NEWS

Destin mourns the loss of 9-year old Tucker Reese, a young baseball star and community inspiration

The Destin community is grieving the loss of 9-year old Tucker Reese, who passed away on March 18, 2024, following a tragic ATV accident. 

• On Thursday, March 21, 2024, crowds gathered at Threadgill Park, where Tucker had played countless games, to celebrate his life and the indelible impact he had on all who knew him.

Born on January 19, 2015, Tucker was described as “a ray of sunshine” from the moment he entered the world. His infectious laughter and boundless energy touched the lives of many, leaving an unforgettable mark on his family, friends, and the entire Destin community.

Tucker’s passion for sports, particularly baseball, was evident from a young age. He possessed an extraordinary talent that earned him the admiration of coaches, teammates, and spectators alike. His dedication, skill, and love for the game shone through with every swing of the bat and every catch he made on the field.

During the memorial ceremony, coaches and community members shared heartfelt memories of Tucker’s life, highlighting his athletic prowess and the way he inspired those around him.

• “We’re just honored to have known him for the short time we did,” said Coach Kevin Schmidt. “He was an amazing kid. He’s here with us tonight. He’s gonna be with us here the rest of our lives, and we’re all gonna see him one day when we go up in heaven. We know him and many others are up there right now watching us.”

Matt Dahlman, another of Tucker’s coaches, echoed these sentiments. “I stand up here tonight as one of the many coaches who were honored and blessed to have been able to coach Tucker Reese. We stand in this absolutely perfect place to honor and remember Tucker. This ballpark will always be his home. This is the place he spent countless hours. This is a place that inevitably he probably met the 90 to 100 percent of the people who are here tonight.”

Dahlman emphasized Tucker’s role as a teammate and friend, saying, “This is a place where he became a teammate, and he became a friend. This is a place that he loved to be, and this is a place where his memory and his legacy will live on forever.”

• Describing Tucker’s incredible talent, Dahlman shared, “First and foremost, we would say that he was a bona fide stud. That word gets thrown around so much, especially in youth and professional sports. But Tucker sure enough was. It was fitting and it was the truth.”

Beyond his athletic abilities, Tucker was seen as a role model for his peers. Dahlman noted that as he was reading through many of the recent social media posts about Tucker, one of the things that stuck out to him was how everyone who had a child that played with Tucker simply loved him. 

• “They spoke about his talents, they spoke about how they loved playing with him and they spoke about how all their kids always wanted to be on his team and they wanted to be like him,” he said.”

Tucker’s work ethic was another aspect of his character that stood out to those who knew him. Dahlman recalled, “I feel like sometimes I live at this ballpark, and there’s very few times over the last number of years that I can ever remember being up here and not seeing Tucker.”

As his family and community grapple with this loss, they find solace in the memories of Tucker’s kindness, compassion, and unwavering spirit. He had a natural ability to make friends wherever he went, and his infectious enthusiasm brought joy to all who crossed his path.

• Tucker is survived by his loving parents, Travis Reese and Edyta Jaworska, his grandmother Babcia Ewa, his brother Tanner, and a host of friends who considered him family. A funeral service was held on March 24, 2024, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach.

As the memorial ceremony drew to a close, the crowd held candles and each other, united in their grief and love for Tucker, as his favorite song, “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone, played over the speakers.

Though Tucker may no longer be physically present, his spirit and legacy will endure in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. The Destin community will forever remember the little boy with the big smile who left an indelible mark on their lives, and they will carry his memory with them as they navigate the road ahead.

• “We hoped we could see him for many more years dominating this baseball diamond,” added Coach Schmidt. “I know he’s dominating the streets of gold right now.”

A meal train has been setup for Tucker’s family, that also allows donations. See here

REAL ESTATE

Okaloosa School Board approves sale of surplus land to D.R. Horton for $2.1 Million

The Okaloosa County School Board unanimously approved the sale of a 17.43-acre parcel of vacant land located at Lovejoy Road and Hill Avenue in Fort Walton Beach to D.R. Horton, Inc. for $2.1 million during a public hearing at their regular meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024.

• The board had previously declared the property as surplus under Resolution 22-03, stating that it was no longer necessary for educational or ancillary purposes. 
• The property is the old New Heights Elementary P.E. area that sits north of the current Okaloosa Academy.

The resolution directed Superintendent Marcus Chambers to advertise the property for sale by sealed proposals and return with a recommendation for disposal of the property.

