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Good morning!
The Billy Bowlegs Festival returns to Fort Walton Beach for its 70th year, bringing pirates, parades, and tradition back downtown. South Walton softball booked a third straight Final Four trip, and the Niceville Fire Department launched its inaugural paramedic program. Plus, 20 rescued beagles at Alaqua, a Florida School Lunch Hero from Dune Lakes, Niceville native Emily Wright’s promotion at Community Bank, the Destin Forward class graduates, and FWB’s largest cleanup event June 6.
NEWS
Alaqua Animal Refuge welcomes 20 beagles rescued from Wisconsin research facility
Twenty beagles, including pregnant mothers and senior dogs, arrived at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport on Thursday after being rescued from Ridglan Farms, a large-scale dog breeding and research facility in Wisconsin.
- The dogs are part of a larger effort led by the Center for Humane Economy and Big Dog Ranch Rescue, which negotiated the release of approximately 1,500 beagles bred for laboratory testing. Alaqua’s team picked up the dogs at Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s facility outside Montgomery, Alabama, after a nearly 24-hour transport.
The beagles were said to have been raised in wire cages with no socialization. They had never felt grass, didn’t know how to drink from a bowl and couldn’t chew standard dog food, according to Laurie Hood, founder of Alaqua Animal Refuge.
“These beautiful dogs have never experienced life outside a cage,” said Hood. “They were born specifically for science — to be bred, poked and prodded, confined, and used over and over again.”
Despite a lifetime of confinement, the dogs began playing within an hour of arriving. Several are pregnant or suspected to be pregnant, and their puppies will be born at Alaqua or in foster homes.
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GAMES
WordroW: May 11, 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.
GIVING BACK
Dune Lakes Elementary cafeteria worker honored as 2026 Florida School Lunch Hero
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
A Walton County cafeteria worker was celebrated Friday as one of five 2026 Florida School Lunch Heroes during a surprise event at Dune Lakes Elementary.
Saronda Lewis was recognized by No Kid Hungry Florida, the Dairy Council of Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for her commitment to creating a welcoming cafeteria culture where every student is seen, supported and nourished.
Teachers, students and Lewis’ peers gathered for the surprise celebration, honoring the energy and creativity she brings to themed weeks and special events that make school meals fun and memorable for students.
PARKS+REC
City of Fort Walton Beach plans largest cleanup event yet for June 6
The City of Fort Walton Beach is planning its biggest cleanup event yet, partnering with Ocean Hour Okaloosa and Keep Okaloosa Beautiful for a one-hour effort along the Santa Rosa Sound shoreline and U.S. Highway 98 on Saturday, June 6.
The cleanup, part of the city’s ongoing Cleanest City on the Emerald Coast campaign, will run from 8 to 9 a.m. Volunteers will clean up the shoreline of Santa Rosa Sound and the sidewalk along U.S. 98 from Liza Jackson Park east to the Fort Walton Beach Landing.
Three starting locations will be available: Liza Jackson Park, Sound Park and the Fort Walton Beach Landing. Each location offers roadside or shoreline cleanup options.
SPORTS
South Walton sweeps Suwannee, punches ticket to Final Four for third straight year
For Nick Borthwick’s squad, the road to the Final Four has felt more like a coronation than a challenge. Friday night was proof of that, as South Walton overcame a tight Game 1 to sweep Suwannee and secure its third consecutive regional championship.
South Walton will face Miami Springs in the state semifinals at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Hammond Stadium at the Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers. If the Seahawks win, they will play in the state championship Thursday.
- The team departed Sunday following a send-off at South Walton High School, where fans gathered to wish the Seahawks good luck as they headed south.
BUSINESS
Niceville native Emily Wright named vice president at Community Bank’s Coast Region
Emily Wright has been named vice president at Community Bank’s Coast Region, according to an announcement from Chief Executive Officer Eric Chambless.
Wright, a Niceville native, previously served as assistant vice president and has been in the banking industry for nearly four years. In her new role, she will continue to oversee the Association Division while resuming her business development duties and supporting her team.
Wright attended Northwest Florida State College and completed the Mississippi Bankers Association’s Principal of Banking Program.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Niceville Fire Department launches inaugural paramedic program thanks to $10,000 donation
The Niceville Fire Department is launching its first paramedic program, funded by a $10,000 donation from the Mayor Randall Wise First Responders Foundation.
- The money will purchase training aids, manikins, EMS bags, ECG simulators and other supplies. Four department members already hold paramedic certifications, and 10 additional firefighters will begin paramedic school, completing more than 1,200 hours of training over 11 months.
The program transitions the department from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support, allowing crews to perform cardiac monitoring, IV access, advanced airway management and medication administration in the field.
Additional ALS-equipped units are expected next year after the course is completed.
BUSINESS
Destin Chamber graduates 18th ‘Destin Forward’ class, honors Kyle Davis with leadership award
The Destin Chamber marked the graduation of 16 business professionals from the 18th Destin Forward class on May 7, capping an eight-month program designed to develop future city and business leaders.
Kyle Davis of Integrity Financial Group received the Destin Forward Leadership Award, which is chosen by a vote of the class.
Destin Forward is a community education and leadership program created to find and educate future leaders in the city. Following a retreat in August, the class spent the program touring and learning about Destin’s waterways, tourism industry, arts and culture, nonprofits, environment, city programs and services, economic development and the military.
EVENTS
Pirates return to Fort Walton Beach as Billy Bowlegs Festival marks 70 years
The 70th annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival returns to Fort Walton Beach this week, with retired Air Force veteran Rique Gwin leading the Krewe of Bowlegs as Captain Billy.
- Gwin and his wife Kelly, both retired from the Air Force, first moved to the area in 2000 and made Fort Walton Beach their permanent home after years of military relocations. Their involvement with the Krewe began through friends and grew over nearly a decade before the couple was asked to serve in leadership roles.
This year, the Krewe is paying tribute to the military heritage of the local area as an official member of the Okaloosa County America 250 commission, weaving patriotic elements into festival events.
The festival also introduces new elements through the William Augustus Bowles Museum & Historical Foundation, including scholarships for local high school students sponsored by David Scott Lee dealership and a 30-day treasure hunt with coins hidden from Niceville to Mary Esther.
The festival, presented by Felicity Plastic Surgery, runs May 14–18 and features a Friday night fireworks show, the Saturday pirate landing at 3:30 p.m. and the Monday torchlight parade along Eglin Parkway from the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
“When you see it all come together, see the kids’ faces and all the people at the landing super excited, it really is worth every bit of effort you put into it,” Gwin said.
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!
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Jared
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