HAPPENING TODAY

Biggest flyover in Okaloosa County history

Today is the day!

The United States Air Force will conduct the biggest flyover that Okaloosa County has ever seen, as planes make their way along the beaches of Okaloosa Island.

• The flyover begins promptly at 5pm.
• Can be seen from all parts of Okaloosa Island.

The flyover is not only a tribute to the Doolittle Raiders, but to also commemorate the Air Force’s 75th Anniversary.

• The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will host the “Final Goblet,” a ceremony that will mark the passing of Doolittle Raider, Col. Richard E. “Dick” Cole, earlier the same day.

The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island will host the event and will feature a number of activities:

• Choctaw High School Jazz Band will play a special musical performance before the flyover.
• Patriotic music will pipe through the entire sound system at The Boardwalk during the flyover.
• Mike Minich with Southern Events Management will announce aircraft details.
• Al’s Beach Club will have family-friendly entertainment including airplane balloon artists and free patriotic face painting for kids.
• Emerald Coast TV will be live-streaming the event.

If you cannot make the Final Goblet ceremony (it is sold out) or the flyover, there is a live stream. Click here to view at their times.

ARTS+CULTURE

Okaloosa Arts Alliance Poster Contest

The Okaloosa Arts Alliance is inviting all Okaloosa County School students to participate in the 13th Annual OAA Okaloosa County School Poster Contest, sponsored by Eglin Federal Credit Union.  

• The theme for the contest is “Sparking the Arts”, which is open for student interpretation of what sparks their interest in art or what it means to them. 
• It can be anything you can create on paper with markers, pencils, paint, pastels, charcoal, mixed media, crayons or digital.  

There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for three elementary school students (K-4), for three middle school students (5-7), and for three high school students (8-12) in Okaloosa County.  

• Each 1st place winner will receive $75
• Each 2nd place winner will receive $50
• Each 3rd place winner will receive $25
• Additionally, the 1st place winners’ artwork will be posted in the OAA newsletter and on the OAA website. 

Any Okaloosa County School student grades kindergarten through 12^th grade can enter. Entries can be submitted by an Okaloosa County School or by an individual student.   

The poster contest deadline is April 21, 2022.   

All poster contest entries will be on display and winners announced at 6:30 pm on Friday, April 22, 2022, at Enlightened Studios located at 142 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.

• Posters will be on display from April 22, 2022, until May 20, 2022, at Enlightened Studios (Middle & High School entries) and the FWB Library (Elementary entries) located at 185 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.  

For more details on the submission and requirements, click here.

FOOD+DRINK

Ruby Slipper sneak peek invite you won’t want to miss!

Have you heard? Ruby Slipper is opening soon!

That brunch life is coming to Destin, and you can be the first to get a taste! Next week’s Get The Coast newsletter will have a sneak peek invite that you won’t want to miss!

Join the Ruby Krewe because there’s no bad time to benedict! Job fairs will take place April 19^th & 20^th. See their website for more information. 👇👇 https://www.therubyslippercafe.net/location/destin/

PUBLIC SAFETY

Firefighters battled 30A house fire for several hours

On Saturday afternoon, South Walton firefighters responded to a fully involved, residential structure fire on Fort Panic Road. The call came into South Walton Fire District’s (SWFD) Emergency Communications Center at approximately 3:03 p.m. reporting a structure on fire.

Due to the home’s proximity to the beach, SWFD Beach Safety units in the area were able to relay to dispatchers that the home was fully involved. Truck 4 firefighters and SWFD District Chief 2 arrived on scene at 3:10 p.m. and began securing a water supply.

District Chief 2 then called for a second alarm response, bringing in resources from all five of SWFD’s fire stations and mutual aid from Destin Fire Control District.

• South Walton firefighters reported “water on the fire” at 3:14 p.m. and deployed multiple hose lines to successfully protect the exposed homes to the left and right of the engulfed structure.

Firefighters worked for several hours to eliminate hotspots and extinguish all signs of fire. SWFD Advanced Life Support units treated one person for smoke inhalation, however, the person did not require transport to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The SWFD Fire Marshal and State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted a joint investigation into the cause of the fire and found it started on the ground floor of the home.

• However, the cause is undetermined at this time.
• Unfortunately, the home was deemed a total loss.

Click here to watch footage of the fire

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton County Traffic Advisory

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County:

• State Road (S.R.) 85 Improvements from S.R. 123 to Hospital Drive – The week of Sunday, April 17 drivers will encounter the following intermittent, temporary lane closures on S.R. 85 between S.R. 123 and Shoal River Bridge:
  • Southbound lane closures will occur except between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. (peak traffic hours) 
  • Northbound lane closures will occur except between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. (peak travel hours)
• Lewis Turner Boulevard (S.R. 189) Turn Lane Construction Between Judge Maney Way and Roberts Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach – Northbound motorists can expect intermittent inside lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 20 and Thursday, April 21 as crews perform paving operations.
• Airport Road Turn Lane Construction at Mattie Kelley Boulevard – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 20 as crews perform paving operations.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from East of Village Road to East of U.S. 331 – Construction activities will begin the week of Monday, April 18th. The $10.5 million improvement project will resurface a 6.6-mile section of U.S. 98 from east of Village Road to east of U.S. 331. In addition to resurfacing the project also includes turn lane improvements, drainage, sidewalk, and lighting enhancements, as well as new signage and pavement markings.
• U.S. 98 Widening from Emerald Bay Drive to Tang-O-Mar Drive – The week of Sunday, April 17 drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound single-lane closures between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to place asphalt in the center travel lane. This work is in preparation to place the U.S. 98 travel lanes in a new traffic pattern, between Emerald Bay Drive and Tang-O-Mar Drive. All traffic will be shifted to inside and center travel lanes, with a dedicated work zone delineated by orange traffic barrels on the outside of the roadway. This configuration is expected to be in place throughout the spring.
• U.S. 98 Widening from Mack Bayou Road to County Road (C.R.) 30A – The week of Sunday, April 17 drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures from Mack Bayou Road to C.R. 30A from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews continue the installation of drilled shafts.
• S.R. 83 Pavement Coring from Leonia Highway (C.R. 185) to the Alabama State Line – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, April 18 through Thursday, April 21 as crews perform pavement coring operations.
• U.S. 98 Routine Maintenance East of Watersound Parkway- Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures from 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 20 as crews perform paving operations.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

FISHING

Destin fishermen catch massive 832-pound Bluefin Tuna

On the morning of Easter Sunday, an 832.2-pound Bluefin Tuna was brought back to the Destin Harbor by the No Name (boat).

Captain Jake Matney, along with deck mates Jett Tolbert and Devin Sarver, had a 4.5 hour fight on their hands. The crew was 160 miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

• Also on the boat was Jennifer Matney, Jeremiah Matney, Jacob Matney.

The current state record for Bluefin Tuna is 826-pounds by Rick Whitley in May of 2017. That Bluefin Tuna was also caught off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast.

Congrats to the whole team!