BUSINESS

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital celebrates 50 years of service in local community

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital marked its 50th anniversary Friday with a celebration that highlighted its growth and commitment to healthcare in the community.

• The hospital, which has operated under various names since its founding in 1974, hosted a party attended by local leaders, former CEOs, and medical staff. Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson presented a proclamation recognizing the hospital’s half-century of service.

“We stand together to commemorate a milestone that reflects five decades of an unwavering commitment to the care and improvement of human life,” said CEO Zach McCluskey during the ceremony. “That is why we show up every single day to care for people in our community and improve their lives.”

McCluskey praised the hospital’s staff, calling them “the lifeblood of our organization.” He also acknowledged the presence of former CEOs Wayne Campbell and Mitch Mongell, noting their significant leadership roles in the hospital’s history.

The hospital has expanded significantly since its inception as General Hospital, growing from 172 employees and 40 physicians to over 1,200 employees and approximately 400 doctors. It now boasts 330 beds, 20 major service lines, and has expanded its footprint to include emergency services in Destin and Navarre, as well as a rehabilitation hospital in Destin.

McCluskey emphasized the hospital’s role in the community, noting that it serves about 60,000 people annually in its emergency department. He also highlighted the facility’s trauma services, cardiovascular care, labor and delivery, behavioral health programs, and rehabilitation services.

• “Behind every statistic that we share with our team, behind every business metric that we look at, we always try to go back and center ourselves around these individual people,” McCluskey said. “These are our neighbors. These are our family members. These are strangers that are visiting our community. These are people that need us.”

The hospital’s growth mirrors the community’s development over the past five decades. When it opened in 1974, a new house cost about $32,000, gas was 40 cents per gallon, and the average income was $12,900, McCluskey noted. He contrasted this with the hospital’s current average employee salary of about $70,000 per year.

During the event, McCluskey presented a $20,000 check to Northwest Florida State College, part of a $50,000 commitment over five years to support the college’s radiography and nursing programs. Dr. Cristie Kedroski, interim president of the college, accepted the donation.

• “This pledge symbolizes our dedication to nurturing future generations of healthcare professionals who will carry forward our mission of the care and improvement of human lives,” McCluskey said.

Kedroski, marking her fifth day on the job, outlined plans to expand the college’s nursing program. This includes a $22 million renovation of nursing facilities on the Niceville campus, set to open in fall 2025. The expansion will increase nursing admissions by 88%, from 96 to 180 students.

“We are incorporating state-of-the-art technology and equipment to provide an innovative learning environment,” Kedroski said. “As part of the project, we are developing virtual and augmented reality solutions to provide simulated field scenarios that will supplement students’ education to ensure a high-quality workforce.”

Mayor Rynearson, in his proclamation, highlighted the hospital’s contributions to the community. “HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital has been a vital community partner and a key contributor to the health industry and has become nationally recognized as an industry leader for adopting innovative medical technology and pioneering specialties in advanced surgical procedures,” he said.

• The mayor also noted the hospital’s 17 accreditations, certifications, and awards, as well as its status as the only full-service acute care hospital in Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa counties.

McCluskey emphasized the hospital’s commitment to education and partnerships, mentioning collaborations with Okaloosa Technical College, University of West Florida, the Health Academy of Northwest Florida, University of Alabama, VCOM Medical College, and University of Central Florida. He noted that the hospital recently started its first class of internal medicine residents in partnership with the University of Central Florida.

As the hospital looks to the future, McCluskey reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement and community service. “We’re going to continue to evolve our organization so that we’re better tomorrow than we were today,” he said. “We’re going to keep that promise of every single day, we’re going to keep pushing forward.”

The celebration served not only as a reflection on past achievements but also as a look toward the future. With its expanded facilities, growing partnerships, and commitment to education, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is poised to continue its mission of improving healthcare in the community for years to come.

• “We look forward to another 50 years of service excellence and compassion,” McCluskey concluded, “and we’re really excited for what lies ahead.”

PUBLIC SAFETY

Health advisory lifted for Bass Lake and Dons Bayou in Fort Walton Beach following wastewater spill

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) has lifted a health advisory for Bass Lake and Dons Bayou, officials announced Monday.

• The advisory was initially issued following a sewer main break on July 6 that resulted in a wastewater spill into Bass Lake. Water quality testing has now shown that bacterial levels in the affected areas have dropped below the advisory threshold.

