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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
Hurlburt Field officials return encouraged from legislative discussions about Highway 98 improvements, while Okaloosa County moves forward with plans to demolish part of the old Fort Walton Beach Hospital. A local second-grader makes history at the regional spelling bee, HCA celebrates its certified nursing staff, and Fort Walton Beach High basketball players get a taste of college atmosphere at UF.
- NIGHT FLYING: Residents may experience aircraft noise March 24 – 27, when the 58th Fighter Squadron conducts night flying operations in the area. Fighter aircraft will conduct missions between 8 and 10:30 p.m. Night flying is required for training operations.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa second grader makes history as youngest competitor in regional spelling bee
A Wright Elementary second grader made her mark at the Envision Credit Union Regional Spelling Bee, tying for sixth place as the youngest competitor in the event.
- Vanessa Wesbur, who won Wright Elementary’s school spelling bee earlier this year, advanced to the fifth round of the regional competition held March 8 in Tallahassee.
Wright Elementary maintains its status as the only Okaloosa County School District school participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Vanessa’s school championship automatically qualified her for the regional competition, where she faced older students from across the region.
“Our Wright Elementary family is so proud of Vanessa’s great success in this competition,” said Principal Suzanne Boyd. “Her accomplishment is just one example of the dedicated student she is every day. Vanessa’s drive, poise, and commitment to being the best she can be shows in everything she does.”
- Vanessa’s parents and her teachers, Angie Willis and Mandy Bennett, attended the competition to support her throughout the event.
Superintendent Marcus Chambers also recognized her achievement: “Vanessa’s performance at the regional spelling bee is extraordinary, especially as a second grader competing against older students. Her dedication, perseverance, and love for learning embody the excellence we strive for in Okaloosa County Schools.”
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HEALTHCARE
HCA Florida Healthcare recognizes certified nurses’ impact on patient care
HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital and HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital will honor its certified nurses on March 19 for Certified Nurses Day, recognizing their commitment to excellence in patient care.
- Certified Nurses Day is celebrated globally on March 19, the birthday of Dr. Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, an early champion for nursing certification whose leadership helped shape certification standards worldwide.
“We want to promote growth and celebrate our certified nurses,” said Morgan Talley, DNP RN, AONL-NMF, Chief Nursing Officer at HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital. “My goal would be to have all of our nurses certified once they’re able and ready to take the certification exam.”
Talley, who has been with HCA for 25 years and joined Twin Cities Hospital as CNO last April, holds certifications through the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and as a certified nurse manager leader.
- The hospital serves a significant number of patients in the community, with the emergency room alone seeing 20,000 patients from January 2023 to January 2024.
National specialty certification, also called board certification, represents the highest professional credential a nurse can earn. Unlike the basic licensing exam for entry-level registered nurses, specialty certification validates advanced knowledge in specific areas of nursing.
There are approximately 180 different nursing certifications available across specialties including critical care, emergency, surgical services, geriatrics and leadership, according to Talley.
Research indicates hospitals with more nationally certified nurses typically see improved patient outcomes.
- “Most literature will show you that any hospital that has a good number of nationally certified nurses, you’re going to have better outcomes because you’ve got that level of expertise in your hospital,” Talley said.
That expertise is increasingly important as healthcare grows more complex. “Patients are getting older and more complex,” Talley said, noting that hospitals now treat more patients in their 80s and 90s with multiple health conditions. Mental health and substance abuse issues also present growing challenges in the Panhandle region.
Across the bay at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, administrators share this commitment to certified nursing.
“At HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, we take immense pride in our certified nurses and the expertise they provide in patient care every day,” said Jessica Bailey, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. “Certification demonstrates a strong commitment to professional growth, excellence, and lifelong learning—qualities that characterize our nurses.”
NEWS
Okaloosa County approves contract to demolish portion of old Fort Walton Beach Hospital
The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners approved a contract Tuesday for the demolition of a portion of the old Fort Walton Beach Hospital, which has sat vacant for several years, with one commissioner suggesting the site could eventually be used for affordable housing.
- The $157,770 contract was awarded to Jobe’s Dirt Works, LLC as part of the consent agenda at the March 18 commission meeting. The company was selected after the county received six bids for the project, with Jobe’s determined to be the lowest and most responsive bidder.
Located at 215 Hospital Drive NE in Fort Walton Beach, the facility will be demolished following asbestos abatement work completed by Cross Environmental Services in May 2024. That abatement allowed the county’s Facilities Maintenance department to move forward with contracting the demolition.
During the “Commissioners Minute” portion of the meeting, Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel proposed that the county consider using the property for affordable housing once the demolition is complete.
- “I know we’re all desperately looking for available land to place affordable housing on,” Ketchel said. “It would be my hope that we would consider expanding that property a little bit. I would like us to consider possibly putting some affordable housing on that property.”
