Fri. Jul 18th, 2025

Local News

Local News | News

Legal Services of North Florida to host free civil legal clinic in Vernon

Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) will offer a free civil legal clinic through its Justice on the Block initiative on Monday, July 21, 2025. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Campbell Park, located at 4112 Jackson Community Road in Vernon. The clinic is open to the public, and […]

Community | Local News | Sports | Top Stories

Chipley’s Chaos 8U softball team claims world series championship

Chipley’s own Chaos 8U softball team has returned home as champions after capturing the 8U World Series title in Panama City, Florida. Competing against top teams from across the country—including Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky—Chaos emerged as the only undefeated team entering the championship game, ultimately securing the title after a week of high-stakes competition […]

Local News | News

Panhandle Search and Rescue seeks to partner with Washington County for emergency missions

At last week’s Washington County Board of County Commissioners meeting, Panhandle Search and Rescue, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, requested a mutual aid agreement to assist the county’s first responders during emergencies. Director John Williamson, a longtime first responder with more than 20 years of experience, has been building the nonprofit for the past eight years […]

Local News | News

Chipley crew reels in big catch at the Billfish Open

The crew of Hard Money, including several Chipley natives, made a strong showing at the 2025 Bay Point Billfish Open, placing 2nd in the Wahoo category and 5th overall in the payout standings. Captain Clay White, angler Cameron Cope, sponsor and angler Jason Erickson of Cat 5 Salsa Co., angler Nathan Stow and Tyler Henne —who […]

Local News | News

Panhandle Watermelon Festival returns for 69th year

As summer arrives, preparations are underway for the 69th Annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival, scheduled for Friday, June 20, at Jim Trawick Park and Saturday, June 21, at the Washington County Agricultural Center in Chipley. The Panhandle Watermelon Festival began in 1956 when a small group gathered to celebrate the end of the local watermelon harvest. […]

Crime

Crime | Mugshots | Top Stories

WCSO arrests one for failure to comply with sex offender registration.

A registered sex offender is in custody after failing to comply with state-mandated sexual offender registration requirements, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Nathaniel Scott Bradberry, 29, was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with failing to report vacating a residence within the required 48-hour timeframe—a violation of Florida’s sexual offender registration laws. Sheriff Kevin […]

Crime | Top Stories

Chipley man arrested after multi-county crime spree and pursuit

A Chipley man is in custody following a vehicle pursuit and a series of burglaries that spanned multiple locations in Washington and Bay counties. On July 3, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) reported that a stolen vehicle had been recovered and the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Tyler Gregory Davis, was in custody. The Bay […]

Crime | News | Top Stories

Vernon man charged with child abuse.

(WASHINGTON COUNTY, FL; June 30, 2025) – A Vernon man is in custody, facing aggravated child-abuse charges for cruelty toward a 5-year-old child. Adam Wayne Wilson, 38, was arrested after an investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The incident, which occurred on June 24, 2025, left injuries that were later confirmed by X-ray. Wilson […]

Crime | Top Stories

WCSO investigation leads to arrest of Georgia man

A 43 year old Eric Jeffery Riviere has been charged after reports of sexual misconduct with a child under the age of 16. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), they began an investigation once a report was filed alleging a subject identified as “Goeff Peluzzo” had sent inappropriate text messages to a child […]


State News

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Abortion rights amendment defeated 

TALLAHASSEE — A ballot proposal that would have enshrined abortion rights in the Florida Constitution failed Tuesday, giving a major political victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis — and dealing a huge blow to abortion-rights supporters. The measure, which appeared on the ballot as Amendment 4, received support from 57 percent of voters, short of the […]

Government | Local News | News | State News | Statewide | Top Stories

Recreational pot proposal falls short

A $150 million-plus effort to allow recreational use of marijuana in Florida fizzled out Tuesday, falling short of the needed 60 percent voter approval and delivering a major victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trulieve, the state’s largest medical-marijuana operator, pumped nearly $144.6 million into the proposed constitutional amendment. The Quincy-based company’s contributions made up more […]

Community & Faith

Community | Faith | Faith Columns | Opinion

Let’s ‘fall on our knees’ this Christmas

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 […]

Community | Faith | Faith Columns | Opinion

Disagreeing without being disagreeable

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 […]