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Good morning!
A national campaign to fight sex trafficking called ‘Girlhood’ was filmed entirely in Fort Walton Beach, bringing attention to this very important issue while showcasing the local community. Okaloosa County officials warn of dangerous cold weather approaching this weekend, Fort Walton Beach oral surgeon Dr. Chadwick Marshall has been appointed to the Florida Board of Dentistry, Destin High School Girls Basketball is finding its footing and eyeing their first playoff berth, and the Fort Walton Beach Chamber will commemorate the 35th anniversary of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
- Plus, try today’s WordroW puzzle.
WEATHER
Okaloosa County officials warn of dangerous cold weather this weekend
Okaloosa County residents should prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures this weekend, with overnight lows potentially reaching the teens and wind chills in the single digits, according to Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox.
- In a briefing Wednesday, Maddox outlined what residents can expect over the coming days. After highs in the 50s Wednesday, temperatures were expected to fall into the 30s by evening and drop to 25-30 degrees overnight.
Isolated rain showers are possible Thursday night into Friday morning, though not every area will see precipitation. Most rain should clear by around 7 p.m. Friday as colder, drier air moves in.
The coldest conditions arrive Saturday morning, when lows could reach the teens and low 20s with wind chills in single digits. Extreme Cold Warnings are expected. Areas that receive late rainfall Thursday or Friday could see slick patches on roadways as temperatures drop below freezing.
- Saturday’s highs should reach the low to mid-30s, with Sunday similar in the low 40s. Both nights will see freezing temperatures, though no additional precipitation is expected.
Maddox urged residents to follow the “5 P’s” of cold weather safety: protect people, pets, plants and pipes, and practice good cold weather safety habits. Given the potential for icy roads, he added a sixth: patience.
“Give yourselves extra time to reach your destinations, drive safely, allow for extra distance between vehicles for the possibility of extended stopping distances,” Maddox said.
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GAMES
WordroW: January 29, 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.
BUSINESS
Fort Walton Beach oral surgeon Dr. Chadwick Marshall appointed to Florida Board of Dentistry
A Fort Walton Beach oral surgeon who grew up along the Emerald Coast has been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve on the Florida Board of Dentistry.
- Dr. Chadwick Marshall, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Gulf Coast Facial & Oral Surgery, joins the 11-member board responsible for regulating dental and dental hygiene licenses statewide. The board enforces laws, establishes rules and ensures practitioners meet qualifications for licensure and maintain safe care delivery.
“The Florida Board of Dentistry helps ensure patient safety and a higher standard of patient care, and I’m truly honored to be a part of that,” Marshall said.
The appointment requires Senate confirmation.
Marshall treats patients at Gulf Coast Facial & Oral Surgery’s Fort Walton Beach office, which provides full-scope oral and maxillofacial surgery services to patients along the Emerald Coast.
GAMES
This week’s mini local crossword
Ready to test your knowledge with this week’s mini local crossword puzzle? We usually tie all of our Crossword clues to local topics, recent stories, history facts, etc.
SPORTS
Destin High School Girls Basketball finds its footing, eyes first playoff berth
After years of searching for an identity and navigating eligibility restrictions, the Destin High School girls basketball team is on the verge of its first playoff appearance.
- The program has faced significant challenges since its inception, including Florida High School Athletic Association rules that previously kept the Lady Sharks out of postseason play and the task of building a roster from scratch.
This season marks a turning point. With playoff eligibility secured, Destin seems to have found its stride under Head Coach Susie Pierce, who took over in 2024 and became the first coach to last more than one season with the program.
Pierce’s first year was difficult, with the team managing just two victories. This season, the Lady Sharks have already won 11 games — five times last year’s total — and sit at 11-11. In a relatively weaker 2A Region 1 field, that record could be enough to earn a playoff spot.
“It’s huge. We’ve tried really hard to make a turning point in the program,” Pierce said. “We’ve really locked in as a team and decided to turn the program around together. I’m happy for the girls, especially my seniors, who played when only four people would show up to a game. Now, they have the chance to play for a district championship, and we have a solid chance. They’re excited, and it’s great for the school.”
Point guard Neilya Stewart has been central to the turnaround, leading the team with 14.5 points per game.
EVENTS
Fort Walton Beach Chamber to commemorate 35th anniversary of Desert Shield, Desert Storm
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will host Honoring Our Heroes: A Salute to Service on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
- The event, beginning at 5 p.m., will recognize the service and sacrifice of those who served during the Gulf War.
Gen. Charles Albert “Chuck” Horner will serve as special guest speaker. Horner led coalition air operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, playing a central role in defining modern military airpower.
Lt. Gen. Marshall B. “Brad” Webb will serve as master of ceremonies. Keynote speakers include Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, a principal architect of modern air campaigns, and Dr. John Andreas Olsen, an internationally recognized military historian and strategist.
“For the past 15 years, our Chamber has been proud to honor local military heroes while helping our community better understand the history behind their service,” said Ted Corcoran, CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “The Desert Storm commemoration is especially meaningful to me. Many Chamber members served during this time, and they are people I now know personally and consider true heroes. This event will honor their service while continuing to educate our community about our nation’s role in global conflicts.”
NEWS
VIDEO: A national campaign to fight sex trafficking was filmed entirely in Fort Walton Beach
While the voiceovers belong to real survivors of sex trafficking, the images — girls at roller derby practice, playing Dungeons & Dragons, scrolling through their phones, just being young — were captured entirely in Fort Walton Beach.
- “Protect Girlhood,” a national awareness campaign for the SHERO Foundation, launched Tuesday across television, digital platforms and out-of-home advertising. The project pairs those audio testimonials with footage showing the ordinary beauty of growing up – sleepovers, sports, friendship – all the things exploitation steals away.
A San Francisco advertising agency created the concept. But a three-person production company based in downtown Fort Walton Beach made it real.
Gannet Creative House – photographer Sean Murphy, cinematographer Tyler Trant and producer Skye Howard – had been in business for barely a month when Duncan Channon approached Murphy about shooting still images for the campaign. Murphy, who had worked with the agency for 15 years on projects for clients like Hard Rock Cafe and Kona beer, made a counteroffer.
“I said, as luck would have it, we just started this team,” Murphy recalled. “Would you be interested in letting us try to shoot it here locally in Florida? And we can handle the video portion too?”
The agency was skeptical. They worried the footage would look too Floridian, with palm trees and beaches, when they needed something more universal. They questioned whether the area could provide the diversity of talent and locations their shot list required.
- “They want it to look more universal,” Murphy said. “Can we get the diversity that we need?”
Gannet exceeded every expectation. On zero budget.
The four-day shoot pulled together locations across the area, transforming familiar spaces into a universal backdrop for American girlhood.
Choctawhatchee High School became a centerpiece. Principal Michelle Heck spent a Saturday giving the crew full access to the campus – the hallways, classrooms and facilities that would appear in the national campaign.
Here’s the story of how a community came together to help produce a national campaign that you’d never know was shot in Fort Walton Beach. (And watch the 2 min video!)
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday! 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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