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Good morning!
Fort Walton Beach High School senior Brock Dugan was named Okaloosa County’s top academic scholar. An Okaloosa County deputy’s hunch led to a missing Crestview teen with autism being found safe, while the Sheriff’s Office continues investigating Friday’s fatal balcony fall in Destin and a fugitive accused of plotting a mass shooting in New Orleans was captured in Destin.
On the sports side, Choctaw is heading back to the Sweet 16 after a 9-0 win over Baker County, Niceville flag football claimed the District 1-3A championship with a 20-0 shutout of Pace, Niceville girls tennis swept Chiles 5-0 to claim the Class 3A Region 1 championship and stay a perfect 15-0, and district softball play opens this week. Plus, Origin Bank opened its permanent Fort Walton Beach location on Racetrack Road, and the Seltzer Festival invites you to sip, stroll, and give back.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa deputy’s hunch leads to missing Crestview teen with autism
A missing 16-year-old autistic teen was safely reunited with his Crestview family Thursday after a deputy’s awareness and the swift action of multiple Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office units led searchers to his location, according to OCSO.
- The teen was reported missing after wandering away from his family’s home around 4:30 p.m. Deputies responded immediately and began searching the neighborhood and surrounding area as night fell.
After a couple of hours of searching in the dark, a deputy studying an aerial map of the area noticed two ponds nearby. Drawing on experience and training, the deputy knew children with autism are often attracted to water and recognized the ponds as a priority location to check, OCSO said.
The deputy contacted the property owner, who said someone matching the teen’s description had been seen there approximately 90 minutes earlier.
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GAMES
WordroW: April 27, 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.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigating fatal balcony fall in Destin
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a man who was reportedly seen falling from a 6th-floor balcony at the Emerald Grande in Destin around noon Friday.
A death investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the fall. The sheriff’s office said there is no evidence of foul play.
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PUBLIC SAFETY
Fugitive accused of plotting New Orleans mass shooting captured in Destin
A North Carolina man wanted for allegedly threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival was arrested at a Destin hotel Wednesday evening.
- Christopher Gillum, 45, of Chapel Hill, was taken into custody without incident by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies around 6:40 p.m. at a hotel located at 1625 Scenic Highway 98, according to OCSO.
Investigators verified Gillum’s presence in the area through the county’s Flock camera system after receiving information he was in the jurisdiction.
Gillum is wanted in Orleans Parish by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety for alleged terroristic threats. Authorities said they obtained information that he planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans to conduct a mass shooting.
Deputies recovered a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from Gillum’s hotel room.
BUSINESS
Origin Bank opens permanent Fort Walton Beach location on Racetrack Road
Origin Bank has completed its revitalization of a long-dormant building at 212 Racetrack Road NW and opened its permanent Fort Walton Beach Financial Center at the site.
The project transformed the existing structure into a full-service banking center through a down-to-the-studs renovation that included an overhaul of the interior and a complete reimagining of the exterior facade. Features of the new center include an open-concept lobby and client reception area, modern finishes, private offices and conference rooms, a multi-lane drive-thru and a 24/7 ATM.
“This project has been a dream of mine for a long time, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it become a reality,” said Robin Donlon, Florida Panhandle market leader of Origin Bank. “We have a strong foundation in the Fort Walton Beach community, and this revitalized space reflects our commitment to serving our clients, supporting their goals and being a part of their journey in a meaningful way.”
SPORTS
A look at what happened in Okaloosa sports
SWEET16: Choctaw is heading back to the Sweet 16 after blanking Baker County 9-0 on Friday at home. After four scoreless innings, the Indians broke through with a six-run fifth highlighted by Blake Peters’ three-run homer — the first of his career. Trevor Camden, who matched Baker County’s Nicholas Chowaniec pitch for pitch on the mound, later added a two-run shot of his own. Choctaw will host St. Augustine in the Sweet 16, a rematch of last year’s first-round meeting. Full story from Travis Espy
DISTRICT CHAMPS: Niceville flag football claimed the District 1-3A championship Thursday with a 20-0 shutout of Pace at Eagle Stadium, locking up a home playoff game and the best record in program history. Quarterback Peyton Carter threw three touchdown passes — two to Avery Cowles — while Kate Robertson, Reagan Sutter and Cowles each picked off a pass. The win avenged Pace’s recent run through the region and gave the Lady Eagles momentum heading into the postseason. Niceville will host a first-round game at Eagle Stadium. Click here to read the full story
SOFTBALL PREVIEW: District tournament play opens this week for softball, with every local team chasing an automatic bid to the state playoffs. Niceville, South Walton, Fort Walton Beach and Crestview are all but locked into the postseason regardless of district results, while Rocky Bayou appears playoff bound barring a bid thief. Walton, Destin, Freeport, Choctaw, Baker, Laurel Hill and Paxton all face a steeper path: win the district or see the season end. Read the full bracket-by-bracket breakdown
REGIONAL CHAMPS: Niceville girls tennis swept host Chiles 5-0 on Thursday in Tallahassee to claim the FHSAA Class 3A, Region 1 championship and push its record to a perfect 15-0. Senior Annaliese Drab led the way at No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-1 win, and senior Audrey Hill rallied from a first-set loss to win at No. 2. Sophomore Eleanor Randolph, junior Isabella Faccini and sophomore Savannah McOuat rounded out the sweep. The Eagles head to Sanlando Park for the state tournament April 29 through May 1. Click here to read the full story
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Sip, stroll, and give back at the Seltzer Festival
Saturday, May 2 from 1–4 p.m. at The Market Shops in Miramar Beach, the Seltzer Festival presented by Mohrs Automotive returns for an afternoon of unlimited samples from top national and regional seltzer brands, light bites, live music, and that classic Emerald Coast outdoor vibe.
- It’s a party with a purpose: proceeds benefit Opportunity Place of Fort Walton Beach, the area’s low-barrier homeless shelter helping families stay together and individuals move toward stable housing.
General Admission: $35 — full tasting experience, live entertainment, and event festivities VIP: Early access, exclusive area, and elevated perks
Grab your friends, wear your favorite spring outfit, and raise a glass for a great cause.
SCHOOL
Fort Walton Beach High School’s Brock Dugan is Okaloosa County’s top academic scholar
When Vince Bruner read his name at the Anne T. Mitchell Senior Honor Awards ceremony at Northwest Florida State College’s Raider Arena, Brock Dugan was sitting on stage with the top students from the other five Okaloosa County high schools. He knew it was okay either way — if he won, great, and if he didn’t, that was fine too.
“I was really shocked to get it,” he said.
The Fort Walton Beach High School senior was named the 2026 winner of the Peggy Gorday Bruner Award, which honors the top academic scholar among Okaloosa County’s 639 graduating honor students. He carried a 4.8214 GPA and finished first in a class of 379.
But the number is only part of the story.
Inside the full piece:
- The work behind the GPA — including how his mom both pushed him and told him when to rest.
- Why he has given away every fishing tournament prize he has won since freshman year.
- A landscaping client with stage four cancer he often doesn’t charge.
- The Selkirk pickleball contract, the FSU plans, and the civil engineering path that started with a lawn.
- The grandfather he helped care for, and what he carried into a tennis match the day his grandfather died.
“I just really want to help other people out,” Dugan said. “I just want to do as much as I can for other people.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Monday. 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!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
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