“Sampling of the waters in that area have resulted in bacterial levels below the advisory level,” DOH-Okaloosa stated.

The lifting of the advisory comes nine days after the initial incident, which saw approximately 9,000 gallons of untreated wastewater enter Bass Lake due to a ruptured 12-inch cast-iron forcemain on Lakeview Road NW.

POLICE BLOTTER

Three Crestview women charged with animal cruelty after rescue of 41 animals

Three Crestview women face multiple charges of animal cruelty following a joint operation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) that rescued dozens of animals from a home.

• Jarah Frazier, 44, Bonnie Hahn, 46, and Eveland Colbert, 20, were arrested on July 12 and each charged with 14 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 14 counts of animal cruelty, according to arrest reports from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

The charges stem from a welfare check conducted on June 13 at a residence on Florida Avenue in Crestview. Investigators reported finding 41 animals on the property, including dogs that were allegedly in poor condition due to lack of food, water, and medical care.

• The property also housed livestock, including a pig, a duck, nine chickens, and three roosters, which reportedly did not have access to potable water, according to the report.

“It was great to be able to work in conjunction with PAWS and their staff to enforce Florida laws,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “Along with our Investigators Michael Kruger and Nate Bowen, they did outstanding work to get the suffering animals to safety.”

All 41 animals were either confiscated or surrendered. Dr. Jim Culotta, a licensed veterinarian in Florida, evaluated the animals. According to the arrest reports, fourteen dogs were found to be “void of muscle and fat, indicating starvation,” and were severely dehydrated. All animals reportedly had fleas and tapeworms, with two dogs having open pressure sores on their hindquarters.

Laurie Hood, founder of Alaqua Animal Refuge, which is assisting in the care of the animals, stated, “The animals from the case were some of the worst we have ever seen. Twenty-one animals arrived at the refuge, many in critical condition, and several remain in ICU today.”

Alaqua Clinic Manager Danielle Lamarre described the condition of one dog named Chance as “the worst I have ever witnessed in my career.”

• She added, “This dog was critically underweight and had bed sores all over him from the protrusion of his hips and spine rubbing against the box that he was living in. It will take 6-8 months under our care before he can be ready for a home.”

According to the arrest reports, all three women lived at the residence and were allegedly responsible for the animals’ care. In post-Miranda interviews, they reportedly claimed to have attempted to surrender animals to shelters on multiple occasions but were turned away.

The investigation began due to a tip. Sheriff Aden encouraged the public to report suspected animal abuse to the OCSO, PAWS, or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers.

Alaqua Animal Refuge, which depends on donations for its operations, has set up a special fund for the treatment of these animals. Those wishing to contribute can do so through their Special Animal Fund.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Okaloosa deputy fired after arrest on alleged racing, evidence tampering charges

An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested and subsequently fired after being charged with reckless driving, racing and tampering with evidence while operating a motorcycle, officials said on Friday, July 12.

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department arrested Dylan Gentry, 25, shortly after midnight, according to the report. Gentry had been with the sheriff’s office for three years prior to his termination.

• In a news release, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Needless to say, such allegations are unacceptable and deeply disappointing.”

The sheriff’s office emphasized that Gentry’s alleged actions do not reflect the standards expected of their employees. “His actions are not representative of the professionalism and commitment to excellence we expect of our team,” the release said.

The sheriff’s office also expressed appreciation for the Fort Walton Beach Police Department’s handling of the situation, stating, “We commend our colleagues in Ft. Walton Beach for their diligence.”

BUSINESS

Air Force Enlisted Village acquires 80 acres of land for Victory Village in Shalimar

In a historic moment for veterans and their families, the Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) officially acquired 80 acres of land from Eglin Air Force Base on Friday, June 12, 2024.

• The land will be used to build Victory Village, a specialized retirement community designed to support aging wounded warriors and their caregivers.

The deed signing ceremony, held at 2:00 p.m. at the Bob Hope Village Commons, marked a significant milestone in a journey that began nearly seven years ago. The event brought together military leaders, local officials, and community members to witness the formal transfer of land that will enable the development of this unique community.

Brooke McLean, President and CEO of AFEV, opened the ceremony by reflecting on the organization’s history and the vision behind Victory Village. 

• “In the 50+ years that this organization has been in existence, we have helped thousands of Air Force widows and retired couples,” McLean said. “Today, the Air Force Enlisted Village has about 600 residents that live here. We are a one-of-a-kind community, and there is no other community like the one that you’re visiting here today.”

