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Good morning!
A grand jury has indicted the 12-year-old in the Walton Middle School stabbing case and the student will be tried as an adult. Niceville has named Adron Robinson as head football coach, LiveOak Fiber secures $425 million to expand high-speed internet across the region, Fort Walton Beach girls tennis completes a second straight undefeated regular season, Bailey Scheel prepares to represent Florida at America’s International Miss, and Lauren’s Kids and ECCAC team up for an annual walk event in Niceville on April 24. Check out four Fort Walton Beach open houses this Saturday under $535K, and view upcoming community events.
SPORTS
Fort Walton Beach girls tennis completes second straight undefeated regular season
The Fort Walton Beach High School girls tennis team completed a second consecutive undefeated regular season, capping a perfect 13-0 campaign with a win over Destin on Thursday.
- The Vikings, who are 7-0 in district play, have compiled a roster-wide individual match record of 79-18 this spring. Head coach Pat Markey said he saw this coming after returning nearly the entire roster from last year’s team that won the program’s first region title in 26 years and advanced to state.
Junior Penelope Gordon worked 20 hours a week during the offseason to earn the No. 1 singles spot, while seniors Reese Armstrong, Katie Eubanks and Gabriella (Gigi) Biro all returned in the best shape of their careers.
The Vikings now turn their attention to the 2A District 1 tournament, set for April 15-16 at Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center, where they are expected to hold top seeds in every category.
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GAMES
WordroW: April 10, 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.
NEWS
Bailey Scheel, Choctaw grad and America’s International Miss Florida, prepares to represent state on national stage
Bailey Scheel didn’t even like wearing dresses when her grandmother signed her up for her first pageant during COVID in 2020.
- Now, six years and eight titles later, the Choctawhatchee High School graduate is preparing to represent Florida at the America’s International Miss Pageant, set for Aug. 14-16 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
As a titleholder, she promotes “Hope Through Him,” a platform blending her Christian faith with mental health awareness. The initiative grew from her involvement with Hope Squad at Choctawhatchee High School and was shaped by the loss of a cousin that shook her relationship with God.
Scheel is currently a student at the University of West Florida. At the national competition, interview accounts for 40 percent of the overall score. She will also compete in fitness, state wear and talent.
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Gulfarium’s TurtleFest returns April 18 with all-inclusive celebration supporting sea turtle rescue
The Gulfarium Adventure Park will host its third annual “CARE on the Coast TurtleFest” on April 18, offering an all-inclusive afternoon of live music, local food, animal encounters and family entertainment — all in support of the facility’s sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
- The event, presented by Valparaiso Coca-Cola, runs from 3:30 to 7 p.m., with VIP ticket holders gaining early access at 3 p.m.
“Every ticket that we sell is more that goes to the CARE Center,” said Mary Fomby, Marketing Manager for Gulfarium. “Everything that we raise through this event goes back to rescuing sea turtles in our area.”
This family-friendly festival will be an unforgettable evening, where you’ll enjoy entertainment, unlimited food & drink, fun activities for all ages, meet-and-greets with your favorite Gulfarium residents and opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of endangered sea turtles!
GIVING BACK
Lauren’s Kids, ECCAC team up for annual walk event in Niceville on April 24
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and Lauren’s Kids Foundation are partnering again for the 11th Annual Walk In My Shoes event on April 24 in Niceville, bringing a portion of a statewide 1,500-mile trek to the local community.
- The walk, which recognizes April as National Child Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month, will begin at 9 a.m. at ECCAC’s Niceville Center, 401 McEwen Drive. Registration opens at 8 a.m.
Participants can choose a 5-mile route from ECCAC’s Niceville Center to JoJo’s Coffee and Goodness, 4652 Highway 20, or a full 10-mile walk that begins and ends at the center. An Uber code will be provided for transport back to the start if needed.
Lauren Book, who founded Lauren’s Kids Foundation in 2007, is an internationally respected child advocate, former teacher, best-selling author and former Florida state senator. She is also one of 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S.