Proposals were opened on June 7, 2022, but the purchase prices received were significantly below the appraised fair market value of the property, which ranged from $1,650,000 to $1,800,000 according to appraisals. 

• The Facilities Planning Department and the School Board Attorney reviewed the proposals and recommended rejecting all bids, which the board accepted at their June 27, 2022 meeting.

Following the rejection of bids, D.R. Horton, Inc. submitted an unsolicited proposal to purchase the property. A Land Purchase Contract was negotiated for a purchase price of $2,100,000, which the Superintendent recommended for approval subject to the board’s review at a public hearing.

The resolution stated that based on the appraisals of the property, the school board determined that the sale transaction was “fair, equitable, and in the best interests of the school district and the public.”

BEACH

Okaloosa to hold public hearing on regulating beach hole digging and tent sizes

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved a request on Tuesday to schedule a public hearing on April 16th, 2024, to consider an ordinance amending Section 6-43, which regulates the use and conduct at beaches, parks, water bodies, and recreation areas in unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County.

• The proposed amendments focus on adding provisions related to digging holes and maximum tent sizes on the beach.

The county stated that the amendments are being considered due to the growing usage of beaches and parks, which may require occasional updates to the current rules to ensure safety and protection of the areas.

The first item addresses public safety, beach management, and environmental issues related to digging holes on the beach. According to the county, incidents of child deaths from sand collapses due to large holes occur about once a year, and nearby counties like Walton have already implemented measures to limit hole sizes and types of shovels permitted.

The proposed ordinance would require holes dug on the county beach property to be attended, filled prior to leaving, and not exceed three feet by three feet wide and two feet deep.

The second item deals with limiting the size of tents and sun shades to a maximum of 10 feet by 10 feet to prevent blocking of views and large beach areas. The county noted that tents and sun shades are a growing trend, with increasing sizes.

• However, the ordinance would include a provision for allowing larger tents if needed for a group through a beach activity permit. The goal is to balance the needs of various beach users, according to the county.

Additionally, the county proposes a minor change to paragraph (g) of the section, modifying the time from 7:30 am to 7:00 am. The county stated that staff will continue to meet with groups and refine the draft ordinance language where necessary.

POLICE BLOTTER

Armed robbery at Fort Walton Beach Convenience Store under investigation

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating an armed robbery that occurred late Monday night at a convenience store on Newcastle Drive near Fort Walton Beach.

According to the report, a man entered the store around 11:15 p.m. and selected several items before approaching the counter. The suspect then pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and demanded the clerk put money in a bag.

• After obtaining the cash, the suspect fled the scene on foot.

The suspect was described as wearing a black Sponge Bob Members Only hoodie, camo pants, and black crocs with white socks at the time of the robbery.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who recognizes the individual in the released photos or has information related to the armed robbery to contact them at 850.651.7400.

• Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers by calling 850.863.TIPS, visiting emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com, or using the P3 Tips mobile application.

The investigation into the armed robbery is ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.

POLICE BLOTTER

Alabama Teen charged with assaulting deputy, underage drinking at Santa Rosa Beach tennis court

A 17-year-old visiting from Mountain Brook, Alabama was arrested Monday evening at a Santa Rosa Beach tennis court after reportedly physically assaulting patrons and a Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy while under the influence of alcohol.

Walton County Sheriff Deputies responded to a disturbance at the tennis courts on N Winston Lane, where they found tennis patrons physically restraining the teenager who had attempted to fight those around him.

• The situation escalated when the teen shoved a patron to the ground after being asked to leave, according to the report. In self-defense, the civilian pinned the suspect down until deputies arrived on the scene.

Deputies observed signs of intoxication in the teenager’s behavior and discovered a 1.75 liter bottle of vodka in his backpack. As they attempted to take the teen into custody, he reportedly shouted profanities at his mother and the deputies, and spat in a deputy’s face.

The 17-year-old from Alabama now faces charges of battery on an officer, battery, obstruction without violence, and possession of alcohol by a person under 21 years of age. He was initially transported to the Walton County Jail before being transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Crestview.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has chosen not to release the name or mug shot of the juvenile offender, citing factors such as his criminal history and out-of-state residency.

COASTAL RESOURCES

Okaloosa County eyes ‘Living Shoreline Project’ to combat coastal erosion on Highway 98

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address coastal erosion alongside Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island through a collaborative living shoreline project. 

