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Good morning!
Brooks Street has reopened to two-way traffic in Fort Walton Beach as part of the ongoing Brooks Bridge replacement project. Niceville softball finished as the runner-up in the Class 5A state title game, and a Ruckel Middle School student earned a statewide math honor with a perfect score. Crestview’s street resurfacing project begins today on nine roads, and the Okaloosa County School District celebrated its 2026 Project SEARCH graduates. We’ve also launched a new weather dashboard ahead of storm season, and FPL is sharing hurricane preparedness tips as the June 1 start approaches. Also, Realtor Lisa Norton on helping local families think through aging in place and downsizing.
SPORTS
Niceville softball finishes as runner-up in Class 5A state title game
Niceville’s season ended Saturday afternoon with a loss to Winter Springs in the Class 5A state championship at Boombah Sports Complex.
Despite being outhit just 9-7, the Lady Eagles stranded 10 runners on base in a 6-0 defeat to the Lady Bears, who claimed their second consecutive state title. Niceville carved out an early opportunity with singles from Quinn Graham and Sydney Hann and a perfectly executed bunt from Carnley Summerlin, but couldn’t push a run across.
Looking ahead, the Lady Eagles will lose only two core contributors in seniors Annabelle Shackelford and Krissa Troutman. Chloe Bailey, Briana Noles, Carnley Summerlin, Sydney Hann, Quinn Graham, Molly Mayfield and Natalie Miller all return in 2027, making Niceville an early state championship contender regardless of where reclassification places them.
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GAMES
WordroW: May 26, 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.
SCHOOL
Ruckel Middle School student earns statewide math honor with perfect score
An eighth-grade student at Ruckel Middle School has been named a statewide winner in the Math Nation Show What You Know Showdown after earning a perfect score on the competition’s Unit 14 Test Yourself! assessment.
- Dean Penberthy scored 10/10 on the assessment, qualifying for the statewide raffle and winning an ice cream party for his entire class, courtesy of Math Nation.
The Show What You Know Showdown is a Florida competition designed to encourage students in grades 6–8, Geometry, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 to strengthen their math skills through practice and perseverance. The competition ran from April 6 through May 1.
“Dean has worked incredibly hard all year and has shown real commitment,” said Susie Watson, Dean’s Honors Algebra teacher. “I’m so proud of him and excited that his effort is recognized statewide.”
REAL ESTATE
‘Silver Tsunami’: Realtor Lisa Norton helps local families think through aging in place and downsizing
Many longtime homeowners across Okaloosa County are living in houses that no longer fit their lives, and realtor Lisa Norton said the hardest part of helping them move forward is rarely about square footage.
“Many of the families that I’ve met with, they’re not just deciding where to move. They’re deciding how to let go of this big chapter in their life,” Norton said. “These are homes where they’ve raised their children, maybe grandchildren, held holiday gatherings and built decades of great memories.”
Norton, 67, said she’s seen the need grow in her own neighborhood and has started evaluating her own home’s limitations. Her work focuses on helping families move from a reactive position to a planning one — ideally two to four years before a move is likely.
In our full story, Norton discusses:
- Early signs a home has outgrown its owners.
- The emotional side of letting go of a family home.
- What downsizing looks like across Niceville, Fort Walton Beach and Destin.
- Common mistakes families make when handling transitions on their own.
- What to look for when touring assisted living or memory care communities.
- Why she recommends building a transition plan early.
WEATHER
Our new local weather dashboard
We built something we think you’ll use every day.
Our new local weather dashboard pulls together everything you need to know before heading to the beach, the boat ramp or just out the door. All in one place. You’ll find live beach flag status from Okaloosa County, tide times for Destin’s East Pass, Gulf water temperature, real-time NWS radar and a full coastal waters forecast.
When severe weather hits (like yesterday), active warnings and marine alerts appear at the top of the page with full details on what’s happening and what to do. We’re also pulling in current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, UV index and sunrise and sunset times.
No app download. No account. Just bookmark it and check it every morning.
p.s. We are also looking for advertisers for this page! If you’re interested in getting your business to sponsor this page and get in the newsletter every day, please reach out to me!
TRAFFIC
Crestview street resurfacing project begins Tuesday on nine roads
A street resurfacing project affecting nine roads across the city will begin Tuesday, according to the city of Crestview.
The project will include work on Rasberry Road, Northview Lane, Hillview Circle, Duggan Avenue, E 1st Avenue, Farmers Street, North Avenue, E Hickory Avenue and Pandora Drive.
Drivers should expect delays and plan alternate routes while construction is underway. The city is urging motorists to use caution in the work zones.
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FPL shares hurricane preparedness tips ahead of storm season
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
Florida Power & Light is reminding residents to prepare for hurricane season, emphasizing that planning ahead is the best way to stay safe when severe weather strikes.
The utility recommends residents determine whether their home is in a flood or evacuation zone, review local evacuation routes and identify a backup power source. Households should assemble an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, medications and a waterproof container for important documents.
FPL also advises installing hurricane shutters, unplugging unnecessary electronics and setting refrigerators to their coldest settings ahead of a storm.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa County School District celebrates 2026 Project SEARCH graduates
The Okaloosa County School District celebrated five graduates of the 2026 Project SEARCH High School Transition Program during a ceremony May 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Okaloosa Island.
- This year’s graduates — Hailey Eubank, Antonio Latimer, Isaiah Parish, Jessica Parker and David Wahl — each took the stage to share their personal journeys.
The ceremony highlighted the growth, confidence and independence the students gained through months of immersive job training. Families, mentors, district leaders and past graduates were on-hand to honor the cohort’s accomplishments.
The program is designed for students ages 18 to 21 who have completed their high school credits and deferred their diplomas. Project SEARCH provides career exploration and hands-on job training through business and community partnerships, preparing young adults with disabilities for competitive employment.
The collaboration between the Okaloosa County School District and Innisfree Hotels is a cornerstone of the program.
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TRAFFIC
Brooks Street opens to two-way traffic in Fort Walton Beach as part of bridge replacement project
The segment of Brooks Street from Perry Avenue to Florida Blanca Place is now open to two-way traffic, the Florida Department of Transportation announced Friday.
- The Brooks Street construction is part of the $171 million Brooks Bridge replacement project, which includes constructing two new, parallel bridges that will increase capacity to six travel lanes from the current four-lane bridge that opened in 1966.
The project is scheduled for completion in early 2029.
Drivers should be aware that nighttime lane closures may occur Sunday through Thursday between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for construction activities. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
FDOT is reminding drivers to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Tuesday. 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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