered for checkout. (To Kill a Mockingbird, still one of the nation’s “most challenged” books sits alongside titles by Margaret Atwood and Sherman Alexie.) Those who have a local library card can also check out DVDs Other gems include a rare Regina Model 27 music box and the Wallace Bruce Collection of antique armor and weaponry named for a local who served as an ambassador to Scotland in the late nineteenth century and then later as president of the Chautauqua Institution Bruce’s collection was donated to a since-shuttered college before finding a home at the library in the 1930s his pieces of medieval armor peer out from above the packed shelves the Walton-DeFuniak Library is still a traditional community hub buzzing with computers and children playing with puzzles and board games in the kids’ area a ferny greenspace installed by the local garden club offers shady reading spots beneath a 134-year-old live oak that’s watched generations come and go beneath its branches Find more information on the library here Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain wonderland still sparkles These top-notch bakeshops let flour-free customers have their cake—and pies The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate -- The suspect who shot and killed Walton County Deputy William May on Wednesday is identified as a 58-year-old man The Walton County Sheriff's Office sent WEAR News the incident report on Thursday which shows the suspect as 58-year-old white male Timothy Mark Jarvinen He resided on Shakespeare Court in DeFuniak Springs which is nearby the Dollar General on Highway 90 where the incident took place Jarvinen reportedly biked to the store Wednesday afternoon WEAR News previously reported that the suspect -- now identified as Jarvinen -- pulled a gun on Deputy May as Deputy May was walking him out of the Dollar General Deputy May initially responded to the store for a call that Jarvinen was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave said Deputy May shot Jarvinen amid being shot at While Sheriff Adkinson didn't identify Jarvinen by name during Wednesday night's press conference Sheriff Adkinson said Jarvinen's past record includes "nothing that would indicate any level of violence." He added he was a concealed weapons permit holder "He had other weapons in his residence when we searched it," the sheriff said he had not been arrested by this organization." Court records show Jarvinen was never previously arrested in Walton County or anywhere in Northwest Florida He had two past cases in Walton County Clerk of Courts -- one in 2017 and one in 2018 -- both for civil matters regarding money Sheriff Adkinson said Jarvinen had been living in the area for the past several years Law enforcement had dealings with him in the past couple years for minor issues The Emerald Coast Association of Realtors (ECAR) will host its annual Derby Day fundraiser to benefit Grace Rides therapeutic equestrian center on Saturday at the organization’s facilities in DeFuniak Springs “Grace Rides currently serves about 57 clients a week with a waiting list of 20-25,” said Melissa Forte Litscher the chair of ECAR’s Community and Military Outreach Committee train and supply 20 therapy horses for this therapy.” Grace Rides has grown from serving just four riders weekly to becoming a significant therapeutic resource in the Florida Panhandle providing services for individuals with autism The organization began with a small core of volunteers working out of an equestrian facility in Niceville timed to coincide with the 151st Kentucky Derby race Attendees are encouraged to dress up in traditional Derby attire while watching the “Run for the Roses” broadcast live from Churchill Downs The CAMO Committee is actively seeking both sponsors and silent auction donations for the event “The mission of Grace Rides is to provide a quality environment and program for extending the benefits of equine-assisted activities and therapies to individuals with special needs in a loving community,” according to event organizers with therapeutic riding sessions scheduled Tuesday through Friday Regular sessions last approximately 45 minutes and include 1-4 participants per session Ticket prices are $50 and children 12 and under are free. Proceeds from the event will help the nonprofit continue to serve the growing demand for its services. Those interested in tickets or sponsorships can visit the ECAR website here Additional information about Grace Rides and its programs is available here or by calling 850-259-9195 WKRG News 5 U.S Navy Addresses Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water Dauphin Way Baptist Church is possibly up for sale A highway put in to connect to the yet to be built Otay Mesa Port of Entry is having to be demolished and built somewhere else costing tax payers millions of dollars The Fairhope pier is closed for renovations until at least Wednesday Five years after removing the Admiral Semmes monument from downtown Mobile at least part of the monument is now in Baldwin County A bill is causing controversy in the Alabama Senate that would give law enforcement more protection in lawsuits The United States resumed water deliveries to Mexico after initially denying