COMING SOON

Okaloosa County breaks ground on new Agriculture Extension Office in Fort Walton Beach

Okaloosa County officials and community leaders gathered Wednesday morning to break ground on a new Agriculture Extension Office, marking the next step in replacing a storm-damaged building and expanding agricultural education services in the area.

• The groundbreaking ceremony took place at 7:30 a.m. near Miss Ruth’s Farmers Market at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds, located at 1954 Lewis Turner Blvd. 

The event celebrated the start of construction on a 3,000-square-foot facility that will serve as the new home for the county’s University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF IFAS) Extension programs.

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who has been a driving force behind the project, addressed the attendees, highlighting the importance of the new facility and the journey to make it a reality.

• “This groundbreaking has been four years in the making,” Ketchel said. “Hurricane Sally, in 2020, destroyed what was left of the already dilapidated building that housed the University of Florida Food and Agricultural Services in the South End.”

The commissioner emphasized that the project has been a collaborative effort, involving local officials, state representatives, and various county departments. She specifically thanked Representative Patt Maney for his role in securing additional funding through the legislature.

“We asked Representative Maney to help us with additional money to fund our south-end extension service. He was able to win this victory in the legislature,” Ketchel noted. She also pointed out that the building’s address will bear Maney’s name, as the road is named for Judge Patt Maney.

The new Agriculture Learning Center will feature space for large groups, a full teaching kitchen, a small laboratory, storage, and offices. It is designed to offer a variety of courses, programs, workshops, and meetings covering agriculture, family and consumer sciences, commercial and residential horticulture, natural resources, and 4-H Youth Development program areas.

Julie Dillard, Interim District Extension Director, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. “This new facility will allow us to expand our reach and provide even more comprehensive services to the residents of Okaloosa County,” Dillard said. “From educating young people through 4-H to offering vital agricultural information to our farmers, this center will be a hub of knowledge and growth for our community.”

Dana Stephens, County Extension Director, echoed these sentiments. “We’re thrilled to see this project come to fruition,” Stephens stated. “The new Agriculture Learning Center will enable us to better serve our community with up-to-date facilities and resources. It’s a significant investment in the future of agriculture and education in our county.”

Commissioner Ketchel emphasized the broad impact of the Extension Service on daily life. “The Extension Service makes a difference in our lives every day. It hums along in the background of our lives, offering important services and classes,” she said. 

Ketchel, who comes from a long line of farmers dating back to the 1600s in America, highlighted the critical role of agriculture in the community.

• “We could not eat without our farmers and those who know how to store food and keep the lands producing,” Ketchel stated. “Without our bees, we lose 75 percent of our crops and I can’t even imagine what that would be like. This knowledge must be taught and passed down to a new generation.”

The commissioner outlined some of the key areas that the Extension Service covers, including food science, health and nutrition, home management, disaster preparedness, fruit and vegetable cultivation in Florida, landscaping, pet care, disease management, conservation, beekeeping, soil and water testing, and invasive species control.

The project has overcome several hurdles since its inception in 2021. Ketchel explained that the county pledged the property towards a matching grant from IFAS to secure the building. She clarified that the property has been with the county for many years and is not part of the recently purchased fairground property, maintaining the commitment to keep the fairground as green space.

One significant challenge was securing funding from the state level. Ketchel recounted a conversation with Governor Ron DeSantis where she identified the extension service as her top priority for Okaloosa County. 

• “I think it is important to note that we are the only extension office during his tenure that has not been vetoed by his pen,” she said, expressing gratitude for the support.

Ketchel emphasized the importance of agricultural education in today’s society. “So many have little knowledge of how food is produced and appears in the grocery store,” she said. The new facility aims to bridge this knowledge gap and provide essential services to the community.

The groundbreaking ceremony concluded with 14 officials and community leaders, including Ketchel, taking up shovels to officially break ground on the new facility. The construction of the new Agriculture Learning Center is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.

PARKS+REC

County invests $1.3 million for Marler Park playground upgrades on Okaloosa Island

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve more than $1.3 million for new playground equipment and signage at Marler Park on Okaloosa Island.

• The board authorized $1,237,213.08 for playground structures and $73,769.65 for new playground signage, to be purchased from GameTime.

Charlotte Dunworth from the Tourist Development Department presented the proposal to the board, describing the project as a complete overhaul of the existing playground, which has fallen into disrepair.

“The goal for this park is to make it a one-of-a-kind destination in South Okaloosa County that invites children of all ages to play in a safe environment,” Dunworth said.

