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Four local restaurants have been named to the 2026 Michelin Guide Florida, earning recognition on one of the industry’s most prestigious lists. HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is among the first in the nation to offer a robotic-assisted shoulder replacement, and Tropical Storm Bertha has formed and is moving slowly through the Gulf. Crestview celebrated its Florida Trail Gateway Community designation with a new kiosk dedication, and Destin High School football enters 2026 with playoff eligibility, new faces, and a season dedicated to Coach Divens.
HEALTH
HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital among first in nation to offer robotic-assisted shoulder replacement
Dr. David Dean, one of the first 20 surgeons in the country trained on newly FDA-cleared robotic shoulder replacement technology, completed two procedures Monday morning at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, making it the only facility between Tampa and Texas currently offering the technology.
- Dean, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon at Orthopaedic Associates, used Mako Shoulder SmartRobotics technology to perform the total shoulder replacements.
The FDA cleared the technology for commercial use last Wednesday, and Dean said he was told by company representatives that his first procedure Monday was the first performed across the Gulf Coast region.
“I couldn’t have asked it to go any better,” Dean said. “The staff was ready. The representatives from the company were here to assist, and it went extremely smoothly.”
Dean was selected for the first national class of roughly 20 surgeons trained on the shoulder application. He has used the Mako system for knee replacements for seven years and is also certified in its hip replacement application.
The robotic system allows surgeons to build a patient-specific surgical plan from a 3D CT scan before entering the operating room. During the procedure, it provides real-time guidance and uses AccuStop haptic technology to help the surgeon stay within planned boundaries. The surgeon remains in control throughout.
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GAMES
WordroW: July 21, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
PARKS+REC
Crestview celebrates Florida Trail Gateway Community designation with new kiosk dedication
Eight years of work and a yearlong push to the finish line culminated Saturday morning when city, county and Florida Trail Association leaders gathered to dedicate a new informational kiosk and celebrate Crestview’s designation as an official Florida Trail Gateway Community.
The ceremony took place at the Crestview Welcome + Adventure Center at 5131 South Ferdon Blvd., where the kiosk now greets visitors with trail maps, local trail information and details about the 1,500-mile Florida National Scenic Trail that passes through downtown Crestview and across Eglin Air Force Base.
- Crestview is one of 16 gateway communities along the trail statewide, according to Florida Trail Association Executive Director Sean Amidon.
Commissioner Paul Mixon, an Eagle Scout and avid hiker, said the county has purchased more property for recreational use in recent years than at any other time in its history, funded in part by tourism tax dollars generated after the county expanded its tourism development district.
“If you’re here and you’ve never put a mile in on the Florida Trail, you need to make time,” Mixon said. “Go just south of the Devil Bridges, hike over to the creek, take your shoes off, enjoy the cool water, sit in the campsite for a little while, and then hike your mile back out. It’ll be well worth your time.”
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SPORTS
Destin football enters 2026 with playoff eligibility, new faces and a season dedicated to Coach Divens
After years of building from the ground up, Destin football is ready to take the next step.
For the first time in program history, the Sharks have playoff eligibility and a district home in Class 2A, District 1 alongside Pensacola Catholic, Freeport and Walton.
“It’s a great boost for our kids first and foremost, just knowing that they have an opportunity to play in November and December,” head coach E.G. Green said. “It’s great for our kids, it’s great for the school, and it’s great for the community.”
Beyond the postseason push, the Sharks are breaking in a new quarterback and running back, returning an exciting wide receiver corps and counting on a young but talented defense. Above all, Destin will play this season in memory of assistant coach Eric Divens, who passed away in December.
PROMOTED BY THE BOARDWALK
The Boardwalk brings family fun to Okaloosa Island all summer
From sun up to sun down, The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island has everything your family needs to beach, eat, drink and play along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. With public beach access, a variety of restaurants and shops, and family-friendly events all summer long, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s what’s happening each week at Al’s Beach Club and Burger Bar:
- Sunday: Karaoke with KJ K, 7-11 p.m.
- Monday: Captain Davy & The Crossbones Pirate Show, 5:30-8 p.m.
- Tuesday: Movie on the Beach, 8 p.m.
- Wednesday: Karaoke with KJ K, 7-11 p.m. | Fireworks at 9 p.m.
- Thursday: Luau with face painting, balloon sculptures, beach games and fire dancers, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Live music nightly starting at 4 p.m., followed by a DJ until close. For the full lineup and more details, visit theboardwalkoi.com/play.
WEATHER
Tropical Storm Bertha forms, moving slowly through Gulf
Tropical Storm Bertha continued to slowly drift through the northern Gulf early Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was located about 110 miles south-southwest of Panama City and about 170 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, as of 4 a.m. CDT. Bertha is moving northwest at 5 mph and is expected to turn westward by the middle of the week. On that forecast track, the storm will move near or along the northern Gulf Coast over the next several days.
Some slight strengthening is possible later Tuesday before the storm encounters increasingly strong northerly wind shear, which is expected to cause gradual weakening through the middle of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
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TODAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 78. East wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 10am, then showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
FOOD+DRINK
Four local restaurants named to 2026 Michelin Guide Florida
Four restaurants in Okaloosa and Walton counties were named Michelin Recommended in the 2026 Michelin Guide Florida, released in May. It was the first time the guide’s Florida selections covered the entire state, including the Panhandle.
- Bitterroot in Destin, The Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant in Seaside, Roux 30A in Grayton Beach and Evie Mae’s BBQ in Miramar Beach each earned the designation.
The three Walton County restaurants were recognized at the June 30 Board of County Commissioners meeting, where commissioners presented commemorative plaques to Chef Nikhil Abuvala of The Daytrader and Roux 30A and to Arnis and Mallory Robbins of Evie Mae’s BBQ.
Bitterroot is the first restaurant in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area to earn a Michelin recommendation.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Tuesday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
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Jared
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