SCHOOL

Okaloosa School District celebrates ‘Signing Day’ for over 300 Career & Technical students

The Okaloosa County School District held its 5th Annual Career and College Signing Day on Thursday, March 28, recognizing the achievements and future plans of over 300 Career and Technical Education (CTE) students across six local high schools.

• The event, held at the Mattie Kelley Arts Center in Niceville from 10 a.m. to noon, celebrated the students’ commitment to continuing their career and technical education after high school, ensuring a skilled future workforce for the community and the state of Florida.

Marcus Chambers, Superintendent of Okaloosa County School District, expressed his pride in the students’ achievements and the growth of the signing day event over the past five years. 

“Five years ago, we held this ceremony at our district office with approximately 40 to 50 students. Now, this year, we’ve invited over 300 students to take part in the CTE Signing Day,” said Chambers.

Chambers emphasized the importance of recognizing and valuing the hard work of CTE students, just as athletic signing days celebrate student-athletes. 

• “A number of years ago, it was about having strong middle school programs all the way through high school. Now, it’s about having strong elementary programs going straight to the workforce,” he said. “And we want to be a school district that has a pipeline where students have opportunities, whether it’s college, the military, or the workforce.”

April Branscome, Career and Technical Education Program Director, highlighted the support from parents and community partners. “The parents have been appreciative and have been wanting to participate in this event a lot. We’re really excited about that because they’re so supportive of their students,” said Branscome.

She also emphasized the impact of CTE programs on local industries and businesses, citing examples of successful graduates now employed by companies like Step One Automotive and HCA Florida. 

• “To me, every one of our kids that we’re teaching are going to be productive citizens in our community. We want them to be trained. We want them to come back and work in our communities. Because if we teach them here, we want to keep them here,” she said.

During the ceremony, students from Baker, Choctaw, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Laurel Hill, and Niceville high schools were called on stage by school, where they sat at a table and signed their letters of intent. Their names and future plans, including college, military, or direct entry into the workforce, were announced as they took their seats.

The Okaloosa County School District currently offers 19 diverse CTE programs, catering to the passions and interests of its students. With more than 800 seniors enrolled in CTE classes, the district expects an even greater number of students passing certification exams this year compared to the 651 seniors who passed 344 exams last year.

Dr. Ashley Yopp, Associate Vice Chancellor for Career and Technical Education for the Florida Department of Education, delivered the keynote speech, emphasizing the importance of CTE in shaping the future leaders and innovators of tomorrow. 

• “You are our future leaders. We’re looking to you to be our next innovators and our change makers,” said Dr. Yopp, addressing the students. “Continue to push forward and take advantage of those opportunities. Let your journey in CTE be a testament to your dedication and commitment to really making a difference here at home but also across our state and across the country and world.”

The event supports Governor Ron DeSantis’s goal of making Florida number one in workforce development by 2030.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Missing kayaker found safe by U.S. Coast Guard off Walton County coast

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office announced that Chris Smelley, 37, who went missing while kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico off Grayton Beach yesterday, has been located safe by the United States Coast Guard out of Mobile.

• According to the WCSO, Smelley had gone fishing in his blue and black kayak around 8:30 a.m. and failed to return. The WCSO and South Walton Fire District deployed jet skis to search for Smelley off Grayton Beach.

The United States Coast Guard out of Mobile was notified, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife launched from the Inlet at Destin Pass, heading east towards Grayton to assist in the search efforts.

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A MESSAGE FROM COX

“Is your home internet feeling sluggish? Cox says it may be time for a technology checkup

With the increasing number of connected devices in households, Cox Communications is encouraging customers to get a technology checkup, especially if your home internet is feeling sluggish.

• According to David Deliman, Gulf Coast Market Vice President, outdated routers and modems may struggle to keep up with the demands of modern digital lifestyles.

“Is your home internet feeling sluggish? It may be time for a technology checkup,” said Deliman. “Slow speeds, weak connections, and compatibility issues are all signs that your equipment needs some TLC.”

Upgrading Wi-Fi equipment not only provides faster speeds but also enhances home security against cyber threats and ensures compatibility with the latest devices. Cox offers Wi-Fi extender pods that use mesh networking technology to eliminate dead zones and provide seamless coverage throughout the home.

Deliman emphasized the importance of staying current with technology, drawing a comparison to upgrading cellphones.

• “We’re always quick to upgrade our cellphones to the latest and greatest, ensuring we have a positive experience – you should do the same for your in-home Wi-Fi,” he said.

Cox’s equipment upgrade program allows customers to access the latest technology every three years without extra fees. Customers seeking assistance with updating their modems or recommendations on the latest models can visit their local Cox store or chat online with a support team expert at Cox.com.

While updated equipment may not solve every issue, Deliman believes it can bring faster speeds, stronger connections, and better overall performance. “Let’s supercharge your Wi-Fi together!” he concluded.

