FISHING

Panhandle Freedive Classic spearfishing tournament back in Destin-FWB

Freedivers from around the Southeast gathered in Destin-Fort Walton Beach last weekend for the return of the Panhandle Freedive Classic tournament after a two-year hiatus.

• The event, presented by the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism, offered thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. It also aimed to maintain its presence as the premier regional freediving competition, according to tournament host Mike Pooler.

“Growing the sport of freediving and coupling that with spearfishing makes for a unique event in a destination already known for its rich fishing culture,” Pooler said. “We are extremely happy with the turnout and results. There were some big fish weighed in, and we can’t thank our sponsor enough. We could not have hosted this event without them.”

The tournament was held Oct. 6-8 and featured seven fish categories, including awards for top male, female and team. Every category, including the elusive pelagic fish, was filled – likely thanks to the area’s thousands of artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices.

Divers had the opportunity to harvest fish on Friday and Saturday, with the final weigh-in Sunday morning at La Paz restaurant in Destin. More than 60 fish were weighed by the tournament’s 35 registered divers.

• Keith Morrison landed a 24.15-pound red snapper, the winning catch. His team took first place overall.

“Being able to travel to the area from out of town and reliably find reefs and, more importantly, fish, even in less than ideal conditions, is a huge plus for divers no matter where they’re from,” Morrison said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to dive the area and participate again next year.”

Full results are available at www.aguaverdes.com.

BUSINESS

Job openings in Okaloosa top 5,100, while unemployment rate remains third lowest in state

On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Nathan Sparks, the Director of One Okaloosa EDC, gave an update to the Fort Walton Beach City Council during their regular meeting. 

• Sparks talked about the county’s low unemployment rate, along with a surge in available jobs here in Okaloosa County, both in manufacturing and STEM.

According to Sparks, the unemployment rate in Okaloosa County is 2.7%, the third lowest among Florida’s 67 counties. Sparks said Okaloosa trails only to Miami-Dade at 1.9% and Monroe County at 2%. 

• The statewide unemployment rate matches Okaloosa’s at 2.7%, a full point lower than the national rate of 3.8%.

Florida Commerce, formerly known as the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, has an online job demand tool where they scour the internet and curate what postings are currently up in each county and municipality. 

Sparks says the data shows 5,108 advertised job openings in Okaloosa as of August, up by almost 1,300 from the same month last year. He went on to say that openings in STEM-related fields totaled 799, up from 589 last August.

• “We have a lot more openings than we have people searching for work, which is a challenge,” Sparks said. “Keep in mind, there are only about 2,988 people, more or less, unemployed in Okaloosa County.”

On commercial space availability and manufacturing jobs, Sparks told the council that the City of Fort Walton Beach currently has 57 commercial and industrial buildings available for lease or sale. They range from 145 square feet to just under 25,000 square feet.

• The city has 2,044 registered businesses, Sparks said, with nearly 86% having fewer than 10 employees. “We are a community of small business. We’re a community of entrepreneurs,” he said.

With October being Manufacturing Appreciation Month, Sparks noted Fort Walton Beach accounts for 39% of Okaloosa’s manufacturing jobs, with 1,165 people working in manufacturing in the city. He said manufacturing has a “tremendous multiplier effect” in creating additional jobs.

CRIME

Two arrested with 500-grams of fentanyl-laced Oxycodone pills in Fort Walton Beach

Two Fort Walton Beach men were arrested on drug trafficking charges after fleeing from deputies and discarding bags of counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl on October 4, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.

• Tyrese Davis, 23, and Malik Coward, 18, face multiple charges after the incident.

Members of the sheriff’s office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force attempted a traffic stop on a red 2021 Jeep Wrangler in Fort Walton Beach, the agency said in a news release Thursday. Davis rammed a deputy’s vehicle while trying to flee, according to the release.

Investigators followed Davis to Odd Fellow Road, where Davis and Coward began throwing clear bags of pills from the vehicle, the release said. The men then abandoned the Jeep and ran before being caught after a short foot pursuit.

• The discarded pills tested positive for fentanyl and weighed more than 500 grams total, the sheriff’s office said.

Davis is charged with trafficking in fentanyl, fleeing and eluding, destruction of evidence and resisting arrest without violence. Coward faces charges of trafficking in fentanyl, destruction of evidence and resisting arrest.

The drug task force said it is working to combat illegal opioid distribution and use in Okaloosa County, “specifically counterfeit prescription tablets laced with opiates.” Authorities encourage the public to provide tips anonymously through EmeraldCoastCrimeStoppers.com.

SCHOOL

Silver Sands School celebrates new classroom additions, track, playground

The Okaloosa County School District held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday at Silver Sands School to celebrate a new four-classroom addition, parking lot, track and playground made possible by the voter-approved half-cent sales tax.

• Silver Sands School serves approximately 130 students ages 3 to 22 with disabilities that require services beyond regular schools’ special education programs. Students come from Okaloosa and Walton counties to attend the special day school.

“We’re so glad to have all our guests here,” said Principal Stephanie Wheat, addressing the crowd of district officials, local leaders and families gathered outside the new building. “We’re excited to show off what’s happened on our campus.”

Silver Sands opened in the 1960s after being started by parents. Over the decades, the campus has seen several additions and upgrades. The new four-classroom building marks the sixth addition, Wheat said.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers said the improvements at Silver Sands are examples of work being done at schools across the entire district thanks to the sales tax. He thanked the construction companies, maintenance staff and local officials who helped make the projects happen.

