MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DeFUNIAK HERALD AND BEACH BREEZE STAFF

  THE EMERALD COAST MIDDLE SCHOOL jazz band donned their dark glasses as they opened Tuesday’s winter concert, their first performance of the school year. (Photo by Jeffrey Powell)

THE DEFUNIAK SPRINGS Women’s Club Seventh Annual Christmas Parade was the place to be Saturday, December 13. There were numerous floats, vintage automobiles, horses and  marching units. The Grand Prize winner in this year’s parade was the Red Hat Dollies. Their entry was spectacular with a purple and red color scheme and the “Dollies” all [...]

  THE HAGAR FAMILY, Jim, Alex, Nicole, Tammy and Holly, stood on their new deck, smiling for the camera during the dedication of their Habitat for Humanity home. Thanks to volunteer support, and their own hard work, the Hagar home was built in nine weeks, giving the Hagars the gift of spending Christmas in their [...]

Nicholas Chesser was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years for a DUI manslaughter that took the lives of two Santa Rosa Beach residents in April of 2007. Chesser was found guilty following a trial in November in Walton County. Chesser’s vehicle reportedly crossed the paved center turn lane and struck a Mazda minivan driven by [...]

Melissa Potter Costa, 52, of DeFuniak Springs, is reportedly in serious condition at Bay Medical Center following an automobile accident on Sunday, Dec. 20.

By ALICIA LEONARD In mid September, The St. Petersburg Times was heralding Walton County as having the lowest unemployment rate in Florida. Robert Trigaux wrote, “Once again, Walton County had the lowest county unemployment rate in August 2008 of 3.8 percent, while Hendry County remained the highest at 14.2 percent.” Those figures are quickly eroding [...]

Staff Reports For the second year, Paxton High is being recognized as one of America’s Best High Schools. This week, Principal Sonya Alford received a letter from U.S. News and World Report’s editor Brian Kelly congratulating her and Paxton High School for receiving a bronze medal award as one of America’s Best High Schools. “We [...]

By LEAH STRATMANN During the meeting last week of the South Walton County Mosquito Control District (SWCMCD) the minutes from the August meeting were finally approved by both board members. Since September, chairman Jim Crawford has been refusing to approve the minutes because of a statement read into the official August minutes by John Magee. [...]

By DOTTY NIST Community traditions hold a special meaning, even more so at Christmas and in a close-knit community like Point Washington. Old Point Washington’s unique Wise Men Christmas display is up, adding inspiration to holiday celebrations in the historic Tucker Bayou-area hamlet. The display is composed of three painted wood panels over six feet [...]