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Good morning!
Okaloosa County’s animal control services officially begin today, with a 90-day pause on TNR citations as the transition takes hold. HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital donated an AED to the Destin Chamber after a board member’s daughter survived cardiac arrest, and the 4th Annual 5K Mullet Run comes to Destin on Sept. 27. Baker volleyball’s Ellie Fleming is this week’s Athlete of the Week, and South Walton volleyball is pushing through injuries and adversity to keep rolling.
GIVING BACK
HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital donates AED to Destin Chamber
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital donated an automated external defibrillator to the Destin Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, a gift inspired by a recent cardiac emergency involving the daughter of a Chamber board member.
According to the hospital, the woman, who is in her 20s, experienced ventricular fibrillation, a life-threatening heart rhythm that can cause cardiac arrest, while at work. Coworkers who were trained in CPR and the use of an AED responded immediately and helped save her life.
Her father, Destin Chamber board member Robert McFarland, described the moments after she collapsed.
“She is a preschool teacher and was about to gather her kids up from nap time when she suddenly collapsed,” McFarland said. “Thankfully, all staff members have been trained in CPR and AED, and they immediately ran to her aid and started CPR. After two sets of CPR compressions and three AED shocks, my daughter finally came back. If it was not for the quick action by the trained school staff to immediately run to her aid, she would not be here today.”
Following the incident, the Destin Chamber contacted the hospital about obtaining an AED for its own facility, and the hospital offered to donate the equipment.
SPONSORED
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GAMES
WordroW: September 23, 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
Sophomore Ellie Fleming stays steady, does it all for Baker volleyball
Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District – supporting the athletes who make our community stronger.
Baker Volleyball’s Ellie Fleming stays steady as the Gators’ do-everything sophomore.
Fleming is the only player on Baker’s roster who plays all six rotations, and her numbers through 12 matches show why: 139 assists, 65 kills, 75 digs with zero errors and 30 aces while serving at 98%.
“She’s just very steady,” Head Coach Chelsea Medley said. “I don’t see her get too high or low in emotions. That steadiness is just her temperament, and it’s nice to have.”
Off the court, Fleming carries a 4.5 GPA and is involved in Beta Club and student government at Baker, where she’s attended since kindergarten.
PROMOTED
12th Annual CMSAF Binnicker Memorial Run
Lace up for a cause on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bob Hope Village in Shalimar. The 12th Annual CMSAF James C. Binnicker Memorial Run, presented by Eglin Federal Credit Union, offers a 9K run, 5K run, 5K walk and 1-mile fun run — with virtual options for those who can’t be there in person.
The first 300 registered 9K and 5K participants receive an official event shirt and challenge coin. Stick around after the race for food from Magnolia Grill and Knife’s Edge Cafe, cold drinks, a DJ and an awards ceremony.
Every dollar raised supports residents living with Alzheimer’s and dementia at Hawthorn House, Air Force Enlisted Village’s memory care residence serving military widows, retirees, veterans and their families.
SPORTS
South Walton volleyball pushes through injuries and adversity to keep rolling
Last year was a run for the ages for South Walton volleyball. After being on the cusp of greatness for years, the Lady Seahawks made the Final Four for the first time in 10 years. This season the program has shown no signs of slowing down, in spite of everything it has been dealt.
South Walton has lost key seniors to serious injuries, including outside hitter and Southern Miss commit Maci Jones and setter Evelyn Brandman, and it was moved down to a loaded Class 3A. All of that makes the Lady Seahawks’ 15-5 record even more impressive. Monday proved the team is back, with a dominant 3-1 road win over Choctaw, and South Walton followed it Tuesday with a 3-1 win at Pace.
“It’s been a challenge. I feel like when we get somebody back, we lose somebody else,” head coach Meghan Allen said. “Having Maci Jones back in the lineup is good. She’s at 70% right now, but everybody’s stepping up. It’s next man up mentality.”
Click here to read the full story from Travis Espy
THINGS TO DO
4th Annual 5K Mullet Run — Sunday, Sept. 27
Grab your best mullet wig (or grow the real deal) and hit the streets of Destin for the 4th Annual Mullet Run/Walk 5K benefiting the Destin History & Fishing Museum.
When: Sunday, Sept. 27 | Packet pickup at 2 p.m. | Race at 4 p.m.
Where: Destin Brewery (The Deck), 110 Melvin St., Destin
Open to all ages
Destin Brewery is hosting, with beer and snacks for all runners. Stick around after for the party. Prizes for best costume and best mullet — plus the return of the Mullet Toss.
All proceeds go to the Destin History & Fishing Museum.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
BUSINESS
Okaloosa begins animal control services Sept. 23, pauses TNR citations for 90 days
Animal control in unincorporated Okaloosa County changes hands Wednesday, Sept. 23, when the county and the City of Crestview take over services the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society provided under a county contract that ended Sept. 22.
Neither the county nor Crestview will handle non-emergency stray pickups or owner surrenders at this time, according to a county news release issued Tuesday.
The switch follows a Sept. 15 meeting at which Okaloosa County Commissioners unanimously approved changes to the county’s animal control ordinance. Commissioners also placed a 90-day suspension on citations for trap-neuter-return, or TNR, activity and directed staff to bring back ordinance language that allows it.
Click here to read the full details from last week (including who to call)
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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