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Washington County EMS partners with Northwest Florida Reception Center for mass‑casualty training

ByAMBER PATINO 06/11/202606/11/2026

Washington County EMS recently partnered with faculty and staff at the Northwest Florida Reception Center to conduct a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) training exercise simulating an explosion scenario. The drill tested responders’ ability to manage a high-stress event requiring rapid assessment, coordinated decision-making, and effective communication among multiple agencies. During the exercise, EMS crews worked […]

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Big Melon Contest returns to Panhandle Watermelon Festival; entries due June 25

ByStaff Report 06/11/202606/11/2026

Watermelon growers, from commercial producers to backyard gardeners, are invited to enter the annual Big Melon Contest at the Panhandle Watermelon Festival. The festival and contest have long been summertime traditions in the Central Panhandle, offering growers an opportunity to showcase their best melons and compete for prize money. A winner and first runner-up will […]

Read More Big Melon Contest returns to Panhandle Watermelon Festival; entries due June 25
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County provides water service guidance and invites Sunny Hills residents to public forum

ByStaff Report 06/11/202606/11/2026

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is sharing information and resources for Sunny Hills residents who receive water service from North Florida Community Water Systems, Inc. In response to resident concerns regarding water quality, the County is providing points of contact and outlining available state processes related to water service and billing. Residents […]

Read More County provides water service guidance and invites Sunny Hills residents to public forum
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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. […]

Read More Chipley man charged in fatal Orange Hill Road shooting
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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 […]

Read More Driver arrested following high-speed pursuit on Interstate 10
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Washington County EMS professionals honored for exceptional patient care

ByStaff Report 06/05/202606/05/2026

Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews recently recognized four emergency medical professionals for receiving awards from Ascension Sacred Heart Bay honoring exceptional patient care and service to the community. Kendra Hampton and Rob Aguado were honored with the Stroke Superhero Award for their rapid response and high‑quality care for stroke patients. WCSO praised them for their professionalism, clinical excellence, and commitment […]

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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. […]

Read More Chipley man charged in fatal Orange Hill Road shooting
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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 […]

Read More Dothan man killed in fatal Washington County vehicle crash
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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 […]

Read More Driver arrested following high-speed pursuit on Interstate 10
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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 […]

Read More Bonifay Police reopen 2015 stabbing case; survivor now hopeful for justice
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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 […]

Read More Caryville woman pleads no contest in Holmes County fentanyl death case
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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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Property tax overhaul headed to ballot

ByStaff Report 06/02/202606/02/2026

Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a sweeping property tax proposal backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending the measure to Florida voters in November. The proposal would increase the current $50,000 homestead exemption to $150,000 beginning in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. The expanded exemption would not apply to school taxes after lawmakers revised DeSantis’ original […]

Read More Property tax overhaul headed to ballot
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DeSantis signs bills expanding support for school coaches and student athletes

ByStaff Report 05/29/202605/29/2026

On Friday, May 22, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 538 and Senate Bill 178, legislation aimed at expanding support for Florida’s K‑12 athletic coaches and student athletes. The measures allow school districts to offer more competitive compensation for coaches and align extracurricular eligibility across all school choice options, ensuring students can participate in high school athletics regardless of where they attend school. […]

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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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