BECKIE BUXTON, TO WHICH THE DAY WAS DEDICATED, cuts the ribbon officially opening the Heritage Center of Freeport. Well upwards of 175 people gathered at the old Freeport Post Office for the opening of the Heritage Center of Freeport Museum and Welcome Center. The ceremony took place on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. (Photo by Jeffrey Powell) FEMALE BLACK BEARS have their first litter at about 3 ½ years old and usually have one to three cubs every other year. The black bear population in Florida is reported to have increased 10 fold since the early 1970s. Community members recently received details on— and an invitation to assist with— a Bear Management Unit (BMU) encompassing a five-county area that includes Walton County. The information was provided locally at a public meeting hosted by the FWC on Oct. 29 at the Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach. AIR FORCE LT. COL. JASON BURCH, was the keynote speaker at the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Breakfast, held Nov. 1 at the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood in DeFuniak Springs. Burch, who commands the Air Force’s 20th Space Control Squadron, located at Eglin Air Force Base’s Site C6, recognized the services of America’s veterans, including the late Gen. George Everett “Bud” Day, who lived in Shalimar, and his own father, both of whom served in Vietnam, in his speech. (Photo by Reid Tucker)
MOM-STERS AND THEIR little ghouls enjoyed scaring up some treats! Little goblins and superheros didn’t let a little rain scare them away from lots of candy and fun on Halloween night. Many hit the streets early and lined up for the DeFuniak Springs Business Professional Association’s (DBPA) costume contest and Halloween Happening on Oct. 31. (Photo by Alicia Leonard)
South Walton receiver Sage Roberts(40) was a busy man on Friday night (Nov. 1) as he caught eight passes for 111 yards with five touchdowns. Roberts has 61 receptions for 855 yards with 12 touchdowns this season. (Photo by Jeffrey Powell)
South Walton receiver Vinnie Ciurleo(10) hauled in a pair of receptions as junior quarterback Johnathan Ortner threw for 296 yards with six touchdown passes on the night. (Photo by Jeffrey Powell)
