TRAFFIC

New Brooks Bridge drawings and maps released by FDOT

Ahead of the upcoming open house event for the Brooks Bridge replacement project in Fort Walton Beach, the Florida Department of Transportation has released new renderings and maps of the new bridge.

The $171-million replacement project includes constructing two new parallel bridges over the Santa Rosa Sound in Okaloosa County. The bridge will have an increased capacity of six travel lanes versus the current four-lane bridge that opened in 1966. Additional Improvements: 

• New sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and Twelve-foot shared-use paths to aid bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Reconstructing adjacent intersections to improve traffic flow.
• Stormwater enhancements for better drainage and to reduce the potential for flooding.
• Traffic signal and intelligent transportation system (ITS) upgrades to improve safety and mobility.
• Increasing the navigational channel vertical clearance (from 50 to 65 feet) and the horizontal
• clearance (from 140 to 150 feet) to better accommodate marine traffic.

Preliminary construction activities are now underway with project completion estimated for mid-2027.

Click here to view the 16 new drawings!

THINGS TO DO

‘Girls Night Out’: Downtown Fort Walton Beach’s Ladies Night Shopping Crawl

Are you ready for a night of shopping, food, and fun?

Downtown Fort Walton Beach has got you covered with their upcoming Ladies Night shopping crawl. According to Ashley Sukalski, the executive director of the Downtown Fort Walton Beach Organization, this event has been a hit in the past and is making a comeback after a brief hiatus due to COVID.

So, what can you expect from this shopping crawl? For starters, it’s only $10 to enter, which gets you a stamp card and a coupon book for various businesses in downtown. Not only is this a great deal, but it also gives you a chance to win prizes!

• Completed stamp cards will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win one of the 10 prizes that include gift certificates from restaurants, drinks, gift bags, and more.

The first Ladies Night of the year is happening this Thursday, March 30, 2023, and it promises to be a night to remember. But don’t worry if you can’t make it this time around – the Downtown Fort Walton Beach Organization plans to host this event quarterly, with the next one potentially happening in June, followed by a back-to-school event in the fall, and a Christmas-themed shopping crawl later in the year.

For this week’s event, participants will have the opportunity to visit three boutiques – Artesano Boutique, ClasSea Chic Boutique, and Liz’s Fashions – before ending the night at KC’s Sandbar and Grill.

The Downtown Fort Walton Beach Organization has paired businesses together for Ladies Night to ensure that participants won’t have to go near the downtown construction. Instead, all the participating businesses are conveniently located near each other, which makes for a fun couple of hours of shopping.

As if that weren’t enough, KC’s Sandbar and Grill will be serving light bites, and each shop will be offering a little bit of wine to help get the shopping party started.

• Participants are free to visit each store in any order they choose, as long as they go to all three shops. The event will take place from 5:30-7:30 pm, so make sure you plan accordingly.

If you’re looking for a night out with your girlfriends, or just want an excuse to shop, Ladies Night in downtown Fort Walton Beach is the perfect opportunity. With great deals, exciting prizes, and the chance to support local businesses, it’s an event you won’t want to miss.

So, mark your calendars and get ready for a fun-filled night of shopping and fun! Click here to purchase your tickets!

PUBLIC SAFETY

Non-verbal autistic child found safe thanks to Okaloosa Sheriff K9 and Deputy Patterson

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), K9 Beau and his handler, Deputy Tim Patterson, were instrumental in finding a missing non-verbal autistic child who had wandered away from his Crestview home on the evening of March 27, 2023.

After receiving the report of the missing child, Deputy Patterson and K9 Beau were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arriving, the deputy instructed the family to provide a piece of clothing the child had worn earlier in the day. K9 Beau used his heightened sense of smell to track the scent of the child.

• After just ten minutes of tracking, K9 Beau and Deputy Patterson were able to locate the little boy behind a house, standing in some bushes. The deputies quickly approached the child and returned him to his worried family, safe and sound.

This was K9 Beau’s first ‘official find’ for the OCSO, and he was met with praise, hugs, and a long drink of water upon his successful return. Deputy Patterson even went so far as to give K9 Beau a special treat of ham and bacon the next morning.

