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Good morning!
White-Wilson Medical Center has emerged from bankruptcy with acquisition by Kain Capital and a new CEO taking the helm. The City of Destin has released countywide telephone survey results on the Holiday Isle state park plans, a Fort Walton Beach hotel earns national recognition within its first year of opening at Freedom Tech Center, and The Boathouse Landing will offer Easter weekend brunch and chef specials. Also, Cannon Wilbur is our Athlete of the Week for building his own Viking legacy, get an inside look at how LiveOak Fiber’s Katie Robison balances business and community.
HOW I WORK
How LiveOak Fiber’s Katie Robison balances business development, community, and travel
“How I Work” is brought to you by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Join the most influential organization in Okaloosa. Learn more here.
Katie Robison has deep ties to the Emerald Coast, having been born at Eglin Air Force Base and returning to the area after living and working in several states. (She’s also a FWBHS Graduate!)
- Today, she serves as Director of Community Sales at LiveOak Fiber, where her work focuses on building relationships with communities, property owners, and organizations across Florida and Georgia.
Her role combines sales, community engagement, travel, and board involvement, often balancing meetings, property visits, and community events throughout the week. With a fast-paced schedule and a relationship-driven career, she stays organized through time-blocking, prioritization, and a strong focus on long-term goals.
Here’s our interview with Katie
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GAMES
WordroW: April 1, 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.
PARKS+REC
City of Destin releases countywide telephone survey results on Holiday Isle state park
A countywide telephone survey of 403 Okaloosa County residents asked about preferences for the future of the state-acquired property on Holiday Isle in Destin, including what type of park approach respondents favor and how they feel about potential uses for the site’s existing dock system.
- The survey was conducted March 20–25 by Cherry Communications on behalf of the City of Destin using live calls. The sample was distributed roughly equally across all five county commission districts and carries a margin of error of ±4.9%.
Separately, the Destin City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 26-05, asking the state to authorize the city as the lessee and managing entity for the property, with a commitment of up to $5 million.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Fort Walton Beach’s Cannon Wilbur is building his own Viking legacy — one chapter at a time
Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District – supporting the athletes who make our community stronger.
Before Cannon Wilbur ever stepped foot on campus at Fort Walton Beach High School, he already knew the hallways, the traditions and the stories.
- His parents were both varsity soccer players who graduated from FWBHS in the early ’90s. His brother Griffin played varsity baseball. His sister Sydney played varsity volleyball.
By the time it was Cannon’s turn, most of his close friends were headed in a different direction — but for Wilbur, there was never a question. Now a junior, the two-sport athlete is batting .348 with 20 RBIs, two home runs and 11 stolen bases, ranking in the top 15 in Class 4A in RBIs.
Head Coach Tony Stevens calls him “one of the better athletes in the school, period” and “a Fort Walton Beach Viking, through and through.”
PROMOTED BY IMPACT100
Impact100 NWF sets sights on record-breaking 2026: Six grants, $600,000 for local nonprofits
When Mary Tinsley took the helm as board president of Impact100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. this year, she brought with her a personal mantra that perfectly encapsulates the organization’s mission: making a difference in the lives of others.
- Now, she’s channeling that philosophy into an ambitious goal: reaching 600 members and awarding six $100,000 grants in 2026 — a record for the Northwest Florida chapter.
Impact100 NWF deeply appreciates the support of local businesses who help make their mission possible. Whether through donations of event space, food and beverages, or membership sponsorships, business partners play a vital role in their success. If your business would like to support our work, they welcome your partnership.
To attract new members, Impact100 NWF is hosting 10 enrollment events across both counties this spring
- April 2, 9-11 a.m. – Main Brew Coffee, Fort Walton Beach
- April 12, 1-3 p.m. – Eagle’s Nest at Blackwater, Crestview
- April 15, 9-11 a.m. – 2 Birds Coffee, Miramar Beach
- April 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Ruth’s Chris, Destin
BUSINESS
FWB hotel earns national recognition within first year of opening at Freedom Tech Center
A local hotel has earned national recognition less than a year after opening its doors.
- The Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Freedom Tech Center has been named a recipient of the 2025 IHG Newcomer Award, placing it among just 15 newly opened hotels recognized nationwide out of thousands of IHG Hotels & Resorts properties across the country.
The 115-room hotel opened Sept. 12, 2024, and has since maintained a 4.9-star rating on Google. Guest reviews frequently highlight the hotel’s staff, cleanliness and attention to detail, with comments referencing “exceptionally kind staff,” “spotless rooms” and a “top-notch breakfast experience.”
The Newcomer Award recognizes newly opened properties that achieve exceptional guest satisfaction scores, operational excellence and strong overall performance within their first year.
The hotel was developed and is owned by The Jay Odom Group, a Northwest Florida based real estate development firm with more than 30 years of experience. The company also launched its own hospitality management company, Odom Hotelz, to operate the property.
PROMOTED BY THE BOATHOUSE
The Boathouse Landing to offer Easter weekend brunch, chef specials
The Boathouse Landing in Niceville is inviting families to celebrate Easter on the bayou this weekend with special brunch hours and a lineup of chef-crafted dishes.
- The waterfront restaurant will serve weekend brunch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant’s full menu will also be available throughout the holiday weekend.
Chef specials will be offered Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, featuring seafood and grilled options highlighting Gulf Coast flavors.
The pasta special features sautéed shrimp and scallops tossed in a roasted red bell pepper cream, topped with smoked gouda cheese and served with toasted baguette for $29.99.
The catch of the weekend is baked salmon topped with sautéed Gulf shrimp and drizzled with a lime tarragon aioli, served with rice and house vegetables for $32.99.
- Nick’s Grill special offers Dijon-crusted lollipop lamb chops with grilled jumbo asparagus and red mashed potatoes for $32.99.
Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 850-678-2805.
BUSINESS
White-Wilson Medical Center emerges from bankruptcy with acquisition by Kain Capital, new CEO
White-Wilson Medical Center announced Tuesday the successful completion of its corporate restructuring and the closing of a strategic investment by Kain Capital. Brad Logan has been appointed chief executive officer, effective immediately.
- The acquisition concludes a restructuring process that began in October 2025, when the 79-year-old multi-specialty physician group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address financial obligations and reduce debt. White-Wilson said the deal positions the medical center for long-term sustainability with a stronger financial foundation now in place.
The organization said it is focused on accelerating growth, expanding access to care and deepening its commitment to the communities it has served for nearly eight decades.
Kain Capital partners with mid-sized healthcare companies to build on opportunities for transformational change, according to the press release.
“We are excited to enter into this agreement with Kain Capital and look forward to helping our patients achieve their best health through a personalized and integrated approach to care,” said Dr. Kenneth Persaud, president of White-Wilson Medical Center.
Logan brings more than 30 years of experience leading physician organizations. He previously served as CEO of US Eye and chief operating officer of Complete Health.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday. 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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