The Country Oaks Volunteer Fire Department has received a $10,000 grant through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, providing funding for upgraded emergency communication equipment to improve firefighter safety and emergency response capabilities in rural Washington County. The department was one of just 150 volunteer fire departments nationwide selected to receive funding through […]
Washington County commissioners approved an 18-month extension Monday, October 5, for a grant-funded project at the county industrial park. The action was taken during a public hearing concerning Project Gantry. The county also approved an updated budget for the project. Executive Director for the Economic Development Council, Tony Daniels told commissioners the project has gone […]
Public access to Vernon’s newly completed tennis courts dominated discussion during an October 5 special meeting of the Vernon City Council, with council members ultimately agreeing that locks should be removed from two courts designated for community use. The lengthy discussion came after the courts had been locked following reports of vandalism, raising questions about […]
Seniors with the Washington County Council on Aging recently enjoyed a day trip to Wakulla Springs, where they took a scenic riverboat tour and spent time enjoying the area’s natural beauty. Participants experienced sunny weather, wildlife sightings that included alligators and manatees, good food, and fellowship with both longtime and new friends. Council on Aging […]
The Chipley Woman’s Club recently presented an $800 donation to the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Unit following a successful online cake auction held in observance of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) National Day of Service. According to the club, proceeds from the fundraiser will support services provided through the domestic violence program. Club […]
Staff members across the Washington County School District recently completed Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training, a program district officials said supports their efforts to maintain safe learning and working environments. According to the district, the evidence-based training equips educators and support staff with de-escalation techniques designed to recognize and respond to challenging behaviors before situations […]
A Cottondale man was arrested Monday evening after a traffic stop in Washington County led deputies to the discovery of multiple firearms, suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. At approximately 7:30 p.m. October 6, WCSO deputies conducted a traffic stop near Rock Hill Church Road and Rock Circle. The […]
A Chipley man convicted of manslaughter with a firearm in connection with a 2024 fatal shooting was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in state prison. Kyle Michael Porter, 26, appeared in Washington County court Tuesday, October 6, where Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson imposed the 30-year sentence. Porter was found guilty of manslaughter with […]
A Panama City man is facing multiple drug-related charges in Washington County following a traffic stop on Dawkins Street in Vernon on the evening of Wednesday, September 30. At approximately 6:17 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Dawkins Street. The vehicle pulled into a residence and continued moving slowly before […]
Ronald Gene Hawkins, 69, has been found guilty of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim less than 12 years old following a trial held this week in Washington County. Hawkins was originally arrested in January 2025 following an investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office into allegations of sexual abuse that occurred over a […]
A 26-year-old Chipley man has been found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm following a trial this week in Washington County. Kyle Michael Porter was arrested in June 2024 following an extensive investigation into the death of Randy Joseph Lynn, a Panama City man who was fatally shot at Diamond Head Lake on April 27, […]
A Caryville man was arrested on multiple drug-related and other charges following a traffic stop Sunday, August 31, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies initiated a traffic stop on Yates Settlement Road after attempting to stop a vehicle driven by 37-year-old Jeremy Ryan Hewett of Caryville, the sheriff’s office reported. According to WCSO, […]
Florida has redesigned its driver’s license and identification card with new security features and state symbols incorporated into the design. The first redesign in nearly a decade, changes became available Wednesday, Sept. 30 including a background image of the St. Augustine-based Castillo de San Marcos, an orange in the “O” of Florida and a manatee […]
Among the new laws taking effect Oct. 1 are changes to how law enforcement identifies criminal gang members, a new penalty for adults who involve minors in animal fighting and clarification of rules involving license plate frames. The final $1 increase in the state’s voter-approved minimum wage will also take effect Sept. 30, raising it […]
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
Staff Report
Ali Moreland
SKYLA CARTER