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Terms of Service - Privacy Policy Designed by Sandpaper Marketing The body of a 16-year-old swimmer was recovered Monday morning near the Navarre Bridge after an extensive overnight search operation Multiple agencies participated in the search effort throughout the evening hours Escambia County Search and Rescue also provided critical support during the operation Officials confirmed the teen had been swimming with family members east of the Navarre Bridge without flotation devices when he went missing Authorities specifically addressed rumors circulating in the community clarifying that the teen had not fallen from a kayak or been struck by a boat as some had suggested The teen’s identity has not been released No additional details about the circumstances of the drowning were provided in the official statement Join the best local newsletter read by thousands of locals each weekday morning -- The body of a missing 16-year-old swimmer was recovered Monday morning at approximately 6:10 a.m according to the Navarre Beach Fire Rescue and Midway Fire District conducted an extensive search throughout the evening hours but were initially unable to locate the missing teen Escambia County Search and Rescue also provided critical support during the search efforts Officials confirmed that the teen had been swimming with family members east of the Navarre Bridge without the use of flotation devices at the time he went missing NAVARRE, Fla. (WEAR) — A 27-year-old Navarre woman will spend her life in prison for the 2023 shooting death of her child's father. A jury found Rachiel Moore guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence In March 2023, 24-year-old Colby Vinson was shot and killed by Moore's ex-stepfather, Jason Curtis. Deputies found Vinson's four-year-old daughter next to his body the shooting happened amid a custody battle as Vinson had just gained partial custody of his daughter Deputies found that Moore had contacted Curtis about killing Vinson Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Region spent €4m expanding and updating its facility Spain's government of Navarre has doubled the capacity at its municipal data center The Navarre government revealed that it has invested €4 million ($4.54m) in the expansion and modernization of the facility The Data Processing Center (CPD) saw its capacity increased from 200kW to 400kW of installed power and can now house 96 racks (double the prior 48 racks) across three areas Generators and cabling have also been upgraded and air conditioning and energy efficiency improved the data center has been expanded from 138 sqm (1,485 sq ft) to more than 290 sqm (3,121 sq ft) The data center will use around 90 percent of the power generated by the IES Caro Baroja solar farm we not only gain capacity to host government data but we also offer companies and other institutions and organizations the opportunity to host their servers in a secure efficient environment located in Navarre." The data center will be used to host and process all the information systems managed by the Government of Navarre and student data from the Education Department behind a technologically complex environment lies an eminently practical utility that affects us in our daily lives," Chivite said A backup data center is located at the Foral Police Station in Beloso The CPD also has a supercomputing cluster - the Urederra Cluster Supercomputing Center which joined the Spanish Supercomputing Network in 2020 - and a mainframe system which manages thousands of users simultaneously The mainframe handles around 800,000 transactions daily and has databases with more than 4 billion rows a company attached to the Department of the Presidency and Equality Funding for the project was provided by the Government of Spain's Recovery and Resilience Facility Plans to expand the government data center were first revealed in January 2024 an investment of €2.6 million ($2.95m) was planned The CPD has been at the facility since 1992 The data center building was formerly the Pamplona municipal crane building and has been upgraded and modernized regularly since it was repurposed A version of this story appeared on our Spanish edition Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Body of missing 16-year-old swimmer recovered at Navarre BeachPensacola News JournalA teenager who disappeared while swimming on Navarre Beach on has been found dead The 16-year-old had been swimming with family members east of the Navarre Bridge without the use of flotation devices at the time he went missing according to a Facebook post from Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Holly-Navarre Fire Department and Midway Fire District conducted an extensive search throughout the evening hours Sunday but were unable to locate the missing teen Escambia Search and Rescue also provided critical support during the search efforts the teen's body was recovered by Daphne Search and Rescue "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time," the Navarre Beach Fire Rescue post said During the latest round of inspections from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation one restaurant was temporarily closed during an inspection five restaurants received at least one high-priority violation and 10 restaurants passed their first inspection with zero violations Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall Inspection details: Routine Inspection on April 23 Follow-up inspection: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected An emergency order callback time extension was given From follow-up inspection April 24: Intermediate – From initial inspection- No certified food manager for establishment A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ No food manager for establishment Operator Samarin has taken classes but has not signed up for exam yet This violation must be addressed by June 23 Inspection details: Inspection on April 22 Follow-up inspections: Violations required further review but were not an immediate threat to the public The restaurant met inspection standards and complied with a call back inspection on April 23 Total violations: Three total violations with one administrative complaint From follow-up inspection on April 23:  No dead roaches observed upon callback Inspection details: Complaint Inspection on April 22 Follow-up inspection: Violations required further review but were not an immediate threat to the public The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection on April 23 Lupita’s Mexican Fast FoodMobile food dispensing vehicle Inspection details: Routine Inspection on April 25 Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public but a follow-up inspection is still required Pedros Tacos Tequila Bar13584 Perdido Key Drive Inspection details: Complaint Inspection on April 24 Follow-up inspection: Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public The restaurant was given a time extension on April 25 Jay Garden Chinese Restaurant3968 Highway 4 Inspection details: Routine Inspection on April 22 Follow-up inspection: Violations required further review The restaurant complied with a follow-up inspection on April 24 10 restaurants receive a perfect scoreBettys Belmont St.Alphy's Restaurant and Catering 7289 Navarra ParkwayCoastal Chill Company LLC Mobile food dispensing vehicleSlim Chickens 8006 Navarre ParkwayWho Cut The Grilled Cheese and Cake Mobile food dispensing vehicleTamalas El Rancho mobile food dispensing vehicleAt The Drop In mobile food dispensing vehicleEl Taco Baleado mobile food dispensing vehicleWhat agency inspects restaurants in Florida?Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is conducted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation The Department of Health is responsible for investigation and control of food-borne illness outbreaks associated with all food establishments How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?If you see abuses of state standards report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online Get the whole story at our restaurant inspection database Basic violations are those considered against best practices A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment Says the division website: "Correcting the violations is important but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over." An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license Stay up to date on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter Sign up for the newsletter at profile.pnj.com/newsletters/pensacola-eats/ The wait is over. Happy Joe’s Navarre welcomed an excited crowd of customers within its bright multi-colored walls at 2502 State Road 87 S The pizza and ice cream shop has been in the works since 2023 generating community excitement for its fun-loving environment “It’s hard to even put into words what this moment means to us we get to live it — thanks to YOU,” Happy Joe’s Navarre shared to social media on April 28 See what Happy Joe's is all about: Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream in Navarre seeks a place in your happiest memories Franchisee Jennifer Harding was inspired to bring Happy Joe’s founded in 1972 by the restaurant’s namesake Joe Whitty because of her happy memories frequenting her home store in Iowa she gets to make Happy Joe’s Navarre’s go-to place for celebrations pizza helps,” reads a mural on the dining room wall with a sunglass-wearing sun and surfing slice of pizza While pizza is a mainstay at all locations across the country there are also a variety of other items to try Some of the “Navarre favorites” on the menu include: they will have morning offerings all day long They will also offer a special Sunday brunch from 11 a.m the Happy Joe's Navarre team credits the community for supporting them throughout the journey “To the entire Navarre community: thank you for embracing us We are proud to be a part of this amazing town and we cannot wait to serve you for years to come,” Happy Joe's Pizza Navarre shared in a social media statement on April 28 For further information, follow Happy Joe’s Pizza – Navarre on social media or call the restaurant at 850-710-7182 Stay updated on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter Navarre First Assembly of God (9594 Navarre Parkway) – Good Friday service at 12 p.m Calvary Chapel Navarre (2834 Highway 87 S) – Good Friday service at 5 p.m Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church (7810 Navarre Parkway) – Stations of the Cross at noon Good Friday service with Eucharist from Reserve Sacrament at 6 p.m Community Life Church (4115 Soundside Drive) – Good Friday service at 6 p.m Navarre United Methodist Church (9474 Navarre Parkway) – Good Friday service from 6 p.m Sylvester Catholic Church (6464 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Good Friday Liturgy at 6 p.m East Bay Church (5649 East Bay Blvd.) – Worship on the Grounds service from 6:30 p.m New Life Deliverance Temple Church (2104 Panhandle Trail) – Easter Egg Hunt noon to 1 p.m Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church (7810 Navarre Parkway) – Morning prayer with Altar Guild at 10 a.m. Great Vigil of Easter with Eucharist at 6 p.m Community Life Church (4115 Soundside Drive) – Saturday Easter service at 6 p.m Sylvester Catholic Church (6464 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Easter Vigil Mass at 7 p.m Risen Savior Lutheran Church (9664 Navarre Parkway) – Sunday services at 8 a.m Midway Baptist Church (5471 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Sunday services at 8:30 a.m Liberty Church Gulf Breeze (6006 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Sunday services at 8 a.m. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church (7810 Navarre Parkway) – Eucharist at 9:30 a.m Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (4257 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Divine service with Holy Communion at 9 a.m Sylvester Catholic Church (6464 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Sunday Mass at 9 a.m Momentum Church Navarre (8600 High School Blvd.) – Special Easter services in downtown Pensacola at 9 a.m Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Navarre (8109 East Bay Blvd.) – Sunday service at 10 a.m. Community Life Church (4115 Soundside Drive) – Sunday services at 8 a.m. Concord Presbyterian Church of Gulf Breeze (4191 Gulf Breeze Parkway) – Sunday service at 10:30 a.m Navarre Presbyterian Church (1870 Lowe Road) – Sunday service at 10 a.m Easter Egg hunt and refreshments following service Navarre United Methodist Church (9474 Navarre Parkway) – Sunday services at 8 a.m. Navarre First Assembly of God (9594 Navarre Parkway) – Sunday services at 8 a.m. First Baptist Church of Navarre (9302 Navarre Parkway) – Sunday service at 10:30 a.m East Bay Church (5649 East Bay Blvd.) – Sunday service at 10:30 a.m Open Door Baptist Church (7710 Navarre Parkway) – Sunday service at 11 a.m COMPASS Community Church (7624 East Bay Blvd.) – Sunday services at 6:30 a.m (Family worship at Holley by the Sea Recreation Complex’s beach house 6524 Navarre Parkway) New Life Deliverance Temple Church (2104 Panhandle Trail) – Sunday service at 11 a.m Holley Assembly of God (4006 Highway 87 S) – Sunday service at 10:30 a.m Calvary Chapel Navarre (2834 Highway 87 S) – Easter service at 9 a.m A new Wawa has been proposed for Navarre which is the second Wawa planned in the area and fourth in Santa Rosa County overall Wawa store #5500 is proposed for construction at 6827 Gulf Breeze Parkway according to the project’s site plans filed with the county which is located on the south end of the Edgewood Drive and U.S Developers plan for the store to have 6,327 square feet with over 40 parking spots and features that are a standard for the chain such as a gas canopy and a tire air pump on site They also plan to create a new road next to the store that will provide two entrances onto the site A third entrance is planned on the northeast end of the site to provide access for motorists coming into the site from Highway 98 Site plans indicate this will just be an entrance This project was filed to Santa Rosa County on March 24 and it had not been reviewed by the time of writing is the listed owner of the project in its site plans Scooter's Coffee is coming to Navarre: Scooter's Coffee gets green light to open 1st Navarre location Wawa doesn’t own the land where their latest store is planned Property records show that the Santa Rosa County School Board owns the approximately 22-acre site after buying the land from a local couple for $4,850,000 in 2020 The couple bought the parcel in 1998 for $1 million and didn’t develop the land during their two-decade-long ownership What’s Wawa?The popular convenience store and gas station chain customization choices and 24/7 availability began in 1964 in Pennsylvania and has branched out from the state in a rapid fashion Wawa has opened nearly 300 stores in Florida and employs about 10,000 associates across the state Wawa's existing Florida stores are mostly in the southwest across Central Florida and up and down the east coast but they plan to open up to 20 new stores across the Panhandle over the next three to five years as part of their expansion efforts The chain now has more than 1,100 stores operating in the U.S a Wawa offers all the things you'd expect from a convenience store − snacks − but they also offer a larger variety of fresh food than most fast-food restaurants such as their made-to-order fan-favorite hoagies and the hot breakfast "Sizzli" sandwiches Wawas also are famous for customer service free air for your tires and no-charge ATMs Santa Rosa County has received four proposals to build new Wawa stores but none have been approved for development yet The first Wawa store planned for Navarre was proposed for construction at the intersection of Navarre Parkway and Southshore Lane in November Escambia County has approved plans to develop five different Wawa stores around the county that’ll stretch from the southern end of the county on Blue Angel Parkway over to its northeastern side on North Davis Highway Wawa has been approved for the following addresses in Escambia County so far: Wawa locations are open 24/7 every day of the year It's also the name of the town where this version of the company developed as well as where the corporate offices still reside That's also why a goose is on the company's corporate logo A weekly farmer’s market held in Navarre is getting an upgrade soon was approved to construct a new driveway that’ll lead motorists into its 1.5-acre lot on the northwest corner of Segura Street and State Highway 87 South