Ronald Gene Hawkins was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday, November 3, after being convicted of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child younger than 12, State Attorney Larry Basford announced. Hawkins was arrested in January 2025 following a Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. He was later arrested in […]
A call to a local school led to the arrest of 29-year-old Angela Jade Anderson of Washington County on a charge of child neglect without great bodily harm. School staff reported that Anderson called and asked whether her 6-year-old daughter was in attendance. When staff confirmed the child was not at school and had not […]
Vernon High School culinary students recently earned top honors at the 2026 National Peanut Festival Recipe Contest. Brooke Clecker won first place for her peanut butter pie and received the contest’s grand prize, a KitchenAid mixer. Christian Burger earned first place for chicken and waffles, Kaylee Kinman took first place for peanut butter cupcakes, Audra […]
Students at Chipley Head Start recently enjoyed a visit from the Chipley Fire Department during Fire Prevention Month. Firefighters introduced children to a fire truck and demonstrated some of the equipment they use to help keep the community safe. The center noted that the visit provided a fun, hands-on learning experience while teaching important fire […]
Students in Vernon High School’s Criminal Justice Operations course recently participated in a fingerprint analysis lab, highlighting the importance of fingerprints in the criminal justice process. The hands-on exercise taught students how fingerprints are used to identify individuals, eliminate potential suspects, and assist with criminal investigations. Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Cullen Bailey is pictured […]
Community members gathered Wednesday, October 28 to celebrate Harvest Learning Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Founded by educator Jessica Glawson, Harvest Learning Center was established to provide additional educational opportunities for families in Washington County. With more than 15 years of experience in education, Glawson launched Harvest […]
Ronald Gene Hawkins was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday, November 3, after being convicted of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child younger than 12, State Attorney Larry Basford announced. Hawkins was arrested in January 2025 following a Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. He was later arrested in […]
A call to a local school led to the arrest of 29-year-old Angela Jade Anderson of Washington County on a charge of child neglect without great bodily harm. School staff reported that Anderson called and asked whether her 6-year-old daughter was in attendance. When staff confirmed the child was not at school and had not […]
A Washington County jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict Wednesday, October 21, in the sexual battery trial of former Grace Fellowship Christian Academy principal Aaron Michael McFatter, prompting Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson to declare a mistrial. The development comes more than two years after McFatter was arrested following allegations of inappropriate sexual contact […]
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 […]
Even with a requested increase for Hurricane Isaias restoration efforts, Florida Power & Light has proposed a slightly lower average monthly bill than previously approved for next year. The Juno Beach-based utility announced Friday it is asking state regulators to set the average monthly bill for a typical residential customer at $141.87 beginning in January […]
Florida is expanding its hiring bonus program for some new prison guards. The Department of Corrections on Tuesday announced $1,000 bonuses at select correctional institutions, which in some cases may come on top of the $5,000 bonuses already being offered at select facilities. “A career in corrections offers competitive pay, outstanding benefits, opportunities for advancement, […]
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