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Adrian Warren, cardiac catheterization laboratory manager at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, was saved by his own team after collapsing from a widow-maker heart attack just steps from his lab after 25 years of helping save other heart attack patients. Fort Walton Beach Councilman Ben Merrell is pushing back on the city’s 3% budget cap, Fort Walton Beach announces the grand reopening of Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Tommy Lazzaro Foundation awards its first-ever athlete sponsorships at Niceville High School, a father-daughter dance raises more than $7,000 for Children in Crisis, Niceville baseball is off to a 4-0 start, and the OCCSW ‘Status on Women’ Summit comes Monday to Fort Walton Beach.
GIVING BACK
Fort Walton Beach father-daughter dance raises more than $7,000 for Children in Crisis
More than 120 fathers and daughters gathered at Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson on Jan. 24 for an evening that raised more than $7,000 for Children in Crisis while celebrating the bonds between girls and the father figures in their lives.
- Jason Carducci, the event organizer and a supporter of Children in Crisis, said the night exceeded expectations.
“Grateful, surprised and overjoyed — you just never know what these events will turn out like,” said Carducci, owner of JP Carducci, Inc.
The inaugural Ties and Tiara’s father-daughter dance brought together 80 girls ages 3 to 18 and 45 fathers or father figures for an event that generated $7,250. An additional $13,000 in in-kind donations supported the three-hour event.
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GAMES
WordroW: February 20, 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.
GIVING BACK
Tommy Lazzaro Foundation awards first-ever athlete sponsorships at Niceville High School
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
Two Niceville High School football players were recognized Tuesday as part of a historic milestone — the first-ever recipients of student athlete sponsorships from the Tommy Lazzaro Foundation, an organization built to honor the memory of a decorated Green Beret whose life was defined by service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to others.
- Tri’Marcus Mays and Jakobe Gilyard were recognized during a special ceremony on Feb. 17 at Niceville High School. The Foundation will award two additional athletes from Mosley High School in Panama City on Feb. 23, rounding out its inaugural class of four sponsored student athletes.
The Foundation was established in honor of Tommy Lazzaro, an exceptional athlete, leader and U.S. Army Green Beret whose life was tragically cut short in a hunting accident in December 2024. At the time, Tommy was traveling to assist a fellow Green Beret — a detail that speaks to the selfless character that defined him throughout his life.
Created by his sister, Lexie Lazzaro, the Foundation exists to carry forward that legacy by supporting deserving high school athletes with access to elite training, conditioning, equipment and development opportunities designed to increase their chances of earning collegiate scholarships.
PARKS+REC
Fort Walton Beach announces grand reopening of Indian Temple Mound Museum
The Indian Temple Mound Museum will celebrate its grand reopening at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, the City of Fort Walton Beach announced Wednesday.
- The reopening follows a years-long expansion and renovation project at the Heritage Park & Cultural Center. Construction of a new 4,800-square-foot addition was completed late last year, adding a classroom, offices, exhibit storage and a larger museum store. The store opened to the public in November 2025.
Since then, staff and volunteers have been renovating the original museum building, improving existing exhibits and installing new ones, according to the city’s press release. The museum documents thousands of years of settlement in the area by a variety of Native American cultures.
The grand reopening will feature presentations and a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., with free admission offered throughout the day.
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SPORTS
Niceville baseball off to 4-0 start with sights set on another deep playoff run
Fresh off last year’s Elite 8 appearance, Niceville baseball hasn’t missed a beat to start the 2026 season.
- The Eagles are 4-0 with statement road wins over Choctaw and Navarre, including a gutsy comeback from an 8-1 deficit against Navarre that turned into a 12-10 victory.
“It shows that there’s some toughness, it shows that there’s some young guys stepping up in big moments,” head coach Justin Bruce said.
Niceville lost several key pieces from last year’s run, but senior Deacon Avery — committed to Coastal Carolina and coming off an 11-homer season that ranked fourth in the state — is back as the heart and soul of the program. He’s already got five hits and a homer through four games. Senior Aahron Geleta leads the pitching rotation after striking out 11 against Marianna.
