PUBLIC SAFETY

Chief Stone retires from FWB Fire Department, prepares for new position in South Walton

The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department announced the retirement of Battalion Chief DJ Stone this week, who just completed his last 48 hour tour.

• Chief Stone has been with the City of Fort Walton Beach Fire Department for the past 22 years. 
• He spent the first 8 years as a Firefighter, then 3 years as a Driver/Engineer, another 8 years as a Captain and now the last 3 years as a Battalion Chief.

“This decision was not an easy one,” said Chief Stone in a social media post. “After 22 years at FWBFD, I felt like this was an opportunity that God has presented to me and my family.”

Throughout his career with the FWBFD, Stone has accomplished many feats including assisting with apparatus specifications, testing and implementing some the equipment and tactics the department currently uses, as well as how to apply these tactics to save lives.

• “FWBFD is a special place and has given me a great career working with some of the very best in the 850,” he wrote. “The men there have molded me into the fireman, brother, husband, dad and person that I am. The experiences over the span of my career have been invaluable. I am forever grateful for every minute. I wish the brothers only the best in the future.”

Chief Stone will be retiring from the City of Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, but not from the Fire Service. Stone has accepted an offer of employment with South Walton Fire District (SWFD) as the new Division Chief of Training.

“It’s time for a new chapter with an organization that I’ve known of and admired my whole career,” wrote Stone. “I am excited (and slightly terrified lol) for this new job opportunity and the experiences that will come with it. SWFD is doing BIG things and I am very lucky to be a part of that future!”

“Thank you to Battalion Chief DJ Stone for your years of service to the City of Fort Walton Beach, the surrounding communities, and the visitors of our area,” wrote the FWBFD in a statement. “We will miss you, Sir, but you know the doors will always be open for you. Best of luck and wishes on your new chapter in life.”

GIVING BACK

Okaloosa School District to host annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ School Supply Drive on July 29

Stuff the Bus helps local students get the tools they need for the upcoming school year! In 2022, over $11,000 worth of supplies were collected, impacting over 10,000 students in 53 schools across Okaloosa and Walton counties.

• Without the community’s generosity, students would lack the supplies they need to be successful during the school year.

“Any help you can give to allow our students to have their own individual supplies would be greatly appreciated,” said Okaloosa Superintendent of Schools Marcus Chambers. “I want to thank United Way, the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, and the many community sponsors who make a difference in the lives of our students by giving them the much-needed supplies that they need each and every day.”

The Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive will take place on Saturday, July 29, from 8 am to 4 pm at the following locations:

• Walmart – Crestview (3351 S Ferdon Blvd)
• Walmart – Fort Walton Beach (748 Beal Pkwy NW)
• Walmart – Niceville (1300 E John Sims Pkwy E)

School District staff will be on-site with Cumulus Radio, broadcasting LIVE and collecting school supply donations. You can take advantage of Florida’s tax-free weekend and add a few extra school supplies to your cart, or give a monetary donation so our local schools can utilize bulk discounts.

To view the list of the most needed school supplies, please visit www.okaloosaschools.com. 

TRAFFIC

Crestview Bypass bridge construction begins to take shape on north-south portion

Progress continues on the Southwest Crestview Bypass Phase 5, as construction crews continue to work diligently on this highly anticipated infrastructure project. In a recent video update, Okaloosa County Public Works Director Jason Autrey shared some updates on the ongoing construction efforts.

One of the key highlights of the update was the construction of a bridge on the north-south portion of the bypass. Autrey pointed out the pile columns that have been set up on the north side of the railroad tracks, along with the temporary gravel road that has been built to facilitate the construction process. 

• “Once we get done with the north side of the railroad track, we’re going to come over, build one more set of piles, then we’ll start putting girders on top of those pile sets,” Autrey explained. “So you’ll see the bridge really start to take shape.”

The progress on the bridge has been particularly impressive, along with significant headway being made on the laying of asphalt and the construction of stormwater ponds.

Autrey’s update also shed light on the progress being made at the interchange of Interstate 10. According to Autrey, the eastbound lanes have already been shifted, and the team is now preparing to shift the westbound lanes to continue the construction work. Autrey added that construction will start on building a new bridge on the Interstate as well.

Although there is still work to be done, Autrey expressed confidence in the overall timeline for the completion of the project. The North-South portion has about two years left, while the PJ Adams Parkway portion is set for Spring or late Winter of 2024. As for the interchange, he estimated that there are approximately three years of work remaining.

SCHOOL

Okaloosa School District increases safety measures for upcoming school year

In a recent update to the Okaloosa County School Board, Office of Safe Schools Program Director Danny Dean highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance school safety and outlined changes being implemented for the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

One of the key developments has been the expansion of the Office of Safe Schools, which has allowed for increased support to individual schools and their safety teams. Dean explained, “We’ve aligned the positions within our department to be categorized specifically to things such as physical security, compliance training, threat management and mitigation, communications, fire and life safety.” 

• Dean says this restructuring ensures that each safety aspect has designated personnel responsible for prompt and accurate responses.

The additional staff has enabled the department to focus on enhancing emergency readiness at the school level. Training programs have been intensified, with increased opportunities for scenario-based training and full-scale exercises. Dean shared that in the previous year, the district conducted 912 drills and exercises, including a full-scale reunification exercise and an active assailant exercise.

According to the OCSD, the Office of Safe Schools conducts public safety tours annually (the statutory requirement is once every three years) to orient all public safety agencies with campus infrastructure, security features, and response and recovery procedures. 

