Happenings and Thoughts on all of Walton County!

He says Christopher Mars took him to a warehouse on Skipper Avenue for sex FORT WALTON BEACH — A 15-year-old boy says a 39-year-old man raped him in a warehouse on Skipper Avenue, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

"Rope it, ride it, wrestle it, cowgirl it!" That is Kristy's favorite quote and she did a pretty good job of roping judge Simon Cowell in his seat, when she became the 7th place finisher of Season 7 on Wednesday night.

It is time once again for the annual summer West Indies Markets taking place May - July at Rosemary Beach.

Recognition Day was held April 22 at Van R.

An Art of Our Own art studio announces its summer Tire Swing Art Camps.

Fusion Art Glass in Seaside is featuring the work of up and coming glass artist Martie Negri in conjunction with ArtsQuest 2008.A lifelong artist, Martie Negri began creating with paint.

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS - Patriot Media Inc., a Walton County-based publisher, is presenting a monthly series entitled the Patriot Media Guest Author Tour.

On April 22, the 2nd - 5th graders of the Point Washington United Methodist Church Kidz Club did their part to help keep the community clean and celebrate Earth Day and the Festival of God's Creation.

“We are proud to announce that we have been designated as one of only 11 schools in the state as an academically high-performing school district,” said Walton County School District Superintendent Carlene Anderson.Last week, the Florida Department of Education designated the 11 school districts at the State Board of Education meeting as one of the consent items listed on the agenda.

CHELCO's 25th annual Rural Electric Youth Tour competition ended with four area high school juniors winning a trip to Washington, D.C., June 14-19.The four winners are Navin McGinnis of Freeport High School, Brianna Bikker of The Collegiate High School, and Caitlin Arzaga andChad Engler of Baker High School.Krista Schumacher of Niceville High School and Tony Rodriguez of South Walton High School were selected as alternates.Eighteen students representing 11 schools in Okaloosa, Walton and Holmes counties vied for the four winning seats during a competition held April 15 at CHELCO's Operations Center in DeFuniak Springs.

By PATRICK CASEY

The Walton County School Board met in Paxton on Tuesday, April 15, to hear from the calendar committee that is working on next year’s school calendar, as well as receive a presentation on security cameras that may be installed in school buses in the future. Continue Reading »

By PATRICK CASEY

Sophomore pitcher Shelby Watson allowed only two runs and one hit as the South Walton Seahawks defeated the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders on their home field 3-2 to claim the school’s first district championship in softball. Continue Reading »

By LEAH STRATMANN
At a time when counties across Florida are being forced to tighten budgetary belts to make up for the loss of property tax revenue, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted last week to discard more than $260,000 worth of signs after unrelenting pressure from several scenic corridor groups. Continue Reading »

By ALICIA LEONARD
Council members James Huffman, James Coffield and Don Harrison were sworn back into office for another three years by Mayor Harold Carpenter at this week’s DeFuniak Springs City Council meeting. Continue Reading »

By DOTTY NIST
The county cannot rescind the plat for an interior portion of the Driftwood subdivision except by request of the lot owners, according to Mike Burke, Walton County legal counsel. Continue Reading »

By ALICIA LEONARD
In 1995 hurricane Opal swept through our area taking more than shingles and tree limbs from some. Dan Thomasek was one of those people. Continue Reading »

By JEFFREY POWELL
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is the nation’s most -visited national park. Located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the park has an estimated 9.2 million visitors annually. Continue Reading »

By PATRICK CASEY
Shelby Watson pitched a two-hitter as South Walton won their first Walton County softball tournament title with a 4-1 win over the Walton Braves in DeFuniak Springs on Friday night. Continue Reading »

FREEPORT – Jacquline Nicole Dykes, 18, of Freeport, has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.The award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country.

This could be titled "Musings on Bear Stearns," but my editor likes (occasionally) catchy headlines.GOVERNMENT WELFARE It is ironic that the most free-market oriented administration since Herbert Hoover would ride to the rescue of Bear Stearns.

Sacred Heart’s Senior Services program presents a free seminar on Medicaid on April 21 at 10 a.m.

PANAMA CITY BEACH –The 10th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival is being held April 23-26 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach.This year the show is hosting the Walking Horse Trainers Association Riders Cup in nine classes: 2-year-old mares and geldings; 2-year-old stallions; 3-year old mares and geldings; 3-year-old stallions; 4-year-old stallions, cater; 4-year-old mares or geldings, canter; stallions, 15.2 and under, 5 years and over, canter; mares or geldings 15.2 and under, 5 years and over, canter; and walking horse championship open.  The show starts every day at 5:30 p.m.

On April 25th the City of Destin, along with members from the Environmental/Tree Committee, is hosting its annual Arbor Day event at Destin City Hall.

By the end of May, an Okaloosa County ambulance crew will be operating out of the Destin police substation on Stahlman Avenue.

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS – The feel of a tight line, screaming drag and doubled-over rod can be an exciting and rewarding weekend-fishing experience in the South – for a lucky few, that personal reward can come with a paycheck.“At first it was fun,” said Florida B.A.S.S.