McLean explained that the idea for Victory Village stemmed from recognizing a broader need within the military community.

“We used to pat ourselves on the back, saying that we were the only service that had the vision to be able to put this in place,” he said. “And then we reshaped things a little bit and started thinking about the opportunities that were in front of us. We thought, we have the platform already. Let’s figure out how to expand. Let’s figure out how to take what we have and open it up to more people.”

The journey to acquire the land was not without challenges. McLean recounted the process, which included meetings with board members, community leaders, and elected officials. 

• “We walked out of the meetings, and if we had followed the traditional path, we probably would not have moved past the idea stage,” he admitted. 

However, a suggestion to seek congressional support led to meetings with Congressman Matt Gaetz and then-Senator Bill Nelson, resulting in the land purchase being included in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

According McLean, Congressman Gaetz showed immediate interest. He stated that within approximately four months, Gaetz had worked to include the land purchase provision in the NDAA. This legislative action, McLean explained, was crucial in allowing the Air Force Enlisted Village to acquire the 80 acres from Eglin Air Force Base.

• While Congressman Gaetz was unable to attend the deed signing ceremony, his father, former Florida State Senator Don Gaetz, was present at the event.

The $5 million land purchase was creatively structured to benefit the local military community. 

“Rather than have that money go up to the government and into the black hole, where it probably wouldn’t have made a ripple in anybody’s budget, we were able to keep that money at Eglin Air Force Base,” McLean explained. “So we’re able to pour that back into the quality of life for our teammates at Eglin.”

Additional support came from the State of Florida, which provided a $2 million appropriation from the Framework for Freedom Budget for fiscal year 2023-24. McLean acknowledged the efforts of State Representative Patt Maney and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs in securing this funding.

Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, emphasized the significance of the project within the broader context of supporting military personnel and veterans. 

• “The signing of this deed represents a significant achievement in our collective efforts to support our nation’s military and veterans,” he said. “But it’s part of a broader effort in our department.”

Chaudhary highlighted recent investments in military infrastructure, including a $1.1 billion investment plan for dorms and daycare centers across 61 installations nationwide. He noted that Hurlburt Field would receive over $60 million for upgrades, including improvements to its daycare center, which is ranked number 1 nationally among the Air Force.

A heartfelt moment in the ceremony came when Chaudhary recognized Master Sergeant Joe Deslauriers and his family. Deslauriers, a 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, lost both legs above the knee and his left arm at the elbow in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in September 2011. 

• “Joe, the nation owes you and Lisa and Cameron and Kennedy, a debt that can never be repaid,” Chaudhary said. “Thank you for not only your work on Victory Village, but for your selfless service and dedication to the nation. Your efforts are going to change the lives of so many service members.”

Gen. James C. Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, spoke about the importance of community for veterans. “The thing that people miss the most when they are detached from the military or retiring is always the same, no matter who you talk to. It’s the camaraderie. It’s the teamwork. It’s the cohort of people that share your values that you go through life with,” Slife said.

He praised the vision behind Victory Village, noting its potential to provide a sense of purpose, community, and shared values for its residents. “I predict there will be a waiting list a mile long. We won’t be able to build facilities fast enough to satisfy the needs,” Slife added.

Plans for Victory Village include multiple neighborhoods to house 800 residents, a community center, a multi-denominational chapel, a fitness center, a swimming pool, walking paths, retail services, and a fire and EMS substation to serve AFEV and the Poquito Bayou neighborhood. The community will offer a continuum of care, including on-site skilled nursing, and will be open to surviving spouses of retired enlisted service members and retired enlisted couples from all military branches.

• The need for such a community is clear. According to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Florida has the third-largest population of veterans in the nation after California and Texas, with more than 1.5 million veterans calling the state home.

As the ceremony concluded, McLean outlined the next steps for Victory Village. “We’ve got more to do. We have to do zoning and we have to do entitlements. We have to update master plans. We have to explore partnerships and collaboration opportunities,” he said. “We have opportunities that could create a national treasure for our nation here in Shalimar, here in Okaloosa County, here in Florida.”

The deed signing ceremony, which included a presentation of colors by the Eglin AFB Honor Guard, the national anthem sung by AFEV resident Ernest Tucker, and an invocation by Chaplain Bethel Bateson, marked not just the transfer of land but the beginning of a new chapter in supporting America’s veterans and their families.

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