SPONSORED BY
Good morning!
Eglin Federal Credit Union has signed a three-year naming rights deal for The Landing in Fort Walton Beach. The Gulfarium CARE Center released five rehabilitated sea turtles at Inlet Beach, and the inaugural Rally On the Court tournament raised more than $10,000 for childhood cancer research. Also, the Week 7 football recap, Dog Daze rescheduled to Oct. 17, and today’s weather outlook.
GIVING BACK
Inaugural Rally On the Court tournament raises more than $10,000 for childhood cancer research
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
The inaugural Rally On the Court pickleball and tennis tournament raised more than $10,000 for childhood cancer research, according to Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research – Gulf Coast.
Rally Gulf Coast held the two-day tournament Sept. 25-26 at the Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center in partnership with the city of Fort Walton Beach and USTA Florida.
The event brought together players, community partners, sponsors, volunteers and supporters to support children and families facing childhood cancer, according to the organization.
SPONSORED
Enjoy the drive
With new and used auto loan rates as low as 4.74% APR, it’s time to enjoy your next day out in the car, truck or SUV that you love.
Shop at any participating dealer and apply for on-site Eglin FCU financing or apply online at eglinfcu.org/auto.
From scenic rides to weekend getaways, enjoy the drive with Eglin Federal Credit Union. Where Members Matter Most.
GAMES
WordroW: October 5, 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.
NEWS
Gulfarium CARE Center releases five rehabilitated sea turtles at Inlet Beach
Five rehabilitated sea turtles returned to the Gulf on the morning of Oct. 1 when the Gulfarium CARE Center released them at Inlet Beach Regional Access.
A crowd gathered along the shoreline to watch loggerheads Waffles, Bashful and Pepper, Kemp’s ridley Buzz and green sea turtle Coconut go back into the water after their stays at the center. All five had been treated for hooks.
The release, along with several others scheduled throughout Walton County this year, was held in partnership with the St. Joe Community Foundation, which supports the center’s rescue and rehabilitation work.
“Being able to release five turtles in one morning is a great reminder of why every part of the rehabilitation process matters,” said Sarah Kamen, stranding coordinator at the Gulfarium CARE Center. “Each of these turtles came to us with a different story and different needs, and seeing them healthy and ready to return to the Gulf is what our team works toward every day.”
SPORTS
Week 7 recap: Choctaw posts shutout, South Walton tops Walton in overtime, Crestview earns first win
Choctaw shut out Escambia 41-0 on Thursday behind Baker Giles, who threw four touchdown passes and ran for another. South Walton handed Walton its first loss of the season, 21-14 in overtime, sealing it with a fourth-and-goal stop. For the first time this year, Crestview is victorious after rallying past Mitchell 27-21.
Destin improved to 3-2 with a 35-21 win over Northview as Donnie Couitt ran for three touchdowns and 168 yards, and Baker earned a dominant 50-16 win over FAMU DRS on homecoming.
Niceville fell to Godby 57-22, Fort Walton Beach came up short against Navarre 31-26, Freeport lost to Rutherford 47-42 on a walk-off 90-yard touchdown pass, and Rocky Bayou fell to Bozeman 47-14.
PROMOTED
Your family physicians. Still serving this community.
Thank You, Fort Walton Beach. We’re Still Here for You.
Thank you for the privilege and honor of allowing us to care for you and your families over the years. Serving the Fort Walton Beach community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers.
We are pleased to share some good news: we are still practicing and continuing to serve the community.
Dr. John E. Loudermilk has cared for patients in the area since 2021, and Dr. Chris G. Pappas has since 2012. Together, we are excited to welcome patients to our new MDVIP-affiliated practice, a personalized family medicine clinic located at 4608 Opa-Locka Lane, Suite 300, in Destin, FL.
Whether you’ve been a patient for years or are looking for a new healthcare home, we’d love the opportunity to care for you. Schedule a free meet-and-greet to learn more about our patient-centered approach to medicine by calling 850.904.4940 or visiting mdvip.com/DestinDocs.
EVENTS
Fort Walton Beach Chamber reschedules Dog Daze to Oct. 17 due to weather
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce postponed their annual Dog Daze event due to weather.
The event, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, will now take place Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Landing, 139 Brooks St. S.E., in Fort Walton Beach. The time and location remain the same.
The event is free and open to the public, and the Chamber is inviting the community to bring their dogs for a day of contests, local vendors and family-friendly fun.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
PARKS+REC
Eglin Federal Credit Union signs three-year naming rights deal for The Landing in FWB
Eglin Federal Credit Union and the city of Fort Walton Beach have announced a three-year Gold Sponsorship Agreement that includes naming rights for The Landing, the city’s outdoor venue for community events, concerts and celebrations.
Under the agreement, the venue will be known as “The Landing brought to you by Eglin Federal Credit Union.”
The commitment helps fund the free Concerts at The Landing music series, which consists of a fall series of eight concerts in September and October, a spring series of five concerts in May and a Fourth of July concert.
“At Eglin Federal Credit Union, we believe strong communities are built through meaningful connections and shared experiences,” said Neko Stubblefield, the credit union’s senior vice president of membership and community development. “This partnership reflects our commitment to enriching the lives of those we serve by supporting cultural arts, community engagement, and opportunities that bring families, friends, and neighbors together.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Monday! 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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124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548