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.
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Fort Walton Beach and USTA Florida are organizing a "Rally on the Court" tournament Sept. 25-26 at the Tennis Center to benefit childhood cancer research. Registration closes Wednesday with a $47 entry fee per player, welcoming all skill levels.
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The city council recognized Isabella Tran of Choctawhatchee High School and Jenna McClenahan of Fort Walton Beach High School with the Student Award for Civic Excellence during a September meeting. The monthly award recognizes high school students demonstrating outstanding leadership in school and government at local, state and national levels.
Rodney Braden, 64, was arrested last Friday on a third-degree felony charge of grand theft involving $10,000 to $20,000. Braden, who was elected to Destin city council in November 2024, has been released on bond while authorities investigate the case.
The Crestview City Council unanimously approved a 6.5 percent salary increase for City Manager Jessica Leavins on Sept. 14, following a positive performance evaluation. The raise takes effect in fiscal year 2027.
All 10 candidates seeking four City Council seats participated in a public forum Monday, answering questions on the city's budget, reserves, and a 3% spending cap. The blind-format debate featured candidates randomly selected to address topics including infrastructure, services, and how to manage the city's depleted reserves.
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The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office and School District are relaunching their Angel Tree program as Operation Jingle Bells. The rebranded initiative will continue the holiday tradition of supporting families in need during the festive season.
Crestview City Council voted to increase water and sewer rates by 12 percent starting October 1 as part of a broader package of utility and service fee increases. The decision was made during a September 14 council meeting.
Risen Savior Lutheran Church has submitted plans to Santa Rosa County to build a new facility south of its existing 4,500-square-foot building. The proposed addition would nearly match the size of the current structure.
The Destin Chamber of Commerce presented its Lifetime Membership Award to Bernard Johnson, a Florida Power & Light regional manager with 38 years in the utility industry, recognizing his pending retirement and community involvement. Johnson has served on the chamber's board and participates in initiatives spanning economic development, education and workforce training across Northwest Florida.
The Niceville Lady Eagles defeated South Walton 25-16, 25-14, 25-16 on Tuesday night, with multiple players delivering key performances throughout the match. The victory marked the team's most impressive win of the season and reversed an earlier loss to the Seahawks.
Gabby Cover, a senior on the Navarre Raiders golf team, said she is satisfied with her progress in the sport after being inspired to take it up by her older sister's participation in golf.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office has added branding for its LEAD program to a patrol vehicle as part of efforts to expand the drug and violence prevention initiative across schools. The 10-week educational course, led by school resource officer Deputy Jared Psinas at East Bay K-8, teaches students about drug dangers and peer pressure management.
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area announced 20 finalist nonprofits for its 2026 grants, with 13 organizations set to receive $101,000 each at an Oct. 11 annual meeting. Several Santa Rosa-based groups made the finalist list for the women's philanthropic organization.
The Miramar Beach-based organization changed its name to better reflect its work across four counties in the Florida Panhandle, where it has distributed more than $42 million to children's charities over 21 years. The foundation's flagship wine auction and festival will retain their current names while supporting the expanded mission.
Okaloosa County commissioners voted unanimously to suspend citations related to trap-neuter-release efforts for 90 days while staff updates animal ordinances to formally recognize the practice. Local organizations have been conducting TNR work for years to manage feral cat colonies, with supporters arguing the approach reduces costs and improves neighborhood conditions.
Kaylynn Hayles was formally introduced to the community at a gathering held at The Alice on Choctawhatchee Bay on September 15. Hayles will serve as queen of the 78th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo and as a city ambassador.
The Repticon expo will bring reptile vendors and breeders to the Destin Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds on October 10-11, offering attendees the chance to purchase exotic animals and supplies while learning about their care. Admission starts at $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-12, with hours running 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
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The Okaloosa County School Board has proclaimed September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in partnership with Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. The designation aims to raise awareness and support for the approximately 50 children in Northwest Florida newly diagnosed with cancer each year, while advocating for increased research funding.
Okaloosa County and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida are placing 1,500 tons of repurposed concrete culverts at three underwater sites four to eight nautical miles from East Pass to create marine habitat. The project, expected to finish in November, is the second deployment under Florida's statewide Coastal Corridor initiative.
A 3,000-square-foot community facility offering arts, education and STEM programming opened Monday at 189 N. Main St. in downtown Crestview following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Eglin Federal Credit Union funded the center, which will serve residents of all ages with classes, performances and civic events while aiming to boost foot traffic in the downtown area.
Six games are scheduled across the region Friday and Thursday, with the Choctaw-Niceville contest at Joe Etheredge Stadium drawing top billing. The matchup features two of the area's strongest programs competing in what sports analysts expect to be the week's most significant contest.