the request for the emergency transfer from the Colorado River according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Video shows a frightening scene on I-65 in Louisville on Sunday as emergency crews rescue a semi-truck driver who was dangling over the side of the Kennedy Bridge President Donald Trump says he is ordering federal agencies to reopen Alcatraz prison to lock up violent criminals was a baby aboard the ill-fated flight to America She's now working to preserve the history of Operation Babylift and those who didn't make it They all share a history so unique few others could even imagine SANTA ROSA BEACH — A new multi-use path is coming to northern Walton County the Walton County Commission approved a contract with Premier Paving LLC to construct a 5-foot-wide 0.77-mile multi-use path along the east side 20th Street in DeFuniak Springs from Walton Road to Emerald Coast Technical College The trail is part of the Walton County North End Multi-Use Trail and Pedestrian Path Connections project, part of the ongoing five-year work plan the project is in the first phase of development The project dates to early 2023 when the DeFuniak Springs City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Walton County for an easement along 20th Street the project will receive an $800,000 Florida Department of Transportation grant that covers design and construction You must have an ODMP account to view agency contact information This decent deputy died doing what we expect of every good officer May God shed his grace of his family and fellow officers Create an account for more options or use this form to leave a Reflection now San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Photo/Video will be published upon admin review and approval DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — The Walton County Sheriff's Office has provided additional details following the shooting death of Deputy William May which occurred during an officer-involved shooting on April 2 was the person of interest in a disturbance/trespassing call the Walton County Sheriff's Office responded to at 1:56 p.m May had a brief discussion with Jarvinen before the pair walked outside while May was able to call for help before being transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center From returning fire on scene to fighting for his own life," said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr which the Walton County Sheriff's Office said is the only information that is going to be released Jarvinen lived at a house on Shakespeare Court in DeFuniak Springs Adkinson said that Jarvinen went by bicycle to the Dollar General in Mossy Head Earlier coverage: Walton County deputy and suspect die in shooting at Dollar General Jarvinen has no previous arrests in Walton County or surrounding areas He also had two cases listed in Walton County Clerk of Court records Adkinson noted that Jarvinen had been living in DeFuniak Springs for the past several years and the department's only interactions with him were checking on his welfare Jarvinen also had business licenses in Walton County Walton County officials said the shooting incident is currently under investigation DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — Two and a half years to the date that Healthmark Regional Medical Center shuttered the doors on the only medical facility in northern Walton County North Walton Doctors Hospital is now open and serving residents of DeFuniak Springs The Northwest Florida Daily News first reported on the new venture in August 2023, when the CEO of North Walton Doctors Hospital, Dr. Huy Nguyen, announced that he and his business group had closed on the 35-acre property with the hopes that emergency medical services advanced imaging and lab services could return to the area That same month the Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a letter of support for the new hospital This move allowed the facility to receive grant funding from the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration 70,000-square-foot campus is ready to receive patients into its emergency room "This hospital coming back to life is enormously important," said Nguyen "Not only did we bring a hospital that went defunct and closed to back to life We only purchased this hospital a little more than a year ago residents in northern Walton County who were suffering due to an emergency event would have to be transported to either North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview or Doctors Memorial Hospital in Bonifay a 30-minute trip in an event where seconds matter Nguyen told the Daily News that North Walton Doctors Hospital can provide care for any medical event a patient might be dealing with "We're so critical for this area because we are more than capable of stabilizing anything that hits our door," Nguyen added Another thing that Nguyen believes sets North Walton Doctors Hospital apart is that doctors own the facility a message emphasized in the facility's motto: "It's about the patients and their doctors." "We are the first majority physician-owned and managed hospital in this country since 2005," Nguyen added "We're the first rural emergency hospital in the state of Florida the