SCHOOL

Okaloosa County School District releases 2023-24 School Bus Schedule

With the 2023 – 2024 school year right around the corner, the Okaloosa County School District is preparing to welcome students back into its classrooms. 

• The transportation department has created a QR code for easy access (or visit www.okaloosaschools.com) for parents and guardians to stay updated with notifications about their child’s bus. 

Parents and guardians may also sign up for Bus Bulletin, which sends notifications to parents if there are unexpected delays or schedule changes involving a student’s bus. Parents and guardians only receive access by registering with data unique to their children.

The bus routes for the 2023-2024 school year can be found by using the Infolocator. For most entered addresses, the Infolocator will provide a school bus route number, nearest bus stops, distance to stops, and stop times.

• Need to know the address and phone number of your student’s school? Enter your home address into the School Site Locator to find your zoned schools.

Click here to register and get started.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Okaloosa County EMS achieves national recognition for 10th consecutive year

Okaloosa County EMS was recently recognized by the America Heart Association on achieving Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold status for 2023. This is the ninth consecutive Mission Lifeline Gold award and 10th year with Mission Lifeline recognition. Okaloosa EMS achieved Silver status in 2014.

“We are proud and honored to receive this continued achievement through the AHA and reassured that our Emergency Medical Services team is prepared to react when we need them,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin.  “We have an amazing group of professionals within Okaloosa County EMS that are dedicated to responding quickly to our citizens and visitors during an emergency.”

Each year, more than 250,000 people experience a type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment.

• To prevent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible by either mechanically opening the blocked vessel or using clot-busting medication, according to the county.

This achievement places Okaloosa EMS as part of an elite group of prehospital providers recognized by the American Heart Association for commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care, by ensuring that every STEMI heart attack patient receives timely and proper care according to nationally accepted evidence-based guideline recommendations and standards. 

Lifeline EMS® is the American Heart Association’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes. The program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment — starting from when 911 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge.

SCHOOL

Okaloosa School District ranks 5th in the state of Florida

In a year that brought new, more rigorous statewide assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics to Florida, Okaloosa students once again outperformed almost every other school district in the state in their proficiency rankings.

• A combined analysis of all test results recently released by the Florida Department of Education shows that Okaloosa ranks 5th among 67 Florida school districts.

These results continue the improvement in recent years from 8th and 7th, in 2021 and 2022, respectively, according to the District. ELA and Math results in grades 4-8 showed particularly strong improvement in proficiency levels among students despite the fact that a new, more rigorous assessment, the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), was administered this year in those areas.

“Our teachers, support professionals, administrators, and parents did a tremendous job this year helping our students be successful with the new standards,” noted Superintendent Marcus Chambers, “but the lion’s share of the credit goes to the students, and we are all very proud of them. We’ll continue to focus on areas where we can be even better, but we are extremely pleased with the overall results.”

Students are required to take statewide assessments in ELA grades 3-10, Mathematics grades 3-8, Algebra, Geometry, Science grades 5 and 8, Biology, Civics, and US History. The assessments for ELA and Mathematics were new and based on the more rigorous BEST standards that were recently implemented in Florida, according to the OCSD.

The results of these assessments, along with other academic indicators, are used to produce school grades. For more information visit click here.

GIVING BACK

Eglin Federal Credit Union and Okaloosa Saves partner in the Teach a Child to Save Campaign

Eglin Federal Credit Union partnered with Okaloosa Saves for the annual Teach a Child to Save campaign April 1 – June 30. Youth were encouraged to set a savings goal and make a deposit into a savings account at EFCU.

This year there were 114 youth under the age of 18 who participated with deposits totaling $23,335.81. Their names were entered into a random drawing for six children to win a $50 deposit into their EFCU account from Okaloosa Saves. Since the program began in 2004, 2,286 children made deposits totaling $373,439.88.

The six winners are:

• Takiyah Grayson, Valparaiso
• Korben Marshall, Crestview
• Joseph Nehiley, Baker
• Leilani Stephens, Destin
• Jimmy Stewart III, Freeport
• Brayden Waters, Destin

Eglin Federal Credit Union President/CEO Jerry Williams said, “We have partnered with Okaloosa Saves for 19 years to help teach children the importance of saving, and we look forward to this program every summer.”

Sherry Harlow, APR, serves on the Okaloosa Saves Board as the Treasurer and donated $1,000 to help with the Teach a Child to Save campaign. Harlow said, “We look forward to having a positive impact on youth and developing good saving habits for their future.”

