GIVING BACK

‘Thank a Teacher’ campaign launches across Okaloosa County schools

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and the Okaloosa County School District announced a new partnership Monday aimed at thanking and celebrating teachers.

• The “Thank a Teacher” program encourages students, families and staff to share stories about teachers who have made a positive impact, whether through inspiring lessons, supportive words or their overall influence.

Nominations can be submitted through a form on the school district’s website starting Monday. Each month, one teacher will be selected and highlighted on social media as part of the Thank a Teacher campaign.

Event sponsors HCA Florida Healthcare, which operates HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Okaloosa County, will give each teacher selected $250.

“Every day, our teachers make a difference as they help prepare students to make the next step in life, whether it is college, the military, or the workforce, and they are sometimes the unsung heroes who do so much behind the scenes without seeking recognition,” stated Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “To that end, we are grateful and appreciative of the partnership with HCA Florida Healthcare to allow our parents and students to nominate teachers for their dedication to the teaching profession and daily positive impacts on students’ lives.”

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital CEO Zach McCluskey said the company is “thankful for the continued partnership” with the school district and looks forward to helping recognize teacher impacts.

• Who are you going to nominate? Nominations can be submitted on the Thank a Teacher webpage.

COASTAL RESOURCES

The deal with Devil Rays

Last week, the Okaloosa Coastal Resource Team went scouting for Devil Rays of the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Throughout the morning, the team observed dozens of Devil Rays and were able to successfully tag some as part of their ongoing research efforts.

• The Okaloosa Coastal Resource Team is partnering with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to educate locals and visitors about devil rays and an ongoing research project during a free event on November 9th.

The Deal with Devil Rays event will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Island Resort on Okaloosa Island. Attendees will learn how to identify different types of rays, what makes devil rays unique, and details on the collaborative devil ray tagging and tracking research.

The event will feature scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory, who will provide updates on their ongoing devil ray research project and explain how acoustic tagging works.

• Attendees will also learn how to distinguish between the different types of rays spotted locally, including devil rays, manta rays, cownose rays, stingrays, and spotted eagle rays.

Learn more

POLICE BLOTTER

Man killed after firing at Okaloosa County deputies responding to domestic call

A 58-year-old Panama City man was fatally shot by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Monday morning after firing multiple shots at law enforcement officers responding to an armed domestic disturbance call, authorities said.

Jose Antonio Medina refused to cooperate when two Okaloosa County deputies arrived at the townhome in the Wright area around 6:30 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

• Medina ran to a bedroom, retrieved a gun and began firing at the deputies trying to subdue him. One deputy returned fire, striking Medina, who died at the scene.

Neither deputy was injured in the shooting, nor was the victim who had contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report that Medina, a former boyfriend, had refused to leave her home after threatening to shoot and kill her, the statement said.

“The deputy was forced to take action when Medina pulled a gun and fired at them,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “We are incredibly grateful both our deputies who responded to protect the homeowner were not harmed. This incident reinforces the inherent dangers law enforcement officers face on a daily basis, and also how critical their training is in handling situations which can unexpectedly turn violent and life-threatening in mere seconds.”

The deputies involved were placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting, which is standard protocol for use-of-force incidents, authorities said.

GIVING BACK

Impact100 Northwest Florida awards $400,000 to local nonprofits

Impact100 Northwest Florida awarded four $100,000 grants to local nonprofits at its annual meeting Sunday in Fort Walton Beach.

• The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida received a grant for its “Exhibit Hall to Save Our Local Historical Treasures” project under the arts and culture category.

• The Emerald Coast Science Center was awarded an education grant for its “Across the Universe: Planetarium Project” and the Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation received a grant for its “Cases for Kids” project.

• The EOD Warrior Foundation was awarded a grant under the health and wellness category to support the physical, emotional and financial health of local veterans.

“We are proud to support the projects of our four 2023 grant recipients,” said Impact100 Northwest Florida President Carly Barnes in a statement. “Each of them is making a tremendous impact in our community and touching the lives of those underserved in Okaloosa and Walton counties.”

The $400,000 in grant money awarded Sunday was made possible through donations from Impact100 members, who pay $1,000 each to form $100,000 grants. The organization has no limit on membership and aims to engage women in Okaloosa and Walton counties to raise money for local causes.

