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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
Baker mourns the loss of 18-year-old Kadance Fredericksen, and Destin Rotary enhances beach safety with new rescue tubes. Over 130 couples renew their love at LuLu’s annual celebration, The Boardwalk prepares for its Kite Festival, and gospel music comes to Fort Walton Beach. Meanwhile, Okaloosa’s airports director joins a legal case.
- TODAY: Hurlburt Field will be conducting explosive demolition training between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., Feb. 19. During the training, nearby residents may hear loud noise or feel the vibrations associated with the demolition charge detonations that are planned to occur periodically throughout the day. Base officials advise if the humidity is high or if there is cloud coverage, the effects can seem louder and closer than on clear days.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Destin Rotary Club installs eight ‘rescue tubes’ at various beach access points
by Ashley Armacost
The Destin Rotary Club, in partnership with the City of Destin and the Rescue Tube Foundation, installed 8 rescue tubes at various public beach access points in Destin on February 15, 2025.
- The Destin City Council unanimously approved the plan for installation during a September 2024 meeting, aiming to enhance water safety for residents and visitors alike.
“Drownings are the third leading cause of unintentional deaths worldwide,” said Dion Moniz of the Destin Rotary Club during his presentation to the council last year. “These aren’t meant to replace lifeguards. These are meant to supplement lifeguards.”
Moniz cited statistics showing that over 600 rescue tubes are currently in use, with more than 200 known successful rescues and zero deaths when the tubes have been deployed.
The system consists of a 12-foot post buried 4 feet in the sand, with a flotation device attached. In an emergency, a rescuer can quickly remove the tube and use it to support up to three adults in the water.
- The tubes have an expected lifespan of two to three years in the Florida sun, with occasional repairs needed for damaged straps or other wear and tear. Maintenance of the tubes will be a collaborative effort between the Rotary Club and the city staff.
The Rotary Club has also expressed interest in eventually expanding the program to private beach areas and condominiums.
Public education efforts to ensure beachgoers are aware of the rescue tubes and how to use them properly in emergency situations are forthcoming from the city and Rotary Club.
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NEWS
Okaloosa airports director joins Jay Odom’s RICO lawsuit against former business partner
Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage has joined local businessman Jay Odom in filing an expanded civil racketeering lawsuit that alleges Robert Smith (Odom’s former business partner) orchestrated a “multi-year, coordinated effort” targeting them and threatening the county’s aviation system, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
- The lawsuit, filed in Okaloosa County Circuit Court, claims Smith and unnamed conspirators engaged in a pattern of activities aimed at gaining control of operations at Destin Executive Airport through what the complaint characterizes as extortion, malicious prosecution and interference with business relations.
The filing alleges Smith’s current actions threaten federal and state aviation grants that help fund Okaloosa County’s three-airport system, which serves four military installations and supports the region’s tourism industry. According to the complaint, Okaloosa County generates over $700 million in annual tourism revenue, with a substantial number of visitors using the county’s airports.
According to court documents, the alleged actions include what plaintiffs describe as attempts to bribe Stage with promises of profits from airport lease extensions and reported threats if Stage continued enforcing required airport oversight measures.
The complaint alleges Smith and others attempted to exploit Stage’s personal family matters in an effort to have Stage removed from his position.
- The lawsuit expands on a complaint Odom initially filed against Smith in September 2024. That filing alleged Smith attempted to extort money from Odom through what the complaint described as baseless criminal accusations.
The new filing includes nine counts, including alleged violations of Florida’s Civil Racketeering and Corrupt Organizations Act, civil conspiracy, malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiffs seek damages and an injunction to stop what they characterize as false allegations.
The case will be heard in Okaloosa County Circuit Court. No hearing dates have been set. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.
LOCAL LOVE
More than 130 couples renew vows at LuLu’s annual celebration in Destin
by Ashley Armacost
More than 130 couples renewed their wedding vows during LuLu’s Tropical Re-Union celebration on February 15, extending the Valentine’s Day spirit for another day at the popular waterfront restaurant.
- Wedding officiant Lynn Dominique led the mass ceremony as couples stood hand-in-hand, each receiving a personalized certificate signed by restaurant owner Lucy Buffett and Dominique. The event, offered complimentary to participants, included roses for the women.
