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Good morning!
A second juvenile has been arrested in a separate TikTok threat targeting Okaloosa County schools. Northwest Florida State College was awarded $3 million for a maritime fabrication training center, and Fort Walton Beach firefighters are seeking 343 volunteers to ring the bell on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Rocky Bayou and Shoal River Headwaters are among state parks receiving new ranger e-bikes, and Niceville volleyball’s Kate Jannazo is this week’s Athlete of the Week. Also, Suds N Cinema will host “Steel Magnolias” screenings benefiting the Fort Walton Beach Library.
GIVING BACK
Suds N Cinema to host ‘Steel Magnolias’ screenings benefiting the FWB Library
Suds N Cinema will host six nights of special screenings of the 1989 film “Steel Magnolias” this week to raise money for the Fort Walton Beach Public Library.
The screenings, inspired by Dolly Parton’s lifelong commitment to literacy, will run Sept. 2-7 at the historic downtown movie house at 174 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE. Doors open at 6 p.m. with showtime at 6:30 p.m.
All ticket sales will benefit the library’s community programs, youth literacy initiatives and expanding media catalog. Patrons will also be able to donate at the theater.
Guests can choose from three ticket levels: Classic Movie Admission at $5, Steel Magnolia Supporter at $10 and Dolly’s Circle Benefactor at $15.
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GAMES
WordroW: September 2, 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.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Niceville volleyball’s Kate Jannazo plays every rotation and is only getting more comfortable
Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District – supporting the athletes who make our community stronger.
Kate Jannazo walked into Niceville High School’s volleyball program last fall expecting to play on the freshman team.
By the end of the season, the outside hitter had recorded 242 kills, 203 digs, 27 assists and 15 blocks, played every rotation for a varsity squad that made the playoffs and earned Offensive Player of the Year.
- “Not expecting that at all,” Jannazo said when asked whether she expected to play such a prominent role. “I thought I was going to be on the freshman team.”
She doesn’t say a whole lot beyond that. Jannazo, now a sophomore, lets her stats do the talking. But through five matches of her second varsity season, what it’s saying has Niceville believing this year can be different.
The Lady Eagles (3-2, 1-0 in district) returned nearly their entire roster after losing just one senior from last year’s squad. Jannazo has logged 30 kills, 27 digs and 55 serve receptions on the season, ranking fifth in Class 5A District 1 in kills. She opened the season with 14 kills on a .435 hitting percentage in a 3-0 sweep of Navarre.
Head Coach Karson Jessup, now in her third year leading the program, said she took a chance on Jannazo as a freshman after losing nine seniors from the previous roster.
“When you look at Kate, you see an athlete,” Jessup said. “She’s coachable. She’s ready to work, and she puts in the work.”
Click here to read our full interview with Kate
SCHOOL
Northwest Florida State College awarded $3 million for maritime fabrication training center
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Northwest Florida State College has been awarded $3 million to build a Maritime Fabrication Training Center on the college’s Niceville campus.
The approximately 4,000-square-foot facility will include two purpose-built training bays — one for composite fabrication and one for metal fabrication. It will support two new workforce programs: a 22-credit College Credit Certificate in Composite Fabrication and Testing and a 600-hour Industrial Pipefitter Career Certificate with two occupational completion points.
NWFSC President Mel Ponder attended the announcement in Jacksonville.
“Northwest Florida has the opportunity to build and sustain the ships, aircraft and advanced systems that carry American power, and our College’s responsibility is to make sure we have the skilled workforce ready to meet that demand,” Ponder said. “The Maritime Fabrication Training Center will give our students hands-on experience using the same processes and techniques they will encounter in industry, while earning credentials that employers recognize and value.”
Ponder said the center will create a direct pathway into high-wage, high-skill careers that allow students to build their futures in Northwest Florida.
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NEWS
Fort Walton Beach firefighters seek 343 volunteers to ring bell on 25th anniversary of 9/11
The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department is inviting 343 members of the public to ring the fire bell and sign a guest book at Fire Station 6 on Friday, Sept. 11, in honor of the 343 New York City firefighters who died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The ceremony will begin at 7:46 a.m., the exact moment in central time that the first aircraft struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower. The public is welcome to stop by anytime in the morning or afternoon.
“On this 25th anniversary of 9-11, we honor our fellow firefighters, who responded to this terrible tragedy in spite of the dangers they faced and sacrificed their lives for the safety of others,” Battalion Chief Matthew Baxley said.
A large American flag will hang from the ladder truck in front of the station, and the department’s vintage 1946 Chevrolet fire truck will be on display. Chick-fil-A has donated breakfast biscuits for the event.
PARKS+REC
Rocky Bayou, Shoal River Headwaters among state parks receiving new ranger e-bikes
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville and Shoal River Headwaters State Park in DeFuniak Springs will be among the latest Florida state parks to receive e-bikes for ranger use, the Florida State Parks Foundation announced Monday.
The Foundation unveiled 25 new Velotric Nomad 2 Fat Tire e-bikes during a press conference at Silver Springs State Park near Ocala. The bikes will be distributed to parks across the state, with the two Northwest Florida parks among the recipients.
Each e-bike features a 750-watt motor, a 65-mile range and a maximum payload of more than 500 pounds.
“These e-bikes reduce our state parks’ environmental footprint and encourage sustainability while also helping our amazing park rangers manage natural resources and deliver outstanding visitor services and experiences,” said Julia Gill Woodward, CEO of the Florida State Parks Foundation.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy, with a low around 79. West wind 0 to 5 mph.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Second juvenile arrested in new TikTok threat targeting Okaloosa County schools
A 13-year-old Crestview boy has been arrested and faces felony charges after the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigated a TikTok post targeting multiple schools in Okaloosa County, the agency announced Tuesday.
The arrest is the second this week tied to TikTok posts threatening schools in the county.
In the latest case, the OCSO said it received multiple tips through Fortify Florida on Monday regarding a fictitious TikTok account that posted a concerning message referencing Crestview High School, Davidson Middle School and Pineview School.
Through investigative techniques, the juvenile who created the posts was quickly located at his residence and confessed to the crime during an interview with investigators, the OCSO said. The juvenile is homeschooled.
The OCSO said both recent cases appear to mimic a current TikTok trend called “Cat in the Hat,” which it described as a viral social media hoax trend involving threats of school shootings.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday! 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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