TRAFFIC

PJ Adams traffic shifts begin as Crestview Bypass project advances

New traffic patterns including lane shifts will begin Monday on P.J. Adams Parkway in Okaloosa County.

Between Highway 85 and the Ashley fire station, eastbound and westbound traffic will be separated by the median, with westbound traffic moved to the new westbound lanes, according to the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners.

Between the Ashley fire station and west of Wild Horse near Lustan Drive, eastbound and westbound traffic will remain two-way in its current location.

From Lustan Drive to Crab Apple Avenue, both eastbound and westbound traffic will shift south to the new eastbound lanes.

• Near Crab Apple Avenue, the two-way traffic will shift north to the existing roadway.

Multiple funding sources are being used for the Southwest Crestview Bypass project, including voter-approved infrastructure surtax funding.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Suspect in custody following shooting in Fort Walton Beach

Law enforcement swarmed the Green Acres area of Fort Walton Beach Sunday morning after shots were fired as deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched at approximately 8:40 a.m. to McLaren Circle to investigate a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, shots were fired but no deputies or other individuals were injured.

One individual was taken into custody, the sheriff’s office said. 

No further details about the suspect or circumstances surrounding the incident have been released.

PARKS+REC

New Liza Jackson Park bench memorializes hit-and-run victim in Fort Walton Beach

A new bench honoring the memory of a local man killed in a hit-and-run three years ago was dedicated Thursday, November 9, at Liza Jackson Park.

• Joshua Kreiser died on Dec. 30, 2020 after being struck by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 98. He would have turned 47 on Thursday.

To mark the occasion, Joshua’s mother, Ida Kreiser, organized a small ceremony to unveil a memorial bench in her son’s honor.

The intimate gathering was attended by City Manager Jeff Peters, Recreation Director Tiffiny Corcoran, officers from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department Traffic Division, Florida Department of Transportation Safety Specialist Andy White and a representative from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The Florida DOT recently installed more than 100 streetlights between the Florosa Fire Department and Liza Jackson Park to improve traffic and pedestrian safety along that stretch of road.

Since her son’s death, Ida Kreiser has published a book about her experience and become an advocate for road safety. At Thursday’s event, she thanked the community for helping honor Joshua’s memory.

NEWS

Missing dog reunited with family after fatal crash in Walton County

A head-on collision Thursday night on State Road 285 killed two motorists, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

• An SUV driven by a 43-year-old Destin man crossed the center line and collided with a motorcycle ridden by a 24-year-old Defuniak Springs woman around 10:30 p.m., the FHP said. Both drivers died at the scene.

The victims’ names were not immediately released pending notification of relatives.

On Friday, the man’s wife, Megan Matuzek, posted on Facebook that the couple’s dog was in the SUV at the time of the crash and was missing. She pleaded for help finding the dog, described as a pocket bully named Taz.

“He just lost his dad and I know he’s terrified and I just want my dog back,” Matuzek wrote.

By Friday afternoon, search efforts had not turned up the dog. Matuzek posted again asking people to be on the lookout.

• “We had an amazing tracker help but unfortunately Taz’s Trail went cold,” she wrote. “They found three bed spots where he had laid and then they could not pick up his scent anymore.”

On Saturday morning, a friend posted that Taz had been found and reunited with Matuzek. The dog was on its way to a veterinarian for evaluation.

Matuzek provided an update on Taz’s condition after he was examined by a veterinarian. Matuzek said Taz was “pretty banged up” from the ordeal but did not suffer any broken bones.

The dog had to undergo surgery to stitch up a head wound that required part of his skull to be removed, Matuzek said. She said that he had not yet walked or gone to the bathroom on his own. Matuzek has had to feed him water with a syringe because he won’t drink from a bowl.

She said Taz whimpered when she talked to him about his Dad, her husband, indicating he may understand the loss. Matuzek said Taz has a long recovery ahead but she is grateful he survived.

A MESSAGE FROM PEADEN

Changing HVAC filters regularly is vital for home comfort and efficiency 

Remembering to change out your home’s HVAC filters on a regular basis is a simple way to maintain system efficiency and indoor air quality, according to Tony Hicks, Assistant GM & HVAC Service Manager at Peaden.

• “It may seem obvious, but for a lot of people, it’s out of sight, out of mind,” said Hicks. You may get away with it without really noticing through the lighter part of the summer season, but when it gets into the 90s and up, that filter makes a big difference.” 

Hicks explains that Peaden frequently gets calls from homeowners puzzled as to why their system is no longer maintaining the set temperature. “We go over there and it is a dirty filter,” he said. 

A clogged filter forces the HVAC system to “run way harder than it needs to,” Hicks emphasized. The reduced airflow causes a ripple effect of problems. With air restricted, the evaporator coil runs colder than designed, sometimes freezing into a solid block of ice. This not only stops cooling altogether, but as it melts it can lead to water damage in the home.

