SCHOOL

40-year-old Longwood Elementary gets major upgrades thanks to half-cent sales tax

A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday at Longwood Elementary School in Shalimar to mark the completion of major renovations and additions to the campus.

• Members of the Okaloosa County School District, elected officials, representatives from the Half Cent Sales Tax Capital Program Citizens Oversight Committee, contractors Jacobs-Titan and Lord and Son, and community members attended the event to celebrate and tour the upgraded school.

“Thanks to the Half Cent Sales Tax Program approved by Okaloosa County voters in 2020, our school district is making many much-needed updates to buildings throughout the district and planning new school construction,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said.

Longwood Elementary School was built 40 years ago with an open concept and pod-style classrooms. This summer, Jacobs-Titan and Lord and Son Construction installed walls to divide up the rooms and create a more enclosed classroom environment.

• “We now have new walls, flooring, furniture, roofing and state-of-the-art technology. We are equipped to prepare the leaders of tomorrow!” said Longwood Principal Lisa Tucker.

The school district plans to hold more ribbon cuttings soon to open new classroom additions, cafetoriums and multipurpose buildings. More information on the district’s Half-Cent Sales Tax Capital Program is available online.

SPORTS

Shalimar Wildcats prevail in “Battle of the Bridge” against FWB Buccaneers

The Shalimar Wildcats defeated the cross-town rival Fort Walton Beach Buccaneers 13-7 on Saturday in the annual “Battle of the Bridge” youth football game.

The rivalry game is organized by the Panhandle Youth Football Association and featured four teams squaring off at Shalimar Elementary School based on age groups:

• Boomers (5-6 years old)
• PeeWees (7-8)
• Juniors (9-10)
• Seniors (11-12)

The senior teams determine who takes home the trophy and bragging rights. The Buccaneers had won the previous two years, with the trophy residing in the office of Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson.

This year, the Wildcats prevailed with a score of 13-7. Shalimar Mayor Mark Franks took home the trophy on behalf of his town’s team.

• “We are so proud of these young athletes. Both teams played hard, but the Wildcats brought the championship trophy home this year,” said Mayor Franks. “Thank you for the invite and congratulations Wildcats!! We will proudly display the trophy in Town Hall.”

Despite the loss, Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson was proud of the way the Buccaneers played saying “they played with a lot of heart.”

• He told the team post-game: “We’re going to come back next year and we’re going to get the trophy back.”

SCHOOL

‘Beverly Hillbillies’ hits the stage at Fort Walton Beach High School

The Fort Walton Beach High School Theatre Department will present the comedy “The Beverly Hillbillies” Oct. 19-22.

• Performances of the stage adaptation of the classic 1960s sitcom will be held at the Fort Walton Beach High School Auditorium. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and 3 p.m. Oct. 22.

Tickets are $12 and must be purchased online at gofan.co. The show is family-friendly but may not hold the attention of young children.

The show features 21 characters based on those from the original series about a poor family from the Ozarks who move to upscale Beverly Hills, California after striking oil on their land, according to director Ron Morse.

Morse, in his second year teaching theater at the high school, said the script made his students laugh from their first reading.

• “It has been a lot of fun introducing my students to these characters and this style of storytelling,” he said. “They embraced the script in the first read through. They were laughing at every joke. I knew we had a script they could enjoy working so hard to produce.”

Senior Acacia Yates, who has been actively involved with the program all 4 years, said she’s glad the show offers opportunities for new students.

“I’m glad this show offers so many opportunities for freshman and people new to the program,” she said. “Looking back on my experiences on this stage, I know what lies ahead for them. I’m glad I get to be a part of their first show, as I finish my time here. It goes so fast, so I’m enjoying every moment on this stage.” 

Morse said the goal of the show is to give the audience “a laugh.”

“The Clampetts might not be ready for Beverly Hills, but Beverly Hills is certainly not ready for the Clampetts,” Morse said, quoting a line from the play he particularly enjoys.

After “The Beverly Hillbillies,” the theater department will stage “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” Feb. 15-18.

For more information, contact Morse at 850-833-3300.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton Counties 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:                           

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience traffic disruptions Sunday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 12, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility and drainage work in the following locations:
  • U.S. 98 westbound right turn lane to access Perry Road will have intermittent nighttime closures. Drivers will be able to make a right turn from the U.S. 98 westbound outside lane to access Perry Avenue.
  • Intermittent temporary lane shifts will occur on Brooks Street between Perry Avenue to Florida Blanca Place.
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Ferry Road and Pier Road.
  • Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road.
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.

• U.S. 98 Bridge Rehabilitation over East Pass Bridge – Drivers may encounter intermittent single-lane closures on U.S. 98 over East Pass (Marler) Bridge, eastbound structure (Fort Walton Beach to Destin) Sunday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 12, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for construction activities. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• U.S. 98 Improvements from Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast- Drivers may encounter temporary U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures, from Mary Esther Boulevard to Florida Place Southeast, to allow crews to adjust manholes and for roadway reconstruction activities, Sunday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 12, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

• State Road (S.R.) 285 Resurfacing from S.R. 20 to S.R. 293 – Drivers may encounter intermittent, outside lane closures on southbound S.R. 285, from East College Boulevard to Adams Street, Sunday, Oct. 8 through Friday, Oct. 13, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for sidewalk work and to place sod.