• “For our teachers, support professionals and students, this is something that is for you,” Chambers said, addressing the crowd from a podium set up near the new building.

Jason Belcher, who sits on the independent sales tax oversight committee, said the upgrades represent “a substantial generational change to the education experience here in the county.”

The committee’s job is ensuring the tax dollars are spent properly on the promised projects. Belcher said he and other members have toured the work being done.

“We represent the citizens who could not be more proud of the investment being made across the district,” Belcher said.

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

October 13, 2023 – Shelter House – Purses with a Purpose 2023 – View

October 13, 2023 – Opening Reception for “What’s in the Water” and Halloween Party – Free – View

October 13, 2023 – Italian Night at St. Simons on the Sound Episcopal Church – Donations – View

October 14, 2023 – Golden Paint Sponsored Workshop – $140 – $160 – View

October 14, 2023 – Saturday Outdoor Market – Free – View

October 14, 2023 – Shelter House – Purses with a Purpose 2023 – View

October 14, 2023 – Let the good times Boil – Free – $25 – View

October 14, 2023 – Golden Paints 2 Day Workshop – $140 – $160 – View

October 14, 2023 – Auburn vs LSU Game Watching Party – View

October 17, 2023 – Driver Safety Class from AARP – View

October 18, 2023 – Wednesday Night Concert Series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

October 19, 2023 – 7th Annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival – View

October 19, 2023 – Bubbly Baytowne – Free – View

October 21, 2023 – Clay with a Purpose – $25 – $30 – View

October 21, 2023 – Flying Needle Quilt Guild Boutique – – View

October 21, 2023 – Honoring Our Heroes – 9/11: America’s Response – View

October 21, 2023 – Sip & Science: Mystery at the Museum – $20 – $30 – View

October 25, 2023 – ADSO Monthly Luncheon and Guest Speaker – $15 – View

October 25, 2023 – UNPLUGGED feat. Erin Enderlin – View

October 25, 2023 – Wednesday Night Concert Series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

October 26, 2023 – 8th Annual Barktoberfest – – View

October 26, 2023 – Planetarium Special Feature: Spooky Secrets of the Stars – $10 – $12 – View

October 27, 2023 – Annamaria Cammilli Trunk Show – Free – View

October 27, 2023 – Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Arty Kick Off Party – $75 – View

NEWS

Okaloosa family stuck in Israel amid war after husband severely injured while swimming

A dream vacation turned into a nightmare for an Okaloosa family after the husband suffered a spinal cord injury while swimming in the Mediterranean Sea and became stranded when war broke out days later.  

• Jana McDonald, who owns Term Brokers Insurance in Fort Walton Beach, began sharing fun images and videos of her trip. However, they quickly turned into prayers requests from her family and friends back in the states.

On October 1, she and her husband Chris had about 45 minutes to swim in the Mediterranean Sea. The pair spent their time body surfing, much like they do on our beaches in Florida. McDonald says that after riding the waves several times, she went to look for Chris and found him face down in the water.

McDonald swam over and pulled Chris to shore. He was “blue all over” and lifeless as bystanders tried to help. Paramedics managed to revive him after eight minutes with no heartbeat and raced him to the hospital where he was put on life support. 

• “I have never felt more alone in my life,” wrote McDonald. “They pumped green sea water for days.”

McDonald provided more details on her husband’s injuries, indicating he suffered spinal synapse causing a bulging disc in his neck while swimming. She said doctors believe he passed out and drowned after being unable to move his arms and legs.  

• “The doctors said he only had less than a 20% chance of survival,” she explained. “He had so much magnesium in his body from the sea and he was facing kidney failure.”

On October 6, McDonald reported hearing sirens and explosions from Chris’ hospital room in Tel Aviv. Israel’s Iron Dome defense system was intercepting rockets fired by militants from Gaza.

Chris underwent emergency neck surgery and slowly regained consciousness, but is now unable to walk or use his hands. With her husband dependent on life support equipment, McDonald said the family was unable to move to the bunkers with the rest of the hospital when sirens sounded during subsequent rocket attacks.

McDonald wrote that Chris’ surgery was to prevent complete paralysis. She said he cannot press a call button for help and requires constant care, leaving the family stuck at the hospital.

• “We need all of you to continue to pray for our family and for Israel,” McDonald wrote, calling for prayers and positive energy as her husband recovers. “We saw two missiles out of our window and we could not go to shelter the first time because of his life support.”

Despite the trauma of seeing her husband near death, McDonald said their family has witnessed “miracles” during the ordeal. But with no way to evacuate her husband back to Florida amid the war, she is pleading for assistance getting him home.

“We made it through the day with no sirens and missiles, not sure if false security,” wrote McDonald on Wednesday. “So many people are in tears and are always looking for safe bunkers with every loud sound you hear. Please keep Chris in your prayers for healing. Pray for peace of all people, all religions.”

To help Jana, Chris and Hannah McDonald, you can donate to their GoFundMe page.

On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-208 (Emergency Management – Impacts of War in Israel). According to the Governor’s Office, there are more than 20,000 Americans, including Floridians like the McDonalds, in Israel who wish to return home but are unable to do so. 

• “This Executive Order allows the State of Florida to carry out logistical, rescue and evacuation operations to keep its residents safe,” wrote the Governor’s Office in a statement. “Specifically, this order enables the Florida Division of Emergency Management to bring Floridians home and transport necessary supplies to Israel.”

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