What is happening in Okaloosa County and along the Emerald Coast. Every story is briefed in our own words, with links to everyone who reported it.
Direct from the source
The Mary Esther City Council will consider its proposed $12.57 million fiscal year 2027 budget at a public hearing Tuesday, with the property tax rate remaining unchanged at 5.0261 mills since 2020. Major projects include infrastructure work in the Azalea neighborhood and engineering for a Highway 98 water main replacement.
Destin Fire-Rescue personnel have been assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in Texas since Aug. 28, handling 911 calls and extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters. The department was activated for neighborhood emergency response on Sept. 2 as part of the broader firefighting operation.
The Tate Aggies softball program will host its 11th annual clay shooting competition on September 11 at Santa Rosa Shooting Center in Pace, with registration closing September 5. Entry packages range from $500 to $1,600 and include four shooters per team, meals, and raffle opportunities.
A contractor accidentally bored through a force main on East Kingsfield Road in the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority service area, releasing 3,600 gallons of sewage on Wednesday morning. Authority crews recovered 3,500 gallons and cleaned the affected area with biocide.
Fort Walton Beach police will continue operating license plate reader cameras on streets and patrol vehicles despite a state directive prompting other Panhandle agencies to suspend the technology. Police Chief Robert Bage said the cameras help solve crimes daily, though privacy advocates worry the data tracks citizens' movements without suspicion of wrongdoing.
The remediated SS United States ship is awaiting Army Corps of Engineers permit approval before being sunk as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. County officials say deployment could occur within 30 days of permit clearance, with the project funded through tourism dollars and private partners rather than taxpayer money.
Elliot Maurice Bell, 40, received a federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Law enforcement discovered the drugs during a vehicle search following a high-speed chase and PIT maneuver by the Florida Highway Patrol in April 2024.
An individual was charged with felony criminal mischief after damaging a Flock license plate reader camera at Airport Road and Main Street on August 16. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said a second suspect has a warrant pending and emphasized that destroying the equipment constitutes a crime regardless of disagreements over the technology's use.
Destin held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 2 for its new pickleball complex next to City Hall Annex, which cost $775,000 and includes four courts, bathrooms, and covered seating. The facility, funded through Okaloosa County tourism dollars and state grants, has been available for play since July 1 and operates daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Direct from the source
The city's Sanitation Division will launch twice-weekly residential trash collection on Oct. 5, with the new "2-1-1 Service" providing two trash pickups, one recycling pickup, and one yard waste pickup per week. Residents' collection days will depend on their current schedule, with Monday customers receiving pickups on Monday and Thursday, and Tuesday customers on Tuesday and Friday.
The Crestview High School Band has been named one of only two programs nationally to receive the 2026 Earl D. Irons Program of Distinction Award from Phi Beta Mu International, marking the first Florida recipient. The award recognizes superior achievement and commitment to advancing band programs.
Santa Rosa County commissioners voted Aug. 27 to deny a proposal for a cell tower behind the Walmart in Tiger Point, following a planning commission recommendation against the project earlier that month.
The city will expand garbage collection to twice weekly beginning next month, adding Thursday service for Monday customers and Friday for Tuesday customers. The change, approved by the City Council in January, raises the monthly fee to $29.12 but keeps Fort Walton Beach the least expensive option among nearby municipalities offering the service.
Direct from the source
The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County lifted a health advisory for Cinco Bayou after water sampling showed bacterial levels had dropped below the threshold that triggered the warning. County officials will continue monitoring the area and provide updates if conditions change.
Police arrested a 24-year-old after responding to a report of someone displaying a firearm at a Shell station on Beal Parkway NW on Tuesday. A traffic stop of a rideshare vehicle yielded a loaded 9mm handgun, extended magazine, and over 50 grams of suspected marijuana, leading to charges including felon in possession of a firearm and drug distribution.
Hundreds of Navarre High School students gathered in the gymnasium on Aug. 28 for a pregame pep rally featuring cheerleaders and the school's alma mater.
The Crestview cross-country team competed at the Eagle Invitational on Aug. 29, where head coach Daniel Richards used the early-season meet to develop approaches for improving the team's performance.
A driver was arrested on a DUI charge after a single-vehicle crash early Sept. 2 at the intersection of 12th Street and 12th Avenue in Shalimar, authorities said. Deputies found the driver unconscious and determined the vehicle had veered off the road, crossed multiple yards and struck a stop sign before Florida Highway Patrol made the arrest.
Sheila Lightbourne is stepping down after 38 years with the Okaloosa County School District, where she served as assistant superintendent. The retirement marks the end of a nearly four-decade tenure in the district.
A propane tank exploded at JD's Kitchen on Perry Avenue early Tuesday morning, destroying the Jamaican cuisine food truck and leaving its owner to rebuild. The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department determined a broken regulator caused a slow leak that accumulated inside the truck until a spark from the refrigerator ignited it, though no injuries occurred.
Kate Jannazo, a sophomore outside hitter for Niceville High School, has recorded 30 kills and 27 digs through five matches after earning Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. Coach Karson Jessup credits Jannazo's improved passing and comfort level with teammates for her development as a calm, reliable presence on the court.
Michael Carter, a former Navarre High School football player, was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad one day after being released by the team. The running back will practice with the squad as the NFL season begins.
The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department is inviting the public to ring its ceremonial bell on Friday, Sept. 11, with 343 participants honoring the New York City firefighters killed in the 2001 attacks. The ceremony begins at 7:46 a.m. at Fire Station 6, with a vintage fire truck on display and a large American flag hung from a ladder truck.
The sixth annual Burgers, Bourbon and Beer Festival is moving to the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Cultural Arts Village on September 19 to accommodate growing attendance. The event, which has raised over $200,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast since its inception, will feature burger tastings from area restaurants, craft beverages, live music and a silent auction.
The Destin middle school volleyball team lost to visiting Liza Jackson 25-12, 25-13 on Aug. 31. The Lions dominated both sets in the matchup.
Emma Barry, a former Navarre High School soccer player, was recognized as one of the week's top athletes after scoring two goals and recording two assists in two games for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Direct from the source
The Fire Department will host a 25th anniversary remembrance on Sept. 11 at Fire Station 6, asking community members to ring a bell in honor of the 343 New York City firefighters killed in the 2001 attacks. The ceremony begins at 7:46 a.m., the moment the first plane struck the North Tower, with a vintage fire truck and large flag display.
The 96th Test Wing will conduct testing Wednesday morning that will trigger intermittent road closures lasting up to 90 minutes between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Highway 85 and State Road 123 near the Eglin Test and Training Complex. Backup testing is scheduled for Sept. 11 during the same timeframe.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.