Okaloosa County has produced a limited supply of Okaloosa County Hurricane Guides. For convenience, the hurricane guides have been distributed to various pickup locations across the county. As hurricane season began June 1 and ends November 30, the county has also published an online version which will remain available...
From the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
One of Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden’s top goals is enhancing communication to build even stronger relationships between the citizens of Okaloosa County and our Deputies. One way of accomplishing this is through promoting the concept of community policing and establishing Community Resource Deputies...
From Okaloosa County Superintendent Marcus Chambers
Statewide assessment scores were released recently for Florida’s public-school students in English Language Arts (ELA) Grades 4-10, Mathematics Grades 3-8, Science Grades 5 and 8, and End-of-Course exams in Algebra, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History and middle school Civics.
School and district grades were released by...
Do you have a library card? Use it this summer to check out a day pass to your favorite local Florida State Park. The Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, in conjunction with public libraries across Florida, has partnered with the Florida Department of Environmental...
By Michelle Ruschman
Cindy Smith has taught child abuse prevention in schools since the 1990s. This earlier work led her to become an advocate, author, speaker and founder of Living Hope for Today, whose mission is twofold: to teach our kids, even as young as age 3, how to deter...
By Lori Leath Smith
In April, local business F45 hosted a “Playoff” event to raise money for the 4th Annual Hope for the Hungry Emerald Coast packing event taking place August 6. No small feat, on this day, community volunteers are planning to pack 300,000 meals at the Emerald Coast...
By Michelle Ruschman
“Twenty-two veterans take their lives every day. We are just trying to reduce that 22 by giving them more purpose and giving them a distraction if nothing else.”
~ Jeff Powell
Our Hometown Hero Jeff Powell is the founder and President of Veterans 48, a 501c3 non-profit organization,...
By Pamela Sparks
On June 14th during a Town Hall Meeting, the City of Fort Walton Beach officially welcomed back three Okaloosa County Special Olympics athletes: Surfers Chase Sparks and Ian Cook and Swimmer Noah Garbo. Chase won the Surfing Silver Medal; Ian placed 5th in Surfing; and Noah became...
Speaking Up for Child Victims of Abuse and Neglect
By Kay Phelan
Meet 13-year-old Giselle McLaughlin, an eighth grade student at Liza Jackson Preparatory School in Ft. Walton Beach. Julie Porterfield, CEO of Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC), met Giselle at its Niceville Center when she presented a $280 donation...
Held at veteran-owned Props Craft Brewery and Taproom in Fort Walton Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently visited our area to sign six bills that support veterans, military members and their families in finding employment and educational opportunities in Florida. These pieces of legislation build on funding provided in the...
