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Good morning!
Okaloosa Commissioners approved a 392-lot subdivision master plan in Crestview but tabled a 104-lot plan in Baker. Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and Crestview softball all punched Sweet 16 tickets, with Chloe Bailey tossing her second straight no-hitter. Plus, Adams Sanitation’s acquisition, the “Charters of Freedom” coming to the Crestview courthouse, and an inside look at Nick Tomecek’s work at the county.
HOW I WORK
How Nick Tomecek blends storytelling, public service, and local connection in Okaloosa County
“How I Work” is brought to you by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Join the most influential organization in Okaloosa. Learn more here.
Nick Tomecek came to Okaloosa County in 2005 from Kentucky with what he describes as “a buzz cut and a dream” to work as a photojournalist in Florida.
- Over the years, he built a career documenting the people, places, and stories that shape the local community — first through journalism and now through public service.
Today, Nick serves as the Public Information Officer for Okaloosa County, where no two workdays are ever the same. From monitoring headlines and producing public information to taking photos, creating videos, and engaging with residents online and in person, his role keeps him closely connected to the county he’s spent years covering.
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GAMES
WordroW: May 7, 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.
BUSINESS
Adams Sanitation acquired by Texas-based Ecowaste Solutions
Adams Sanitation, a homegrown Northwest Florida waste hauler that has grown from a small rural operation in Milton to one of the region’s largest collection companies, has been acquired by Texas-based Ecowaste Solutions.
- Ecowaste announced the acquisition publicly on May 1, describing the deal as completing a contiguous Gulf Coast collection and disposal corridor stretching from the Mississippi Gulf Coast through the Florida Panhandle.
Ecowaste Solutions, headquartered in Coppell, Texas, is a regional waste and recycling company operating across 10 states throughout the South and Mid-South.
Adams Sanitation’s municipal portfolio includes the city of Crestview, the Santa Rosa School District, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, the Town of Jay and recently awarded contracts in Decatur County, Georgia, and Columbia County, Florida. The company serves approximately 29,000 residential customers across Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, according to Ecowaste.
“Everything has a season, and I think for us it’s time to kind of transition to a slightly different season,” co-owner Nathan Boyles said. “This is going to give Adams the ability to continue to grow, to have the resources that it needs to continue to be successful, and hopefully to continue to be a hometown success story.”
PARKS+REC
Okaloosa to display ‘Charters of Freedom’ at Crestview courthouse, seeks second set
Okaloosa County will install a donated set of stainless steel replicas of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Civil Rights Amendments at the Crestview courthouse, and county staff will work to secure a second set for Women’s Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island.
The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the “Charters of Freedom” donation from Foundation Forward Inc., a North Carolina-based nonprofit that has gifted similar sets to communities in 17 states.
The package, which arrived at the county fairgrounds on April 27, includes seven laser-etched stainless steel plaques along with bronze medallions, title plates and construction plans.
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SPORTS
Okaloosa softball playoffs recap
FWBHS: The Lady Vikings are headed back to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season after a 3-1 win over St. Augustine on Wednesday night. Izzy Douglas delivered a complete two-way performance, striking out 14 in the circle while collecting three hits and two RBIs at the plate. Fort Walton Beach extended its winning streak to 11 games and survived a seventh-inning threat to seal the win. The Lady Vikings travel to Baker County on Tuesday in the Sweet 16. Click here to read the full story
CRESTVIEW: After closing the regular season with back-to-back losses, Crestview softball got back on track Wednesday night, defeating Horizon 5-1 to advance to the Sweet 16. The Lady Bulldogs answered an early Horizon run with five unanswered, fueled by Cambell Toolan’s RBI triple and Ava Secor’s two-run double. Toolan allowed just two more hits the rest of the way to seal the win. Crestview travels to Pace on Tuesday in a rematch of a March 10 meeting. Click here to read the full story
NICEVILLE: Chloe Bailey is making no-hitters look routine. The junior and South Alabama commit followed up her district championship perfect game with another no-hitter Wednesday night, striking out 13 in a 3-0 win over Fleming Island. Carnley Summerlin’s two-run single in the third inning gave the Lady Eagles the lead, and Valerie Malley added an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI fielder’s choice. Niceville hosts the winner of Gulf Breeze-Ponte Vedra in the Sweet 16. Click here to read the full story
REAL ESTATE
Okaloosa Commissioners table 104-lot Millwood Ranch subdivision plan in Baker
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to table the conceptual master plan for Millwood Ranch, a proposed 104-lot single-family residential subdivision in Baker, citing concerns about road capacity, septic systems and access points.
- The board will take the item up again at its July 14 meeting in Crestview at 8:30 a.m.
Millwood Ranch is a proposed two-phase development on roughly 39 acres on the south side of Garrett Mill Road, west of Old Brown Road and east of Pickens Circle.
Potable water for the subdivision would be provided by Milligan Water System, and the project would rely on on-site septic systems rather than sanitary sewer, according to county documents.
Commissioner Paul Mixon also requested information from county staff on the easement along Garrett Mill Road, the road’s width, how it was improved and stormwater questions along the corridor. He raised concerns about the intersection of Old River Road and U.S. Highway 90, which he described as convoluted, and the angled intersection onto Highway 4.
REAL ESTATE
Okaloosa Commissioners approve master plan for 392-lot River Park subdivision in Crestview
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a conceptual master plan for River Park, a 392-lot single-family residential subdivision planned for 263 acres east of Main Drive and north of Airport Road in Crestview.
- The vote authorizes the developer, River Park Landing, LLC, to phase the project into three parts. It does not approve construction. Each of the three phases will return to the commission for a separate development order before infrastructure can be built.
Kristen Shell of the county’s Growth Management department presented the item.
“This is a 392-lot single-family residential subdivision,” Shell said. “It is coming to you this morning as an approval for a master plan, which means that the developer wishes to phase the project.”
Shell told commissioners the property has been entitled for residential development since 1990, with a small half-acre portion changed in 2005 to recognize the Bob Sikes Airport influence zone.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday. 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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