County News
Beach-Safety Off-Season Begins
The Beach Safety Off-Season is here! Thank you to our South Walton Fire District lifeguards for a phenomenal 2025 season. Here's what you can expect from our Beach Safety Division until next year: SWFD lifeguards are patrolling beaches and responding to calls for...
Firefighters Knock Down Shed Fire in Liberty
This morning, just after 9:30 a.m., Walton County Fire Rescue crews responded to Linda Lane in Liberty after a caller reported a smoke coming from the roof of a nearby shed. A WCFR volunteer firefighter arrived within minutes, quickly performed a size up, and pulled a...
Suspect in Pinehurst Road Shooting Charged with Manslaughter
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A suspect in a deadly shooting in early October in Santa Rosa Beach has been charged with manslaughter. On the morning of October 1st, Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were at a home on East Pinehurst Drive for a civil service call. After...
Armed Home Invasion Leads to Deputy-Involved Shooting
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— An armed home invasion leads to a deputy-involved shooting early Friday in Walton County. At approximately 6:30 am on October 31st, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a home invasion in the Mack Bayou Pointe neighborhood....
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Welcomes Back Dr. Thomas Johnson
We are grateful to have Thomas Johnson, MD, medical oncologist and hematologist, back at Ascension Sacred Heart Cancer Center in Santa Rosa Beach. Dr. Johnson started back full-time on Wednesday, October 1. Dr. Johnson has been with Ascension for more than 14 years....
2025-26 Basketball Season Tips-Off Tomorrow at Raider Arena
As the leaves begin to turn and the air cools, it can only mean one thing — basketball season is back. Raider Arena is gearing up for its 15th year of men's and women's hoops as Northwest Florida State tips off the highly anticipated 2025-26 season with the Raider...
Congratulations to One of WCFR’s Newest Paramedics
Blaine Stapp, a Walton County native, is one of Walton County Fire Rescue’s newest paramedics. He recently completed paramedic school at Chipola College and earned his National Registry certification—a milestone that marks the next chapter in his journey of serving...
Raising the Bar: Animal Control Officer Mark Fleming
Community is everything to the Sheriff's Office — and Animal Control Officer Mark Fleming just raised the bar. Mark recently put together “go bags” for our DeFuniak Springs police officers filled with tools to make their jobs a little easier when encountering animals...
Obituaries
Albert Bryan O’Keefe, II
Mr. Albert O’Keefe , age 84, passed away peacefully in his home Saturday, October 18, 2025. Albert was born in Queens December 19, 1940 but lived his entire life in Tottenville when he moved in 1945. He attended PS 1 and St. Mary High School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey...
Audrey “Andy” Lee Roberts
"It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but I was still unprepared. But you don't always get what you want in life. This may seem to be a little premature as news of my demise has been greatly exaggerated...
Evelyn Barbara Harper
Ms. Evelyn Barbara Harper, age 84, of Freeport passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2025. She was born September 26, 1941 in Portland, Florida to Henry J. Paulk and Irene Godwin Paulk. Ms. Harper was Baptist by faith and a member of the Freeport First Baptist Church...
Dr. James Harold Thompson, Sr.
Dr. James Harold Thompson, Sr., 94, passed away Monday, October 13, 2025. He was born on July 2, 1931 in Paducah, Kentucky to Charles Clinton Thompson and Suchie Gandy Thompson. Dr. Thompson was a resident of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He was a devoted husband,...
Sports
#5 Georgia Rolls Past Mississippi State, 41-21
STARKVILLE, Miss. — The fifth-ranked Georgia football team used a dominant second quarter to pull ahead of Mississippi State and then rolled to a 41-21 win Saturday afternoon at Davis Wade Stadium. Quarterback Gunner Stockton and running back Nate Frazier led an...
Raiders Erupt for 103 Friday Night Versus Lawson State
Northwest Florida men's basketball put on another offensive clinic Friday night, topping the 100-point mark for the second time this season in a dominant 103–46 victory over Lawson State. Every Raider on the roster recorded a basket in the win. Leading the charge was...
Five Raiders Score in Double Figures As NWF Goes 2-0
Top-ranked Northwest Florida State women's basketball remained unstoppable Friday night, rolling past Lawson State 94-43 behind five players scoring in double figures — led by Aurora Toyomasu's game-high 17 points off the bench. Toyomasu was electric from the floor,...
FHSAA Football Playoff Brackets Released – Three County Teams Compete for a State Championship
The brackets for the FHSAA Football state championships have recently been released by the Florida High School Athletic Association To the right is the bracket for 2A - the classification of all three Walton County football teams. Here are some highlights of the...