PUBLIC SAFETY

Two deaths in 3 days following drowning incidents on Walton County beaches

Two people have died following drowning incidents along Walton County Beaches in less than three days despite the courageous efforts of first responders all week long during rough surf conditions.

On Thursday afternoon, South Walton Fire District received a distress call regarding a water rescue at Blue Mountain Beach. Alerted by beachgoers, Tower 31’s lifeguard quickly responded to the scene where bystanders had pulled an unresponsive male from the water, approximately half a mile west of the tower.

• The lifeguard initiated life-saving measures while additional beach safety units and deputies from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance.
• Sadly, the 65-year-old man from Coppell, Texas succumbed to his injuries.

Another incident took place on Saturday afternoon when multiple individuals were reported to be struggling in the water along Scenic Gulf Drive. Walton County Sheriff’s Office and South Walton Fire District Beach Safety Units were immediately dispatched to the scene. SWFD Beach Safety personnel and WCSO deputies promptly entered the water, rescuing two men and a teenager.

• They administered life-saving measures before the victims were transported by SWFD to a local hospital.
• Tragically, a 58-year-old man from Nashville, Tennessee was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Both incidents occurred when single red flags were flying, according to the WCSO. However, surf conditions prompted double red flags for several days on Walton County Beaches during which, both South Walton Fire District and Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to numerous water rescues and drowning incidents.

“Our agencies continue to educate those visiting our beaches on the dangers of the Gulf and its unforgiving nature,” wrote the WCSO is a press release. “We encourage those who plan to take a trip to the beach to swim near a lifeguard and know how to break the grip of a rip current. If you cannot swim, stay out of the water.”

TRAFFIC

Downtown Fort Walton Beach Parking Lot resurfacing complete, Now open to public

The long-awaited resurfacing of a public parking lot in Downtown Fort Walton Beach has been completed and is now back open to the public.

• The project, which began after unanimous approval by the Fort Walton Beach City Council in January, aimed to revitalize the parking lot located at 164 and 166 Miracle Strip Parkway Southeast.

The parking lot, nestled between BOTE Boards and the former Run With It building, is jointly owned by the BLN, LLC. and the City of Fort Walton Beach. BLN, LLC. leases its portion of the parking lot to the City, providing vital public parking for the downtown Fort Walton Beach area.

As part of the lease terms, the City is required to perform improvements relating to paving and stormwater during the initial term of the lease. The first lease term expires on September 30, 2024.

• The resurfacing project received funding from the 2021-22 Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Budget, earmarked at $200,000. Additionally, the CRA Fund balance contributed $127,840.81 towards the total cost of the project.

The downtown parking lot will still need to be closed for one day next month to allow workers to paint the parking stripes, according to the city.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fallen Hero Honored: Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office unveils Memorial for Corporal Ray Hamilton

Last week, Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden and Renee Hamilton were surrounded by family and friends as they unveiled Corporal Ray Hamilton’s granite memorial at the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building.

Renee was also presented with the Honor and Sacrifice flag from several residents of Biscayne Point in Navarre who came together to sponsor an Honor and Sacrifice flag for Cpl. Ray Hamilton’s next-of-kin, according to the OCSO.

• The Honor and Sacrifice flag is a personalized flag honoring fallen first responders and each flag is personalized to the fallen service member or first responder.

As previously reported, Cpl. Ray Hamilton lost his life on Saturday, December 24 when a domestic violence suspect opened fire on responding deputies from inside his residence.

• When deputies arrived to the home in Fort Walton Beach, the subject barricaded himself inside the home and refused to cooperate with authorities. In response, the Sheriff’s Office called in their Special Response Team, of which Corporal Ray Hamilton was a member. 

Despite efforts by the crisis negotiation team to peacefully resolve the situation, the individual inside chose to use deadly force and shot Corporal Hamilton, according to Sheriff Aden. Hamilton was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

Corporal Hamilton joined the OCSO in 2017, starting out as a part-time employee before becoming a full-timer and eventually a crime scene investigator. He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to corporal in November of last year, according to Aden.

In addition to his duties as a field training officer, Corporal Hamilton was also a member of the Special Response Team and had received two lifesaving awards. In 2019, he talked a woman off of a roof and saved her life, and in March of last year he performed CPR to save another person’s life.

