PUBLIC SAFETY

2 Destin restaurants burned down in early morning fire, two firefighters injured

A large fire engulfed the Blue Mahoe Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant and Mikato at 300 Harbor Boulevard in Destin early Wednesday morning, causing significant damage and forcing the closure of the road between Palmetto and Melvin Streets.

According to the Destin Fire Control District, the call came in around 2:20 a.m., with reports of smoke emanating from the restaurant. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions while attempting to initiate an attack on the blaze.

However, a flashover occurred, prompting the call for a second alarm.

As the fire intensified, a third alarm was called to bring in additional manpower and an air truck to support the firefighting efforts. The Destin Fire Control District confirmed that two firefighters sustained injuries or required treatment during the incident. No civilian injuries were reported.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office diverted eastbound traffic on Harbor Boulevard at Palmetto Street onto Mountain Drive, while westbound traffic was rerouted at Melvin Street onto Mountain Drive. As of 8:35am, all lanes were back open.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene to assist in controlling the fire and managing traffic.

• “Great job by all crews to keep this fire from spreading further,” the Destin Fire Control District praised in an official release.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

COMING SOON

County approves $3.7 million contract for Bridge to Bridge Multi-Use Path across Okaloosa Island

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a $3.7 million contract with C.W. Roberts Contracting Inc. on Tuesday for the construction of the Bridge to Bridge Multi-Use Path on Okaloosa Island.

• The 4.7-mile path will provide a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian route along Scenic Highway 98 from the Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach to the Marler Bridge in Destin.

In February, the board backed a $612,999 contract with Neel-Schaffer, Inc. for construction engineering and inspection services for the project. Most of the path falls under federal land controlled by Eglin Air Force Base, and the county ratified a long-negotiated easement agreement with the base in January.

• The agreement requires the county to fund the pathway’s construction and ongoing maintenance, upgrade access points between the highway and dunes, expand parking capacity at beach access ways (not paved), and better control areas near the Marler Bridge.

“This is an item that has taken us quite a while to get to this point,” said Jason Autrey, Public Works Director. “This is to construct a 12-foot wide multi-use path. It actually includes improvements at the various parking areas along the way for residents, or anybody really, to have access down to the federal coastline.”

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who championed this project from the beginning, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This may be my proudest moment since I’ve been a commissioner. I can’t tell you what this project means to me and to our community. We’ve had so many people die on Highway 98 that have tried to bike it and walk it. What a difference this is going to make for our whole community.”

The project is expected to be completed within 330 days, with substantial completion within 270 days. The contract includes liquidated damages to ensure timely completion.

The multi-use path will be part of the Florida Trails system and is expected to improve safety and accessibility for locals and tourists alike.

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SCHOOL

Fort Walton Beach High School earns national recognition for empowering students in STEM

Fort Walton Beach High School has been named a 2023-24 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for its commitment to empowering students through its STEM curriculum and career readiness programs, the Okaloosa County School District announced Thursday.

The recognition honors the school’s dedication to providing students with access to transformative learning experiences through PLTW Biomedical Science and Engineering courses.

Megan Mueller, a biomedical science teacher at Fort Walton Beach High School, said, “Being named a PLTW Distinguished High School is a true honor. We pride ourselves on preparing students for a future in STEM fields related to biomedical sciences and engineering.”

To be eligible for the designation, Fort Walton Beach High School met multiple criteria in the 2022-23 school year, including the number of PLTW courses offered, the percentage of students enrolled in these courses, the percentage of students taking multiple PLTW courses, and efforts to ensure equal access to PLTW courses for all students.

“I am thrilled to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Fort Walton Beach High School for their exceptional accomplishment in preparing students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in STEM subjects,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “Their unwavering commitment to preparing students for their future careers and lives beyond the classroom is commendable and deserves recognition.”

Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO, emphasized the school’s commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs.

PLTW high school programs focus on building students’ STEM skills, as well as their collaboration, teamwork, and communication abilities, to prepare them for future careers and life beyond the classroom.

For more information about PLTW’s Distinguished Program Recognition, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition.  

BUSINESS

Okaloosa Tax Collector’s Crestview expansion gains ground with county approval

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a task order with DAG Architects for design and construction services of a new Tax Collector and Government Services building in Crestview, Florida. 

• The task order, totaling $1,442,230.00, was approved during the board meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

The goal of the new facility is to address the growing demand for services provided by the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and other government functions in the northern part of Okaloosa County. The Tax Collector’s office has already acquired a 2.5-acre site near the Crestview Community Center and the Chamber of Commerce.

According to Jason Autrey, Okaloosa Public Works Director, the building will be approximately 35,000 square feet and two stories tall. It will house all Tax Collector and Property Appraiser functions in the Crestview area, with an additional 6,625 square feet of shell space for future expansion.

