News Archive

A former Navarre High School substitute teacher will spend six years in prison for an inappropriate relationship with a student, which was initially disclosed in 2022. John Kapolczynski, 48, was found guilty on several charges, including obscene communication, authority figure soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship with a student, and a person of 24 years or older touching a victim 16 or 17 years of age.

The FairPoint Regional Utility Service (FRUS) main at the center of discussions around water quality has been repaired, says Holley Navarre Water System (HNWS). The initial estimated time for repairs was three to five weeks. 

A convenience store with fuel pumps is planned for 6827 Gulf Breeze Parkway, on the southside of Highway 98, near the southern terminus of Edgewood Drive. According to plans submitted to Santa Rosa County Development Services, the store will be approximately 6,372 sq. ft. with a 9,909 sq. ft. fuel canopy. Under the fuel canopy, there will be 10 pumps.

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas – Tiffany Zaloudek became the first female survival, evasion, resistance, escape specialist to earn the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, Nov 1.

In the days following a “catastrophic” water main break Dec. 20 along Highway 87, residents within Navarre and surrounding areas began to complain of problems with their water. Some claimed the water made them itch or irritated their skin, others claimed it had a funny taste and smell, and some went as far as testing their water using pool testing strips.

The doctor will no longer be in the House, but that hasn’t stopped State Rep. Dr. Joel Rudman from filing seven bills before his tenure ended Dec. 31, 2024.

Santa Rosa County Public Safety urges residents to be prepared for the cold weather that will settle in late Monday (Jan. 6) through Tuesday (Jan.7) by remembering the 5 P’s of cold weather safety.

With the close of 2024 came the close of Jimmy B’s Pizza in Tiger Point. The restaurant, located in a strip mall near the Tiger Point Walmart, had been serving pizza pies and other Italian food for the better part of 18 years. Chelsey Freiermuth, who took over for the restaurant’s namesake upon his retirement in 2023, said the decision to close was a difficult, yet necessary one.

A Santa Rosa County Judge has dismissed a case involving Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law.

The case, which was heard in November 2024, involved two men, one of whom shot the other. According to the order granting the defendant’s motion to dismiss, the incident which sparked the case happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 7, 2022.

A K9 unit with Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was involved in Dec. 27 crash at the intersection of Edgewood Drive and Highway 98. Deputy D. Hopkins of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was injured in the crash, sustaining a concussion, head laceration, and other minor injuries from the incident. Hopkins’ K9 Partner, K9 Riggs, had no apparent injuries, according to the agency.