SPORTS

Fort Walton Beach opens registration for youth flag football and cheerleading

The City of Fort Walton Beach has announced registration dates for its upcoming youth flag football and cheerleading seasons.

• Flag football registration for children ages 7-8 will run from Aug. 12 to Sept. 5. 
• For ages 9-10, registration is open from Aug. 22 to Sept. 19. 
• Children ages 11-14 can register from Sept. 19 to Oct. 17. 

The cost is $30 for Fort Walton Beach residents and $50 for non-residents.

Practices for flag football will begin approximately two weeks after registration closes. Games and practices for the 8U and 10U divisions will take place at City Hall Athletic Fields, while the 12U and 14U divisions will use the Preston Hood Athletic Complex.

Youth cheerleading registration for ages 5-12 is scheduled from July 15 to Aug. 23. The fee structure matches that of flag football, with city residents paying $30 and non-residents $50. 

• Cheerleaders will need to purchase their own uniforms and pompoms. They will perform at the 10U flag football games, with practices starting in September and games beginning in October.

Returning athletes who have previously participated in a City of Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center sport can register online or in person. Parents of new athletes must register their children in person at the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center, located at 132 Jet Drive NW. Age verification documentation is required.

The Recreation Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, interested parties can call 850-833-9576.

The city is also seeking volunteers for both programs. Those interested in coaching or sponsoring flag football should contact Bobby Carmichael at bcarmichael@fwb.org. For cheerleading volunteer opportunities, Pat Sherman can be reached at 850-833-9581 or psherman@fwb.org.

NEWS

Family of Airman Roger Fortson demands justice, questions delay in charging ex-deputy

The family of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, who was fatally shot by a former Okaloosa County deputy in May, held a press conference Friday to demand justice and urge the State Attorney’s Office to file charges in the case.

• Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Fortson family, spoke at the Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church alongside Fortson’s parents, Meka Fortson and Roger Wilburn, and other family members.

“We came here for one reason and one reason only, Okaloosa County, and that is to get justice for Roger Fortson,” Crump said.

The shooting occurred on May 3 when former Deputy Eddie Duran responded to a reported disturbance at Fortson’s apartment. Body camera footage showed Fortson holding a firearm pointing at the ground when he opened the door, but the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office’s internal investigation found that Fortson did not point the gun at Duran or physically resist.

• Sheriff Eric Aden terminated Duran following the investigation, stating, “The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.”

Crump revealed that the State Attorney’s Office has indicated a charging decision will be made on August 23, 2024. The family expressed frustration with the length of the investigation, especially given the existence of video evidence.

“We don’t need to say no more, just watch the video,” Crump emphasized.

Fortson’s sister, Raevyn, questioned the delay in charges. “If he didn’t commit any crimes, how is this man not being charged?” she asked, referring to the former deputy.

Meka Fortson, the airman’s mother, spoke emotionally about losing two sons in recent months and pleaded for accountability. “If you don’t hold him accountable, you’re teaching other officers they can do the same thing,” she said.

According to Crump, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement completed its investigation and submitted findings to the State Attorney’s Office in July. The family and their attorneys are now awaiting the charging decision.

BUSINESS

Okaloosa Gas celebrates final beam placed on new state-of-the-art headquarters

Okaloosa Gas District marked a significant step forward in the construction of its new headquarters with a topping out ceremony on August 13.

• The event, which signifies the structural completion of the project, saw the placement of the final steel beam atop the four-story, 152,000-square-foot office building. 

The new campus, located in Valparaiso, also includes an 18,400-square-foot operations center, a 7,200-square-foot vehicle maintenance building, and a 23,540-square-foot warehouse.

Gordon King, CEO of Okaloosa Gas District, expressed pride in the project’s progress. “Our staff has been working on this job for probably four or five years now and we’re really proud to see it come to fruition today,” King said during the ceremony.

The new facilities are designed to consolidate Okaloosa Gas District’s team members into a single, community-focused location. The campus will feature large outdoor spaces, interior areas for community events, and kitchen and catering spaces to serve both occupants and the local community.

King emphasized the long-term benefits of the new headquarters.

• “This building is built to last another 50, 60, 70 years,” he stated. “I just can’t think of what we’d be doing today if we were demolishing buildings down the street and having to build back in place. This has really sped the process up for us, gets us where we need to be and actually going to save us money in the long run.”

The project is being led by general contractor Robins & Morton, with DAG Architects handling the design.

Bryan Durkin, Project Director at Robins & Morton, commented on the milestone, saying, “We are excited about the progress on these facilities for Okaloosa Gas District. This milestone marks an important step in delivering this new campus to our community.”

Okaloosa Gas District plans to open the doors of its new headquarters to the community in the Fall of 2025. The move will allow the organization to leave behind its existing campus, where many buildings have reached the end of their useful life.

