Claire Jones

“Every raptor that we do have here right now is here due to the result of human interference or actions.”

Then Friday, Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen dressed up as the train conductor from the movie and went around to different classrooms.

With the increase of online crimes, the sheriff’s office has continuously expanded its Internet Crimes Against Children unit. The most recent addition to the unit comes with a powerful nose that will be used to find evidence against the predators the unit targets.

For the fourth year in a row, Boy Scout Troop 562 in Santa Rosa Beach is collecting trees to give to families in Walton County for their Christmas Tree and Wreath Fundraiser.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, commissioners were still trying to determine whether the ambassadors will be under the county or the sheriff’s office.

The project is set to soon be made into a movie, set in Walton County, about black bears and our area’s special environment.

“You do see it more, people like to shop at home in their pajamas, people have busy lives. And especially the way things are changing, everyone likes it in an instant. So, you do kind of see that push to go more online.”

For the eighth year in a row at AJ’s on the Bayou in Fort Walton Beach, and the third year at AJ’s Grayton Beach, restaurant staff will be making and providing hearty warm Thanksgiving meals to everyone who walks through the door.

“Clearly old wind damage and things like that that probably date back to hurricanes and windstorms... Looking at the trees, they don’t look all that great.

The Trail Tales are little stands set up around the park, each with a page from a children’s book. Families can walk around, reading each page and answering the little question prompts on each stand.

The show’s executive director says they are excited to bring local dancers of all ages and backgrounds together to put on this community event.

"Having a healthy sea turtle population means we can make sure we have a healthy Gulf of Mexico.”

The club’s board held a meeting Thursday night to discuss options for what is next.

“We’ve definitely had several patients who have needed emergency attention. As well as several that have been admitted to a hospital for IV fluids, oxygen therapy and breathing treatments,” one local doctor said.

The rising costs of food and supplies is not the only current challenge, but the rising number of animals in need as well.

“It’s so great to see the young kids and children go out and look at the tags, and read about these veterans, and realize that somebody has sacrificed something for their freedom.”

In September, county commissioners approved for two graffiti walls to be built in skate park in Helen McCall Park in Santa Rosa Beach and Tuesday, they were officially unveiled.

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to get into the giving spirit than to get involved with local organizations and events benefitting people in our own communities.

“She is the only student out of this entire area or even the state of Florida that week to win the competition."

Sheriff’s office staff told NewsChannel 7 they are constantly looking for ways to make things like reporting crime more convenient for both the community and their deputies.

One Freeport resident and small business owner said events like this are great for everyone in the growing community.

“Because of the resources they learned from us, they’re able to refer people to places and recourses to stay on their feet,”

The once-small town of Freeport, nestled in the center of Walton County just above the Choctawhatchee Bay, is said to be one of the fastest growing places in the state in recent years.

The St. Joe Foundation donated more than $46,000 to the school for its One Device for Life program.

With the customary use battle supposedly nearing its end, there’s still some debate surrounding it.

NewsChannel 7 was told the study found that the arts had a huge economic and social impact on the county in 2022.

“Although we can’t take out the road, we can help recreate what we originally there.”

“Some people may say ‘oh, our numbers are down, and that’s a problem’ but it’s not.”

"We needed one for years now and it’s a long time coming."

”It’s the basis of what we do. It’s the foundation of what we do. We help people.”

Those who are still having to cross Highway 98 to get back and forth from County Road 30A say there is a big need for the underpass to be completed.

One popular park in Walton County will be temporarily closed as new graffiti walls are built as part of an ongoing effort to deter a graffiti problem.

With nurses high in demand, these programs are becoming critical for getting future workers qualified and ready to dive into their career in a shorter time span.

The county has previously purchased multiple parcels on both sides of the property, so now it will be one big chunk of beach, all made public, owned by the county.

“What I have realized is the further we get from Hurricane Michael, the stronger we become.”

”We know that kids have to be helped to reach their full potential and if a student is in the eighth grade and may not have all the resources to be as successful as we know they can be, we want to help.”

While staff said the school district does have most positions currently filled, but they are still in need of about 45 staff members.

“The Paper Bear Project started as a, it was really more of a documentary film. What we realized very quickly was we had something much bigger than that. "

We rarely get the chance to talk to first responders, but the South Walton Fire District is offering you pancakes to do just that.

Seacoast Collegiate High School and Northwest Florida State College have had a project in the works for years, and it is finally coming to fruition.

County leaders are asking for changes to be made to a big Florida Power & Light project happening in the county in the coming years.

Earlier in the year, county leaders reportedly found outdated language in the existing policy, which was last updated in 2014, regarding who can sell food at the sports events.

As graffiti continues to be an issue in one Walton County park, officials are trying new potential solutions.

The investigation into the deputy-involved shooting Thursday is ongoing, and more details are expected to be released soon.

Investigators at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office are searching more a man who stole a package off of a porch, and they want other residents to know how to avoid having the same thing happen to them.

”We don’t want families having to chose between buying their child diapers and buying groceries. Or buying their child diapers and paying a light bil.”

Personnel at the South Walton Fire District have found a unique way to honor those who died that day, as well as show new, young first responders the importance of standing as one.

"We don’t like the words ‘they’re homeless’ here because they’re not. They do have a home once they’re living here, they’re residents here. And that’s a big thing.”

The fear of potential destruction quickly turned into a collective sigh of relief for Gulf County residents Wednesday after the storm blew through the area with minimal impacts.

Watersound Fountains is partnering with Curana Health to make health care more accessible for its residents.