• S.R. 85 Improvements from S.R. 123 to Hospital Drive – This week, drivers will encounter temporary inside northbound lane closures on S.R. 85 at the Shoal River Bridge, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. to allow crews to perform work on the bridge approach. The S.R. 85 outside the northbound travel lane will remain open.

• State Road (S.R.) 20 Turn Lane Operations near the Okaloosa County Line – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 13 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for turn lane operations.

• U.S. 98 Routine Bridge Inspection over East Pass – Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures at west of S.R. 293 Tuesday, Oct. 10 and Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine bridge inspection.

• S.R. 85 Routine Bridge Inspection over Boggy Bayou – Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures west of S.R. 285 Sunday, Oct. 8 and Monday, Oct. 9 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge inspection.

• S.R. 20 Routine Bridge Inspection over Swift Creek – Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures east of S.R. 285 Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge inspection.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 331 to Peach Creek – Drivers may experience the following traffic disruptions the week of Sunday, Oct. 8:
  • Nighttime intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures, Sunday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 12, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and signalization work.
  • Daytime intermittent U.S. 98 inside shoulder closures, Monday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 13, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. as crews place sod in the median.

• Interstate 10 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 331 to east of County Road 183 Overpass – Drivers will encounter intermittent westbound and eastbound daytime lane closures Monday, Oct. 9 through Thursday, Oct. 12 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for paving operations.

WEATHER

Strong winds, dangerous surf and heavy rainfall expected in Okaloosa this week

A wave of low pressure moving along a frontal boundary across the northern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday will bring gale-force winds, dangerous surf conditions and localized heavy rainfall to Okaloosa County through late Wednesday night, according to a weather briefing from Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox.

A Gale Watch has been issued for Alabama and western Florida panhandle Gulf waters out to 60 nautical miles for potential easterly winds sustained up to 25-30 knots and frequent gusts around 40 knots along with seas building to 6-11 feet by Wednesday afternoon through late Wednesday night, Maddox said.

• Gusts up to 35-40 mph are also possible along coastal Alabama and the western Florida panhandle counties Wednesday afternoon and evening, and a Wind Advisory may be issued, he said.

Maddox said surf along coastal Alabama and the western panhandle could build to 5-8 feet by Wednesday evening and night with a high risk of deadly rip currents through the end of the week. A Surf Advisory is likely.

The system is forecast to bring 1-3 inches of rainfall to much of the area, with localized totals above 4 inches possible by late Wednesday night, Maddox said.

The heaviest amounts are expected along and east of Interstate 65 and near the coast. Though flash flooding potential is low considering dry conditions, minor flooding of urban and low-lying areas can’t be ruled out, especially near the coast Wednesday afternoon through late Wednesday night, he said.

Maddox said any severe weather threat looks to remain offshore at this time as the warm front is forecast to remain over Gulf waters.

• “It currently appears that the warm front will remain positioned offshore, so any severe weather concerns presently look to remain confined to our marine area with this system,” he said.

TRAVEL

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport to host TSA PreCheck Enrollment event in November

IDEMIA is holding a pre-check enrollment event at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport from Nov. 13-17 and Nov. 28-Dec. 1.

• IDEMIA, a TSA enrollment services provider, will have a mobile enrollment station set up in front of the airport terminal on the second curb. Interested travelers can make appointments online at TSAenrollmentbyIDEMIA.tsa.dhs.gov.

To enroll, applicants need to bring a U.S. passport or certified birth certificate along with another government-issued photo ID. Names must match on all documents. The enrollment process involves filling out a form, which can be done online ahead of time, and providing fingerprints on site.

Once approved, TSA PreCheck members can use expedited screening lanes at 200+ airports nationwide for five years. PreCheck lanes allow travelers to keep shoes, light jackets and belts on and leave laptops and liquids in carry-on bags. 

• Most PreCheck passengers wait five minutes or less to be screened.

The upcoming enrollment event at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport will take place on the second level curb in front of the terminal. Parking is available in Lot A. 

• Hours are 9am-noon and 1-5pm each day. 
• The enrollment station will be closed Saturday, Nov. 18 and Monday, Nov. 27.

To participate in this local enrollment event, follow these steps to pre-enroll

1. Click here to access the application page.
2. Click “Start Application Now”, then click “New Enrollment”.
3. Fill out steps and choose “Next” at the bottom of each screen.
4. Select the location “Eglin, FL – Truck Pop-Up: VPS 11/13-11/17 & 11/28-12/1” and click Next.
5. Select your desired appointment time (Please be sure to make note of your appointment time).

The application fee is $78 and can be paid by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.