SPORTS

Fort Walton Beach High School names Tony Stevens as new head baseball coach

Fort Walton Beach High School announced Friday that Tony Stevens, a former major league baseball player and decorated Marine Corps veteran, has been selected as the new head baseball coach.

Stevens, born in Fort Walton Beach, brings a unique background and diverse experience to the role. He played shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization, rising through the ranks to Double-A before answering the call to serve his country following the 9/11 attacks.

• “I just knew it was time to join the Marines,” Stevens said of his decision to leave baseball for the military. “I went to the recruiter’s office and pointed at the wall, there was a guy coming out with the Marines classic poster. I said, ‘I want to be that guy.’”

As an infantryman, Stevens served three tours of duty in Iraq with Alpha Company, First Battalion, Second Marine Regiment. He fought in the Battle of Nasiriyah during the initial invasion, an experience he described as an “eye opener,” and survived a record 11 IED explosions. His story provided inspiration for the Nicholas Sparks book “The Lucky One.”

Throughout his military service, Stevens maintained a connection to baseball. The Twins organization honored him by inviting him to throw out the first pitch and raise the flag at their games. 

“Baseball and Marines always tied into what I was doing,” he said.

After his military service, Stevens briefly returned to the Twins organization before transitioning to coaching. He spent five years as an assistant baseball coach at Covenant College in Georgia. For the past three years, he has been the head basketball coach at Calvary Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, where he led the team to success against larger public schools.

• “I love taking the underdog role and really building up from there,” Stevens said of his coaching philosophy. “You gotta do the job, you can’t let anything outside noise bother you.”

Stevens, who resides in Fort Walton Beach with his wife and seven children, also works full-time at Eglin Air Force Base as a joint inspector. He says he is eager to bring stability, discipline, and fundamental skills to the Fort Walton Beach High School baseball program.

“I want to create a program where these athletes want to come back here and coach, and eventually take my place,” Stevens said of his goals for the team. “I’m looking forward to bringing some energy to the game.”

Stevens’ ties to Fort Walton Beach High School run deep. His parents are alumni – his father was the starting pitcher in the first-ever baseball game against rival Choctaw High School, while his mother was on the school’s inaugural cheerleading team.

With his extensive background in baseball, military service, and coaching, Stevens is excited to make a positive impact on the Fort Walton Beach High School baseball program and the lives of the student-athletes he will mentor.

Summer baseball kicks-off for the Vikings on June 4.

NEWS

Tragic end to search for missing 76-year-old Okaloosa woman

A 76-year-old Fort Walton Beach woman, who was reported missing on May 26, has been found dead in Destin, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

• Donna Wright was last seen at Thai Town in Mary Esther on May 22. The Sheriff’s Office had issued a missing person’s notice, stating that Wright was considered an endangered adult and was driving a 2014 red Cadillac 4D with license tag DAR-3.

On Tuesday night, May 29, the Sheriff’s Office provided an update on the case, confirming that Wright had been located in Destin. However, the outcome was not what authorities and loved ones had hoped for.

“Sadly we have to report that Donna has been located in Destin but it is not the ending we had hoped for,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in their update. “Next of kin notification has been made.”

The Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the community for their concern and assistance in the efforts to find Wright. They also offered their condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones.

No further details regarding the circumstances of Wright’s death have been released at this time. The investigation into her disappearance and death is ongoing.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fort Walton Beach police arrest woman for bomb threat hoax

On May 24, 2024, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department arrested 43-year-old Scarlett Williams of Panama City Beach for falsely reporting a bomb threat at the police department.

• The arrest came after an extensive investigation by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, with assistance from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Panama City Beach Police Department.

The incident began when the Fort Walton Beach Police Department’s Communications Center received a call from a female claiming that a bomb had been placed inside the police department. After a thorough search of the building and surrounding area, it was determined that no explosive devices were present.

The Fort Walton Beach Special Investigations Unit quickly identified and located the caller, Scarlett Williams. She was taken into custody and charged with False Report Concerning Planting a Bomb, Explosive or Weapon of Mass Destruction, which is a felony offense.

• In a press release, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department stated, “This hoax call took away valuable time from three law enforcement agencies that could have been used to serve their communities.”

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department encourages anyone with additional information on this case to contact them at 850-833-9546 or the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477.

REAL ESTATE

ERA American Real Estate to Host “Super Open House” Weekend Featuring Over 50 Homes

Mark your calendars for ERA American Real Estate’s highly anticipated “Super Open House” event, taking place from Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, 2024. 

