POLICE BLOTTER

Police search for driver after vehicle smashes into Sherwin Williams building in Fort Walton Beach

A Toyota Rav4 crashed into the Sherwin Williams building, located at 624 Beal Parkway, during the night of March 28th, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. 

• The vehicle reportedly traveled through the parking lot and collided with the door on the south side of the building. The impact was so severe that the car came to a final stop inside the structure.

The incident was discovered by a passerby on a bicycle in the early morning hours of March 29th, who contacted the law enforcement authorities. Upon their arrival, the officers discovered that the driver of the vehicle had fled the scene, leaving the car behind.

• An investigation is currently underway to identify the driver who caused the accident and subsequently fled the scene. 

The Florida Highway Patrol is urging anyone with information on the incident to come forward and help in the ongoing investigation.

SCHOOL

Niceville, Ruckel Cheerleading Teams honored by school board for State, National Championships

The Niceville High School Varsity Cheerleaders were recognized at the March 27, 2023, School Board meeting for winning their 4th consecutive FHSAA State Title in the Class 1A Large All-Girl Varsity Division. These athletes are coached by Tanya Herndon, Lindsey Williams, and OJ Williams.

Congratulations to Team Members:

• Londyn Williams
• Brooke Ziemak
• Brianna Horne
• Destyn Neely
• Alanna Drab
• Taylor Rossberg
• Haley Bosley
• Aviendha St. Sauver
• Reagan Ross
• Bella Wasson
• Ava Floro
• Kaymin Magier
• Kaylin Begley
• Avery Williams
• Karman Holley
• Shyenne Altilio
• Haley Sage Stillings
• Emma Fay
• Raedyn Register
• Ellie Carlock
• Jerzie Brooks
• Kaycie Constant
• Lia Tate 

The Ruckel Middle School Cheerleaders were also recognized for winning their second consecutive championship at the 2022 UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) National Champions in the Junior High Game Day Division. These athletes are coached by Tanya Herndon, Paige Becking, Crystal Carwile, and Mazie Armantrout.

Congratulations to Team Members:

• Abbi Ballew
• Logan Williams
• Brooklynn White
• Zaria Bishop
• Brooke Alsleben
• Ella Kipp
• Mia Cate Marchand
• Alli Culbertson
• Anna McMahon
• Adri Robinson
• Ashlynn Vores
• Hannah Vasquez
• Sarah Gonzalez
• Loxley Sheldon
• Erin Stillings
• Brooklyn Bradley
• Molly Strawn
• Willa Ross
• Taylor Sanders

PUBLIC SAFETY

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office awards Purple Heart to late Corporal Ray Hamilton

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has posthumously awarded the Purple Heart to fallen OCSO Deputy Corporal Ray C. Hamilton. 

• During a ceremony held earlier this week, Sheriff Eric Aden presented the award to Corporal Hamilton’s widow, Renee, in recognition of his selfless sacrifice while serving on the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team.

The Purple Heart is the oldest formal award bestowed by the United States Military and Law Enforcement agencies and is widely recognized as a symbol of bravery, courage, and honor. The award is presented to any sworn member of the agency who sustains serious or permanent injury while engaged in enforcement action.

During the presentation of the award, a statement was read describing the Purple Heart as a symbol of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and their families in service to their communities. 

• “This award is distinct in the fact that none of us wish to earn or issue one but we all know or should know that it is possible, if not likely. Law enforcement officers and their families sacrifice much in the service of their communities and it is therefore fitting and proper that their sacrifice be honored and remembered.”

Corporal Hamilton lost his life on Saturday, December 24 when a domestic violence suspect opened fire on responding deputies from inside his residence.

• In recognition of his honorable service to the community, he was posthumously awarded the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Purple Heart.

The memory of Corporal Hamilton’s service and sacrifice will live on in the hearts and traditions of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The award, which is purple and heart-shaped, is symbolic of the recipient’s heart for service to others and will forever serve as a reminder of the bravery and courage displayed by Deputy Corporal Hamilton in the line of duty.

SPORTS

Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation hosts inaugural Spring Pickleball Smash for schools, seeks sponsorships

The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation is hosting its inaugural Spring Pickleball Smash for Schools, an action-packed weekend-long tournament, to raise much-needed funds for educational opportunities and scholarships for students within Okaloosa County. 

• The highly anticipated event will take place from April 28-30 at the Mooney Tennis & Pickleball Courts in Fort Walton Beach.

The Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to supporting and extending educational opportunities for students in Okaloosa County. 

The Spring Pickleball Smash aims to raise funds to cover the cost of additional scholarships, support the Okaloosa Teacher Grant program, and promote overall student success through other initiatives. 

One of the Foundation’s primary focuses is the Take Stock in Children scholarship program, which currently provides two-year college scholarships and one-on-one mentoring for sixty academically deserving high school students from low-income families. 

• Funds raised for the program are matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid Scholarship Program, doubling the impact of any local contribution.

“We have an ambitious goal to increase the number of scholarship recipients to one hundred students over the next five years,” said Assistant Superintendent Steve Horton. “That will take a significant financial investment as our portion of each scholarship is $3,900.” 

Horton says the Foundation hopes to make the Spring Pickleball Smash an annual event, similar to its successful BBQ and Bingo fundraiser held each fall.

