County News
DFS Man Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges After Dead Cat Found in Trash Can
A DeFuniak Springs man is arrested after a dead cat is found on his property in Walton County. On Tuesday, July 29th, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office was called to a residence on W Violet Lane following a report of animal abuse. A neighbor reported smelling a foul...
Young Man Recognized for Life-Saving Actions
South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Hudson Howland was at work in the Santa Rosa Beach area when one of his coworkers began choking. She had been eating during a break and then began signaling that she needed help. She was not able to speak or cough, but...
United Way Emerald Coast Celebrates Achievements at Annual Meeting
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL – 7/29/2025 United Way Emerald Coast (UWEC), a local non-profit dedicated to improving lives and building stronger communities, hosted its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, July 29th at The Place on Beal in Fort Walton Beach. The sold-out event...
New Dorms Boost Housing at Eglin
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The long-awaited opening of Eglin’s newest dormitories, buildings 820 and 822, was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 23, marking a major milestone in providing quality, no-cost housing for the installation’s newest Airmen....
Freeport Man Facing Multiple Charges After Firearm Incident
SUNDAY IN FREEPORT: Walton County Sheriff's Office responded to the Palms neighborhood located off 331 Business after multiple reports of a man displaying firearms and discharging multiple rounds from a handgun. When deputies arrived, they determined the suspect had...
Ribbon Cutting Held for Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility
We recently celebrated the ribbon cutting for the brand-new Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility, breaking ground on the upcoming Grayton Beach Community Center/Restroom Facility. With 204 parking spaces, including ADA, electric vehicle, and bike spots with...
Diaz-Acevedo Awarded WCFR Award for Employee of the 2nd Quarter
Please join us in congratulating Firefighter-Paramedic Carlos Diaz-Acevedo, Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida's Fire Rescue Employee of the 2nd Quarter. Carlos is a highly capable paramedic whose sharp clinical skills and calm presence have made a real...
Stolen Car Located in DFS
SATURDAY IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS: Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force, including deputies from Walton County Sheriff’s Office, located a stolen car in the parking lot of Walmart. When deputies attempted to take the driver, Christopher William Knight, 35, into custody,...
Obituaries
Elaine Parker Williamson
Elaine Parker Williamson, 75, of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, passed away peacefully at her residence on Monday, July 7, 2025. Elaine was born in April 1950, in Atlanta, GA, to John Robert Parker and Martha Elizabeth Avery Parker. She married the love of her life, Donald C....
Marsha Nunez
Mrs. Marsha Nunez, 66, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025. She was born on April 3, 1959, in Georgia to Grover Willis Bradley and Mary Jeanette Webb. Mrs. Nunez was a resident of DeFuniak Springs where she spent the majority of her life. She was a devoted wife to Lauro...
Adrianne Walline Campbell
Adrianne Walline Campbell, age 65, passed away Friday, July 4, 2025, in Milton, Florida. She was born September 20, 1959, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida to Edwin Walline and Jane Thomson. After school Adrianne went on to become the owner of Walline’s Enterprises, an...
Nadean Gomillion Burke
Nadean Gomillion Burke, 67, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025. Born in South Florida, she spent most of her adult life in Bruce, Florida. Above all else, Nadean was a devoted wife to Doyce Burke—her husband of over 50 years—a loving mother to two children, and a...
Sports
Paxton All-Star Team Surprised by Unexpected Benefactor
The Paxton All-Star Girls Softball Team received an unexpected surprise at last week’s regular meeting of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Coach Daniel Herring, additional coaches and team members were there to seek funds for travel expenses so...
Three Raiders Selected in MLB Draft, Four More Sign Pro Contracts
The 2025 MLB Draft has officially wrapped, and once again, Northwest Florida State had a strong showing, with multiple current and former players hearing their names called—or signing contracts—as they take the next step in their baseball careers. This year, three...
Witherspoon Brothers Selected on Day One of the MLB Draft
For many young athletes, the dream of one day becoming a Major League Baseball player begins the first time they pick up a baseball. This week, that dream becomes reality for more than 600 players across the country as the MLB Draft takes place in Atlanta, Georgia....
Six Raiders Moving On to NCAA Four-Year Programs
It's that time of year again—when Raiders take the next step in their journey from junior college standouts to NCAA student-athletes. Fresh off a National Championship, this year's squad continues the proud tradition, with six sophomores making the leap to NCAA...