County News
Monday, October 20th Marks 21st Anniversary of Fatal AIRHeart 1 Crash / Memorial Dedicated
Monday, October 20, 2025, marks the 21st Anniversary of the fatal AIRHeart 1 medical aviation crash that took the lives of South Walton Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Heighton, Flight Nurse Jack Chase, and Pilot Tom Palcic. Heighton, Chase, and Palcic went to work that...
Arnold Promoted to Sergeant at DFSFD
Please join us in congratulating B-Shift Firefighter Austin Arnold on his promotion to Sergeant, a testament to his unwavering dedication and commitment to the City of DeFuniak Springs Fire Department. Chief Ross Sheffield stated, "This is a well-deserved achievement,...
Walton County Names Highway After Charlie Kirk
District 2 Commissioner Danny Glidewell recommended that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners designate a local street as ‘Charlie Kirk Parkway.’ “Recently, we lost a wonderful American, Mr. Charlie Kirk, who had a great influence on a lot of people. His...
Speeding Fines Increase in Lewis School Zone at Eglin
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – School zone lights in front of Lewis School will activate from 7:05 to 7:40 a.m. and 1:55 to 4:25 p.m. starting Aug. 11 on school days. The school zone located outside the East Gate is marked with signs and a 20-mph speed limit in both...
Ribbon Cutting for New City Airport Terminal
County officials joined DeFuniak Springs city officials, Florida Representative Shane Abbott, former Florida Senator George Gainer, and other state and local dignitaries for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport. According to the city’s...
WCFR Welcomes Five Newest Members
"Sometimes the only way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Join Walton County Fire Rescue in congratulating their newest paramedics! Michael Hernandez Blaine Stapp Brett Nofziger Tyler Meadows Kyle Owens Well done!
New Historical Street Signs Installed in DeFuniak Springs
Today, Chief Ross Sheffield, Mayor Bob Campbell, and local lifelong resident Greg Chrishon were on site to admire the new historical street signs being installed throughout the East Side of the city. These distinctive street signs, designed to honor DeFuniak Springs’...
Finishing What Will Started
The last warrant obtained by fallen Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May has now been served. Before his tragic death in the line of duty on April 2, 2025, Deputy May led an investigation into 18-year-old Taevion Desantee Bradberry for aggravated stalking, written...
Obituaries
Lovell Scott Moore
Lovell S. Moore, 95, of Ponce de Leon, Florida, passed away at home on July 17, 2025, peacefully and surrounded by the people who loved him most. Lovell was born on September 12, 1929, in Ponce de Leon to George Moore and Eunice Moore (née Farrior). He became deaf as...
Robert “Bob” William Blaikie
Robert William “Bob” Blaikie, 67, of Inlet Beach, Florida, passed away on June 27, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob was born on May 20, 1958, in Frankfurt, Germany, and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He later moved to Sarasota, where he spent the...
George Henry Stanley
George Henry Stanley, age 90, passed away quietly Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He was born September 3, 1934. He spent most of childhood in Cullomberg, Alabama. George served twenty years in the United States Air Force. He was a part of the...
Socorro Ramirez
Mrs. Socorro Ramirez, age 95, passed away July 18, 2025. She was born November 22, 1929 in Aqililla Michuacan, Mexico to Luis Comparan and Imelda Oseguera Comparan. She was one of eight children. Mrs. Socorro Ramirez was a resident of Santa Rosa Beach Florida, a...
Sports
Raiders Roll Past Volunteer State in Dominant 55-Point Victory in Season Opener
NICEVILLE, Fla. — Halloween night belonged to the Raiders as the No. 1 Northwest Florida State Women's Basketball team opened its 2025-26 campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Volunteer State 90-35 at Raider Arena. Making her Raider debut, Niyla Wilkins put on a...
Raiders Open Season With Explosive 104-85 Win Over Southern Union
NICEVILLE, Fla. — The No. 7 Northwest Florida State Raiders put on an offensive showcase in their season opener, defeating Southern Union 104-85 Friday night at Raider Arena to start the year 1-0. It was a statement debut for DJ Shine, who lived up to his name and...
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...
LSU Parts Ways with Head Coach Brian Kelly and Offensive Coordinator Joe Sloan
BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU Athletics has made the decision to separate with football head coach Brian Kelly effective immediately, Director of Athletics Scott Woodward announced Sunday. Terms of the separation are still being negotiated. “When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU...