SCHOOL

Northwest Florida State College breaks ground on new on-campus student housing

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, Northwest Florida State College hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at their Niceville campus to mark the start of construction for the college’s first-ever on-campus student housing facility. 

• Named “Raider Village,” the new student housing facility has been highly anticipated by NWFSC administrators, students, and the local community. 

The ceremony was led by NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson, with an invocation by Bishop Shawn Baker of the New Life Church, and featured remarks from Jay Odom (The Jay Odom Group), Alan Wood (Chair of the NWFSC Foundation) and Fred Leopold (Coastal Region Officer, Community Bank of Mississippi).

Dr. Stephenson started out by expressing his gratitude for the partnerships that made Raider Village possible, specifically singling out honorary alumnus Jay Odom. “This project would not be possible without the participation and leadership of Jay Odom and The Jay Odom Group who designed the buildings, who will build them, and who will manage Raider Village,” said Dr. Stephenson.  

He went on to praise Odom for his instrumental work in economic and workforce development in the region, calling him a “passionate individual that wants to see our economy flourish both in Niceville and in the surrounding region.” 

• Dr. Stephenson also thanked the NWFSC Foundation for their financial support and unwavering commitment to making the housing facility a reality for students, along with Community Bank of Mississippi.

In his remarks, Jay Odom reflected on his time as a student at the college in the 1970s, telling the story of having to park his old Volkswagen at the top of the parking lot since “it had no reverse.” 

• “I parked at the top of the parking lot so I could push it off in the afternoon and start it by putting it in second gear because that’s all I could afford at that time,” he said. “It’s unbelievable how this [campus] has evolved and grown since I was here. We’re just blessed to be part of this program.”

Odom promised that the new housing would be “first class” featuring four bedroom, four bath units, where each bedroom has its own bathroom with a kitchen and living area, and washer and dryer. Lobby/lounge areas will also be on every floor to facilitate community building. 

“This facility is going to be first class. 192 beds in the first building and we anticipate that’ll be full as soon as it’s built,” Odom explained about the scope of the project, which will be developed in multiple phases.

• The second phase is expected to have another 128 beds.

According to Dr. Stephenson, the new student housing is expected to open in Spring 2025, meeting a longstanding need for on-campus accommodations. Having dorms on campus is expected to boost academic performance and retention by allowing students to fully engage in campus life. It will also give the college a recruiting edge for athletes. 

• “I’m expecting these residence halls to be a magnet for you to bring in the best athletes and I’m expecting a national championship out of you every year,” Dr. Stephenson jokingly challenged the school’s coaches in attendance.

Raider Village will be located at the front of the 264-acre campus and match the existing brick architectural theme. Dr. Stephenson predicted it would become one of the most beautiful facilities on campus. 

“From where I sat then in the 1970s to now, I did not have the vision at that time to know that I’d be standing here today being able to contribute to the community,” said Odom regarding The Jay Odom Group’s role in managing the new housing. “We’re going to do our part to make it a world-class facility for the college and we’ll do it right to make sure that all of you students have a nice place to live. I promise you.”

The groundbreaking signifies a major milestone for NWFSC as they work towards enhancing the overall campus experience. For Dr. Stephenson, Jay Odom, and all involved, today represented the culmination of years of dreaming, planning, and hard work to reach this moment. 

Raider Village will forever change the landscape of NWFSC’s campus and opportunities for generations of students to come.

BUSINESS

Man returns to thank Fort Walton Beach hospital staff who helped him walk again

One year ago, Jim Curry woke up paralyzed from the neck down in the ICU at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital after suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury from a fall.

• On Tuesday, Curry returned to the hospital to thank the staff who cared for him and helped him regain his ability to walk during his months-long recovery.

“This is our hometown hospital, and the level of professionalism that I encountered here was just overwhelming,” said Curry at the emotional reunion with staff. “It’s been a long year, and I’m back here today to thank all the people at this facility that worked so hard to help me along the way.”

Curry spent weeks in the ICU and was later transferred to a spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility in Atlanta. When the injury first occurred, he lost all sensation and mobility below his neck.

• “You feel very vulnerable,” described Curry. “You’re not sure you’re going to be able to put that foot in front of the other.”

But with the encouragement and dedicated care of staff like RN Melissa Killian, Curry slowly regained mobility through intensive physical therapy.

“We don’t always get to see the other side of things, so it’s very heartwarming to be able to see the difference we can make,” said Killian about reuniting with Curry.

One year later, Curry is now able to walk again but says he still faces a long road of recovery ahead. However, he wanted to celebrate his 65th birthday on Tuesday by returning to show his appreciation to the hospital staff who made his recovery possible.

“I’m 65 today, and it’s a much better birthday today than it was when I turned 64,” said Curry.

NEWS

Five women to be inducted into Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame

The 2023 Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony will honor five local women on Monday, August 28th at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. The honorees are:

• Bonnie R. Barlow
• Cindy Frakes
• Judge Patricia Grinsted
• Col. Teresa W. Ryan
• Lt. Betty Jo Hunter.