GIVING BACK

90 community volunteers spruce up nine Okaloosa schools for new academic year

In a collaborative effort to prepare for the upcoming school year, 90 volunteers from local organizations contributed 540 hours to spruce up nine schools in the Okaloosa County School District.

• The initiative, which readied the schools for the 2024-2025 academic year, was spearheaded by HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and saw participation from Eglin Federal Credit Union, Florida Power and Light, and Hurlburt Field.

Volunteers engaged in various tasks, including classroom setup, facility maintenance, landscaping, and organization of educational materials.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers expressed gratitude for the community support. “Our community’s unwavering support for our students, teachers, and schools is truly inspiring,” Chambers said. “Acts of kindness like this make a profound impact on our district, and we are incredibly grateful to these volunteers for their steadfast support.”

Zach McCluskey, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, highlighted the organization’s commitment to community service.

•  “We were excited to join forces with the Okaloosa County School District on nine impactful projects to help prepare our students and schools for the new year,” McCluskey said. “Our ‘We Show Up‘ volunteer initiative embodies our mission to care for and improve human lives, and we look forward to expanding these efforts and creating even more positive change in our community.”

The volunteer effort aligns with the district’s ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming environment for students. It emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the success of schools and students’ educational experiences.

Senior Airman Jarrett Ayres from Hurlburt Field shared his motivation for participating: “I wanted to support my community and ensure our children have a positive environment to learn and grow. They are the next generation, and we are responsible for ensuring they are happy, comfortable, and safe.”

The nine schools that benefited from the volunteer work include:

• Destin Elementary School
• Edwins Elementary School
• Elliott Point Elementary School
• Plew Elementary School
• Edge Elementary School
• Mary Esther Elementary School
• Northwood Elementary School
• Southside Primary School
• Walker Elementary School.

The school district encourages those interested in future volunteer opportunities to contact catherine.card@okaloosaschools.com for more information.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton Counties Traffic Advisory

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County:

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility work and construction activities:
  • U.S. 98 alternating lane closures between Ferry Road and Pier Road.
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.

• Mid-Bay Bridge Rehabilitation Project – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on the Mid-Bay Bridge, Monday, Aug. 19 through Thursday, Aug. 22, from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. for construction activities.

• Interstate 10 (I-10) Wilkerson Bluff Road Bridge Repairs –The I-10 inside lanes near the Wilkerson Bluff Road Bridge, from mile marker 48 to mile marker 51, will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 to 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23. The I-10 outside lanes will remain open.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 98 lane closures, between Josie Road in Mary Esther and Florida Place Southeast in Fort Walton Beach, Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for signalization work and paving operations.

• State Road (S.R.) 189 Intersection Improvements – Drivers may encounter intermittent S.R. 189 lane closures and traffic signal interruptions at Pelham Road and Lewis Street, Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, between 6:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for signalization work. Law enforcement will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.

• Mary Esther Boulevard (S.R. 393) Resurfacing from U.S. 98 to Beal Parkway (S.R. 189) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Mary Esther Boulevard for crews to place thermoplastic striping and perform traffic signalization work at the following locations and times:
  • Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, from U.S. 98 to Hollywood Boulevard, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 24, from Hollywood Boulevard to Beal Parkway, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Walton County:

• U.S. 331 Intersection Improvements from South of I-10 to U.S. 90 – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 331 lane closures at the following locations and times:
  • U.S. 331 northbound inside lane closure, from Coy Burgess Road to Business Park Road, Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. for turn-lane construction.
  • U.S. 331 northbound outside travel lane and right-turn lane, Between Corbett Drive and Walton Plaza business access road, Monday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 23, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. for manhole adjustments. During the closures, drivers will be able to make right-turn movements from the adjacent travel lane.

• S.R. 83 Routine Maintenance South of I-10 – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Aug 18 and Monday, Aug. 19 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for traffic signal operations.

POLICE BLOTTER

Fort Walton Beach teen charged in fentanyl-related death of 16-year-old

A 17-year-old has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child following the fentanyl-related death of a 16-year-old girl in Fort Walton Beach.

• The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested the teen on charges of homicide-aggravated manslaughter of a child, in violation of Florida Statute 782.07(3), for allegedly providing narcotics that led to the victim’s death.

Deputies reportedly responded to a home on Miller Street in Fort Walton Beach on February 11 after a teen was found deceased in her bedroom. A search of the scene revealed several pills that were later determined to be fentanyl.

The investigation uncovered that the victim and the suspect had agreed to meet at a public location where the victim purchased pills from the suspect. Investigators were able to locate and view CCTV footage reportedly showing the hand-to-hand transaction.

• When interviewed by OCSO investigators, the suspect denied knowing the victim. However, evidence from his phone and the video footage contradicted this claim, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

The Medical Examiner’s Report for the victim’s autopsy and lab results revealed the cause of death as fentanyl intoxication. Positive findings for both fentanyl and norfentanyl were detected in the victim’s blood.