GIVING BACK

Step One Automotive Group launches vehicle discount program for building industry members

Step One Automotive Group in Fort Walton Beach has teamed up with the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties (BIA) to offer a new vehicle discount program for BIA members and their immediate families. 

• The program, which extends to both fleet and non-fleet vehicles, is available at all Step One Automotive Group locations and covers a wide range of makes and models.

According to Olga Boistean of Step One Automotive Group, the idea for the program came about as a way to support local blue-collar workers. “We wanted to do something special for our building industry members because they are working hard every day and are in need of transportation,” Boistean said. “Through Step One, we’ll offer them special pricing on the vehicles, not just for the fleet vehicles, but also for their immediate family members.”

Jason Carducci, current BIA President, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. “Our association is moving to more member-on-member business. Promoting this discount to our members, in collaboration with a current member, just adds value to our association and the importance of our members getting involved to help promote that value,” Carducci said.

The discount program offers a breakdown per brand, with some exclusions for limited edition models. BIA members can contact two designated fleet sales representatives to simplify the process and receive assistance with their purchases. 

• When it comes to non-fleet vehicles for family members, they can provide their BIA member number at any Step One Automotive Group dealership to receive the discount, along with all available rebates.

Carducci highlighted the significance of Step One Automotive Group’s support for the construction industry. “They understand blue collar work and the labor issues that we’re having across the blue-collar industry, from mechanics to tradesmen, to service reps, to anybody that works with their hands,” he said. “So for them to come out and do this, it’s huge!”

The discount program is not limited to the Okaloosa Walton County Building Industry Association. As long as an individual is a member of any local building industry association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, they can take advantage of the discount at any Step One Automotive Group dealership location.

For more information on the specific discounts available, BIA members can contact their local association or the designated fleet sales representatives at Step One Automotive Group.

NEWS

Demolition of old water treatment plant structures begins at One Hopeful Place in Fort Walton Beach

Community members and leaders gathered at One Hopeful Place on Wednesday morning to celebrate the start of demolition of the old concrete clarifiers on the property. 

• The demolition project, funded by a $200,000 appropriation from the state legislature, aims to remove the environmental hazard posed by the structures and create space for the possibility of additional shelters and affordable housing.

One Hopeful Place, a campus changing lives to better the community, offers programs and services for those seeking self-sufficiency. Since its opening in October 2016, the organization has served 375 participants, with 55% assisted in finding housing and 20% being U.S. military veterans. Veterans and Okaloosa County residents have priority on admission to One Hopeful Place through an established verification process.

The clarifiers, remnants of a previous water treatment plant, have been dormant for the past 25 years, collecting rainwater and serving as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Their removal is the first step in opening up the property to allow One Hopeful Place to possibly expand its services and continue helping those in need within the community.

• “We’ve had to wait for this day to knock down these concrete structures,” said Ted Corcoran, president of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “Now, by knocking down the remnants of the former waste treatment plant, we will create a village for people who are trying to change their lives.”

State Representative Patt Maney, who was instrumental in securing the appropriations funds, had the honor of being the first person to begin the demolition. “Here I have a chance to help One Hopeful Place attack the problem of vacancy by creating greater capacity to take care of those folks and get them on an upward path,” Maney said.

Brandon Bishop, vice president of CES Construction, expressed his company’s gratitude for being involved in the project. “We’ve done several wastewater treatment plants before. So to see that this was part of One Hopeful Place and what you are doing here, it was awesome to be asked to come look at this,” Bishop said.

• Donna Morgan, director of One Hopeful Place, shared the excitement felt by the staff and residents. “We’re all excited. We really have been waiting for this to happen,” Morgan said. “It’s going to free up much needed space for the future. Trust the process and watch for the future, because we’re going to do big things and we’re going to be helping a whole lot more people.”

Currently, One Hopeful Place accommodates 50 single men and 17 single women. As of February 2024, eligible participants are required to pay $100 per week. The organization also serves as the cold night shelter for Southern Okaloosa County and offers a day program for those seeking housing.

As the demolition of the initial three concrete structures and four to five out parcels of leftover cement begins, One Hopeful Place looks to the future with hope and anticipation. The organization has submitted another appropriations request for an additional $200,000 in 2025, which, if granted, will fund the demolition of the remaining six buildings located outside the fence.

SCHOOL

Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez announces third annual Space Art Contest at Plew Elementary

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez visited James E. Plew Elementary in Niceville to officially announce the launch of the Third Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest, an initiative aimed at promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) education among K-5 students in Florida.

The contest, which has received over 4,000 original art submissions in the past two years, invites students to create two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme.

• Lt. Governor Nuñez expressed her excitement to see the innovative and futuristic designs that young artists will bring to life, stating, “our theme for this year is the spacesuit of the future.”

Submissions will be divided into two categories: K-2 and 3-5. Six finalists from each group (12 total) will be selected, with each finalist winning two tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center.

Additionally, two grand prize winners, one from each group, will have their artwork launched into space aboard a SpaceX rocket in support of an upcoming mission.

During her visit, Lt. Governor Nuñez was accompanied by Rob Long, President and CEO of Space Florida, Superintendent Marcus Chambers, and Principal Tammy Matz. The event began with a tour of two classrooms before the official announcement was made in the school’s media center.

Talking to the students seated at tables, Superintendent Marcus Chambers asked them, “Who would like to go to space one day?”

“This is what is so amazing about having a Lieutenant Governor that has a vision about Space Florida, a vision to get you all to be thinking even more about space,” he said to the students. “One of you could be an astronaut one day.”

