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County recognizes Kenneth Raymond for building inspector certification

ByAMBER PATINO 07/10/202607/10/2026

During the July 9 meeting of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, commissioners recognized the county’s newest building inspector, Kenneth Raymond, for passing the Code Administrators and Inspector Exam. Building/Fire Official Charles Vannatter said Raymond brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position and will be an asset to the county. Pictured left to right […]

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Commissioners review lodging tax ordinance and discuss data center moratorium at workshop

ByAMBER PATINO 07/10/202607/10/2026

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners held a workshop meeting on Thursday, July 9, addressing items including tourism updates, budget planning, infrastructure concerns, and discussing data center regulation. Commissioners heard from Washington County Tourist Development Council Executive Director Heather Lopez, who presented the proposed ordinance tied to the lodging tax referendum scheduled for the November 2026 ballot. […]

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July 4 structure fire in Chipley prompts multi‑agency response

ByAMBER PATINO 07/10/202607/10/2026

A residential structure fire in Chipley on Saturday, July 4, prompted a multi‑agency response involving crews from Chipley Fire Department, Bonifay Fire‑Rescue, and other local emergency services. Bonifay Fire‑Rescue Chief 1 and Ladder 1 responded with seven firefighters to assist in containing the blaze, which reportedly began on the home’s front porch and is believed to have been […]

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Washington County voters invited to meet candidates at July 16 forum

ByAMBER PATINO 07/08/202607/08/2026

Residents of Washington County will have an opportunity to hear directly from those seeking public office during the upcoming Meet the Candidates: Candidate Forum, hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the GFWC Chipley Woman’s Club. The event will take place Thursday, July 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the School Board […]

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Corbin and healthcare team honored with United Hero Award

ByAMBER PATINO 07/07/202607/07/2026

Northwest Florida Community Hospital recently announced that Wendy Corbin, ARNP, and her healthcare team have been awarded the United Hero Award from United Healthcare. This award recognizes healthcare teams that demonstrate exceptional dedication, compassion, and excellence in delivering high‑quality patient care. The hospital said Corbin and her team go above and beyond to serve their patients and community with […]

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Desantis veto blocks raises for correctional officers

BySKYLA CARTER 07/07/202607/07/2026

Correctional officers at Holmes Correctional Institution and Northwest Florida Reception Center will not receive a proposed pay increase after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed legislation that included correctional officer raises and prison construction funding. The governor signed Florida’s 2026-27 state budget on June 29, but vetoed HB 5403-E, which would have provided a $2-per-hour pay increase […]

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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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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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Hurricane season now envisioned ‘well below normal’

ByStaff Report 07/08/202607/08/2026

Storm forecasters have further downgraded predictions a little more than a month into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which has so far produced a single named tropical system. For a season initially anticipated to be “somewhat below normal,” Colorado State University researchers on Wednesday reduced their projections for the number of named systems and the […]

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Federal court halts Florida law banning ‘woke’ instruction in universities

ByStaff Report 07/07/202607/07/2026

A federal appeals court on Tuesday left in place a district court’s preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Florida’s law banning “woke” instruction at public universities. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the state’s argument that it could control the speech of public university professors. Writing […]

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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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