WATER

Destin Water Users, Inc. break ground on new $19.5 million construction project

On Monday, March 14, Destin Water Users, Inc. broke ground on their new office building, warehouses, and parking garage located at the George French Water Reclamation Facility at 14 Industrial Park Lane. 

• The cost of construction is $19.5 million, including architectural and engineering fees, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

The new structures will replace old buildings that predate current hurricane building codes. The new office building will also consolidate offices and personnel working on the plant and will serve as a command center post hurricane.

“We were concerned that the current building would not withstand the strong storms we’ve seen in recent years and it would hinder our ability to recover,” said Lockwood Wernet, DWU General Manager.  “We were also concerned about our ability to keep staff safe in buildings that are not rated to withstand the strong hurricanes.”

DWU has been working on the plans since 2019 with architect Michael Baker International. The new office building will be a 12,855 square-foot, two-story split face block construction while the warehouse will be a 6,268 square-foot, pre-engineered metal building to house inventory. 

• There will also be a new 7,396 square-foot, pre-engineered departmental storage building that will serve as work and storage area for different departments working on the plant and in the field. 
• The parking garage will be a three-story, 26,400 square-foot precast concrete structure with 67 parking spaces.

HIGH SCHOOL BAND

Crestview High School saxophone quartet will compete in nationals at Notre Dame

The Fischoff competition is the nation’s largest chamber music competition, and is America’s premier educational chamber music competition. 

• This year, a saxophone quartet from Crestview High School will head to Notre Dame to compete in this very competition.

The quartet is made up of Seniors that include:

• Payton Hatfield – Drum Major
• Gavin Westmoreland
• Lucas Hunker
• Hiro Parrett – Drum Major

The unique thing about these 4 is that they have played together as a quartet since they were in the 8th grade. 

“These are guys who’ve had quite a storied career in their middle school and high school days,” said Kim Whaley, Assistant Band Director at Crestview High School. “This is very rare that these guys have been together since eighth grade, and they played together every year leading up to their senior year.”

Entering this competition isn’t something that they were required to do. In fact, they decided to enter it all on their own. The Fishoff Competition is in its 49th year and features musicians from all over the United States.

The whole thing started last May, with the group strategically choosing the music that they wanted to learn. They have since spent the entire school year learning the music in preparation for the first round of the competition. 

“As soon as the the results from last year’s competition came out, they got online and watched the videos of the other saxophone quartet who won for music inspiration,” said Whaley. “The music they chose is very difficult music that college ensembles would be playing.”

A little over a week ago, Whaley Jody Dunn, Director of Bands at Crestview High School, recorded them to be submitted. Last Wednesday, during band rehearsal, they found out that they made it to the next round of the competition.

“We were in rehearsal and I looked over see my saxophones get excited about something,” said Jody Dunn, Director of Bands at Crestview High School. “I was thinking, ‘what did I just say that was so great?‘ They got an email and read it right after rehearsal and they were thrilled.”

Now, the young men are preparing to head to Notre Dame on May 20th where they will perform live in front of a group of 3 professional musicians. From there, the judges will decide the finalists who will compete the following day. 

“We will know by that Sunday who the winner is,” said Whaley. “They have a gold, silver and bronze winner.”

Although the Big Red Machine did have a woodwind quintet make it to this semi-final round last year, it was all virtual. This will be the first time that anyone from Okaloosa County has made it this far in the competition. 

“What’s so great about this group is that they did most of they work on their own,” explains Whaley. “I only worked with them maybe three or four times. The rest of the time they listened to recordings and rehearsed on their own.”

An educator’s dream

Whaley first started working with three of the young men when they were in the 6th grade at Shoal River Middle School. Payton joined them shortly after. 

“To watch them from their very first notes, to see them take it on their own, this is what you want from musicians,” she said. “You want them to go past what you teach them and venture out on their own and make it their own, and that’s exactly what these guys have done.”

Dunn echoed her sentiments:

“As educators, we hope that when our students graduate, that they will be lifelong consumers of music, and these guys are the epitome of that,” he said. “It means a great deal to any teacher to have their students really fall in love with the subject and run with it on their own. We’re very proud of these guys.”

The 49th Annual Fischoff Competition will be held at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN on  May 20-22, 2022.

LOCAL MONEY

$1.5 Million now available to non-profits through ARPA Funding

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners has approved $1.5 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to respond to the public health emergency with respect to COVID–19 and to address its negative economic impacts.

• The county is now accepting ARPA funding applications from eligible non-profit organizations beginning Thursday, March 17, 2022.