 Savings tips for parents:

• Talk about the importance of budgeting and saving money
• Visit your local EFCU branch to open a savings account or deposit into an existing account
• Teach the basics of investing
• Encourage them to be entrepreneurs
• Be a role model 

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

July 21, 2023 – Chemistry Corner – View

July 21, 2023 – Creature Features – View

July 21, 2023 – Embroidery Demonstration – View

July 21, 2023 – “Somewhere in Time” Art Show Reception – Free to the Public – View

July 22, 2023 – Downtown FWB Farmers Market – View

July 22, 2023 – Florida Artist Blacksmith Association Open House – View

July 22, 2023 – Clay with a Purpose: Small Plates, Instructed by Marcy Eady – $25 – $30 – View

July 22, 2023 – Christmas in July – Make-And-Take – $15 – View

July 23, 2023 – International Award-Winning Magical Variety Show! – Free – View

July 23, 2023 – Scallywag Sunday – free – View

July 24, 2023 – Movie Monday – View

July 25, 2023 – Flight Night @ Twisted Grape! – View

COASTAL RESOURCES

Whale Sharks spotted near Destin, researchers tag 25-foot female and 40-foot male

This past week, residents and visitors in the Destin area were treated to a rare sight as several whale sharks made an appearance near the shore. Videos capturing these majestic creatures were shared across social media, sparking excitement and curiosity among the community. 

• While sightings of whale sharks have been reported in the area before, this recent surge prompted the Okaloosa County Coastal Resource Team to take action.

Coastal Resource Manager Alex Fogg, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Southern Mississippi, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Blue Water Research Institute, spearheaded an effort to study and track these animals during their time off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. 

On Wednesday, July 19, the team set out on a mission to tag and collect data from any of the whale sharks they could find. The fishing community began reporting sightings at 6am and directed the team to each whale shark.  

• The team successfully tagged two whale sharks, a 25-foot female and a larger 40-foot male, 2 miles southwest of the Destin Pass and 4 miles from the Okaloosa Pier, respectively. 

Equipped with real-time satellite tags that activate when the shark’s dorsal fin breaks the water’s surface, the researchers expect to receive location data for up to two years. 

• Additionally, acoustic tags were attached to provide more long-term information, though with lower resolution and fewer updates compared to the satellite tags.

During the research expedition, biological samples were collected for genetic analysis, and video footage was captured to verify the length, sex, and unique dot patterns on the animals’ sides, which act as individual “fingerprints.” These patterns can be used to determine if the tagged whale sharks have been spotted elsewhere, shedding light on their migratory patterns.

According to Fogg, there are programs available that can actually take the spot pattern on the side of a whale shark (just behind the gills) and compare it to other photos that have been collected to see where this specific whale shark may have been seen. 

• “This information will help us learn more about whale shark movement and habitat use,” Fogg explained. “They travel thousands of miles, so it will be interesting to see where they move to next.”

And while they were only able to tag 2 on Wednesday, it is believed that more whale sharks remain in the area, and the team hopes to tag additional individuals if the opportunity arises.

Eric Hoffmayer, a biologist with NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, shed light on the ongoing study focused on conducting a risk assessment for whale sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico. 

• The study, funded by BOEM, aims to gather crucial data on the species and potential risks they face in the region. Hoffmayer expressed his excitement about the current situation near Destin, where many people have the opportunity to witness whale sharks up close.

“This thing that’s going on right now off Destin is great because there’s lots of people who can see the animals very close to shore, which I think is really good because it gets them thinking about them and understanding that they’re out there,” Hoffmayer explained.

Regarding the tagging efforts, Hoffmayer highlighted the use of satellite-linked tags attached to the whale sharks’ dorsal fins, providing accurate location data. These tags also transmit information about depth, helping researchers assess potential risks such as ship strikes and gear entanglement.

When asked about the typical proximity of whale sharks to the shore, Hoffmayer stated that they are usually found around the shelf edge. In our area of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, he says it would be in the DeSoto Canyon region. 

• However, the recent sightings near Destin indicate a possible change in behavior. Hoffmayer speculated that cooler water temperatures and upwelling in the area might be attracting the whale sharks, making it a more favorable feeding ground.

In terms of size, Hoffmayer says whale sharks can range from about 12 to 45 feet in length, with most sightings in the Northern Gulf averaging around 25 feet. 

Hoffmayer emphasized that these are wild animals and cautioned against touching or grabbing them, as it could harm their protective mucus layer.

• “If people want to get in the water, keep a safe distance and enjoy the experience,” Hoffmayer advised, emphasizing the importance of respecting the animals’ space.

Alex Fogg emphasized the significance of this research, noting the limited amount of data available on these creatures. “There’s relatively little known about this species. It’s not like we can collect them and sample them,” he stated. “We’re trying a new tagging method that should last longer and provide more valuable insights into their movement.”

The research team plans to analyze the data collected from the tagged whale sharks to track their movements, assess their return patterns, and identify preferred habitats. By gathering this information, Fogg says they aim to develop a better understanding of the species’ behavior and conservation needs.

During their day of research, the two whale sharks were actually named. 

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