The project will add new parking spaces and a large-vehicle vendor spot to the farmers market This farmers market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday. The market features a wide variety of locally-produced goods from both farmers and vendors that can be found in stores like Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Café as well as Bailey’s Produce & Nursery The recently approved project will add 23 parking spots for customer use a couple spots for food trucks and a single space for a large-vehicle vendor Both the food truck and large-vehicle sections will be developed on the eastern side of the farmers market Navarre Farmers' Market is hosted across the street from Navarre’s lone Tractor Supply Co and the project’s site plans show that the incoming driveway will connect the farmers market to Segura Street Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream opening: The wait is almost over for the much anticipated opening of Happy Joe's in Navarre filed this proposal with Santa Rosa County on Dec and the project was issued a development order from the county on April 22 Navarre Farmers' Market was established in 2013 and it is hosted by military veterans who live in the Navarre area alongside Tucker See construction near you, or have questions about a development project? Reach out to Edward Bunch III at Ebunch@pnj.com We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Wendell Joseph Navarre on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Centreville, Mississippi on August 18, 1962, and spent the majority of his childhood... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Wendell Joseph Navarre created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passi.. -- A girl in Navarre is working to get herself a specialized bed -- and her fundraising efforts are also helping others Lilliana Boczar is a vibrant 11-year-old girl "She's the only person in the world to have both Williams Syndrome and Rett Syndrome," her mother Mari Boczar said "The main one is the elastin," Mari said she has half of the elastin that she's needed and that's in all of your connective tissue." and just function normally," she added Lilliana's symptoms didn't appear until she was 3-years-old "She started regressing," Mari said she had 60 words and then it kind of just started going from there." she can walk with support and remains mobile with some hand functions -- which is a blessing -- until she goes to bed at night "Since she's mobile and she can move on her own some she can't have a regular hospital bed," Mari said "She'll try to climb over the railings but she can't land safely." The Boczars filed with their insurance for a "Cubby Bed" -- a mesh enclosed bed with seizure detection monitoring systems "It's low to the ground so she can transition in and out of the bed on her own," Mari said "Because we want to keep her as independent as possible to where she can do things independently And we've been trying to fight so hard for it," Mari said That's when her church stepped in and found a way to raise money for Lilliana "When we found out Sunday that the bed wasn't going to come through insurance I got on my phone on the way home from church and I just typed in 'fundraisers' and this fundraiser 'Got Sneakers' came up," said Laurie Whorton who's Lilliana's former physical therapist 'well nobody's collected sneakers for money,' so maybe that would be different." nearly 400 pairs of shoes have been donated "Got shoes" essentially buys all the collected shoes and gives them to people in need the fundraiser for Lilliana has fetched $1,800 I can't even tell you," Whorton said "I have appealed different pieces of equipment actually I ordered another bed for a different kiddo of mine and that finally did get approved It is the neatest feeling just to know that she's going to be safe Just to know that she is going to be watched And her mom and dad can have some peace of mind because their little girl is going to be safe through the night." Combined with monetary donations given directly to the Ignite Church Lilliana is one-third of the way to her goal of $16,000 Here's the list of drop-off locations for Lilliana's shoe drive: To donate to the family through Ignite Church, go to their website here and write "for Lilliana" in the memo box County staff will request the board approve a task order that would give Jacobs Engineering the go ahead to design the toll system and conduct a rate study to help determine how much drivers could be charged for traveling over the bridge "The new system will consist of a new toll gantry with applicable toll-by-plate equipment to toll southbound vehicles only," a report within the county agenda packet said "A tolling revenue study will be conducted to provide information to the county so they can decide the magnitude and frequency of the toll." Plans call for the county to reallocate a portion of $1.5 million that had been previously set aside for a planning development and environmental study that must be conducted before a new bridge can be built if the county goes to the state for help with funding A vote to approve the design work would be final The county is holding its regular meeting Monday and foregoing its usual Committee of the Whole meeting The idea of establishing a toll on the bridge was first floated during last year's budget meetings Staff provided information obtained by looking at toll by plate systems utilized in neighboring counties It is thought that establishing a toll of between 50 cents and $1.50 per crossing at the bridge could raise approximately $2 million annually to be put toward bridge maintenance and It was originally operated as a toll bridge but tolls were eliminated in 2006 through the efforts of then-County Commissioner Gordon Gooden and then-State Rep At that time the state also turned control of the bridge over to the county which encompasses Navarre and Navarre Beach estimates that upkeep of the bridge has already cost county taxpayers $5 million He has been pushing fellow commissioners to get serious about replacing the bridge and said the toll is the best way to put aside funds needed to leverage state and federal dollars needed to pay for construction The county was approached last year by a Delaware company called Delivering Bridges LLC which offered to tear down and rebuild the bridge for a cost of between $150 and $300 million depending on the scope of the project but commissioners at the time said the cost estimate obtained provided a good gauge for what a new bridge would cost Bridge replacement optionsIn 2021 the County Commission directed staff to begin drafting a request for proposals for companies who could perform a feasibility study to look at options for replacing the bridge identified three options to be considered for bridge replacement All options took into consideration FDOT's plans to widen U.S 98 to six lanes through Navarre and an overpass at the current Navarre Beach Bridge intersection Because the existing bridge no longer meets either Coast Guard navigation requirements or FDOT bridge design standards it will have to be replaced in all scenarios Alternative one pinpointed in the feasibility study would take out the existing bridge and replace it within the same footprint with a single structure that rises to 65 feet above the Santa Rosa Sound to meet Coast Guard standards The second alternative would extend the bridge from State Road 87 and U.S 98 across the sound and land it on county property adjacent to the Navarre Island Wastewater Treatment Plant The third would also incorporate State Road 87 and U.S 98 into planning and would "cross Santa Rosa Sound in an S-curve pattern" to connect with the existing southernmost landing of the bridge By Kim Lanier-HuntPublished: Apr. 26, 2025 at 9:12 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - A judge in Santa Rosa County this week sentenced a woman to life in a Florida state prison without parole for the murder of her child’s father a jury found Rachiel Moore guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in the March 19 Santa Rosa Circuit Court Judge Clifton Drake handed Moore the life prison term According to the Florida State Attorney’s Office, Vinson was with his 4-year-old daughter outside his apartment in the 7700 block of Navarre Parkway in Navarre unloading groceries when he