The Spring Pickleball Smash is expected to be a well-advertised event with room for over 250 entries. Food vendors are currently being organized, and the Foundation is looking forward to a great weekend-long event. With the rising popularity of pickleball, the sport’s fastest-growing demographics are players over 50, making it an ideal event to bring the community together.

The tournament will feature various brackets for men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and singles matches, catering to different skill levels and age groups. For those interested in learning to play pickleball before signing up for the Novice Division, a lesson will be held on April 1st from 1-3pm at the Mooney Tennis & Pickleball Courts. 

• All equipment will be provided, and participants can contact Performance Pickleball Academy at 850.533.0937 for more information or to register.

To make the tournament a success, the Foundation is seeking sponsorships from local businesses and organizations. Sponsorship opportunities include tournament sponsorship, court sponsorship, medal sponsorship, fence banner sponsorship, wall sponsorship, and pickleball net sponsorship, with prices ranging from $250 to $3,000. Other sponsorship opportunities such as food sponsors, swag bags, and yard signs are also available.

By sponsoring the Spring Pickleball Smash, businesses will not only contribute to the Foundation’s scholarship initiatives but also gain visibility and recognition during the event.

Interested in playing? Click here
Interested in being a sponsor? Click here.

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

Want your event featured in this section of the newsletter? Feel free to submit it to our free local community calendar!

March 30, 2023 – Gulfarium Sunset Camp – $25 – $89 – View

March 30, 2023 – Ladies Night Out in Downtown FWB! – $10 – View

March 30, 2023 – Planetarium Special Feature: Sordid Secrets of the Stars – $13 – $15 – View

March 30, 2023 – Fly Guy Thursdays – Free – View

April 1, 2023 – Emerald Coast Autism Center ONE Run 5k – $35 – View

April 1, 2023 – Emerald Coast Theatre Production – You and Me Under the Sea – – View

April 1-2, 2023 – 2023 Outdoor Adventure Expo – Free – View

April 1-2, 2023 – Kitty Hawk Kites and Emerald Coast Kite Fliers [2-Day Event] – Free – View

April 1, 2023 – 2nd Annual Trinity UMC Easter Egg Hunt – – View

April 1, 2023 – Rock the Docks Spring on the Harbor – Free – View

April 2, 2023 – Scallywag Sunday – Free – View

April 3, 2023 – Movie Monday – Free – View

April 4, 2023 – Ceramic Plant Pot Class – $65 – View

April 4, 2023 – Boomin Tuesday – Free – View

April 5, 2023 – Wednesday Night Concert Series | Tribute Series – Free – View

April 6, 2023 – 8th Annual Doggie Eggstravaganza – Free – View

April 8, 2023 – Eggstravaganza on Hurlburt Field – – View

April 8, 2023 – City of Destin’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt – – View

April 8, 2023 – Shalimar UMC’s Easter Fest – Free – View

April 8, 2023 – Easter Explosion – Free – View

PARKS+REC

Destin City Council plans for Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park completion by Memorial Day 2023

The Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park, located at 206 Harbor Boulevard, has faced significant delays in construction since its inception in January 2021.

• Initially slated for completion by Fall 2021, the project has dragged on for over two years, and previously had an estimated completion date of mid-April 2022.

The City of Destin is now proposing a plan to open the park by Memorial Day 2023. On March 20, 2023, the Destin City Council held a meeting to discuss the status of the park, aiming to take the necessary steps to ensure its timely completion.

In the lead-up to the council meeting, the City provided the contractor with the latest site inspection reports from the project architect and engineer, following an inspection carried out on February 27, 2023. The contractor was then asked to respond with a plan of action to correct the noted items, a timeframe for commencing corrections, and a timeframe for completing corrections.

• The contractor was informed that if an agreeable response was not received, the City would consider all options to have the park project completed in a timely manner, including self-performing the final items to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

At the time of the meeting, the City estimated that the project is 95% complete. Completing the final steps would enable the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy and the opening of the Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park in time for the 2023 Summer Season.

Staff recommended an internal budget transfer from Buck Destin Restrooms to complete the park project. However, Council-member Dewey Destin disagreed with this approach, stating, “I’ll make a motion that we proceed to finish it ourselves, but the money comes from the council contingency because I don’t think we should sacrifice one [park] for another.”

A motion was made to direct the City Manager to provide the county and U.S. Treasury with formal notice of the city’s desire to complete the Punch List Work at a cost to be borne by the city, authorizing the City Manager and legal to take the necessary steps to complete the Punch List Work in an amount up to $45,000.

• The motion also authorized an internal budget transfer of $45,000 from the Council Contingency Fund to complete the Captain Royal Melvin Park and obtain a certificate of occupancy for the park prior to Memorial Day 2023. The motion passed 5-0.

Another motion was made to direct staff to bring back a budget amendment at the next council meeting in the amount of $50,000 from the Fund Balance to the Council Contingency Fund. This motion also passed 5-0.

The Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park site is located just east of Dewey Destin’s Harborside Restaurant. Once completed, the park will feature:

• A small playground.
• Harbor and Wildlife Observation Platform with educational signage.
• Harbor Boardwalk.
• Picnic pavilion.
• Terraced walkway from Harbor Boulevard to the harbor boardwalk.
• Drinking fountain and restrooms at the resource center.
• Bike racks near the park entrance at Harbor Boulevard.