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Good morning!
A jury found former Okaloosa deputy Eddie Duran not guilty in the shooting death of Airman Roger Fortson. Bit-Wizards won Finest Place to Work and Finest Locally Owned Business awards, and this week’s Community Calendar covers things to do around town. Plus, an inside look at how Dustin Parkman navigates deals, development, and a 100mph schedule, and Okaloosa County has paved 180 miles of dirt roads — more than triple its original goal.
NEWS
Jury finds former Okaloosa deputy Eddie Duran not guilty in shooting death of Airman Roger Fortson
A jury on Thursday found former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran not guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the 2024 shooting death of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson.
Fortson, 23, was shot May 3, 2024, at his Fort Walton Beach apartment after Duran was dispatched there for a call reporting a domestic disturbance. He answered the door holding a handgun he legally owned.
Duran testified that he fired in self-defense. Prosecutors argued Fortson posed no threat.
“We respect the jury’s verdict and thank the jurors for their service,” State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden said.
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GAMES
WordroW: October 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.
HOW I WORK
An inside look at how Dustin Parkman navigates deals, development and a 100mph schedule
“How I Work” is brought to you by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Join the most influential organization in Okaloosa. Learn more here.
For Dustin Parkman, most workdays move quickly and rarely go according to a set schedule.
As Vice President of NBI Properties, Inc., Parkman splits his time between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City Beach, moving between meetings, showings, client calls and prospecting while helping match commercial properties with buyers across the region.
One project in particular is taking up plenty of his attention right now: the redevelopment of the Santa Rosa Mall property in Fort Walton Beach. As that project moves forward, Parkman is also juggling the everyday demands of commercial real estate, family life with two young children and a schedule he describes as “100mph.”
In this edition of How I Work, he shares what his days look like, why post hole diggers are one of his most important tools and the simple advice he’d give anyone entering the business.
REAL ESTATE
HOT LISTINGS: 4 Destin homes newly listed under $730K
The Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS®: advocating for property rights and the REALTORS® who serve our community. Click here to learn more
This week’s Hot Listings looks at four detached single-family homes that have hit the market in Destin within the past nine days, all priced below $730,000.
Starting at $469,000, the homes range from a spacious property with two primary suites to gated-community homes offering golf course views, a private pool and lakefront living.
Whether the priority is more space, outdoor living or a neighborhood with added amenities, each brings something different to the market.
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Care for every generation
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80 Years of Care. 80 Years of Community. 80 Years of White-Wilson.
Thank you to our patients, providers, team members, and community partners, for being part of our story.
BUSINESS
Bit-Wizards wins Finest Place to Work, Finest Locally Owned Business awards
Bit-Wizards, a managed IT services company, won the Finest Place to Work and Finest Locally Owned Business categories in the 2026 Finest on the Emerald Coast Community’s Choice Awards, the company announced Sept. 24.
The company was also recognized as a finalist in the Finest Customer Service category.
The annual awards honor businesses, organizations and professionals that make the area one of the best places to live, work and do business. Winners are selected through community voting.
EVENTS
A few things to do around town
Friday, Oct. 2 – Concerts at The Landing with Below Alabama – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Oct. 3 – Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® – Fort Walton Beach – $40.00 – View
Saturday, Oct. 3 – HH Arts Gallery Night October 3rd – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Oct. 3 – “Night at the Museum” Brings America’s 250th to Life – Valparaiso – $50.00 – View
Sunday, Oct. 4 – 80th Celebration of Serving Christ – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Thursday, Oct. 8 – A little pink, a lot of knowledge – Miramar Beach – Free – View
Thursday, Oct. 8 – Blessing of the Animals – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Friday, Oct. 9 – PFC Pillow Fight Championship Battle of the Brave – Niceville – $35.00 – View
Saturday, Oct. 10 – America 250 Heritage Festival and Scouting Expo – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Oct. 10 – Fall Vendor Market – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Saturday, Oct. 10 – The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival – Miramar Beach – $70.00 – View
Friday, Oct. 16 – Jewels & Jeans Fall Fundraiser – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Friday, Oct. 16 – Experience the Celebrate Autumn Art Exhibition at ADSO! – Fort Walton Beach – Free – View
Friday, Oct. 16 – A Gulfarium Murder Mystery Dinner – Fort Walton Beach – $70.00 – View
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: Showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
TRAFFIC
Okaloosa County paves 180 miles of dirt roads, more than triple its original goal
Nearly all of Okaloosa County’s county-maintained dirt roads, almost 200 miles, are now paved because of the voter-approved infrastructure surtax, according to the county.
The county stabilized 180 miles of dirt roads in four years, leaving only a handful of roadways to be paved, the county said.
The effort started in 2020 as a “50 in 5” project by then-Commissioner Nathan Boyles, with a goal of stabilizing 50 miles of dirt roads in five years. The project ultimately stabilized all publicly maintained dirt roads with a limerock base, capped with either a chip-seal or hot-mix application.
The county said the improvements will give drivers a safer and smoother experience. Stabilized roads also allow hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to be saved in maintenance and fuel costs that were previously spent repairing roads washed out after rain events, according to the county.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Friday! 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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