Savannah Vasquez, nwfdailynews

Savannah Vasquez

nwfdailynews

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • nwfdailynews
  • The News Herald
  • Herald-Tribune
  • The Ledger
  • The Palm Beach Post
  • Gainesville.com
  • Florida Times-Union

Past articles by Savannah:

Resilient: NWF State student graduates at 47

BAKER — Amy Tolar was told by her own mother that she would never amount to anything.“My mom told me, ‘You are not even going to → Read More

Mantee sightings reported in local area

MIRAMAR BEACH — What was first thought to be an alligator was later identified as a manatee off of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on Monday. Brock → Read More

Adopted Crestview teen featured in national commercial

CRESTVIEW — Six years ago seems like a lifetime for Latrell Higgins.That was when the adopted Crestview teen became an internet sensation after his mother took photos of him posing as a newborn — at the age of 13.Now 19, Higgins’ adoption story will be featured in a short film that will soon premiere as a commercial for technology company Hewlett-Packard.Higgins said the film process has been… → Read More

Man finds, and returns, $3K found in donated suit at Goodwill

FORT WALTON BEACH — Richard Wills was sorting clothes — just as he does every day at his job at Goodwill Easterseals of the Gulf Coast in Fort Walton Beach — when he came across an envelope full of money. “I just realized, there’s a lot of money, like a lot of hundreds,” said Wills of the find. “I just went to get the manager and the vice president.”The money added up to $3,100 found in the… → Read More

Okaloosa County School District could see $4 million deficit

NICEVILLE — Substantial cost increases in health insurance, retirement funding and ESE education may create a substantial budget deficit for the Okaloosa County School District, according to Superintendent Marcus Chambers.Chambers explained that state funding for the public school system has remained almost stagnant for the past 11 years, leaving local school districts with a challenge to make… → Read More

Bruner, Meigs get new principals

NICEVILLE — Two middle schools have new leaders after the Okaloosa County School Board on Monday appointed principals for Bruner and Meigs middle → Read More

Teachers hold 'walk-in' for more state funding

FORT WALTON BEACH — Across Florida today, public school teachers participated in a demonstration to support increased funding for public education. → Read More

Woman calls for cameras in Okaloosa classrooms

NICEVILLE — Miramar Beach resident Bettye Mendez wants cameras placed in classrooms in Okaloosa County, specifically in rooms caring for students with disabilities. Mendez, a grandmother to a special needs student in another district, said she wanted to address the Okaloosa County School Board Monday night because of the abuse cases that have come to light in the past two years.Since August… → Read More

Report details improvement needed in schools' ESE programs

NICEVILLE — The Florida Department of Education has released its findings on the Okaloosa County School District’s Exceptional Student Education programs.The FDOE visited Kenwood Elementary School and Silver Sands School on Feb. 5-6 and returned its full report April 4. The School District said Kenwood and Silver Sands were the two schools chosen for investigation because of issues that needed… → Read More

Niceville's Kim Cherry continues on 'The Voice'

NICEVILLE — When Kim Cherry and Kendra Checketts sang Alessia Cara's "Here" during "The Voice" battle rounds, Niceville native Cherry said she felt confident. “I was just really focused on taking in the moment,” she said of the pause between her performance and the judges' reactions. “My face is so blank I look angry but in my mind, I felt confident. Honestly, I felt pretty calm that I had put… → Read More

Walton County first responders help Panama City Beach woman give birth at gas station

FREEPORT — Brittany Holmes of Panama City Beach was ready for her usual weekend visit in DeFuniak Springs with her parents this past weekend, but life had other plans.Holmes, 23, was 37 weeks pregnant with her fourth baby, when she went into labor Friday morning and decided to head toward her mother’s house.After stopping by Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast and being sent home to… → Read More

Volunteers flock to PAWS to help dogs

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society was all hands on deck Tuesday morning. Staff members and about two dozen volunteers were → Read More

Two accidents, no injuries in FWB neighborhood

Around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, two accidents occurred in the same area of Wright Parkway and Holmes Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach.In the first accident, → Read More

Girl Scout earns Gold Award by helping FWB cat shelter

FORT WALTON BEACH — Felines and their volunteer friends at Save Our Cats and Kittens (SOCKs) are reaping the benefits from the efforts of Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Katherine Ballard.Ballard devised a new food storage and cleaning system at the animal rescue center that results in less waste and a cleaner environment for the felines.“We have tons of cat food and litter donated in huge bags,… → Read More

Safest cities in Florida: Did yours make the list?

A recent study by SafeWise lists Niceville in its 50 Safest Cities in Florida for 2019.Niceville placed 14th and Fort Walton Beach missed the mark, → Read More

Safest cities in Florida: Did yours make the list?

A recent study by SafeWise lists Niceville in its 50 Safest Cities in Florida for 2019.Niceville placed 14th and Fort Walton Beach missed the mark, placing 71st in the list.SafeWise ranked the safest cities based on the number of reported violent crimes such as aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery.The study analyzed the most up-to-date FBI crime data from 2017. Ironically, Parkland,… → Read More

Safest cities in Florida: Did yours make the list?

A recent study by SafeWise lists Niceville in its 50 Safest Cities in Florida for 2019.Niceville placed 14th and Fort Walton Beach missed the mark, placing 71st in the list.SafeWise ranked the safest cities based on the number of reported violent crimes such as aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery.The study analyzed the most up-to-date FBI crime data from 2017. Ironically, Parkland,… → Read More

Safest cities in Florida: Did yours make the list?

A recent study by SafeWise lists Niceville in its 50 Safest Cities in Florida for 2019.Niceville placed 14th and Fort Walton Beach missed the mark, placing 71st in the list.SafeWise ranked the safest cities based on the number of reported violent crimes such as aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery.The study analyzed the most up-to-date FBI crime data from 2017. Ironically, Parkland,… → Read More

Safest cities in Florida: Did yours make the list?

A recent study by SafeWise lists Niceville in its 50 Safest Cities in Florida for 2019.Niceville placed 14th and Fort Walton Beach missed the mark, → Read More

Safest cities in Florida: Did yours make the list?

A recent study by SafeWise lists Niceville in its 50 Safest Cities in Florida for 2019.Niceville placed 14th and Fort Walton Beach missed the mark, placing 71st in the list.SafeWise ranked the safest cities based on the number of reported violent crimes such as aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery.The study analyzed the most up-to-date FBI crime data from 2017. Ironically, Parkland,… → Read More