hospital also brought two operating rooms online and a state-of-the-art CAT scan machine allowing medical staff to see a heart beating in real-time Adding to a reimagined medical facility is the hope that Nguyen and the staff can fix some perceived notions associated with the previous facility At the aforementioned Board of County Commissioners meeting in August 2023 Commissioner Tony Anderson noted that the only way the board would support the venture is if the facility was a "top-flight facility." Nguyen asserted multiple times in an interview with the Daily News that changing the narrative was one of the most important changes in the past two years All of our physicians who work here are local; we didn't have to bring someone from outside of our region and they are all very experienced in their respective fields," Nguyen said We're very focused on that in terms of making sure our clinical care is top-notch from Day One." North Walton Doctors Hospital is located at 4413 U.S. 331 South in DeFuniak Springs. For more information, visit nwdhospital.com The Florida Department of State manages our state's elections historical and cultural resources and our libraries Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Main Street DeFuniak Springs has been designated the September 2024 Florida Main Street Program of the Month “Main Street DeFuniak Springs continues to spearhead efforts to revitalize its historic downtown,” said Secretary Byrd “The success of local businesses and community events demonstrates the effectiveness of the Main Street program on promoting economic development in tandem with historic preservation.” DeFuniak Springs’ modern story began on March 4 when the Florida Legislature incorporated the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad a subsidiary of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N) the team discovered a picturesque area with a lake known as Open Pond recognized the site's potential and decided it would be ideal for a new town Chipley named the lake and town DeFuniak Springs Photographs provided by Main Street DeFuniak Springs Chipley and his partners established the Lake DeFuniak Land Company (LDLC) to transform the railroad stop into a thriving town Their vision included developing a health and hunting resort Following a meeting between the LDLC and the Chautauqua Movement in New York in 1883 the Florida Chautauqua Association was established in 1884 which brought a new series of cultural and educational events to DeFuniak Springs These events included Florida’s first Arbor Day celebration in 1885 and the establishment of the Walton County Library in 1886 the state’s oldest library still operating out of its original building DeFuniak Springs also became known for its educational institutions including Florida Normal College (later integrated into Florida State University) The town’s cultural significance continued to flourish through the turn of the century and into the 1930s and 1940s with an annual Music Festival that drew crowds from across the state DeFuniak Springs preserves its historical charm and continues to celebrate its past With restoration efforts funded significantly through Florida Department of State grants the historic train depot now houses the Walton Heritage Museum constructed to replace the original auditorium Although severely damaged by Hurricane Eloise in 1975 the Hall’s western portion facing Circle Drive is still in use The town’s historic district retains much of its early 20th-century character Prominent landmarks include First Presbyterian Church and St Main Street DeFuniak Springs (MSDFS) was formed in 2017 by commercial developer Reynolds Henderson and other local citizens It was their desire to revive the bustling days of the early 1900s The 700 block of Baldwin Avenue has been redeveloped and transformed from empty buildings into storefronts filled with boutiques I have been passing through DeFuniak Springs my entire life on the way to the beach,” said Henderson “I realized there was a Historic Downtown DeFuniak Springs and I was super impressed by the circle lake and historic Victorian houses I could see the potential in the downtown historic commercial buildings and I wanted to own property in this amazing town and we are just scratching the surface of its potential." there were 18 businesses in the downtown area there are more than 60 businesses that fill the blocks of downtown DeFuniak Springs resulting in 113 net jobs being added to the area MSDFS has reported $7,334,196 in public and private investments As the town blossoms and businesses wait for space in the downtown district to become available MSDFS continues to host events such as Farmers Market; Whiskey Tango; and Merry Main Street an annual Christmas festival that surrounds the entirety of Lake DeFuniak in decorative lights MSDFS has partnered with the Cultural Arts Alliance and other organizations to bring art to the streets enhancing aesthetics through creative projects For more information on Main Street DeFuniak Springs, visit MainStreetDFS.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram To learn more about the Florida Main Street program, visit FloridaMainStreet.