Visit your local Cox store or Cox.com to chat online with one of their support team experts for assistance.

GIVING BACK

Okaloosa elementary school students create handmade ‘thank you cards’ for local doctors

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital joined forces with Okaloosa County School District and six local elementary schools to honor their physicians on National Doctors Day.

• The celebration aimed to recognize the dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment of the hospitals’ remarkable doctors.

Students from Shalimar Elementary, Kenwood Elementary, Edge Elementary, Plew Elementary, and Lewis School participated in an extraordinary project, crafting thank you cards for the physicians. The young artists showcased their creativity and enthusiasm, expressing their gratitude through vibrant drawings and heartfelt messages.

“Our physicians are the heartbeat of our hospitals, touching lives and shaping futures every day,” said Liz Eulberg, Director, Communications and Community Engagement. “From providing advanced care for specialized health needs to being trusted primary care providers, they’re here for every step of our community’s healthcare journey.”

The thank you cards created by the students serve as tokens of immense gratitude and symbols of the love and support the community shows their healthcare heroes. The collaboration between the hospitals and local elementary schools highlights the strong bond between healthcare providers and the communities they serve.

National Doctors Day is an annual event that recognizes the contributions of physicians across the United States.

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COASTAL RESOURCES

Okaloosa County approves removal of derelict shrimp boat in Joe’s Bayou in Destin

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Derelict Vessel Removal Agreement on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, to remove a derelict shrimp boat from Joe’s Bayou in Destin. The agreement, amounting to $17,300, will fund the removal and disposal of the vessel.

The derelict shrimp boat had been anchored in Joe’s Bayou for over a year, receiving numerous complaints from residents. However, according to Alex Fogg, Coastal Resource Manager for Okaloosa County, the vessel did not initially meet the necessary criteria to be classified as derelict.

• “That specific vessel received a lot of attention, a lot of complaints, and a lot of people wanting it to be deemed derelict and removed,” said Fogg. “But the fact of the matter is, it did not meet all the criteria that were necessary to classify it as derelict.”

Fogg explained that for a vessel to be considered derelict, it must lack any of the following: adequate means of propulsion, the ability to dewater itself, and good hull integrity which includes the ability to close hatches to prevent water infiltration.  An active registration is also needed to prevent the State from taking action.

“Those are very minor criteria to keep yourself from getting into trouble,” Fogg added.

It was only after the boat sank into the bayou on January 17, 2024 that it was officially deemed a derelict vessel, triggering the removal process with the state of Florida.

• “Once the vessel has been determined to be derelict, the State gives the owner a month or so to be able to remove that vessel,” Fogg said. “If not, or if the owner doesn’t get the vessel into compliance, then the State authorizes the County to remove it.”

The FWC concluded their investigation on February 7th, giving Okaloosa County the authorization to remove the vessel. The County then applied for a grant to ensure that the removal costs would be covered by the state of Florida rather than the taxpayers of Okaloosa County.

“By February 24, we had the grant submitted to the State. They reviewed it and gave us the grant approval last Thursday,” Fogg said. “We now have to send our signed copy back to the State and they have to sign as well. So hopefully we’ll have a fully executed grant by next week.”

The removal and disposal of the derelict vessel is expected to improve boating safety by removing hazards to navigation, as well as restore sensitive marine resources and improve water quality. Morgan Marine, based out of Freeport, has been selected as the contractor for the removal and is expected to complete the job within a week or two once given the green light.

Fogg also mentioned a program available to boat owners who wish to turn over their at-risk vessels to the State at no cost, with no repercussions to their registration or license.

• “If someone has a vessel that is in the water, whether it be tied up to their dock or moored out in the bay or one of the bayous, there’s a state program called VTIP or Vessel Turn in Program where you can turn that vessel over to the State for no cost,” Fogg said.

However, he cautioned that the boat must still be floating and in good condition for the state to remove it.

“The boat still has to be floating and in good, total condition where it can be removed by the State. Once it sinks, it’s considered derelict and it’s going to go through that process where the owner is probably going to owe tens of thousands of dollars in removal and disposal fees,” he added.

Fogg emphasizes the importance of proper vessel maintenance to avoid being classified as derelict and encourages residents to report potential derelict vessels to the Okaloosa County Coastal Resource Team.

• “At the end of the day, we receive calls about derelict vessels all the time,” Fogg said. “About 10 percent of the time, those vessels are indeed derelict. But a lot of times we don’t know about some of these vessels that may have sank or maybe just showed up overnight. So please don’t hesitate to reach out.”

However, Fogg also notes that the process of declaring a vessel derelict is strict and time-consuming due to the legal implications of seizing someone’s property.

“It’s not a bad thing if you reach out, but please don’t be frustrated with the long process or when we respond saying that the vessel doesn’t qualify as being derelict,” Fogg said. “We take these derelict vessel removals seriously and work them as fast as we can in coordination with the State.”

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