SCHOOL

Destin High School selects new Executive Director to lead school forward

Destin High School has hired Donald “Willy” Williams to be the school’s first Executive Director and help lead the charter school forward after some recent challenges. The Executive Director role is a newly created position aimed at enhancing the organizational structure and performance of the 3-year old charter school. 

The hiring process began back in May when the Governing Board approved the creation of the Executive Director position. After a months-long search, the Board narrowed it down to two final candidates – Willy Williams and Jeffrey Greenley. 

• Both candidates participated in a town hall with Destin High School stakeholders on July 27 to introduce themselves and answer questions. Ultimately, the Board decided Willy Williams was the best fit for the role and he accepted the position.

In an interview, Williams spoke about his excitement to take on this opportunity and help the young charter school succeed. “I believe that people are provisioned for a time and a place for a reason,” he said. 

Williams brings over 20 years of educational leadership experience working in the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) system. Most recently, he served as a Community Superintendent managing 13 schools in Okinawa, Japan. Throughout his career, Williams has overseen various aspects of education management from budgets and operations to curriculum and strategic initiatives. 

The creation of the Executive Director role comes after Destin High School faced some financial issues and internal conflicts this past school year. The school’s Governing Board decided expanding the organizational structure and bringing in an experienced leader like Williams can help steer the school in a positive direction. 

• The Board outlined a comprehensive job description for the Executive Director position, charging the new leader with overseeing academics, operations, finances, community relations, athletics and more. 

When asked about the past problems at the school, Williams said he wants to focus on moving the school forward while reflecting on the past and making sure they don’t repeat the same mistakes. He explained his leadership philosophy is to build strong relationships, learn from any previous mistakes, and put processes in place to move the organization forward.

• “The first thing that I want to do is build relationships and that’s what’s really important to me. I feel like when you have good relationships with people, you can do anything,” Williams stated. “But my pledge is just to be transparent. When we are dealing with people’s money, you have to be really transparent.”

He said some of his priorities for his first 90 days will be establishing trust through transparency (both with staff and the community), taking time to understand the school’s history, and creating a plan to address any existing issues. Long term, Williams wants to architect a blueprint to clearly chart where Destin High School is headed. 

“You can’t move a school forward unless you have a plan. Part of the idea will be to look at what plans are already in place and then figure out what improvements we need to lay into place to clearly chart where we’re going to go,” he explained.

One area the new Executive Director will have to focus on is the school’s expansive athletic programs. When Destin High School launched just 3 years ago, they started with 20-22 sports teams for a student body of around 500. The large number of programs has caused some budgetary and logistical challenges. As Executive Director, Williams will also serve as the Athletic Director.

• “I actually talked about that when I was there, we have to look at processes that determine what is financially feasible. If it’s not, do we put it on the path that says we’re going to continue to execute on this? How do we also grow other programs?” Williams noted. 

He said he will take a close look at what athletic programs are doing well versus needing adjustment. Williams emphasized utilizing processes and matrices to determine if programs meet the mission and vision, benefit students, are financially viable, and don’t overburden staff. 

• While he will be the top decision maker on athletics, Williams said he believes in delegated leadership and will work with a team to make the sports programs successful.

When asked what drew him to Destin High School, Williams cited the chance to bring his federal government and military school leadership experience to a charter school setting. After some life circumstances this year, Williams and his wife were considering moving closer to family in the southeast U.S. When the Executive Director job presented itself, Williams said he saw it as the perfect opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

He shared that while he’s never been to Destin before [aside from the Town Hall], he’s heard great things from family members who have visited the “world’s luckiest fishing village.” An avid deep-sea fisherman himself, Williams is excited for the chance to lead a school in a paradise like Destin. 

• Most importantly, he is eager to join the Destin High School community and help local students thrive.

“I want to really focus on the great things because I think that when we can focus on the great things, it’s going to translate into great things for kids,” Williams said passionately.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Okaloosa County Sheriff issues felony warrants for ‘Crab Island Brawl’ participants on July 29

Last Thursday, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office issued warrants for two individuals wanted on charges of felony aggravated battery in connection with a large fight at Crab Island on July 29th.

• The active felony warrants are for 34-year old O’dell Brown of Lawrenceville, Georgia and 30-year old Tyravian Miller of Gulfport, Mississippi.

Miller is accused of hitting a man in the head with a liquor bottle, and Brown is wanted for stabbing the same victim, plus another, both of whom were taken to Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for their injuries. 

• Deputies say they have additional warrants for others involved in the brawl.

By Friday, August 25, Brown was picked up by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The OCSO is asking Miller to turn himself in and says they will keep looking for him until that happens.

Extra patrols with multiple public safety partners patrolled Crab Island over the weekend in anticipation of another “takeover-style” event that was promoted across social media.

• In total, law enforcement vessels conducted patrols throughout the afternoon and evening, with more than 100 vessel stops and over 150 calls for service throughout the day, according to the OCSO.

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 experience traffic disruptions Sunday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Aug. 31, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility relocation work in the following locations:
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Perry Avenue and Pier Road. 
  • Perry Avenue southbound lane closures between First Street and U.S. 98. 
  • Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road.
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.

• U.S. 98 Bridge Rehabilitation over East Pass Bridge – Drivers may encounter intermittent single-lane closures on the U.S. 98 over East Pass (Marler) Bridge, eastbound structure (Fort Walton Beach to Destin) Sunday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Aug. 31, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• U.S. 98 Improvements from Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast- Drivers may encounter temporary U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures from Josie Road to Mary Esther Boulevard, Sunday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Aug. 31, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for roadway reconstruction.

