VIDEO

The Navy’s fully amphibious landing craft spotted in Destin

On Friday, a video from Eric Hanson was uploaded to Facebook showing the Navy’s Landing Craft, Air Cushion vehicle making its way under the Destin bridge and out towards the pass.

The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, over-the-beach, fully amphibious landing craft capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force from ship to shore and across the beach, according to the Navy’s website.

LCAC can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of the Marine Ground Element to reach the shore.

• Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft, according to the Navy.

Click here to watch

POLITICS

Bobby Wagner hosts public workshop on future of Commons Drive, Morgan Sports Center

On September 28th, from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at The Palms Bistro in Destin, FL, mayoral candidate Bobby Wagner will host a workshop to receive community input and start the creation of a “master plan” for Commons Drive.

• Guest speakers at the event will include Destin High School Principal Christine Cruickshank and Mattie Kelley Arts Foundation Chief Executive Officer Demetrius Fuller. 

Wagner is a sitting Destin City Council-member and is currently running for Mayor of Destin.

This vision session will focus on:

• Commons Drive infrastructure
• Morgan Sports Center
• Destin High School
• Mattie Kelly Art Foundation
• Destin Aquatic Center

“It’s now time for our much anticipated Commons Drive visioning workshop,” said Wagner. “I can’t wait to hear from our citizens about how this incredible intersection of arts, recreation, and education should expand to meet Destin’s evolving needs.”

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARDWALK

Fall Break brings back movies and family fun at The Boardwalk

Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me you built a time machine out of a DeLorean?

With many school districts out for their Fall Break, The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island is bringing back a few featured films.

The free Movies on the Beach are shown on a large inflatable screen just behind Al’s Beach Club on Okaloosa Island. Grab a burger & fries or fresh Gulf seafood at any Boardwalk restaurant for dinner and a show. The Fall flicks are throwing it back with 80’s classics that the whole fam will love. 🍿

🎥 Throwback Thursday Movies on the Beach:

• September 29th at 7:30 pm – Back to the Future
• October 6th at 7:30 pm – E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

Also mark your calendars for Friday, October 29th, featuring the Halloween-favorite, Hocus Pocus. 

In addition to the Thursday movies, Al’s Beach Club will host “Beach Luau Parties” on September 30th and October 7th. The Friday night luaus include live music by Tribe Zion, kids and adult limbo contests, leis, and a must-see Polynesian fire & dance performance on the beach. 

View all of the upcoming event details at alsbeachclub.com/events

Head out to the beach to celebrate all things Fall! 🍁

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton County 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:

• State Road (S.R.) 20 (John Sims Parkway) Resurfacing Project – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures from Edge Avenue to west of the Rocky Bayou Bridge Sunday, Sept. 25, through Thursday, Sept. 29, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for median widening and sidewalk construction activities.

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience the following traffic impacts Sunday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform geotechnical investigations and utility work. 
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Perry Avenue and Pier Road.  
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.  
  • Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road.

• S.R. 85 Improvements from U.S. 90 to Commerce Drive – Crews will be reconstructing portions of existing sidewalk ramps to ensure they are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant and conducting various sidewalk and drainage improvements along southbound S.R. 85 (Ferdon Blvd.) from U.S. 90 to 1st Avenue, and along northbound S.R. 85 from U.S. 90 to Richbourg Lane. This work will require closures of the S.R. 85 outside lanes Sunday, Sept. 25 through Thursday, Sept. 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. During the closures, drivers will be able to access side streets from the outside travel lane.

• S.R. 85 Routine Underground Utility Maintenance at U.S. 98 – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for storm drain repairs.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Widening from Emerald Bay Drive to Tang-O-Mar Drive – Drivers will encounter intermittent and alternating east and westbound lane closures, Monday, Sept. 26 through Thursday, Sept. 29, from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. These closures are required for asphalt paving, thermoplastic striping and work list items. One travel lane in each direction will remain open at all times.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing Project from Village Road to East of U.S. 331– Drivers may encounter intermittent closures of the U.S. 98 east and westbound outside shoulders to allow crews to widen existing turn lanes between Village Road and U.S. 331.  Additionally, shoulder closures will continue as crews construct the new U.S. 98 westbound turn lane at Don Bishop Road. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph in the area. The turn lane construction is expected to continue through late-September 2022.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

GIVING BACK

Bayer & Curtis Orthodontics wants to give 10 Okaloosa Teachers $200 each to ‘Stock the Classroom’

Do you know a teacher or coach in Okaloosa County who could use $200 to stock their classroom or coach’s closet?

• Bayer & Curtis Orthodontics is sponsoring a Stock the Classroom contest where 10 winning teachers or coaches will each win $200 in cash!

Here’s how it works…

Anyone can nominate a deserving teacher or coach in Okaloosa County by sending an email to contest@braceteam.com and telling the team at Bayer & Curtis Orthodontics why this person deserves to win.

Let’s help get as many teachers and coaches nominated as possible!

SCHOOLS

Okaloosa County School District named a Worldwide School System of Distinction

The Okaloosa County School District announced on Friday that it is one of 38 School Systems in the world to be named a Cognia System of Distinction for 2022.

During the 2021-2022 school year, Cognia conducted approximately 1,500 school engagement reviews for accreditation. This year, 96 schools and 38 systems in 34 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and nine countries are recognized.

• The number of institutions reviewed and those that earn this designation vary from year to year. Winners carry the designation for one year.

The recognition, which highlights excellence in education, is based on the results of the rigorous accreditation process Cognia administered in the Okaloosa School District in February 2022.

“Okaloosa County School District employees dedicate themselves to the education and safety of the students we serve,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “We are honored to receive this designation and owe it all to the hard work our teachers, administrators, and staff put in each day to ensure our students receive the best education possible.”

The accreditation process is intense and takes place over several days, according to the school district. Cognia’s accreditation rubric consists of three categories: Leadership Capacity, Learning Capacity, and Resource Capacity.

• The District scored “Impacting,” which is the highest possible rating, in 29 out of 31 indicators. Okaloosa County was joined by four other Florida school districts among the 38 systems recognized worldwide: Collier, Pasco, Volusia, and neighboring Walton County School Districts.

During the accreditation process, Cognia conducts interviews with various stakeholders, including parents, students, district staff, school board members, and administrators, to gain insight into a school district.

“We did extremely well on this accreditation and will use the feedback we received to continue to build the Next Generation of Okaloosa Schools,” said Chambers. “Across the District, we are focused on cultivating and improving leadership effectiveness while strengthening a student-focused classroom by promoting instructional practices aligned to the new BEST Standards. We are proud of everyone in the OCSD Family!”