You can’t go to Disney and not experiment with the food! Let’s break down some of the top places to get a bite to eat, and what food & drink you should be looking for on the menu during your next Florida Vacation and Disney trip. Disney Springs The place where food and drink is plentiful. First and foremost, if you’ve never had cookies at Gideon’s, get ready to have your life changed. The cookies & cream are my favorite. Here’s a tip for you, though: Order ahead. Not just a few hours in ahead, at least 24 hours in advance. If you know anything about my last name, you know it’s Irish. If you’re like me and love Irish pubs, Irish food, and history then checkout Ragland Road. Get a beer flight, sip slow on a glass of whiskey, or grab a Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime cider from Sweden. For an appetizer, get the Whiskey BBQ Lollipop Chicken. It’s covered with roasted corn and bacon crumble. Plates of fish & chips whirred past my table, and boy did they look good. But the hottest menu around our dinner table was the Worth the Wait Beef Sandwich. The beef had been braised for 12 hours and was served with sautéed mushrooms, crispy onions, garlic aioli and smoked cheddar on ciabatta. I ate the Serious Steak, but I can’t recommend that to anyone. The sirloin was average, the mashed potatoes tasted like instant potatoes, and my wife took one bite of... Read More

WALTON COUNTY, FL – A Freeport man is sentenced to 30 years in prison after he’s convicted of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child. Stephen Walter Gay, 44, was sentenced to three decades in the Florida Department of Corrections, of which 25 years will be served as a minimum mandatory sentence. Gay was convicted of lewd or lascivious molestation, promoting sexual performance by a child, possessing photos, and motion pictures that include conduct by a child, transmission of pornography, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate the commission of a felony. Gay was also sentenced to lifetime sex offender probation with electronic monitoring, he was ordered to pay fines and court costs, and he will be registered as a Sexual Predator. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation after a concerned citizen turned over a cell phone that appeared to contain child pornography. Walton County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit was able to determine that Gay was the original owner of the cell phone and secure a search warrant for his residence. Following the search warrant, he was arrested on March 10, 2022, for the crimes he perpetrated upon a minor child. Gay was convicted following a joint effort from the State Attorney’s Office and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell prosecuted the case on behalf of Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit. READ THE ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE HERE.  https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

Walton County Fire Rescue, the primary provider of Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the largest fire suppression agency north of the Choctawhatchee Bay in Walton County, is proud to announce Chief Austin Pugh as the department’s new fire chief. Chief Pugh, 42, is a career public safety professional, serving the Florida panhandle for over 20 years. He began his career as an EMT with Holmes County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in 2001 before accepting a position with Walton County EMS in November that same year. Chief Pugh played an integral role in the creation of Walton County Fire Rescue, which was officially established in 2005, serving in numerous positions. Pugh worked as a firefighter-paramedic for several years before promoting through the ranks as a lieutenant, battalion chief, training chief, and assistant chief of operations. During his tenure, Chief Pugh governed in several leadership positions within the Local 4413 Union, ultimately acting as union president from 2013 to 2015. While in various positions in the agency, he has served on a variety of committees dealing with labor management, policy and procedures, and capital improvement. He also assisted in the development of the first comprehensive training plan for Walton County Fire Rescue. An alumnus of the National Fire Academy, Pugh holds a degree in fire administration as well as several state certifications. He has also worked as an adjunct instructor for Northwest State Florida’s fire academy. “I am proud to announce Chief Austin Pugh as Walton County... Read More

June 25, 2023 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Two people have died following drowning incidents along Walton County Beaches in less than three days despite the courageous efforts of first responders all week long during rough surf conditions. Thursday afternoon, South Walton Fire District transported a man in critical condition following a water rescue in Blue Mountain Beach. Beach patrons notified SWFD’s Tower 31 lifeguard that bystanders had pulled the male, who was unresponsive, from the water nearly half a mile to the west of the tower. The lifeguard quickly responded to the area and began life-saving measures. Additional beach safety units arrived along with Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies to assist. Unfortunately, the 65-year-old from Coppell, Texas later died. On Saturday afternoon, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and South Walton Fire District Beach Safety Units were called to Scenic Gulf Drive after a 9-1-1 caller reported multiple people struggling in the water. SWFD Beach Safety personnel and WCSO deputies arrived on the scene and immediately entered the water, rescuing two men and a teenager and providing life-saving measures. All three were transported by SWFD to a local hospital. One of the men, a 58-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee was pronounced dead at the hospital. Both incidents occurred when single red flags were flying. However, surf conditions prompted double red flags for several days on Walton County Beaches during which both South Walton Fire District and Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to numerous water rescues and drowning incidents. Our agencies continue to educate those... Read More

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — South Walton Fire District (SWFD) Advanced Life Support (ALS) transported two people to the hospital in critical condition and one in stable condition Saturday afternoon following a multi-victim water rescue in Miramar Beach. The incident originated at 12:52 p.m. when a 911 caller reported to SWFD Dispatchers that multiple people were struggling in the water near 1115 Scenic Gulf Drive, approximately 0.3 miles from the nearest lifeguard tower. SWFD Beach Safety units arrived on-scene with Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies at 12:54 p.m. to confirm multiple people in a rip current requiring immediate rescuing. According to bystanders on shore, a teenage male had been struggling in the water and members of his family had entered the water to attempt to rescue him. Lifeguards and deputies then entered the water and found two adult men were unresponsive and required resuscitation. The teenage male was in stable condition but required further medical attention. Deputies and lifeguards then worked to bring all patients to shore and began rendering lifesaving care to the two unresponsive patients. SWFD ALS then arrived on-scene at 12:55 p.m. and initiated ALS interventions for each patient before transporting the individuals to the hospital. Lifesaving measures were in progress upon arrival at the hospital for both adult males. SWFD ALS crews reported a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in one of the two patients, which indicates the patient had regained a pulse. The third patient was in stable condition upon arrival at the hospital. SWFD is... Read More