Thu. Mar 27th, 2025

Local News

Local News | Top Stories

Patients swing back with NFCH’s swing bed program

HANNAH COLLINS | The News For patients recovering from surgery or illness, the transition from acute hospital care to home can be challenging. Northwest Florida Community Hospital (NFCH) aims to bridge this gap with its Swing Bed Program, a specialized inpatient rehabilitation service designed to provide short-term, intensive therapy before patients return home. As a […]

Local News | News

They are going to party like it’s 1825 | Washington County Bicentennial

Washington County officially launched its Bicentennial celebrations on March 12 with a special event that honored the county’s rich history and bright future. Held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Washington County Ag Center, the event brought together local officials, community members, and history enthusiasts to commemorate 200 years of Washington County’s legacy. The […]

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Engine 10 ‘pushes in’

The Washington County Fire Department (WCFD) invited the community to a special “Push-In” ceremony celebrating the addition of their new engine this morning, March 10. The “Push-In” ceremony is a longstanding fire service tradition that dates to the 19th century. Before motorized fire engines, firefighters had to manually push their horse-drawn fire apparatus into the […]

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Bonifay woman in critical condition following collision with tractor-trailer

A 33-year-old woman from Bonifay is in critical condition following a collision with a tractor-trailer on County Road 276 (Clayton Road) on Tuesday 25 February, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The crash occurred as the woman was traveling westbound on CR 276 while negotiating a left-hand curve. Simultaneously, a 71-year-old driver from Caryville […]

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WCSO Barrel Race set for February 21

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the WCSO Barrel Race on Friday, February 21, at 5 pm at the Washington County Equestrian Center, located at 2574 Daniel’s Lake Road. This public event invites participants and spectators to enjoy an evening of barrel racing. Those interested in competing can register through https://saddlebook.com/events/9259. For residents seeking […]

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UF/IFAS prepares for Big Melon Contest

HANNAH COLLINS | The News The 2025 Panhandle Watermelon Festival, a long-standing tradition in the Central Panhandle, is set to take place on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, in Chipley. As part of the festivities, the annual Big Melon Contest will offer growers a chance to showcase their watermelon-growing skills and compete for […]

Crime

Crime | Top Stories

Search warrant issued by WCSO

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), a search warrant was issued and executed by the WCSO SWAT and Drug Task Force on March 21st at approximately 8:15 p.m.  The target of the investigation was 44-year-old Jaquelyn Amanda Adams who was not present at the time of the search. WCSO Investigators have been in contact […]

Crime | Top Stories

Additional charges have been added for the Harpers

Details are still unraveling in a child sex abuse case from earlier this month.  According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), an investigation began once a report was filed alleging that 39 year old Michael Raymond Harper had coerced two children under the age of 15 into inappropriate sexual conduct and 32 year old […]

Crime | News

Washington County traffic stop leads to arrest of Wausau woman

A traffic stop conducted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old Wausau, Florida, resident due to an active warrant. Additional charges were filed following the discovery of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia during the arrest process. On the evening of March 10, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a Washington […]

Crime | News

Chipley man and woman arrested in child sexual abuse case

Authorities from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Chipley man and woman following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving two minors. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation was initiated after a report was filed alleging that Michael Raymond Harper, 39, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with two children […]

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GoFundMe set up for victims of PC road rage incident

A GoFundMe account has been created for two Chipley residents who were victims of a road rage shooting in Panama City Saturday, February 22. According to the Panama City Police Department, Georgeann Garner was fatally shot while her daughter Marileigh Lewis was left in critical condition. The fundraiser, organized by Garner’s friend, Sandra Pearson, says […]


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 […]

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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 […]