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Good morning!
Fudpucker’s in Destin is hosting Fox & Friends live this morning as part of America 250 coverage, putting one of the area’s most recognizable spots on national TV. South Walton baseball won its first state title on Quinn’s walk-off “suicide squeeze,” and Niceville softball defeated Chiles in extra innings to head back to the Final Four. Fort Walton Beach softball’s season ended in extras against Baker County, and Cox celebrated 38 “inspirational student heroes.” Also, Choctaw ROTC’s five new FAA-certified drone pilots, Scouts’ “Magic for a Mission” event, HCA’s Emma Wegher on how she works.
SCHOOL
Choctaw ROTC’s aerospace program produces 5 FAA-certified drone pilots, 15 safety certifications
At Choctawhatchee High School, a group of ROTC cadets are earning federal pilot credentials, college credit from one of the top aeronautical universities in the country and industry certifications that can plug directly into Northwest Florida’s aerospace economy — and some of them did it before they got their driver’s license.
Five cadets in the school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program passed the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 Remote Pilot exam this year, a credential that allows holders to legally operate drones commercially in the national airspace system.
Fifteen cadets earned Unmanned Safety Institute Safety Level 1 certifications, an industry-recognized credential covering aviation safety culture, risk management, airspace awareness, crew resource management and professional unmanned aircraft systems operations.
And all 17 students enrolled in the program’s aerospace track earned six hours of credit from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, whose curriculum is embedded directly in the Choctaw coursework.
It was the program’s first year formally teaching the FAA exam.
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GAMES
WordroW: May 15, 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.
HOW I WORK
How HCA’s Emma Wegher balances healthcare leadership, growth, and community connection
“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.
Emma Wegher relocated to Okaloosa County from Michigan after years of visiting family in the area and quickly found herself drawn to both the community and the opportunity to grow her healthcare career locally.
- Today, she serves as Chief Operating Officer at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, helping oversee operations at one of the area’s major healthcare facilities.
Her days begin early with a workout before heading to the hospital, where adaptability and teamwork are central to her work. Outside of the hospital, Emma values time with family, supporting local businesses, and staying connected to the community through organizations like the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
SPORTS
South Walton wins state, Niceville softball to Final Four
SOUTH WALTON: Hudson Quinn laid down the suicide squeeze heard round the world — and South Walton is your Class 3A state champion. The Seahawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third and led 5-1 before North Broward Prep rallied to tie it at 5-5 in the seventh. But South Walton answered immediately. Declan Fowler, Carter Hawk and Jace Cunningham loaded the bases, and Quinn’s perfectly executed squeeze bunt scored Fowler for the walk-off win. South Walton finished 30-4 with a perfect 9-0 postseason — delivering the first baseball state title in program and area history. Click here to read the full recap
NICEVILLE: Sydney Hann ripped a walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring courtesy runner Coley Gatwood to lift Niceville past Chiles, 5-4, in a regional final. The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but Chiles rallied to tie it in the third and again in the sixth. Chloe Bailey struck out seven and battled through an outbreak of hives in the hours before the game. Carnley Summerlin’s sacrifice bunt in the eighth moved Gatwood to third, setting the stage for Hann’s heroics. Niceville now awaits Final Four reseeding ahead of next weekend in Orlando. Click here to read the full recap
FWBHS: Fort Walton Beach’s bid to repeat as Class 4A state softball champions ended Wednesday in a gut-wrenching 6-5, extra-inning loss to Baker County in the regional quarterfinals. The Lady Vikings fell behind 5-2 after a rough fourth inning but stormed back in the sixth, capped by Anna Beyhl’s two-run home run to knot it at 5-5. Neither team could break through in the seventh, but Baker County seized the moment in the eighth with a walk-off sacrifice fly to end Fort Walton Beach’s season and 11-game win streak. Click here to read the full story
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The new HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency is now open, bringing 24/7 emergency care to Walton County. Located at I-10 and U.S. 331, the facility features 10 private patient care rooms, board-certified emergency physicians and on-site diagnostic services including CT scan and digital X-ray.
GIVING BACK
Cox celebrates 38 ‘inspirational student heroes’ from across Okaloosa County at annual awards
Cox Communications honored 38 students from across Okaloosa County during the annual Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards, held May 13 at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
The students were recognized for demonstrating strength, resilience and perseverance while overcoming significant personal hardships, including medical challenges, family loss and difficult personal circumstances. Each student was selected by a committee of school leaders for showing measurable improvement and positively influencing those around them.
“These students embody perseverance and hope, despite facing significant challenges in their young lives. Their stories remind us of the remarkable strength found in our young people,” said David Deliman, Cox Gulf Coast market vice president. “We’re proud to partner with the Okaloosa County School District to honor these students and remain committed to supporting the educators, families and communities who help inspire the next generation of leaders.”
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THINGS TO DO
Niceville to host ‘Magic for a Mission’ event supporting local Scouting programs
Scouting America, Gulf Coast Council, will host Magic for a Mission on May 16 at the Niceville Community Center, 204 Partin Drive, featuring two live performances by professional magician Jeff Sobel.
The family-friendly afternoon show, An Adventure in Magic, begins at 2:30 p.m. with tickets at $30 for children and $10 for adults. The evening event includes dinner at 6 p.m. and a show at 7:17 p.m., with tickets starting at $97. All proceeds support local Scouting programs.
PROMOTED
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 May 14–18, with retired Air Force veteran Rique Gwin leading the Krewe of Bowlegs as Captain Billy. This year’s festival incorporates patriotic elements through the Krewe’s role on the Okaloosa County America 250 commission.
New additions include scholarships for local high school students and a 30-day treasure hunt. Highlights include Friday night fireworks, Saturday’s pirate landing and Monday’s torchlight parade along Eglin Parkway.
BUSINESS
Fox & Friends to broadcast live from Fudpucker’s in Destin, celebrating America 250
Fox & Friends has arrived in Destin.
- The Fox News morning show will broadcast live from Fudpuckers on Friday morning as part of its “For All America” RV road trip celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Co-host Steve Doocy will be greeted by pirates from the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, live alligators and the Fort Walton Beach High School Stars Dance Team.
One lucky attendee will be selected for a chance to win the fully outfitted RV during a live giveaway in New York City on July 3. Destin is one of six stops on the seven-week national tour.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Friday. 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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