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State which currently oversees 56 communities throughout the state By implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida’s downtowns – the community’s heart and soul If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request do not send electronic mail to this entity contact this office by phone or in writing Copyright © 2025 State of Florida (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) Update: The Walton County Sheriff's Office announced on Monday that the escaped prisoner was captured in St DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — The Walton County Sheriff's Office and the DeFuniak Springs Police Department are searching for an escaped prisoner from the Walton Correctional Institution He was last seen wearing a blue inmate uniform with a short-sleeve shirt His hair is 1 inch long and is usually combed back Investigators say there was a 90-minute timeframe from when he was last seen on prison property to when cameras show Kiedrowski being picked up in the prison parking lot at 10:59 a.m He is believed to be traveling in a dark-colored Chrysler 200 The prison facility is at 691 Institution Road in DeFuniak Springs Kiedrowski is serving time for aggravated assault He has previously served prison time for battery on a law enforcement officer Officials say he has known ties to the Jacksonville area Anyone who sees the escaped inmate is asked to contact the Walton County Sheriff's Office at 850-892-8111 or the DeFuniak Springs Police Department at 850-892-8511 -- A 54-year-old DeFuniak Springs man is dead after a crash in Walton County on Sunday Troopers say the incident occurred around 4:15 p.m when a 55-year-old DeFuniak Springs man was traveling southbound on CR-280 in an SUV The SUV driver traveled onto the west shoulder and continued southbound The SUV driver was transported to a local hospital with serous injuries The 54-year-old passenger was pronounced deceased on the scene 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UB Community Development a community development partner of United Bank is pleased to have closed on permanent financing with a $12.5 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation that helped finance the rehabilitation of North Walton Doctors Hospital an 80,000-square-foot health care facility in DeFuniak Springs The North Walton Doctors Hospital campus is situated in the rapidly growing northern area of Walton County The state-of-the-art healthcare facility will be the cornerstone of medical care in the region It will provide the rural community with an emergency department In addition to handling injuries and ailments other medical procedures that can be performed are spinal and orthopedic surgery including total knee replacement and sports surgery and providing services in the areas of gastrointestinal "Assisting North Walton Doctors Hospital in serving the City of DeFuniak Springs and the entire north end of Walton County is why UB Community Development was established.  We truly appreciate the confidence that the North Walton team placed in UBCD during the closing of this transaction," said Alex Jones The New Markets Tax Credit allocation will allow for significant improvement in the quality of services currently available to the residents of Walton County through the reopening of the facility This project has created 88 full-time jobs and provides access to care for up to 12,000 patients annually The staff of highly skilled healthcare professionals' mission is to prioritize patient well-being and provide the best emergency and surgical care available is pleased to provide a $12 million New Markets Tax Credit.. Health Care & Hospitals Medical Pharmaceuticals Financing Agreements WALTON COUNTY, Fla. -- A 22-year-old DeFuniak Springs man was killed in a crash Sunday afternoon on I-10. It happened around 4:30 p.m. on I-10 east near mile marker 93. According to Florida Highway Patrol, a 27-year-old Santa Rosa Beach man lost control of his pickup truck "while traveling on the wet roadway." The truck drove off the roadway, overturned and collided with a tree line. The Santa Rosa Beach man was hospitalized with serious injuries, while his passenger -- the 22-year-oldDeFuniak Springs man -- died from his injuries at the hospital. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems and still calls The Sunshine State home today While saving lives and putting out fires during the day Megan is also passionate about writing and travel especially when it comes to sharing her knowledge of her home state A few of Megan's favorites include: favorite Florida vacation destination - New Smyrna Beach Favorite Florida restaurant - Eastside Pizza in Miami Favorite Florida hidden gem - Shibuya Sushi Art Share LinkDine for Less Than $10 a Person at This Iconic Hot Dog Stand in FloridaH&M Hot Dogs is a DeFuniak Springs tradition serving up classic flavors with a hometown touch Stop by and see what was once a lunch cart started 74 years ago is a hidden gem that has been serving the community and visitors for years family-owned hot dog stand has earned a reputation for its delicious It isn't too often you can find a historical hot dog stand slinging delicious food at such responsible prices