Despite widespread anxiety regarding school grades, Santa Rosa County schools are once again on top.

The Florida Department of Education released school grades today.  The grades were long overdue, mostly due to problems scoring the Florida Comprehensive AssessmentTest, or FCAT.  The FCAT serves as the foundation for school grades, which is a system intended to reward high-achieving schools and help correct those who are lagging behind.

According to Bill Emerson, assistant superintendent for cirriculum and instruction for the Santa Rosa County School District, schools in Santa Rosa County have improved.  In some cases, the change was drastic.

All the schools in the south-end received an "A" grade.

For more on this story, check out the Aug. 12 edition of the Navarre Press, or subscribe online.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office wants you to go to jail -- for a good cause.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall, together with the Santa Rosa County Explorer Post, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post, ishosting a fundraising event to celebrate the completion of the new Santa Rosa County Jail expansion project. The event, aptly titled "Jail Break In 2010" will give the public an inside view of what life is like inside the new wing.

The new wing of the jail holds 128 inmates and is a state of the art facility with a price tag of close to $4,000,000.  The wing is expected to start housing inmates in September 2010.

The event will kick off at 6 p.m. Aug. 14, and will end at 7 a.m. Aug. 15.  The event is open to all ages.

Participants will be “booked” into the jail and be searched, fingerprinted, and photographed. They will then be assigned a bed and be instructed as to what will be expected of them during their stay.  This will be a very educational experience as to how things are handled inside a detention facility.  The “inmates” will receive food when they arrive, and again around 5 a.m. August 15.  If the “inmates” aren’t pleased with the food that is provided, they can feel free to use the Explorer Post’s “commissary” to purchase additional items.  All “inmates” will be expected to abide by the rules and regulations that are set forth. All “inmates” will also be required to stay “in custody” until 7 a.m. on Aug. 15 unless an emergency arises prior to their release time.  Upon release, the “inmates” will receive their booking photograph and fingerprints as a souvenir.

Space is limited to the first 128 people who purchase tickets.  Ages 12 and over are welcome; however any juveniles will be required to be with a parent or legal guardian.  At the time of ticket purchase, the purchaser will be required to provide identification information so that the Sheriff’s Office can due a preliminary screening of participants to ensure a safe, secure and educational experience.  Ticket prices are as follows: Adults- $20.00 Children under 18- $10.00 Seniors- $15.00.

Tickets are available now. For more information, please visit the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office website www.santarosasheriff.org or call (850)983-1100 during normal business hours.  Tickets can also be purchased at the main Sheriff’s Office in East Milton.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, is seeking volunteers to aid in recovery efforts in the event a disaster strikes our area by managing volunteer reception centers in Santa Rosa County. 

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A study recently released by the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development, University of West Florida , reveals public libraries return $8.32 in value for every tax dollar received.  

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