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Cool Cop Polar Patrol brings summer smiles to Chipley

ByAMBER PATINO 07/03/202607/03/2026

The Chipley Police Department has launched its Cool Cop Polar Patrol, a summer community outreach program designed to build positive connections between officers and local families. Each week, officers will visit different areas of Chipley, announcing scheduled dates, times, and locations on the department’s social media. Visits will be planned around officers’ time and duty […]

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Ribbon cutting marks start of Washington County’s Revolution Road driving tour

ByAMBER PATINO 07/02/202607/02/2026

The Washington County Tourist Development Council (TDC), in partnership with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 2, to highlight the new interpretive panels installed along Washington County’s Revolution Road Driving Tour. The project was created through a State of Florida, Division of Arts & Culture, America 250 grant […]

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Panhandle Watermelon Festival draws weekend crowds, celebrating 70 years of tradition

ByAMBER PATINO 06/30/202606/30/2026

Residents and visitors gathered in Chipley on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 to celebrate the 70th Annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival, marking seven decades of family‑friendly tradition in Washington County. Festivities began Friday evening at Jim Trawick Park, where crowds enjoyed live performances by Ashley Monroe, Dailey & Vincent, and Tracy Byrd. Families filled the park for the free concerts, food vendors, and community fellowship. Saturday’s […]

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Free meals to continue for all students in Holmes and Washington schools

ByAMBER PATINO 06/25/202606/25/2026

Students in both Holmes County and Washington County will once again receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2026–2027 school year, as both districts continue their participation in the Community Eligibility Provision. The program allows schools to serve meals at no cost to all enrolled students, regardless of household income, and families are not required […]

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FPL joins local councils on aging to support senior hurricane preparedness

ByAMBER PATINO 06/25/202606/25/2026

Florida Power & Light (FPL) recently partnered with the Washington County Council on Aging (WCCOA) and the Holmes Council on Aging (HCOA) to distribute hurricane preparedness meal kits to local seniors ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season. The kits, designed to help residents aged 60 and older prepare for potential storm impacts, include three days of shelf‑stable food, water, and snacks, along with a hurricane preparedness guide […]

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WCCOA members take a scenic trip to explore Vernon’s history

ByAMBER PATINO 06/25/202606/25/2026

Members of the Washington County Council on Aging (WCCOA) recently took a scenic trip to Vernon, where they toured the Vernon Historical Society Museum and explored local artifacts and stories celebrating the county’s heritage. The group later gathered for lunch at Dee’s Restaurant with Chipley Mayor and WCCOA Board Vice President Tracy Andrews. The outing was […]

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Crime

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Chipley man charged in fatal Orange Hill Road shooting

ByStaff Report 06/07/202606/07/2026

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. […]

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Community | Crime | News | Staff Report | Top Stories

Dothan man killed in fatal Washington County vehicle crash

ByWMBB 06/06/202606/06/2026

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 […]

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Driver arrested following high-speed pursuit on Interstate 10

ByStaff Report 06/06/202606/06/2026

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 […]

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Bonifay Police reopen 2015 stabbing case; survivor now hopeful for justice

BySKYLA CARTER 06/02/202606/02/2026

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 […]

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Caryville woman pleads no contest in Holmes County fentanyl death case

BySKYLA CARTER 05/28/202605/28/2026

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 […]

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Colorado arrest made in Washington County child exploitation investigation

ByStaff Report 05/19/202605/19/2026

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 […]

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State News

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DeSantis designates groups as terrorist organizations

ByStaff Report 07/02/202607/02/2026

Gov. Ron DeSantis moved quickly Wednesday to designate two Islamic groups, several foreign criminal organizations and an anti-fascism movement as terrorist organizations under a new state law that took effect the same day. The designations include the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Brotherhood and antifa. They must still be approved by the Florida Cabinet, […]

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State to waive park fees for Independence Day weekend

ByStaff Report 06/30/202606/30/2026

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday touted waiving admissions at most state parks for the upcoming Independence Day holiday. Free day-use only admissions will run from July 3 through July 5. The discount doesn’t apply to overnight accommodations and rentals, or to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State […]

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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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