SCHOOL

Superintendent Marcus Chambers embarks on ‘Fireside Chat Tour’ with high schools students

Okaloosa Superintendent of Schools Marcus Chambers is on a mission to connect with high school students and answer their pressing questions. 

• Chambers recently kicked-off the “Fireside Chat Tour” that has him meeting with students from each high school in the district.

His first stop was Fort Walton Beach High School, and this past week he spoke with students from Choctawhatchee High School. Each meeting is attended by the school’s School Board Member who joins Mr. Chambers to field questions from the students.

The conversations have touched on various topics such as school safety, mental health, facilities, fundraising, CTE, course offerings, and more. According to Superintendent Chambers, these conversations are a two-way street. He gains insight into what is important to students, while the students get answers to their questions directly from their School Board Members and Superintendent.

“The students at Choctawhatchee High School and Principal Michelle Sullivan Heck met with School Board Member Dr. Lamar White and me at our Fireside Chat on Wednesday morning,” he said. “The students asked questions and discussed topics such as bookkeeping, honor clubs, school start times, FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking), sports programs, school security, and more!”

The importance of these chats cannot be overstated, as they allow the Superintendent and School Board Members to make informed decisions that affect the students in the district. 

• The Fireside Chat Tour will also make stops at Niceville High School, Crestview High School with Laurel Hill School, and Baker School before graduation.

“These conversations are as important for me, learning what our students are concerned about and focused on, as they are for them to hear the answers to their questions directly from their School Board Members and Superintendent, who make the decisions that affect them,” added Chambers.

POLICE BLOTTER

Fort Walton Beach parents charged with child neglect and abuse after 2-year-old left alone in feces-covered room

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department (FWBPD) responded to a call for service on April 22, 2023, regarding a 2-year-old juvenile left alone in a residence. 

• Upon arrival at the scene, patrol officers observed the juvenile through the front window of the residence, slapping the window and appearing dirty with multiple flies on him.

Officers attempted to make contact with anyone at the residence but were unsuccessful, according to the report. As a result, they made the decision to enter the home to assess the situation. 

• Inside the residence, officers noted that the room where the juvenile was located had feces on the walls, mounds of soiled diapers, an extreme amount of insect activity, and the bedroom door was locked from the outside.

Realizing the severity of the situation, officers immediately called Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to attend to the juvenile. The child was transported to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The child was ultimately admitted for further care, according to the FWBPD. 

The parents of the child were identified as Tyler Piringer and Diamond Atkinson, both 21 years old and residents of Fort Walton Beach. Six hours after the initial call, Piringer and Atkinson were located and taken into custody with the combined efforts of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, Special Investigations Unit, and Patrol Alpha Shift.

Piringer and Atkinson were charged with violation of Florida State Statute (FSS) 827.03 (2a) for Aggravated Child Abuse and FSS 827.03 (2d) for Child Neglect.

A MESSAGE FROM FATBOYS

Fatboys celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week with 50% Off Deal!

Attention all teachers! Teacher appreciation week is almost here and Fatboys wants to show their gratitude by offering 50% off your meal all week long!

From May 7-13, 2023, visit any of their locations in Destin, Miramar Beach, or Crestview and enjoy a delicious meal at half the price when you dine in and present your badge or proof of employment.

• We know how hard you work to shape the future of our community and Fatboys wants to thank you for all that you do. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to indulge in some mouthwatering food while saving big.

So celebrate at Fatboys during teacher appreciation week!

*Offer valid for dine-in only. Must present badge or proof of employment to receive offer.

GIVING BACK

Pensacola Family receives much-needed car donation from Step One Automotive Group

On Friday, April 21, 2023, Step One Automotive Group hosted a “Driving Opportunity” Key Presentation at Subaru Fort Walton Beach located at 916 Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. 

• The event aimed to give back to the community by providing a reliable car to a family in need. 

John and Courtney Gazoo from Pensacola, Florida, were the recipients of the Honda Accord after being driven over in a limo. The couple had previously faced difficulties due to their lack of reliable transportation.

Maureen Bierman, Marketing Director at Step One Automotive Group, spoke about the company’s commitment to leaving a legacy in the community and providing easier ways of accessing mobility. She mentioned that the company had already put back $2 million into the communities they serve over the last seven years. Bierman went on to express how honored the company was to be able to make a positive impact on the Gazoo family’s life.

United Way’s Kelly Jansen discussed how the organization had reached out to six United Ways in the southeast region to nominate families and clients for the “Driving Opportunity” initiative. The organization chose the Gazoo family because they believed they were deserving and in need of an additional vehicle to get them to work, school, and other obligations for their family.

