NEWS

Another whale shark was spotted near Destin yesterday

Another whale shark was spotted off the coast of Destin, Florida.

16-year-old Wyatt Hinze was fishing with his dad, Capt. Mike Hinze, yesterday and took this video while on board the private boat Jumpin’ Monkey out of Destin.

• Wyatt is a Destin High School student and part of the fishing program.

This whale shark is not one of the two whale sharks that were tagged last week by the Okaloosa Coastal Resource Team. There were also reports of whale shark sightings near Panama City.

If you spot a whale shark while they are here, please report it using the form on this page.

• The form allows for the documentation of future encounters to assess the prevalence of whale sharks in the area.

Click here to watch yesterday’s video.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Deputies investigating fatal balcony fall from Okaloosa Island condo

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation following a fatal fall from a balcony at an Okaloosa Island condominium complex Monday night.

• The Communications Unit received a 9-1-1 call from an individual at 520 Santa Rosa Boulevard shortly after 9 p.m., according to the OCSO.

Arriving first responders found a visitor from out of state, believed to be in his thirties, on the ground after he apparently fell multiple stories from a condo balcony.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

More details will be provided as they become available from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

ART+CULTURE

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s call for artists for Collaborative Art Exhibit

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation is now accepting applications for the Adult Collaborative Art Exhibit component of the 28th annual Festival of the Arts (Friday, Oct. 27 (Arty Kick Off Party at Henderson Beach Resort in Destin) October 28-29 (Festival weekend)) at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida.

One of the unique features of MKAF’s Festival of the Arts is the Collaborative Art Exhibit, which showcases the work of seasoned and emerging adult artists and local student artists.

• These artists compete for the $1,050 McIlroy Awards given in honor of the late Patricia McIlroy, Destin’s first First Lady and an MKAF advocate and patron. 

Artwork should be of an artistic caliber associated with a juried fine art show, according to MKAF. Artists in the Adult Collaborative Exhibit can display and/or sell up to three pieces of artwork.  

The competition is open to the first 25 eligible applicants. The entry fee is $35 per person for up to three pieces of art no larger than 24” x 36.”

• Application deadline is Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
• Download the application at mkaf.org/arts-festival/ or contact Deb Nissley at the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation by email at deb@mkaf.org or call (850) 650-2226.

FOOD+DRINK

Luau Beach Party at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island

Get ready to shimmy and shake your way to Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island for the hottest LUAU BEACH PARTY this summer!

Every Thursday, prepare to be mesmerized by an awesome Fire Dancer performance. Don’t forget to don your lei and show off your skills in a Limbo Contest for a chance to win big!

• The luau will take place from 5:00-9:00pm

Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar will have live music going all night long, with plenty of fun for the family! Thursday’s music line-up features Jamel Boast, one of Al’s favorite solo artists.

A Montana native, Jamel Boast has been involved in music since he was a child, originally playing drums for small-town bands. He followed his love of music across the county, taking up rhythm guitar and eventually singing lead-vocals. His band landed a record deal in Seattle and began touring, opening for bands such as The Doobie Brothers, Bret Michaels, Rick Springfield, and REO Speedwagon to name a few.

In 2013, Boast started pursuing a solo career. With influences from Prince to Rush and Willie Nelson to Stevie Ray Vaughn, his genre variety and warm stage presence charms the audience every time.

So head over to Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island for an unforgettable night of fun, food and amazing entertainment!

SCHOOL

Destin High School to host Town Hall to meet finalists for new Executive Director position

Destin High School is set to host a town hall session on Thursday, July 27 from 11am-2pm with the 2 finalists for the new Executive Director position. The town hall will take place in The Shark Tank at Destin High School.

• The Executive Director role is a newly approved position aimed at enhancing the school’s organizational structure and performance, following financial issues at the end of the 2022-23 school year.

The process of identifying the right candidate for the Executive Director role has been underway since being approved by the Governing Board back in May. The two finalists are Donald “Willy” Williams and Jeffrey Greenley.

• Mr. Williams will be at 11:00am
• Mr. Greenley will be at 12:30PM

During Thursday’s Town Hall, attendees will be able to engage directly with the candidates, as they each provide an introduction and respond to up to ten pre-submitted questions, according to the high school. If time permits, follow-up questions will also be allowed. 

During the Governing Board meeting on May 23, there were two variations of the Executive Director job description that the board voted on. After a lengthy discussion, they ultimately chose the original version over the alternative. Click here to view both versions.

The approved job description for the Executive Director outlines a comprehensive set of responsibilities and qualifications. Among the essential qualifications required are a strong commitment to the school’s mission and vision, at least five years of relevant leadership experience in education and academia, and expertise in budgetary planning and resource allocation.

