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Good morning!
Okaloosa County will celebrate the upgrades and reopening of Brigadier General Bud Day Park, honoring the Medal of Honor recipient with improved facilities. Fort Walton Beach is offering free bulky item pickup throughout January for neighborhood cleanups, Destin residents can obtain free 2026 annual parking passes starting now, Crestview kicks off 2026 with a Mardi Gras celebration after a year of award-winning community events, and Fort Walton Beach Police will offer a free Citizens’ Police Academy starting in February.
- Plus, try today’s WordroW puzzle.
NEWS
Fort Walton Beach offering free bulky item pickup throughout January
Couches, old appliances and worn-out mattresses cluttering your garage? The City of Fort Walton Beach wants to haul them away.
- The city’s January Neighborhood Pickup offers free bulky item collection for residential customers throughout the month. The service covers furniture, appliances, mattresses and other oversized items that won’t fit in standard garbage bins.
Residents should place items curbside on their regularly scheduled yard waste collection day, keeping them clear of fire hydrants and above-ground utility boxes.
The service does not accept construction debris, concrete, bricks, glass, tires or hazardous materials. Okaloosa County offers free disposal of household hazardous waste at its Ready Avenue facility.
Only homes within City of Fort Walton Beach limits qualify for the pickup. Residents unsure of their boundaries or collection schedule can check the city’s residential services page at fwb.org or call the Sanitation Division at 850-833-9655.
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GAMES
WordroW: January 6, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
TRAFFIC
Destin residents eligible for free 2026 annual parking passes starting Jan. 5
Free annual parking passes are now available to Destin residents, providing access to paid parking areas across the city including Crystal Beach, Holiday Isle and the Harbor District.
- Residents can pick up passes at Destin City Hall, the Destin Community Center or online at cityofdestin.com.
Each household may receive up to two passes. Applicants must present a valid driver’s license showing Destin residency along with vehicle tag and registration information.
The passes cover parking along Scenic Highway 98 in Crystal Beach, Gulf Shore Drive on Holiday Isle and the Destin Harbor District parking area.
- A grace period runs through January, allowing residents to continue using their 2025 passes while applying for new ones, according to the city of Destin.
Henderson Beach State Park passes are also available to city residents for $30 per household, with a discounted rate of $25 for seniors.
Joe’s Bayou Launch and Recovery passes are free for the first decal for city residents. Additional decals cost $50. Non-residents pay $205. Those seeking Joe’s Bayou passes must provide current vessel registration, trailer registration and a driver’s license.
EVENTS
Crestview to kick off 2026 with Mardi Gras celebration after year of community events
A monthly gathering of food trucks and live music on Main Street. A Christmas Village that brought families to Twin Hills Park for the first time. These moments defined 2025 for a city that leaned into community connection.
- Now Crestview is preparing to launch 2026 with its first event: a two-day Mardi Gras celebration on Jan. 30 and 31.
Food Truck Fridays debuted last year and quickly became a community staple. Held the first Friday of each month from March through September, the event drew crowds to Main Street from 5 to 9:30 p.m. for local food trucks, vendors and live bands.
The event earned first place for Community Event at the inaugural Best in the View Gala in September. The Market Downtown took second place in the same category.
Special Events Planner Melissa Carter, who organized both events along with the Christmas Village, received individual recognition at the gala as well — first place for Event Planner and Outstanding Community Leader.
“My passion for serving the community is deeply rooted in the belief that real change begins at the local level,” Carter said. “I have always felt a strong sense of responsibility to give back.”
PUBLIC SAFETY
Fort Walton Beach Police to offer free Citizens’ Police Academy starting in February
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is inviting community members to spend eight weeks learning what happens behind the badge.
- The department’s Citizens’ Police Academy begins Feb. 5 and runs through March 26, with sessions held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. The program is free and open to anyone 18 or older who lives or works in Okaloosa County.
Participants will learn about police training, crime scene investigations, DUI procedures, community policing, patrol operations, K-9 operations and traffic homicide investigations. The program also encourages participants to join an officer for a ride-along during a patrol shift.
Seating is limited. Those interested can contact Master Police Officer Marcus Montgomery at mmontgomery@fwb.org for more information or to apply.
PARKS+REC
Okaloosa County to celebrate upgrades and reopening of Brigadier General Bud Day Park
Two new pickleball courts, a large pavilion and refreshed basketball court are among the upgrades now available at Brigadier General Bud Day Park in Mary Esther.
- Okaloosa County will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Jan. 15 at the park, located at 185 Woodland Park Circle.
“This park suffered the effects of time and was in immense need of improvements,” said Okaloosa County Chairman Trey Goodwin. “We worked hard to come up with a plan that would serve the needs of all Okaloosa County residents, but also something that the park’s neighbors would be proud of. I believe we achieved that.”
The complete overhaul also added a restroom, new sidewalks, a playground, security cameras and new fencing. The basketball court received new backboards.
The park honors George Everette “Bud” Day, a longtime Okaloosa County resident who served as a U.S. Air Force officer and pilot during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Day was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during a mission over North Vietnam in 1967 and held as a prisoner of war for nearly six years.
- During his captivity, Day shared a cell with Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, who later became a U.S. senator and presidential candidate.
Day received the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross for his service. He was posthumously advanced to brigadier general — the rank now reflected in the park’s updated name, formerly Col. Bud Day Park.
After retiring from the military, Day practiced law in the area until his death in July 2013.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Tuesday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
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Jared
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