SCHOOL

Okaloosa County Schools participate in Summer Food Service Program

Okaloosa County Schools will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program this summer. The Summer BreakSpot offers balanced breakfasts and lunches at no cost for kids 18 and under and are served on site at schools across the county.

• A list of sites and service times is available on the District’s website at the following link: https://www2.okaloosaschools.com/article/1119104.

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, according to the OCSD. Meals will not be provided on weekends, July 3rd, or July 4th.

The programs are only approved for geographical areas of need where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year.

A site’s times may change or it may close down due to participation.

NEWS

Okaloosa County remembers longtime Water and Sewer Director, Jeff Littrell

On Monday, June 5, Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Director Jeff Littrell passed away as he was surrounded by family at the age of 72-years old.

Littrell began his career with Okaloosa County in 1996 as the Utilities Administrative Manager for the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department (OCWS) and was promoted a year later to the Director position. His colleagues remember him as a ‘Rockstar in his field’ that led with vision and flair and helped create the modern robust utility it is today.

Some of Littrell’s notable accomplishments with OCWS include:

• Creating a 30-inch diameter water transmission main from Crestview to Fort Walton Beach.
• The demolition of the Garniers Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ocean City.
• Constructing the $65 Million state-of-the-art Arbennie Pritchett Water Reclamation Facility, a sewer plant with a capacity of 15 million gallons per day.
• Air Force’s first Enhanced Use Lease across the nation.

“Jeff’s passion and work ethic truly made this County better,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “His dedication to public service is an example for all of us and he will be greatly missed.”

According to the county, Littrell’s philosophy included collaboration, teamwork, and empowering his workforce. Through Jeff’s leadership, OCWS partnered with Eglin AFB to construct approximately 50 miles of sewer pipelines across the reservation.

“Jeff was truly a wonderful boss and a patient leader that cared for his employees and customers,” said Deputy Director of Water and Sewer Mark Wise. “He loved being the Water and Sewer Director to his core and was extremely proud of his 140 employees. We view him as a legend.”

Funeral services will be open to the public and be held on a date to be determined later at Emerald Coast Funeral Home.

NEWS

Crestview Mayor awarded 2023 Florida League of Cities ‘Home Rule Hero’ Award

The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized Crestview Mayor JB Whitten with a 2023 Home Rule Hero Award for his work and advocacy efforts during the 2023 Legislative Session.

• According to the city of Crestview, Mayor Whitten worked tirelessly throughout session to promote local voices making local choices, protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s municipalities, and advance the League’s legislative agenda.

“The League and its legislative team appreciate the individual advocacy efforts
undertaken by municipal officials throughout the state,” said FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “Home Rule Heroes are some of our biggest advocates for protecting local decision-making. They are League members who stand out for their high level of participation, knowledge, and effectiveness. This year’s Home Rule Heroes continuously advocated for their communities throughout the 2023 Legislative Session.”

Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and non-elected, who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.

“Helping the Florida League of Cities in its mission to represent our cities and protect our right to govern ourselves not only makes sense but, in my opinion, is an obligation,’ said Mayor Whitten.

TRAFFIC

Waterway Construction Zone established for Brooks Bridge Replacement Project

Construction activities are underway for the $171-million Brooks Bridge replacement project in Fort Walton Beach. The project includes constructing two new parallel bridges that will increase capacity to six travel lanes.

• The land-based project work zone extends along U.S. 98 from west of Perry Avenue to Pier Road and includes the side streets beneath the Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island.
• On the water, the project work zone extends 1,000-feet in all directions from the bridge construction activities.

The Brooks Bridge construction zone extends into the Okaloosa County “minimum wake zone” within the Santa Rosa Sound. Any vessel operating in a speed zone posted as “Slow Down – Minimum Wake” must operate fully off-plane and be completely settled in the water.

In addition to being a minimum wake zone, the construction zone extends 1,000-feet from all Brooks Bridge construction activities. In the active work zone, a
vessel’s wake must not be excessive nor create a hazard for other vessels, construction equipment, or workers, according to FDOT.

• “Work zone safety is critical, whether it’s in your car on the roadways, or in your boat near the Brooks Bridge construction site,” wrote FDOT in a press release. “Practicing safe behaviors, like eliminating distractions and reducing speed, can help save lives.”

