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Good morning!
Marian Bach, a retired Air Force major and one of the country’s earliest pediatric nurse practitioners, has stepped down as MST Director at HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital after 55 years in nursing and nearly 35 with HCA Healthcare as she enters “retirement mode”. Lady Vikings basketball departs for the Elite 8 with their community cheering them on, Okaloosa students shine at the 2026 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair, the 5th Annual ‘FORE! The Love of Animals’ Golf Tournament returns to Sandestin in May, and a 5K Color Run/Walk comes to Fort Walton Beach on March 28 to fund a youth law enforcement program. Also, check out upcoming community events.
SPORTS
Lady Vikings basketball departs for Elite 8 with a community cheering them on
Before the Fort Walton Beach girls basketball team loaded into vans Thursday and pointed toward Jacksonville, they had one more stop to make.
- Following a 9 a.m. practice, the Lady Vikings were treated to a sendoff inside the school’s multipurpose building. The school’s athletic director had invited the entire student body, and students, teachers, faculty and staff packed in to cheer as the team did their catwalk through the crowd. Then they hit the road for Friday’s Elite 8 regional final against Bishop Kenny.
“I want the community to know that these girls care about them just as much as they care about us,” Head Coach Mercedez Claybrone said. “They are very appreciative of everything that’s been done for them.”
It’s been that kind of week.
Every day, the Lady Vikings have received something new. Goodie bags. Handwritten notes wishing them luck. Chick-fil-A boxes dropped off at the school. At last week’s All Sports Association fish fry, coaches and administrators from across the area made a point to find the girls and offer encouragement.
She describes this group as resilient, a team with a next-play mentality. Like any team, they have moments where they don’t see eye to eye during practice. But Claybrone said the growth this season has been in how they handle those moments, moving past them quickly and staying locked in on the common goal.
Friday’s schedule is mapped out. Team breakfast in the morning, a shoot-around at a local rec center, lunch, then time to mentally prepare before heading to Bishop Kenny around 5 p.m. Shoot-around starts at 6.
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GAMES
WordroW: February 27, 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.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa students shine at ‘2026 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair’
Students from Okaloosa and Walton counties demonstrated impressive scientific talent at the 2026 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair, showcasing projects that highlighted their creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking skills.
- The competition featured project presentations on Feb. 11 at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds, followed by an Awards Ceremony on Feb. 17 at Beachside Community Church.
Professional scientists and engineers served as judges for the event, conducting one-on-one interviews with each participating student. These conversations gave young researchers valuable feedback and guidance while exposing them to role models in STEM fields. The experience helped students practice communicating their work using real-world scientific language and methodology.
“The quality and innovation of these projects highlight the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Okaloosa County Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “We are proud of all the students who participated and inspired us with their ideas.”
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GIVING BACK
5th Annual ‘FORE! The Love of Animals’ Golf Tournament Returns to Sandestin in May
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
Alaqua Animal Refuge is calling on golfers and animal lovers across the Emerald Coast to mark their calendars for the 5th Annual FORE! The Love of Animals Golf Tournament, presented by Sandestin Investments, on Saturday, May 9 at The Links Golf Club at Sandestin in Miramar Beach.
- The signature fundraising event, now returning to The Links Golf Club for a fifth consecutive year, brings together golfers, animal advocates, and community leaders for a day on the course where every swing supports the refuge’s lifesaving work — from rescue operations and veterinary care to rehabilitation and adoption programs serving animals throughout the Southeast.
This year’s tournament carries special significance, according to Alaqua founder Laurie Hood, who pointed to the seven remaining Hurricane Milton dogs still in the refuge’s care as a reminder of the organization’s critical mission.
“The FORE! The Love of Animals golf tournament has always been about bringing people together for a great cause, but this year feels especially meaningful,” Hood said. “The seven remaining Hurricane Milton dogs are a powerful symbol of why Alaqua exists — to be there when animals have nowhere else to go.”