Bonnie R. Barlow, this year’s Carolyn Spencer Humanitarian inductee, has dedicated over 38 years to Bridgeway Center, serving as its leader since 2018. Known for her positivity and sincerity, Barlow has empowered the women of Bridgeway to better serve the community.

Cindy Frakes, the Community Service inductee, is a longtime real estate agent and advocate for women. She has supported military spouses, served on the School Board, and volunteered with local organizations like Opportunity Place.

Judge Patricia Grinsted, the Professional Leader inductee, was the first woman judge in Okaloosa County. She served as County Judge from 2004-2021 and now is a Senior Judge appointed by the Florida Supreme Court.

Col. Teresa W. Ryan is this year’s Military inductee. She served in the Air Force and Navy Reserve as a nurse, educator, and sexual assault responder. Dr. Ryan now teaches at NWFSC’s School of Nursing.

Lt. Betty Jo Hunter is the Pioneer inductee. She was the first female officer at the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in 1967. Rising through the ranks to become lieutenant, Hunter spearheaded efforts to support victims of sex crimes.

The ceremony will be emceed by Ted Corcoran of the FWB Chamber of Commerce and live-streamed by Crestview Community TV. Over 130 women have now been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its creation in 1995.

• The Hall of Fame was created to honor women of Okaloosa County — past and present — whose contributions have been of great value to our community’s development. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the Commission’s oldest and most prestigious award.  

The women inducted into the Hall of Fame are honored in permanent displays at the Okaloosa County Administration Annex, the Crestview Court House and the Niceville City Council Chambers. Please RSVP to theoccsw@gmail.com if you plan to attend as soon as possible. 

For more information, and to see the past winners, visit the website at www.occsw.com. 

ART+CULTURE

New mural project and outdoor community event space coming to Downtown Fort Walton Beach

On Tuesday night, the Fort Walton Beach City Council approved leasing a parcel of land on Ferry Road SE to develop it into a community event space.

• The 0.25 acre property located at 208 Ferry Road SE (right behind Parlor Donuts) has been used as a public parking area since the 1980s, containing approximately 10 spaces.
• The adjacent property at 212 Ferry Road has also been leased by the city as a parking lot.

The owner, Gibson Properties, Inc., proposed leasing terms of an initial 5-year agreement with option to cancel with 120 days notice, at a rate of $1,000 per month with 4% annual increases.

According to Growth Management Director Christopher Frassetti, the goal is to create a flexible community space to support the many festivals and events held along Ferry Road, which has become a hub for activities like the Mardi Gras parade and Ciclovia in recent years.

Concept plans developed with JDF Architecture show the space could include areas for food trucks, outdoor seating, shade structures, an event platform, and open lawn.

• Frassetti noted they have been working with the Cultural Arts League and the Library on potential mural locations on the adjacent FWB Library building facing Ferry Road to help beautify the area.

The city would be responsible for funding improvements up to $100,000 based on the conceptual rendering, which could include outdoor seating, shade structures, landscaping, and electrical upgrades.

Councilman Nic Allegretto clarified that the intent is to create an attractive public space for residents and not directly compete with local businesses. The Gibson family conveyed they were open to occasional food truck use for events but not permanent placement.

• Funding for the annual lease and improvement costs will come from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) budget.

The city already owns the adjacent property at 185 Miracle Strip Parkway SE where the public library is located. Once a survey is completed to finalize the legal boundaries, the city can move forward with the design and features for the future open space, along with the planned murals.

BEACH

Meet ‘Bob”, the newest rehabilitated blue heron released at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island

On Monday, Saltwater Restaurants Inc. celebrated the release of a rehabilitated blue heron named “Bob” in partnership with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. The event took place at Al’s Beach Club and Burger Bar at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island.

• “Bob” was named in honor of Robert “Bob” Bonezzi, founder of Saltwater Restaurants, Inc.

“Bob” was found entangled and injured by a local resident earlier this summer. Upon arrival, staff at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge were able to X-ray the heron and noticed more entanglement internally as well as two fishing hooks. 

• The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge provided medical care and rehabilitation for the bird, which they say is representative of the over 2,000 native Florida wildlife the refuge cares for each year. “Bob” is patient number 1,021.

The release marks a continuing collaboration between Saltwater Restaurants and the wildlife refuge. As part of their S.E.A. Initiative (Safety, Environment, Activities), Saltwater Restaurants donated $10,000 to support the refuge’s conservation efforts.

“Herons are very important to our area because they are indicators of ecological health,” said Pascal Robin, Executive Director of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. “Without partnerships like S.E.A, ECWR would not be able to afford to provide the care our shorebirds and marine mammals require.”

The S.E.A. Initiative aligns with Saltwater Restaurant’s goals of serving their local community while protecting the environment, according to CEO Nick Sarra.

• “The S.E.A. Initiative is at the heart of what we believe in,” said Sarra. “We are not just about serving great food but also about safeguarding our environment and fostering community activities that families can cherish.”

Saltwater Restaurants will continue supporting the refuge by selling a special “Blue Heron Cocktail” at participating locations. A portion of proceeds from each cocktail will go directly to the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.

Click here to watch the video of the release.