FORT WALTON BEACH

Fort Walton Beach Police arrest homeless encamped along drainage tributary

During the early morning of March 24th, the Fort Walton Beach Community Policing Unit conducted “Operation Roust”.

The purpose was the identification and relocation of numerous homeless individuals encamped on city property along a drainage tributary in to Santa Rosa Sound, according to the FWBPD.

• Since the beginning of the year, Officers have been trying to gain compliance with those individuals to depart the property.

Two persons were arrested for trespassing, and a third is currently being sought for an outstanding warrant. 

All parties have been offered assistance for living arrangements. Officers are also working together with city workers to clean the litter left behind.

COMING SOON

Car wash planned for old Beach Community Bank location in Fort Walton Beach

A new car wash is planned for the old Beach Community Bank property 412 Mary Esther Cutoff NW in Fort Walton Beach.

• This is on the corner of Wright Parkway and Mary Esther Cutoff.
• Chipotle is next door.

The 1.81 acre parcel was sold to Wash Partners LLC on September 9, 2021 for $1,300,000.

According to documents from the City of Fort Walton Beach, the property will become a new automated conveyor car wash called “Tommy’s Express Car Wash.”

• Total value of work (labor & materials) is estimated to be $2,300,000.
• Total area new construction under roof is 4,553 sqft. 

According to their website, Tommy’s Car Wash has 198 location across 31 states. There are currently 19 locations in Florida. 

• The Fort Walton Beach location will be the first in the northern part of the state. 

No word yet on when construction will begin or opening date.
Click here to view a rendering of the building

COASTAL RESOURCES

Okaloosa seeks volunteers to plant sea oats for Dune Stabilization Project

The Okaloosa County Tourism Department is continuing with dune restoration and stabilization on Okaloosa Island beaches, and are looking for help from the community.

Community volunteers are needed to help plant 200,000 sea oats on Saturday, April 16th at 7 a.m.

• This project is funded by Okaloosa County Tourist Development and a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation matching grant.

“The dunes are an important part of our coastal landscape,” said Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mel Ponder. “We are fortunate that Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism is dedicated, not only, to keeping our highly-visited beaches pristine but to help fund this project that ensures resiliency to our coastlines in the event of a storm by reinforcing the dune system.”

In November, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism installed 10,600 feet of sand fencing along three miles of Okaloosa Island public beaches and John Beasley Park with the assistance of a partnership with Trees on the Coast. Teams of volunteers made the sand fencing installation a success.

• The fencing helps expand the dunes and mitigates impacts that have been made to nesting sea turtles, piping plovers and other nesting birds in the area.
• Planting sea oats along the existing sand fencing allows for dune restoration and stabilization which are key to the natural coastal environment and provide additional wildlife habitats as well as protection for upland structures during storm events.

“The dunes provide a sand source that keeps our beaches healthy,” said Alex Fogg, Coastal Resource Manager, Destin-Fort Walton Beach. “The first step to building up the dune system is to install sand fencing to trap and build sand. The next step is to plant vegetation that stabilizes the dune and prevents sand from blowing or washing away.”

According to Fogg, community support has been essential to the success of the dune stabilization project.

Wanna get involved? Click here to register.

Volunteers will sign a waiver and pick up sea oats to transport to assigned beach accessways where team leaders will be stationed to offer instruction and assistance.

• Equipment will be provided but volunteers are asked to bring water, sunscreen, and gloves.

ARTIFICIAL REEFS

This burned sailboat will become the next artificial reef in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

It’s time for another artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. This time, it will be a burned sailboat.

• The vessel is called the Cordanzo and it, unfortunately, suffered a major fire that resulted in it being condemned. As a result, it was then donated to Okaloosa County to be deployed as an artificial reef.

Up at Morgan Marine in Freeport, FL., work is now being done on the vessel to get all of the charred bits off, along with other materials that could be harmful to the environment before deployment.

“All in all, this is a 65-70ft steel hull sailboat, which will be a great addition to our artificial reef program offshore Destin-Fort Walton Beach,” said Alex Fogg, Coastal Resource Manager.

This isn’t the first sailboat deployed as a reef. Back in the Fall of 2020, the Coastal Resource Team deployed the sailing vessel DYLAN that was donated by U.S. Customs. However, this new sailboat will be a little larger.