Many patrons enjoy grabbing a bite and then taking a stroll around the charming town of DeFuniak Springs The Original H&M Hot Dog Stand/FacebookH&M Hot Dogs has earned a loyal following thanks to its consistency and quality The owners take pride in their food and customer service stopping by H&M has become a tradition whether they're passing through town or live nearby And don't worry if you aren't a hog dog fan there are other options for you at a similar price point Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome Rich in history with a downtown centered around a spring-fed lake, DeFuniak Springs, 45 miles northeast of Destin in the Florida Panhandle small-town atmosphere and the chance to step back in time and see hundreds of historic homes and buildings visitors can enjoy views of the spring-fed lake Plan your trip at Visit South Walton Learn about the community’s history and check out local events and art Explore local parks and take a drive to nearby springs More than 50 Gulf beach and bay access points are within easy driving distance of DeFuniak Springs Downtown eateries offer everything from fresh-baked treats to New Orleans-style cuisines and craft cocktails home decor and more in downtown DeFuniak Springs Relax with a spa treatment in DeFuniak Springs Tee off on a sunny DeFuniak Springs golf course Stay at the historic hotel downtown or choose from a variety of other accommodations By Gary McKechnie One of Florida’s finest road trips is along Highway 90 in Northwestern Florida Because the road predates the parallel I-10.. The beaches in Florida's Panhandle are captivating Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. All rights reserved. VISIT FLORIDA® is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | Contact Us A DeFuniak Springs man died Saturday in Milton after crashing on the Southern Raceway track. Florida Highway Patrol says they were requested to investigate a traffic accident on the track after local fire personnel responded "The on-scene fire chief stated the 33-year-old white male driver had a medical emergency while racing on the track and crashed into a concrete barrier wall and fence which surrounded the track," an FHP release said "The fire chief stated that while rescue personnel were extracting the driver the driver was still having a medical episode." Medical personnel flew the man to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he eventually died FHP did not release the type of medical emergency or the identity of the driver Southern Raceway did release a statement on Facebook Saturday asking for prayers for James Fox and announcing they were cancelling the remainder of the show due to the crash The Fox family and this racing community need your prayers -- A Florida man shot himself after a brief stand-off with deputies during warrant service in Defuniak Springs according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office Deputies say they attempted to make contact with 44-year-old Jerry Hollingsworth Tuesday afternoon at his home on Coy Burgess Loop to serve a warrant out of Okaloosa County The warrant was for failure to appear for sentencing on an original charge of using a computer to solicit a child Deputies say Hollingsworth was out on bond and failed to appear in court Tuesday morning they made contact with Hollingsworth’s husband who confirmed he was home Deputies located Hollingsworth in the backyard hiding behind a chicken coop Deputies quickly noticed Hollingsworth had a gun as he held it to his head Deputies tried to de-escalate the situation but Hollingsworth fired one round into his head First aid was attempted and Hollingsworth was transported but he was pronounced dead at the hospital -- A man and woman from DeFuniak Springs were arrested after a search warrant was executed at a home on Wednesday morning which led to the seizure of 177 grams of methamphetamine 46-year-old Jeremy Beagle and 27-year-old Allison Kelly are charged with trafficking in methamphetamine According to the Walton County Sheriff's Office investigators seized 177 grams of methamphetamine from a safe inside a home on 387 Ates Ranch Road They also say they located 58 grams of marijuana as well as items used to package and sell drugs CEO Todd Jackson of HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville the plan to build a new freestanding emergency room in DeFuniak Springs The hospital purchased a nine-acre parcel of property at the southeast corner of Highway 331 and Interstate-10 in DeFuniak Springs which was part of a larger 95-acre parcel acquired by CEFCO Jackson said that CEFCO is currently developing the infrastructure necessary to support commercial businesses on the land that was previously farmland The 11,000-square-foot freestanding ER will feature 12 treatment rooms including a dedicated trauma room equipped with resuscitative equipment and surgical capabilities The facility will also have a full suite of services to support the needs of emergency medicine patients.  “We’re extremely excited to bring the top quality health care services closer to home for residents of North Walton County,” said Jackson they have traveled over to our facility in Niceville and we look forward to bringing that health care closer to home for them.” The hospital has been planning and developing a strategy for North Walton County over the last two to three years as they have seen a significant number of patients from the DeFuniak and Freeport areas.  The project is expected to take about 18 months to complete with the goal of seeing their first patients in the third or fourth quarter of 2025 The freestanding ER will be designed in a way that allows for the potential addition of an inpatient hospital in the future depending on the evolving needs of the community that is currently not part of the current plan “It’s a really big deal for us at Twin Cities Hospital and we’re looking forward to being in North Walton County,” he added “This monumental project would not be possible without the support and teamwork of many who advocated on behalf of the city to make this vision a reality,” DeFuniak Springs City Manager Robert Thompson said More at the airport: Walton County steers $5.5 million to DeFuniak Springs airport runway expansion, new terminal Learn to fly: Want to fly a commercial drone? Learn how at this FAA training in Crestview None of it would be possible without the Federal Aviation Administration's partnership with the city "which is priceless and foundational to our success We are grateful for their $667,000 donation to the project and their consistent expertise and guidance in the planning and development," city officials said in a news release Brad Drake for their tireless advocacy of Walton County and the vision to appropriate funds to the DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport terminal project," the release said "We're also incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and guidance from Florida Department of Transportation-District Three Secretary Phillip Gainer and District Three Director of Transportation Development Tim Smith." The city also listed the cooperation and teamwork of local stakeholders as exceptional as well as the support and partnership with the Walton County Board of County Commissioners The commission donated $5 million toward the project.  and we appreciate our engineer-of-record AVCON Inc as they transition with Dewberry to collaborate with our new partners at Dominguez Design-Build “The FDOT Notice to Proceed is extremely exciting We haven’t had any new projects in 20-30 years so this is our first substantial project and a revenue generator for the city,” Mayor Bob Campbell said “The county has made quite a donation and commitment to the airport I’d love to see our community benefit from the potential business development here as corporate executives who leave their jets here will soon realize this is an attractive location for business and bring jobs here for our people.” Councilman Todd Bierbaum confirmed the economic impact “The Notice to Proceed represents the next step in the terminal expansion project and the City Council’s effort to leverage state and federal resources This expansion of our airport allows for local jobs economic impact and aligns with the council’s goal to balance the budget freeing general fund dollars for other civic purposes,” he said Bierbaum was the first to coin the mission statement for the airport that was approved by the City Council The mission statement reads: “The DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport is a community airport that serves general and corporate aviation Our mission is to be the premier general aviation airport on the Emerald Coast and the gateway airport to the beaches of South Walton.” several partially completed homes on Orange Avenue that could provide space for low-income families have sat empty with no signs of construction activity The Village Springs Housing Development in DeFuniak Springs was initiated in late 2018 with the vision of making 50 units available to families searching for affordable housing — a growing need in Walton County the project has been stalled for over a year due to stormwater and engineering issues affordable housing in Walton County has become even scarcer “It is way off schedule,” said Harold Sample executive director of Workforce Housing Ventures Need for affordable housing rises: Inflation leaves Panhandle residents in 'desperate need' of housing Projects in Okaloosa County: Crestview partners with Gregg Chapel A.M.E. on affordable housing project near downtown The city of DeFuniak Springs issued a stop-work order to the contractor The order cited violations of the city’s code of ordinances regarding storm water and other drainage issues The city’s planning director was not available for comment the project has been fraught with challenges since construction began Sample said most of the problems have come from the property’s location on a steep hillside The initial plans approved by the city in August of 2018 included a retention pond that would hold and distribute rain runoff in order to prevent flooding Sample said the pond was collecting too much water and had to be re-engineered “The capacity of it had to be adjusted for the water in order to meet the storm water requirements for the water that was coming in,” he said “So the site work couldn’t be completed until the modifications to the retention pond were decided and the configuration of the pond.” Sample said it took around six months for the engineer to complete the modifications after the problem was identified last year The company is now awaiting a permit to restart construction Sample said it is not just storm water that has been an issue as there are still some other deficiencies the contractor will need to correct “The contractor is not blameless,” Sample said “There’s been a lot of issues with the contractor… between it all But we are hopeful that he either performs or we will be taking other action in the next few weeks.” director of the Walton County Housing Agency has long been awaiting the project’s completion The agency provides housing assistance for low-income families as a part of its HUD Section 8 program The Village Springs Housing Development is one of few in the city that could be used to house some of the 184 people on the agency’s waiting list there were 45 families that had been issued emergency housing vouchers “We have a real severe shortage of affordable housing in the DeFuniak Springs- Walton County area for low-income families this is one of the only developments that has come about in our community in the last few years,” Baker said Only about 12 percent of families who are issued vouchers in Walton County are able to find housing within the four months before their vouchers expire Baker noted that 12 percent is a “very low figure.”  “We have close to 50 families that actually have a voucher right now that are looking for homes So you can see how quickly we could place families in a shelter if we had those units," Baker said of the Village Springs project The project is primary funded by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation through the HUD HOME Investment Partnerships Program which helps finance housing projects for low-income families “So it’s basically called affordable housing in that the rent rates are controlled under the HOME program," said Sample who added that a portion of the funding also comes from PNB Community Bank All housing developed with HOME funds must serve low- and very low-income families which range from one- to three-bedroom homes will benefit families that have incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income That would include anyone making at or below $40,434 in Walton County “We understand that there is a very significant need for decent he has a lot of Section 8 vouchers that he hasn’t been able to place were going to be able to supply him with 50 units.” Sample said he hopes to have construction restarted within the next few weeks and the units ready for move-in by Spring 2023 “It is our intention that they be completed,” he said and we will be putting a demand on the contractor to immediately commence We just apologize to the community that this project has taken so long to get completed.” Baker said the project’s completion will bring much needed relief from the shortage of housing in Walton County More affordable housing projects will be needed in order to accommodate a growing number of families searching for homes in a shrinking market “There’s just not many homes to satisfy the need here for our HUD Section 8 program In the next year and a half our community is growing tremendously and I’m sure this need is going to increase a good bit.” DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Four people are charged with attempted murder for a Jan. 10, 2021, shooting that left a woman paralyzed from the chest down are charged with conspiracy to commit murder attempted murder and firing a gun into an occupied vehicle according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office The charges come a year to the day that changed the course of DeFuniak Springs resident Juana Arano’s life The suspects fired more than 17 shots at her silver Nissan Altima as she drove along U.S severed her spinal cord and left her unable to feel anything below her sternum “When the Walton County Sheriff’s Office arrived and to this day she is permanently disabled as a result of that attack,” Sheriff Michael Adkinson said “She is lucky to have survived that attack and it has been a long Related coverage: Organizations raising funds for DeFuniak Springs mother paralyzed after drive-by shooting More: WCSO: Walton shooting left victim paralyzed 'We need your help' Adkinson was joined by State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden and Chief Walton County Prosecutor Josh Mitchell at a Tuesday press conference in Santa Rosa Beach to discuss the events surrounding the arrests and what Adkinson called a “horrific attack." Arano had absolutely no involvement in this,” Adkinson said “There was simply no evidence to indicate in any way Which was the victim of mistaken identity.” The 12-month investigationWCSO investigators believe the suspects were trying to kill someone else when they allegedly began firing shots at Arano’s car There were reportedly multiple shooters and multiple weapons involved we really started with very little evidence,” Adkinson said the WCSO spent “countless hours” gathering video surveillance Adkinson said investigators conducted over 100 interviews and have issued more than 25 subpoenas and more than 10 search