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.
A preschool teacher's survival of cardiac arrest in May prompted the Destin Chamber of Commerce to obtain an automated external defibrillator and train staff on its use. The 24-year-old teacher collapsed at work but was revived through CPR and multiple AED shocks administered by coworkers before paramedics arrived.
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Niceville's Children's Park will hold its annual Fall Festival featuring crafts, games, karaoke, face painting, a petting zoo and balloon animals. Costumes are optional but encouraged for the event.
Leland Erickson, a standout for Navarre boys lacrosse, has been named an ambassador for the USA Student Athletic World program. The selection represents recognition of his athletic achievements at the high school level.
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Destin's City Council will meet Wednesday to address correspondence from Florida's environmental agency about a direct lease for state-owned Holiday Isle property. The discussion will focus on the city's future management of the land and its potential use for conservation and passive recreation.
Fort Walton Beach High's Micah Johnson and Milton High's Carter Sanborn have been recognized as FNR Scholar Athletes, an honor for students who excel both academically and athletically.
Navarre First Assembly of God held a celebration service Sept. 16 to recognize members of Royal Rangers Outpost 89 for earning merit badges and advancing in ranks. The boys ministry program, affiliated with Assemblies of God churches, teaches outdoor skills and leadership similar to traditional scouting organizations.
Reissue defeated Destin Commons 19-13 on Sept. 21 at Morgan Sports Center, with Rico Campbell going four-for-four and Jason Little hitting a three-run homer. Urban Air also won decisively over Legendary Marine 32-4 in league action.
A three-parcel Gulf-front compound in Destin sold for $12.1 million, the highest price ever recorded for a property in the city. The 12,404-square-foot estate, comprising three residences with 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, attracted an offer within one day of listing and sold below its asking price of $14.5 million.
Crestview High School has selected Shelby Frost as its Teacher of the Year, recognizing her dedication to student success. The award acknowledges her work managing lesson planning, grading and classroom instruction.
Pace High School finished third and Navarre High School sixth at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes girls golf tournament held at A.C. Read in Pensacola. Jay High's Presley Hawthorne competed individually and shot 84 to place 13th overall.
SpringHill Suites Navarre Oceanfront received recognition from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association for its front-of-house hospitality at an awards banquet on September 16. The honor recognizes the hotel's customer service performance.
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Mary Esther residents can meet with City Manager Jared Cobb on September 29 at the library to discuss city matters and ask questions. The session runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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Fort Walton Beach will shut down its Customer Service office at noon on Sept. 30 to complete fiscal year 2026 closeout procedures. All payment systems and new service requests will be unavailable that day, with normal operations resuming at 7 a.m. on Oct. 1.
Communities Against Cancer is hosting its second annual 5K run and walk on October 3 in Crestview to support four local families affected by cancer diagnoses. Last year's inaugural event raised funds for a toddler now cancer-free; this year's beneficiaries include families dealing with eye cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer and the loss of a beloved teacher to ovarian cancer.
Five restaurants in the Fort Walton Beach and Destin area achieved flawless health inspections during the week of Sept. 14-20, while one Destin establishment faced an administrative complaint for operating with an expired license. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducts routine inspections across the county to ensure compliance with state food service standards.
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Okaloosa County School District is offering NEST (New Eagles Soaring Together), a half-day summer program designed to help incoming freshmen adjust to high school. The program runs July 15 at Niceville High School and costs $35, with registration deadline July 8.
The Florida Department of Transportation is laying asphalt on Eglin Parkway as part of an $11.6 million resurfacing project along State Road 85 between U.S. 98 and Richbourg Avenue. Nighttime paving operations will continue through late 2027, with drivers facing temporary lane closures and reduced speeds during construction.
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The Okaloosa County School District maintained its top statewide ranking, earning an "A" from Florida's education department and ranking 15th among the state's 67 districts. The district improved in 10 of 12 academic categories, with 89% of schools receiving an "A" or "B" grade and the graduation rate rising to 91%.
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Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputies arrested Phoenix Jordan and Breanna Flynn following an investigation into vehicle break-ins in the Mary Esther and Fort Walton Beach area. Jordan admitted to burglarizing approximately 50 vehicles and possessing a stolen firearm found during a bedroom search, while Flynn allegedly used stolen credit cards at local stores.
Hurlburt Field is monitoring more than 15 black bears that regularly traverse the base and training security personnel on safe encounter responses. Wildlife biologists attribute the increased bear activity to the base's proximity to wooded areas and unsecured trash, prompting efforts to educate residents on bear-proof containers and preventative measures.
Dr. Twan Phanijphand, a gastroenterologist, paid $300,000 to resolve allegations he illegally prescribed at least 127 controlled substance prescriptions between June 2023 and March 2025 without maintaining patient records. He surrendered his DEA registration and agreed not to reapply for authorization to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances.
Okaloosa County commissioners voted unanimously to remove two school zone speed cameras on Hollywood Boulevard after a title search confirmed the cameras were installed on county right-of-way without permits. The county is also negotiating to transfer the road to Fort Walton Beach, but only if the city agrees to a permanent ban on speed cameras.
Addison Danforth, a former Navarre High School volleyball player, has earned three Defensive Player of the Week honors from the Florida College System Activities Association in her second year with Pensacola State's volleyball team.
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Fort Walton Beach Police Corporal Thomas Zbikowski received a lifesaving award at Tuesday's City Council meeting for his role in reviving Brian Meier, who suffered cardiac arrest in April. Zbikowski and first responders from Okaloosa County EMS and Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District performed CPR and used an AED for approximately 30 minutes to save Meier's life.
Hurlburt Field will run an emergency response drill September 22-23 that may increase visible law enforcement and first responder activity on and around the base. Residents should expect potential traffic delays and report suspicious activity to base security.
Crazy Cajun Specialty Meats won top honors at the sixth annual Burgers, Bourbon and Beer Festival, taking both the Best Overall and People's Choice awards. Nearly 1,000 attendees gathered at the new Mattie Kelley Arts Foundation venue, generating $50,000 in proceeds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.
About 1,000 people attended the sixth annual Burgers, Bourbon and Beer Festival on Sept. 19 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Cultural Arts Village in Destin. The event featured food tastings, bourbon and beer sampling, live music from Below Alabama, and a silent auction.
A collision near Avenue De La Fontaine in Fort Walton Beach has shut down all lanes on Highway 98 in both directions, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Florida Highway Patrol confirmed injuries resulted from the crash, though the number and severity remain unclear.
Destin is hosting five community events through November, including two fundraising 5K runs in September and October, a six-week yoga class starting in early October, and two youth fishing events in November. The activities range from the Mullet 5K Run benefiting the local history museum to the 31st annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day offering free Gulf fishing trips for children.
The Shoppes at Paradise Pointe, a 73,416-square-foot retail center anchored by Publix, sold to a private buyer in a deal brokered by commercial real estate firm TSCG. The property at a major intersection near downtown includes nearly 13,000 square feet of vacant retail space and outparcels occupied by Waffle House and Beach Liquors.
Walton improved to 4-0 with a 47-24 victory over Fort Walton Beach, while Choctaw defeated Niceville 49-28 behind three touchdowns from Von'Tavious Keller. South Walton and Baker also secured wins to advance their seasons.
The 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base will conduct tests from Santa Rosa Island into the Gulf on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, with operations running from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. All vessel traffic will be prohibited from the active hazard area during the testing periods, with mariners notified via radio broadcasts on VHF channel 16 and HF upper sideband 2181 KHz.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.