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Good morning!
Eight women were inducted into the 2026 Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame last night. Okaloosa County and its municipalities have launched a joint voter education effort on the November property tax amendment, part of ongoing conversations about the measure. The Vikings dominated Pensacola 41-6 in their season opener, and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is expanding its mission and rebranding as an estuary program. Also, Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County received a prestigious Luminary Award.
BUSINESS
Okaloosa, municipalities launch joint effort to educate voters on property tax amendment
Okaloosa County and municipal governments across the county are joining forces on a public information campaign aimed at educating residents about an upcoming property tax ballot measure and its potential impact on local services.
- The effort comes ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, vote on Amendment 3, which was placed on the ballot after the Florida Legislature approved House Joint Resolution 1-F, Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes, on June 2, 2026.
Public information staff from the county and its municipalities plan to distribute information through a dedicated website, social media and in-person speaking engagements. A website compiling resources from multiple sources has been launched at myokaloosa.com/okaloosapropertytax.
“Having all of the necessary information ahead of the upcoming election is important for all voters,” said Okaloosa County Administrator John Hofstad. “We are going through our annual budget approval process right now and welcome more community engagement at our upcoming budget workshop meetings.”
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GAMES
WordroW: August 25, 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.
NEWS
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance expands mission, rebrands as estuary program
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, the nonprofit arm of Northwest Florida State College that has spent more than three decades restoring and monitoring local waterways, is expanding its mission and changing its name to the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Estuary Program.
- The name change comes with a broader mandate. The organization will now serve as a hub coordinating restoration, monitoring, research, education and community partnerships across the Choctawhatchee watershed.
The transition comes as the region works toward elevating the watershed’s national profile and unlocking additional federal and state funding for restoration.
“This is the next chapter for CBA,” said Alison McDowell, Executive Director of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. “This evolution of our existing model gives us the opportunity to bring more people together, connect the work that’s already happening, and take on some of the bigger challenges facing the Choctawhatchee watershed.”
Under the CBAEP umbrella, the organization will continue its core work, including habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, watershed science and classroom education programs such as Grasses in Classes. It will also take on a coordinating role among local governments, scientists, nonprofits and volunteer groups with the goal of reducing duplicated effort and stretching limited resources further.
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Thank you to our patients, providers, team members, and community partners, for being part of our story.
SPORTS
Vikings dominate in 41-6 season-opening win over Pensacola
Friday night was a milestone for Fort Walton Beach, as the Vikings rolled to a 41-6 victory over Pensacola for their first season-opening win since a 21-14 victory over Crestview on Sept. 21, 2020.
The Vikings’ ground game set the tone from the start, churning out 216 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries.
Elijah Donson led the way with 18 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns, while Carlos White added nine carries for 21 yards and a score of his own. Ty’Shaun Montgomery needed just one carry to make his mark, breaking off a 44-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Carmello Thomas chipped in four carries for 50 yards, and Lavin McDaniel added 23 yards on the ground as well.
McDaniel finished 6 of 14 passing for 84 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Both of those scores went to Cannon Wilbur, who hauled in two catches for 42 yards and found the end zone on each.
GIVING BACK
Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County receives prestigious Luminary Award
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Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County has been honored with the Luminary Award at the annual Take Stock in Children Conference in Orlando for its outstanding service and support of the program’s 2025–2026 student cohort.
The award is given to affiliates that achieve a perfect 100% score on Take Stock in Children’s Balanced Scorecard, which measures program performance across four areas: Mentoring, College Readiness, Program Data and Take Stock in Children Compliance Standards.
A perfect score across all four categories means the affiliate met or exceeded the organization’s highest standards for serving students.
“Receiving the Luminary Award is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of the dedication of everyone who supports Take Stock in Children students,” said John Spolski, assistant superintendent of the Okaloosa County School District. “This recognition demonstrates what is possible when our educators, mentors, families, community partners, and students work together toward a common goal.”
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WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7am. Sunny, with a high near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
GIVING BACK
Eight women inducted into 2026 Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame
The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women has inducted eight women into the 2026 Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame, recognizing their contributions across business, healthcare, advocacy, education, public service and the arts.
Olympic medalist and Crestview native Mia Manganello was also honored as a Hometown Heroine.
“Each of these extraordinary women embodies the courage, resilience, and spirit of service that defines Okaloosa County,” said Kelley Fuller, chair of the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women. “From groundbreaking business ventures and healthcare advocacy to dedicated mentorship and public service, their decades-long contributions have reshaped our community for the better and serve as a powerful inspiration for future generations.”
The inductees included:
- Megan Blancho, Niceville — Professional/Business
- Vanessa d’Aquin, Niceville/Valparaiso — Humanitarian
- Simona Faroni, Fort Walton Beach — Pioneer
- Dr. Cristie Kedroski, Niceville — Community Service
- Christina Larson, Shalimar — Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts
- Heather Ruiz, Fort Walton Beach — Contemporary
- Dr. Linda Smith, Niceville — Education
- Dr. MiChele Stevenson, Shalimar — Military/Government
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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