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Good morning!
Let’s get to the news you need to know this morning…
TRAFFIC
Traffic nightmare: U.S. 98 construction causes major disruptions in Okaloosa County
The first day of planned lane closures on U.S. 98 in Okaloosa County created extensive traffic congestion on Monday, Oct. 22, disrupting daily commutes and prompting military leadership to take action.
- The construction project, which reduced traffic to one lane in each direction from Robys Drive to Woodland Park Circle, resulted in standstill traffic conditions throughout the day. The impact was felt across the community, from workers arriving late to their jobs to students experiencing delayed returns home in the evening.
Col. Patrick Dierig, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, responded to the situation by authorizing squadron commanders to implement flexible work schedules and alternate duty locations.
“Due to this week’s Hwy 98 construction impacts, I have authorized all 1 SOW squadron commanders maximum flexibility on how they manage work schedules, shifts, and alternate duty locations,” Dierig said in a Facebook statement.
- The base commander also announced that Child Development Centers and Youth Center facilities would remain open until all children were picked up, with late pickup fees waived for the week. Dierig indicated he is working with local leaders to address the situation.
The lane closure, which began Sunday night at 8 p.m., is scheduled to continue for seven days as crews install a drainage pipe beneath the U.S. 98 travel lanes. The work is part of a larger resurfacing project in the area.
Social media platforms saw numerous complaints from affected residents about the traffic conditions. The Florida Department of Transportation had previously announced that directional signage would be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
The construction project is scheduled to continue through Sunday, Oct. 27, weather permitting.
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POLITICS
Early voting begins across Okaloosa County with strong turnout
Nearly one in eight eligible Okaloosa County voters have already cast their ballots, with mail-in voting leading early voting numbers, according to data from the Supervisor of Elections office.
- Of the county’s 151,054 active eligible voters, 18,807 have voted so far, representing a 12.45% turnout. Mail-in ballots account for 11,005 votes, while 7,793 residents have utilized early voting locations.
Early voting continues at six locations across the county through November 2nd, with sites operating daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The available locations include:
- Okaloosa County Administration Building
- Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center
- Niceville Community Center
- Destin Community Center
- Crestview Community Center
- Crestview SOE office
Voters seeking additional information can visit www.voteokaloosa.gov or call (850) 689-5600.
HALLOWEEN
The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island to host family-friendly Halloween event on Oct. 31
The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island is set to become a Halloween hotspot again this year, offering a family-friendly celebration packed with activities for all ages.
- The event, scheduled for Thursday, October 31, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, promises an evening of trick-or-treating, live entertainment, carnival games, and costume contests.
Visitors will start their adventure at The Boardwalk’s Main Entrance, where they’ll receive a Treasure Map and a Kids Eat Free voucher. The map will guide participants to various merchants, each offering a unique “X” mark. Once completed, maps can be turned in at The Crab Trap for a special treat.
The event features an impressive lineup of entertainment.
- Star Wars Parjai Squad Characters will roam the Parking Lot Walkabout Parade, providing photo opportunities for attendees.
- DJ Mantra will keep the Halloween spirit alive with spooky tunes throughout the night.
- For pirate enthusiasts, Captain Davy + Kirby-Jake and The Crossbones will bring their swashbuckling antics to Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, stilt walkers, jugglers, and balloon artists will perform live throughout the event.
The Parking Lot Walkabout Parade will showcase local community participation, featuring organizations such as Grow Your Gift Conservatory of Music, Panhandle United Roller Derby, Okaloosa Island Fire Department, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Fort Walton Beach Public Library, Okaloosa County Beach Safety, Little Adventures, Emerald Coast Science Center, HCA Florida Fort Walton Destin Hospital, The Island Resort and more.
The celebration will conclude with a Grand Finale Fireworks Show at 8:00 PM, capping off the night’s festivities. The event is free and open to the public, offering a wide range of activities designed to include and entertain visitors of all ages.
A MESSAGE FROM COASTAL REALTY
Coastal Realty Services: 50 Years of local expertise and community commitment in FWB
Coastal Realty Services, a staple in the local real estate market since 1974, continues to evolve while maintaining its commitment to personalized service and community involvement.
- As the company celebrates its 50th anniversary, it’s also preparing for a leadership transition that promises to carry its legacy of excellence into the future.
Founded by Robert and Edna Hudgens, the company has grown from humble beginnings to become a significant player in the Emerald Coast real estate scene. Tyler Capelotti, Director of Property Management and Sales Agent at Coastal Realty Services, shared insights into the company’s history and future in a recent interview.
