As Northwest Florida counties weigh proposals for large‑scale AI data centers and possible moratoriums, local officials and residents are examining how the projects could affect land use, water resources, and community development. Artificial intelligence, or AI, data centers are large facilities built to train and operate AI systems, requiring significant amounts of electricity, water, and […]
The Chipley Police Department has announced a restructuring initiative aimed at strengthening leadership and improving service across all patrol shifts. According to department officials, the change adds two new supervisor positions to ensure consistent leadership is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The adjustment is expected to support faster decision‑making in the […]
Washington County EMS recently partnered with faculty and staff at the Northwest Florida Reception Center to conduct a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) training exercise simulating an explosion scenario. The drill tested responders’ ability to manage a high-stress event requiring rapid assessment, coordinated decision-making, and effective communication among multiple agencies. During the exercise, EMS crews worked […]
Watermelon growers, from commercial producers to backyard gardeners, are invited to enter the annual Big Melon Contest at the Panhandle Watermelon Festival. The festival and contest have long been summertime traditions in the Central Panhandle, offering growers an opportunity to showcase their best melons and compete for prize money. A winner and first runner-up will […]
The Washington County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is sharing information and resources for Sunny Hills residents who receive water service from North Florida Community Water Systems, Inc. In response to resident concerns regarding water quality, the County is providing points of contact and outlining available state processes related to water service and billing. Residents […]
According to a release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), on Saturday, June 6, the Washington County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting on Orange Hill Road in Chipley, where the caller advised that Chris Gomelski had been shot and that the suspect was next door, allegedly armed and attempting to leave the property. […]
According to a release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), on Saturday, June 6, the Washington County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting on Orange Hill Road in Chipley, where the caller advised that Chris Gomelski had been shot and that the suspect was next door, allegedly armed and attempting to leave the property. […]
A Dothan man is dead after a vehicle accident in Washington County. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, two men were traveling north on State Road 79 in a truck tractor when it veered off the roadway. After the vehicle left the roadway, it continued travelling north east before colliding with a culvert, and then […]
On Saturday, June 6, at approximately 12 a.m., deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation on Interstate 10 near Caryville. When a deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver accelerated and fled, reaching speeds in excess of 120 mph. During the pursuit, the driver began discarding items through the […]
After ten and a half years, the Bonifay Police Department (BPD) has reopened its investigation into the November 2015 stabbing of Emily Carter at her residence in Bonifay. The case previously reached a standstill in 2017 under then‑Chief Chris Wells, but with the reopening by current department leadership, Carter, who now resides in Washington County, says she feels hopeful that […]
A Caryville woman accused of arranging a fentanyl‑related pill sale that led to a Holmes County woman’s death pleaded no contest on Wednesday, May 6, to a reduced charge of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance under Florida Statute 893.13. According to court records, Judge Russell Roberts sentenced Jamie Dawn Ewing to two years of community control followed […]
A California man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a Washington County child exploitation investigation that began October 24, 2025, when the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) received a complaint after a parent discovered obscene images of their minor child on an iPad and cellular phone. Investigators immediately initiated an investigation into the incident, according […]
A bill to make gold and silver coins legal tender in Florida has reached Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. Among 52 bills sent to DeSantis on June 9 the measure (HB 1311) puts into state law rules for gold and silver coins adopted by the Department of Financial Services and the Office of Financial Regulation. The […]
Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a sweeping property tax proposal backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending the measure to Florida voters in November. The proposal would increase the current $50,000 homestead exemption to $150,000 beginning in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. The expanded exemption would not apply to school taxes after lawmakers revised DeSantis’ original […]
As a little girl, I spent delightful moments singing about the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. I gazed at our small nativity scene. I loved looking at all the characters gathered devotedly around the newborn child: Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, the wise men – even the animals. The scene was […]
Michael Brooks I was rendered speechless—highly unusual for a Baptist preacher. I was in college serving a church in the Birmingham area as interim pastor for what became an eight-month assignment. I enjoyed the experience immensely preaching three times a week, attending deacons meetings and visiting the sick. I learned a lot and had a […]
AMBER PATINO
Ali Moreland
Staff Report