warrants “It’s one thing to make an arrest but we need to have convictions,” Adkinson said “There is a significant amount of evidence in this case that was collated over this past year A lot of what had to happen in this case was the elimination of potential suspects.” The Sheriff’s Office developed a pool of potential suspects by taking a look at a number of other shootings that had occurred in the DeFuniak Springs area Adkinson said not all of the shootings were related but the incidents provided some leads in the Jan Information was gathered identifying four suspects as having involvement in the “drive-by” style shooting Campbell turned himself in to the WCSO a few days later on Jan Hamilton is currently incarcerated on charges involving an unrelated shooting and has been sentenced to 30 years in prison Anyone who has any information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the WCSO at 850-892-8111 Anonymous tips can also be made by contacting Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS “We’re confident we’re going to be able to bring him into custody,” Adkinson said as are the rest of the individuals involved.” Mitchell said the State Attorney’s Office plans to follow the case through to the “full extent of the law.” The WCSO’s investigation is ongoing and there is a potential for other arrests to be made based upon interviews and subpoenas that are to be returned “This is a marathon and we are just beginning,” Mitchell said “The men and women of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office are still tirelessly working We look forward to continuing that and resulting in the successful prosecution for Mrs Adkinson said the Sheriff’s Office has stayed in close contact with Arano and deputies have been determined to seek justice for the family Arano and her husband attended the press conference Tuesday “The randomness of this — that’s your worst fear that through no fault of your own you become a victim,” Adkinson said to have somebody that’s completely innocent of involvement is not a common occurrence.” Arano clutched a tissue as she recalled the events of that night WCSO investigator Oscar D’Lassalas translated for Arano It started out just “like any other day,” she said her husband and their two children went to church and out to dinner before going back home to relax Arano had been having some car troubles and planned to have a relative who is a mechanic take a look at it “She was on the road maybe five minutes and that’s when it happened,” D’Lassalas said Arano was approaching a traffic light near Fairfield Drive when she looked into her rearview mirror and saw that a car was following her closely She continued down the road and suddenly her car began to shake “When the vehicle was shaking she realized she was hit from the back,” said D’Lassalas who paused for a moment to wipe away tears while listening to Arano retell her story “She said that initially when she got hit her body felt paralyzed and she became desperate She called her husband and said “I got hit I’m injured,” but he was confused It was then that the suspects turned around and made a second pass at the vehicle “That’s when she started to pray to God because she didn’t want to die She has children,” D’Lassalas said “Whenever she got hit there was nobody else on the road To try to catch somebody’s attention or for somebody to notice her on the side of the road she started to honk out of desperation.” Eventually another car appeared in her rearview mirror said Arano’s car was spotted by an off-duty deputy partially blocking the road The deputy initially though the car simply had a flat tire “He didn’t know what was happening until he got up to her car He saw the bullet holes in the side of the car and he realized that something was very wrong,” Dobridina said “He hadn’t even heard the shots fired call come out.” Arano said she was starting to become unconscious and was having difficulty breathing as deputies helped her into the back of an ambulance She was then taken by helicopter to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center The one thing keeping her alive was the desire to see her children again “She usually has her daughter with her,” D’Lassalas said “She was thanking God that her daughter wasn’t with her She had a lot of pain physically and emotionally “everything’s changed,” she said hasn’t been able to work and will never be able to play with her 6-year-old daughter again It’s also been difficult on her husband who has been trying to support her and their two children on a part-time salary as the medical bills continue to pile up on top of mortgage and automobile payments “Her kids are constantly asking her what’s going on,” D’Lassalas said Her daughter asks her ‘When are you going to walk again?’ and she doesn’t know how to answer that.” Arano said she’ll never understand “why people do things like this,” and just “wants justice.” Knowing that three of the suspects are in custody has brought her some peace and she said she feels appreciative of investigators for their work on the case but it has a financial impact,” Adkinson said our local churches and people that want to help I know that they would appreciate it and need it desperately.”