THE WALTON HIGH CLASS OF 1949, shown here in their original class portrait, held their 60-year reunion on April 24, at the Life Enrichment Senior Center on College Avenue in DeFuniak Springs. The Friday evening event was attended by 28 of the original 63 graduates. Local attorney WHS graduate Angus Andrews opened the celebration, [...]

  WARD-WINNING ARTIST Justin Gaffrey’s trademark is heavy-texture acrylic paint stacked inches above the surface, which turns the canvas into a sculpture rather than a one-dimensional surface. His most recognizable and sought-after pieces are his sunflower paintings. “Sunflowers are the first heavy-texture painting I painted,” he said. “It was derived from Van Gogh….When I started, [...]

  JUDGE DAVID GREEN David Green conducted the swearing-in of Mayor  C. Harold Carpenter at the Apr. 27 City Council Meeting. Mayor Carpenter then swore-in new City Marshal Mark Weeks, Council Seat Henry D. Ennis, Council Seat Wayne Graham and City Clerk Susie Campbell-Work (shown here on left), the first person to seek this position [...]

  “MOVING US FORWARD, L.L.C. respectfully withdraws our unsolicited proposal to the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority (NWFTCA) related to U.S. 331,” wrote Denver Stutler Jr., in an April 10 letter to Randall McElheney, NWFTCA chairman. Soon after the initial limited information was provided on the proposal in Walton County, county commissioners and citizens, as [...]

RICHBURG FIRED AT NFSC Trustees vote 4 -3 for termination. WALKER GUILTY ON TRAFFIC COUNTS County court judge imposes fines. BURKE MOTION FOR TRIAL TAPE IS MOOT Appeal continues. PUTTIN’ ON THE VICS Victorian fashion show raises funds for Chautauqua. WALTON COUNTY HISTORY ON FILM Movie premieres at Hall of Brotherhood. NO TOLL BRIDGE ON [...]

By ALICIA LEONARD What started as a domestic violence situation, escalated quickly into the deaths of two Okaloosa County deputies in the line of duty and ended with the shooter being killed in a gun battle by Walton County law enforcement.

A lengthy April 28 special meeting of the Board of Trustees of Northwest Florida State College (NFSC) resulted in a vote of 4 – 3 to terminate the employment of NFSC President Robert Richburg. Two members voted for suspension without pay and one voted to keep Richburg in his position. One board member, Joseph Henderson, [...]

By JEFFREY POWELL    Former Walton County Commissioner Herman Walker was found guilty of three traffic charges in a day-long trial that took place on April 22. The charges stemmed from an accident that resulted in the death of 38-year-old Eric Buharp. The incident occurred on July 11, 2008. According to Buharp’s wife Shannon, who was [...]

By JEFFREY POWELL Former South Walton County Mosquito Control District (SWCMCD) Commissioner Gregory “Charlie” Burke recently filed a motion with the Walton County court requesting all audio tapes concerning his trial that ended on June 11, 2008. That trial ended with Burke’s conviction on charges of false swearing to any oath or false certification of [...]

By DOTTY NIST A plan that would have likely resulted in a toll bridge on U.S. 331 in Walton County has been withdrawn. “Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C. respectfully withdraws our unsolicited proposal to the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority (NWFTCA) related to U.S. 331,” wrote Denver Stutler Jr., in an April 10 letter to [...]