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Good morning!
A $10,000 grant is funding 800 hygiene bags for Okaloosa County students through Blessing Bag Ministry. Niceville baseball sweeps Gulf Breeze and avenges an early-season loss to Crestview in a dominant week, DeFuniak Springs’ Perla Baking Co. opens its second location at Grand Boulevard, Northwest Florida State College announces ‘Kids on Campus’ summer camp for 2026, Okaloosa County schools shine at the state archery tournament, and Choctaw baseball completes a sweep of Escambia to take command of the district race.
SPORTS
Niceville baseball sweeps Gulf Breeze, avenges early-season loss to Crestview in dominant week
It was a statement week for Niceville baseball.
The Eagles rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Gulf Breeze 12-6, completing an in-season sweep of the Dolphins and staying unbeaten against district opponents. Lincoln Broussard’s two-run home run blew the game open in the third, and reliever Sean Britton shut the door after Gulf Breeze pulled within one in the fifth.
Two days later, Niceville traveled to Crestview and rolled to an 8-1 win over the Bulldogs, avenging its first loss of the season from Feb. 24. Deacon Avery led the way with an RBI single and a two-run home run.
“They got us early in the season. I’m proud of our guys for being able to bounce back,” Head Coach Justin Bruce said. Niceville (14-5) hosts South Walton on Tuesday.
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GAMES
WordroW: March 30, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
FOOD+DRINK
DeFuniak Springs’ Perla Baking Co. opens second location at Grand Boulevard
A bakery that has drawn devoted fans to downtown DeFuniak Springs for nearly seven years is now welcoming guests along the Emerald Coast.
- Perla Baking Co. has officially opened its second location at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, marking the artisan bakery’s first expansion beyond its original home on historic Main Street in DeFuniak Springs.
The new Miramar Beach location offers the same thoughtfully crafted pastries, fresh-baked breads, and breakfast items that earned the bakery its following since opening in 2019 — along with exclusive new menu items created specifically for Grand Boulevard guests. Daily specials, seasonal drinks, and an expanded matcha menu round out the offerings.
“Every tenant we welcome to Grand Boulevard adds something meaningful to the experience we’re building here,” said Jenny Taylor, general manager of Grand Boulevard. “Perla Baking Co. brings the kind of craft and warmth that our guests recognize and appreciate. We’re proud to be home to their second location.”
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Niceville Tutoring is offering 10% off all Test Prep and Kindergarten-College tutoring services through March 31st.
With expert teachers serving Destin, Niceville, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, and Santa Rosa Beach, students receive personalized, one-on-one support to build confidence and improve results.
They also accept the Step Up for Students Homeschool Scholarship.
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THINGS TO DO
NWFSC announces ‘Kids on Campus’ summer camp for 2026
Northwest Florida State College is bringing back its popular ‘Kids on Campus’ summer program for 2026, offering local families an opportunity to give their children a taste of college life while school is out.
The summer enrichment camp, designed for students entering third through seventh grades, combines academic exploration with hands-on activities in a college setting. The program is marketed as striking “the perfect balance between serious and fun,” giving young learners a chance to develop new skills and interests alongside their peers.
Online registration opens March 30, with two weeklong sessions available at the Niceville campus:
- Session 1: June 22-26
- Session 2: July 6-10
A third session will also be offered at the South Walton Center from July 13-16, expanding access for families in Walton County.
SPORTS
Okaloosa County schools shine at state archery tournament
Four Okaloosa County schools posted top finishes at the 2026 National Archery in the Schools Program State Archery Tournament, held March 14 in Gainesville.
Meigs Middle School won the Middle School Division championship with a team score of 3,192. Choctawhatchee High School placed second in the High School Division with 3,244 points, while Liza Jackson Preparatory School and Saint Mary Catholic School finished second and third in the Elementary Division.
Several local archers also stood out individually. Eric Lee of Choctawhatchee High School placed third overall among male archers, earning a $3,000 award. Linkoln Updike of Meigs Middle placed second in the Middle School Division, and Charlie Proctor of Saint Mary Catholic placed second in the Elementary Division.
The program is sponsored in Florida by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with 522 schools currently enrolled statewide.
SPORTS
Choctaw baseball completes sweep of Escambia, takes command of district race
After defeating Escambia 4-2 on the road Tuesday, Choctaw baseball completed the sweep with a 7-1 victory at home Thursday.
The Gators struck first when Clayton Sanders stole home on a wild pitch, but the Indians answered in the fourth when Carter Marracco ripped an RBI double to score John Brown and Maddox Gentry, giving Choctaw a 2-1 lead.
The floodgates opened in the fifth, with RBI contributions from Jack Harrell and Marracco again as Choctaw pulled away. Trevor Camden went the distance in a complete-game effort.
- “A lot of credit to the kids. They played really hard, they’re getting after it. It’s fun to watch,” head coach David Weber said.
Choctaw (14-4) is currently listed as the No. 1 seed in 4A District 1 and will host Ohio County Monday at 6 p.m.
GIVING BACK
$10,000 grant funds 800 hygiene bags for Okaloosa students through Blessing Bag Ministry
A $10,000 grant through the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation is enabling the Blessing Bag Ministry to distribute 800 additional hygiene bags to students in Okaloosa County, bringing the program’s total to more than 2,500 bags since it launched in 2022.
- The grant, provided by the Florida Blue Foundation, will also fund the purchase of 200 lice treatment kits to address student health needs across the district.
The Blessing Bag Ministry was founded through a partnership between St. Simon’s Episcopal Church and Okaloosa County Schools. Each bag contains everyday essentials such as soap, shampoo, deodorant and hairbrushes.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Blessing Bag Ministry to support their mission of providing critical hygiene essentials to students in need,” said Hong Potomski, Northwest Florida Market Leader for Florida Blue. “We know that students can’t focus on learning until their basic needs are met. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to improving the health and well-being of kids in Okaloosa County, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the hundreds of students and families served by this ministry.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Monday. Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
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Jared
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