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Good morning!
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has launched a transparency portal for its Flock camera program, providing the public with access to usage data and addressing concerns about the license plate reading technology. The City of Fort Walton Beach will host the ‘Greatest American Cleanup’ on First Street this Saturday, Destin High School leadership students give back through a Little League sports drive, Jack Marracco is our Athlete of the Week for his family-first approach to baseball, and get an inside look at how Dr. Chad Marshall blends precision and mentorship in oral surgery in FWB.
HOW I WORK
How Dr. Chad Marshall blends precision, mentorship, and family-first values in oral surgery
“How I Work” is brought to you by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Join the most influential organization in Okaloosa. Learn more here.
Dr. Chad Marshall has deep roots in Fort Walton Beach. After moving here at six years old, he grew up watching his father establish the area’s first orthopedic practice — an early example of leadership, dedication, and service that would shape his own path in medicine.
Today, as an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with Gulf Coast Facial & Oral Surgery and Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Dr. Marshall balances planned procedures with unpredictable emergency cases, all while maintaining close coordination with patients and referring doctors.
- His work is grounded in discipline, mentorship, and a belief that growth comes from perseverance both inside and outside the operating room.
In this week’s HOW I WORK, presented by the FWB Chamber of Commerce, we get an inside look at what a typical day looks like for him, brown sugar in coffee, and that his brother is a literal rock star!
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GAMES
WordroW: March 4, 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.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
For Choctaw’s Jack Marracco, it all comes back to family, faith and baseball — and he’s just getting started
Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District – supporting the athletes who make our community stronger.
Jack Marracco doesn’t have to go far to find the people and places that matter most to him. His dad Curtis owns Taco Town just down the street from school. His mom Stephanie works in the guidance office at Choctaw. He attends Beachside Church, right next door to campus. He works at Ronnie’s Car Wash. And when he steps onto the field for the Big Green, he’s got his older brother Carter batting alongside him in the lineup.
- For this week’s Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Okaloosa Gas, everything runs through Racetrack Road.
Marracco, a sophomore, has stepped into a key role on Choctaw’s pitching staff this season — and he’s looked the part. Last month, he threw a no-hitter against Booker T. Washington, relying on a dominant fastball and a changeup he said was “pretty nasty that day.” The only thing that kept it from being a perfect game was a single walk.
“It was complete dominance, to be honest,” Head Coach David Weber said. “He threw the ball really well. His tempo was really good. He stayed within himself, executing pitches. It was gorgeous to see.”
Off the field, Marracco is a member of the National Honor Society at Choctaw, and his favorite class is AP Statistics with Coach Charlie Horton, who he credits with making him love math. He also plays football, works at Ronnie’s Car Wash with his brother, and attends Beachside Church on Sundays.
SCHOOL
Destin High School leadership students give back through Little League sports drive
A group of Destin High School students is proving that young people can make a big difference in their community through a sports equipment drive that has been months in the making.
- Students in the school’s Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy have spent the past several months collecting gently used sports gear to distribute to young athletes who may need equipment to participate in Little League. The project represents this year’s “Big Impact Service Project” for the leadership program.
“For our Chick-fil-A Leadership Impact Project, we have decided to organize a sports equipment donation for kids in need,” said McCarver Dahlman, one of the student leaders involved in the initiative. “Seeing how many people have already contributed has shown me how much impact we can make when we work together.”
The students chose the sports equipment drive because they understand the role athletics can play in a child’s development.
“Sports help kids build confidence and learn how to work together as a team,” said students Lynlee Armacost and Bailey Gaffney.
The drive will culminate this Saturday, March 7, when leadership students will set up a tent at Dalton Threadgill Ballpark following the Little League Opening Day parade. Families are invited to stop by and pick up sports equipment free of charge. Chick-Fil-A gift cards will also be available while supplies last.
GIVING BACK
City of Fort Walton Beach to host ‘Greatest American Cleanup’ on First Street this Saturday
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
The City of Fort Walton Beach will hold a community cleanup along First Street on Saturday, March 7, with volunteers gathering at 8 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, located at 134 Beal Parkway.
- The event, organized in partnership with Keep Okaloosa Beautiful and in support of the Greatest American Cleanup, will run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Volunteers will pick up trash along First Street from St. Mary Avenue to Eglin Parkway.
The city will provide buckets, gloves and trash pickers, though volunteers are encouraged to bring their own cleanup gear.
The Greatest American Cleanup is an initiative from Keep America Beautiful aimed at making the country look its best ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. The campaign’s goal is to remove 25 billion pieces of litter and beautify 25,000 communities nationwide by that date.
AMERICA 250
Looking for more America 250 events?
From historical commemorations at our local landmarks to community gatherings, educational programs, and patriotic celebrations — if it’s happening here for America 250, you’ll find it here.
The Okaloosa County America 250 Commission was founded by resolution of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 20, 2026, to support efforts to provide meaningful activities to the citizens and visitors of Okaloosa County throughout the 2026 calendar year to celebrate the founding of the United States of America, designated as the “America 250 Celebration Year.”
Organizations, businesses, and community groups across Okaloosa County are invited to submit their America 250 events for inclusion in our community calendar.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office launches transparency portal for Flock camera program
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has launched a public transparency portal detailing its use of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras.
- Sheriff Eric Aden announced the portal in a video statement, saying the move reflects the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability following questions from citizens and county commissioners about the technology.
“Our goal is to protect our community while being fully transparent about the tools we use,” Aden said.
The portal provides documentation on usage policies, audit logs, data sharing information, camera capabilities and data retention policies. The sheriff’s office has deployed 80 cameras throughout the county since February 2022.
Aden emphasized the cameras capture license plates and vehicle details on public roadways but are not used to issue citations like school zone or red light cameras.
“Transparency builds trust, and we’re dedicated to earning yours every day,” Aden said.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday. 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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