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Good morning!
1,500 tons of repurposed concrete will build three new artificial reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Niceville police are searching for a missing 19-year-old autistic man, and the Destin City Council unanimously approved an e-bike safety ordinance on first reading. The Eglin Federal Credit Union Arts and Education Center has opened in downtown Crestview, and Choctaw-Niceville headlines a loaded Friday night slate in this week’s football preview.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Destin City Council approves e-bike safety ordinance on first reading
After 18 months of research and drafting, the Destin City Council last week voted 7-0 to approve new regulations for electric bicycles, motorized scooters and other micromobility devices on a first reading.
Ordinance 26-19-CC spells out operating rules and a tiered penalty structure starting with a written warning and escalating to fines of $150, $350 and $500 for repeat violations.
Among the key provisions: operators must travel in the same direction as traffic when riding on sidewalks where sidewalks exist on both sides of the road, helmets are required for riders 16 and under, and modifications that allow e-bikes to exceed their designed top speed are prohibited.
“In the end, this is just gonna provide our law enforcement team the opportunities, the flexibility, and the discretion to enforce as needed,” said Jim Wood, chair of the Public Works and Public Safety Committee.
The ordinance will return for a second reading at a future council meeting.
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GAMES
WordroW: September 16, 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.
ART+CULTURE
Eglin Federal Credit Union Arts and Education Center opens in downtown Crestview
Community leaders, Eglin Federal Credit Union representatives and local residents gathered Monday to celebrate the opening of The Eglin Federal Credit Union Arts and Education Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 189 N. Main St. in downtown Crestview.
The 3,000-square-foot center is an inclusive community space offering visual arts, music, theater, dance, tutoring, financial education, STEM programming and more.
The facility will also serve as a venue for performances, family events and civic gatherings, providing a platform for local artists, educators and leaders to share their talents and expertise. The center is designed to serve residents of all ages, with a particular focus on under-resourced youth and families.
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SPORTS
Week 5 preview: Choctaw-Niceville headlines a loaded Friday night slate
Week 5 is here, and it’s headlined by one game: Choctaw-Niceville at Joe Etheredge Stadium on Friday night.
Elsewhere, Walton travels to Fort Walton Beach looking to stay unbeaten, Crestview draws a tough matchup against top-20 Georgia program Coffee, and South Walton looks to bounce back against Arnold. Baker hosts Central on Thursday night to open the week. Freeport and Destin are on byes.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Niceville police searching for missing 19-year-old autistic man
The Niceville Police Department is asking the public for help locating a missing 19-year-old autistic man who was last seen Tuesday morning leaving his home and getting into an SUV.
Parker Gabriel Thompson was captured on Ring camera footage at approximately 9:01 a.m. running down his driveway on Chimney Rock Circle in Niceville before getting into a gray or blue SUV, according to the police department. The vehicle then drove away.
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WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
TONIGHT: Clear, with a low around 76. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
COASTAL RESOURCES
1,500 tons of repurposed concrete to build three new artificial reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach
Three new artificial reefs are taking shape off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach as crews deploy 1,500 tons of repurposed concrete culverts in a collaboration between the county’s Natural Resources Team and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
The project is the second deployment under Florida’s Coastal Corridor, a statewide initiative led by the Fish & Wildlife Foundation and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The first deployment took place off Naples on Sept. 2.
The reefs will be built roughly four to eight nautical miles from East Pass at depths of about 68 to 74 feet. Each of the three sites will receive approximately 500 tons of concrete culverts placed in concentrated configurations designed to create durable, complex hard-bottom habitat. The phase is expected to be complete in November 2026.
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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