SPONSORED BY
Good morning!
I hope you’re enjoying Spring Break! It’s still slow(er) on the news side of things, but we do have some stories this morning…Brooks Bridge construction is advancing with decorative wall panels being installed and a pedestrian detour in place as the replacement project takes visible shape. Niceville flag football is off to a dominant 6-0 start with playoff aspirations, and a Collegiate High School student has been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist.
SPORTS
Niceville flag football off to dominant 6-0 start with sights set on playoffs
Sitting pretty at 6-0 and winning by an average of 37.2 points per game, Niceville flag football looks poised for another playoff berth.
- The Lady Eagles’ past two victories proved they are for real. They blew out both Gulf Breeze and Lincoln — both of whom look like playoff teams early on — and the win over Lincoln was Niceville’s fifth shutout in six games.
Head Coach Adron Robinson attributes the dominant start to the Lady Eagles buying in all the way back in the summer.
“I think it goes back to the summer and the fall,” Robinson said. “All summer, we ran and we conditioned. We don’t get tired on the field, and we play hard.”
Leading the way is quarterback Peyton Carter, who is coming into her own this season. Carter already has 30 touchdowns on the year, and Robinson has been impressed with how she’s grown as a leader.
- “She’s stepped into a leadership role,” Robinson said. “She’s a leader and they follow her, and it’s working out for us.”
Carter has a talented core of skill players around her. Multisport star Layla Hughes has racked up 307 yards and five touchdowns so far, while Avery Cowles and Kate Robinson each have six touchdowns. Eden Shaw and Reagan Sutter have also put up solid numbers this season.
SPONSORED
You can bank with us
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 19, 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.
PROMOTED BY IMPACT100
Impact100 NWF sets sights on record-breaking 2026: Six grants, $600,000 for local nonprofits
When Mary Tinsley took the helm as board president of Impact100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. this year, she brought with her a personal mantra that perfectly encapsulates the organization’s mission: making a difference in the lives of others.
- Now, she’s channeling that philosophy into an ambitious goal: reaching 600 members and awarding six $100,000 grants in 2026 — a record for the Northwest Florida chapter.
The 2026 goals were shaped in part by last year’s momentum. Local developer Jay Odom sponsored 29 women, helping Impact100 NWF reach 482 members and fund all five grant categories.
To attract new members, Impact100 NWF is hosting 10 enrollment events across both counties this spring
- March 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – 3rd Planet Brewery, Niceville
- April 2, 9-11 a.m. – Main Brew Coffee, Fort Walton Beach
- April 12, 1-3 p.m. – Eagle’s Nest at Blackwater, Crestview
- April 15, 9-11 a.m. – 2 Birds Coffee, Miramar Beach
- April 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Ruth’s Chris, Destin
GAMES
Jigsaw – Under an Emerald Coast Sky
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 “Under an Emerald Coast Sky” 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.
SCHOOL
Collegiate High School student named National Merit Scholarship Finalist
Nathan Van, a student at Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College, has been named a Finalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship competition, placing him among the nation’s most accomplished high school students.
- Van is among approximately 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide who advanced to Finalist standing, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Finalists are selected based on their academic record, leadership abilities, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College is recognized as one of Florida’s top-performing public high schools and is known for its academically driven environment. The school offers students the unique opportunity to earn college credit while completing high school requirements, preparing them for success at the highest academic levels.
“The Collegiate High School team is very proud of the efforts and accomplishments of Nathan,” said Assistant Principal Tristin Waller. “We wish him the very best as he continues in the competition as a National Merit Finalist.”
PROMOTED BY HCA
New ER now open in DeFuniak Springs
The new HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency is now open, bringing 24/7 emergency care to Walton County. Located at I-10 and U.S. 331, the facility features 10 private patient care rooms, board-certified emergency physicians and on-site diagnostic services including CT scan and digital X-ray.
TRAFFIC
Brooks Bridge construction advances with decorative wall panels, pedestrian detour
Brooks Bridge construction is moving forward in Fort Walton Beach as crews place precast concrete panels along the mechanically stabilized earth wall.
- The MSE walls support, stabilize and retain the soil used to elevate the U.S. 98 travel lanes at the westbound bridge approach for the new Brooks Bridge.
The precast concrete panels feature a decorative geometric pattern and are secured by high-strength reinforcement straps embedded within the reinforced soil mass behind the wall. The MSE wall matches the MSE wall constructed on Okaloosa Island.
The sidewalk along the north side of Brooks Bridge and U.S. 98, adjacent to the westbound travel lanes, remains closed. Pedestrians traveling within the project limits, between Pier Road on Okaloosa Island and Perry Avenue in Fort Walton Beach, must use the sidewalk on the south side of the road adjacent to the U.S. 98 eastbound travel lanes.
The designated pedestrian route in Fort Walton Beach provides access between the Brooks Bridge and Brooks Street.
The $171-million Brooks Bridge replacement project includes constructing two new, parallel bridge structures that will increase capacity to six travel lanes. The current bridge, which opened in 1966, has four lanes.
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!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
Published with ♥ by Get The Coast.
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here.
124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548