• This event promises to showcase an impressive selection of properties along the Emerald Coast and beyond, catering to a wide range of homebuyers.

Linde Bowman, VP, Head of Brokerage at ERA American Real Estate, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming event. “We are thrilled to present our Super Open House weekend, featuring over 50 stunning ERA American listings,” Bowman said. “This event has consistently grown in popularity, with our previous Super Open House events attracting record numbers of visitors and showcasing up to 75 homes.”

The Super Open House event aims to generate excitement around the housing market and highlight ERA American Real Estate’s extensive footprint in the region. Prospective homebuyers will have the opportunity to explore properties in various areas where ERA American operates, from Pensacola to 30A, and as north as DeFuniak, Crestview, and Milton.

To enhance the visitor experience, ERA American Real Estate has created a user-friendly map, available at erareal.com/super. This map provides a comprehensive overview of each home participating in the Super Open House event, making it easy for visitors to plan their weekend itinerary.

• Bowman explained, “The map is an invaluable tool for our visitors. It includes details about the agents who will be present at each home, as well as the specific times the properties will be open. This allows potential buyers to efficiently plan their routes and make the most of their time during the event.”

One of the standout features of the Super Open House event is the convenience it offers to visitors. No appointments are necessary; interested individuals can simply arrive at the properties during the designated open times, which are clearly listed on the map. This hassle-free approach allows visitors to explore a diverse range of homes at their own pace.

“Our Super Open House event is not only beneficial for potential buyers but also for our valued clients who are selling their properties,” Bowman added. “It provides an excellent platform for sellers to showcase their homes to a wide audience, while also giving buyers, especially those new to the area, the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various neighborhoods and property styles that align with their preferences.”

Whether you’re in the market for a luxurious beachfront retreat, a charming cottage, or a spacious family home, ERA American Real Estate’s Super Open House event promises to have something for everyone. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to find your dream home during the four-day event from Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, 2024. 

Visit erareal.com/super to access the map and start planning your Super Open House experience today. Or checkout their interactive website now!

SCHOOL

Okaloosa County schools to provide free summer meals for kids

Okaloosa County Schools will participate in the Summer Food Service Program this summer, offering free breakfasts and lunches to children 18 and under. The meals will be provided at various sites throughout the county at no cost to families.

The Summer Break Spot program aims to ensure that children in the community have access to balanced meals during the summer months. The program is approved for geographical areas where at least 50 percent of children qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year.

Summer feeding sites that are located at schools provide meals to all children in the immediate vicinity in addition to those enrolled in summer school.

• Meals will be served on-site at participating locations. However, meals will not be available on weekends or on July 4, or July 5.

A complete list of sites and service times can be found on the Okaloosa County School District’s website. It is important to note that site times may change, or sites may close due to participation levels.

THINGS TO DO

Okaloosa County to hold 2nd Annual Women Veterans’ Day Celebration

The public is invited to attend the 2nd Annual Women Veterans’ Day ceremony on June 12, 2024, at 8 a.m. at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center.

• The event aims to celebrate and recognize the service of women who have served in the U.S. military.

The celebration will begin with an indoor ceremony at the convention center, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the nearby Women Veterans Monuments at Veterans Park. Women Veterans Day was officially recognized by the State of Florida through a proclamation from Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021.

“This event focuses on a group of veterans who may have been overlooked by others in the past,” said Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel. “We want to recognize these women and let them know that their service has not been forgotten and in Okaloosa County, they will always have our support.”

The Women Veterans Monuments at Veterans Park, unveiled in 2021, features life-sized bronze statues of eight women who served in combat during various U.S. military conflicts. The statues are strategically placed along a quarter-mile path, surrounded by native wildlife, including a nearby great blue heron rookery.

This year’s event will focus on the Vietnam War Commemoration, honoring the nation’s Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. The commemoration will continue through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam.

Among the eight women depicted at Veterans Park is Sharon Ann Lane, a Vietnam Veteran and the only American nurse killed as a direct result of enemy fire in the Vietnam War.

• Lane worked at the 312th Evacuation Hospital at Chu Lai and was awarded several medals for her service, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star with “V” device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Order of Vietnam Medal, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross (with Palm).

The public can learn more about the heroes depicted at the Women Veterans Monuments at Veterans’ Park by visiting http://myokaloosa.com/bcc/women-veterans-memorial.