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Good morning!
Okaloosa County will open the $212 million Southwest Crestview Bypass on May 1 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking completion of the long-awaited project. Niceville High Principal Charlie Marello has been named Okaloosa County School District Director of Human Resources, Okaloosa student-athletes will wear the America 250 logo on their helmets, Okaloosa elementary students are learning math by building toolboxes in a new CTE program, CEFCO is now Casey’s as the Fort Walton Beach store undergoes a rebrand, and Choctaw’s KK Hardy is our Athlete of the Week for taking flag football to the next level.
SPORTS
Okaloosa student-athletes to wear America 250 logo on helmets
When Choctawhatchee High School’s baseball team took the field Friday night, the backs of their batting helmets carried something new — a sticker bearing the America 250 logo with the school’s green outlining.
- It was a small addition with a big meaning. Choctaw became the first sports program in the Okaloosa County School District to display the logo, which honors the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding on July 4, 2026.
And it won’t be the last.
The district plans to outfit every high school sports program that uses helmets with its own school-colored version of the sticker in the coming months.
“Having our student-athletes wear the America 250 logo is a meaningful way to celebrate our nation’s history while inspiring pride, patriotism, unity, and a sense of purpose in the next generation,” said Catherine Card, the Okaloosa County School District’s Public Information Officer.
The idea started with Card, who noticed America 250 branding on NFL jerseys last fall and began thinking about how Okaloosa County’s student-athletes could carry the same spirit on their fields and diamonds.
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GAMES
WordroW: April 15, 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.
SCHOOL
Niceville High Principal Charlie Marello named OCSD Director of Human Resources
The Okaloosa County School Board on Monday night unanimously approved the appointment of Niceville High School Principal Charlie Marello as the district’s new director of human resources.
- Superintendent Marcus Chambers presented Marello’s appointment during the April 13 board meeting, outlining a career that spans more than two decades across two Northwest Florida school districts. Marello is a graduate of Niceville High School, Okaloosa Walton Community College — now Northwest Florida State College — and the University of West Florida.
He spent 15 years in the Walton County School District before joining Okaloosa in 2013 as principal of Destin Middle School. He has led Niceville High for the past 10 years, earning ‘A’ School of Excellence status under his tenure.
In an emotional speech, Marello thanked Superintendent Chambers as a professional mentor, praised the district’s HR team under Lindsay Maxey and credited colleagues including Dr. Lee Hale and Choctaw Principal Michelle Heck for their support over the years.
He also shared that he made one request before accepting the position: to still lead the Niceville High graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 and hand his daughter Sarah her diploma. Chambers granted it.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Choctaw’s Khamauri “KK” Hardy found flag football as a freshman — now she’s taking it to the next level
Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District – supporting the athletes who make our community stronger.
Khamauri “KK” Hardy had never played a snap of flag football when she walked into Choctawhatchee High School as a freshman.
- Four years later, the senior wide receiver and defensive playmaker has signed with Daytona State College, where she’ll play flag football and pursue a nursing degree.
Last week, Hardy delivered one of the biggest plays of the season, catching a go-ahead touchdown pass from quarterback Diaris Morales in a tie game against Niceville to lift the Indians to an 18-12 win.
Head coach Jim Bay calls her the team’s “Swiss Army knife” and its fastest player. “If I had to take that over a championship ring, I definitely would rather see my kids thrive and be successful on the field and off the field,” Bay said.
PROMOTED BY GULFARIUM
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!
SCHOOL
Okaloosa elementary students learn math by building toolboxes, simple structures in new CTE program
The Okaloosa County School District has launched its Career and Technical Education Building Math Program at Elliott Point Elementary, Wright Elementary and Longwood Elementary schools, putting rulers, tape measures and building materials into the hands of fifth graders as a way to teach core math concepts.
- The program integrates building trades into math instruction, with students constructing projects like toolboxes and simple structures while applying skills in measurement, fractions and geometry.
Rather than working exclusively from textbooks, students calculate fractions while cutting materials, explore angles and shapes through construction, and determine material quantities to ensure precise fits.
Greg Rynearson, the district’s teacher on special assignment for CTE, leads the initiative. Rynearson has extensive experience in the construction industry and previously taught building trades at Pryor Middle School.
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Origin Bank hosting grand opening for new Fort Walton Beach financial center
Origin Bank is celebrating the grand opening of its new Fort Walton Beach Financial Center on Tuesday, April 28, at 4 p.m. The event includes an official ribbon cutting followed by beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres at 212 Racetrack Road NW.
The event is free to attend. RSVP by Friday, April 24, by emailing Rissa Burge at rburge@origin.bank.
COMING SOON
CEFCO is now Casey’s
Renovations have begun on the CEFCO on Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach to rebrand the store to Casey’s.
This comes as Casey’s acquired CEFCO in late 2024 with plans to begin the conversion of the stores this year.
TRAFFIC
Okaloosa County to open $212M Southwest Crestview Bypass on May 1 with ribbon-cutting
Okaloosa County will celebrate the grand opening of the Southwest Crestview Bypass with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 1, at 9 a.m. on the newly completed bridge at the north side of the bypass near the corner of U.S. Highway 90 and Enzor Road.
- The bypass, completed in phases at a total cost of about $212 million, is the product of a joint effort between Okaloosa County, the Florida Department of Transportation, Triumph Gulf Coast and the City of Crestview to improve traffic flow in and around the Crestview area.
“The vision for this project was recognized years ago by County, City and community leaders who led the way to blaze this new trail for our residents,” Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin said. “I can’t thank our staff and Anderson Columbia enough for all of the great work that has been done and all those who helped piece together the funding for this extraordinary project.”
Motorists will be able to access the bypass beginning at noon on May 1 from Antioch Road on the west, State Road 85 on the east and U.S. Highway 90 from the north.
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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