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Good morning!
A suspicious package on Mooney Road in Fort Walton Beach was found to be safe after a multi-agency response. Choctaw baseball is rolling through spring break with four straight wins as they eye a historic No. 1 seed, the Fort Walton Beach Chamber expands regional competition for the 2026 National Civics Bee, and the Okaloosa Health Department promotes cleaner, safer parks and beaches as spring season begins.
PARKS+REC
Okaloosa Health Department promotes cleaner, safer parks and beaches as spring season begins
As warmer weather brings more families and visitors to local parks and beaches, Okaloosa County is reinforcing its push for tobacco-free public spaces aimed at reducing one of the most common forms of litter found in outdoor recreation areas.
- Cigarette butts, vape devices and other tobacco products do not break down easily and are among the most persistent types of waste in parks and along shorelines, according to the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County.
Health officials say cigarette butts can release toxic chemicals into sand, soil and waterways, while discarded vape cartridges introduce plastic, batteries and residual nicotine into the environment — posing risks to wildlife and creating potential hazards for children and beachgoers.
Okaloosa County continues to support tobacco-free policies at its parks and beaches, an effort officials say helps cut down on litter, protect local ecosystems and maintain cleaner spaces during the busy spring season.
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GAMES
WordroW: March 23, 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.
SPORTS
Choctaw baseball rolls through spring break with four straight wins, eyes historic No. 1 seed
Choctaw baseball used spring break to make a statement.
The Indians rattled off four straight wins over a six-day stretch from March 14-20, capped by a 13-5 road victory over Bay on Friday. The run has pushed Choctaw to 11-4 on the season and 2-0 in district play, and with the FHSAA’s most recent power rankings placing the Indians in position for the No. 1 seed in the regional playoffs, the program is chasing something it has never achieved: a spot in the Final Four.
The signature win of the streak came Wednesday night at home against Mandarin, a team that arrived fresh off a 3-0 upset win over Niceville.
The night belonged to Jack Marracco, who delivered a two-way performance that included five strikeouts on the mound and an RBI double that scored his brother Carter to put Choctaw on the board first, 1-0.
- “He’s a good player, he’s tough, he goes out there and gives it all he’s got every night, and it worked out for him tonight,” Choctaw head coach David Weber said.
The floodgates opened in the fourth inning.
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GIVING BACK
FWB Chamber expands regional competition for 2026 National Civics Bee
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is broadening the reach of its National Civics Bee regional competition this spring, opening the event to middle school students from across Northwest Florida after a successful debut last year in Okaloosa County.
- The 2026 regional competition, hosted in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will take place at 4 p.m. April 7 at Beachside Church in Fort Walton Beach. The event is open to the public and media.
Now in its second year, the competition has expanded from an Okaloosa County event to one that includes middle school students from Escambia County to Leon County.
“We were incredibly encouraged by the response to our inaugural event and are thrilled to see such meaningful growth in year two,” said Ted Corcoran, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “Expanding the competition to include students from across the region allows us to further our mission of fostering civic knowledge and leadership among young people.”
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Musical Echoes celebrates 25 years with free Native flute festival at The Landing
Musical Echoes is marking a quarter century with its 25th Anniversary Native Flute Festival, running April 24-26 at The Landing in Fort Walton Beach. The three-day celebration features performers, concerts, Native American flute music, dance and cultural exhibits — all with Santa Rosa Sound as the backdrop.
The festival is free and open to the public, with events running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
PUBLIC SAFETY
FWB suspicious package on Mooney Road found to be safe after multi-agency response
A suspicious package reported at a residence on Mooney Road NW prompted a multi-agency response late last week before investigators determined it posed no threat.
- Officers with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department responded to the home at approximately 12:30 p.m. March 19 after receiving a call about the package. After making contact with the residents and assessing the situation, officers determined it warranted further investigation and requested assistance from Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams.
EOD units from Eglin Air Force Base and the state of Florida responded to the scene, along with support from the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations, the Shalimar Police Department, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Okaloosa Department of Emergency Management. Mooney Road was temporarily closed between Country as a precaution.
After a thorough examination, the package was determined not to contain any hazardous or explosive materials, and the scene was safely cleared.
“We ask our community to remain vigilant and to trust their instincts,” said Chief Robert Bage. “If something does not seem right, reporting it is always the right decision. We would much rather respond and find nothing than miss an opportunity to keep our community safe.”
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