was shot to death by Moore’s ex-stepfather, Jason Curtis according to the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said Vinson’s body was found lying next to his child Investigators said Moore is the mother of the 4-year-old and Vinson had been granted shared custody of their daughter earlier that week The investigation revealed that Moore had been in contact with Curtis all that week about his coming from his home in Cullman Moore paid gas money to Curtis to make the trip and gave him information to identify The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office arrested Curtis on a warrant out of Santa Rosa County A search of his vehicle turned up a gun a firearm and a hand-written note with a physical description of Vinson Moore was found guilty of tampering with evidence Commissioner Ray Eddington has been pressing fellow board members to start looking seriously at replacing the aging bridge At Thursday's regular commission meeting he said establishing a toll "is the only way I can see to do it and get money coming in." Fellow commissioners agreed to discuss the idea of establishing tolls at its next meeting A proposal will be put on the agenda for the county's Feb Commission Chairman Kerry Smith said tolling "is gonna have to fly" with a majority of the governing board "It's the only way we're going to pay for anything even just the cost of repairs for the bridge," he said County Budget Director Sabrina White informed the board that $1.5 million had been set aside in the FY 2024 budget to use for a Planning which the Florida Department of Transportation requires be conducted for projects it funds or participates in helping to fund But according to Assistant County Administrator Jared Lowe it looks less and less likely FDOT is going to participate with the county to cover the cost of a new bridge "It's not theirs and they really have no interest in chipping in," he said The state turned the bridge over to Santa Rosa County in the early 2000's and allocated dollars at that time to assist with maintenance but Eddington estimated that the cost of county upkeep alone has reached $5 million County staff had raised the idea of establishing a toll on the Navarre Beach Causeway Bridge during last year's budget meetings Based on information obtained by looking at toll by plate systems utilized in neighboring counties staff concluded that establishing a toll of between 50 cents and $1.50 per crossing at the bridge could raise approximately $2 million annually to be put toward bridge maintenance and construction When commissioners rejected the idea of tolls last year they did so prior to a referendum being held that asked county residents to implement a half-cent sales tax for use on transportation initiatives Eddington said following Thursday's meeting he thought the 50 cent to $1.50 charge to travel the bridge was a good starting point for discussion He said he doesn't want to overburden residents of Navarre Beach or Santa Rosa County residents "We've got to look out for people who live here maybe make it a little higher for people coming in from out of town," he said "We've got to sit down and look at the numbers and see what we can do that doesn't hurt anybody." White suggested the tolling method county staff will present for commissioner consideration is what is known as a "gantry system." The system utilizes an overhead structure that collects tolls through transponders or via automatic license plate recognition Lowe said cost estimates for implementing the tolling system will be gathered prior to the Feb White said commissioners will be presented with an estimated cost of hiring an engineer to design a gantry toll by plate system and develop a chart of potential tiered rates The tiered rates would be calculated to charge differing rates for beach residents county residents and out-of-county individuals More: Navarre Beach Bridge converting to one-way traffic after Blue Angels show Saturday The Navarre Beach Causeway Bridge was built as a toll bridge Samson said when he introduced legislation seeking to end the toll the bridge had been paid off and the money being collected was primarily going toward paying the people collecting the tolls "I was excited to see that toll removed," Sansom said "But that was a long time ago and so many things have changed." In 2021 the county directed staff to begin drafting a request for proposals for companies who could perform a feasibility study to look at options for replacing the bridge The county was approached last year by a Delaware company called Delivering Bridges LLC which offered to tear down and rebuild the bridge for between $150 and $200 million manage the new bridge's maintenance and toll functions through either an ownership option or lease agreement The company envisioned toll charges of between $2.35 and $3.35 A second alternative presented by Delivering Bridges would have seen the bridge constructed at a location other than where the existing one stands now at a cost of $250 to $300 million Tolls on the more expensive alternative were estimated to have run between $4.25 and $5.20 Lila Annette "Chookie" Harris Navarre in Lake Charles where she is a decedent of one of the founding Lake Charles Families and the place where she raised a beautiful family She dedicated many years of service to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury retiring in 2009 as an Inventory Control and Purchasing Specialist she was an exceptional bookkeeper and record keeper Her Catholic faith was the foundation of her life A devoted member of Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church and at one point proudly served on the Board of Directors for Right to Life cheering on her LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints Her dream was to one day catch a tagged redfish Her greatest joy was spending time with her eight children making memories that will be cherished by her sweet family Annette was a phenomenal cook as the Matriarch of the family which was one of the many things that attracted large crowds of friends and family Annette is survived by her husband of 25 years Michael Navarre; Her children Tara Louvier Casey Fontenot (Steven); Her sister Carolyn Staples; her brother Steven Winterkorn; her 27 grandchildren and her 10 great grandchildren Annette is preceded in death by her parents Clinton Harris and Yvonne Staples; her stepfather J.C Staples; her grandparents Alexander "Colan" Granger Viola Welch Colbaugh Harris; her sister Yvette Harris Boutte; her grandson Dallas LeBrun; and great grandchild Samuel Foster A funeral service will be held on Saturday March 8 2025 at 11:00am at Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles A graveside service will follow at Sallier Cemetery in Lake Charles Visitation will be open to the public Friday March 7 2025 from 5:00-8:00pm with a Cursillo Rosary at 6:00pm Visitation will continue at 9:30 am on Saturday before the funeral Those serving as Pallbearers will Joseph LeBrun Wyatt LeBrun; Honorary Pallbearers will be Mark Paul Ardoin and dedication to her family and community will never be forgotten Navarre was ranked as one of the best places in the U.S for vacation homebuyers in a recent report by Vacasa one of the country’s top vacation rental companies ranked Navarre as the sixth-best destination out of 25 cities due to a handful of factors including average revenue from properties and median home price Condos and houses situated on the Gulf are the most desirable properties in Navarre’s vacation rental market Their research also shows that visitors tend to choose condos over homes or townhomes and visitors often travel in small groups of two to four people Vacation rental owners in Navarre bring in an average revenue of $43,439 each year While the latter city brings in less revenue the average home price in the area is $360,747 whereas the average price is $618,863 in Navarre Five Florida cities were featured on the list overall and Okaloosa Island was the only one ranked above Navarre landing the third spot on the list with an average revenue of $50,292 and an average home price of $654,494 Bradenton and Indian Rocks Beach were also ranked as top 25 markets Luxury home sales in Santa Rosa: $3.5M Navarre Beach home tops Santa Rosa's most expensive home sales during February While Navarre is gaining more nationwide