PUBLIC SAFETY

Tragically, missing Destin kayaker found deceased

A search and rescue mission was launched on February 11, 2023 after a kayaker went missing in the Destin Harbor. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office sent out an Aqua Alert after a green kayak was overturned by the wake from a large boat in the harbor around 6:15 pm on Saturday night.

• The current was moving east, and two people were on the kayak when it overturned, according to the OCSO.

One person was recovered at around 9 pm, holding onto a pylon behind Harbor Docks, but the other person, a female approximately 30-years-old, was still missing. The OCSO described the missing kayaker as 5’6″ tall, 100 pounds with long brown dreadlocks and blonde highlights and tattoos. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, Timberland boots, an unknown shirt, and an orange life vest.

Despite the search efforts on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, the OCSO shared in a press release that the missing kayaker was tragically located deceased on Sunday evening. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is handling the investigation and any additional information will be released by them.

“Please join us in sending our sincere sympathies and prayers to her family and friends,” wrote the OCSO on Facebook.

TRAFFIC

BROOKS BRIDGE: Low-profile barrier wall to be placed on Highway 98 median, causing minor lane reduction

Drivers will experience intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures between Perry Avenue and the Brooks Bridge approach in Fort Walton Beach beginning Monday, February 13 through Thursday, February 16, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. 

These closures are required to place low-profile barrier wall in the U.S. 98 median, which will require a slight shift of the U.S. 98 east and westbound travel lanes towards the outside of the roadway, according to FDOT. 

• The new configuration will have a minor reduction in lane width and is expected to be in place for the next couple of months. 

Additionally, drivers may experience the following traffic impacts Sunday, February 12 through Thursday, February 16, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform utility work:

• U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Perry Avenue and Pier Road.
• Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.
• Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road.

NOW OPEN

The Library Cigar Lounge opens in Fort Walton Beach

On February 10, 2023, “The Library Cigar Lounge” officially opened their doors, offering a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for cigar enthusiasts and business people alike.

• The new cigar lounge located at 59 Beal Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.

According to Ron Ward, the owner of The Library Cigar Lounge, the business was born out of a need for a cigar lounge in the area. Ward originally started The Library Cigar in New Orleans, but the business was impacted by a storm, which led him to shift his focus to being closer to his other cigar lounge in Navarre, Florida.

“We had the Navarre location and we had so many people telling us that they just didn’t have a place to actually smoke cigars in the Fort Walton Beach area,” says Ward. “We were at an event one night and one of our VIP members said that we should open up a lounge down here. So I started looking and finally found a place and decided to leap out and try it.”

Ward believes that Fort Walton Beach is an attractive city with a lot of potential for growth, especially in terms of tourism. The city’s location, with Destin and Pensacola on either side, makes it a prime spot for development.

The Library Cigar Lounge soft-opened on December 31, 2022, and officially opened its doors on February 10, 2023. Ward said that the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people excited about the new addition to the area.

Visitors to The Library Cigar Lounge will be greeted with a friendly smile and a handshake, and then given a tour of the lounge and its offerings. The lounge boasts a large humidor, filled with a long line of cigars, including national brands along with handpicked cigars based on customer preferences.

• In addition to cigars, the lounge also offers VIP memberships, which include upwards of 11 different benefits, including access to the VIP Lounge and storage lockers.

In the near future, Ward says The Library Cigar Lounge will have its own in-house cigar roller who recently moved from the Dominican Republic. He will roll three different blends of cigars for the lounge. 

• The lounge will also host live jazz music every other weekend, providing residents with a much-needed nightlife option.

“We’re on Beal Parkway, which is a busy street, and we’re not too far off Highway 98,” says Ward. “It gives us the opportunity for growth and to do other things that we want to do. One of the biggest things that I heard from a lot of the residents around here is that they don’t have anything to do. So we’re going to have music like live jazz music every other weekend and just give residents an opportunity to come and enjoy the lounge and the entertainment.”

The Library Cigar Lounge is a much-welcomed addition to the Fort Walton Beach area, offering a comfortable and welcoming space for cigar enthusiasts and business people alike. 

• The lounge is open Monday through Saturday from 11am-9pm and Sunday from 12pm to 6pm.

Click here to view pictures of the new lounge

SCHOOL

Crestview High School student receives scholarship for Building Trades Achievement

Crestview High School senior, Troy Young, was honored with the prestigious Robert and Amy Harper Scholarship at the International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 31 – February 2.

