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Good morning!
The SS United States has come to rest on the Gulf floor as the world’s largest artificial reef. We have three videos: awaiting the deployment with Scott and Whitney Smith, a “Shadow Puppet” show on the ship, and its final moments. Okaloosa unveiled its second Charters of Freedom monument and celebrated new women veteran statues on Veterans Day, and HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital unveiled a Veterans Wall. Plus, How I Work with Tyler Capelotti, and Niceville girls soccer’s strong start.
COASTAL RESOURCES
SS United States comes to rest on the Gulf floor as the world’s largest artificial reef
The SS United States sank around 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, becoming the world’s largest artificial reef.
Okaloosa County moved the deployment up a day because of forecast heavy winds, putting the 990-foot ocean liner’s final voyage on Veterans Day. Operations began at 1 p.m. and took longer than projected. The county said the ship was “fully flooded” around 4:45 p.m., and she went down quickly after water reached her doors around 8:40 p.m.
The county bought the ship for $1 million in 2024 and spent more than a year preparing her in Mobile. She is expected to rest in about 180 feet of water, with upper decks reachable by divers of all skill levels.
WATCH: Videos from yesterday:
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GAMES
WordroW: November 12, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
HOW I WORK
How Coastal Realty Services’ Tyler Capelotti balances school drop-offs, client coffees and three new conversations a day
“How I Work” is brought to you by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Join the most influential organization in Okaloosa. Learn more here.
Tyler Capelotti is out of bed by 6 a.m. every day, never later. He packs lunches for his daughters, gets them out the door and drops them off at Elliott Point. Four days a week, that drop-off is the one block on his calendar he won’t move.
Capelotti moved to Fort Walton Beach in 1994, and aside from a seven-year stretch in Orlando, he’s called it home ever since. He joined Coastal Realty Services in 2010 and spent the better part of a decade leading its operations team as director of property management.
For the last 16 months or so, he’s been the company’s business development manager, and he’s a licensed Realtor, too. Most days, he’s juggling around 150 work texts and emails and trying to have at least three new conversations about what Coastal is doing differently.
In this edition of How I Work, sponsored by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Capelotti talks about the career advice that stuck with him, why he skips music at his desk and how riding on Coastal’s float changed the way he sees the Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade.
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SPORTS
Niceville girls soccer off to strong start
Last season’s state championship loss to St. Thomas Aquinas did not slow Niceville down.
The Lady Eagles are 3-0-1, with returners Delaney Diehl and Abbey Kuritz scoring three goals apiece. “We haven’t missed a beat,” Head Coach Kelly Fernandez said. The defense is anchored by Courtney Gehringer, Eden Wise and goalkeeper Eden Shaw, and Niceville has its sights set on becoming the first area team to qualify for the Open Division.
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EVENTS
Okaloosa unveils second Charters of Freedom, celebrates new women veteran statues on Veterans Day
Okaloosa County unveiled its second Charters of Freedom monument Wednesday at Veterans Park, capping a Veterans Day ceremony that also celebrated four new statues at the Women Veterans Monuments.
The display features stainless-steel replicas of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Civil Rights Amendments. The county’s other set was unveiled Nov. 3 in Crestview.
Keynote speaker Col. Patrick Dierig, retired Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, urged residents to support military families, including children who move into local schools. The Florida Daughters of the American Revolution presented Col. Howard Hill with its Medal of Honor.
GIVING BACK
HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital unveils Veterans Wall, receives Veterans Safe Place designation
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital honored veterans during a Veterans Day celebration Wednesday, unveiling a new Veterans Wall in its cafeteria and receiving a Veterans Safe Place designation certificate presented by Aaron Hargraves of Fire Watch.
The permanent wall honors veterans who are part of the hospital family and recognizes their military service and their continued contributions to patient care and the community.
“This Veterans Wall is more than a display,” said KC Donahey, the hospital’s CEO. “It is a lasting reminder of their sacrifice, their courage and our deep appreciation for the service they have given to our country.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
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Jared
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