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Good morning!
A Fort Walton Beach chiropractor is volunteering his time and plane to fly rescue dogs to their forever homes across the country. Fort Walton Beach voters have approved moving elections to November while full results on five other charter questions remain uncertain, the city honors Dr. Paul Hsu with the ‘key to the city,’ Choctaw baseball rallies late to defeat Crestview 5-4 on ‘pink out’ night, and the 8th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival returns to Destin Commons on March 15.
- Plus, try today’s Wordrow puzzle, and our new jigsaw puzzle
POLITICS
FWB voters approve moving elections to November; full results on five other charter questions remain uncertain
Of the six charter amendment questions Fort Walton Beach voters decided Tuesday, only one has a complete, official result: Question 1, which moves city elections to coincide with the November general election cycle, passed with 84 percent support.
- The Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections reported 1,344 votes in favor and 256 against, out of 1,600 ballots cast across nine precincts.
Full results for the remaining five questions are not yet available.
A circuit court order, issued Feb. 27 at the request of the FWB Watch Group, prohibits the Supervisor of Elections from including Questions 2 through 6 in election night reporting or posting those results on the SOE website. The order also bars the Fort Walton Beach Canvassing Board from certifying those results until the litigation concludes, including all appeals.
Precinct-level voting reports from Election Day show how in-person voters voted on all six questions. But those reports account for only 1,072 of the 1,601 total ballots cast. The remaining 529 — cast by mail or during early voting — are not reflected in the precinct data.
The five questions still awaiting full results cover term limits and vacancy procedures, council meeting governance, changes to city officer duties, elected official compensation, and the repeal of the voter-approved 3% cap on annual budget expenditure increases. Whether those results are ever certified will depend on the outcome of the Watch Group’s lawsuit.
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GAMES
WordroW: March 12, 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.
GIVING BACK
Fort Walton Beach honors Dr. Paul Hsu with ‘key to the city’
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A technology entrepreneur who arrived in the United States from Taiwan in 1976 with $500 in his pocket received the key to the city of Fort Walton Beach during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
- Dr. Paul Hsu, founder of the HSU Educational Foundation, was honored by Mayor Nic Allegretto in what the mayor described as the first standalone key to the city. Past recognitions have typically come in the form of pins, awards or keys attached to plaques.
“This is something special that I wanted to bring into our city that other cities do, and I couldn’t think of a better first recipient than you, sir,” Allegretto said.
The mayor read a proclamation tying Hsu’s story to the nation’s 250th anniversary, noting that Hsu built a career as a technology entrepreneur and community leader before turning his focus to giving back. Through the HSU Educational Foundation, he brought together business leaders, educators and community partners to address workforce development through educational programming.
Allegretto credited not only Hsu’s vision but the staff, teachers, volunteers, mentors, donors and partners who carry the foundation’s mission forward.
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GAMES
Jigsaw – Through the Dunes
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 put “Through the Dunes” together?
Every week, we drop a fresh jigsaw puzzle featuring real photos from around Okaloosa County — from iconic local spots to historical snapshots you might remember. It’s another way to test yourself and stay connected to the coast.
SPORTS
Choctaw baseball rallies late to defeat Crestview 5-4 on ‘pink out’ night
Our sports coverage is sponsored by Bayer & Curtis Orthodontics and Emerald Coast Fellowship of Christian Athletes
On a night already filled with meaning, Choctaw baseball delivered a finish worthy of the occasion.
- The Indians rallied for four runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to stun Crestview 5-4 on Tuesday at the Andy Snaith Baseball Complex, erasing a three-run deficit in what may be the most thrilling game of the young season.
The contest doubled as Choctaw’s annual “Alayna Bowman Game,” a night dedicated to honoring Alayna Bowman, a beloved Choctawhatchee High School student who was killed by a drunk driver in 2010 at the age of 16.
In her memory, the Indians traded their traditional green for pink and black jerseys as part of a “Pink Out” night, with all proceeds going to the Alayna Bowman Memorial Scholarship Fund. The foundation has awarded more than $110,000 in scholarships to Choctaw seniors since its founding.
- Alayna’s parents, Mike and Linde Bowman, along with her brother Mack, were in attendance for the game. Mike threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
“It’s a special night for the program. I think there’s somebody watching down on us, and it’s an extremely special win on an extremely special night,” Choctaw Head Coach David Weber said. “Anytime you can beat a team around you that you see a lot, it’s always special.”
EVENTS
8th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival returns to Destin Commons on March 15
The 8th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival returns to Destin Commons on Sunday, March 15, from noon to 3 p.m.
- Attendees can sample unlimited mac and cheese creations from area restaurants and chefs. Vendors will compete for awards in three categories: Judge’s Choice, People’s Choice and Kid’s Choice.
All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, which provides local children with programs focused on academic success, character development, citizenship and healthy lifestyles. The event also features live music and activities for children.
General admission is $55 and includes an armband for unlimited food samples. Kids general admission is $20 with unlimited sampling. A VIC (Very Important Cheese) ticket is available for $75 and includes unlimited samples, three drink tickets and access to a VIP lounge area.
Tickets are available online and are expected to sell out. More information is available on the event’s Facebook page.
GIVING BACK
Fort Walton Beach Chiropractor flies rescue dogs to their forever homes
Most days, Dr. Scott Smith treats patients at Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic on Racetrack Road. But a few times a year, his office is the cockpit of a Grumman Tiger — and his passengers have four legs.
For the past five to six years, Smith has volunteered as a pilot for two nonprofit organizations — Puppy Rescue Flights and Pilots N Paws — flying dogs out of kill shelters and into the arms of rescue organizations and foster homes across the country. He does it all on his own dime: the fuel, the flight time, the airplane, his time.
- “I’m a dog lover,” Smith said. “My wife and I…we travel to eat, drink and pet dogs.”
That love drives him into the sky.
Smith estimates he’s transported several dozen animals over the years, anywhere from one dog per flight to as many as four. On his most recent mission, he flew four dogs. One memorable flight had him delivering a mother dog and her roughly four-day-old puppies after a scheduling delay meant the mom gave birth before the transport.
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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Jared
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