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Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step. Plan Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida’s move into Phase 2 of his Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery with Executive Order 20-139. Phase 2 applies to all counties in Florida except Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties that began June 5. Restaurants, Bars, Pubs Restaurants may allow bar-top...

By Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite, former Captain USCG Immense Pacific Ocean seas rolled ashore. The frigid salt water swept into the mouth of the Oregon cave at the foot of Cape Lookout with a roar so loud, the Coast Guard helicopter hovering above was quieted. For Aviation Survivalist Tristan Heaton, the rescue...

By Kay Phelan “When children are isolated, they can’t tell anyone until the end of the crisis, but it is still happening. Child abuse was an epidemic before the pandemic.” —Julie Porterfield, CEO ECCAC According to the non-profit information and networking resource that deals with all aspects of criminal justice, The Crime...

Publisher’s Note: Having been raised in a part of the country that doesn’t experience forest fires like the one which erupted in South Walton recently, I was at a complete loss to write anything meaningful other than the basic facts. And then I read a Facebook post from a...

Just in time for Memorial Day, vacation rentals in the Florida panhandle are allowed to book guests again. As of May 19th, officials have approved the Walton County plan to reopen short-term rentals effective immediately. View the Walton County Short Term-Rental Plan here. View the Okaloosa County Short Term-Rental Plan here. Walton, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf,...

Psalm 91 begins with this message of hope: “He who dwells in the shelter of The Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” These words can infuse you with faith and give you the assurance you need in uncertain times. No insurance company, bank or government...

By Lori Leath Smith, Publisher Yes, our world has changed, at least temporarily. Okaloosa and Walton Counties are currently in a state of emergency due to COVID-19. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order effective April 3 for 30 days directing persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions...

By Rita L. Sherwood Starting their sixth season of monitoring and protecting our local area’s precious sea turtles, dynamic father/daughter duo George and Sara Gray continue their labor of love with the Emerald Coast Turtle Watch organization. George founded the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge 12 years ago, and was also...

A Bed 4 Me Celebrates 1,000th Bed Delivery By Lori Leath Smith “I’m so overwhelmed! The girls are lying in bed giggling! Thank you so much. Y’all are amazing! May God bless many more babies. We can’t thank you enough! —The Grier Family ‘My little boy is one happy little boy!...

By Heather Bennett We have all been affected by cancer in some capacity, and too many families are forced to endure childhood cancer. There is a beacon of hope for these families, and it can be found here along the Emerald Coast, at Lighthouse Family Retreat. LFR have been hosting...