SCHOOL

Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach High School to host Air Force JROTC drill competition

Hurlburt Field and Fort Walton Beach High School are partnering to host an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) drill competition Saturday, February 10.

Six local high schools will participate in the event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Commando Hangar on Hurlburt Field. Teams will be judged on several drill components including armed and unarmed regulation, armed exhibition, color guard regulation and color guard specialty.

• Col. Allison Black, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, will provide opening remarks.

Participating schools include Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach High School, Gulf Breeze High School, Niceville High School, Pensacola High School and Walton High School.

Hurlburt Field officials said hosting community events on base gives them an opportunity to promote patriotism, educate and inspire local youth and strengthen community bonds.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Authorities investigate reported ‘bridge jumper’ on Mid-Bay Bridge

Authorities responded to a report of a possible bridge jumper Monday morning on the Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County, though officials say the incident has not been verified.

A passerby contact law enforcement around 11:16 a.m. saying they thought they saw someone jump from the bridge into Choctawhatchee Bay, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

• Multiple other witnesses on the bridge say they did not see anyone jump.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the area beneath the bridge as a precaution following the report.

At the conclusion of the search, authorities had not located anyone in the water and the sheriff’s office could not confirm whether anyone had jumped.

SCHOOL

Okaloosa County Schools to observe ‘Hope Week’ promoting mental health, suicide prevention

Okaloosa County schools will hold events focused on suicide prevention and mental health wellness during Hope Week from Monday, Feb. 12 to Friday, Feb. 16.

• The Okaloosa County School District encourages community members to wear yellow on Thursday, Feb. 15, for the National Day of Hope.

According to the district, Hope Week and the Day of Hope aim to “bring us together to raise awareness of suicide prevention and mental wellness to destigmatize mental health issues.”

Hope Week events will include students and staff participating in activities meant to promote hope and wellness. Examples include random acts of kindness, wearing yellow clothes or ribbons to support suicide prevention efforts, and classroom discussions about mental health.

In a statement, the District said the week will “empower our students, faculty, and community members to ask for help when they are in an emotional crisis.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

PARKS+REC

Progress being made on new Cristobal Waterfront Park in Mary Esther

Progress is being made on the new Cristobal Landing Waterfront Park in Mary Esther.

• The sound side lot on Cristobal Road has been cleared to make way for a new public park in partnership with the City of Mary Esther.

In November, 2023, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved a $289,092 task order for MRD Associates to provide permitting, design and construction services for the proposed 1.15 acre park.

The county is splitting the task order cost with the city of Mary Esther under an interlocal agreement in which the county will lead development of the park before handing over ownership and operations to the city upon completion.

• Planned amenities at Cristobal Waterfront Park include parking, sidewalks, a fishing pier, boardwalk, canoe/kayak launch, gazebos and restrooms. The project will also involve environmental permitting through the state Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The park is completely funded using tourism bed tax revenue. According to the county, the park will now enter the planning phase in the coming months followed by construction.

Once complete, the park will be maintained by the City of Mary Esther.

REAL ESTATE

Okaloosa to purchase 412 acres in Crestview for new ecotourism destination

The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners has approved the purchase of approximately 412 acres of undeveloped land along the Shoal River in Crestview, with plans to develop the area into an ecotourism destination that will benefit both residents and visitors.

• The wooded acreage, located just south of Poverty Creek Road on the north side of the Shoal River, is owned by both the Day Family Trust and Haiseal Timber. 
• The purchase price is $1.825 million.

“As the projects are developed and come on line, they will each add something unique to our tourism product, and will secondarily provide quality of life benefits for our residents,” the agenda item detailing the land purchase said.

Okaloosa County has been acquiring various properties on and off the water to diversify their tourism products. 

The area in Crestview has been targeted by the county for ecotourism expansion to draw more tourists north and build on existing investments like the Crestview Welcome and Adventure Center.  County officials said the scenic woodlands and more than one mile of Shoal River frontage present prime opportunities for nature-based recreation.