Participating agencies this year included:

• Municipal police departments
• Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• ATF
• FBI
• Local fire departments, Eglin Air Force Base, EMS, Okaloosa County Emergency Management, and Okaloosa County Department of Corrections

Before each new school year starts, all public safety agencies receive a copy of the OCSD’s Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan, including campus maps and off-campus reunification locations and procedures. 

The District has also committed to maintaining and improving physical security measures. Notably, the District successfully secured the School Safety Hardening grant once again, allowing for continued upgrades. Additionally, changes will be made to the standard response protocols used in schools, specifically terminology used. 

Dean told the board that his department has seen some confusion among parents when it came to the terminology used during a callout from a school. 

• “We will be moving to the new, current version of the standard response protocols, which is replacing that word “lockout” with the word “secure,” so there’s no confusion between the “lockout or lockdown,” explained Dean. This change aims to provide clarity to parents and ensure consistent understanding across schools.

Another significant change on the horizon is the transition from the current comprehensive student threat assessment guidelines to a Florida-based threat management model. Although this transition is set for January 1st, 2024, preparations are already underway. Training for threat management personnel at the school level, as well as school resource officers, has been scheduled to ensure a seamless transition, according to Dean.

Dean also addressed the district’s successful Guardian program, which is in addition to the School Resource Officer program. The Guardian program involves concealed school employees who receive extensive training and undergo rigorous background checks. Dean emphasized that the Okaloosa County School District is fortunate to have sworn law enforcement officers from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in every school, in addition to the Guardian program.

The expansion of the Office of Safe Schools is something that Superintendent Marcus Chambers says adds more layers to the District’s overall safety program. 

• “When you look at our school resource officers, the single point-of-entry, the Guardian program, our video cameras, our communication devices, and many other things that we can’t talk about, we look at layers,” he said. “We want to have as many layers as possible to make sure that we keep our students and our employees safe.”

Chambers went on to thank Dean and his department for the behind-the-scenes work that gets done not only throughout the school year, but during the Summer months preparing for teachers and students to head back to campuses across the county.

“When we do have safety incidents at schools, we try to get communication out to families as soon as possible,” added Chambers. “Mr. Dean coordinates that with the principals, and there’s even some adjustments that he’ll be making for this upcoming school year, always striving to do things better. But when you look across this state, Mr. Dean has been looked at as one of the leading safety specialists, and we’re just very fortunate to have them.”

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

July 6, 2023 – Thirsty Thursdays with BT Turner at Rick’s on the Island! – View

July 6, 2023 – Fly Guy Thursday – View

July 7, 2023 – Trivia Night: Superhero Edition – $10 – $12 – View

July 8, 2023 – Downtown FWB Farmers Market! – View

July 9, 2023 – International Award-Winning Magical Variety Show! – Free – View

July 9, 2023 – Scallywag Sunday – free – View

July 10, 2023 – Bingo – $20 – View

July 10, 2023 – Movie Monday – View

July 11, 2023 – Flight Night @ Twisted Grape! – View

July 11, 2023 – Boomin Tuesday – View

July 12, 2023 – C.A.R.E.ing for Turtles – $15 – View

July 12, 2023 – Nik Flagstar Wednesdays at Rick’s on the Island! – View

July 12, 2023 – Okaloosa Island Fireworks Shows – Free – View

July 13, 2023 – Thirsty Thursdays with BT Turner at Rick’s on the Island! – View

July 13, 2023 – Fly Guy Thursday – View

July 14, 2023 – Teachers and School Administrators Soundscape Show – View

July 15, 2023 – Open House and Mural Reveal! at ATN – Free – View

July 15, 2023 – “Somewhere on Time” Art Show Turn-in – $5. – $35 – View

July 16, 2023 – International Award-Winning Magical Variety Show! – Free – View

July 16, 2023 – Scallywag Sunday – free – View

BEACH

Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center successfully releases 6 rehabilitated sea turtles

The Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center successfully released six rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Inlet Beach.

According to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center, they have taken in 89 patients this year, and so far have released 58 of them (5 just last week!). Yesterday, six sea turtles that included four Loggerheads, one Kemps ridley, and one Green were able to return to the Gulf of Mexico. This marks the third release at Inlet Beach in the last month.

• “Lychee”, an adult female Kemps ridley weighing in at 73 lbs., was caught on July 2 at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier wrapped in fishing line. After x-rays and bloodwork showed no other ailments and no internal hooks, Lychee was cleared for a very short stay at the CARE Center.

• “Apple”, a subadult Loggerhead weighing in at 88 lbs., was accidentally hooked in the mouth by a circle hook at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on June 26, 2023.

• “Finn”, a subadult Loggerhead weighing 100 lbs., was foul-hooked at Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier on February 26 with a j-hook in his esophagus. Finn was very emaciated and anemic upon arrival. After months of rehabilitation and rest, Finn was finally cleared for release.

• “Finley”, a subadult Loggerhead weighing 96 lbs., was accidentally hooked at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on April 4, 2023. Due to the severity of entanglement he had sustained, his right front flipper was amputated at the CARE Center. After three months of healing and rest, he passed his health exit exam and was ready to be returned to the Gulf. 
  • “Per FWC regulations, turtles are releasable if they have at least one flipper on each side of their body, and do just as well as turtles with all four flippers,” says Tabitha Siegfried, Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Stranding Coordinator.

• “Mango”, a subadult Loggerhead hooked at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on July 2 and “Coconut”, a juvenile Green recently hooked at NBFP, also joined the release.

If you see a sea turtle in distress, injured, or deceased please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).