SCHOOL

WATCH: Niceville High School Band march in Tournament of Roses Parade

The Niceville High School Band represented Okaloosa County in the esteemed 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1 in Pasadena, CA.

• This nationally renowned parade draws over 37 million television viewers and approximately 700,000 spectators annually, making it a remarkable opportunity for the band.

Notably, the Eagle Pride Marching Band has now achieved the rare distinction of marching in the parade for the third time. The Eagle Pride was entry number 59 in the parade, and was the 9th band.

They made their way home safely on Tuesday and unloaded uniforms, instruments, equipment, and nearly 400 pieces of luggage.

Click here to watch their segment of the parade

TRASH

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP: Fort Walton Beach will pick up your unwanted household items in January

During the month of January, residents of the City of Fort Walton Beach can leave unwanted household items curbside for pickup on regularly scheduled yard waste days. There is no need to call for a Friday appointment. 

Items that can be picked up include:

• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Old grills
• Appliances

Items that cannot be picked up include:

• Hazardous items
• Construction debris
• Tires

For Hazardous Waste Disposal needs, the Okaloosa County Haz-Mat Center is the answer! Call (850) 301-2013 for details. Hours of operation are 7am-3pm, Tuesday-Saturday.

Hazardous items include: paint, pesticides, used oil filters, pool chemicals, batteries, gas, solvents, paint products, tar, automotive chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, computer monitors, etc.

Disposal is free for residential customers.

Tires can be disposed of for FREE at the South Okaloosa County Transfer Station. Call (850) 651-7394 for more information. This applies only to local households, not businesses. Tire sizes are limited to passenger and light truck tires. Five tires per household/per month.

BUSINESS

NWFSC Radiography Program receives $10K scholarship boost from hospital

Northwest Florida State College’s radiography program received a $10,000 boost from HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. The funds will provide scholarships for students seeking careers as radiology technicians.

The donation marks a “transformative moment” for the program, known for cultivating skilled healthcare professionals, said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson.

• He thanked the hospital for the donation, which will “empower our students to pursue their academic and professional goals in radiography.”

Zach McCluskey, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, said the funds allow the hospital to invest in the “future of healthcare” by helping shape “a generation of compassionate and skilled caregivers.”

The NWFSC program is highly selective, accepting students annually for enrollment in the summer semester. Graduates are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exam and become certified radiology techs after the two-year program.

“As a hospital, our commitment extends beyond patient care; it encompasses nurturing the future of healthcare,” added McCluskey. “By investing in scholarships for Northwest Florida State College’s radiology program, we are empowering young professionals to forge a brighter future for healthcare in our local community.”

A MESSAGE FROM COX COMMUNICATIONS

Tips to “detox” your digital life this New Year

With wellness resolutions top of mind this January, Cam Johnson of Cox Communications offers tips on how a “digital detox” can provide a mental break from technology and improve overall health.

• “Research shows too much time online can lead to stress and mental health concerns,” Johnson said. “Consider a digital detox with these strategies to help lessen anxiety, boost mental wellbeing and even improve feelings of connectedness.”

First, Johnson suggests tracking screen time on a daily or weekly basis to understand technology usage. Reserving certain windows for online activities or setting an alarm to limit device use over the course of a day can help achieve this.

Additionally, Johnson advises using Cox’s Panoramic Wifi system to pause or restart home wifi access on demand or on a schedule. This is especially helpful for parents who want to encourage their children to become readers or focus on offline activities.

For those looking to completely unplug from social media and other apps, Johnson recommends switching to a basic phone like the TCL FLIP 2 available through Cox Mobile.

• While still enabling texting, calls and email management, the basic display and keypad remove some of the infinite distractions of a smartphone.

Johnson also advises utilizing Cox Mobile’s Pay as You Gig plan, which charges for data usage each month only as needed. This can streamline spending while limiting time online.

Finally, Johnson says your digital detox doesn’t just have to be about minimizing screen time. You might also want to detox your network and devices from cyber threats or outside intruders. Johnson says Cox offers multiple tools to help monitor real-time security risks and protect your identity.

“This way, you’ll know your personal information is secure,” he said. “And when you do decide to plug back in, you can have peace of mind when spending time online.”

PUBLIC SAFETY

OCSO charges Fort Walton Beach man with sexual battery on a child

A 13-year-old girl reported on Christmas Day that a Fort Walton Beach man had been sexually abusing her since she was 11, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.

• Esau Matul Hernandez, 36, was arrested Dec. 28 on a charge of sexual battery on a victim under age 12, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The girl disclosed the abuse in a forensic interview Dec. 27 at the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, where child protection investigators said she provided consistent information about the attacks, the release said.

Investigators determined Hernandez was in the U.S. illegally and had previously been deported in September 2020 without authorization to return, according to the release.

Authorities conducted a follow-up at Matul Hernandez’s residence Dec. 28. When he arrived home, deputies took him into custody without incident, but he attempted to give a false name, the sheriff’s office said.

Matul Hernandez is being held without bond in the Okaloosa County Jail.

GIVING BACK

Destin High School “Reef Rangers” present $1,500 donation to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center

A group of Destin High School students presented a $1,500 check to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center just before the New Year to help with the organization’s sea turtle conservation efforts.

• The donation came from the Destin High “Reef Rangers,” a leadership class taught by teacher Kelly Tucker. The nine students raised the money through fundraising campaigns this past fall to help the nonprofit rehabilitation center.

Eisley Ingram, one of the student leaders, said the group “wanted to make a change in the community and thought that this would be a really cool way to do it.”

Tabitha Siegfried, stranding coordinator at the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center, said the funds will go toward caring for injured and ill sea turtles. But she said the bigger impact is from the students learning about conservation and sharing that knowledge with others.

• “What the class has learned this semester about conservation extends far beyond the money they’ve raised,” Siegfried said.

The C.A.R.E. Center takes in sick or injured sea turtles for rehabilitation and release back to the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and funded by admissions, donations and grants.

Siegfried encouraged the Reef Rangers to tell friends and family about threats to sea turtles in the Gulf and the efforts by groups like the C.A.R.E. Center to protect the endangered species. The center also partners with other conservation groups in education and research initiatives.

If you see a sea turtle in distress, injured, or deceased please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).