PUBLIC SAFETY
5K Color Run/Walk in Fort Walton Beach on March 28 to fund youth law enforcement program
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Post 245 will host its third annual 5K Color Run/Walk on March 28, 2026, at 9 a.m. on the Northwest Florida State College campus at 1170 MLK Jr. Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach.
- The non-competitive event is designed purely for fun, with no awards or race timing. Participants will be doused with colored chalk by Explorers and Sheriff’s Office volunteers throughout the 5K route, with the goal of being covered in color by the time they cross the finish line.
Registration is $25 per participant, and the event is open to all ages. Proceeds will fund the Explorers program and send participating youth to a weeklong state competition in June, where they will compete against other Explorer posts throughout Florida.
The Explorers program serves young people ages 12-21, teaching them about law enforcement, community roles and life skills. The program aims to help participants develop into responsible community members.
SPORTS
Local high school sports coverage Sponsorship Opportunity
Since early November, Get the Coast has been providing dedicated coverage of Okaloosa County high school sports – and the response from our community has been incredible.
- Our sports reporter Travis Espy has been covering football playoffs, basketball, soccer, and now baseball and softball seasons across Choctawhatchee, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Baker, and Destin high schools.
These aren’t just game recaps. We’re telling the stories behind the scores – profiling standout athletes, celebrating championship runs, covering college signing days, and highlighting the moments that make our community proud of our student-athletes.
Now that we’ve found our footing with consistent, quality sports coverage, we’re opening up a short-run sponsorship opportunity for the spring season. And to be honest, funding for sports coverage is needed.
What We’re Looking For: We need 4 local business sponsors to support our sports coverage from March through May. If you’re interested in supporting local high school sports coverage and getting your business recognized as a community champion, reply to this email or contact me directly at jared@getthecoast.com.
EVENTS
A few things to do around town
Saturday, Feb. 28 – 2026 Northwest FL Expo for Disabilities and Exceptional Needs – Fort Walton Beach – Free – 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
Saturday, Mar. 7 – Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction – Niceville – $5.00 – View
Saturday, Mar. 7 – ShareFest – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Mar. 7 – Discover Science Saturday – Fort Walton Beach – $15.00 – View
Saturday, Mar. 7 – Women United Brunch & Bubbly – Fort Walton Beach – $99.00 – View
Tuesday, Mar. 10 – ECPRO Lunch and Learn: Local News & Media Panel – Fort Walton Beach – $40.00 – View
Tuesday, Mar. 10 – Science Social: Middle School Edition – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Thursday, Mar. 12 – Nothing But Networking hosted by Home2 Suites by Hilton FWB – Fort Walton Beach – $50.00 – View
Thursday, Mar. 12 – Gladius in Concert – Niceville – Free – View
LOCAL LOVE
After 55 years in nursing, Okaloosa’s Marian Bach is stepping back — but not away
A doctor once told a young Marian Bach that if you’re a good pediatric provider, you’re going to have dirty knees. You get down on your young patient’s level.
- More than five decades later, she still hasn’t forgotten. And if you ask the people who’ve worked alongside her, she never stopped living by it.
Bach, a retired Air Force major and one of the earliest pediatric nurse practitioners in the country, stepped down as MST Director at HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital on Feb. 22 after 55 years in nursing and nearly 35 with HCA Healthcare. She isn’t going far. Bach is transitioning to a PRN house supervisor role, picking up night shifts and teaching classes for staff.
“If I had to totally let go, it would have been even more traumatic,” she said.
Her career took her from Eglin Air Force Base to Okinawa, Japan, to the Philippines and back again. She raised three kids across three countries alongside her husband, Mike, a C-130 Air Commando pilot. After retiring as a major with 20 years of service, she landed at what was then Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in 1992 and never left HCA.
Over the decades that followed, Bach helped expand labor and delivery care at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, oversaw roughly 1,100 deliveries a year for 24 years, spent 13 years as the Viking Band nurse at Fort Walton Beach High School and led the MST unit at Twin Cities to four national recognitions.
She fought for her nurses, sat with families during their worst moments and never stopped learning. When we asked what 55 years of nursing has meant to her, she started to answer and simply couldn’t finish.
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!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
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124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548