TOGETHER WITH
Good morning!
We have quite a bit of news to cover this morning so let’s get right to it….
TRAFFIC
All Highway 98 travel lanes will be temporarily closed for 15 minutes east of Brooks Bridge
TODAY, all U.S. 98 travel lanes will be temporarily closed for 15 minutes east of Brooks Bridge, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Transportation.
- U.S. 98 drivers will encounter a temporary traffic disruption with the stoppage of all U.S. 98 travel lanes near the Santa Rosa Boulevard intersection, just east of Brooks Bridge, on Thursday, Feb. 15 between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
FDOT says the closure is expected to last less than 15 minutes while crews perform utility work at this location.
In other Brooks Bridge news, crews have shifted Brooks Street south to provide space for the new Brooks Bridge footprint. Next, crews will also shift the U.S. 98 travel lanes south, creating space for crews to construct the new westbound Brooks Bridge structure.
- This segment of Brooks Street, from Florida Blanca Place to Perry Avenue, is in a one-way configuration and is expected to remain one-way throughout construction of the westbound structure.
This work is part of the $171-million Brooks Bridge Replacement Project that includes constructing two new, parallel bridges that will increase capacity to six travel lanes from the current four-lane bridge that opened in 1966. Project completion is estimated for summer 2027.
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MILITARY
Military successfully detonates WWII-era bombs found in Choctawhatchee Bay
On Wednesday, Eglin Air Force Base, along with other partners, safely disposed of three World War II-era bombs found recently in the Choctawhatchee Bay.
- Lt. Col. Chad Hogue, Commander of the 96th Wing Civil Engineering Squadron, spoke with the media ahead of yesterday’s operation that took place in a section of the bay that was historically part of the Eglin range.
“Contract drivers performing restoration work as part of and support for the United States Army Corps of Engineers discovered three World War II-era unexploded ordnance items in the Choctawhatchee Bay,” Hogue said. “This is part of the Air Force funded restoration program.”
The bomb disposal operation was a collaborative interagency effort to ensure public safety, protection of property and the environment, according to Hogue.
Disposal of old munitions can be unpredictable. While some bombs over 80 years old are inert, some remain volatile.
- “It is certainly humbling to appreciate the historical perspective where these unexploded ordnance items came from being that they are World War II-era,” Hogue said. “When we plan operations, we always take in worst case scenarios as we must plan that these items are still viable.”
Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians handled the disposal operation. The first bomb went off around 12pm, followed by the second around 1pm. The final bomb was disposed of around 2:45pm.
Hogue said removal of old munitions when discovered is an important ongoing effort to ensure public safety.
“We have an obligation to help remediate explosive hazards,” he said. “The importance of today is to ensure public safety and safety of the responders, as well as property and the environment.”
POLICE BLOTTER
24-year old man now charged with murder of food truck owner in Niceville
The suspect in last Friday’s fatal stabbing behind the Niceville CVS was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder.
- Dylan Deschaine, 24, remains in custody at the Okaloosa County Jail in connection with the death of 42-year-old Michael Ledford.
As previously reported, police responded on the evening of Feb. 9 to multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing victim in a truck parked behind the pharmacy on North Partin Drive. Officers discovered Ledford bleeding heavily from an apparent stab wound.
- First aid was administered while awaiting EMS, who transported Ledford to Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, where he later died.
While investigating the crime scene, police were contacted by Deschaine’s mother, who stated her son had just told her he had “possibly hurt someone.” After several hours of negotiation, Deschaine surrendered to police in a Cumberland Farms gas station bathroom where he had been hiding.
Deschaine had reported injuries on his hands and was transported to the hospital, then to Okaloosa County Jail.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Horace Paine Jr. at (850) 420-4731 or hpaine@niceville.org. Police continue to request privacy for Ledford’s family at this difficult time.
A MESSAGE FROM COX
Cox gives more than $2 million to local charities in 2023
Cox Communications donated over $2 million in cash and in-kind donations to Gulf Coast charities and nonprofits in 2023, continuing its long-standing tradition of community support.
- The company provided the funding to organizations focused on youth, education, diversity, technology and conservation initiatives. This included sponsorship of nonprofit fundraising events and three major grants.
The James M. Cox Foundation gifted $500,000 to the Baptist Health Care Foundation for a new patient monitoring system at its Pensacola hospital. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast received $20,000 for tech updates at its Fort Walton Beach club thanks to Cox.
- And the Okaloosa STEMM Academy in Valparaiso was given $25,000 for specialized equipment from Cox.
“At Cox, giving back isn’t just a tradition—it’s ingrained in our culture,” said David Deliman, Cox Gulf Coast market vice president. “We take pride in supporting non-profits in the community; it’s a privilege to collaborate with outstanding organizations dedicated to such meaningful work.”
