NEWS

Fiber installation contractor strikes water line, affecting Fort Walton Beach neighborhoods

A telecommunications contractor inadvertently broke a 6-inch water line while laying fiber around Fort Walton Beach on Monday afternoon, causing water disruptions in several neighborhoods.

• The incident occurred at the intersection of Beal Parkway and Crewilla Drive NW, according to Public Works Director Daniel Payne.

The affected areas include neighborhoods on the north and east side of Beal Parkway, spanning from Girard Street NW to Kelly Avenue NE. Some properties in Cinco Bayou also experienced water outages due to the break.

City of Fort Walton Beach utility crews responded promptly to the incident and successfully completed repairs by approximately 5:30 pm.

• Customers who require a precautionary boil water notice will be directly notified by the City via handout.

Payne stated that potential testing and noticing will be conducted in coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to ensure compliance with their guidance.

BUSINESS

Today’s Boutique in Destin to close after 43 years as owners retire, announces largest sale ever

After serving the community for more than four decades, Today’s Boutique is closing its doors.

• Owners Kim and Jim Dettle, along with their daughter Kristin Dettle Humphrey, have decided to retire and focus on spending more time with family and embarking on new adventures.

The Dettle family expressed mixed emotions about the decision in their announcement on Monday morning.

“This bittersweet decision comes with a huge mix of emotions,” they said in a statement. “As we embark on this new chapter of our lives, our primary focus will be to spend more time with our loved ones and move on to new adventures. We feel that now is the right time to prioritize and enjoy these special moments.”

Since its opening in 1981, Today’s Boutique has been a cornerstone of Destin’s fashion scene, offering more than just clothing and accessories. The store has been a place where fashion meets friendship and community, with the Dettles launching initiatives such as Destin Community Cares, fashion shows, Best in Destin events, and monthly trunk shows.

Many of Today’s Boutique’s customers have been shopping there since the store’s inception and have become like family to the Dettles.

• “It is hard to say goodbye to a business that has been part of our family for over four decades. We are filled with gratitude for the incredible support and loyalty that our friends, customers, and the Destin area as a whole has shown us throughout our many years in fashion,” the Dettles said.

To express their appreciation and bid farewell in style, Today’s Boutique will host its largest sale ever, starting Friday, May 10, 2024. The sale will feature “unbeatable deals” on everything in the store, including clothing, accessories, jewelry, fixtures, and furniture.

• The sale will continue until June 22 or until everything is sold out.

The community is invited to join the farewell festivities and take advantage of the opportunity to shop for their favorite brands one last time. For more information, contact Today’s Boutique at 850-865-5565 or visit www.todaysboutique.com.

SCHOOL

Students at Plew Elementary name OCSO’s newest K-9 “Jedi”, announced on Star Wars Day

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) Youth Services Division has unveiled its newest K-9, named Jedi, on Star Wars Day 2024.

• Jedi will be working alongside School Resource Officer (SRO) K-9 Deputy Ed Haun.

The name for the new K-9 was chosen by students at Plew Elementary in Niceville, where Deputy Haun is currently assigned. The OCSO, along with faculty, staff, and administration of Plew, selected two final options for the name: Jedi and Queso.

The students of Plew then made the final decision while attending their Physical Education class, ultimately choosing the name Jedi.

• “The student’s voices were heard and the K-9 is now named Jedi,” the OCSO stated in their announcement.

Both Plew Elementary and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office have expressed their best wishes to Deputy Haun as he embarks on this new endeavor with K-9 Jedi.

POLICE BLOTTER

23-year-old airman succumbs to injuries after Okaloosa County deputy-involved shooting

A deputy-involved shooting in Okaloosa County has left a 23-year-old man dead after the deputy responded to a disturbance call at an apartment off Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach late Friday afternoon.

• U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson was identified by the 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs on Monday afternoon. Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron. He entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy arrived at 319 Racetrack Road around 4:30 p.m. in response to a report of a disturbance in progress.

Upon hearing sounds of a disturbance, the deputy encountered the reportedly armed man and identified himself as law enforcement. The deputy then reacted in self-defense during the confrontation, according to the report from the Sheriff’s Office.

• Fortson was transported to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries sustained in the shooting. No deputies were reported injured in the incident.

As per standard protocol, the deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a formal investigation and administrative review by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident remains under investigation, and no further details have been released at this time.

POLICE BLOTTER

Multiple shots fired in Crestview, vehicles and home damaged

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) is investigating a shooting incident that occurred near Conner Drive early Sunday morning, resulting in damage to three vehicles and a home.

• Despite the numerous shots fired, no injuries were reported.

According to the OCSO, deputies responded to calls regarding a disturbance with shots fired and vehicles leaving the scene at high speed around 1 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies discovered approximately 45 shell casings scattered in the yard at the corner of Conner Drive and Brown Place.