• The scholarship, which is awarded to one high school student with a passion for a trade career, is a testament to Young’s dedication to the building program at Crestview High School.

Out of 72 schools across the state of Florida and over 300 nationwide, Young was recognized for his exceptional achievements in the building program. He has earned a total of six certifications in construction and HVAC and serves as the lead project manager and designer for the Capstone class project.

Young was accompanied by Danny Meinecke, Crestview High School’s Building Trades Teacher, and David Welch, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Specialist, to the event. The trip, which was fully covered by the scholarship, allowed Young and his guest to attend the IBS, as well as cover all flight and hotel expenses.

• The trip was not only a celebration of Young’s accomplishments but also provided an opportunity for Meinecke and Welch to network with industry members and learn about the importance of building trades and learning a skill in the current job market.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers expressed his pride in Young’s achievements, saying, “I am extremely proud of Troy and his accomplishments in our Building Trades class at Crestview High School.”

“Our CTE programs are designed to create a pipeline for students to learn skills in elementary, middle, and high school and continue to college, the military, or the workforce with valuable skills that help put them ahead of their peers,” added Chambers. “Mr. Meinecke does a great job ensuring that his students are equipped for the future, no matter which path they choose to pursue when they leave his classroom.”

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton County Traffic Advisory

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County:                                  

• State Road (S.R.) 20 (John Sims Parkway) Resurfacing Project – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound nighttime lane closures on S.R. 20, from Edge Avenue to west of the Rocky Bayou Bridge, Sunday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 16, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. These closures are required for median milling, median widening, and sidewalk construction.

• S.R. 85 Resurfacing from John Sims Parkway to College Boulevard – Drivers may experience intermittent northbound outside lane closures on S.R. 85 between S.R. 20 (John Sims Parkway) and County Road (C.R.) 190 (College Boulevard), Sunday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for sidewalk repair and construction.

• U.S. 98 Bridge Rehabilitation over East Pass Bridge – Drivers may encounter intermittent single-lane closures on the U.S. 98 over East Pass (Marler) Bridge, eastbound structure (Fort Walton Beach to Destin), Sunday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 16, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• S.R. 85 Improvements from S.R. 123 to Hospital Drive- Drivers will encounter intermittent, temporary single-lane closures on S.R. 85 southbound, between Red Stone Avenue and Mirage Avenue, Monday, Feb. 13 through Thursday, Feb. 16, from 7p.m. to 5 a.m. These closures are required to construct the S.R. 85 southbound new right-turn lane to access Crestview Commons. One travel lane will remain open at all times and access to private property and driveways will be maintained. Signage and traffic flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic through the work zone.

• S.R. 85 (South Ferdon Boulevard) Coring Operations over Shoal River and Shoal River Relief – Motorist will encounter intermittent single-lane closures Monday, Feb. 13 through Friday, Feb. 19 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for coring operations.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from Village Road to East of U.S. 331 – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts Sunday, Feb. 12:
  • Intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures, between 7:30 p.m. and 7 a.m., for concrete removal and replacement and asphalt milling and resurfacing activities.
  • Intermittent closures the U.S. 98 east and westbound outside shoulders and turn lanes may be required as crews construct new sidewalks, widen existing turn lanes between Village Road and U.S. 331.
  • Intermittent temporary east and westbound outside daytime lane closures on U.S. 98, from Village Road to Mack Bayou Road, Monday, Feb. 13 through Friday, Feb. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  These closures are required to deliver concrete for sidewalk, curb and gutter construction.

• S.R. 20 Turn Lane Construction at J. W. Hollington Road – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures the week of Sunday, Feb. 12 for paving operations.

• U.S. 90 Routine Underground Utility Maintenance from Shoemaker Drive to Dorsey Avenue in DeFuniak – Motorist will encounter intermittent single-lane closures Sunday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 16 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for draining operations.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

MILITARY

Eglin Air Force Base to release red weather balloons from Santa Rosa Beach

The 96th Operations Group will release red weather balloons beginning February 11 to February 20 from Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Each day, balloons will be released between 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to collect weather data for a Naval Post Graduate School research project to understand the physical interaction between the lower atmosphere and the upper ocean.

For more information, please contact Team Eglin public affairs office at (850) 882-3931.