“It will take many months to get this thing prepped and ready to go and make sure it’s nice and clean,” added Fogg. “We’ll have to go through some testing to make sure that the paint and the wiring isn’t an issue.”

• Fogg says that once it’s been cleared to be deployed as an artificial reef, the vessel could placed in 100 feet of water, depending on what areas are conducive for this sort of deployment.

“This may be the start of a Boat Yard 2.0, where we’ll be deploying multiple vessels in one location to provide a pretty complex spot for people to dive and fish,” he said. “This fish also like it as a habitat.”

Click here to watch a short video of the boat

MILITARY

Air Force to conduct historic Beach Flyover on Okaloosa Island, honoring Doolittle Raiders

On April 18th, the United States Air Force will conduct the biggest flyover that Okaloosa County has ever seen, as more than 20+ aircraft will make their way along the beaches of Okaloosa Island.

• The flyover begins promptly at 5pm.
• Can be seen from all parts of Okaloosa Island.

The flyover is not only a tribute to the Doolittle Raiders, but to also commemorate the Air Force’s 75th Anniversary.

• The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will host the “Final Goblet,” a ceremony that will mark the passing of Doolittle Raider, Col. Richard E. “Dick” Cole, earlier the same day.

“Starting at five o’clock, all of the planes are going depart from Hurlburt Field and head in an easterly direction toward Okaloosa Island,” said Ted Corcoran, FWB Chamber CEO. “Because of the Destin Airport, how far east the planes actually travel is unknown at this time.” 

As far as Corcoran knows, this will be the largest gathering of planes in a flyover ever on the Emerald Coast.

“Although we are unable to tell the exact number of planes right now, we are forecasting that it will be more than 20 planes in the flyover,” said Corcoran. “It will likely never be repeated because this is to honor the Doolittle Raiders and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Air Force.”

Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Education and Training Command in San Antonio, will not only be moderating the Final Goblet ceremony but will be flying in the flyover as well. 

• General Webb has been described as the “point man for the takedown of Osama bin Laden.” 

“He has told me that he is going to be in one of the CV-22s” said Corcoran. “He’s retiring soon and told me directly that for his retirement, he wanted to be flying in this flyover.”

Also taking part in the flyover is Retired Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Rich Cole, the son of Col. Richard E. “Dick” Cole, the last member of the Doolittle Raiders to pass. “Dick” Cole will be honored at the Final Goblet ceremony earlier that day

“Dr. Rich Cole has confirmed to me verbally that at least one B-52 will be leading the flyover and he intends to be in one,” said Corcoran. “Just like General Webb, Cole intends to leave the ceremony and head to Hurlburt to be part of this occasion.” 

“It will never be duplicated in our area again.”

The significance of this event is not lost on Corcoran, who, aside from being an integral part of the Final Goblet ceremony, has also been coordinating the flyover with the military and community partners to help make this a great event.

“It’s the 75th Anniversary of the Air Force,” said Corcoran. “We’re able to combine this celebration with a showcase to honor the Doolittle Raiders.”

But this flyover also has the opportunity to show our visitors more of the military in our community. 

• “Many people who visit here do not know of our military heritage,” added Corcoran. “They may have seen an Osprey helicopter fly by or even an F-35, but this may be the first time they truly see how big Eglin and Hurlburt are, not only to our area, but to the world. They will be able to see that there is more to our area than just our beaches.”

“It will also be a photo-op beyond comparison and will never be duplicated in this area again,” he continued. 

The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island will host the event and will feature a number of activities:

• Choctaw High School Jazz Band will play a special musical performance before the flyover.
• Patriotic music will pipe through the entire sound system at The Boardwalk during the flyover.
• Mike Minich with Southern Events Management will announce aircraft details.
• Al’s Beach Club will have family-friendly entertainment including airplane balloon artists and free patriotic face painting for kids.
• Emerald Coast TV will be live-streaming the event.

“Save the date,” exclaimed Corcoran. “This is truly an event that you do not want to miss.”

🗓 Date: April 18th
⏰ Time: 5pm
📍 Location: The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island (or anywhere along the Okaloosa Island beaches)