In 2023, Gulf Coast employees awarded Innovation in Education Grants to Bluewater Elementary School, Kingsfield Elementary School, Lipscomb Elementary School, Max Bruner Middle School, Myrtle Grove Elementary School and Plew Elementary School.
- In addition, Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, One Hopeful Place and the YMCA of Northwest Florida each received a Cox Charities Community Investment Grant.
“We’re honored to support our neighbors by not only providing crucial funding to local non-profits, but also through the dedicated contributions of our employees,” added Deliman. “Serving our community is more than a commitment; it’s who we are. I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s relentless dedication to making a meaningful difference.”
Beyond money, Cox employees served on 60-plus nonprofit boards and volunteered nearly 2,000 hours. The company also hosted student hero awards honoring 91 inspirational children who overcame obstacles.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa School Board secures 30-acres in Deer Moss Creek in Niceville
The Okaloosa County School Board on Monday unanimously approved a land exchange agreement to acquire a 30-acre parcel in the Deer Moss Creek development in Niceville for a potential future school site.
- As part of the exchange, developer Ruckel Properties will receive a 25-acre property owned by the board on Lancaster Drive in Niceville, as well as additional financial consideration to make up the difference in land value.
The board voted 4-0 (Linda Evanchyk was absent) during its evening meeting to finalize the deal after holding a public hearing.
The land swap aims to allow the district to keep pace with growth in the residential Deer Moss Creek community that could boost enrollment and require additional classroom space down the road, according to the OCSD.
- Nearby schools like Bluewater Elementary currently rely on portable classrooms to handle their student populations.
While the timeline for constructing a new school isn’t set, Superintendent Marcus Chambers said in December that having the 30-acre site secured now is critical for future facilities planning in Niceville where landlocked geography limits expansion options.
The parcel could eventually house a new elementary school or middle school, which would also help relieve overcrowding at existing campuses. School Board Member Linda Evanchyk noted back in December that the land could always be resold later if enrollment estimates change.
The exchange agreement comes after months of negotiations between the district and Ruckel Properties. The school board signed a real estate contract in December that included an option to purchase another 10 adjoining acres, though additional land isn’t needed immediately.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa Deputy resigns following officer-involved shooting in Fort Walton Beach
An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy has resigned after an internal investigation found his use of force during a November call was not reasonable, the agency said Monday.
- Deputy Jesse Hernadez resigned Dec. 4 in the wake of a Nov. 12 officer-involved shooting near Fort Walton Beach also involving his supervisor, Sgt. Beth Roberts.
- See full report
The shooting occurred after deputies responded around 8:42 a.m. to a call of a vehicle driving around a neighborhood honking its horn and disrupting the peace since 3 a.m. A second call came in from a woman reporting her boyfriend, Marquis Jackson, had stolen her car and was texting threats, the sheriff’s office statement said.
The victim provided texts she said came from inside her car appearing to show a firearm suppressor pointing at the dashboard. Jackson returned to the McLaren Circle location around 9:09 a.m. as deputies were interviewing the victim.
Jackson was detained, searched, handcuffed and placed in the back of Hernadez’s patrol vehicle while the investigation continued and the victim completed an affidavit for the stolen vehicle, according to the OCSO.
- The victim told deputies Jackson had a silencer and she was not sure where it was, adding that he had more than one weapon, the release said.
As other deputies located the victim’s vehicle nearby on Hunt Club Street, Hernadez was approaching the patrol car to conduct a secondary search of Jackson. He then heard a popping sound he perceived to be gunfire, according to the statement.
- The report states that an “acorn strikes the roof of Deputy Hernandez’s patrol vehicle.”
Hernadez began yelling “shots fired” multiple times, falling to the ground and rolling while firing into the patrol car. After witnessing his reaction, Sgt. Roberts also fired shots toward the vehicle out of concern for her safety and Hernadez’s, the statement said.
An internal review by the Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards division determined Hernadez’s use of force was not objectively reasonable, sustaining a policy violation for excessive use of control to resistance. Investigators exonerated Roberts after finding her use of deadly force was reasonable.
- Jackson escaped injury in the shooting and no weapon was recovered, according to the statement. The audible pop Hernadez reported hearing can be distinguished on body cam audio.
Hernadez had been with the agency since January 2022, while Sgt. Roberts has served since May 2008. Both were current on firearms and use-of-force training qualifications, the statement said.
Sheriff Eric Aden said the situation was traumatic for Jackson and all involved, and has been incorporated into officer training to prevent recurrence.
- “We understand this situation was traumatic for Mr. Jackson and all involved and have incorporated this officer involved shooting into our training to try to ensure nothing similar happens again,” said Aden. “We are very thankful Mr. Jackson wasn’t injured and we have no reason to think former Deputy Hernandez acted with any malice.”
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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