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Kent Tinsley has been unmasked as Capt. Billy Bowlegs 71, continuing a family legacy in Fort Walton Beach’s 70-plus-year pirate tradition. The Okaloosa qualifying period ended, setting the 2026 election ballot, and the Crestview Comfort Inn & Suites sold for $5.01 million. A tropical system is expected to bring rain to Okaloosa this week, and a new restroom has been installed at the Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp as Okaloosa County continues site upgrades. Also, the Okaloosa and Walton Counties Traffic Advisory and today’s weather outlook.
PARKS+REC
New restroom installed at Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp
Okaloosa County crews installed a new restroom Friday at the Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp, the latest piece of an ongoing redevelopment of the site.
- The boat ramp closed temporarily Friday morning while crews completed the installation, according to the county.
The county thanked the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for assisting with traffic management during the work and acknowledged the patience of staff at the nearby Whataburger.
Remaining improvements at the Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp include 16 to 18 parking spaces for boat trailers, improved access to the boat ramp, landscaping and future dock improvements, the county said.
The county said additional work remains and that further temporary closures may be necessary as the project continues.
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GAMES
WordroW: June 15, 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.
POLITICS
Okaloosa qualifying period ends, setting 2026 election ballot
The candidate qualifying period for Okaloosa County’s 2026 election cycle ended June 12, setting the field for races spanning the County Commission, School Board and city councils in Crestview, Destin and Fort Walton Beach (has 11 candidates).
The primary election is Aug. 18, with the general election Nov. 3.
BUSINESS
Crestview Comfort Inn & Suites sells for $5.01 million
RIDHAAN Realty Group has acquired the 75-room Comfort Inn & Suites Crestview South from Crestview Hospitality LLC for $5,010,000, according to Okaloosa County property records.
- The May 20 sale was brokered off-market by DSH Hotel Advisors and closed within 86 days of being listed, according to Hotel Business.
The hotel sits on roughly 2.34 acres near Interstate 10 and Florida State Road 85, drawing year-round demand from nearby military installations, including Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, along with regional healthcare facilities and tourism.
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WEATHER
Tropical system to bring rain to Okaloosa this week
Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox said Sunday that a developing weather system is forecast to bring 1 to 2.5 inches of rain to the area over the next seven days, with no significant flooding currently expected.
- The system, associated with the remnants of a more-organized disturbance, has a brief window to reorganize as it moves off the Mexican coast toward warm water near the Texas coastline, Maddox said.
Models are varied on how much time the system may spend over water, and chances of significant strengthening are low. That window closes quickly as another low-pressure system approaches from the west.
Rainfall is expected to arrive in two windows, according to Maddox. From Monday through Wednesday, the area should see 0.25 inches at the coast to 0.75 inches at the north end of the county. From Wednesday through Friday, totals are forecast at 0.75 inches at the coast and up to 1.75 inches at the north end.
“Keep your umbrellas handy, and go about your daily routines while remaining weather-aware,” Maddox said. “We’ll let you know if there’s something to get perked up about.”
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
TRAFFIC
Okaloosa and Walton Counties Traffic Advisory
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Okaloosa County:
Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98, from Ferry Road to Pier Road, and on Santa Rosa Boulevard, from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park, Sunday, June 14 through Thursday, June 18 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for construction activities.
State Road (S.R.) 85 Resurfacing Project from U.S. 98 to Richbourg Avenue – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related impacts, Sunday, June 14 through Thursday, June 18 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
- Intermittent northbound outside (right) lane closures on S.R. 85 between Yacht Club Drive NE and the bridge at Cinco Bayou. Crews will be installing drainage structures. As part of this work, the entrance to Laguna Landing Condominiums will be temporarily closed. Residents will access S.R. 85 via Yacht Club Drive NE. Signage will be in place to guide drivers safely through the work zone.
- Pedestrians will encounter intermittent sidewalk closures, between U.S. 98 and Richbourg Avenue, as crews work to install new pedestrian signals along S.R. 85.
- Intermittent and alternating lane closures, between U.S. 98 and Richbourg Avenue, for paving operations.
U.S. 98 Resurfacing from Santa Rosa County Line to west of Josie Road – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on U.S. 98 on Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 19, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for utility relocation and median improvements.
S.R. 293 (Danny Wuerffel Way) Resurfacing from U.S. 98 to the Mid-Bay Bridge – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 from Paraiso Boulevard to Regions Way, and S.R. 293 (Danny Wuerffel Way) from U.S. 98 to the Mid-Bay Bridge, Sunday, June 14 through Thursday, June 18, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for milling and paving operations.
Interstate 10 Resurfacing from east of Shoal River Bridge to west of S.R. 285 – Drivers will encounter nighttime alternating lane closures both eastbound and westbound between mile markers 64 and 67, Sunday June 14, through Thursday, June 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. for paving operations.
Walton County:
Western Lake Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may encounter temporary County Road 30A traffic stoppages near Western Lake Bridge, Sunday, June 14 through Saturday, June 20, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pile driving operations and other construction activities. During stoppages, delays are expected to last less than 15 minutes and intermittent flagging will be in place to guide vehicles and pedestrians through the work zone.
NEWS
Kent Tinsley unmasked as Capt. Billy Bowlegs 71, continues family legacy
Kent Tinsley was unmasked as Captain Billy Bowlegs 71 (LXXI) on Saturday at the Krewe of Bowlegs annual coronation pageant, becoming a second-generation captain and carrying forward a family legacy that began before he was born.
- His theme for the year ahead: “Whiskey In, Wisdom Out,” a play on the captain and Krewe’s affection for bourbon and the wisdom they hope to share along the way.
Tinsley’s parents, Herb and Dolly Tinsley, served the Krewe on Honor Guard 23, as First Mate and First Mistress 30, and as Captain Billy 36 (XXXVI). Both of his parents passed away in the last year, with his father passing in April, just two months before the unveiling.
“I am thankful I was able to talk with him about becoming captain. He encouraged me to find his sword and his medallion,” Tinsley said. “We will celebrate my father’s year and celebrate his legacy. We will honor the traditions of the Krewe as we move forward.”
Tinsley will carry his father’s sword, a gift from his father’s Queen Carlee Foster brought in from Toledo, Spain, and will wear his father’s captain’s medallion in place of commissioning his own.
Queen Tade Wolfe is originally from Eufaula, Alabama, and grew up an Air Force daughter, moving from place to place before eventually calling Florida home.
First Mate Jason Floyd and First Mistress Nicole Floyd are both natives of FWB and Fort Walton Beach High School graduates, bringing deep local roots to the Krewe’s “Top Six.”
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