BUSINESS
LiveOak Fiber secures $425 million to expand high-speed internet
LiveOak Fiber, which provides service in parts of Northwest Florida, has secured a $425 million credit facility to fuel continued expansion of its all-fiber internet network across Florida and Georgia.
The funding will support the company’s build-out of its fiber-to-the-home network across existing and planned markets in the Southeast. The company provides high-speed fiber internet to homes, businesses and multi-tenant communities.
“LiveOak Fiber has achieved rapid expansion in a short period of time,” said Shane Schilling, CEO of LiveOak Fiber. “What differentiates LiveOak Fiber is our fiercely local operating model. We have full-time local teams on the ground delivering installation, support, and community engagement, and with this new funding, we are positioned to accelerate our build-out and continue gaining momentum across our footprint.”
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SPORTS
Niceville names Adron Robinson head football coach
Niceville has found its next head football coach.
Principal Charlie Marello announced Thursday that Adron Robinson has been named the Eagles’ new head coach following the resignation of Richard Morgan earlier this week.
“No one has deeper roots with Niceville Eagle football than Coach Adron Robinson, and he was the unanimous selection of our hiring committee,” Marello said.
A more in-depth look at Robinson’s hire is coming later today from Get The Coast’s Travis Espy. Stay tuned at getthecoast.com.
OPEN HOUSES
4 open houses in Fort Walton Beach this Saturday under $535K
We’re taking a look around Fort Walton Beach this weekend with a handful of open houses that highlight the variety of homes currently on the market.
From updated interiors and flexible layouts to larger homes with room to grow, these listings offer options for buyers at different stages — all in locations close to schools, bases, and the water.
EVENTS
A few things to do around town
Friday, Apr. 10 – First Friday Coffee sponsored by LiveOak Fiber – Fort Walton Beach – $40.00 – View
Saturday, Apr. 11 – Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center Court Renovation Celebration – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Apr. 11 – Girls Empowered with Math and Science Workshops – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Apr. 11 – “Wearable Art” Open House – NIceville – Free – View
Sunday, Apr. 12 – Impact100 NWF Membership Event at Eagle’s Nest at Blackwater – Crestview – Free – View
Monday, Apr. 13 – UWF Founders Week Emerald Coast Campus Events – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Tuesday, Apr. 14 – ECPRO Lunch and Learn: Accreditation in Public Relations – Fort Walton Beach – $40.00 – View
Wednesday, Apr. 15 – Impact100 NWF 2 Birds Coffee + Cafe Enrollment Event – Miramar Beach – Free – View
Thursday, Apr. 16 – “Sippin’ on the Sound” April 16, 2026 – Fort Walton Beach – $50.00 – View
Thursday, Apr. 16 – Planetarium Nights: Double Feature – Fort Walton Beach – $12.00 – View
Thursday, Apr. 16 – American Brass Quintet – sponsored by the Emerald Coast Music Alliance – Niceville – Free – View
Friday, Apr. 17 – History Sandwiched In – valpariso – Free – View
Friday, Apr. 17 – 26th Annual Fine Arts Photography Show – ADSO – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Apr. 18 – Creature Café – Fort Walton Beach – $30.00 – View
Saturday, Apr. 18 – Vertical Oyster Garden – Destin – Free – View
Saturday, Apr. 18 – CARE on the Coast TurtleFest 2026 – Fort Walton Beach – $25.00 – View
Sunday, Apr. 19 – Big Cat Fishin Derby – Baker – Free – View
PUBLIC SAFETY
Grand jury indicts 12-year-old in Walton Middle School stabbing; will be tried as adult
A Walton County grand jury has indicted the 12-year-old suspect in the Walton Middle School stabbing on charges including attempted first-degree premeditated murder, the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida announced.
The suspect will be tried as an adult.
The indictment, handed down April 6, also includes two counts of aggravated battery while wearing a mask, possession of a weapon on school property while wearing a mask, and tampering with evidence.
The charges stem from the March 24 attack at Walton Middle School in which the suspect allegedly stabbed two 12-year-old students and a school employee at random, resulting in serious injuries.
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Jared
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