Since its founding in 2012, Impact100 Northwest Florida has awarded over $4.5 million in grants to nonprofits in the area. One hundred percent of members’ contributions go directly to grant awards rather than administrative costs.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton Counties Traffic Advisory

Okaloosa County:                                  

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience traffic disruptions Sunday, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 9, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility work and construction activities 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 east and westbound U.S. 98 over East Pass (Marler) Bridge, Sunday, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 9, 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, Nov. 5, 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, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 9, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 
  • Daytime lane closures Monday, Nov. 6 through Friday, Nov. 10, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast – Drivers may encounter U.S. 98 east and westbound single-lane closures, from Mary Esther Boulevard to Florida Place Southeast, Sunday, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 9, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., to allow crews to lower manholes, and for milling and paving operations.

• S.R. 293 Routine Bridge Inspection over Swift Creek and Mill Creek – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures north of S.R. 285 Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine inspections.

• I-10 Routine Maintenance near Exit 45 (Log Lake Road) – Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for guardrail repair.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Pedestrian Underpass at Inlet Beach – This week, drivers will encounter U.S. 98 east and westbound single-lane closures near the County Road (C.R.) 30A intersection between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for paving operations.

• 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, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations.

• I-10 Resurfacing from East of U.S. 331 to East of C.R. 183 Overpass – Drivers will encounter intermittent westbound and eastbound daytime lane closures Monday, Nov. 6 through Thursday, Nov. 9 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for paving operations.

CRAB ISLAND

House approves Gaetz amendment to protect Crab Island vendors from federal regulation

An amendment to H.R. 4821 to limit federal oversight of commercial vendors at Crab Island in Destin passed the U.S. House last Thursday, capping a long debate over the popular destination.

• The amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz bars federal agencies like the National Park Service (NPS) from implementing new restrictions on the dozens of small businesses that operate on the shallow sandbar just north of the Destin bridge.

Gaetz said his proposal aims to protect the “mom and pop” vendors who operate at the iconic local attraction that draws thousands of visitors each year. He argued that existing cooperation between state, county and city officials has successfully regulated commercial activity on the submerged sandbar for decades.

“There is an eclectic attraction in my district in Northwest Florida. It’s called Crab Island, but it’s actually not an island at all,” Gaetz said on the House floor. “It’s a sandbar where people go and enjoy swimming, snorkeling, fishing, maybe a refreshment or even a hot dog or boiled peanuts.”

But U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, argued on the House floor that the amendment would prevent federal land agencies from properly overseeing concessions on public lands under their jurisdiction. She said exempting Crab Island vendors from updated federal regulations and oversight could jeopardize public health and safety.

• “The amendment eliminates the ability to manage the issuance of a permit based on current or past performance, which creates conditions that place workers, visitors, and park resources at risk from some commercial services,” Pingree said prior to the vote.

As part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Crab Island falls under the oversight of the NPS per federal law. Late last year, the agency proposed changes to vendor permits and designated operating zones that raised strong objections from Gaetz, Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner and local business owners.

Gaetz said federal oversight would devastate families who have built small businesses on Crab Island over decades. He cited written support for his amendment from the Destin City Council.

The council passed a resolution back in August formally aligned themselves with Gaetz in opposing unilateral federal control over Crab Island vendors. Mayor Wagner has argued that the city, county and state have successfully managed Crab Island through a cooperative alliance with vendors.

• “Local government should hold the power to manage and maintain our natural resources and businesses,” Wagner said earlier this year. “If we allow government overreach to continue, we give up the privilege to self-govern and lose our local voice and freedom.”

The amendment approved Thursday prohibits federal agencies from finalizing or enforcing any new Crab Island policies under the controversial NPS plan. It is part of a 2024 appropriations bill funding the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency.

The amendments reads:

“CRAB ISLAND AREA COMMERCIAL SERVICES STRATEGY SEC. lll. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize or implement a Commercial Services Strategy for the Crab Island Area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.“

“Unfortunately, federal bureaucrats at the Department of Interior are trying to impose a commercial services strategy that will put our mom-and-pop businesses out of business, that will limit the enjoyment of Crab Island, and won’t do anything to make people safer,” said Congressman Gaetz in a statement on Monday. “Because we had a single-subject spending bill on the Department of the Interior, I was able to go to the floor of the House of Representatives to make the case that our state and local governments are best prepared to manage Crab Island, not the federal Department of the Interior.” 

• “I want to thank the great folks at the City of Destin who passed a resolution in support of my legislative efforts to keep local and state control over Crab Island, not to have federal intervention that will limit the entrepreneurism and a lot of the fun,” he added.