• State Road (S.R.) 285 Resurfacing from S.R. 20 to S.R. 293 – Drivers may encounter intermittent, outside lane closures on southbound S.R. 285, from East College Boulevard to Adams Street, Sunday, Aug. 27 through Saturday, Sept. 2, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., for sidewalk work.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 331 to Peach Creek – Drivers may experience nighttime intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures, Sunday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Aug. 31, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations.

• U.S. 98 Pedestrian Underpass- Drivers can anticipate a new traffic pattern on U.S. 98 at County Road 30A.  The U.S. 98 westbound travel lanes will shift to the south to provide space for construction activities on the north side of the roadway.

• S.R. 81 Bridge Rehabilitation over Bruce Creek – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures Monday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Aug. 31 for construction operations.

SPORTS

FWBHS Vikings show heart despite challenging road loss to Cougars

The Fort Walton Beach High School Vikings faced a tough task on Friday evening, traveling to Tallahassee to square off against the Godby Cougars. Despite a 28-6 loss, the Vikings showcased their skills, tenacity, and the promise of a talented roster.

The Vikings’ offense, led by Senior Quarterback Harrison Orr, demonstrated resilience throughout the contest. Orr completed 12 of his 22 passing attempts, accumulating 105 yards with a touchdown and a long pass of 19 yards. 

• Though he faced intense pressure from the Cougars’ defense, resulting in two interceptions, Orr continued to rally his team.

The ground game was where Fort Walton Beach truly shined. Eddie Love, Jr., the junior running back, was a standout performer. Love rushed for an impressive 184 yards on 22 carries, with a long rush of 31 yards. 

Additionally, Junior Jereme Earl showcased his explosive potential with a 30-yard rush on his sole attempt of the night.

In the air, the Vikings spread the ball around. Sophomore Hudson Knight made his presence felt with three receptions, totaling 29 yards and clinching the only touchdown of the evening for the Vikings. 

• Eddie Love, Jr. was once again a key player, racking up 33 receiving yards on 4 receptions.

On the defensive side, Zavier Hamilton led the team with 7 total tackles, closely followed by Ison Newcomb with 6 tackles and a sack. Newcomb’s performance was further highlighted by a fumble recovery, showcasing his knack for being at the right place at the right time. 

• Junior Phillip Dillard also made a significant impact, recording 3 tackles, 2 of which were for a loss, and blocking a field goal attempt.

Special teams had its moments as well. Jax Lechner consistently ensured good field positioning for the defense with his kickoffs averaging 51 yards. J’drian Edwards was a notable contributor in the return game, accumulating 48 yards on 3 kickoff returns, with a long of 20 yards. 

Go deeper: Click here to read what Coach Clayton had to say.

A MESSAGE FROM PEADEN

Peaden shares tips on how to keep drain lines clean and avoid HVAC breakdowns in Summer heat

As temperatures soar in Florida during the summer months, homeowners often face common and avoidable breakdowns in their HVAC systems, with drain clogs topping the list. 

• To shed light on the issue, we spoke with Tony Hicks, the Assistant GM & HVAC Service Manager at Peaden, to understand the best ways to keep those drain lines flowing smoothly.

“With hot days here in Florida and into the night, your HVAC system is just running all day long with water constantly flowing through there,” said Tony Hicks. “The best way for upkeep is pouring white vinegar down the drain line once per month. That’s the standard.”

• He explained that the heat and humidity in Florida make it easy for algae and mold to thrive in the drain lines, leading to clogs and potential system breakdowns.

To keep the drain lines in good shape, Hicks advised homeowners to make it a habit to pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain line every time they change the filter. This simple routine maintenance can go a long way in preventing clogs and maintaining a smoothly operating HVAC system.

Additionally, keeping the filters clean is crucial. The dirtier the filter, the dirtier the evaporator coil becomes, and Hicks says this can contribute to clogging issues in the drain lines.

Click here to learn more helpful tips.

COASTAL RESOURCES

90 loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings make their way to the Gulf from Destin beach

Over 7 dozen tiny loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings emerged from their nest in the middle of the night last week and crawled their way safely to the Gulf of Mexico waters along a Destin beach.

• According to Okaloosa Coastal Resource Coordinator Jessica Valek, 90 hatchlings from a monitored nest successfully hatched on Wednesday night, August 23rd, and managed to make the trek from their nest to the water completely unaided. 

The nest, which contained 93 eggs total, had been laid a couple months ago on the beach in front of the Aegean Condominiums in Destin. When the team came back to evaluate the nest 72 hours after the mass hatching, they found only 3 unhatched eggs remaining. 

This equates to an impressive 97% hatching success rate for the nest.

“It’s really exciting to see a hatch success rate this high,” said Valek. “The last nest that we evaluated had a much lower hatch success rate. This 97% hatch rate is what we want to see and is very promising.”

According to Valek, this nest didn’t experience any sort of disturbance, such as getting washed over by waves. It also didn’t experience any significant temperature swings. 

• “Typically, when a nest has good conditions the entire time, we hope to see these high percent hatches, and we did with this one,” she added. “It gives us hope for the next few nests that we have and are monitoring.”

Valek thanked Aegean Condominiums for allowing her team to utilize their beach access and thanked the guests for keeping the beaches clean, flat, and dark which allowed those hatchlings to safely make their way to the Gulf.

If you are fortunate enough to witness hatchlings emerging, it’s important not to interfere and give them space. The County offered these tips:

• Watch from a distance. 
• Allow them to crawl to the water on their own. 
• Leave them in their nest. 
• Keep all lights off: this includes phone flashlights and flash photography or videos.

All of the nest evaluation work conducted by this group is permitted through the FWC Marine Turtle Program under MTP# 23-033. Disoriented hatchlings should be reported immediately to the FWC by calling 1-888-404-FWCC.