recognition as a vacation destination higher home prices combined with lower returns ranked it lower on the list than cities like Dauphin Island told the News Journal that Navarre’s reputation as a family-friendly destination has helped funnel visitors from nearby vacation markets like Destin in recent years as an increasing number of people prefer a quieter experience 2022 we just saw this huge spike in demand for vacation rentals both on the owners' side and the guest side what you’ve seen for the last four years is a huge increase in vacation rental supply,” said Kirkham but the supply has just outstripped the demand We’re now seeing demand similar back to where we were pre-COVID.” owners in the market are seeing diminishing returns on average due to rising HOA home insurance and utilities fees on top of the regulatory environment for short-term rental properties Kirkham said that these factors have made the market a bit less attractive than it was a few years ago as owners are seeing diminishing annual returns While the vacation home supply is slowly increasing which would typically help reduce average home prices a part of that trend in Navarre’s market is a consequence of owners having to sell due to the extra costs “I don’t know if we’re necessarily seeing (extra costs) driving down prices but I think what we’re seeing is some people selling that wouldn’t otherwise be selling if it wasn’t as a result of those increasing costs because the cost of ownership is getting too high,” said Kirkham Kirkham pointed to price increases in markets and slowing demand for vacation rentals as the main contributors to the diminishing returns “I think we saw a lot of the price increases just because of the lack of inventory We’re coming out of a few years where a lot of people wanted to purchase but there just weren’t homes for sale,” he continued “I think we’re coming out of that now… we do have markets where we’re still seeing multiple offers above asking price NAVARRE BEACH, Fla. -- The Navarre Beach Bridge was built in the 60s and is now considered "functionally obsolete." To help pay for bridge repairs and the cost to replace the bridge tolls would be enacted for drivers headed to the beach commissioners are trying to find out how much that toll should be Commissioners have approved a study that comes with a hefty price tag in which many of WEAR News viewers claim is a waste of money The task order altogether costs more than $385,000 County engineers tell WEAR News there are several factors behind the cost Santa Rosa County commissioners approved a task order for tolls on Navarre Beach Bridge this week "I'll make a motion to approve that without objection," said councilmember Kerry Smith It's an amount that folks online are not happy about In the comments on WEAR News' Facebook page many claim spending that much is a "waste of money." WEAR News spoke with county engineer Rebecca Jones who broke down how that money is being spent "The first thing is to design the tolling system which is the structural arm that will hold all the cameras and developing all the software for the tolling system," Jones said Jones says a rate study will help county commissioners identify the best prices for the toll "That will help the county identify what's the best toll prices that we can assess for the toll," said Jones "If your knee jerk reaction is to say 'We're gonna put a dollar toll on the bridge,' we need to know for sure if that toll will help us maintain that bridge and eventually have a funding mechanism for a new bridge," she said "And we don't want to go too low and we definitely don't want to go too high." The rate study will give the county several options to consider "One of the biggest things we have to do is that we have to have a funding mechanism so that when we go into that design we can ask for help "FDOT and other federal agencies are not interested in giving us that assistance unless we have a funding mechanism for our share." Jones says folks that live and work on the beach will have a discounted toll rate which will also be determined in the rate study construction of the toll system could begin this time next year A new McDonald’s restaurant is coming to Navarre after Santa Rosa County greenlit a development proposal from the company to bring a new set of golden arches to the city The restaurant will be built at 7380 Navarre Parkway, according to the project’s development order from the county. Once the restaurant opens, it will be the second McDonald's in Navarre They were issued a development order from the county on Feb They initially filed their proposal last May but county officials conducted a few site plan reviews where they requested changes to the proposal and delayed its approval Over the course of the review process with the county developers hammered in changes to their signage landscaping and plans among other aspects of the proposal The restaurant will have approximately 3,859 square feet with 57 parking spots The fast food restaurant will have two drive-thru lanes with a pair of access roads that will lead motorists toward the nearby Walmart Neighborhood Market or Navarre Parkway Both roads will lead into Walmart’s parking lot but the southern access road will bring drivers directly onto Navarre Parkway Part of the proposed but unrealized Navarre Town Center project has been sold and the new property owner is planning to construct a drive-thru 7 Brew Coffee shop on the site.* multi-tenant office building occupies the parcel on the northwest side of U.S The design calls for the existing building to be razed and a drive-thru coffee shop with three lanes 11 parking spaces & water retention pond to be constructed TC’s Development sold the 0.74-acre parcel to Destin-based Olson Land Partners for $950.000 on Dec Olson Land Partners was involved in the development of another 7 Brew Coffee which opened in January 2025 in Pensacola there are two additional 7 Brew locations planned in Santa Rosa County including adjacent to Panda Express in Tiger Point and at 4880 U.S 90 in Pace – also adjacent to a Panda Express <<<Design for a future 7 Brew Coffee on Prado Street shows ingress/egress will not be off U.S TC’s Development acquired several parcels on U.S 98 in Navarre which were previously owned by Island View Development Corp Bob Benaquis of TC’s Development then announced a major multi-story condo development for that area he withdrew the related rezoning request and started placing parcels on the market Initially a Chick-Fil-A franchise was being considered for some of the acquired property between Luneta and Presidio Street But sources connected with that effort told South Santa Rosa News that project fell through A Jim N Nicks BBQ was subsequently planned for that listed property which included two parcels totaling 1.24 acres formerly home to Century 21 Island View Realty headquarters report they have been asked to move out soon “I’m not sure we’ll want Jim N Nicks on that site,” Benaquis said Although he says tenants in the existing former Century 21 Island View Realty headquarters will stay until that building is torn down at least two have stated they were informed to relocate soon Benaquis via TC’s Development Company Inc continues to hold interest in (see map graphic): (1) four other parcels between Luneta and Presidio Streets including a 0.206-acre parcel zoned for mobile homes plus a 1.239-acre vacant commercial parcel; (2) a 0.992-acre vacant commercial parcel behind Centennial Bank; (3) two 0.185-acre vacant commerical parcels adjacent to The Twist; (4) a 0.371-acres vacant commerical parcel on the southwest side of the intersection of Esplanade and Alhambra Streets; (5) a 0.742-acre vacant commercial property in the 1800 block of Prado Street who has been a business partner with Benaquis is still shown having interest in TC’s Front Porch restaurant and other parcels along Alhambra and Esplanade Streets Previously released design for the Navarre Town Center prior to the sale/pending sale  EDITOR’S NOTE: Previously a 7 Brew was being considered for U.S 98 near Neighborhood Walmart at Joybrook Road; however documents submitted to Santa Rosa County reveal a McDonald’s is now planned for that location Contact Us | Advertise The Navarre community has been counting down the days until Florida's first Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream