NEWS

Air Force Enlisted Village celebrates renovations to Dolores Hope All Faiths Chapel

The Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on last month to celebrate the completion of renovations to the Dolores Hope All Faiths Chapel.

• The improvements, which included a new roof, exterior doors, and audio sound system, were funded in part by a $2 million grant from the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation.

AFEV President and CEO Brooke McLean emphasized the importance of the chapel to the community, stating, “The Dolores Hope All Faiths Chapel is the soul of the Air Force Enlisted Village. As individuals age successfully, the importance of having a spiritual component in wellness is critical, and this chapel is the enabler of that component.”

The chapel, built in 1991, received a Special Citation Design Award from the Air Force in 1993 and is named after Dolores Hope, wife of entertainer Bob Hope. The chapel’s windows were left intentionally clear at Dolores Hope’s request, as she believed the natural beauty of the landscape could not be improved upon.

Bob and Dolores Hope attended the chapel’s groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies in 1991. In 1993, a portrait of Dolores Hope painted by Nancy Greenawalt was unveiled, and the altar was dedicated in honor of Theresa DeFina, Dolores Hope’s mother.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by members of the chapel committee, AFEV Chairman of the Board Todd Simmons, DL3 Construction President Drew Lord, Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation Treasurer Jack Peter, Chaplain Bethel Bateson, and Father Nelson Toledo.

TRAFFIC

Crews begin removing old roadway in Brooks Bridge work zone

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has shifted U.S. 98 traffic near Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach to the south, creating a dedicated work zone for the construction of the new westbound bridge structure.

• This move is part of the ongoing $171-million Brooks Bridge replacement project, which aims to increase capacity and improve traffic flow in the area.

The current traffic configuration, which can be seen in a recently released photo taken looking east, features barrier walls separating the road from the work zone. Within this newly established work area, crews have begun removing the old roadway to make way for the new bridge.

The Brooks Bridge replacement project involves constructing two new, parallel bridges that will expand the capacity from the current four lanes to six travel lanes. The existing bridge, which opened in 1966, has been serving the community for over five decades and is due for an upgrade.

FDOT estimates that the project will be completed by summer 2027, providing improved infrastructure and enhanced safety for residents and visitors alike. As construction progresses, drivers are advised to exercise caution and follow posted signage when navigating the area.

The expansion of Brooks Bridge is expected to alleviate traffic congestion and accommodate the growing needs of Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding communities. Once completed, the new bridges will provide a modern, efficient route for travelers and help facilitate economic growth in the region.

COASTAL RESOURCES

Strong start to sea turtle nesting season in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Sea turtle nesting season is off to a promising start in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, with four nests and two false crawls reported so far, according to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Turtle Patrol.

Of the four nests, three belong to Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, while one belongs to a loggerhead. Both false crawls were attributed to loggerhead sea turtles.

• “What a great start to the season!” the Turtle Patrol said in a statement. “We are hoping to see a lot more of this in the next couple of months!”

The team reminds residents and visitors to keep beaches clean, dark, and flat to ensure a safe environment for nesting sea turtles. Turtle-friendly red flashlights are available for purchase at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Welcome Center on Okaloosa Island.

All sea turtle nesting activities conducted by the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Turtle Patrol are permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Turtle Program under MTP #24-251.

Have kids who want to learn more about sea turtles?

The Fort Walton Beach Library will host “Sea Turtles with Jessica Valek” on June 6th at 2 PM. The event is open to children aged 7-12 who wish to learn about sea turtle adventures from Jessica Valek.

• The library is located at 185 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. Registration is required, and those interested can sign up and find more information at the library’s website.

If you encounter a nesting sea turtle on the beach, please call the Sea Turtle Hotline at 850-461-2885 or the FWC at 888-404-3922.

SCHOOL

Edge Elementary School unveils Florida Heritage Marker

The Okaloosa County School District, in collaboration with the administrative staff at Edge Elementary School and the City of Niceville, held a ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, to unveil a Florida Heritage Marker at the school.

• The event took place at Edge Elementary, located at 300 Hwy 85 N in Niceville, and began at 5:30 pm.

The school, initially known as Niceville High School, has a rich history dating back to 1924 when George Nathey conveyed seven acres of land to the Okaloosa County Board of Public Instruction.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including fires in 1926 and a hurricane in 1936, the school was rebuilt each time with the support of the community and grants from the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

In 1943, Niceville High School became the first county school to offer a nine-month school term to accommodate military families from Eglin Field. The school’s name was changed to Niceville Elementary in 1952, and in 1962, it was renamed Lula J. Edge Elementary to honor Lula J. Edge’s commitment to preserving the school.

The historical marker is located in front of the school’s flagpole.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers shared his thoughts on the event in a social media post, expressing gratitude to all those who attended and contributed to the celebration.

• “The Tiger Chorus provided a beautiful performance helping to honor the school’s enduring legacy,” Chambers noted. “We were graced by the presence of former principals, esteemed teachers, elected officials and alumni whose lives have been shaped within these walls.”

Chambers extended his appreciation to everyone who made the event possible, particularly the City of Niceville, historian Elisa Mitchiner, and School Board Member Dr. Diane Kelley, whose dedication helped immortalize the school’s shared history. “Your presence and support have not only honored the past but also inspire our path forward,” Chambers concluded.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa County commits $2 million to paving 14 more miles of dirt roads

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the allocation of $2 million from FY24 Surtax Reserves to continue funding the “Fifty-in-Five” Dirt Road Stabilization Improvement Project on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

• The project, which aims to stabilize and pave the county’s remaining dirt roads within five years, was first proposed by Commissioner Nathan Boyles in 2020.