County Administrator John Hofstad responded that additional work remains at the site, as some offices will still be occupied after the current demolition phase. Hofstad assured the commission that his office would coordinate with them on the best use of the property going forward.
The approved demolition work includes removing existing structures, weatherproofing the remaining building occupied by Elder Services by constructing a brick wall to seal the structure, and clearing, removing and leveling the disturbed area.
SCHOOL
Fort Walton Beach High basketball teams experience college atmosphere at UF game
The Fort Walton Beach High School boys and girls basketball teams traveled to Gainesville on Saturday, March 8, to visit the University of Florida campus and attend the Gators’ final home basketball game of the season.
- The teams watched as Florida defeated Ole Miss 90-71 with 11,191 fans in attendance, giving the student-athletes a taste of college basketball atmosphere.
Girls basketball coach Mercedez Clayborne said the experience left a lasting impression on her players.
“This game was an experience that none of us will forget,” Clayborne said. “There was so much learning in being a good team and an even better teammate. The experience set a new standard for them.”
According to Clayborne, the trip provided motivation and tangible goals for her athletes.
“It gave them something tangible to strive for,” she said. “When we left the game, they were more motivated than ever to set higher goals for themselves.”
Boys basketball coach Chris Carswell emphasized how the college environment inspired his team.
- “Exposing my boys basketball team to the college basketball atmosphere was more than just seeing a game,” Carswell said. “It was an opportunity to inspire, to dream bigger, to work harder, and to see first hand the level of dedication it takes to succeed at whatever you want to do in life.”
The visit held special significance as the teams saw the monument of Fort Walton Beach High School alumnus Danny Wuerffel outside the O’Connell Center.
Athletic Director Holly McDaniel described the trip as a bonding experience that went beyond basketball.
“This trip was more than just a game—it was an opportunity to celebrate their season, experience a college campus, and think about their future,” McDaniel said.
- McDaniel highlighted the collaborative relationship between the boys and girls programs. “The boys and girls teams work closely together, lean on each other, and support one another every step of the way,” she said.
Both coaches noted that the trip reinforced their love for basketball while providing a valuable learning experience.
“It wasn’t just about having fun—it was about setting a new bar,” Clayborne said. “It was about them realizing that the path to playing at the highest level is within reach.”
Carswell added, “Experiences like these remind us why we put so much time into it, for the love of the game, and push us to work even harder.”
TRAFFIC
Hurlburt officials encouraged by Highway 98 improvement talks with Florida legislators
The Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing met with Florida legislators at the State Capitol to discuss how U.S. Highway 98 traffic congestion is affecting military readiness at Hurlburt Field.
- Col. Patrick Dierig, accompanied by Wing subject matter experts, voiced concerns during meetings on March 12 with key lawmakers, including committee chairs and representatives from the Emerald Coast.
“Highway 98 traffic is not a matter of convenience for the 1st SOW,” Dierig said during the engagements. “The traffic is a readiness issue.”
The 1st SOW’s mission involves rapidly planning and executing specialized operations supporting national priorities, often with minimal notice. These missions require hundreds of Airmen to report to base quickly.
“I never want to be in the position of calling the Air Force Special Operations Command commander and saying the mission failed because of a traffic jam,” Dierig said.
Florida Representative Patt Maney from District 4, which includes part of Okaloosa County, hosted the Hurlburt Field team. His staff arranged meetings with the Chairs of the Senate Appropriations Committee and House Budget Committee, along with other legislative leaders.
- While lawmakers acknowledged the high costs associated with improvement options, they expressed willingness to explore solutions, according to Hurlburt Field.
Senator Don Gaetz, whose District 1 includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and part of Okaloosa County, emphasized the economic stakes. “If traffic impacts the mission, you could lose the base. If you lose the base, you lose the economy.”
Current infrastructure projects include Okaloosa County’s study for a new 3.2-mile collector road west of Hurlburt Field, which would run parallel to Highway 98. This project aims to reduce congestion near Florosa Elementary School and residential areas, complementing a separate Florida Department of Transportation initiative to widen U.S. 98 from Gulf Breeze to Hurlburt Field.
- Santa Rosa County is conducting its own study for a proposed Navarre common access road, an east-west corridor north of U.S. 98.
During the legislative meetings, Gaetz committed to advocating for a $4 million funding bill to study the “Connecting the Collectors” project, which would link the separate county initiatives, according to Hurlburt officials.
Representative Lawrence McClure, Chair of the House Budget Committee, and Senator Ed Hooper, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, agreed to support the proposed funding bill.
“Thank you for your commitment to protecting our nation and keeping us safe,” Hooper said.
The meetings left 1st SOW officials optimistic about receiving continued state support.
“This will be a many-year project, but the traffic issue is only getting worse,” said Dierig. “The only wrong answer is to do nothing.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday. With this week being Spring Break, the news might be a little slow. 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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