Okaloosa County and Miss Niceville pageants were held Saturday, May 6, at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium.
Baby Miss Okaloosa County Blakely Echols, Crestview
Baby Miss Niceville Chloe Brown, Niceville
Itsy Miss Okaloosa County Andi McDorman, Freeport
Itsy Miss Niceville Knoxley Gundy, Crestview
Tiny Miss Okaloosa County Emma Kelley, Crestview
Tiny Miss Niceville Saylor Martin, DeFuniak Springs
Little Miss Niceville Mila Hope Palero, Fort Walton Beach
Junior Miss Okaloosa County Vivian Berry, Niceville
Young Miss Okaloosa County Macy Phillips, Niceville
Teen Miss Okaloosa County Jessi Powers, Crestview
Teen Miss Niceville Bailey Scheel, Fort Walton Beach
Mr Okaloosa County Rhen Tetreault, Shalimar
Little and Miss Okaloosa County Queens will participate in the National Peanut Festival in Dothan in the fall.
Volunteer of the Year is Amanda Morgan, Santa Rosa Beach.
Foundation Pledges More Than $45,000 in Support for PAWS
To kick off its third year of partnership with the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, Bit-Wizards’ Be the Magic Foundation (BTMF) is doubling down on its support. On Saturday, April 29, BTMF presented PAWS Executive Director Ashley Degraaf a check for $20,000 and spent the afternoon volunteering on site. In addition to the cash donation and more than 40 hours of Wizard volunteer time, PAWS will receive $20,000 in hardware and skill-based services.
PAWS recently launched the Kennels for Canines project to improve the lives of the pets in their care through a Kennel Rebuild Initiative. Various parts of the kennel are up for sponsorship. BTMF pledged to support the rebuilding of an entire wing for the facility. Along with the new wing donation, Bit-Wizards’ Managed IT Services team donated and installed a new server to assist with PAWS’ day-to-day operations.
Dog-Harmony Launches “Love is in the Air” Calendar Contest
Show dogs how much you adore them by entering the 2024 Dog-Harmony calendar contest themed “Love is in the Air.”
World-renowned photographer, Jane Shirek, whose work has been featured in major publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, will capture winning dogs looking their most “fetching” at the elegantly romantic Hotel Effie Sandestin.
Scenes the camera could capture in this spectacular venue include being a pampered pooch at Spa Lilliana, whining and dining, enjoying a muttmosa in the Lobby Bar and canine couples exchanging vows.
To be a canine calendar girl or boy, a dog must fetch enough money to be ranked in the top 12. It also must be available to strut its stuff at the photo shoot July 16-19. The contest runs June 1-30.
To enter, register at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2023calendarcontest or email hello@dog-harmony.org.
Brooks Bridge Update
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently announced beginning of construction on the new westbound structure of Brooks Bridge. Motorists will continue to use the current Brooks Bridge (four lanes) constructed in 1966 while the new construction begins. As most readers know, the new $171-million bridge replacement will increase capacity as there will be two new, parallel bridges, totaling six travel lanes. FDOT projects the Brooks Bridge replacement to be completed by summer 2027.
Curtains Up!
“And Then There Were None” on Stage!
Get your tickets now and reserve your seats. Performance June 2, 3, 4 and June 9, 10, 11 at the FWB Civic Auditorium.
Don’t miss this classic Agatha Christie murder mystery that will spice up your summer. Ten strangers are invited to a remote island mansion. All the guests have in common is a wicked past they are unwilling to reveal and a secret that will seal their fate; each has been marked for murder. As the weather grows grim, the group is cut off from the mainland and retribution begins as one by one they are murdered in accordance with the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme. The stage version is based on one of Christi’s most successful novels written during World War II, and its growing sense of dread and tension will keep you guessing to the very end. Get your tickets now at https://www.ticketor.com/stagecrafters.
Art at the Shalimar Library: View Original Artwork by Pyramid Artists
The Shalimar Library is featuring the artwork by students in the visual arts program at Pyramid School for Fine Arts. Pyramid is a nonprofit organization located in Fort Walton Beach. The artists are people with developmental disabilities applying the principles of art. They receive instruction in color, various techniques, media, and design. Works range from abstract, impressionism, and representation. The beautiful and creative work can be viewed at the Shalimar Library, 115 Richbourg Avenue, Shalimar, or the website https://shalimarlibrary.org. Framed artwork and prints are available for purchase.
OAA School Poster Contest Winners
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance recently held the 14th annual OAA Okaloosa County School Poster Contest, “What art means to me.” A photo gallery is available online at https://www.okaloosaarts.org/2023-school-poster-contest.html.
Participating schools include Rocky Bayou Christian School, Crestview High School, Silver Sands School, Shalimar Elementary, Edge Elementary, Kenwood Elementary, Meigs Middle School, Plew Elementary, Liza Jackson Preparatory School, and Homeschool students. Prizes were sponsored by Eglin Federal Credit Union.
Winners include the following:
Elementary (K5-4)
First Place, Hannah Leitheiser, 4th Grade, Liza Jackson Preparatory School
Second Place, Lisa Velazquez, 4th Grade, Kenwood Elementary School
Third Place, Nora Wohlin, 4th Grade, Kenwood Elementary School
Middle (5-8)
First Place, Genevieve Rocca, 8th Grade, Homeschool
Second Place, Oly Stephens, 6th Grade, Rocky Bayou Christian School
Third Place, Sunnee Hipp, 5th grade, Edge Elementary School
High (9-12)
First Place, Breanna Enright, 10th Grade, Crestview High School
Second Place, Johnmichael Irani, Silver Sands School
Third Place, Chance Bollinger, 9th grade, Crestview High School
For more information, visit www.okaloosaarts.org.
