County News
Traffic Update / CR 393 Southbound Closure
Starting Monday, August 11, 2025, at 00:01, County Road 393 North in Santa Rosa Beach will be restricted to northbound traffic only between U.S. Highway 98 (near Greg Orr Marina) and Chat Holly Road. This long-term closure is part of a drainage improvement project and...
Two WCSO Employees Graduate from Florida’s CPM Program at Florida State University
Congratulations to Alicia Cook and Kelly Leavins on graduating from Florida’s Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program at Florida State University! Cook serves as HR Benefits and Wellness Manager for the agency, and Leavins is the Deputy Director of Finance. The CPM...
Main Street DeFuniak Springs Brings Economic Impact to DFS
Did you know? Main Street continues to grow and we love it! In the last year we have several new businesses calling Main Street their home! Visit Galloway Wealth Management, The Pit Stop BBQ, Iron & Grape Italian Kitchen, The Battle-Axe, Southern Stitch & Suds...
Walton County Emergency Management Hosts 2025 HERricane Florida | Landfall Walton County
All participants enjoyed an incredible week last week during the jam-packed 2025 HERricane Florida | Landfall Walton County summer program! Our campers and mentors took part in activities like: * Team-building * MRE Cooking Competition * Beach Safety * Financial...
Forging Tomorrow’s Leaders Through STEM Mentorship
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – What begins as curiosity in a classroom can become innovation in a lab — especially when guided by the right mentors. Eglin interns shared the results of their six-week Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics journey July 31...
Two WCFR Members Graduate Professional Schools
A big congrats is in order for two of our own at Walton County Fire Rescue! Landon Rogers has officially graduated from EMT school, and Juan Raigosa has completed Paramedic school through Northwest Florida State College! We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishments...
Walton County Jail Receives Innovation Award
The Walton County Jail was the recipient of the 2025 American Jail Association Innovation Award for a medium-sized jail. The award is presented to facilities that have developed an innovative and progressive approach that helps the industry as a whole. Awards are...
Three Members of the SWFD Attend International Conference
Several members of our Emergency Communications Division recently attended the 2025 APCO International Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Communications Director Jose Perez Jr., as well as our 2024 Telecommunicator of the Year Lt. Autumn Hanks, and 2024 Rookie...
Obituaries
Delmer Adams
Delmer Adams passed peacefully through the gates of Heaven July 17, 2025, with his family surrounding him. He was born June 28, 1934, to Amos and Lula Adams. He traveled the United States driving an 18-Wheeler from coast to coast. He loved hunting and fishing. Delmer...
Donna May Jackson
Mrs. Donna May Jackson, age 89, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2025. She was born March 15, 1936 in Lockport, New York to Roy and Alice Castell Pichey. Mrs. Jackson was a resident of DeFuniak Springs, Florida for the past 47 years. She was Catholic by faith. She was...
Maude Mershon Sawyer
Maude Mershon Sawyer was born on May 3, 1949 in DeFuniak Springs, FL to parents Ralph (“Shine”) and Nell Sawyer. She lived an incredibly full and adventure-filled life before she passed away at age 76 on July 16, 2025 at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, Florida....
Deborah Jean Henderson
Mrs. Deborah Jean Henderson, age 70, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2025. She was born on March 6, 1955 in Salina, Kansas to Joseph and Leanna Cain Collinsworth . Mrs. Henderson was a resident of Freeport, Florida. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and...
Sports
Miami’s Defense Dominates in 42-7 Win Over Stanford
by Carter Toole MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – After yielding 74 yards and a touchdown on their opening drive, the Miami Hurricanes delivered a defensive performance for the ages against the Stanford Cardinal Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium. Stanford wouldn’t score again...
Tigers Lose to No. 3 Texas A&M, 49-25
BATON ROUGE – Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw for 202 and rushed for 108 to lead the No. 3 Aggies past LSU, 49-25, on Saturday night in Death Valley. With the loss, LSU falls to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC. The Tigers return to action on Nov. 8 in...
Alabama Mounts Huge Comeback to Overcome the Gamecocks 29-22
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The No. 4/4 Alabama football team overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit, as the Crimson Tide scored 15 points over the game's final two-plus minutes to earn the 29-22 victory over South Carolina (3-4, 1-5 SEC) at Williams-Brice Stadium. After...
Auburn Wins First SEC Game of 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the Auburn Tigers, a rainy day has never felt so Pleasant. Rayshawn Pleasant intercepted two fourth-quarter passes, returning the first for a go-ahead touchdown and securing Auburn’s 33-24 victory with his second on a soggy Saturday at...