Bonifay City Council mulls PD budget numbers
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Bonifay City Council mulls PD budget numbers

Bonifay residents turned out en masse Thursday, August 17, to attend a workshop for the Bonifay City Council where the hot topic was the possibility of closing the recently reestablished Bonifay Police Department. At the regular session meeting of the council on August 14, Councilman Larry Cook approached the idea of asking the council to…

Escaped Holmes County inmate in custody
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Escaped Holmes County inmate in custody

Holmes County Sheriff’s Office has captured William Morris who escaped while on a work crew on the morning of August 17. Morris was captured in Jackson County. Sheriff John Tate expressed his thanks Sheriff Donnie Edenfield and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Kevin Crews and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Tommy Ford and…

Multiple agencies searching for escaped Holmes County inmate
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Multiple agencies searching for escaped Holmes County inmate

An inmate at the Holmes County jail escaped while out on a work crew on Thursday morning. Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies are conducting a manhunt for the inmate.   William Morris was arrested on July 31, for a child support warrant. He was to serve 180 days or could…

New toll road eyed in Northwest Florida
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New toll road eyed in Northwest Florida

TALLAHASSEE — Transportation officials have started working on a proposal that could lead to a new toll road linking Interstate 10 and U.S. 98 in Northwest Florida, as the state’s Turnpike Enterprise increases its presence in the region. The Turnpike Enterprise, a division of the Florida Department of Transportation, introduced a rough outline last week…

Bonifay’s business hub gets new name, branding
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Bonifay’s business hub gets new name, branding

BONIFAY – The small business hub at the old Bonifay Middle School now has a name. “Up until now, every- one referred to it as ‘the old middle school,’” said Lesley Hatfield, a marketing consultant for the Holmes County Development Commission (HCDC). “Our plan is to rename it ‘Midtown Plaza’” — a name that “reflects…

Mother found guilty of lesser charge in death of disabled daughter
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Mother found guilty of lesser charge in death of disabled daughter

A Bonifay mother was found guilty July 28 of battery and child abuse in an Escambia County courtroom.   36-year-old Jessica Bortle was facing charges of negligent manslaughter and aggravated child abuse stemming from a fatal incident involving her 14-year-old disabled daughter, Jasmine Singletary, in July 2021, but was instead found guilty of the two…

Ponce de Leon Fire Dept. to build new station with $2M in appropriations
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Ponce de Leon Fire Dept. to build new station with $2M in appropriations

PONCE DE LEON – Ponce de Leon is in the early stages of planning construction for a new fire station with the help of $2 million in funding from the state. Ponce de Leon Fire Chief Doug Remmel says a new station was among his goals when he first took over as chief five years…

Pre-trial held for for former BPD officer
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Pre-trial held for for former BPD officer

A pre-trial conference was held Thursday, July 27, in Holmes County for former Bonifay Police Officer Jody Long. Long is facing a misdemeanor battery charge from a March 2023 incident in which he is accused of using excessive force during a domestic disturbance call. The incident was captured by body camera footage and later investigated…

Bonifay approves proposed plans for Veterans Memorial Park
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Bonifay approves proposed plans for Veterans Memorial Park

Bonifay City Council approved proposed plans for a Veterans Memorial Park improvement project when they met in special session July 24. Engineers from Melvin Engineering presented the council with plans to apply for a Florida Recreation Department Assistance Program grant to fund the improvements. The project will need to be completed in phases as the…