The task order includes the schematic design, design development, construction document development, bidding, construction negotiations, and construction administration for the facility. It also covers all architectural, mechanical, HVAC, site civil engineering, surveying, geotechnical, and permit fees associated with the project.

• Funding for the project will primarily come from excess fees returned by the Tax Collector’s office, which have been set aside for the design and construction of the new facility, according to Autrey. 

Commissioner Trey Goodwin abstained from the vote, while Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel made the motion, and Commissioner Nathan Boyles seconded it. The motion passed unanimously, with one abstention.

BUSINESS

Iconic Goofy Golf in Fort Walton Beach has new owners, remains a local treasure

The beloved Goofy Golf in Fort Walton Beach has new owners who are committed to preserving its iconic status while bringing a fresh perspective to the cherished local landmark.

Chris Clements, who has worked at Goofy Golf for 26 years, including 14 years as the owner, has sold the business to Fort Walton Beach natives Josh and Anna Calhoon. 

• The Calhoons, who also own Destin Inshore Guides, Emerald Coast Bait and Tackle Shop, and are involved with Goin’ Coastal TV, officially took over on May 1, 2024.

The connection between the Calhoons and Clements was facilitated by a mutual friend and employee at Emerald Coast Bait and Tackle. “We relayed a message that if Chris ever wanted to sell Goofy Golf, we’d be interested,” Anna Calhoon recalled. “We just thought it would be a cool, iconic piece to own in Fort Walton Beach.”

Three years later, in October 2023, Clements reached out to Josh Calhoon, and the two began discussions about the potential sale. “Chris’s biggest concern over the years is he didn’t want anybody to come in and level the property or change Goofy Golf,” Anna Calhoon said. “And we told Chris we have no desire to change anything at Goofy Golf. We just want to clean it up and get things working and operational like what we remember as kids growing up here.”

Clements, who began working at Goofy Golf when he was 15-years old under the previous owner Bob Fleskes, shared the Calhoons’ vision for preserving the essence of Goofy Golf. 

• “I feel like Josh and Anna are the same way as I am. They are from here, have young kids that they’re raising here and they’re going to do the exact same thing: keep it Goofy Golf,” he said.

The Calhoons plan to refurbish and update the beloved miniature golf course while maintaining its original charm. They aim to get the mechanical parts moving again, give the structures a fresh coat of paint, and even recreate the iconic castle hole that has fallen into disrepair. 

• “The castle hole is a good example. The yellow and brown castle is falling apart, it’s got rust,” Anna Calhoon explained. “So we actually have a local guy that is recreating it because unfortunately, there’s no salvaging the castle. But the castle that will go back there will look the exact same. It’ll just be working and no rust.”

The new owners also plan to update the operating hours, host events, and collaborate with local schools’ art departments and construction classes. While prices have been slightly increased to support the updates, the Calhoons are committed to keeping Goofy Golf affordable for families.

“We only raised the prices to $6 for an adult and $4 for kids. We still wanted to keep it at $20 or less for a family of four to go and have some fun,” she said.

For Anna, only a week into owning a local treasure, it still doesn’t feel real.

• “It’s a crazy feeling to walk there and know that we’re the owners,” she shared, expressing her excitement about the opportunity to own a piece of Fort Walton Beach history. “Our daughters think this business [Goofy Golf] is way cooler than owning a tackle shop or charter boats.”

The Calhoons also plan to bring back classic Goofy Golf t-shirts featuring the iconic sign and a throwback design created by Clements 12 years ago. They hope to involve the community by collecting old photos of Goofy Golf from locals to display in the kiosk, showcasing the rich history and memories associated with the place.

Clements, who has been approached by potential buyers two to three times a year since owning Goofy Golf, emphasized the importance of finding the right people to carry on its legacy. 

“I could have sold it to anybody but that’s not what I want because I want it to forever be Goofy Golf,” he said. “I feel like I made the right choice and these are going to be the right people to keep it going for generations and generations.”

For Clements, the decision to sell was bittersweet. 

• “I love Goofy Golf and still wish I could be part of it but you can’t be part of something forever. Eventually, you’ve got to give somebody else the opportunity that has it in their heart who’s willing to put the time and effort into it and Josh and Anna are those people,” he said.

As the Calhoons embark on this new chapter in Goofy Golf’s history, the community of Fort Walton Beach can rest assured that their beloved landmark is in good hands, ready to create lasting memories for generations to come. 

“I just want to thank everybody for the opportunity, for coming to Goofy Golf, and making memories,” Clements said. “Goofy Golf is just one of those small family businesses that hopefully will never change and still have that attitude of being here for our local community and we appreciate you.”

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