VERNON - A 4-year-old passenger was killed in a car crash Wednesday late afternoon and investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol are treating the case as a DUI manslaughter, according to a press release.

Terri Sheffield, 25, of Vernon and the driver of the 2005 Ford F250, was traveling southbound on State Road 79, near Cook Circle, when the vehicle veered off onto the west shoulder of the road. The right side of the truck struck the dirt embankment of the ditch, causing it to overturn onto its right side and partially ejecting 4-year-old Finley Sheffield.

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Local high school students are gearing up to give Walton County commissioners a piece of their minds.

In light of a proposed connector road between U.S. Highway 98 and County Road 30A, the board will host a public hearing Aug. 21 at Dune Lakes Elementary School.

While the road would offer another gateway from U.S. 98 to the coast, it might also cut through Point Washington State Forest and Deer Lake State Park — the main issue igniting three Seacoast Collegiate High School seniors.

At approximately 1:00 pm, deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single airplane crash near the end of Oil Plant Road in Jay.

The pilot was taken to a local area hospital. There were no others onboard the aircraft.

When four little boys suffered broken legs on the same day at the same Valparaiso day care center, city police launched an investigation into the matter.

Two months later they have arrested center employee Christina Marie Curtis and charged her with four felony counts of neglect of a child that resulted in great bodily harm.

An arrest report states that all four of the toddlers were fine on the morning of May 21 when they were dropped off at the Kids Discovery Learning Center on John Sims Parkway.

“Upon returning to pick them up in the afternoon, the children were showing signs of distress and could not stand or walk,” the report said. “The children were medically evaluated and each was diagnosed with fractures to their legs, said the report

The toddlers ranged in age from 13 to 21 months old and were assigned to the 1-year-old class at the day care center.

Surveillance footage showed Curtis, 25, walking with one of the victims, an 18-month-old, while holding his hands above his head.

“The defendant stopped and quickly moved her hands to (his) upper arms and rapidly jerked him into the air,” the report said. “When (he) was picked up, his feet and legs were in the air and was dropped feet first into a wagon. Other children were placed in the wagon and it was pulled outside.”

Footage showed that when the child awoke from a nap that followed the wagon ride “the teacher attempted to place him on his feet, however, (he) was unable to bear weight on his legs.”

There were approximately 100 hard, dry droppings on the floor under shelves with paper products, on the table/counter with cups on it and other places in the restaurant on July 23, according to a press release from the Florida Department of Health.

There was another high priority violation after inspectors found that the sanitizing solution for the dishes exceeded the maximum concentration allowed. There was also an intermediate violation for a manager not having proof of his/her food certification and a basic violation for having a gap at the threshold of a door that opened to the outside.

Congressman Matt Gaetz questions Director Robert Mueller on Tuesday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Audio from CSPAN

CRESTVIEW — A 6-year-old Crestview child was pulled from the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay last night after a near drowning at Marler Park on Okaloosa Island.

First responders were called to the park around 7:50 p.m.

The little boy was reportedly playing with a group of children about 60 feet from shore when he went under. An adult spotted him unconscious in the water and brought the boy to shore, where immediate lifesaving measures began.

Krystien Joseph was transported via medical helicopter to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola where he is being treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Hard to believe but a cold front is expected to transition the Florida Panhandle tomorrow, bringing rain and slightly cooler temperatures to the area.

Some parts of the northern counties could see temperatures in the 60s!

This audio from two threats made against Congressman Matt Gaetz.