• He was also recognized for his efforts on the D.U.I. Task Force, receiving the Excellence Award for his work.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton County 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:                                  

• State Road (S.R.) 20 (John Sims Parkway) Resurfacing Project – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound nighttime lane closures on S.R. 20, from Edge Avenue to west of the Rocky Bayou Bridge, Sunday, June 25 through Thursday, June 29, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. These closures are required to allow crews to place thermoplastic striping and complete worklist items.

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience traffic disruptions Sunday, June 25 through Thursday, June 29, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for the following construction activities:
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Perry Avenue and Pier Road for utility work.
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park for utility work.
  • Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road for utility work.

• U.S. 98 Bridge Rehabilitation over East Pass Bridge – Drivers may encounter intermittent single-lane closures on U.S. 98 over East Pass (Marler) Bridge, westbound structure (Destin to Fort Walton Beach), Sunday, June 25 through Thursday, June 29, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• U.S. 98 Improvements from Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast- Drivers may encounter temporary lane closures of the outside U.S. 98 eastbound travel lane from Josie Road to Hurlburt Field, Sunday, June 25 through Thursday, June 29, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for shoulder widening construction.

• S.R. 85 resurfacing from John Sims Parkway to College Boulevard – Drivers can expect intermittent single-lane closures on S.R. 85 north and southbound, Sunday, June 25 through Thursday, June 29, to allow crews to place thermoplastic striping, maintenance of shoulder drop-offs and to place sod. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times.

• I-10/Antioch Road Interchange – The left lane of I-10 westbound will be closed between Mile Markers 55 and 52 from 8 p.m. Thursday, June 29 until 6 a.m. Friday, June 30. The lane closure will allow crews to shift both westbound travel lanes slightly to the south so work may continue to construct the new I-10/Antioch Road interchange (future Exit 53). The speed limit on this segment of I-10 will remain 60 mph.

• U.S. 90 Routine Utility Maintenance in Crestview – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for utility maintenance.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from Village Road to East of U.S. 331 – The week of Sunday, June 25, drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures between 7:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. for paving and striping operations.

• U.S. 98 Widening from Mack Bayou Road to County Road (C.R.) 30A – On Sunday, June 25, drivers will encounter intermittent single-lane closures on U.S. 98 westbound near West Hewett Road, between 7:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., as crews perform striping work.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 331 to Peach Creek – Drivers may encounter intermittent east and westbound turn lane closures on U.S. 98 from east of U.S. 331 to Peach Creek, Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for turn lane widening.

• U.S. 98 Coring Operations at Goldsby Road – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, June 26 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for coring operations.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

PARKS+REC

Construction finally begins at The Landing Park in Downtown Fort Walton Beach

After years of delays, construction at The Landing park in Downtown Fort Walton Beach has officially begun!

In February, the Fort Walton Beach City Council unanimously awarded the Phase 1 construction for the Fort Walton Beach Landing Improvements to GLC Contracting, Inc. of Fort Walton Beach.

• Work on Phase 1 will consist of the waterside construction that will include the seawall, boardwalk, dock and pocket beach/kayak launch.
• All land side improvements, including entry canopy and band shell, will be Phase 2.

Last May, the City received the highly-anticipated permit from the Army Corps of Engineers for the Landing to construct the improvements. However, after issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) in September 2022, no bids were received. 

The City decided to split the proposed improvements into two phases in order to encourage more participation. On October 24, 2022, the Phase 1 improvements were put out to bid. 

In December, GLC Contracting, Inc. submitted a bid in the amount of $2,479,665, which was substantially more than the city was expecting when this started years back. The increase in cost was mainly due to the excessive wait time for permitting from the Army Corps of Engineers that saw material costs increase over the last 2 years. 

Funding for the Landing Improvements will come from multiple sources, including:

• CRA funding for engineering design and permitting and a portion of the construction. 
• NRDA grant funding for the boardwalk, seawall and pocket beach improvements ($1,600,000). 
• RESTORE Act funding for the covered performance stage and other infrastructure improvements ($1,100,000). 
• TDC funding for a portion of the covered performance stage ($500,000). 
• Half-Cent surtax revenues for a portion of the construction.

According to City Manager Jeff Peters, Phase 1 is slated to be complete by December/January timeframe. The City says they will bid out Phase 2 (stage, restrooms, etc) in August. They are also working with the contractor to minimize impacts to events that are scheduled to take place at The Landing throughout the year, such as concerts and farmers markets.

Phases 2 & 3 will be staggered to also reduce impacts to the usage of the park and to also allow for one section to be complete before starting another. The project is estimated to cost $6 million overall, with an estimated 2024 completion.