• Chambers went on to reaffirm that not only is STEM education important at Plew Elementary, but across Okaloosa Schools.

Space Florida, a sponsor of the Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest, believes supporting STEAM education initiatives is crucial to its mission.

The contest rules and guidelines for students can be found online at FloridaSpaceArt.com.

A MESSAGE FROM NICEVILLE TUTORING

Local teacher offers personalized tutoring and ACT test prep services in Niceville

Rebecca Beard, a K-12 licensed teacher in Special Education and Science, returned to her hometown of Niceville in 2023, and has been providing personalized tutoring and test preparation services for students in the community, with a focus on upcoming ACT prep classes.

• Rebecca, who holds a degree in Science Education with a minor in Psychology, has extensive experience teaching in middle and high school classrooms, working in a nationally recognized tutoring center, and providing private tutoring throughout her career. 

“I am really passionate about helping children grow and rise to their fullest potential,” Rebecca said. “I developed a fondness for the one-on-one interaction of tutoring and wanted to continue teaching with a focus on one-on-one tutoring.”

Rebecca offers both online and in-person tutoring services, using Google Meet for online sessions and the Niceville Library for in-person tutoring. She collaborates with the library staff and plans to continue hosting events with them in the future.

In addition to her regular tutoring services, Rebecca is offering ACT prep classes for students preparing for the upcoming ACT exam on April 13th. The classes will be held at the Community Life Center at Crosspoint (Niceville) on April 4th, and 9th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 

Click here for details!

POLICE BLOTTER

Niceville man charged with operating public nuisance structure for drug activity

A Niceville man has been arrested and charged by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly operating a public nuisance structure for drug activity and possession of drug equipment.

Eddie Hudson, Jr., 37, was arrested on March 27th when the Okaloosa County Multi-Agency Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at his residence located at 195 College Cove in Niceville. Hudson admitted to selling narcotics and allowing people to use drugs at his home, according to the OCSO.

During the search, law enforcement found nine people inside the residence, including three juveniles. Three other individuals were also arrested and charged with possession of drug equipment.

• Additionally, another individual was charged with obstruction of law enforcement while executing the search warrant.

The Okaloosa County Multi-Agency Drug Task Force, a partnership between the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Crestview Police Department, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, and Niceville Police Department, focuses on combating the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics in the community.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Panama City Beach Police Chief warns teens and parents during Spring Break

Police Chief Eusebio Talamantez Jr. issued a stern warning to parents of teenagers visiting Panama City Beach for spring break, urging them to ensure their children treat the community with respect or face the consequences of being detained in the city’s detention facility.

“To the parents of teenagers visiting Panama City Beach for spring break, are any of these children yours?” Chief Talamantez asked. “I need to make something perfectly clear. It is imperative that you contact your children immediately and inform them that unless they start treating our community with the respect they would their own homes, we will be compelled to find them a temporary home in our detention facility.”

The police chief emphasized that parents who have rented condos for their unsupervised teenagers while staying elsewhere could be held responsible for any damages caused by their children.

• He advised parents to ‘retrieve their teenagers’ if they doubt their ability to make responsible decisions while in the city.

“We in Panama City Beach hold mutual respect in high regard, a standard that, regretfully, has not been met by some visiting teenagers,” Chief Talamantez said. “If your teenager arrived with the misconception that this is an opportunity for unrestrained behavior and that leniency will be extended, they are mistaken, and allowing them to come unsupervised was a misjudgment.”

Chief Talamantez specifically addressed the beach area adjacent to Pineapple Willy’s restaurant, stating that the boardwalk beach access is exclusively for Laketown Wharf residents and guests.

• “Unauthorized use of this access point will be considered trespassing,” he warned. “This beach has been a particular point of contention, and we will ensure a significant police presence in the area for the rest of the week. Consequently, the likelihood of unruly teenagers being arrested in this vicinity is considerably increased.”

The police chief cautioned that an arrest could have long-lasting repercussions for teenagers, potentially jeopardizing scholarships, military enlistments, or post-high school ambitions. “The excuses they might offer to our officers will have little impact, especially after a month of managing spring break activities,” he added.

Chief Talamantez called for parents’ understanding and cooperation, stating, “It’s in your hands to guide your teenagers—ensure they leave our city with good memories, not a criminal record.”

COMING SOON

Gulfarium to convert old dolphin habitat into new manatee rehabilitation ‘safe haven’

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has announced a partnership with the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) to provide a safe haven for manatees transitioning from critical care to readiness for release back into the wild.

• This collaboration aims to address the alarming mortality rates of manatees in Florida, which have been primarily attributed to human activities such as boat strikes, flood gates, and entanglement in debris.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 556 manatees have perished in the state in 2023 alone, with 89 falling victim to boat strikes.

“Our commitment to conservation efforts now includes manatee rehabilitation and release initiatives,” said Patrick Berry, Vice President and COO of Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. “Through our partnership with MRP and the support of our community, we aim to turn the tide on manatee mortality rates and ensure a brighter future for these gentle creatures.”

To support this mission, the Gulfarium is embarking on a significant habitat renovation project, converting the resident dolphins’ former 300,000-gallon main habitat into a specialized space for long-term rescued manatees.

• The renovation includes enhancements such as new windows, a medical/husbandry area, natural theming, modifications to Life Support Systems (LSS) equipment, and resting ledges tailored to the needs of rescued manatees.

The project, expected to be completed this fall, is supported by a $2.4 million grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “We are thrilled to embark on this renovation project, which marks a significant milestone for our facility, our local community, and overall manatee conservation,” added Berry.

Updates on the project can be found at www.Gulfarium.com/manatees.