Former Rocky Bayou teacher accused of molestation pleads to battery. Christopher Saul February 24, 2026 1:00 pm Crime, Niceville, Schools and Education Former Rocky Bayou Christian School teacher Aaron Gleason has pleaded no contest in a deferred prosecution agreement that requires him to plead guilty to felony battery.  Gleason was initially charged by Niceville police officers of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12 by a person over the age of 18.  As a part of the agreement, State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden’s office will defer prosection for 24 months and then drop charges of molestation if the following conditions are met.  Gleason must: Plead guilty to felony battery Pay $667.00 in court costs Pay cost of prosecution ($100) Have no unsupervised contact with minor children Not teach grades K-12 Have no contact with the victim or family Be evaluated for mental health and receive treatment Write an apology to the victim A felony battery conviction can lead to up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.  We reached out to Rocky Bayou Christian School for comment on the agreement. Dr. Michael Mosley, Superintendent Dr. Michael Mosley said, “Rocky Bayou Christian School remains firmly committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and Christ-centered environment for every student entrusted to our care. Our policies and procedures, hiring practices, and safety measures reflect our commitment to assisting parents in their God-given responsibilities with regard to education.  We continually review and uphold policies designed to protect our... Read More

19-Count Federal Lawsuit Alleges Reckless Force Caused Veteran’s Heart Attack Staff Reports February 24, 2026 12:47 pm Fort Walton Beach, Public Safety In Brief: Who: Darryl White; Officers Patrick Mooney, Austin Howard, Ritchie Rivera, Michael Cook Jr.; City of Fort Walton Beach When: July 20, 2024, incident; lawsuit filed February 4, 2026 Where: Fort Walton Beach, Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division What: 19-count federal civil rights lawsuit alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, excessive force, and negligence Why: White alleges officer conduct during a traffic stop and detention caused a heart attack and violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights A 79-year-old Fort Walton Beach veteran has filed a sweeping 19-count federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that a July 2024 traffic stop escalated into excessive force, wrongful arrest, and a heart attack while he was in police custody. Darryl White filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, naming the City of Fort Walton Beach and four officers with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department: Patrick Mooney, Austin Howard, Ritchie Rivera, and Michael Cook Jr. The lawsuit alleges violations of White’s constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as well as multiple state-law claims, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, negligence, and negligent supervision. The Traffic Stop and Arrest According to the complaint, White was pulled over on July 20, 2024, near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Eglin Parkway. After issuing a citation, the lawsuit alleges that... Read More

‘Fired Up’ to Serve Freeport – New Candidacy for Freeport City Council (Seat 5) – Meet Abel Albritton Steven Saul February 24, 2026 12:32 pm Freeport, Government, Walton County In Brief: Abel Albritton has filed to run for Freeport City Council (Seat 5), challenging incumbent Elizabeth Haffner. The firefighter and nonprofit president says he feels called to serve and wants to prioritize safety, communication, and infrastructure. He supports workforce housing, improved lighting and signage, and long-term planning as Freeport continues to grow. Mid Bay News interviewed Abel Albritton, who over the last week completed the official filing process to run for Freeport City Council (Seat 5) to run against incumbent Elizabeth Haffner. Albritton, a fourth-generation native of the panhandle of Florida, was born in Bay County.  The Freeport resident made the city his home because he says he and his wife, Jordyn, love what the city is all about. “We believe Freeport is one of the best cities in the panhandle,” Albritton said with a smile. A Fire Fighter, Founder of a Non-Profit, Small Business Owner, Husband and Dad – Now Public Office When asked why he is running for City Council, the candidate replied:  “I just feel called to it.  I feel called to serve this city.  That’s my thing.  I feel like my whole life has been dedicated to service, and I serve as a full-time firefighter.  I am also the president of a non-profit organization called ‘850 Heroes 4 Heroes.’ Together, many traverse the 911 Memorial Stair... Read More

Brothers at heart of jail healthcare scandal resurface Christopher Saul February 24, 2026 11:13 am Okaloosa County The brothers at the center of an investigation into the Okaloosa Jail’s healthcare policy have resurfaced again.    Former Okaloosa Jail Department Head Nolan Weeks and his brother, HealthCred Care President Chad LaBoy, announced in a press release that they plan to donate more than $140,000 to corrections departments and sheriff’s offices in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.    HealthCred Care is a scheme that allows local governments to help sign up unsentenced inmates for healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as a way to reduce local government’s liability to pay for medical treatments directly.  The press release highlights the pair as co-founders of the business, even though the business was started while Weeks was still at the Okaloosa County Jail as a supervisor, and claimed he did not work for the business at the time.    We attempted to secure an interview with the brothers and were initially told by their Public Relations manager that they would be available. After a short time, we were informed that their schedules had filled and that they were no longer available at any time.    Should they become available, we’ll update the story. The Investigation and Nolan Weeks’s departure from Okaloosa County.  Nolan Weeks was hired at the Okaloosa County Jail over far more qualified applicants in 2022 to serve as a major of jail operations.    An investigation by Okaloosa County’s contracted attorneys at... Read More

The ‘American Idol’ Finalist Celebrated The Connection Country Music Has With Christian Faith He’s only 19 years old, but, on Feb. 20, John Foster made his 11th appearance singing from within the circle of the Grand Ole Opry. For his latest performance, he started with George Strait’s “Write This Down” before turning to one of […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

  One of the most common questions visitors ask when planning a trip to Panama City Beach is, “Where can I find the best smoked tuna dip?” This local favorite is a must-try at nearly every seafood spot along the coast. Made with fresh yellowfin tuna, seasoned with a blend of spices, and infused with a   Read More