location opens at 2502 State Road 87 South Restaurant owners took to social media this week to announce their grand opening will be on April 28 they plan to hold a grand opening party with bounce houses and patiently waiting − we are beyond excited and grateful to finally announce…OUR GRAND OPENING DATE: Monday April 28th!,” Happy Joe's Navarre wrote in a social media statement “Happy” is not just in the restaurant’s name but built into the Iowa-based franchise’s business model which is why the Navarre location will come equipped with an arcade room How did Happy Joe's end up in Navarre? Here's what the franchisees have to say Since the restaurant was being built from the ground up construction took significantly longer than expected moving its projected opening from fall 2024 to spring 2025 and an outdoor patio with slide-up garage doors restaurant owners have promised it will be worth the wait “It still doesn’t feel real that we’re finally here This journey has had its fair share of ups and downs − way more delays and roadblocks than we ever imagined 'We can’t wait!' − it meant the world to us,” the Happy Joe’s statement read We’re ready to serve this amazing community with all the heart and happiness we’ve been saving up.” Happy Joe’s began staff training this week to ensure its customer service will be ready to go when the restaurant opens at the end of the month “We’re not just opening a restaurant − we’re building a place full of smiles friends and our entire community,” the statement continued The Navarre Happy Joe’s will follow traditions that have been in place since being founded in 1972 by the restaurant’s namesake such as hanging photos of community members in the restaurant and playing up birthdays with songs and sirens The menu will also be uniform to other existing locations They will also have a selection of beer and wine Follow Happy Joe’s Pizza – Navarre for real-time updates and information on social media Ernie passed away on his 70th birthday, Sunday, February 23, 2025. He was a resident of Springfield, LA. Ernie was known throughout his community as &#8220;The Donut King.&#8221; Ernie started his business, Ernie&#8217;s Donut King, in Amite,... View Obituary & Service Information created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. -- Tolls could be coming back to the Navarre Beach Bridge One Santa Rosa County commissioner is proposing tolls be returned to the aging bridge leading into the beach to cover maintenance costs while also raising money to replace it altogether Commissioner Ray Eddington says the tolls would be reasonable -- no more than a dollar He says the tolls would be necessary but residents say they do not want to pay "That's the only way we're gonna be able to fix it," Eddington said "We're gonna have to put a toll on this old bridge to start raising money to help us." Eddington says the county does not have the funds to build a brand new bridge and has dumped millions of dollars into repairing the current bridge "We have paid out somewhere around $5 million already for this bridge for maintenance," said Eddington "And if we can get a toll on it right now we could raise somewhere around $2 million." Eddington says the tolls would first help raise money for maintenance work and then will go towards building a new bridge what’s gonna happen if the bridge collapses," said Eddington "...Let’s hope that don’t happen ever.. But would you rather go ahead and pay a toll and get a bridge we know is going to last a long time It’s seen good days and it’s getting old." Eddington says he and other staff members are looking at a toll between 50 cents and a dollar per trip with possible lower rates for people who live or work on the beach Everyone WEAR News spoke to is in favor of getting a new bridge "Oh absolutely you need a new bridge," said resident Joe Young "We were down here last year and there was an accident on the bridge And it was closed for about five or six hours “It definitely does get crowded," said residential surfer Griffen Weber it could take an hour and a half to get off the island just to go at like one mile an hour." But they are not in favor of paying for it Young says he comes to Navarre Beach at least twice every day He thinks adding a toll would have negative impacts for local businesses the locals is all they had to come here," said Young "And we’ve come and we help out the local business says he doesn't see it keeping folks away from the area "It seems like the toll at Pensacola Beach still a lot of people go over that and really I don’t even notice it anymore,” said Weber Young says for locals the toll should be free WEAR News asked Eddington if he would consider making it free for locals He says he would be willing to sit down and discuss with locals to find a way to work together The council will discuss this at the next meeting on Feb A man was shot and wounded by a Santa Rosa County Sheriff's deputy Thursday morning after allegedly showing "aggressive" behavior and failing to comply with commands during a traffic stop Johnson said at a news conference following the incident There were no reported injuries to deputies near a Whataburger restaurant on Navarre Parkway who said he reviewed body camera footage of the incident Peacock "was very aggressive during the traffic stop" and "would not listen to anything the deputy had to say." and finally he approaches the officer in an aggressive manners and goes back to the car," Johnson said (Peacock) leans over to get something out of the car it still ends up in being basically a foot chase over into the Holley by the Sea area where he is Tased and tackled and finally taken into custody." Another SRSO investigation: Neighbors behind viral video speak out on Santa Rosa deputy detaining Milton youth Peacock was transported to a local hospital for treatment The sheriff described Peacock as a "frequent flyer" with multiple prior arrests locally including for offenses such as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Johnson said the shooting Thursday morning will be investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and any charges against Peacock stemming from the incident would be determined by the State Attorney's Office Johnson was asked to address comments from acquaintances who told a television reporter at the scene that Peacock had no criminal record had not possessed any type of weapon and was not aggressive toward the deputy because I watched a body cam video in which the body cam video will come out and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about," Johnson responded "So the people you talked to are either blind -- A man lost three fingers in a hydrofoil accident Thursday evening on Navarre Beach A hydrofoil is a lifting surface that operates in water Navarre Fire Rescue says the man in his 60s sustained several injuries "Despite a thorough search by emergency crews the severed fingers were not located," Navarre Fire Rescue says "The patient was promptly transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for further evaluation and treatment." “We strongly encourage all watercraft operators and enthusiasts to use proper safety equipment and exercise caution to prevent accidents like this from occurring,” said Chief Fureigh while a popular and exhilarating water activity poses unique risks due to its high speeds and sharp components -- An 11-year-old Navarre girl with a rare health condition just got some great news WEAR News reported earlier this week about Lilliana Boczar who is the person in the world to have both Williams Syndrome and Rett Syndrome -- chromosomal mutations that impact gross motor skills Lilliana needs a specialized bed with a price tag of $16,000 Lilliana's family and the Ignite Church started a fundraiser Lance Whorton told WEAR News that they have reached full funding: Crews are working around the clock and have made steady progress toward restoring approximately 3.5 miles of Navarre Beach to the way it looked way back in 2016 The project got underway just before Christmas and it is estimated that contractors will be ready to embark on Phase 3 of the four phase project this week the entire project should be completed by the end of January Crews are working all day and all night and will place around 700 feet of sand on Navarre Beach each day from approximately 900 feet