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Good morning!
Divers removed more than 20,000 invasive lionfish from local waters during the Emerald Coast Open. Two people were injured following an incident at Eglin Air Force Base, the Destin City Council adopted a Norriego Point shorebird protection resolution, and Okaloosa County plans to end fixed-route bus service by August in favor of paratransit. Also, an inside look at Fort Walton Beach’s new GAB Spot, early school registration for 2026-2027, four Niceville homes under $500K.
MILITARY
Two injured following incident at Eglin Air Force Base
Two people were injured Thursday afternoon following an incident at Eglin Air Force Base’s High Explosive Research and Development Facility.
- The incident occurred at approximately 2 p.m., according to a statement from the base. Both individuals were transported by ambulance to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available.
Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services, Eglin AFB Emergency Medical Services and the Eglin Explosive Ordnance Disposal team responded to the scene.
Damage was confined to the facility, according to the statement. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
SPONSORED
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GAMES
WordroW: May 22, 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
Inside The GAB Spot: Fort Walton Beach’s new entertainment venue is open and already drawing crowds
It’s been less than three weeks since The GAB Spot opened its doors at the corner of Racetrack Road and Beal Parkway, and the 20,000-square-foot family entertainment venue is already becoming what many locals say the area has needed for years.
- The venue, which opened May 4 inside the former Goodwill building at the Shops at Wright Plaza, combines eight full-size bowling lanes, six duckpin bowling lanes, five gamified axe throwing lanes, more than 40 arcade games, a full-service restaurant and bar, and locally sourced gelato from GS Gelato.
“The thing we hear the most is, ‘This is something this town has needed,’” said manager Michelle Corrigan. “And it actually gives me goosebumps, because it’s cool to be able to give that back to the community.”
The concept comes from owner Jason Nieves, a retired Air Force vascular surgeon who spent 24 years in the military. Nieves first trained at Hurlburt Field in 2001 before returning to the area in 2017 for his final assignment at Eglin Air Force Base. After retiring, he set out to create a one-stop destination where families could eat, play and stay entertained without having to drive all over town.
PROMOTED BY ORIGIN BANK
Renovation meets innovation
The Origin Ft. Walton Financial Center is located in Fort Walton Beach, FL on the corner of Racetrack Rd NW and Denton Blvd NW. The Ft. Walton Financial Center is the only Origin location in Fort Walton Beach.
We are proud to help our customers with small business and personal banking, home loans, and financial support. Our team is ready to assist you with everything you need to be financially successful.
TRAVEL
Okaloosa County to suspend all fixed-route bus service by August, shifts focus to paratransit
Okaloosa County will suspend all fixed-route bus service by Aug. 1 as it shifts public transportation resources toward paratransit and Transportation Disadvantaged services.
- The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize the transit division to make administrative adjustments to routes and service levels and to dissolve the Okaloosa County Transit Cooperative effective Sept. 30.
Routes 1, 2, 3, 20 and 33 will be suspended June 30, with routes 4, 5, 14, 30 and 32 following July 31. Dial-A-Ride and ADA paratransit services will continue without interruption.
Tracy Stage, the county’s airport and transit director, told commissioners the division has saved close to $200,000 from the general fund over the past 60 days but projected a $500,000 hit without further action. Fixed routes are not included in a new contract being sought through an invitation-to-negotiate process. Current riders can visit ecrider.org/dial-a-ride to check eligibility for continued service.
PROMOTED BY ERA AMERICAN
ERA American Real Estate hosts second annual ‘Day at the Park’ at Blue Wahoos stadium
ERA American Real Estate turned a Blue Wahoos baseball game into a community celebration for the second straight year on April 18, bringing together about 175 agents, staff and their guests for an evening at the ballpark.
The local real estate company hosted its second annual “Day at the Park” event during the Blue Wahoos game against the Knoxville Smokies. The event was part of ERA Real Estate’s partnership with Major League Baseball, with ERA American selected as one of the local markets to host an activation. Attendance grew significantly from last year’s event, which drew more than 100 guests.
Agents could host their clients from a private party deck or invite larger groups through additional stadium seating, with every party deck seat filled on game night.
BEACHES
Destin Council unanimously adopts shorebird protection resolution for Norriego Point area
The Destin City Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the protection of shorebird habitat on and around the city’s Norriego Point Park and the adjacent state-acquired property, adding a conservation layer to the ongoing debate over the future of the approximately 4-acre Holiday Isle site.
Resolution 26-13 formally expresses the council’s support for protecting imperiled shorebird nesting areas at Norriego Point and the state-owned parcel, and backs the efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Audubon Florida to promote conservation practices, public education and habitat stewardship.
Councilman Dewey Destin said the area has a long history as shorebird habitat, noting that nesting activity was disrupted only during heavy construction on the site.
“When I was five years old, we would go over there, and the birds were nesting by the hundreds, if not thousands,” Destin said. “So we need to go back to the way it was since it’s now been acquired by the state.”
REAL ESTATE
HOT LISTINGS: 4 houses for sale in Niceville under $500k
This week, we’re heading to Niceville to highlight four active homes that prove you can still find space for a growing family without crossing the $500K mark.
All four of these listings feature at least four bedrooms and multiple living spaces, with a mix of updated interiors, fenced backyards, and convenient locations near schools, parks, and Eglin Air Force Base.
From newer construction to established neighborhoods with larger lots, these homes offer a solid look at what’s currently available for locals in Niceville.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa County School District encourages early registration for 2026-2027 school year
The Okaloosa County School District is urging families new to the district to complete student registration early for the 2026-2027 school year, a step officials say helps schools prepare for the months ahead.
According to the district, early registration ensures that staffing, resources, classroom planning and student support services are in place before the first day of school. All new students enrolling in Okaloosa County schools must complete online registration through the district’s FOCUS system. Returning students who are already enrolled in the district do not need to register again.
COASTAL RESOURCES
Divers remove more than 20,000 lionfish from the Gulf during Emerald Coast Open
More than 20,000 lionfish were pulled from the Gulf during the 2026 Emerald Coast Open, as over 100 divers from across the United States worked to thin the invasive species from the area’s vast artificial reef system.
The tournament, which has drawn divers to Destin-Fort Walton Beach since 2019, included a pre-tournament harvest of 5,734 lionfish followed by a two-day main event that yielded 15,018 — bringing the total to 20,752. Lionfish were measured and weighed behind AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, with the nearby Lionfish Festival hosted by HarborWalk Village.
Divers competed in teams for more than $100,000 in cash and gear prizes provided by event partners across categories including smallest lionfish, largest lionfish and most lionfish caught.
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!
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Jared
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124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548