SPONSORED BY
Good morning!
The Okaloosa County School District will open a second Employee Health Clinic in Crestview after its first clinic logged 1,489 visits. Okaloosa County will bury 28 people who died without family or means at its annual Lazarus memorial service Nov. 2, and a “Building The Hub” fundraiser will support a planned autism center in Crestview. Also, Casino Night returns Oct. 22, and Destin volleyball’s breakthrough season.
GIVING BACK
Okaloosa to bury 28 people who died without family or means at annual Lazarus memorial service
Twenty-eight people who died in Okaloosa County without the means to provide for their own burial will be laid to rest Monday, Nov. 2, during the annual Lazarus Field Memorial Service at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach.
The ecumenical ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and brings together more than 30 clergy and members of various faith communities, according to Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel. This year’s service will memorialize individuals ranging in age from 43 to 90, Ketchel said.
The service provides a burial for the cremains of people who otherwise would not have funeral services.
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 6, 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.
EVENTS
All Sports Association’s Casino Night returns Oct. 22 with $10,000 Raffle Royale grand prize
The All Sports Association will host its fourth annual Casino Night + Raffle Royale on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Legendary Marine Showroom in Destin, where one ticket holder will win a $10,000 cash prize.
This year, a single $100 ticket covers the full evening. Each ticket includes dinner by The Bald and Beard Restaurant Group, a casino gaming ticket and an entry into the Raffle Royale drawing.
“Casino Night has become one of our favorite events of the year,” said Drew Armacost, Treasurer of the All Sports Association. “For $100, you get dinner, a night of casino gaming and a shot at $10,000, and every ticket helps local kids who play sports.”
EVENTS
Destin invites residents to annual Open House with fish fry, live music Oct. 21
The City of Destin will hold its annual Open House from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Community Center on Stahlman Avenue in Destin.
The event will include a fish fry, live music, a caricature artist, a photo booth and more. Residents are invited to stop by, meet City staff and enjoy the afternoon. There is no cost to attend.
This year’s theme is “red, white & blessed (blue),” an Americana celebration honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary.
SPORTS
Destin volleyball’s breakthrough season has Lady Sharks eyeing the playoffs
It’s a breakthrough year for the Lady Sharks.
After years of promising season after promising season, Destin is making quite the splash in 2026. Under first-year head coach Dominic Fasula, Destin is 10-6 overall and 2-0 in district play, with all six losses coming against schools in Class 4A or larger.
The Lady Sharks are in position for not just a playoff berth, but very well could end up with the first home playoff game in Destin High School history.
“It’s been a special group to coach this year. They’ve really stepped up past couple of games, sky’s the limit for them, it’s a great opportunity to put Destin on the map,” Fasula said.
SPONSORED
Your Coastal Home Starts Here
Buying or selling on the Emerald Coast is more than a transaction. It’s personal.
Lisa Buchman with Realty ONE Group Emerald Coast brings deep local market knowledge, relationships built on trust, and a proven track record of skilled negotiation to every move.
Whether you’re finding your first place near the water or your forever piece of paradise, she’s there to guide you every step of the way.
Let’s make your next move your best move.
COMING SOON
‘Building The Hub’ fundraiser to support comprehensive autism center planned for Crestview
A community fundraiser later this month will benefit a planned comprehensive autism center in Crestview.
The Hub Comprehensive Autism Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Gabrielle Griffith, owner of 850 Therapy, LLC. The center aims to bring services that families of autistic individuals often have to piece together across multiple providers and locations under one roof.
Planned services include occupational, physical and speech therapy, applied behavior analysis, autism evaluations, educational support, tutoring, social skills programming, life skills training, transition support and resources for parents and caregivers. The center is designed to serve individuals from early childhood through adulthood across Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa School District to open second Employee Health Clinic in Crestview after first clinic logs 1,489 visits
The Okaloosa County School District will add a second Employee Health Clinic in Crestview after the Okaloosa County School Board approved the Marathon Health Services Agreement during its Sept. 28 meeting.
The second clinic is projected to open in spring 2027, according to the district. It will give employees and their dependents in north Okaloosa County another option for accessing healthcare services through the district’s partnership with Marathon Health.
The district held a ribbon-cutting for its first Employee Health Clinic earlier this year at the Okaloosa Technical College Fort Walton Beach Campus on Lewis Turner Boulevard. The clinic, operated in partnership with Marathon Health, serves district employees and their dependents.
Since opening, the clinic recorded 1,489 visits from district employees and their dependents, according to the district. Clinic data also shows a 60% employee usage rate, and 64.9% of patients are making progress toward their health goals.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Tuesday! 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
Published with ♥ by Get The Coast.
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here.
124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548