SPORTS

Choctawhatchee Volleyball becomes back-to-back District Champions after 3-0 victory

The Choctawhatchee High School varsity volleyball team made history this season, going undefeated against all Okaloosa County opponents in the regular season for the first time ever.

• The Indians captured the District 1-5A championship on Thursday by defeating Booker T. Washington 3-0. They finished the regular season ranked No. 9 in the state in Class 5A and No. 5 in Region 1-5A under head coach Andy Faulkner and Assistant Coach Challiss Topolski.

“When Challiss [Topolski] and I took this program over four years ago, the goal was always to build the top program in the county,” said Coach Faulkner. “Not just a single team but a lasting program.”

Led by a senior class with several three- and four-year starters, Choctaw relied on balance and depth en route to the district title. Senior outside hitter Morgan Grace directed the offense with 565 assists while contributing 26 aces and 171 digs. 

• Fellow senior Lucy Raines paced the team in kills with 221 and added 38 aces and 206 digs.

Three seniors – Raines, Bailey Gable (185 kills) and Stephanie Harrison (169 kills) – topped the squad in kills. Harrison posted a hitting percentage of .360, ranking ninth in 5A in that category. The senior middle blocker also had 34 blocks.

Anchoring the defense were seniors Gianna DeRosa with a team-high 224 digs and 36 aces and Raines with 376 serve receptions. Junior Addison Cudney chipped in 89 kills and 179 digs.

• Against county foes, Choctaw dominated over Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Crestview and Baker.

Faulkner said a key part of building the program has been developing relationships and supporting middle school coaches, as well as improving facilities such as the team’s new locker room.

• “We’ve focused on developing our players into the best student athletes they can be,” Faulkner said.

This was also the first year the Indians had a freshman team, which Faulkner said was needed due to increased enthusiasm and participation numbers in the program.

• “I’m very proud of these upperclassmen who have built the program into what it is,” Faulkner said. “We’re proud to be able to claim that we are the top volleyball program in Okaloosa for 2023 and as of Thursday back-to-back district champions.”

The Indians improved their record to 18-8 overall and 3-1 in district play. They advance to the regional quarterfinals next week against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

TRAFFIC

Highway 285 to close for test mission, noise advisory

The 96th Test Wing will conduct explosives testing on the Eglin range complex requiring the closure of Highway 285 on October 25, 2023.

• In addition, residents in the area will hear a noticeably louder than typical detonation during that time.

Testing will take place Oct. 25. The road will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Note, the road will not be closed for more than a 90-minute period. 

Back-up missions will be Oct. 26 – 31.

GIVING BACK

Destin High School unveils new training facility, Tripp Tolbert donates another $100,000

The Tripp Tolbert UP TO IT Training Facility was unveiled Thursday at Destin High School.

• The state-of-the-art weight and training room was named to honor Destin entrepreneur and philanthropist Tripp Tolbert, who donated $250,000 last year to build the facility.

Tolbert presented Destin High School Governing Board President Heidi LoCicero and the school with another check for $100,000 on Thursday to support athletic and academic programs.

• Of the new donation, $50,000 will go toward football, $25,000 to other athletics and the remaining $25,000 to academics, according to Tolbert who spoke to the crowd.

Tolbert believes in giving everything “Up To God,” crediting Him with blessing him abundantly so he can be a blessing to others.

Since the training facility’s completion, Shark athletes have been working out, training and setting new athletic records. The school’s football team had an impressive 6 game winning streak, volleyball a 15-4 record, with Shark golfers and the swim team setting personal records.

Head football coach EG Green credits much of the success to the popular weight room.

In October 2022, Tolbert made a major $1 million donation to the Destin High School Athletics Department, delivering the first $250,000 portion at a surprise student assembly.

• “We can’t take this money with us,” Tolbert said last year. “Let’s give back to our community. What better way to do that than to have a Destin High School for our kids, grandkids … to leave a legacy.”

THINGS TO DO

Silver Sands School to host ‘fish fry’ fundraiser before Vikings vs. Indians rivalry game

Silver Sands School is hosting a fish fry fundraiser on October 27 before the big crosstown high school football rivalry game between the Fort Walton Beach Vikings and the Choctawhatchee Indians.

• The fish fry will kickoff at 5pm on the school’s bus ramp, located at 349 Holmes Blvd., NW in Fort Walton Beach.

For $10, attendees can enjoy a meal of fried fish, hushpuppies, french fries and coleslaw prepared by Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant and Silver Sands students and staff. Students will also provide homemade desserts.

Proceeds from the fish fry will benefit Silver Sands School, a special day school that serves approximately 130 students ages 3-22 with disabilities from Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The fish served at the fundraiser will come from the school’s aquaponic greenhouse, which was funded by a grant several years ago. The tilapia have outgrown their tanks and need to be harvested, explained Principal Stephanie Wheat.