• Excess moisture introduced into the ductwork also promotes bacteria growth. And in Florida’s humid climate, this can rapidly deteriorate air quality.

The strain of trying to pull air through a dirty filter has other impacts as well.“When your system’s working harder, your amp draws go up and your motor has to pull higher amps to pull that air through your outdoor units,” Hicks explained. 

This increased workload comes at a cost for homeowners. “It just wears out your system much faster,” said Hicks. “Here in Florida, the average lifespan is 8 to 12 years, which is pretty low. So the nicer you can be to your equipment, the more life you can squeeze out on the back end.”

• Of course, the harder an HVAC system works, the more energy it consumes. That translates directly into higher electricity bills. Simply keeping filters clean can have a significant impact on monthly costs.

For homeowners concerned about allergens and dust, high-efficiency filters can help remove more particles. But Hicks cautions that you need to ensure your HVAC system can handle the increased airflow resistance. 

“Knowing if your filter is big enough for the equipment is huge,” he advised. “A common problem in Florida, too, is people will upsize the equipment, but not the air return.”

• Trying to push air through too small of a filter or air return starves the system, replicating the issues of a severely clogged filter.

If adequately sized, thicker pleated filters are a good option. Another solution Hicks recommends is electrostatic filters. “It basically electrifies the filter so all the tiny little microns that you typically breathe in and go right through the filter, they all get magnetized to each other so they can get caught by the filter,” he said.

• While electrostatic filters have a higher upfront cost, the replacement pads are inexpensive. This makes them more affordable long-term while providing superior filtration, according to Hicks.

By changing filters regularly and using the right type and size for your HVAC system, you can maximize performance. Be sure to consult HVAC experts at Peaden to help determine optimal filter selection. A small investment of time and money in maintenance today will pay dividends through improved indoor comfort and energy efficiency for years to come.

For more information on HVAC services from Peaden, visit their website today.

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:                                  

• State Road (S.R.) 85 Improvements from S.R. 123 to Hospital Drive – Drivers may encounter intermittent S.R. 85 inside lane closures between Antioch Road and Hospital Drive, Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for roadway widening and median construction.

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience traffic disruptions Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, 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. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for construction activities. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• S.R. 85 Resurfacing from north of Commerce Drive to Bill Lundy Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent single-lane closures on northbound S.R. 85, Sunday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 17 for paving operations in the following areas:
  • From north of Commerce Drive to Airport Road between 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
  • From Airport Road to Bill Lundy Road between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

• S.R. 285 Resurfacing from S.R. 20 to S.R. 293 – The week of Sunday, Nov. 12, drivers may experience the following intermittent outside lane closures on northbound S.R. 285, from S.R. 20 (John Sims Parkway) to Adams Street, for sidewalk work:
  • Nighttime lane closures Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 
  • Daytime lane closures Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing from Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound lane closures, from Mary Esther Boulevard to Florida Place Southeast, Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for drainage work.

• S.R. 293 Coring Operations from Midbay Bridge to Range Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 16 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for coring operations.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Widening from Mack Bayou Road to County Road (C.R.) 30A – Drivers will encounter the following nighttime lane closures Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, between 7:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., to remove the low-profile barrier wall:
  • Intermittent inside lane closures on east and westbound U.S. 98 from West Hewett Road to C.R. 30A.
  • Intermittent outside lane closures on westbound U.S. 98 from Goldsby Road to Mack Bayou Road

• 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. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations.

• Interstate 10 (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. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for paving operations.

NEWS

Eglin mourns Air Force instructor pilot’s tragic death off Destin coast

The U.S. Air Force captain who went missing and was found deceased off the coast of Destin was identified as an instructor pilot based out of Eglin Air Force Base.

• The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office issued an aqua alert Friday night for Nicholas Brown, who was last seen around 4:30 p.m. wearing a black wetsuit with yellow snorkel about a mile south of East Pass in Destin.
• An update Saturday said Brown’s body had been found.

On Sunday, the 33rd Fighter Wing said Brown was 34-year-old Capt. Nicholas Brown of the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin.

Col. Dave Skalicky, commander of the fighter wing, said in a statement that “our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Capt. Brown’s family, friends, fellow Nomads, and all those affected by this tragic loss.”

• “Our focus right now is ensuring we care for those closest to him and provide all the support and resources we can to our Nomads and families during this difficult time.”  

Brown was an F-35 instructor pilot from Austin, Texas. Details surrounding his death remained under investigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted the sheriff’s office in searching for Brown after he went missing while free diving in the Gulf of Mexico near Destin.

A GoFundMe page set up to assist Brown’s family said he was a devoted father and husband. As of Monday morning it had raised over $112,000.