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Firefighters demonstrating equipment at school event.

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Vernon council discusses fire coordination, new tennis courts, and well improvement project

ByAli Moreland 08/21/202608/21/2026

The Vernon City Council met for regular business on Monday, August 17, and addressed fire department coordination, water system concerns, the new tennis courts, and city projects. Mayor Angel LeCompte reported receiving continued concerns involving the Vernon Volunteer Fire Department and Washington County officials over response protocols and territorial control. Council members expressed a desire […]

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County approves one‑year moratorium on data‑center applications

BySKYLA CARTER 08/21/202608/21/2026

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of applications for data centers and large-scale data processing facilities in unincorporated Washington County during its August 20 regular meeting. The moratorium is intended to give the county time to study the potential impacts of data centers […]

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Washington County voters decide three local races in primary election

BySKYLA CARTER 08/20/202608/20/2026

Washington County voters decided three local races Tuesday, August 18, with the results determining the winners of County Commission Districts 2 and 4 and School Board District 1. Those three races will not appear on the November general election ballot. Voter turnout in Washington County was 37.85 percent. In the District 2 County Commission race, […]

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Chipley man killed in Highway 231 crash

ByWMBB 08/19/202608/19/2026

A Chipley man was killed Tuesday, August 18, in a traffic crash on U.S. Highway 231. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred shortly before 10 p.m. in the area of U.S. Hwy 231 and State Road 20. Troopers reported that a pickup truck with two occupants, a 47-year-old man and a 44-year-old […]

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Two Northwest Florida Reception Center officers arrested in Bay County Walmart thefts

ByStaff Report 08/19/202608/19/2026

Two correctional officers from Northwest Florida Reception Center in Chipley were arrested Monday, August 17, in connection with a series of thefts at Walmart locations in Bay County. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Walmart in Callaway regarding a reported theft. Witnesses said the suspects fled in a white Hyundai […]

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Washington County students kick off new school year with a picture‑perfect start

ByAMBER PATINO 08/18/202608/18/2026

Washington County students returned to school on Wednesday, August 12, marking the beginning of the new academic year. Students across the county settled back into the school routine, with teachers and staff there to guide them through the new school year. Parents of Washington County students took time to snap photos of their children’s first […]

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Crime

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Two Northwest Florida Reception Center officers arrested in Bay County Walmart thefts

ByStaff Report 08/19/202608/19/2026

Two correctional officers from Northwest Florida Reception Center in Chipley were arrested Monday, August 17, in connection with a series of thefts at Walmart locations in Bay County. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Walmart in Callaway regarding a reported theft. Witnesses said the suspects fled in a white Hyundai […]

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Washington County deputies assist U.S. Marshals in arrest of wanted felon

ByStaff Report 08/05/202608/05/2026

On Wednesday, August 5, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office assisted the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force after receiving information about the possible location of a wanted felon in Washington County. Deputies assigned to the U.S. Marshals Task Force located the fugitive at a residence in Vernon, Florida. Everette Kirchbabum was taken into custody […]

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Washington County sheriff’s office investigates sexual battery case

ByStaff Report 08/04/202608/04/2026

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a sexual battery case involving a minor following allegations reported on Friday, July 24. After an investigation, probable cause was established, and arrest warrants were obtained for Michael Thomas Mekara, 39, of Chipley. Mekara is charged with sexual battery on a victim 12 years of age or older […]

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Multiple arrests made after Washington County Drug Task Force operation

ByStaff Report 07/28/2026

Thirteen individuals are facing felony drug charges following an extensive investigation conducted by the Washington County Drug Task Force. The investigation was led by the Washington County Drug Task Force, a joint effort between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the Chipley Police Department, targeting individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illegal […]

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Chipley PD arrests six in connection with June 2 shooting investigation

ByStaff Report 07/27/202607/27/2026

The Chipley Police Department (CPD) has announced that six people have been arrested following an investigation into a shots‑fired incident that occurred on June 2. Officers responded after receiving multiple calls reporting shots fired throughout the city. Although an initial search by officers yielded no evidence of a shooting, further analysis the next day revealed the […]

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Holmes County woman sentenced to seven years for crash that injured two children

BySKYLA CARTER 07/27/202607/27/2026

A Holmes County woman has been sentenced to seven years in the Florida Department of Corrections after entering a no contest plea in connection with a Washington County crash that seriously injured two young children. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Leandra Nicole Leverette was driving on Chance Road in Washington County on April 6, […]

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State News

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Uthmeier rewrites property tax cut ballot summary

ByStaff Report 08/14/202608/14/2026

Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday released a redraft of the ballot summary for Amendment 3, the sweeping property tax cut measure pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. A Leon County judge last week ordered the ballot summary and title of the proposal to be rewritten, finding the originals misleading and filled with political rhetoric. The […]

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NOAA maintains ‘below normal’ storm forecast

ByStaff Report 08/10/202608/10/2026

Lowering its number of anticipated storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintained that storm activity for the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season will continue to be “below normal.” NOAA updated its estimate, raising the chance of below-normal activity from 55%, when its initial forecast was issued in May, to 75%. The change is […]

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Community & Faith

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Let’s ‘fall on our knees’ this Christmas

BySheryl Boldt 12/18/202312/18/2023

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 […]

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Community | Faith | Faith Columns | Opinion

Disagreeing without being disagreeable

ByWashington County News 12/18/202312/18/2023

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 […]

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