NAVARRE — The lawsuit between Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce and Beach Community Bank President & CEO Tony Hughes has been settled.In May 2016, Hughes filed a defamation lawsuit against the chamber and its former CEO, Judy Morehead. The legal complaint alleges Morehead made false claims at a chamber board meeting that Hughes had taken money out of the NBACC's Military Affairs bank account, held the funds personally and had been forced to return them.In a letter [...]

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — The proposed half-cent sales tax initiative will be decided by Walton County voters on Aug. 28.At Tuesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to place the sales tax initiative on the 2018 primary ballot.District 5 Commissioner Tony Anderson said the tax could generate $50-$60 million — or more — over its five-year duration. Funds would be used to help fund much-needed roads, bridges and other [...]

CRESTVIEW — A group of relatives and friends gathered March 27 in honor of Calandra Stallworth, a Crestview resident who has been missing for a year.Lighted candles and flowers surrounded Stallworth's photo placed on a chair on her grandmother's porch, just a few feet away from the  house Stallworth once rented for herself and her two daughters.Daniel Jackson of Crestview, an assistant minister, [...]

DESTIN — Members of area churches gathered at Morgan Sports Center on Good Friday for the annual Cross Walk.The ecumenical event was open to everyone who wanted to walk the 14 Stations of the Cross in honor of Jesus’ crucifixion.Jason Belcher, a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Walton Beach who has organized the event for six years, looks forward to Cross Walk every year.He built a 12-foot-tall cross out of cedar that he brings for people [...]