• “With tourism infrastructure in its infancy in the north end of the County, we have planted our tourism flag with the Crestview Welcome and Adventure Center on the south side of Crestview,” wrote Deputy County Administrator Craig Coffey. “Recently, the opportunity to acquire a large amount of property became available in an area identified as a good location for such an undertaking.”

The parcel contains upland areas and elevations that fall from Poverty Creek Road down to the river. Existing structures, including a house and outbuildings formerly used as a residence, can be repurposed as part of the new tourist destination.

Coffey told commissioners the property could facilitate uses like camping, trails, archery, river access and passive recreation.

• “This property has large, mature trees and provides a good example of the beauty of the north end woodlands,” Coffey said. “This property would likely not be ideal for major festivals/events due to the sewer limitations and restricted vehicle access.”

But he said opportunities exist to expand recreation lands to the south of the river, where the infrastructure needed for larger gatherings can be developed. Officials will also explore extending the designation of the Shoal River as a state paddling trail beyond the currently mapped section between State Roads 90 and 85.

“There’s the ability to have a large acreage here that can be a game changer for the whole county. 412 acres by itself, that’s substantial,” Coffey told commissioners.

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel said she is “very excited” about the purchase and its potential to facilitate activities like camping, cabins, paddle sports and walking trails that showcase the area’s natural assets beyond its renowned beaches.

• “This is exactly the ecotourism that we want to showcase. It’s not just about the beaches here. We’ve got all this beautiful area around the Shoal River and Blackwater and just so many beautiful parks,” Ketchel said.

The project also comes with some words of caution from Commissioner Nathan Boyles, who said it’s important for officials to have a “big picture concept” guiding land acquisition and build out a “constellation” of complementary sites.

Boyles said he wants to ensure taxpayer-funded facilities don’t compete with existing businesses, and encouraged bringing industry representatives into future planning conversations. He also called for the county to focus on environmental preservation and restoration.

• “From my perspective, it is important that we maintain a focus of environmental preservation and environmental restoration,” Boyles said. “I think there’s some opportunities for us to restore some habitat in addition to preserving some.”

Funding for the purchase ($1.825 million) and initial master planning (budgeted for $75,000) will come from the county’s Tourist Development tax. The purchase is contingent upon favorable appraisals for the property purchase prices.

The tourists development council (TDC) unanimously endorsed the Shoal River property plans in a meeting last month. County staff said they anticipate bringing additional land on the south side of the river into public ownership in the future to expand the park.

TRAVEL

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport welcomes Avelo Airlines, nonstop service to Southern Connecticut

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport welcomes Avelo Airlines to its roster, introducing an ultra-low-cost travel option for passengers.

• The airline, based in Houston, Texas, announced on Tuesday that it will start service on May 17.

This new addition will connect the Destin-Fort Walton Beach destination to New Haven, Connecticut (HVN). Avelo is the first and only airline offering nonstop service between Florida’s Emerald Coast and Southern Connecticut.

The service, which does not have a specified end date, aims to operate year-round, according to Airports Director Tracy Stage.

Flights will be available twice a week (Tuesday and Thursdays) from HVN on a Boeing Next-Gen 737-800, which seats 189 passengers. 

• The airline will operate from Gate A-2 in the main terminal.

“Hello, Avelo! Welcome to the beautiful Emerald Coast,” said. Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, Liaison Commissioner to the Airports, Carolyn Ketchel. “We look forward to non-stop service to the New England region at very economical fares and connecting our coastal community of dolphins to the coastland of whales. Ahoy Nantucket!”

Avelo Airlines extends special privileges to active-duty military personnel, including free transport for one carry-on and two checked bags. 

In terms of performance, Avelo ranks highly with an on-time performance (OTP) of 80% for the first half of 2023, according to the data pulled from OAG. 

The introduction of Avelo Airlines at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport marks a significant expansion in the airport’s offerings, promising competitive prices and dedicated service to a broad range of passengers, including those serving in the military. 

Visit flyvps.com for more information.