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Good morning!
Step One Automotive Group has opened a new Kia dealership on Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. Outsourcing, online billing, and a rejected fire fee were among the items discussed at the FWB budget workshop, and Tropical Storm Arthur dropped 10 to 15 inches of rain on Okaloosa as it moved through. Crestview football is building on its playoff return with a veteran roster, and HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is marking Men’s Health Month with a call for preventive screenings. Free books are available for Okaloosa students through the New Worlds Reading Initiative, and A World of Signs will throw a two-day grand opening party in Fort Walton Beach.
POLITICS
Outsourcing, online billing and a rejected fire fee among items discussed at FWB budget workshop
A City of Fort Walton Beach budget workshop last Tuesday produced discussion of potential outsourcing for several city services, a rejected proposal to bring back a fire assessment fee and a range of revenue concepts as the council works to close a roughly $500,000 gap in its operating budget and prepare for a potential $1.7 million revenue loss in 2027.
The clearest direction to emerge was shifting several city-operated programs toward outside providers, with three of the largest service-line items receiving consensus to come back for further discussion. These include youth sports, daycare and aftercare, and senior programming.
Also discussed was:
- Fireworks, concerts and parades
- Chamber, EDC and pool funding
- Library
- New revenue concepts
- Move to online-only billing
- Fire assessment fee revisited but rejected
- Surplus property
- and more.
The next budget-related meeting is the city’s millage rate discussion scheduled for June 23. Davis said the items moved forward at Tuesday’s workshop will return at that meeting and at subsequent sessions.
Click here to read the full recap or leave a comment
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GAMES
WordroW: June 23, 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.
SPORTS
‘A great offseason’: Crestview football builds on playoff return with veteran roster
Story by Travis Espy
There’s something brewing in the Hub City.
- While the Bulldogs lost in the first round of the playoffs to a Mandarin team that was a defensive stand away from a Final Four berth, it marked Crestview’s first playoff appearance since 2022, and the Bulldogs return much of that roster.
Head Coach Thomas Grant views it as a foundation to build on, with the focus in spring football and summer staying simple: stacking good days and getting better.
“We’re just trying to get better every single day. We’ve had a great offseason. I’m excited for the season to start,” Grant said.
HEALTH
HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital marks Men’s Health Month with call for preventive screenings
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is encouraging men in the community to prioritize their health during June, recognized nationally as Men’s Health Month.
- The hospital is asking dads, grandfathers, sons and the people who love them to schedule cancer screenings and annual checkups with a primary care doctor, steps providers say can make a significant difference in long-term health outcomes.
Healthcare providers say many men delay routine care or skip medical appointments until symptoms become serious. Preventive screenings can catch heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer earlier, when treatment options are broader.
“Men often put the needs of their families, careers and responsibilities ahead of their own health,” said Dr. Dan Hagler, Chief Medical Officer with HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. “National Men’s Health Month provides a timely reminder that taking care of yourself is one of the most important gifts you can give your family. Preventive screenings and healthy lifestyle habits can help identify health concerns early, when they are often easier to treat.”
SCHOOL
Free books available for Okaloosa students through New Worlds Reading Initiative
Okaloosa County families are encouraged to take advantage of the New Worlds Reading Initiative, a free program accepting applications through July 12, 2026.
- The initiative supports eligible students in VPK through 5th grade by providing books and resources designed to strengthen reading skills and encourage a love of reading at home.
Families who apply will receive a package that includes nine books for the school year, two bonus summer books, engaging reading activities and a children’s magazine, all delivered directly to their home at no cost.
The program is designed to help students build confidence and improve literacy skills through consistent reading practice outside the classroom. Regular reading at home is one of the most effective ways to improve student achievement and build lifelong reading habits.
Families are encouraged to apply by July 12, 2026, to receive the full set of resources.
For more information or to apply, click here.
PROMOTED
A World of Signs to throw a two-day grand opening party in Fort Walton Beach
After 20 years in business locally, A World of Signs is celebrating its new shop at 106 Hill Ave NW (old FedEx building) with a Grand Opening Extravaganza on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27.
- Friday runs from noon to 7 p.m. with Tiana’s Lunch Box on site. Saturday goes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Tehillah Coffee & Co. pouring. Both days are free and open to the public — no purchase necessary.
Visitors can tour the new facility, watch live vehicle wrap and shirt press demonstrations, try hands-on sign-making activities, and pick up free shirts and decals. Raffles run throughout the event, including a drawing for up to $1,000 in shop credit toward signs, wraps, apparel and promotional products.
Details and raffle registration: go.aworldofsigns.com/opening
WEATHER
Tropical Storm Arthur brought 10 to 15 inches of rain to Okaloosa
The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur delivered a narrow band of 10 to 15 inches of rain to Okaloosa County last week, with areas to the west receiving mid-20-inch totals and beyond, Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox said in a Monday update.
- Maddox said the system hit “right on the chin” of the threshold at which the county would have needed assistance, a declaration of emergency or additional resources. He said the county had a declaration drafted and ready.
“That’s a very valuable metric to have in our toolbox,” Maddox said. “We’ve been over and under that number before, but this system hit it right on the chin.”
Maddox said the event was reminiscent of Tropical Storm Allison, which dropped 40 inches of rain on the Port of Houston in 2001 and caused more dollar damage than many direct Category 1 hurricane hits. He said one estimate equated the impact in areas to the west of Okaloosa to a “1,000-year storm.”
Damage assessment at the county’s riverfront parks will begin once the rivers recede to the point that access to ramps, docks and public space is safe, Maddox said, with assessments expected by midweek.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
BUSINESS
Step One Automotive Group opens new Kia dealership on Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach has a new Kia dealership on Beal Parkway, with Step One Automotive Group opening its Step One Kia Fort Walton Beach facility for sales and service Monday.
- The new building spans more than 34,000 square feet and replaces the brand’s previous Fort Walton Beach location. According to the company, it is the largest Kia dealership in the Florida Panhandle.
The facility includes a 29-bay service department staffed by factory-trained Kia technicians, an air-conditioned service shop and customer lounges. Step One said the service center is built to deliver fast turnaround times for everything from routine maintenance to comprehensive repairs.
“We designed this facility with customer and employee experience as the foundation,” said Mike Balog, managing partner of Step One Automotive Group. “Every detail from the layout of the service drive to the amenities in our waiting area was intentional. Fort Walton Beach deserves a Kia dealership that matches the quality of the product it sells.”
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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