The Somyer family of Crestview made the celebration particularly special, with three generations – mother, daughter, and granddaughter – renewing vows with their respective husbands.
Following the ceremony, couples celebrated with dancing, champagne, and wedding cake. The restaurant presented awards to couples married the longest and shortest times, as well as recognition for best-dressed participants.
THINGS TO DO
Award-winning Gospel Pianist to perform at First United Methodist in Fort Walton Beach
by Ashley Armacost
Renowned pianist and minister Rev. Dr. Huntley Brown will present a concert at First United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach on February 21.
- The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the church, located at 103 First Street SE. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and a love offering will be collected for the musician.
Brown’s musical career spans global performances including Carnegie Hall, where he was featured as guest pianist with the Mill World symphony orchestra in 2011. He received the Top Caribbean Gospel Instrumentalist Award in 2005 and 2006.
The pianist was inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame in 2010 as its youngest member. He has recorded multiple CDs showcasing various musical styles and served as the featured artist for peace concerts in Ireland.
Brown, ordained by the Evangelical Church Alliance International in 2007, now serves on its board. He founded the Huntley Brown Foundation in 2020, a nonprofit organization aimed at helping those in need worldwide.
- His ministry work includes serving as pianist for Ruth Graham and Friends Ministries and the Franklin Graham team. Previously, he was the regular crusade pianist for Dr. Ralph Bell, a former associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Association.
Brown has authored two books: “Keys to Avoiding Deception” (2017) and “Practical Keys for Daily Living, A 365 Day Devotional” (2022). He was also artist in residence for Chicago’s Total Living Network.
First United Methodist Church welcomes the community to this special evening of music. The church is located at 103 First Street SE in Fort Walton Beach. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance, and a love offering will be received.
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Kite Festival returns to The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island
The annual Fly into Spring Kite Festival happening at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Join Kitty Hawk Kites and the Emerald Coast Kite Flyers Club on April 5th and April 6th for two days of FREE kite-flying fun.
- What do a 100-foot octopus, 80-foot panda, and a 50-foot gator have in common? They’ll all be flying high over the The Boardwalk during this event.
Celebrate National Kite Month and the start of Spring with this larger-than-life kite display that is fun for the whole family.
The festival will include:
- Professional stunt kite flying demonstrations
- Free kite making for kids
- Stunt kite flying lessons
- A family fun-fly, perfect for any age
- Special activities at the Kitty Hawk Kites store at The Boardwalk
This family fun event is FREE and will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. So fly by and enjoy all that Kitty Hawk Kites has to offer.
NEWS
Baker community mourns the loss of 18-year-old Kadance Fredericksen
Baker School senior Kadance Fredericksen, 18, died Monday in a fatal crash, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of community service and youth advocacy.
- Fredericksen was the founder of Kada’s Promise, a charitable initiative she established in 2017 to provide teddy bears and blankets to neglected children. Her work was deeply personal, stemming from her own challenging childhood experiences of abuse and instability.
“Kada’s Promise is probably my greatest accomplishment to date,” Fredericksen had previously said on her website. “It is my life’s story… I am so blessed that my pain was temporary and now I get to use my story to temporarily take someone else’s pain away.”
In 2024, Fredericksen had already dedicated 210 volunteer hours and collected over 12,000 teddy bears and blankets for children experiencing trauma. Her efforts earned her the Citizen of the Year title in Crestview for 2019-2020.
Baker School Principal Michael Martello expressed profound grief in an official statement, describing Fredericksen as “a beacon of light in our community.”
- “It is with profound sadness that we mourn the tragic loss of Kadance Fredericksen, an exceptional young woman, senior at Baker School, and founder of ‘Kada’s Promise,’” Martello said. “Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her.”
The school is providing support for students during this difficult time. “As we navigate this heartbreaking time, we are deeply grateful for our dedicated Baker faculty and staff, our community, as well as the unwavering support of our district team in providing additional counselors,” Martello added.
Fredericksen was also a pageant participant, holding the title of Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA and previously winning Little Miss Northwest Florida in 2017. During her pageantry career, she raised over $25,000 for the Ronald McDonald House.
Removed from an abusive situation by her biological father and stepmother in 2017, Fredericksen found stability when her stepmother formally adopted her, transforming her early life challenges into a mission of compassion and support for other children in need.
The FHP is investigating the circumstances of the fatal crash.
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