The Destin City Council voted unanimously to advance an ordinance regulating electric bicycles and scooters, establishing operating rules, parking requirements and a penalty structure ranging from warnings to $500 fines. The measure, which required one and a half years of committee work, will return for a second reading before becoming enforceable.
Okaloosa County began removing outdated signage from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center and Rigdon Center on Monday, with new digital signs expected within weeks. The county funded the project through tourism revenue.
The city will host a pickleball and tennis tournament Sept. 25-26 to benefit childhood cancer research and families affected by the disease. The Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, the U.S. Tennis Association and Fort Walton Beach are partnering on the inaugural event at the Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center.
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Two individuals were charged after an undercover operation in which an underage participant purchased alcohol at a Shell station and Petro Express on U.S. Highway 98. The compliance operation followed complaints about gas stations selling age-restricted products to minors, prompting police to remind retailers to verify customer identification.
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The Mary Esther City Council will hold its final budget hearing September 21, maintaining the property tax rate at 5.0261 mills, unchanged since 2020. The fiscal year 2027 budget prioritizes infrastructure improvements including water line replacement, sewer rehabilitation and street repaving in the Azalea neighborhood, along with a proposed 5% increase in water and sewer rates.
Santa Rosa County has announced its annual teacher of the year honorees, selecting one educator from each school in the district. The recognition program highlights outstanding classroom instruction across the county's schools.
Okaloosa County deputies are investigating a shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon near apartment buildings off Rickey Avenue and David Street. One person was hospitalized, and authorities are seeking information from the public.
A person was hospitalized after a shooting Tuesday afternoon outside apartment buildings near Rickey Avenue and David Street in Fort Walton Beach. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, which occurred around 1:30 p.m.
Parker Thompson was last seen Tuesday morning on Ring camera footage running down his driveway on Chimney Rock Circle and entering a gray/blue SUV that then drove away. The 19-year-old autistic man was wearing a blue Adidas shirt, light gray shorts, black Nike shoes and a black baseball hat. Anyone with information is asked to contact Niceville Police at 850-729-4030.
A storage tank at the Eglin Air Force Base installation released fuel on Sept. 8, with most recovered but 10 to 25 gallons entering the base's stormwater system. A secondary leak occurred Sept. 10, though the base stated no fuel reached Santa Rosa Sound.
The First District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court's decision favoring Holley-Navarre Water System in its lawsuit against blogger Romi White. The water system's board attorney said the case is now fully resolved.
A citizens group focused on pedestrian infrastructure in Navarre organized a trash cleanup in a ditch between Days Inn and a Pizza Hut parking lot. The Navarre Urbanists, founded last year, undertook the project as part of community service efforts.
The Crestview cross-country team competed at the Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola over the weekend, with the boys placing fourth overall and the girls finishing 13th out of 52 teams. The performances reflect continued improvement in the team's race times.
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Northwest Florida State College announced its Summer 2026 President's and Dean's Lists, recognizing students who completed at least nine credits with GPAs of 3.8 or higher for the President's List and 3.5 to 3.79 for the Dean's List. The college said the honors reflect student commitment to academic excellence.
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The city's Code Enforcement team will conduct a compliance sweep in the Oakland area, focusing on common violations including abandoned vehicles, overgrown vegetation, and unpermitted work. The effort aims to educate residents about local codes and encourage voluntary compliance before issuing citations.
Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputies arrested Timothy Lowe, 40, after a traffic stop in Crestview yielded fentanyl, cocaine, scales and baggies from his vehicle. A K9 unit detected drugs on the exterior of the car, prompting a search that uncovered 18 grams of suspected fentanyl and 7 grams of suspected cocaine.
High school golfers from the area competed Monday at Stonebrook in Pace for the Byron Nathan Classic, their first full 18-hole competition of the season. Players faced challenging heat and humidity during the event.
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Schools across the Okaloosa County School District held Sept. 11 observances featuring classroom lessons, student artwork and JROTC ceremonies honoring those lost in the 2001 attacks. Niceville High received an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol as part of a district-wide America 250 initiative, with each county school receiving a commemorative flag.
The Air Force base is tracking black bear movements and training security personnel as human-bear interactions increase across Florida. A wildlife biologist is working to reduce encounters by securing food sources and educating residents on preventing bears from accessing trash and other attractants.
The Okaloosa County restaurant at 124 N. John Sims Parkway will serve its final meal on September 20th. The establishment, known for dishes like hot crawfish salad and hush puppies with strawberry butter, cited gratitude to its community and staff in announcing the closure.
Thirteen restaurants across Okaloosa County earned perfect scores during state health inspections the week of Sept. 7-13, including locations in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview and Niceville. Meanwhile, three establishments including Arashi in Crestview and Pepitos Cantina & Grill in Destin received high-priority violations requiring follow-up inspections.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.