Investigators confirmed that three vehicles and a nearby home were struck by bullets during the incident. One vehicle was stopped by deputies, and the investigation is ongoing.

The OCSO is urging anyone with information related to the shooting to contact them at 850-651-7400 or reach out to Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton Counties 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:

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility work and construction activities:
  • U.S. 98 alternating intermittent lane closures between Ferry Road and Pier Road.
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.

• Mid-Bay Bridge Rehabilitation Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on the Mid-Bay Bridge, Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9, from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. for construction activities.

• Mary Esther Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 393) Resurfacing from U.S. 98 to Beal Parkway (S.R. 189) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Mary Esther Boulevard, for concrete work and milling and paving operations at the following locations and times:
  • Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9, from U.S. 98 to Hollywood Boulevard, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
  • Sunday, May 5 through Saturday, May 11, from Hollywood Boulevard to Beal Parkway, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

• S.R. 85 Resurfacing from north of Commerce Drive to Bill Lundy Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent S.R. 85 single-lane closures for paving operations between:
  • Airport Road and Butler Road, Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 10, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Commerce Drive and Butler Road, Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
  • Butler Road and Bill Lundy Road, Sunday, May 5 through Saturday, May 11, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

• S.R. 189 Intersection Improvements at Lewis Street and Pelham Road – Drivers will encounter outside lane closures near the following intersections, Sunday, May 5 through Saturday, May 11, between 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., for the installation of drilled shafts:
  • S.R. 189 at Lewis Street
  • S.R. 189 at Pelham Road

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Widening from Mack Bayou Road to County Road (C.R.) 30A – Drivers may encounter intermittent alternating lane closures, Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9, from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations and signalization work at the following locations:
  • U.S. 98 between Mack Bayou Road and C.R. 30A.
  • Mack Bayou Road between U.S. 98 and Mack Bayou Loop.
  • Goldsby Road between U.S. 98 and Commercial Parkway.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 331 to Peach Creek – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 98 lane closures, Sunday, May 5 through Thursday, May 9, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for crews to place thermoplastic striping.

COASTAL RESOURCES

89 divers collect 93-pounds of debris at Spring Pier Cleanup on Okaloosa Island

On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism, the Okaloosa Island Pier, and the Gulfarium hosted the annual Spring Pier Cleanup on Okaloosa Island, resulting in 89 scuba divers removing 93 pounds of debris from the pier pilings and seafloor.

The cleanup, a collaborative effort between the three organizations, is held twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall. Divers spent the morning removing various items, including fishing line, lures, fishing rods, bait knives, and even a boat toilet. 

• Despite the amount of debris collected, divers reported that the area was relatively clean compared to previous cleanups.

Jessica Valek, a Coastal Resources Coordinator for Okaloosa County, stated, “There’s always going to be trash that’s collecting underneath the pier, but I definitely think hosting these cleanups twice a year is helping maintain that cleanliness and removing debris from the pilings.”

This year, the cleanup organizers introduced a new tool to make the process more efficient. In past cleanups, divers were provided with mesh bags to place the trash and debris inside. However, this year, divers were given cleanup-specific containers from Zookeeper. 

Zookeeper is a well-known brand in the lionfish hunting community, primarily recognized for their specialized containers designed to safely store captured lionfish. Recently, the company has expanded to include marine cleanup efforts by modifying their containers to better accommodate the collection of trash and debris by divers. 

• These cleanup-specific Zookeeper containers feature a different funnel design that prevents hooks and other sharp objects from getting caught, making the process of collecting and sorting debris more efficient and less time-consuming compared to the previously used mesh bags.

The removal of fishing line and other debris is particularly important during sea turtle nesting season, as turtles are hanging out closer to shore and can become entangled in the line, preventing them from surfacing, swimming, or feeding properly. “We are definitely making it a safer place for our turtles to hang out,” Valek added.

The cleanup events continue to grow in popularity, with volunteers coming from all over the area to participate. 

• “These pier cleanups just get bigger and bigger every time we do them,” Valek said. “I love that people are taking time out of their mornings to give back. We know the conditions aren’t always perfect, but it doesn’t seem to matter to our divers. They get in the water, they clean up trash, and they come out with a big smile on their face.”

Pier Manager Eric Brown expressed his gratitude to the divers, stating, “We are so glad we are able to offer these events for the dive community. Not only is it a great opportunity to dive the pier, which is typically prohibited, but it gives us the chance to clean things up and also contribute to various avenues of conservation research.”

The fall cleanup has already been scheduled for August 4, 2024, and organizers hope to see an even greater turnout of volunteers dedicated to maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the marine environment surrounding the Okaloosa Island Pier.

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