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Good morning!
Destin’s City Council is seeking a temporary moratorium on data centers. A burned vehicle with a body inside was found on an Eglin range road, and the concrete deck has been completed on the new westbound Brooks Bridge. This week’s Week 6 football preview covers district races heating up as the playoff picture takes shape.
MILITARY
Burned vehicle with body inside found on Eglin range road
A routine patrol by the 96th Security Forces Squadron discovered a burned vehicle with a deceased person inside early Wednesday on Eglin Air Force Base, according to the 96th Test Wing Office of Public Affairs. The patrol found the vehicle at about 4:30 a.m. near Range Road 234 and Lewis Turner Boulevard.
The release did not identify the person found inside the vehicle. Officials said the next of kin notification process is underway. Base officials asked the public to “avoid premature conclusions and speculation in respect to the family.”
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From scenic rides to weekend getaways, enjoy the drive with Eglin Federal Credit Union. Where Members Matter Most.
GAMES
WordroW: September 24, 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.
TRAFFIC
Concrete deck complete on new westbound Brooks Bridge
Crews have finished placing concrete for the deck of the new westbound Brooks Bridge, a step the Florida Department of Transportation called a major milestone in the bridge replacement project.
FDOT announced Wednesday that crews completed the concrete placement for the westbound structure. Much of the work took place at night, when cooler temperatures slow moisture evaporation and help the concrete cure properly to meet project specifications, according to the agency.
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
Week 6 preview: District races heat up as playoff picture takes shape
Week 6 is here, and several key district games highlight the schedule as the playoff picture starts to come together.
On Thursday, Destin plays the first district game in program history at Pensacola Catholic. Friday brings a Class 5A matchup as Tate visits Niceville. The slate also includes Pine Forest at South Walton, Crestview at Pace, Freeport at Walton and Fort Walton Beach at Gulf Breeze.
After a 7-0 week, our picks have Walton keeping its undefeated hopes alive and Choctaw rattling off its third straight win.
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GAMES
Jigsaw – “Costume Chaos”
Ready for this week’s Jigsaw puzzle?
Each week, we use local pictures from around Okaloosa County as part of our puzzles. They’ll include current dated photos to historical ones.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
BUSINESS
Okaloosa Commissioners vote down data center moratorium in 3-2 vote
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 on Sept. 15 against moving forward with a 12-month moratorium on data centers, with a majority saying the regulatory framework the board ordered earlier this month should be allowed to run its course.
Commissioner Paul Mixon proposed the moratorium during commissioners’ comments at the end of the meeting, after a public comment period that several commissioners said showed residents had misunderstood the board’s earlier action. His motion would have directed staff to bring back an agenda item for a public hearing on a proposed moratorium. Commissioner Sherri Cox seconded the motion.
BUSINESS
Destin City Council seeks temporary moratorium on data centers
The Destin City Council voted 7-0 Monday to have an ordinance drafted that would place a temporary moratorium on data centers.
Councilman Kevin Schmidt made the motion, saying the council would continue researching data centers and following action in the state Legislature. Councilwoman Sandy Trammell seconded it.
City Attorney Kim Kopp said the moratorium would be temporary while those reviews continue, and the council can set a time frame when the ordinance returns.
Councilman Dewey Destin supported the measure but said there is no property in Destin where a data center could go. Schmidt said he was trying to take extra caution.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday! 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!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
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124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548