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Good morning!
A Hurlburt Field airman pulled an elderly driver from a burning vehicle on Highway 98. Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel outlined how the proposed homestead tax exemption would affect Okaloosa County, and Okaloosa approved the Millwood Ranch conceptual master plan in Baker after the developer agreed to road improvements. Street resurfacing work has begun at multiple locations across the City of Fort Walton Beach, and Avantgarde Salon has completed its Destin location expansion and is seeking new stylists.
REMINDER: School is back today! That means school zones AND the speed cameras are back active. Pay attention to the time of day and if those beacons are flashing!
REAL ESTATE
Okaloosa approves Millwood Ranch conceptual master plan in Baker after developer agrees to road improvements
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 4 unanimously approved the conceptual master plan for Millwood Ranch, a 104-lot single-family residential subdivision in Baker, after the developer agreed to a development order condition requiring improvements to Garrett Mill Road.
The approval concludes a review process that stretched over three months. Commissioners first heard the item May 5 and voted to continue it to July 14, citing concerns about road capacity, septic systems and access points. The applicant then requested a further continuance from the July 14 meeting to Aug. 4, according to the staff agenda item.
Millwood Ranch is a proposed two-phase development on roughly 39 acres on the south side of Garrett Mill Road, west of Old Brown Road and east of Pickens Circle. The property has a Low Density Residential future land use designation and is zoned Residential-1. The application was submitted by Tyler Paskell of Arkonic Engineering on behalf of applicant Colton Leyendecker of CJL Construction.
The revised development order condition obligates CJL Construction to construct the Garrett Mill Road improvement already approved as part of the Pine Mill Subdivision construction plans on the north side of Garrett Mill Road, before recording a final plat for Pine Mill. The developer also agreed to upgrade Garrett Mill Road from the west boundary of the Pine Mill property to the western entrance of Millwood Ranch Phase 1 under one of two options.
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GAMES
WordroW: August 11, 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.
BUSINESS
Commissioner Ketchel outlines how the proposed homestead tax exemption would affect Okaloosa County
A proposed constitutional amendment that would exempt homestead properties from property taxation could strip tens of millions of dollars from Okaloosa County’s general fund and force the elimination or reduction of services ranging from public safety to mosquito control, said District 2 County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel.
The amendment will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. If approved by at least 60% of voters, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
- “Make no mistake, the ballot language is misleading to the reality of what will happen in counties throughout Florida,” Ketchel wrote.
According to Ketchel’s analysis, the county’s general fund would lose approximately $14.5 million in its first year and roughly $24 million by year two. The second-year impact, she said, would leave approximately $2.5 million to fund county services beyond core obligations.
“First and foremost Okaloosa County citizens expect public safety, which means when you dial 911 we expect rapid response from our sheriff and EMS,” Ketchel wrote. “The passage of this measure will force us to consider reducing funding and would most certainly not be able to continue at the FY 2026 level.”
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BUSINESS
Avantgarde Salon completes expansion of its Destin location, seeks new stylists
Avantgarde Salon has finished a major expansion of its flagship Destin location, adding an entirely new second floor to meet growing client demand, and is now looking to bring on new stylists to fill the space.
The upstairs addition includes five new stylist stations in a bright area with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, second-floor views and natural light. Five additional shampoo chairs bring the salon’s total to nine, and a dedicated second color bar and second beverage station mirror the existing setup downstairs.
The new floor also features multiple waiting areas where clients can relax during color services or work in comfort.
“This expansion is our heartfelt thank you to our loyal guests and an exciting step into the future,” said Joseph Rogers, the salon’s owner and stylist. “It gives us even more beautiful space to deliver the personalized Avantgarde Aveda experience our clients love, from our bright, stylish new upstairs retreat to the passionate stylists we’re now welcoming to the team. We’re looking for talented artists who want to focus on their craft in a culture that truly values their life outside the salon.”
TRAFFIC
Street resurfacing work begins at multiple locations across the City of Fort Walton Beach
A contractor for the City of Fort Walton Beach began resurfacing work Monday on multiple streets across the city.
The work, which started Aug. 10, is taking place at five locations:
- Alabama Avenue near the apartment complex at Williams Street
- Baggett Place between Cedar Avenue and Cowrie Avenue
- Linstew Drive
- Kepner Drive from Okaloosa Road to Choctawhatchee Road
- Okaloosa Road from Kepner Drive to Hollywood Boulevard
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WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 81. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
MILITARY
Hurlburt Field airman pulls elderly driver from burning vehicle on Highway 98
A Hurlburt Field airman is being credited with saving an elderly man’s life after pulling him from a burning vehicle on Highway 98 on July 25.
Senior Airman Dalton Clark, an air transportation specialist assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing, was driving eastbound on Highway 98 during the morning rush hour when he noticed smoke rising from a disabled vehicle on the westbound shoulder, according to the 1st SOW Public Affairs Office.
- Clark saw flames climbing the hood of the car and beginning to surround the driver inside. Several bystanders were standing nearby with cellphones raised to record, but no one was moving to help, according to the release.
Clark, who lost a close friend in a vehicle fire in late 2025, threw his car into park at about 10:30 a.m. and sprinted across live, oncoming highway traffic to reach the vehicle.
When he arrived at the driver’s side door, he found heavy smoke and an elderly driver completely immobilized by shock. Clark reached into the burning vehicle, physically pulled the man out and dragged him to safety.
Seconds later, the fire completely engulfed the car.
“I don’t really know what came over me in that moment,” Clark said. “But I truly believe anyone that wears a uniform has a purpose to serve, not just at a military capacity but also recognizing we serve our community.”
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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