• “The purpose of our greenhouse is to help promote job skills with our students,” she said. “They come and work in the greenhouse, help with the fish, help with the plants.”

Before the fish fry begins, the school will host a ‘fishing rodeo’ where the students will actually fish in the tanks through catch and release.

• “Once the catch and release is finished for the day, then we harvest those fish and then we have a fish fry,” said Assistant Principal Pamela Tisza.

Local restaurateur Parker Destin, co-owner of Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurants, is supporting the fish fry by helping with the preparation and cooking.

“This is your opportunity to support the wonderful children and programming here at Silver Sands School,” Destin said. “You can take the food and head over to the football game at Steve Riggs Stadium beginning at 7:30pm. But the fish fry begins at 5pm at Silver Sands, on October 27th.”

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. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 26, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility and drainage work in the following locations:
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Ferry Road and Pier 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, Sunday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 26, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for construction activities. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• State Road (S.R.) 285 Resurfacing from S.R. 20 to S.R. 293 – The week of Sunday, Oct. 22, drivers may experience the following intermittent outside lane closures on southbound S.R. 285, from Adams Street to S.R. 20 (John Sims Parkway), for sidewalk work:
  • Nighttime lane closures Sunday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 26, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 
  • Daytime lane closures Monday, Oct. 23 through Friday, Oct. 27, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• S.R. 85 Resurfacing from North of Commerce Drive to Bill Lundy Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent outside lane closures on northbound S.R. 85, from Barnes Road to Auburn Road, Monday, Oct. 23 through Thursday, Oct. 26 for sidewalk and drainage work.

• S.R. 85 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Boggy Bayou – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures west of S.R. 285 Sunday, Oct. 22 and Monday, Oct. 23 from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.

• S.R. 293 Routine Bridge Inspection over Rocky Creek – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures north of S.R. 20 Monday, Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a routine bridge inspection.

• S.R. 293 Routine Bridge Inspection over Deer Moss Creek – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of S.R. 285 Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a routine bridge inspection.

• S.R. 293 Routine Bridge Inspection over Foxhead Branch – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures south of S.R. 85 Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a routine bridge inspection.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Pedestrian Underpass at Inlet Beach – Through the end of October, drivers may encounter intermittent temporary closures of the U.S. 98 westbound left turn lane between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., to allow crews to construct curb and gutter in the median.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 331 to Peach Creek – Drivers may encounter nighttime intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures, Sunday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations.

• 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. 23 through Thursday, Oct. 26 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for paving operations.

• S.R. 20 Routine Maintenance from U.S. 331 to County Road 883 (Old U.S. 331) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Oct. 23 through Thursday, Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for drainage operations.

GIVING BACK

Bronze Star Veteran surprised with news of a mortgage-free home in Crestview

Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Justin Day, a Bronze Star recipient who lost his leg in an IED blast in Afghanistan, was surprised with news on Saturday that he was chosen as the next recipient of a mortgage-free home from Building Homes for Heroes.

• Day was attending a fundraiser hosted by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors when it was revealed that he would receive a brand new home. 

The 30-year-old Day joined the Air Force in 2014 and served for six years as a combat controller, attached to Army Special Forces and Navy SEAL teams. His role was to direct airstrikes during missions.

In July 2018, while attached to an Army Special Forces team fighting ISIS militants in eastern Afghanistan, Day stepped on a pressure plate IED as he exited a building during a compound clearance. The blast blew off his right foot and severely injured his leg, which later required amputation above the knee.

• Day also suffered severe injuries to both hands, losing several fingers, as well as burns and a traumatic brain injury. Despite his wounds, he retained active duty status for two more years before being medically discharged in 2020.

For his service, Day earned the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Action Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal and many others.

Day now lives in Crestview with his two young sons, and is also where his new home will be built by Ferrin Campbell Construction.

• “It’s an honor to be a part of such a worthy cause, and we love to give back to our veterans,” said Ferrin Campbell III. “We are very excited for Justin and his family!”

Saturday’s fundraiser at Fort Walton Beach Bowl was hosted by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors. Since 2015, the organization has raised over $100,000 for Building Homes for Heroes.

Air Force Capt. Nathan Nelson, another wounded warrior who received a home through the program, also attended. Nelson was paralyzed in a rocket attack in Afghanistan and received a mortgage-free home in Santa Rosa Beach in 2017.

• Building Homes for Heroes has gifted over 345 specially adapted homes to injured veterans nationwide since its founding in 2006.

Moving forward, ECAR’s Building Homes for Heroes Task Force is working hard to get the survey complete and get closer to breaking ground. According to Chrissy Hartley, ECAR’s Building Homes for Heroes Task Force Chair, Day and his family will be in attendance  for the groundbreaking where he will get the chance to turn the first dirt.