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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
- Seaside takes steps to manage Spring Break crowds with a new curfew for unaccompanied minors in Walton County, while Okaloosa County School Board approves OTC North’s expansion in Crestview. A drug bust results from local law enforcement collaboration, Al’s Beach Club announces its reopening, and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance prepares to showcase an environmental success story.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa School Board approves OTC North expansion in Crestview
The Okaloosa County School Board approved a $4.47 million renovation project Monday to establish a north campus for Okaloosa Technical College in Crestview.
- The board approved the interior renovations at the facility located at 5660 John Givens Road near Bob Sikes Airport. The project includes $2.49 million for renovations and $1.63 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
According to documents presented at the meeting, the renovations will convert the existing building into classroom and lab spaces for welding, cybersecurity, plumbing and manufacturing programs. The project will reconfigure existing spaces and create new circulation corridors to separate different disciplines, along with minor finish upgrades to flooring, painting and ceilings.
Dr. Bill Smith, Program Director of Facilities Planning, told the board the facility could be partially open by this fall. Smith noted that while significant work remains, the building is already in good condition. The primary expense associated with this task order stems from the far northern section, which will be repurposed for welding and manufacturing. As a result, significant modifications will be required in that area.
- Smith confirmed the property was acquired with funds from Triumph Gulf Coast, a nonprofit corporation that distributes funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement.
The OTC North project has been in development since at least November 2023, when the district began discussing plans to expand Okaloosa Technical College to northern Okaloosa County. At that time, the district submitted a pre-application to Triumph Gulf Coast for $7.85 million to purchase and renovate the 40,000-square-foot building on 7 acres in the industrial air park.
The expansion aims to increase access for residents in Crestview, Baker and Laurel Hill who currently must travel to the sole OTC campus in Fort Walton Beach.
Jon Williams, director of Okaloosa Technical College, previously said the north campus would target high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, welding, electronics, building trades, construction design technology, plumbing, industrial pipefitting and applied cybersecurity. The goal is to enroll over 150 students in the first year of operation.
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THINGS TO DO
How creek restoration revived endangered Okaloosa Darter
by Ashley Armacost
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) will host an educational event about creek restoration and its local impact on the once-endangered Okaloosa Darter on March 7, 2025.
- The Secret Life of Creeks the Okaloosa Darter’s Comeback will take place from 12-1 p.m. at the Anderson Pond Recreation Area on Eglin Air Force Base.
Jeff Van Vrancken from US Fish and Wildlife at Jackson Guard will discuss how restoring impounded creeks across Eglin AFB helped remove the small fish from the endangered species list.
After over 30 years of conservation efforts, the Okaloosa Darter was officially removed from the federal endangered species list in August 2023 at Anderson Pond on Eglin Air Force Base.
- The two-inch Darter is only found in the streams of Walton and Okaloosa Counties. Much of the credit for the darter’s population increase goes to Eglin’s Natural Resource Management team and their partnerships.
In 1973, when the darter was first listed as endangered, very little was known about the fish and its habitat needs. But extensive research and population monitoring over the decades provided important insights that could be applied to management strategies.
The conservation efforts paid off as the population of Okaloosa Darters reached over 600,000 in 2023 across its small streams, a dramatic 400-fold increase from its lowest point decades ago.
This event will highlight how converting artificial ponds back to their natural state revived the creek’s ecosystems. Attendees can expect to learn about how aquatic macroinvertebrates, such as insect larvae and snails, are indicators of healthy water quality.
- The session will include hands-on opportunities to explore the creek’s biodiversity and understand what it reveals about environment health.
The event is easily accessible with minimal walking and is suitable for all activity levels, according to the CBA. No Eglin recreation pass is required during the event, but registration is required.
Those interested in attending the event can find the link to register here.
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Origin Bank opens new location in Fort Walton Beach
Origin Bank has expanded its presence with a new financial center in Fort Walton Beach.
- Operating from a temporary building at 212 Racetrack Road NW (the intersection of Denton Boulevard NW), the center offers comprehensive banking services including small business and personal banking, home loans, and financial support.
The location currently operates Monday through Friday, with the drive-thru open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and appointments available by calling (850) 904-8613. For more information, click here.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa law enforcement collaboration results in meth, fentanyl seizure in Fort Walton Beach
Local law enforcement agencies worked together recently to remove significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine from city streets during a traffic stop involving a stolen vehicle.
- Fort Walton Beach Police Department officers spotted a reported stolen vehicle near Memorial Parkway and Holmes Boulevard after receiving a be-on-the-lookout alert from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle reportedly fled before officers could initiate a stop but was located shortly afterward, leading to a felony traffic stop.
Suspecting narcotics involvement, FWBPD officers requested assistance from an OCSO K9 unit. After the K9 positively alerted, a vehicle search reportedly uncovered 17.2 grams of methamphetamine and 12.1 grams of fentanyl.
- The vehicle’s driver and passenger were arrested and charged with trafficking in fentanyl and trafficking in methamphetamine.
“Our ability to coordinate with partner agencies like OCSO is critical to protecting our community,” said Chief Robert Bage. “This case is an example of how effective communication and teamwork between law enforcement agencies lead to a safer community and the removal of deadly narcotics from our city.”
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department encourages anyone with information about illegal activity to report it, noting that tipsters can remain anonymous.
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Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk re-opens March 1
by Ashley Armacost
Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island is set to re-open for the upcoming season on March 1, 2025 at 11 a.m.
- The popular beachfront restaurant invites both locals and visitors to come out this Saturday and help set the tone for a fun filled summer.
Guests can expect all that you’ve come to love about Al’s, to include live entertainment, a full menu and plenty of ‘good vibes’.
As the summer season continues to ramp up, Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar will have a full calendar of events on their website (AlsBeachClub) and social media (Facebook Events).
PUBLIC SAFETY
Seaside enforces 7 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors during Spring Break
The popular beach community of Seaside announced it will enforce a 7 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors during the Spring Break season as part of measures to maintain its family-friendly environment.
- The curfew, which applies to visitors 18 and under without parental supervision, will be in effect from March 1 through April 25. Officials are asking parents and guardians to accompany their children during visits to the beachside community.
This marks the second consecutive year of curfew enforcement in Seaside. Last year, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office took additional steps by suspending beach access for large crowds and unaccompanied teens from April 1 through April 5.
“Seaside is designed for families to come together and create lasting memories, and we are committed to preserving that experience,” Seaside stated in their announcement.
The curfew policy emerged from collaborative town hall sessions involving Seaside’s Town Council, neighboring communities including Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, WaterColor, and Old Seagrove, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, and short-term rental companies.
Alongside the curfew, Seaside announced a partnership with Igbo, a new app designed to improve parent-to-parent communication. The app allows parents to access location information, create group messages with other parents, and monitor their child’s phone battery and signal levels.
- Seaside emphasized that the app prioritizes privacy, noting that teen identities are only visible when approved by parents.
“We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the values that make Seaside a beloved tradition for families near and far,” the announcement concluded.
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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