ALL SPORTS

Niceville’s Eric Trapp wins 2022 Taylor Haugen Trophy

Last week, I caught up with Niceville High School Senior Eric Trapp at the All Sports Association‘s Banquet to talk about winning the Taylor Haugen Trophy award, what it means to him, and what he will miss about Niceville Football when he graduates.

In 2008, Taylor Haugen passed away from an abdominal injury sustained while playing football for Niceville High School. In his short 15 ½ years, Taylor Reid Haugen left an indelible mark on the community through his living faith and compassion for his friends, team, community, organizations and church. 

• The Trophy is awarded to an area athlete who best demonstrates a balance between academics, athleticism, leadership, community service and faith.

“This award, I believe, is truly the best award in the area because it symbolizes everything I think a young man should possess,” Trapp said. “I’m so blessed that the Haugen Foundation believed that person was me to be able to carry on Taylor’s legacy. I hope I can be half the person he was because he was a courageous young man that had many goals and he always filled them.”

When asked about what he will miss most about Niceville Football, Trapp said:

“It would have to be those Friday nights when the band’s playing the fight song after we score a touchdown. I’ll miss all of the students in the student section. I think we have the best student section in the whole nation. They’re just so supportive and I’ll definitely miss those Friday night lights.”

As for his future plans, Trapp plans to combine his love of helping others with his passion for sports by becoming an orthopedic surgeon working as the team doctor for a professional or college sports team. 

Click here to watch the interview

WINNER WINNER

Okaloosa man wins $2 million from new scratch-off game

The Florida Lottery announced on Thursday that Sean Smith-Ogara, of Crestview, claimed the first $2 million top prize from the new 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at the Lottery’s Pensacola District Office.

• He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,645,000.

😱😱😱

Smith-Ogara purchased his winning ticket from Tom Thumb, located at 1463 State Highway 83 in Defuniak Springs. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket. 

The new $10 game, 100X THE CASH, launched in January 2022 and features more than $337.9 million in cash prizes, including eight top prizes of $2,000,000.

• The game’s overall odds of winning are 1-in-3.44. 

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do this weekend

March 4, 2022 – Sip N’ Stroll Gallery Night at J.Leon Gallery – View

March 5, 2022 – Step One Automotive Hosts the Saving with Soul Adoption Event – Free – View

March 5, 2022 – Women United Launch Party – Brunch – $40 – View

March 5, 2022 – FWBHS Cheerleading Food Truck and Craft Festival – Free – View

March 5, 2022 – ECCCF Inaugural Chili Cook Off Presented by BOTE – View

March 5, 2022 – Acrylic Pour For Everyone – View

March 6, 2022 – 4th Annual Mac and Cheese Festival – View

PUBLIC SAFETY

VIDEO: Crestview school crossing guard saves student from speeding truck

Around 8:00am Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Mackenzie Holliday, one of Crestview Police Department’s school crossing guards, saved a student’s life thanks to her quick reaction to an oncoming truck.

Holliday, and counterpart Eric Marshall, staff a portion of Hwy 85 each morning and afternoon for those walking to and from a local elementary school.

According to Holliday, the traffic had been stopped and the truck was not in line of sight when they gave the student the go ahead to cross. 

“Everything happened so fast, but I can honestly say that in that split second my mind was focused on her without even realizing,” she said. “I have a daughter her age and all I could think about was what would I want someone to do to protect my child.”

The crossing guard program is a long-standing entity in the community. In 2016, the program fell back under the Crestview Police Department, where it saw a revamp in training. 

• Holliday has been a part of the unit for a month now.

The Crestview Police Department was able to identify the vehicle.

“Speeders, aggressive and distracted drivers beware,” wrote the Crestview PD in a press release. “There is ZERO Tolerance for people who commit violations in school zones or put the lives of our community’s children in harms way.”

Click here to watch the video