POLITICS
‘Show me the math’: FWB Councilman pushes back on city’s 3% budget cap
Councilman Ben Merrell spoke in favor of repealing Fort Walton Beach’s 3% budget cap following City Manager Jason Davis’s white paper presentation to the council on Feb. 10.
- Merrell, who voted for the cap in November 2024 as a private citizen before taking office, said he supported it at the time out of institutional distrust but has since learned the cap does not save taxpayers any money.
“How much money is each taxpayer saving?” Merrell said. “Zero dollars,” replied the city manager.
Merrell pointed to what he described as real-world consequences of the cap, citing a $70,000 city salary that was replaced by a $200,000 contract as money was shifted to work around spending restrictions.
He challenged supporters of the cap to present evidence the cap benefits the city. “Show me the real-world situations and the real-world math where this helps our city flourish,” Merrell said.
Merrell said he believes keeping the cap risks shrinking city services and could push the city toward consolidation with the county. He also said the cap undermines Fort Walton Beach’s ability to attract and retain city employees.
- “Why can’t we be the place that people want to come for employment, that people want to visit?” Merrell said.
City residents will have an opportunity to vote on this topic during the March 10 election.
PROMOTED
OCCSW ‘Status on Women’ Summit coming Monday to Fort Walton Beach
The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women is hosting its Status on Women Summit on Monday, Feb. 23, from 4-7 p.m. at Beachside Church, 200 Racetrack Road NW in Fort Walton Beach.
The free event offers attendees the chance to connect with local women-focused nonprofits, discover available resources, hear from thought leaders and network with other local women.
Display tables are available free for nonprofits, and for-profit organizations can reserve a table by donating a door prize valued at $75 or more. Contact Diane Fraser at diane@ecscience.org to reserve a spot.
EVENTS
A few things to do around town
Friday, Feb. 20 – 2026 NextGen United Adult Field Day – Niceville – Free – View
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Charity Pickleball Event – FWB – $35.00 – View
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Girls Just Wanna Have Lunch – Miramar Beach – $50.00 – View
Saturday, Feb. 21 – Dollar Days at DeFrance on Beal – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Love Your Park: Patriot Park Workday – Crestview – Free – View
Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Lunch N Learn: Hospitality Is Not a Service – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Thursday, Feb. 26 – Impact100 February Coastal Coffee Event – Santa Rosa Beach – Free – View
Thursday, Feb. 26 – Business After Hours sponsored by The Venue Beach Weekend – Fort Walton Beach – $40.00 – View
Saturday, Feb. 28 – Incredibles for Rally Foundation – Fort Walton Beach – $15.00 – View
Saturday, Feb. 28 – 7th Annual Shrimp & Grits Festival – Destin – $100.00 – View
Saturday, Feb. 28 – Honoring Our Heroes: A Salute to Service – Fort Walton Beach – $35.00 – View
Saturday, Feb. 28 – My Chemical Cocktail – Fort Walton Beach – $60.00 – View
Thursday, Mar. 5 – Contractors Connect Okaloosa County Meetup – Fort Walton Beach – $25.00 – View
Thursday, Mar. 5 – Renaissance to Rock-n-Roll – Panama City Beach – $100.00 – View
Friday, Mar. 6 – First Friday Coffee sponsored by PhotoBioModulation Research Institute – Fort Walton Beach – $40.00 – View
NEWS
Cath Lab Manager survives widow-maker heart attack inside the hospital he serves
Adrian Warren has spent 25 years helping save heart attack patients at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
- On a recent Tuesday morning, his own team had to save him.
Warren, the hospital’s cardiac catheterization laboratory manager, collapsed into cardiac arrest while walking down a hallway with two cath lab nurses — the result of a complete blockage in his left anterior descending artery, commonly known as a “widow maker.”
Staff administered three defibrillator shocks just steps from his own lab, and interventional cardiologist Dr. Ramesh Brahmbhatt performed an emergency catheterization to open the artery and place a stent.
The result: zero damage to his heart muscle. Warren is now back at work and nearing graduation from cardiac rehab.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Friday! 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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