“Since 1974, it was Robert and Edna Hudgens, husband and wife. He was a military fighter pilot, and they settled here at the end of his career,” Capelotti explained. From 1974 to 1984, it was just Robert (known as “Big Bob”) and Edna running the business. Their son, also named Bob, joined in 1984, followed by daughter Denise in 1994.
The company’s growth has been substantial over the years. “In 1974, Coastal Realty was managing 30-40 houses, which was a big number,” Capelotti noted. “Now we’ve got about 650 doors throughout the local area.”
This growth has been facilitated by technological advancements. Capelotti highlighted the stark contrast between the company’s early days and its current operations: “Everything used to be done manually by paper, and CB radios in the cars to communicate back to the office. Now we have self-showings and automated scheduling, maintenance coordination programs and software.”
- The company has also expanded its team to meet growing demands. “We have a marketing director now, which was never heard of before,” Capelotti said. “We’ve got a staff of seven with about 200 years of experience combined.”
Coastal Realty Services prides itself on its lean, experienced staff. The company specializes in serving what Capelotti calls “accidental landlords” – often military personnel who purchased homes locally but were reassigned elsewhere.
“We’re grateful that we have the trust of those owners to manage that investment and keep eyes on it while they’re away,” he explained.
Community involvement has been a cornerstone of Coastal Realty Services’ philosophy since its inception. This commitment spans generations and continues to be a priority for the company.
COASTAL RESOURCES
Inaugural Lobster and Lionfish tournament supports artificial reef construction in Destin-Fort Walton Beach
The Emerald Coast Reef Association (ECRA) hosted its first Lobster and Lionfish Tournament last weekend, drawing more than 25 participants to The Deck at Destin Brewery. The event, held Oct. 18-19, raised more than $15,000 for artificial reef construction in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area while promoting marine conservation.
- Participants competed in three categories: largest spiny lobsters, slipper lobsters, and lionfish. Despite challenging sea conditions, all categories saw winners.
“Our tournament not only highlights the importance of maintaining healthy marine ecosystems but also brings together our community in a fun and engaging way,” said John Garland, ECRA’s president. “We’re thrilled with the turnout and the positive impact we’re making together. We can’t thank our sponsors enough, we could not have hosted this event without them.”
The Emerald Coast Scuba team dominated the competition, nearly sweeping all categories. Their most impressive catch was a 6.8-pound spiny lobster.
“Our area isn’t known for spiny lobster like other parts of the state. While we don’t have a lot of them, the ones we do have are big,” said Jason Dodd from Team Emerald Coast Scuba. “When I first saw the lobster underwater, I knew we had a winner and it would take teamwork to catch it.”
In the lionfish category, aimed at controlling the invasive species, the largest catch measured 16.14 inches and was also caught by the Emerald Coast Scuba team.
- Team Zookeeper, a sponsor of the event, traveled from south Florida to participate in the tournament. While they didn’t bag a winning lobster or lionfish, they managed to bring home dozens of invasive lionfish for dinner!
The Emerald Coast Reef Association is a local non-profit organization focused on marine ecosystem conservation along the Emerald Coast. Through education, community involvement, and sustainable practices, ECRA works to protect and restore ocean health for future generations.
In the past, ECRA has supported artificial reef projects with Destin High School and has worked alongside the Okaloosa Natural Resources Team, which oversees all artificial reef projects in Okaloosa County. Funds raised from the tournament will support the deployment of Prefabricated Modules in the next six months, expected to establish four to five new reef sites.
For full tournament results and membership information including access to a database of private artificial reef numbers, visit www.ecreef.org.
MILITARY
Eglin AFB to detonate six World War II-era bombs found in Choctawhatchee Bay near Shalimar
Divers from Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six will dispose of six unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Choctawhatchee Bay on Oct. 24 and 25, Eglin Air Force Base officials announced. This operation follows a similar disposal earlier this year.
- The disposal operations will take place between 7 a.m. and noon each day. The plan involves controlled detonations of the 80-year-old UXOs in their current locations.
The six 500-pound World War II-era UXOs were discovered during ongoing routine investigations of the Bay Legacy Range, according to Eglin officials.
This is not the first such operation in the area this year. In February, Navy divers disposed of three World War II-era UXOs found in the same bay.
- That operation included two 250-pound bombs and one 1000-pound bomb, which were discovered during an Air Force-funded routine remedial investigation of the Bay Legacy Range near Shalimar, Florida.
For safety reasons, people, vessels, and water-based activities are required to stay clear of the UXO safety zone during the specified times. The U.S. Coast Guard Destin and the Okaloosa Sheriff’s office will be present in the area to enforce the safety zone.
Eglin Air Force Base directs the public to consult the Marine Safety Information Bulletin for more details about the safety zone. The bulletin can be accessed at https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/mobile.
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