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Good morning!
Two crosstown rivals square off tonight as Choctawhatchee hosts Fort Walton Beach in a key district football game at 7 p.m.
- The Indians (6-2, 2-0) have been dominant this season, leading their district while averaging 28.6 points per game. Meanwhile, the Vikings (3-5, 0-2) are seeking their first district win of the season.
Tonight’s matchup features two of the area’s top rushers. Choctawhatchee’s Von’tavius Keller leads with 147.4 yards per game, while Fort Walton Beach’s Anthony Gassaway averages 71.3 yards on the ground.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
MILITARY
Navy divers complete disposal of World War II-era bombs in Choctawhatchee Bay
Navy divers completed the disposal of World War II-era unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Choctawhatchee Bay near Shalimar on Oct. 24, with the second day of operations canceled, Eglin Air Force Base officials announced.
- The Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six from Panama City conducted the controlled detonations during the morning hours of Oct. 24. The operation scheduled for Oct. 25 was canceled.
The disposed ordnance were part of six 500-pound World War II-era UXOs discovered during routine investigations of the Bay Legacy Range. The operations continued a series of similar disposals in the area this year.
This week’s operation followed a February mission where Navy divers disposed of three World War II-era UXOs in the same bay. The earlier operation included two 250-pound bombs and one 1,000-pound bomb, which were discovered during an Air Force-funded routine remedial investigation near Shalimar, Florida.
During the operation, the U.S. Coast Guard Destin and the Okaloosa Sheriff’s office maintained a safety zone, keeping the area clear of vessels and water-based activities.
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TRAFFIC
Traffic shift completed on U.S. 98 near Brooks Bridge on Okaloosa Island
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed shifting U.S. 98 travel lanes onto a temporary roadway between Brooks Bridge and Pier Road on Okaloosa Island.
- The new traffic configuration maintains two lanes in each direction while creating space for construction crews to begin work on the new westbound Brooks Bridge structure.
Motorists should expect intermittent nighttime lane closures from Ferry Road to Pier Road between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.
The traffic shift marks a significant milestone in the $171 million Brooks Bridge Replacement Project. The project will replace the current four-lane bridge, which has served the area since 1966, with two new parallel bridges expanding capacity to six travel lanes.
Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2027.
POLITICS
Early voting turnout doubles in Okaloosa County, reaching 25% of eligible voters
Voter turnout has more than doubled in Okaloosa County since early voting began, with one in four eligible voters now having cast their ballots, according to the latest data from the Supervisor of Elections office.
- As of Friday morning, 38,525 of the county’s 151,054 active eligible voters have participated, pushing the turnout rate to 25.50%. Early voting sites have processed 24,509 ballots, significantly outpacing the 13,991 mail-in votes received.
Early voting continues through November 2nd at six locations throughout the county, with all sites operating daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters can cast their ballots at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center, Niceville Community Center, Destin Community Center, Crestview Community Center and Crestview SOE office.
For more information about voting locations or procedures, residents can visit www.voteokaloosa.gov or call (850) 689-5600.
POLITICS
Fort Walton Beach begins process to fill council vacancy, Schmidt seeks return
The Fort Walton Beach City Council initiated steps Tuesday to fill a council seat left vacant by David Schmidt, who resigned by law to pursue a bid for the Okaloosa County School Board that was ultimately unsuccessful.
- The council voted to adopt the same appointment process used to fill a previous vacancy left by Larry Patrick, which involves council members ranking their top three candidates before making a final selection.
“Being elected seven years and seven months ago for the first time, and being elected a couple of years ago again with a strong amount of voter support, I’m advocating to fill that vacancy,” Schmidt told the council during public comments, expressing interest in returning to his former seat to finish his remaining original term.
Schmidt’s resignation became effective Oct. 21, following his revised resignation notice submitted Oct. 17. The initial resignation had been set for Nov. 19.
City Attorney Kimberly Kopp explained that under the city charter, the council must accept nominations during at least two general meetings following the vacancy. The first round of nominations began Tuesday, with Council Member Nic Allegretto nominating Schmidt for the position.
- “I think it’s important that it gives other people an opportunity to be a part of the process,” Allegretto said, while noting his support for Schmidt. He encouraged interested residents to come forward during the nomination period.
The council will accept a second round of nominations at their Nov. 19 meeting, with the final appointment scheduled for Dec. 17. The appointed member will serve until the next city election in March 2025.
BUSINESS
Governor DeSantis appoints three to the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority
Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed former Boeing senior manager Robert Marinan and reappointed Gordon Fornell and James Wood to the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority, a state-established independent district that manages bridge operations and toll collection.
The Mid-Bay Bridge Authority, created in 1986, is responsible for planning, constructing, operating, and maintaining the bridge across Choctawhatchee Bay. The authority works in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation through a lease-purchase agreement, with the department handling operations and maintenance funded by toll revenues.
- The appointments bring together three retired military officers to serve on the authority’s five-member voting board.
Marinan, of Destin, served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force before working as a senior manager at Boeing. He currently serves on the Defense Support Initiative, where he previously served as chair, and is a member of the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.
Fornell, from Niceville, retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant General. He serves on the Defense Support Initiative and participates in both the Okaloosa County and Niceville Military Affairs Committees.
Wood, a Destin resident and former city council member, retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. His military service earned him multiple honors, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Joint Services Achievement Medal.
All three appointees hold advanced degrees, with Marinan and Wood earning master’s degrees in public administration from the University of West Florida and Auburn University, respectively. Fornell completed his master’s degree in public policy and transportation at the University of Pennsylvania.
COMING SOON
Okaloosa County to break ground on $40.8M water reclamation facility
Okaloosa County officials will break ground on a new $40.8 million water reclamation facility on Nov. 1.
- The Shoal River Ranch Water Reclamation Facility, to be built on 20 acres at the corner of Jericho Road and U.S. Highway 90, will have an initial processing capacity of 1.25 million gallons of wastewater per day.
“Okaloosa County has steadily worked to improve infrastructure as our population grows,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. “This new facility recognizes the forward-thinking of our Water & Sewer staff and it will provide the necessary sewer service required for residents in the area while also providing opportunities for businesses who may want to take advantage of the amenities at the Shoal River Ranch.”
The state-of-the-art facility will include modern plant components, related infrastructure, on-site effluent disposal, and future public access to reclaimed water for irrigation and industrial use.
The project will enable new subdivisions in the area to connect to public sewer systems instead of relying on septic tanks.
- Funded through a combination of federal and state grants and a state legislative appropriation, the facility is designed with expansion in mind, with some components built at higher capacity to accommodate future growth.
The project scope includes a site access road and extensions of water, sewer, and fiber lines. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
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