DFS COUNCIL APPROVES LAND ACQUISITION Council plans municipal airport runway extension. WALTON MAN ARRESTED FOR CHILD ABUSE Man admits to repeatedly biting children. COTTAGES FOR KIDS 2008 Delightful playhouses show off designer’s flair. S. WALTON CLAIMS FIRST FOOTBALL DISTRICT CROWN The Seahawks sailed into history with a win over Baker. FOCUS ON FINANCE A checklist [...]

  BOBBY KEMP, a Walton County Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) who has been serving Walton County citizens for nearly four decades, has retired from the county government. Local officials believe that Kemp is the oldest licensed E.M.T. in the state. Kemp began his career as a volunteer firefighter and has provided EMS services to the [...]

  PAXTON’S NEW MAYOR, HAYWARD THOMAS, is sworn in by Circuit Judge Kelvin Wells, having served in that office in years past. Outgoing Mayor Wanda Smith received a plaque of appreciation, a gift, and words of praise from her friends and colleagues. Two of the Council members being sworn-in were incumbents Jenice Armstrong and Bobby [...]

By DOTTY NIST Walton County commissioners recently complied with their legal counsel’s request to authorize seeking an injunction against a borrow pit operation. On Nov. 10, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted to authorize Mike Burke, county attorney, to file an injunction to stop mining operations at the Thomas Hicks borrow pit [...]

By BRUCE COLLIER Two vehicular crashes have left two people dead and two seriously injured. Both took place in Walton County, on Nov. 7 and Nov. 9. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigator Tpr. Chester Jackson reported that on the evening of Nov. 7, a vehicle was driving west on the inside lane of I-10, at [...]

By DOTTY NIST The South Walton Tourist Development Council’s “big blue” signs now in storage are seen by some as a solution to reported problems with Walton County’s community directory sign program on U.S. 98. “We thought it was a really good idea,” said Pat Blackshear, county director of planning and development services, when the [...]

STAFF REPORTS Joshua “Mikey” Daloia, 17, was last seen on May 6, 2008 in the DeFuniak Springs area, reportedly headed toward Crestview. Joshua, d.o.b. 12/16/90, is described as having dark brown hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs 135 pounds. He has a small build, and was carrying a backpack. [...]

By DOTTY NIST Now in the planning stages is a road that will save travel time between Walton County and the new Panama City/Bay County International Airport; among other stated benefits of the road project is help in evacuation situations. The Political Action Committee of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Power of [...]

By RON KELLEY The world was at war. England, Germany, North Africa and Russia were war zones where no civilian was safe. All of Europe was in tatters. The Pacific was full of battleships and submarines. Many thousands of soldiers were dead or wounded. Concentration camps were doing their grim and evil business and the [...]

By PATRICK CASEY The South Walton Seahawks are district champs in the sport of football for the first time in school history! The Seahawks got an 8-yard run by Cody Adams and a touchdown-saving tackle from D.J. Striedal, followed by a Baker fumble, to take a 6-0 win over the Gators and claim the District [...]