[ February 15, 2023 ] Walton County Planning Commission talks PUDs News [ February 15, 2023 ] SWFD discusses Beach Safety Agreement with Walton County News [ February 15, 2023 ] Westville Town Council discusses new position News [ February 15, 2023 ] Emerald Coast Regional Council discusses TRIP projects News [ February 15, 2023 ] Freeport City Council talks pickleball, parks and more News [ February 15, 2023 ] Barker accepts position as DeFuniak Springs interim city manager, updates given News Read More

[ February 15, 2023 ] Walton County Planning Commission talks PUDs News [ February 15, 2023 ] SWFD discusses Beach Safety Agreement with Walton County News [ February 15, 2023 ] Westville Town Council discusses new position News [ February 15, 2023 ] Emerald Coast Regional Council discusses TRIP projects News [ February 15, 2023 ] Freeport City Council talks pickleball, parks and more News [ February 15, 2023 ] Barker accepts position as DeFuniak Springs interim city manager, updates given News Read More

ROBERT THOMPSON Story by ADRIANNE WALLINE CAMPBELL  The DeFuniak City Council held a special meeting to discuss the contract proposal presented by Robert Thompson, City Manager, on Nov. 29, 2022, at the old DFS City Hall.     The council had approved a six-month term at the regular meeting the night before (Nov. 28) but did not approve the contract that Thompson had stipulated. Attorney Clay Adkinson relayed the stipulations of a new agreement Thompson requested. He asked that when the six-month term was completed, and receiving satisfactory evaluations from the council, the contract be converted to an open-ended, indefinite agreement, that would then require a 4-to-1 vote to terminate and would not be subject to six-month reviews. In the month preceding the last month of the term, an evaluation would be conducted by the city council. Each council member would turn in an evaluation, four satisfactory evaluations would automatically renew his term. If he moves into that renewed term, evaluations would then be done every 12 months. The termination agreement would be reduced by him giving the city 60 days, to 30 days. And that if terminated, he would receive his base salary for those 30 days. Severance would be due under one of three scenarios: • Termination for any reason other than for cause. • Non-renewal of the employee agreement • Upon his resignation      Then severance would be due and payable as a lump sum cash payment equal to 20 weeks aggregate pay, or $46,000.    ... Read More

[ November 30, 2022 ] WCEDA interviews potential candidates for director position [PREMIUM] News [ November 30, 2022 ] Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Nov. 22 combined regular meeting and land use meeting [PREMIUM] News [ November 30, 2022 ] Patterson SSA and Rezoning gets final county board approval at second hearing [PREMIUM] News [ November 30, 2022 ] Five seats to be filled on Walton County Tourist Development Council News [ November 30, 2022 ] Paxton Post Office permanently closed Nov. 24 News [ November 30, 2022 ] DeFuniak City Council extends city manager contract six months [PREMIUM] News Read More

[ November 30, 2022 ] WCEDA interviews potential candidates for director position [PREMIUM] News [ November 30, 2022 ] Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Nov. 22 combined regular meeting and land use meeting [PREMIUM] News [ November 30, 2022 ] Patterson SSA and Rezoning gets final county board approval at second hearing [PREMIUM] News [ November 30, 2022 ] Five seats to be filled on Walton County Tourist Development Council News [ November 30, 2022 ] Paxton Post Office permanently closed Nov. 24 News [ November 30, 2022 ] DeFuniak City Council extends city manager contract six months [PREMIUM] News Read More

AERIAL MAP showing the location of the Patterson Small Scale Amendment (SSA) with Rezoning property (FLU 22-000003). The rezoning request was approved by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 22. By DOTTY NIST An amendment and rezoning request that had been denied by county commissioners in ASubscribe or log in to read the rest of this content. Read More

WALTON COUNTY TOURISM Department Visitor Center and Office. By DOTTY NIST Processes are underway to fill or reappoint members to five seats on the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC). Terms are soon to expire on three seats on the advisory council that are devoted to bed tax collectors or individuals with an interest in tourism. New representatives may also be appointed to two other council seats with unexpired terms that are held by elected officials from the cities of Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, or current council members Eddie Farris and Todd Bierbaum may be re-appointed to those seats. The Tourist Development Council Application Review Committee met on Nov. 23 to review applications for the three seats with expiring terms. Reviewed at the meeting were applications from the following eight people: Tracy Louthain, director of marketing and communication at Newman-Dailey Resort Properties; Harsh Patel, owner/general manager of Best Western Crossroads Inn; Phillip Sharpe, retired resident; Jennifer Steele, executive director of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County; Jill Tanner, owner/operator of Resort Resale and Clutch Media Works; Timothy Taylor, president of Ocean Reef Resorts; Dan Tinghitella, owner of Idyll Hound Proper; and Michael Whalen, brand ambassador/director of sales and events for Seascape Resort, Inc. Recommendations from the committee are to be presented to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) at a future meeting, and the commissioners will make the final selection to fill the council seats. As the new Walton County BCC chairman, Danny Glidewell will have the... Read More

Residents of Paxton had a Thanksgiving surprise: the U.S Post Office posted a notice that the Paxton office, 21892 U.S. 331, Paxton, FL, would be closed, “permanently,” effective Nov. 24, 2022.  The notice (shown in a Facebook screenshot below) reads: “All P.O. Box mail will be at the Laurel Hill post office for pickup, 3957 2nd Ave., Laurel Hill, FL 32567.” The notice refers any further questions to the Crestview post office, (850) 682-2634. Aside from an apology for inconvenience, no further reasons are given for the closing.  The Herald – Breeze contacted Judy Williams, Paxton City Clerk, who said the city had not received any notice from the Crestview Post Office. “I saw it on Facebook,” she added. Members of the public also claim to have been surprised by the closing.  The Herald – Breeze also called the Crestview Post Office number, but was not able to reach anyone with whom to speak. Read More

Alys in Winter Wonderland will spread joy to all on Friday, November 25th from 3 - 7PM in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre. Celebrate the season… Read More