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Judge weighs firing over Kirk post

ByStaff Report 11/11/202511/11/2025

In a closely watched First Amendment case, attorneys for a Florida biologist fired after reposting a controversial social media post about conservative leader Charlie Kirk faced off against lawyers for the state Monday in federal court. Brittney Brown, a former biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), alleges her September 15 firing […]

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Blue Star Memorial Marker Rededication ceremony held on Veterans Day

ByAMBER PATINO 11/11/202511/11/2025

The Chipley Garden Club hosted a Blue Star Memorial Marker Rededication ceremony in front of Chipley City Hall on Tuesday, November 11. Originally placed in 1961 along U.S. Highway 90 in front of the Florida Department of Transportation, the memorial, pictured above, was relocated to its current site in front of City Hall in February […]

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CHS student named as Sunshine State Scholar

ByAMBER PATINO 11/11/202511/11/2025

The Washington County School Board (WCSB) announced at its regular meeting on Monday, November 10, that Chipley High School (CHS) student Aubrey Deal has been nominated as the 2025–2026 Sunshine State Scholar for Washington County. The Sunshine State Scholars program honors Florida’s top 11th-grade students who excel in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Each […]

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Investigation leads to arrest after 911 call from child

ByStaff Report 11/11/202511/11/2025

On November 10, the Washington County Communications Center received a 911 call from a child who advised she was traveling with her parents and that they were fighting while driving down the road. The caller stated they were on Highway 79 and provided a description of the vehicle before the call was disconnected. Deputies responded […]

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Vernon 6U football team takes home PYFA Eastern Championship

ByAMBER PATINO 11/10/202511/10/2025

The Vernon Recreation Department’s 6U football team played against Jackson County in Bonifay on Saturday, November 8, claiming victory and the Panhandle Youth Football Association (PYFA) Eastern Championship title. After an undefeated season, the team has made history as the first team from the program to advance this far in the PYFA playoffs. The team […]

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Chipley holds a Community Prayer Walk

ByAMBER PATINO 11/10/202511/10/2025

Washington County residents participated in a Community Prayer Walk in Chipley on Saturday, November 8. The walk included designated stops for prayer at various locations throughout the city, beginning with a Prayer of Unity at Yes Lord Deliverance Ministries. Attendees enjoyed fellowship and moments of reflection as they walked together, lifting up prayers for local […]

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Crime

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Investigation leads to arrest after 911 call from child

ByStaff Report 11/11/202511/11/2025

On November 10, the Washington County Communications Center received a 911 call from a child who advised she was traveling with her parents and that they were fighting while driving down the road. The caller stated they were on Highway 79 and provided a description of the vehicle before the call was disconnected. Deputies responded […]

Read More Investigation leads to arrest after 911 call from child
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25-year sentence for woman who pled to manslaughter in Chipley man’s shooting

ByStaff Report 11/03/202511/03/2025

A 61-year-old Panama City woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday for shooting and killing a 44-year-old Chipley man in a Holmes County hotel room 2 years ago, State Attorney Larry Basford announced. Lois K. Merkel was facing trial for the May 29, 2023 shooting death when she entered an open plea to […]

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DUI arrest made in connection with UTV crash that injured local teacher

ByStaff Report 10/31/202510/31/2025

A Chipley woman was arrested Friday, October 24, in connection with a UTV crash that left a local teacher seriously injured. According to court documents, the incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on September 3. Authorities say 26-year-old Juliann Brook Padgett was driving a UTV on Gainer Road when she lost control and crashed. Washington […]

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Vernon Middle School student arrested in connection with bomb threats

ByStaff Report 10/30/202510/30/2025

A 14-year-old Vernon Middle School student was arrested and charged after admitting to making bomb threats against the school, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

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One in custody after reported carjacking

ByAndrea Waters 10/28/202510/28/2025

On October 26, at approximately 4pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received multiple calls reporting a suspicious person in the area of Highway 79 and Spoolmill Road. While deputies were en route, dispatch received an additional call advising that a Black male had stolen a white Kia Soul and was traveling northbound on […]

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One in custody after stolen vehicle recovered in Sunny Hills

ByAMBER PATINO 10/27/202510/27/2025

On Sunday, October 26, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Washington County Communications Center received a request for agency assistance regarding the possible location of a stolen vehicle. The Florida Highway Patrol advised that a vehicle reported stolen by Gulf Breeze Police Department, was last seen traveling near the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 77. […]

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State News

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Judge weighs firing over Kirk post

ByStaff Report 11/11/202511/11/2025

In a closely watched First Amendment case, attorneys for a Florida biologist fired after reposting a controversial social media post about conservative leader Charlie Kirk faced off against lawyers for the state Monday in federal court. Brittney Brown, a former biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), alleges her September 15 firing […]

Read More Judge weighs firing over Kirk post
Education | Staff Report | State News | Top Stories

Florida lawmakers propose oaths for educators at all levels

ByStaff Report 11/10/202511/10/2025

Florida educators — from prekindergarten teachers to university professors — could soon be required to take an oath pledging loyalty to the nation and the state under new legislation filed Friday by Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville. The proposal (SB 430) would mandate that administrators and instructional staff at public colleges, universities, and K-12 schools, including […]

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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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