• The project aims to protect the vulnerable stretch of shoreline, support military readiness, and restore coastal habitats.

U.S. Highway 98, a critical east-west corridor in northwest Florida, is the sole vehicle route connecting Fort Walton Beach to Destin along the southernmost portion of Okaloosa County. The 4.5-mile stretch crossing Okaloosa Island serves an average of 43,301 vehicles daily, ranking it among the busiest roads in the county.

Mike Norberg, Coastal Resource Coordinator for Okaloosa County, explained that the north side of Okaloosa Island faces significant wind and waves from Choctawhatchee Bay, resulting in an estimated 4.48 acres of shoreline erosion since 2010. 

• “The living shoreline project is a proactive approach to address the coastal erosion issue while simultaneously providing multiple benefits to the ecosystem, community, and military,” Norberg explained. “By stabilizing the shoreline, we not only help protect the adjacent roadway but also create valuable habitat for a variety of species, enhance coastal resilience, and offer new recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.”

The approved MOU recognizes the value of a strategic coalition between Okaloosa County, Eglin Air Force Base, and The Nature Conservancy to address this issue. The collaboration aims to improve community resilience, support military mission readiness, reduce potential impacts to commerce and transportation routes, and restore coastal fish and wildlife habitat.

“The project will be a 4,500-foot-long living shoreline that would include a nearshore intertidal limestone breakwater,” explained Norberg. “We would then come back to the landward side and plant native vegetation, including sea oats or various types of grasses that are found in that area. 

• Norberg says the idea is to help stabilize that shoreline along Okaloosa Island, and reduce a lot of the wind and wave energy that occurs, especially during the winter. “In the long run, hopefully, we will be able to see some shoreline actually recover and re-expand itself,” he noted. This project also potentially creates more than 1.5 acres of intertidal reef habitat and more than 6.2 acres of protected seagrass recruitment area.

The project has garnered support from key stakeholders, including Eglin Air Force Base, whose concern is mission readiness and the road’s importance for their operations. The Nature Conservancy, with extensive experience in creating similar living shorelines, will be a key collaborator. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has also been engaged in conversations and is supportive of the project. 

The project team anticipates working alongside the community and local organizations including the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. 

• “This would be the largest inshore coastal restoration project to date in Okaloosa County and highlights the value of collaborating across local, state, and federal organizations to achieve common goals,” Norberg said. 

Funding for the project is being sought through various grant opportunities, with a number of applications currently being reviewed, according to Norberg. One application is for the NOAA Transformational Habitat grant, which Norberg says he should hear back on in July. He’s also looking at submitting to the National Coastal Resiliency Fund grant opportunity coming up in April. 

• The county is also working with the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, which allows for off-installation related community resilience funding opportunities.

There’s several different levels of a living shoreline, Norberg explained. Essentially, it’s combining a nature-based solution to address coastal erosion. While there are several design approaches used to create living shorelines, in the situation along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island, it would be combining a green-gray solution to maximize its potential. 

• The gray part would be the limestone breakwater off into the water.
• The green component would be the planting of vegetation. 

“The value of combining those two [limestone breakwater and native vegetation] is the breakwater will reduce the wind and wave energy causing the erosion and help further protect the plants that we then would install, but it also provides a ton of habitat for a variety of different species,” he said. “So from an ecosystem perspective, it’s much more beneficial as opposed to something like a regular sea wall that has little to no natural benefit or no support towards ecosystem components.”

He added that one of the values of a living shoreline is that it naturally expands itself. From the plants continuing to grow and create more shoreline stabilization and accretion, or providing a foundation for oysters beginning to grow and build.

• “From a resiliency perspective, living shorelines are actually pretty resilient to nature’s impacts,” he said. “Ultimately, that also reduces maintenance costs down the road.”

For Norberg, the approval of the MOU for the living shoreline project on Okaloosa Island signifies a crucial step towards combating coastal erosion and safeguarding the vital Highway 98 corridor. And even though the project won’t happen overnight, it’s an exciting step forward.

“This has been on my wishlist for years: the visibility of having something nature-based on Okaloosa Island that also has resiliency components,” he said. “As the Coastal Resource Team adds more focus into the Choctawhatchee Bay, this is a really good opportunity to combine the experiences we have with our various coastal resource programs and implement them on a Bay project.”