According to FDOT, all motorized watercraft are required to utilize the navigational channel within the construction zone. Access to the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail will be maintained and marked through the east side of the construction zone along Okaloosa Island.

For the latest on all things Brooks Bridge, head to ilovefwb.com.

SURVEY

Okaloosa County works to improve Public Transportation, seeks public input

Okaloosa County is working to improve the Emerald Coast Rider Transit System and has initiated a Comprehensive Operations Analysis. This analysis is taking place with support from the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization and will be an in-depth evaluation that includes public input.

The county is encouraging the public to utilize EC Rider and participate in an online or in-person survey of their experience. EC Rider has routes throughout the County and at various locations.

• Routes and bus information can be found at ECRider.org.
• You can take the short online survey, here.

The contractor for this project, HDR Inc., will be conducting interviews with various stakeholders from municipalities, chambers of commerce and the County to gather a wide range of input to improve efficiencies within the system.

• Additionally, HDR associates will be riding as passengers on EC Rider’s routes during a site visit in June to explore opportunities for further systemwide improvements.

“EC Rider can be a vital part of providing affordable and accessible transportation to residents and visitors,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “This comprehensive analysis will give us the opportunity to improve the existing system and explore new opportunities through thoughtful collaboration with local officials and other stakeholders.”

The results of the survey, interviews, and ride-along will be analyzed to develop a plan to improve the EC Rider experience and a strategy for the implementation of a new plan is expected in early 2024, according to the county.

• By examining the performance of bus services, the county anticipates that the analysis will identify opportunities to repurpose transit resources from low-performing areas.

For Okaloosa County, the ultimate objective is to improve transit operations, increase ridership of tourists and residents, and offer a robust, multimodal experience for the EC Rider service area.

REAL ESTATE

ERA American Real Estate set to plant their One-Millionth American Flag across Northwest Florida

ERA American Real Estate, headquartered in Shalimar, Florida, is welcoming ‘Flag Season’ with a patriotic flourish, gearing up to plant its one-millionth American flag this year. This symbolic tradition, which kicked off on Memorial Day Weekend, sees the company bringing a patriotic wave of red, white, and blue to communities stretching from 30A to Pensacola.

Established in 1985 by Gloria Frazier, ERA American Real Estate has grown exponentially, today boasting five offices and 145 dedicated real estate professionals across Northwest Florida. The firm is known not only for its pulse on the real estate market, but also for its deep commitment to community outreach. From a humble beginning of planting 5,000 American flags around Fort Walton Beach in its first year, the company now proudly distributes a staggering 30,000 flags annually.

“To our team, the American flag stands as a beacon of the freedom and liberty that empower everyone to chase and live out their American Dream,” said Linde Bowman, VP and Head of Brokerage at ERA American Real Estate. “This cherished tradition of distributing American flags has become a cornerstone of our identity, offering us a meaningful way to engage with our community and show our respect for our military neighbors and friends.”

In the build-up to Independence Day, ERA American Real Estate’s staff and agents will commit their time and energy to planting American flags across various neighborhoods. Their activities range from canvassing streets and creating striking flag displays at community entry points to turning their offices into American flag hubs and distributing flags at intersections.

• Each ERA office will also feature flag bouquets, encouraging locals to drop in and collect a flag to display at home. This initiative reinforces the company’s position not only as a leading real estate enterprise but also as a champion of the American flag.

Paula Sherman, a realtor with ERA American Real Estate and retired United States Air Force Colonel, has been a part of this extraordinary tradition for decades. She shares, “Our mission is twofold: to foster our community’s growth and development through our real estate services and to honor the American Spirit through our enduring flag distribution tradition.”

• This year, the company is on the brink of reaching a monumental milestone. President & CEO Tony Lombardo revealed that in 2023, the brokerage will plant the one-millionth American flag in the company’s history.

For Team ERA, this is a cherished tradition they look forward to each year and there is a sense of excitement surrounding the imminent milestone of planting the one-millionth American flag. Each flag represents not just a symbol of national pride, but a commitment by the realtors to fostering a sense of community and patriotism across the place they call home.

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