According to Dunworth, the current playground equipment is limited and worn, with deteriorating rubber flooring. The new design will expand the play area, combining spaces that are currently separate and adding structures to vacant areas.

• The approved funds will cover playground structures, safety surfacing, sail shades, installation, benches, coastal coating, and signage including appliques, panels, and graphics.

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel expressed support for the project, saying, “This is a great use of our tourism development dollars.” She emphasized that these funds are specifically designated for such improvements and cannot be used for other purposes like road repairs.

Ketchel also highlighted the broader improvements happening on Okaloosa Island.

• “This whole area down there is really getting an interesting facelift. There’s picnic pavilions, interconnected trails with Veterans Park, [and] we’re getting the new bike path,” she said. “Okaloosa Island’s about ready to see some amazing things happen there. In the 10 years I’ve been here, I can’t believe everything that is happening.”

Commissioner Mel Ponder highlighted the dual benefit of the project.

• “These are the wins that you’re very grateful for…that not only can tourists take advantage of, the locals as well,” Ponder said. “It’s going to be the only park of its kind on the [Okaloosa] Island.”

The timeline for the project anticipates a four-month manufacturing period after the purchase order is issued. The park is scheduled to close for demolition in November, with installation of the new playground beginning in January 2025. The anticipated completion date is March 1, 2025.

Dunworth also mentioned that a splash pad for the area is part of the five-year plan, responding to an inquiry from Commissioner Ketchel.

The funds for these improvements were included in the FY 2024 budget, with $1,250,000 allocated in the Capital Projects Fund and the remainder available for transfer from wayfinding/signage in the Tourism Fund.

POLITICS

Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections issues corrected ballots after mailing error

The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Office (SOE) announced Tuesday that it has corrected a configuration error that resulted in 97 registered Republicans receiving incorrect ballots for an upcoming election.

• The affected voters, all from Precinct 35, were mistakenly sent non-partisan ballots instead of Republican ballots for mail-in voting. The error was discovered on July 16, 2024, and steps were immediately taken to address the issue, according to a statement from the SOE office.

Paul Lux, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections, took responsibility for the mistake, stating, “Situations such as this are rare, but regrettable. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused and take full responsibility.”

The elections office has reissued correct ballots to the affected voters, which will be mailed out on July 17, 2024. Officials are also notifying these voters about the procedure that will be followed to ensure only one ballot per voter is counted.

“We immediately took the necessary steps to contact those voters affected by this error and rectify the situation,” Lux added.

The Supervisor of Elections Office encourages voters to stay informed about state and local elections by visiting their website at www.voteokaloosa.gov or calling (850) 689-5600, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

MILITARY

Eglin Air Force Base to host public hiring event July 24-25

Eglin Air Force Base is set to hold a two-day hiring event open to the public later this month.

• The event is scheduled for July 24-25 at the University of Florida Research Engineering & Education Facility in Shalimar. It will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Prospective job seekers are invited to attend, with walk-ins welcome at the facility located at 1350 North Poquito Road.

For those seeking additional information about the hiring event, Eglin AFB’s civilian personnel office can be contacted at (850) 882-6258.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Okaloosa County EMS earns Gold Status for 10th straight year

The Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety – Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division has received the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement from the American Heart Association for the 10th consecutive year, recognizing excellence in rapid care delivery for heart attack and stroke victims.

The recognition highlights the importance of prompt emergency medical services in critical situations. EMS staff can initiate treatment upon arrival, potentially up to an hour earlier than if a patient were to travel to the hospital by car.

• Additionally, EMS personnel are trained in resuscitation efforts for cardiac arrest cases.

Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon praised the achievement, stating, “This achievement reaffirms the County’s commitment to delivering quality, timely care for stroke and heart attack patients. I am proud of our EMS professionals who continue to perform every day at the highest level, selflessly delivering care to those in need.”

Mission: Lifeline EMS® is a national initiative by the American Heart Association aimed at improving the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive conditions such as severe heart attacks and strokes.

• The program focuses on reducing barriers to prompt treatment from the moment 911 is called, through EMS transport, and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge.

The initiative emphasizes the importance of coordination between individual prehospital providers and healthcare systems in delivering optimal care for heart attack and stroke patients.

For more information about the Mission: Lifeline program, interested parties can visit heart.org.

HISTORY

112-year-old schoolhouse tells tale of Fort Walton Beach’s early days as ‘Camp Walton’

In the heart of downtown Fort Walton Beach stands a tangible link to the city’s educational roots: the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum. This century-old building, which has been moved three times since its construction in 1912, now serves as a window into the community’s past.