John Gazoo and his wife, Courtney, expressed their gratitude towards Step One, United Way and the Health and Hope Clinic. HHC is a non-profit clinic that provides free medical care to low-income and uninsured individuals in the Pensacola area. 

• Gazoo shared how the clinic saved his life when he was diagnosed with diabetes and lacked insurance. The clinic opened its doors to him on a Sunday night, even when everything was closed, and got him on insulin to control his high levels. 

Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson praised Step One for being a tremendous community partner, while Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel expressed her excitement about the generosity of the community.

SCHOOL

Over 200 Okaloosa County high school seniors celebrate Career & Technical Education ‘Signing Day’

Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) hosted the 4th Annual Career and College Signing Day on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at the Crestview Community Center. 

• The event highlighted the hard work and dedication of local Career and Technical Education (CTE) students and their commitment to pursuing their education and careers beyond high school.

“We are honored to welcome our Career and Technical Education seniors, their families and teachers, and our community leaders to the Okaloosa County School District’s 4th Annual CTE Signing Day,” said Marcus Chambers, Superintendent of Okaloosa County School District. “By participating in CTE courses leading to industry certifications or licenses, our students secure their bright futures and those of their communities.”

Over 200 students from six local high schools signed letters of intention alongside their CTE teachers, principals, family members, District staff and School Board Member Tim Bryant.

• The event supported Governor Ron DeSantis’ goals of making Florida the number one state in workforce development by 2030.

The morning’s agenda included opening remarks by Chambers and April Branscome, Program Director of Career & Technical Education. 

Bernard Johnson Jr., Regional Manager at Florida Power & Light, addressed the students as the guest speaker. Johnson, who has been with the company for 36 years, spoke to the students about hard work, being patient and coachable, and making good financial decisions as they progress in their careers.

• He also explained to students how he worked his way up, working in all aspects of the company. He began his career on the line crew, then spent time in Engineering, Customer Service, and Marketing, and has held various roles of management throughout his career.

“When kids walk across that stage in their senior year, we want you to be prepared to be able to go to college, the military or the workforce. And today, many of you are going to technical colleges, college, or the military. And that’s something that we could not be more proud of,” said Chambers.

With a diverse range of CTE programs, including carpentry, culinary, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, engineering, and automotive, students have ample opportunities to pursue their interests and secure high-wage jobs in the future.

• “A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who played a role in the success of Career and Technical Education in Okaloosa County,” Chambers concluded.

COASTAL RESOURCES

High school students help fortify the living shoreline at the Okaloosa Island Boat Basin

On Friday, April 21, 2023, the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) teamed up with the Okaloosa County Coastal Resources Team to fortify the living shoreline at the Okaloosa Island Boat Basin. 

• The YLC, which was formed in January 2021 by Okaloosa County in conjunction with the Okaloosa County School Board, comprises students representing each high school within Okaloosa County. 
• It is under the leadership of Commissioner Mel Ponder and Superintendent Marcus Chambers.

The idea for the project was first presented in February by Angelique Patterson, a senior at Choctawhatchee High School and Chairperson of the YLC. The proposal involved installing another layer of bagged oyster shell along the existing oyster breakwaters, which would further stabilize the shoreline. 

According to Coastal Resource Manager Alex Fogg, Commissioner Mel Ponder had originally reached out to him to ask if there were any projects that may be a good fit for the YLC, which led to their collaboration on this project.

On the day of the event, approximately 30 students, volunteers, and chaperones worked to fill about 200 bags with oyster shells provided by the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Fogg explained that the students first packed the bags with shells, then transported them to the boat basin. After that, the Coastal Resource Team placed them along the living shoreline.

Fogg emphasized the importance of using green solutions like living shorelines to fortify the shoreline, rather than relying on concrete, sea walls, or other engineered structures. 

• “You can build living shorelines where you have some rock or bagged oyster shells to lessen the effects that waves have on the shoreline,” he explained. “But on the other side of those oyster shells, grasses and other natural processes can occur to help stabilize that shoreline.”

Both the students and the Coastal Resources Team expressed gratitude for the collaborative experience. 

“The Coastal Resources Team, and everybody involved in this project, was super thankful that the students participated and volunteered their time to come and do this,” added Fogg. “But they were thanking us as much as we were thanking them.” 

The project’s success has led to hopes for a continued partnership between the YLC and the Coastal Resources Team for future endeavors.