east of the Navarre Beach Pier to the Gulf Islands National Seashore property according to a news release issued by the county The project was begun on the west end of the beach where it runs into the boundary of National Seashore Mechanical issues were responsible for forcing the company conducting the beach renourishment to complete Phase 2 of the project before getting underway with Phase 1 With Phase 1 expected to have been finished by the weekend renourishing an area between Beach Access 39A eastward to Beach Access 38B All work is weather and mechanical-issue dependent and dates may not be exact The county warned visitors to the beach against entering restricted areas of Navarre Beach during while the project is ongoing More: Her work to protect endangered sea turtles is saving Navarre resident Jennifer Starr residents and visitors should wait until these areas have officially reopened before accessing renourished sections to search for shells," it said "Beaches surrounding the construction area will be open to the public and sand ramps will be placed over the pipeline to allow beachgoers access to the gulf." County staff are monitoring for endangered species during the restoration project and relocating animals The effort to rebuild Navarre Beach began in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sally when the Federal Emergency Management Agency embarked on a damage assessment. Following the assessment FEMA agreed to cover the bulk of the cost of placing sand on approximately 3.5 miles of Navarre Beach The project is being funded from the Beach Berm Restoration Budget and with Federal Emergency Management Agency funds It is estimated the cost of completing the renourishment will be $11.4 million but an overall project cost will be established based on the amount of sand placed to meet the permitted restoration profile It could be more or less than the bid amount Commissioners voted in April of 2024 to go all in on restoring the beach which in September of 2020 lost an estimated 254,000 cubic yards of sand to Hurricane Sally Plans for a toll on the Navarre Beach Bridge moved closer to reality Monday. Santa Rosa County commissioners voted unanimously to approve design of a toll system and a rate study to help establish the amount of the toll Approval of the task order authorizes payment of $385,665 to Jacobs Engineering to design a new tolling station at the north end of the bridge with toll-by-plate equipment for southbound vehicles only The rate study would consider the possibility of tailoring a fee structure allowing different rates for beach residents has been calling for fellow board members to replace the current 65-year-old bridge he’s been pushing for a toll to raise needed funding if we’re gonna get a bridge and we got to put some of that money towards a new bridge,” Eddington said I know we got to put some toward repair of the old one because we just spent $8 million and getting ready to spend another $3 million of taxpayer’s money.” That’s a reference to mounting repair costs for the bridge that opened in 1960 and has now been rated as “functionally obsolete” by the Florida Department of Transportation because it does not meet current design standards the estimated cost of constructing a new bridge is between $150 million and $350 million “We’ve got to get a new bridge and it’s gonna take a lot of money But I believe we can get it done the right way Navarre resident Tamara Fountain recognized the need for the toll as just one of the sources needed to pay for new bridge “We’ve already been told by every leader in the state that we’re going to have to come up with our own matching grant funds if we’re going to quality for any kind of FDOT help,” said Fountain “I want to make sure that money is put in a segregated fund and allowed to grow and that we would not use it for anything else other than grant-matching funds for the purpose of a bridge.” Fountain questioned spending the toll on maintenance of the bridge because the county doesn’t toll any other bridge in the county for maintenance District 3 commissioner Rhett Rowell echoed similar concerns about using toll revenue for bridge maintenance of the bridge said he has no problem with using some of the toll for bridge upkeep “That’s one of the reasons I support the toll because that’s not going to buy a new bridge,” Smith said in reference to the estimated $2 million annually the toll projected to generate “It would take 100 years for that to buy a new bridge.” If Santa Rosa commissioners follow through with their plan a toll for the Navarre Beach Bridge will be nothing new It previously operated as a toll bridge from the time it opened in 1960 until the toll was eliminated in 2006 the debate could become a little prickly as the discussion turns toward actual implementation of the fees As the board turned its discussion Monday to hiring Jacobs Engineering to design the toll system and conduct a rate study to help determine how much drivers could be charged for traveling over the bridge Fountain made clear her opinion that none of the funding collected from the toll should go toward maintenance of the bridge "We don't toll any other bridge in the county for maintenance," she said Commissioners pass on bridge proposal: Santa Rosa Commission rejects offer to replace the Navarre Beach Causeway Bridge Commission Chairman Kerry Smith seemed a little perplexed by Fountain's assertion "One of my primary reasons for approval for this would be to fund repairs," he said It would take 100 years for that to buy a new bridge." had some concern about using a toll to pay for maintenance of a single county structure but also for repairs when that is the only one that we do that in the county for We don't do that for any other roads or anything," Rowell said Navarre Beach improvements: Santa Rosa seeks opinion whether 'Reimagined' Navarre Beach can be funded with tourism tax Fountain went on to tell commissioners that she would be in favor of any collected tolls from the Navarre Beach Causeway Bridge being set aside in an independent fund that would go solely toward the construction of a new bridge as has been outlined at previous commission meetings is to put some of the roughly $2 million brought in annually toward bridge maintenance and set aside some to use as matching funds alongside whatever state and federal dollars can be brought in to pay for a new bridge It is expected a new Navarre Beach Bridge will likely cost somewhere north of $150 million whose District 4 includes Navarre and Navarre Beach said that there is great need not only for a new bridge but also to keep up with maintenance of the existing 65-year-old structure The county was recently billed $4.5 million to repair the bridge fender system designed to protect boats and the structure itself from collision damage It is anticipated another $700,000 will have to be spent in the near future for seawall work according to Deputy County Administrator Jared Lowe Eddington has said he wants to see the bridge four-laned to meet traffic needs When ongoing work to replace the Brooks Bridge in Okaloosa County is complete the Navarre Beach Causeway Bridge will be one of only two on the Intracoastal Waterway between Carabelle Island and Mobile Bay with a 50-foot clearance The engineering study approved Monday will look at installation of a new toll gantry with toll-by-plate equipment that would bill vehicles traveling southbound onto Navarre Beach according to a report produced by county staff a revenue study will be conducted to provide information to the county so commissioners can review a toll structure To fund the study the county is reallocating a portion of $1.5 million that had been previously set aside for a planning development and environmental study that it will have to conduct if it chooses to seek state funding to help with bridge construction The pickleball craze rages on and Thursday the Navarre community added two courts to help meet growing demand in South Santa Rosa County “We're excited about this new addition" said Eddington who was on hand with fellow commissioners for a groundbreaking "I'm thankful for our team who worked hard to make this happen for everyone.” Eddington said he was surprised at the number of people who turned out to see the opening of the courts and there were folks playing when he arrived for the