According to Commissioner Boyles, county-maintained dirt roads cost nearly three times as much to maintain as paved roads, and they also contribute to increased vehicle maintenance costs for citizens and environmental damage to local creeks and rivers.

The “Fifty-in-Five” project seeks to address these issues by stabilizing and paving the remaining dirt roads in the county.

The $2 million allocation comes from the Half-Cent Infrastructure Surtax and will be used to complete lime rock stabilization for the remaining 14 miles of dirt roads. To date, $13,452,000 of Surtax funding has been allocated to the stabilization of approximately 116 miles of dirt roads, according to the county.

• The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee approved the recommendation of the allocation at their May 15, 2024 committee meeting.

The completion of this project is expected to reduce maintenance costs for the county, improve road conditions for residents, and minimize the environmental impact of dirt roads on the local ecosystem.

SCHOOL

FAMU and NWFSC forge partnership bringing new opportunity to pharmacy students in Okaloosa

The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health and Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) have solidified their partnership through a 2+4 Articulation Agreement. 

• The agreement, a result of Representative Patt Maney’s vision and efforts to increase FAMU’s impact in the northwestern part of the state, was officially signed during a ceremony at the Durell Peaden Jr. Rural Pharmacy Education Campus in Crestview on June 4.

The Durell Peaden Jr. Rural Pharmacy Education Campus, housed in a revitalized historical building, has a rich history. Built in the late 1930s, the two-story commercial vernacular structure initially served as the Smith-Johnson Garment Factory and later as the Alatex Textiles Garment Factory. It is the only example of historical industrial architecture in Okaloosa County. The plant produced various items, including military clothing, and provided significant support during World War II.

In 2010, the City of Crestview signed the building’s title to FAMU after the Florida Legislature budgeted for its restoration. The College of Pharmacy admitted its first Crestview students on August 27, 2012. The center was renamed the Durell Peaden Jr. Education Center in 2016 in honor of the late Senator Durell Peaden, Jr., who worked tirelessly to obtain the necessary resources for the center’s establishment and operation.

• The Peaden Campus has established itself as competitive with other pharmacy schools in the nation. In 2021, its graduates achieved a 92.9% pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, exceeding both state and national averages.

The 2+4 Articulation Agreement allows NWFSC students to complete their general education and prerequisite courses at the state college before seamlessly transitioning into FAMU’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at the Crestview campus. The agreement also addresses housing challenges faced by FAMU pharmacy students by providing accommodations on the NWFSC campus.

According to Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of NWFSC, the agreement represents a significant advancement in creating streamlined educational pathways for students. 

• “Students enrolled in our AA program will receive the foundational education in general sciences, mathematics, and other prerequisite courses essential for a career in pharmacy,” he said. “We structured this curriculum so that it is meticulously aligned with the requirements needed to enter the PharmD program at FAMU.”

Stephenson also emphasized the benefits of the partnership, including a clear pathway, cost-effective education, academic wraparound services, and early exposure to pharmacy education. “This pathway allows them to engage with the college pharmacy very early in their academic career,” he said.

FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson highlighted the importance of such partnerships in providing access to higher education. 

• “Since 2018, we have implemented about twenty-one 2+2 programs to allow students access to FAMU who might not have a chance otherwise, and this is very important to us,” he said. Robinson also noted that the agreement solves a significant housing problem for FAMU students in Crestview, where affordable housing options were limited prior to the partnership.

Representative Patt Maney, who played a key role in bringing the institutions together, expressed his humility and gratitude for being part of the campus’s evolution. “I didn’t expect to speak because this program is not about me. I’m just so humbled to be here and be part of the evolution of the Peaden Campus of Florida A&M,” he said.

Maney shared his vision for the partnership, emphasizing the importance of having people who could make the vision a reality. “It’s important for leaders to have visions, but it’s more important to have people who could make the vision. That’s what Dr. Stephenson and Dr. Robinson did. They took my little vision and made a big project that’s going to serve our entire community,” he said.

During his speech, Rep Maney expressed his admiration for the Peaden Campus and the opportunities it provides, telling the story of a pharmacy student he had recently met.

• “I met a pharmacy student here from Chicago because he heard about this campus. He saw affordable tuition. He saw a higher pass rate than the national rate,” Maney said. “And I thought, we’ve got to fix housing and we’ve got to fix the opportunity for more students.”

The representative also expressed hope that the partnership could include a pathway of progress for public school students. “I think that’s a promising sign that this partnership can also include a pathway of progress for our public school students. If we can get the Superintendent and the [Okaloosa] school board to work with Florida A&M and Northwest Florida State, we can really build a great opportunity for our students,” Maney said.

Dr. Johnnie L. Early II, Dean of the FAMU College of Pharmacy, and Dr. Allyson L. Watson, FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, joined President Robinson, President Stephenson, and other officials in signing the historic agreement. 

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of Emerald Bricks to acknowledge financial sponsors whose “scholarship and monetary support will never be forgotten,” according to Dr. Margareth Larose-Pierre, Founding Campus Dean.

Nancy Peaden, wife of the late Senator Durell Peaden, Jr., attended the ceremony and shared her thoughts on the momentous occasion. The event coincided with what would have been the couple’s 42nd wedding anniversary, making her presence all the more meaningful. 

“I think it’s just divine that it fell on the same day as that, so I could be here and be a part of this,” she said.

Peaden expressed her appreciation for the hard work put in by Representative Maney and the collaboration between the two colleges. “It’s just wonderful. Wonderful for the community, for the students and for them to be able to have housing nearby,” she remarked.

When asked what her late husband would have said if he could see the event, Peaden simply replied, “Praise God.”