The OCSO has expressed their gratitude for the diligent work of K9 Beau and Deputy Patterson in bringing the child home safely. The Sheriff’s Office released a video of K9 Beau and Deputy Patterson in action, demonstrating the skill and dedication required for such a rescue.

Click here to watch

TOURISM

Locals have their say: Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department seeks input from locals on tourism

The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department (TDD) has been working on a research program for the last four years to better incorporate local resident input, redefine tourism’s value, create a mission and design new products.

According to Jennifer Adams, the Okaloosa County Tourism Director, the TDD’s goals stated in February 2019 are still true today, which are:

• To grow the Prime seasons (non-summer months)
• Increase visitor spend
• Identify new, loyal visitors
• Create initiatives that mindfully balance the quality of life for locals and visitors.

Despite several challenges faced during this time, including an international pandemic, local short-term rental shutdown, hurricanes, and red tide, direct visitor spend in the communities has increased by 32%, new businesses have opened, and the tourism taxing district has expanded to include the entire county.

Adams credits the success to the feedback loop from the research program that talks to 4,000 consumers per year and analyzes data from multiple third-party sources. However, she emphasizes that none of it is as important as the input from the locals.

To this end, the TDD has launched a county-wide benchmark survey, and they hope that residents will take the time to complete it.

• “Through this survey and other qualitative initiatives, your voice is heard,” Adams said.

The survey is an opportunity for locals to provide feedback on the tourism industry in Okaloosa County. Residents can access the survey by clicking here.

I would HIGHLY encourage everyone to take the short time and complete the survey.

GIVING BACK

Okaloosa Academy students overcome obstacles with Army Rangers: A Day of Empowerment and Teamwork

Students from Okaloosa Academy were given a unique and transformative experience on March 15, 2023, as they spent a day visiting the 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp James Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base. 

• The students’ day began at 9 a.m., and according to Principal David Schmidt, the visit was part of an outreach program aimed at helping many of their at-risk students. 

Schmidt revealed that the connection with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion was made possible by a teacher whose husband is an Army Ranger. He noted that the Rangers shared similar stories to those of the students, making the collaboration even more meaningful.

Upon arrival, the students were immediately made aware that they were on a federal installation and that they would be facing “good, healthy pressure,” Schmidt said. The Rangers quickly organized the students into teams and began a presentation on the habitat, reptiles, and other elements found in the environment they work in.

Following the presentation, the students were taken to an obstacle course where they participated in various team building and cardio exercises. Principal Schmidt described the scene, saying, “we had about eight groups of six students that were teamed up… a lot of students that couldn’t complete a certain obstacle, the Army Rangers instilled in them that your whole team has to figure out a way how to get over it and how to get across it.“

The teams of students then went down to the water, where they learned to paddle together in Army Ranger boats. During this activity the instructors emphasized the importance of teamwork and communication, pushing the students to figure things out without arguing or yelling. Schmidt noted the significance of this exercise, as it required someone to step up and guide the boat in the right direction.

Afterward, the group enjoyed lunch together, during which the Rangers continued to build connections and relationships with the students. A few Rangers shared their personal stories and spoke about the opportunities available to the students, regardless of the challenges they face in life.

Following lunch, the students were treated to ice cream in small packets, and the instructor used this as a teachable moment about housekeeping and taking care of their environment. According to Schmidt, the instructor told them, “this is our house where our Army Rangers live, and this is our environment, and we want to take care of our house and keep up with our house.”

The day concluded with high fives, hugs, and the students boarding the bus back to campus. Reflecting on the experience, Principal Schmidt shared his pride in the students’ participation, stating, “every single student participated… all 48 students gave it 100 percent.”

• He added that the day’s goal was to “empower and impact these students and to give them a tangible model” of what they could achieve in life if they chose to.

Okaloosa Academy serves approximately 200 elementary, middle, and high school students from across the county who have been referred for various at-risk behaviors. The school’s mission is to help these students catch up academically, address behavioral issues, and empower them to be successful and ultimately graduate from high school and further their education.

• The visit to the 6th Ranger Training Battalion certainly contributed to this mission said Schmidt, offering an unforgettable experience that will stay with these students for years to come.