event He said he was asked about the court color scheme and said he was proud to notify everyone in attendance they had been painted in the colors of Navarre High School "They started in on me about three years ago about pickleball and I didn't know anything about it," he said "We looked and we didn't have anyplace to put it." "That was great for the community," he said When a contractor asked to construct the courts seemed to run into one delay after another county public works crews decided to take on the task themselves "They didn't know anything about building a pickleball court," he said the park now features two pickleball courts for the public to enjoy The total cost of developing the pickleball courts was approximately $51,000 from general fund revenue Pickleball is a fascinating sport that combines elements of several other activities It's played over a net on a court roughly the size of a badminton pitch using a perforated plastic ball that is struck with paddles roughly twice the size of the ones used in table tennis goes to a then-Washington State Congressman by the name of Joel Prichard and his golfing buddy Bill Bell Pritchard and Bell returned to the congressman's home after a round of golf to find their kids sitting around bored When the good fathers couldn't find enough badminton rackets to successfully utilize a court on the Pritchard property they substituted ping-pong paddles and located a perforated plastic ball The game quickly evolved when a third adult The net was lowered and the ball bounced as opposed to batted over a net during play More: Could pickleball become a major school sport one day? In Escambia, all signs point to yes relying heavily on badminton," a history found on the USA Pickleball website said which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together." Interest in pickleball has been growing in Santa Rosa County just as it has everywhere else encouraged county commissioners to look into expanding accessibility to local courts The popularity of the sport took off during the pandemic you couldn't do anything." Participation numbers had grown to 4.8 million by 2022 Pickleball can be played either by singles or doubles and it is an activity friendly to participants of all ages There are indoor and outdoor courts and the level of competition is strictly up to those playing More: Santa Rosa master planning land swap for 700 acres of US Navy property USA Pickleball membership numbers reached the 70,000 mark in February of 2023 after a nearly 30 percent increase in membership growth in 2022 And in its 2023 Topline Participation Report the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row with nearly nine million players in the United States over the age of 6 years old taking part While the pickleball culture is just now arriving in Navarre pickle ball courts can be found at Bagdad Recreational Park Santa Rosa Sportsplex and Tiger Point Community Center according to county spokeswoman Sarah Whitfield Gulf Breeze Recreation Manager Madison Simmons said the city multi-tasks to allow pickleballers to use a basketball court three times a week and over the weekend This allows space for six courts on weekdays and three on weekends and an average of about 45 turn out to play each available day Simmons said four more courts are expected to open at the Shoreline Park North around the end of February A development order that addresses horizontal improvements within the planned 30,208-square-foot building footprint was approved March 10 for the site plan according to Santa Rosa County Planning Director Shawn Ward or improvement of the property according to the submitted plans." The next step prior to construction at 8535 Gulf Boulevard is the submission and approval of building plans Not everyone is happy with the idea of the store which markets a plethora of souvenirs and merchandise that includes everything from beachwear to t-shirts and beach toys "It's cheap stuff," District 4 County Commissioner Ray Eddington said of the Alvin's Island merchandise "I don't like the colors (of the building) and it will bring a lot of people we don't want to the island but I wish we had a nice steak house or something put on that property." Eddington said the Alvin's Island development has never been brought before the Santa Rosa County Commission for its consideration a formerly prominent member of the Navarre Beach Leaseholder and Residents Association said that as long as the building owners play by the rules "The NBLRA stance has been that someone is going to build something on that property "And if it conforms to the restrictions and they're not going for a variance than we have no opposition." who is listed as the developer of the property had announced plans to bring Alvin's Island to Navarre Beach in 2023 so the concept of its arrival does not come as a shock called for the store to be less than half the size He said he never received clear direction from the board to go forward with reaching out to the owner "It was just discussion at a monthly meeting," he said Sutton was not sure whether the idea to talk to the owner had been revisited since he left the NBLRA refused to comment on the Alvin's Island project NBLRA vice president Drew Ruthrauff said the project "hasn't really been brought up or discussed." Santa Rosa County documents show the property which lies in front of the Navarre Beach Regency Condominiums complex -- A 38-year-old man was shot by Santa Rosa County deputies Thursday morning after not obeying commands following a traffic stop Sheriff Johnson says a deputy executed a traffic stop on Justin Dale Peacock of Milton who is a "known gang member" and a "frequent flyer." "He was very aggressive during the traffic stop He would not listen to anything the deputy had to say," Sheriff Johnson said "The deputy was trying to de-escalate the situation -- it was not working It was apparent by me watching the body cam that there was something else going on by this individual -- probably a drug of some type "[The deputy] gets him out of the car and he tells him to get on the ground but the guy's refusing and will not do it Finally he approaches the officer in an aggressive manner 'don't get back in the car.' He leans over to get something out of the car and the deputy shoots the individual in the leg it still ends up being basically a foot chase over to the 'Holley by the Sea' area where he's Tased and tackled and finally taken into custody." The sheriff's office says Peacock sustained non life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy-involved shooting Sheriff Johnson says Peacock is originally from Colorado He had been arrested five previous times in Santa Rosa County since May 2023 Past charges include firearm possession by convicted felon dealing in stolen property and drug possession he's spent 238 days in our jail," Sheriff Johnson said "And he's spent a few years in the Department of Corrections in Colorado." -- A 42-year-old Navarre man is accused of masturbating in his pickup truck while driving next to a Santa Rosa County school bus with students onboard Michael Cook was arrested last Wednesday on charges of: 17 within the 1100-block of Gulf Breeze Pkwy Five students less than 16-years-old are listed in the arrest report as victims They were all on the bus at the time of the incident one student took a video of the alleged crime and showed it to Gulf Breeze Police The report states video shows a man driving a white truck next to a school bus while masturbating with his genital exposed Investigators noted in the report that the driver was "holding the steering wheel of the vehicle with his left hand and masturbating with his right hand." multiple victims said the driver glanced over and looked up at the bus while committing the act The report states the victims described the suspect as a white heavy set man with a bald head Investigators reviewed surveillance cameras on the bus which showed a white truck driving side-by-side the bus The cameras caught the truck's license plate which matched Cook's vehicle registration The report states that when questioned by investigators about the accusations Cook "did not deny the accusation and would only repeat 'That is absurd.'" Investigators added he never gave a "yes or no answer." Cook was released from Santa Rosa County Jail the next day on $65,000 bond