PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A father and son duo are sentenced to federal prison after being convicted on drug trafficking charges. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencings of Kenneth Ingram, 62, and Kadeem Ingram, 32, both of DeFuniak Springs. Kenneth Ingram was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Kenneth also worked in the prison system for 25 years prior to his arrest. Kadeem Ingram was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Ingrams’ sentences were the result of a conviction on August 17, 2022, following a three-day trial where it was revealed the Ingrams conspired with others to purchase and resell cocaine and crack cocaine in Walton County. In 2019, the Ingrams took monthly trips to South Florida to procure large quantities of cocaine. The cocaine purchased was in part converted to crack cocaine and then distributed by Kadeem Ingram and a co-conspirator. After a year-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle following a traffic stop on July 13, 2019. “This prosecution demonstrates the collaborative efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, who work tirelessly to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “We are grateful for their dedicated public service and remain committed in our efforts to investigate and vigorously prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.” “Let these sentences be... Read More

Spring break is a popular time for college students to flock to the beaches of Panama City Beach in Florida. However, in an effort to prevent excessive partying and potential dangers associated with alcohol consumption, an alcohol ban is in place during certain dates. The alcohol ban typically runs from the first weekend in March to the second weekend in April, which aligns with the peak of spring break season. During this time, it is illegal to consume alcohol on the beaches of Panama City Beach. The ban is enforced by local law enforcement officials, who patrol the beach and surrounding areas to ensure that the ban is being followed. Violators may face fines or other penalties. In addition to the alcohol ban, there are other regulations in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all beachgoers. These include restrictions on glass containers, a curfew for minors, and rules regarding noise and trash. These regulations are in effect year-round. It’s important for anyone planning to visit Panama City Beach during spring break to be aware of the alcohol ban and other regulations in place. By following these rules, visitors can help to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for themselves and others. The alcohol ban during spring break in Panama City Beach is enforced by local law enforcement officials, including the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Panama City Beach Police Department. The officials patrol the beach and other areas to ensure that the ban is being followed. Anyone... Read More

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

March 20, 2023 WALTON COUNTY, Fla—A traffic stop for a seatbelt violation leads to the arrest of a pair out of Miami on drug charges. On Sunday morning, a Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy conducting traffic enforcement near Highway 90 and State Highway 285 pulled over a vehicle when he noticed the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. A strong smell of marijuana was coming from the vehicle when the deputy approached the driver’s side door. After speaking with the driver, 25-year-old Taurus Washington of Miami, Florida, it was discovered his license had been suspended indefinitely and no one in the vehicle had a medical marijuana card or a valid driver’s license. Washington also had a non-extraditable warrant out of Arizona. The two other passengers of the vehicle were detained. Washington was searched and 1.2 grams of crack cocaine was found in his pants pocket. During a search of the car, deputies located three tightly rolled packages containing 61.8 grams of cocaine which appeared to be made for smuggling inside a body cavity and 106 grams of marijuana. One of the passengers, Destiny Butler, 21 also of Miami, admitted to the drugs belonging to her and that she was taking them to “Central”. She also provided a fake ID to deputies to conceal her identity. Washington was charged with cocaine possession and driving with a revoked license and was issued a traffic citation for not wearing a seatbelt. Butler was charged with trafficking cocaine, providing a false ID to a LEO,... Read More

A multi-agency attack leads to the knock down of a four-story house fire, saving multiple nearby homes. At 11:04 p.m. on Saturday, March 18th, Walton County Fire Rescue, South Walton Fire District, and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department responded to a home on Grove Lane in Freeport following a 911 call reporting a large structure fire. Walton County Fire Rescue crews arrived on scene and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the back corner of the multi-story home. They quickly deployed attack lines and began to battle the blaze. South Walton Fire District and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene shortly after and began assisting in fighting the flames. While firefighters were battling the massive fire, heavy winds were attempting to spread the flames to nearby structures. Firefighters fought the flames and wind gusts for several hours before getting the fire under control. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire and firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to nearby structures. Walton County Fire Rescue cleared the scene at 5:19 a.m. The Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. Walton County Fire Rescue would like to thank South Walton Fire District and Argyle Volunteer Fire Department for their assistance. WCFR would also like to thank Eglin Air Force Base Fire & Emergency Services and Liberty Volunteer Fire Department for providing coverage while our firefighters worked the scene. The post FIREFIGHTERS KNOCK DOWN FOUR-STORY BLAZE IN FREEPORT first appeared on... Read More

Link Up Performance Featured 2,000 Local Elementary School Students SINFONIA GULF COAST SWELLS TO AN ORCHESTRA OF 2,000 MEMBERS FOR SPECIAL INTERACTIVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE OF LINK UP: THE ORCHESTRA MOVES On March 8 the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. was transformed into an electrifying concert hall when Sinfonia Gulf Coast — the only fully professional non-profit orchestra on the Emerald Coast — presented its 9th live Link Up concert performance “The Orchestra Moves,” a national program presented in partnership with New York’s Carnegie Hall Weill Institute of Music. This year’s Link Up program showcased the talents of more than 2,000 local 3rd-5th grade students from Okaloosa and Walton Counties performing on recorder and singing. The concert was conducted by Sinfonia Gulf Coast Maestro Fuller. With recorders in hand, the students performed from their seats when given their cue by Maestro Fuller to join the Sinfonia Gulf Coast orchestra for a range of pieces from Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez, The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss and Toreador from Georges Bizet’s Carmen and others. But these inspired kids didn’t stay in their seats, at this spirited performance they were up out of their chairs singing, dancing choreographed moves they have been practicing for months. This curriculum is geared towards 3rd-5th grade students, and in many cases locally, is the only education that they receive during the school year. The theme of this year’s Link Up program was centered around movement. Students learn how we can perceive... Read More