“Many Okaloosa County non-profit organizations have continued to serve our community, despite the long-lasting challenges introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Chairman, Mel Ponder. “We are pleased to offer some relief.”

In addition to accepting applications for consideration of ARPA funding, the County has also opened its annual funding opportunity to non-profit organizations who assist the county in carrying out its vision of providing economic opportunity and excellence in critical services to enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Non-profit organizations interested in applying for either funding opportunity may visit the County’s website to learn more about eligibility and to download an application. 

• Applications will be accepted through May 2, 2022 at 5 pm. 
• Eligible applicants are encouraged to participate in a webinar scheduled for Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 9 am. 

For more information on ARPA, the County’s application process or to register for the upcoming webinar, visit myokaloosa.com/nonprofitfunding.

MAGIC AT THE BOARDWALK

Kick off Spring Break with some MYSTICAL MAGIC!

This magical endeavor is sure to impress all, with duo illusionists from Pittman Magic.

The mesmerizing magical variety show will feature:

• Jaw-dropping Vegas-style grand stage illusions
• Comedic stage magic
• Unique juggling skills
• Daring balancing feats
• And many more surprises!

Sharing the spotlight, the award-winning husband and wife duo tour throughout the U.S. and Canada performing for audiences of all ages.

Ready to see them in action? Head to Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island this Sunday from 4-6pm!

THE GOVERNOR

Gov. DeSantis signs bill in Okaloosa County, talks ending FSA testing

On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis visited Florosa Elementary School in Okaloosa County to highlight groundbreaking legislation signed on Tuesday that eliminates the high-stakes Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) test and replaces it with progress monitoring. 

• Senate Bill 1048 makes Florida the first state in the nation to transition fully to progress-monitoring for school accountability. 

Starting with the 2022-2023 school year, Florida students will have three short check-ins instead of multi-day, end-of-year, high-stakes tests for English Language Arts and Mathematics. 

• This new system of testing will benefit students, teachers, and parents by allowing for informed instruction in a timely manner, that can be tailored to each student’s individual needs.

“This has been the year of the parent, and parents have said that the FSA is not working for their students,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We heard the call and are replacing it with timely check-ins that show how students progress in real-time. This will inform instruction in the classroom and at home. I am proud to sign this bill and know it will make a difference for Florida’s students.” 

In accordance with the newly signed legislation, this school year will be the last year for the FSA and next year, Florida will be the first state in the nation to fully implement progress monitoring-based school accountability. 

• The 2022-2023 school year will be the new baseline for school accountability, and school grades will resume the following year. 

One standout moment for the Okaloosa County School District came when DeSantis proclaimed that Okaloosa “is one of the best performing counties in the state” when it comes to education.

• He turned to Superintendent Marcus Chambers to ask where the District ranked in the state, to which Chambers replied, “historically Top 5.”

Superintendent Chambers revealed that on Wednesday he found out that the Okaloosa School District has been accredited. The average point total of all school districts across the nation is between 275-282 points out of 400. Okaloosa scored 382 points.

BAD WEATHER

Okaloosa schools closed Friday due to severe weather

In the interest of student and staff safety, and based on the most recent severe weather information, Okaloosa schools will be closed on Friday, March 18th.

• According to the Okaloosa County School District, the most recent weather update this afternoon showed an increase in severity.

“We have been advised by Emergency Operations Director Patrick Maddox with Okaloosa County that as of 1:00 PM, the National Weather Service update from Mobile now indicates an Enhanced Risk of severe weather for Okaloosa County on Friday, upgraded from Slight Risk,” wrote the OCSD in a press release.

According to the National Weather Service, the main threats with an Enhanced Risk are:

• Possibly strong tornadoes
• Damaging winds up to 70 mph
• Large hail up to golf ball size

The Okaloosa School District says that while morning travel to school is not expected to be significantly impacted by the weather, the actual school day and after school transportation on school buses would pose a significant safety concern for students and staff given the latest weather information. 

School will resume Tuesday, March 29.

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do this weekend

March 19, 2022 – Sham Rock-N-Ride – $15/$20 – View

March 19, 2022 – Festival of Colors – $5/$10 – View

March 19, 2022 – Festival Of Colors – HOLI PARTY – – View

March 19, 2022 – Paint Your Pet Party with Maxine Orange – $150 – View

March 19, 2022 – Girl Scout Cookie Wine Pairing @ The Twisted Grape Cafe & Wine Bar! – $15.00 – View

March 20, 2022 – 4th Annual INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Fort Walton Beach – Free – View