The Executive Director will hold the reins in various critical areas, including financial management, academic performance, organizational health, and strategic planning. Additionally, the chosen candidate will serve as the primary liaison between the Governing Board and the school staff.

A look at some of the responsibilities outlined in the job description:

• Overseeing the school’s academic, cultural, financial, and operational performance.
• Engaging with the Governing Board and managing all school staff, directly or indirectly.
• Assisting the Board in designing and implementing the school’s strategic plan.
• Ensuring the financial and organizational health of the school, including financial management, development, and human capital.
• Ensuring compliance with legal and authorizer policies and accurate reporting.
• Building and managing relationships with external stakeholders.
• Developing and supervising policies related to health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and faculty.
• Serving as the chief fundraiser and overseeing all fundraising activities.
• Planning and directing interscholastic athletic activities and managing publicity for athletic events.
• Engaging the Board on strategic issues and implementing their vision and mission during annual operational planning.

The job description also specifies additional responsibilities:

• Financial Management: Creating and managing the school’s budget, overseeing purchasing processes, and managing finance and property in alignment with the Board’s policies.
• Development: Crafting a fundraising strategy, building relationships with donors, and overseeing grant opportunities.
• External Relations and Marketing: Building brand awareness and community engagement through communication, public relations, and marketing efforts.
• School Compliance: Ensuring accurate state and federal reporting and meeting deadlines.
• Leadership Development/Human Capital: Managing and developing the school’s leadership team and handling human resources responsibilities.

One notable difference between the approved and alternate job description lies in the scope of the position. While the alternate version placed a heavy emphasis on financial affairs, the approved version broadened the scope to encompass overseeing all aspects of the school’s affairs. 

• This expansion also grants the Executive Director the additional responsibility of being the Athletic Director, planning and directing interscholastic athletic activities.

The school’s decision to consolidate these responsibilities comes after they did not renew the contract of Athletic Director Phil Dorn last month and did not allocate a separate budget for the Athletic Director role in the 2023-2024 budget.

• According to Board President Denise Fountain, The 2023-2024 budget has a “placeholder” amount of $100,000 reserved as compensation for the Executive Director.

The Town Hall event will conclude with a feedback survey provided to all attendees, allowing community members to share their input on each candidate’s responses. All feedback will be anonymous and will be thoroughly reviewed as part of the selection process, according to the high school.

For those interested in suggesting questions for the candidates, please direct them to Search Committee Chairwoman and Board Member, Keli O’Neal, at onealk@destinhighschool.org.

THINGS TO DO

“Race to the Rhein”: World War II reenactment coming to Crestview

In scenes reminiscent of battles fought in the Netherlands and Low Countries almost 80 years ago, German and Allied troops will invade Crestview over Labor Day weekend and fight periodic skirmishes in Spanish Trail Park.

But don’t worry, this is all a reenactment! The event is sponsored by Crestview’s Cultural Services Division, Living History Corps, and Historic Preservation Board. This marks the fourth WWII event in the city since the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019.

Named “Race to the Rhein,” this year’s reenactment weekend will focus on the Allies’ sweep across Europe three months after the D-Day landings. Their mission was to liberate the Low Countries, deny German occupiers access to key ports in the Netherlands, and cross the Rhein into the heart of Germany.

One of the campaign’s most famous assaults, Operation Market Garden, will be prominently depicted during the event. Remember the star-studded 1977 film “A Bridge Too Far”?

• Well, that movie showcases this ambitious and daring operation, where Allied forces attempted to liberate Dutch bridges and towns. Though it didn’t secure a bridgehead over the Rhein River, it led to the liberation of several Dutch towns.

The event organizers, Grant Brooks and Andrew Daigle, along with their team, have been planning this since early March. The venue, Spanish Trail Park behind the Senior Center, was carefully selected for the reenactment.

In addition to the battles, visitors will have the chance to explore a temporary World War II museum at the Senior Center and enjoy a free USO-style dance featuring the 15-piece Hashtag Swing Orchestra on Saturday, September 2nd, at the park’s amphitheater.

The main focus of the event is education, as the organizers are committed to historical accuracy in uniforms, insignia, and equipment. Students and veterans will have a special day on Friday, September 1st, when they’ll be personally guided through the encampments and enjoy informative demonstrations.

Admission to all events, including the dance, is free, and food vendors will be on site. So, come rain or shine, join the action at Spanish Trail Park and experience history come alive from September 1-3.

• Friday: Student and veteran day – 9am-5pm
• Saturday: 9am-5pm, USO-style dance 7pm
• Sunday: 9am-3pm, church field service at 12:30pm