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Good morning!
Voters across three Okaloosa County cities went to the polls Tuesday in municipal elections, though turnout was light — just 14.32% of registered voters cast ballots.
In Valparaiso, Joe Morgan led the three-way mayoral race with 49.28% of the vote (409 votes), followed by Patrick Palmer at 29.28% (243) and Chris Wasdin at 21.45% (178).
In Mary Esther, Bernie Oder and Larry Carter won the two available City Council seats, earning 38.85% and 34.84% of the vote, respectively. Julia Thomas finished third with 26.32%.
In Fort Walton Beach, Referendum 1 — on whether to move the elections to Nov. — passed overwhelmingly, with 84% voting yes. Results for Ballot Questions 2–6 were not reported due to a preliminary injunction. I have precinct-level vote data on those challenged amendments and will work up a story later.
All results are unofficial.
HOW I WORK
How Bridgeway CEO Bonnie Barlow builds leadership through faith, service, and community commitment
“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.
For Bonnie Barlow, the President and CEO of Bridgeway Center, Inc., the Emerald Coast has always felt like home. Born at Eglin Air Force Base, she returned to the area at 18 and never left, drawn by the sense of community and purpose she found here.
Her days are rarely predictable, balancing leadership decisions, meetings with her executive team, and the ongoing challenges that come with running a major nonprofit organization.
Through it all, she keeps her focus grounded in faith, mission, and the people her organization serves while approaching each day with gratitude, discipline, and a commitment to making a difference.
Here’s our interview with Bonnie
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If you live, work, worship or attend school within our field of membership, you can bank with us. See more ways to qualify for membership at eglinfcu.org/join.
Eglin Federal Credit Union — where members matter most. Insured by NCUA
GAMES
WordroW: March 11, 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
Colton Cook is a two-sport standout, a man of faith and the kind of player Niceville can count on every day
Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District – supporting the athletes who make our community stronger.
After missing three games with a finger injury, Niceville senior Colton Cook came back and made up for lost time.
- Cook went 4-for-8 with 5 RBIs across wins over Pace, Spanish Fort and Robertsdale, including his first career high school home run — a three-run shot against Pace. Before the game, he told friends that if he hit it over, he was opening his jersey.
Underneath was a “Jesus Saves” shirt his mom had just bought him. “Jesus plays a huge part in my life,” Cook said.
Cook is also a goalkeeper for Niceville soccer and was recently named one of eight goalkeepers statewide to the FACA All-Stars Florida team. Head coach Justin Bruce said Cook’s consistency sets him apart.
“Once he finally decides what it is and puts his whole heart into it, I believe he can do anything,” Bruce said.
Off the field, Cook is anchored by his faith at Crosspoint Church and a close-knit family led by a mom who never misses a game.
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SCHOOL
Niceville junior Emma Michel named one of 10 statewide ‘Sunshine State Scholar scholarship recipients’
A Niceville High School junior has earned one of Florida’s most prestigious academic honors, joining an elite group of just 10 students statewide to receive a Sunshine State scholarship.
- Emma Michel, an 11th-grader at NHS, was recognized as one of Florida’s top Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students at the Sunshine State Scholars Conference in Orlando, hosted by the Florida Department of Education.
Following her participation in the statewide event, Emma was selected to receive a one-year scholarship through the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and the Florida Education Foundation.
To qualify for the scholarship, Emma completed six additional essays demonstrating her passion for STEM and outlining her academic goals, competing against top students from across the state.
BEACH DAYS
Get featured in our ‘Beach Days’ series
We’re looking for locals to share their beach day stories!
Whether you’re a lifelong resident with a secret favorite spot or a newer local who’s discovered your own paradise, we want to hear from you.
Tell us about your beach crew, your must-pack essentials, your go-to playlist, and the traditions that make your beach days special. From sunrise swims to sunset hangs, paddleboard adventures to simply soaking up the sun with friends – every beach day has a story worth sharing.
Simply reply to this email, and we will send you over the form
SPORTS
Crestview softball building momentum behind confident lineup
Things are feeling different for Crestview softball.
The Lady Bulldogs started 1-3, dropping games to strong Tate and South Walton squads along with a home loss to Navarre. But since then, Crestview has reeled off three straight wins, including a run-rule victory over Gulf Breeze, a shutout revenge win at Navarre and a run-rule victory over Choctaw.
Head coach John Toolan believes the Navarre loss lit a spark in his team.
- “We really feel like we should’ve won the game at home against Navarre, and then we went to their place and shut them out, and I think that’s what really started this, and they’re starting to believe in themselves,” Toolan said.
The strength of the Lady Bulldogs’ turnaround has been their hitting core. Riley Copeland leads the way with 12 hits and 10 RBIs, while two-way standout Campbell Toolan has collected seven hits and 10 RBIs and anchors the pitching staff with a 3.10 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
BUSINESS
Bit-Wizards, TalkingParents earn eight ADDY awards, extend winning streak to 16 years
Fort Walton Beach-based technology company Bit-Wizards and co-parenting communication platform TalkingParents have once again demonstrated their creative prowess, earning eight ADDY Awards from the American Advertising Federation’s Pensacola Chapter in 2025.
- The honors mark the 16th consecutive year the joint teams have received recognition in the prestigious advertising competition, which celebrates creative excellence and innovation across the industry nationwide.
This year’s haul included one Gold ADDY and seven Silver ADDY awards spanning print collateral, specialty advertising, out-of-home media and digital campaigns.
“Each project we submitted represents countless hours of collaboration and innovation that exemplify our teamwork, creativity and relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Heather Ruiz, Director of Marketing for Bit-Wizards and TalkingParents. “Winning these awards is a direct reflection of those efforts and the culture we pride ourselves on.”
GIVING BACK
Northwest Florida students highlight STEM success at Electrathon Race
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
Students from across Northwest Florida gathered Saturday for the “Shock and Awe Shakedown,” an Electrathon race featuring electric go-karts designed and built by local high schoolers.
- The event, sponsored by Florida Power & Light, drew former Electrathon participants who are now pursuing engineering degrees at universities across Florida and Georgia. Several returned to Navarre to support their alma maters and encourage current competitors.
Cody Munin, a West Florida High School graduate now studying mechanical engineering at the University of West Florida, said the program gave him a critical foundation for his college coursework.
For current competitors, the program is already opening doors. One Navarre High School senior was recently accepted to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study mechanical engineering. Another will head to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in the fall to pursue mechanical engineering and motorsports engineering.
EVENTS
“Wine in the Woods” fundraiser to benefit Emerald Coast Food Rescue on Saturday in Baker
A scenic outdoor wine tasting experience will bring together food, family fun, live music and a mission to fight hunger this Saturday when Wine in the Woods takes over T’s Farm in Baker from 1-5 p.m.
- The inaugural fundraiser benefits Emerald Coast Food Rescue, a local nonprofit that connected 3.3 million pounds of food to 50 food programs across Northwest Florida in 2024.
The event features curated wine tastings from Vintage Distributors, beer and mocktail options, and live music from the Dizzy Juke Band. Children can explore interactive experiences from the Emerald Coast Science Center and E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, meet wildlife ambassadors from the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge and cuddle with baby animals from Bunnychick Haven of Navarre.
T’s Farm (yes, the local legend Mr. T) sits on 210 acres in the historic Escambia Farms community on the northern end of Okaloosa County. Tickets are $35.98.
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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