• Gail Meyer, Museum Manager for the City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center, shared the schoolhouse’s rich history with Get The Coast.

“In the early 1900s, America had over 200,000 one-room schools,” Meyer said. “Each provided more than those three ‘R’s’ (reading, writing and ‘rithmetic) to their community. Each served as a focal point of community life and provided a solid foundation on which communities and future community leaders based their lives.”

The story of the Camp Walton Schoolhouse begins in 1911 when Erwin S. and Anna Buck donated land on Main Street (across from the FWB Chamber) for a school. At the time, the town’s population consisted of about 40 voting men, with a total of around 250 residents.

• “The whole community worked together to build the first one-room school of native pine and oak for the children of Camp Walton, later to be Fort Walton Beach,” Meyer explained. “The cows and pigs far outnumbered the people. All travel was by dirt trails, laughingly called roads, or by water if you could.”

The school’s early days were not without challenges. Built in a farmer’s field, the building faced an unusual problem: animals seeking shelter underneath it.

“There were no laws to keep animals inside fences and they wandered freely around town,” Meyer said. “They were constantly getting under the school to keep cool in the shade. However, along with the animals came fleas.”

• This issue was so severe that students were given long sticks to poke the pigs out from under the building, and the school was closed several times a year for flea removal.

Initially administered under Santa Rosa County, the school came under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Okaloosa County in 1915. The first teacher, Miss Minnie Tippens from Andalusia, Alabama, taught 15 students across grades 1-8 in a single room.

“In those days, a lady teacher could not be married,” Meyer noted. “If a lady teacher wished to marry, she was expected to give up her career.”

The schoolhouse lacked modern amenities like running water and electricity. “Plumbing consisted of two outhouses and a well for drinking water,” Meyer said. Despite these limitations, the building served multiple purposes for the growing community.

• “The school was used as a church on Sundays, a place for town meetings and for socials on Friday nights,” Meyer added.

As the town grew, so did the school. In 1927, a second room was added for high school students. By 1934, the original room was divided to accommodate more students, making it a three-room school with three teachers.

The schoolhouse’s tenure as an educational institution came to an end in 1936. “Population growth coupled with the Labor Day Hurricane of ’36, closed the Camp Walton School for good,” Meyer explained. A new brick school was built to accommodate the increasing number of students.

The old schoolhouse narrowly escaped demolition when John W. Brooks, an employee of Gulf View Motor Company, asked to have the building, according to Meyer. It was moved to Fourth and Tupelo, where it served as an apartment house for families during World War II.

In 1968, Dr. James Langston and his wife purchased the building and continued renting the apartments for several years. By the mid-1970s, the structure had fallen into disrepair and was slated for demolition once again.

• “In 1974 the Langstons contracted the fire department to use the abandoned building as fire practice,” Meyer recounted. “Three days before the scheduled burning, the Junior Service League contacted Dr. Langston and convinced him to donate the building as a restoration project for a historic museum.”

The Junior Service League, along with the School Board of Okaloosa County, moved the schoolhouse to First Street in 1974. After extensive research and restoration, the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum opened to the public in 1976.

“Research into its history, adaptive restoration, and preservation were undertaken to create the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum,” Meyer said. “The museum opened to the public as an educational museum for educational field trips, special programs, seasonal events and summer tourists.”

In 1986, the City of Fort Walton Beach took over the operation of the building and its programs. Twenty years later, in 2006, the schoolhouse found its current home as part of the City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center.

“Heritage Park today includes the Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Fort Walton Temple Mound, the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, the Garnier Post Office Museum, and a Civil War Exhibit Building,” Meyer explained.

The Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum now stands as a reminder of the community’s educational heritage and the importance of one-room schools in early 20th century America.

• “One-room school teachers were expected to teach, yes, but they were also artists, scientists, musicians, counselors, confidants, janitors, disciplinarians, and friends,” Meyer reflected. “They had a profound influence on the students in their care. A town that had a school had a future.”

Today, visitors to the Heritage Park can step back in time and experience a piece of Fort Walton Beach’s history. The park is open Tuesday through Saturday, offering a unique opportunity to explore the area’s 14,000-year history.

“We are open during the museum expansion so come and share Fort Walton Beach’s wonderful and unique 14,000-year history,” added Meyer.”

The Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum embodies the enduring spirit of a community that valued education and worked together to build a future for its children. From its humble beginnings as a one-room schoolhouse to its current role as a historical museum, it continues to educate and inspire visitors about the importance of preserving local history.

Click here to see more pictures of the old schoolhouse