SCHOOL

Okaloosa School District provides Thanksgiving meals to 119 families

The Okaloosa County School District provided Thanksgiving dinners to 119 families across the county on Thursday in partnership with Publix, Florida Power & Light and Jacobs Titan.

• On Thursday, families simply pulled up to the District’s central complex building in Niceville where district staff and volunteers loaded up everything they would need for a Thanksgiving meal, including a turkey.

“This was an initiative from Superintendent Marcus Chambers,” said Catherine Card, the district’s public information officer. “He wanted to help add an extra layer of support for all of our schools that do so much throughout the school year, especially during the holidays. We wanted to reach as many families as we could so that they would have a good holiday.”

Publix in Niceville helped facilitate the ordering of the meals that were purchased by Florida Power & Light and Jacobs Titan to help sponsor the families.

The district contacted each school to identify three to four families in need. Most families picked up meals Thursday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., while some families who couldn’t make it had meals personally delivered by district staff. Six foster families with Children In Crisis in Fort Walton Beach also received meals.

Here is what they received:

• Turkey
• Pumpkin Pie with whip cream
• Butter
• Stuffing
• Green Beans (canned)
• Cream of mushroom soup (canned)
• Roasting pan
• Chicken broth
• Dinner Rolls
• Gallon of milk
• Roasting pan
• Plates
• Onions

“One family that we’re delivering to told me that they just lost their home to a fire,” Card said. “She really appreciated this because they wouldn’t have been able to do this for Thanksgiving due to the financial hardship that they’re in from losing their home.”

This is the inaugural Thanksgiving meal giveaway for the Okaloosa County School District, with plans to continue it each year.

“One of the pillars of our next generation of Okaloosa schools is community engagement,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “So anytime that you can work with partners like Florida Power and Light and Jacobs Titan to be able to make a difference, that’s something that we’re all about.”

Chambers said schools already do a fantastic job during the holidays to help students in need, and the district wanted to provide for families on a larger scale.

“This is the first year. We’re extremely excited and we also want to do something during the Christmas time as well,” Chambers said. “But giving back to families who do so much for their kids, if we can just give that little bit extra during the holiday season, I think that’s a great thing for our school district.”

PUBLIC SAFETY

Crestview approves ‘Safe Haven Baby Box’ installation at Fire Station for anonymous surrenders

The Crestview City Council unanimously approved installing a Safe Haven Baby Box during its regular meeting Monday night. This will be the first baby box in Northwest Florida and the second in the state.

• The baby box will allow parents to anonymously surrender an infant by placing the child in the temperature-controlled box. Once closed, the exterior door automatically locks and alerts are sent to 911 dispatch.

Councilmember Cynthia Brown first proposed the idea, citing Florida’s new abortion law and growing socioeconomic pressures. She sees it as a “humanitarian project” to give desperate parents a safe option. 

Brown contributed $7,500 from her discretionary funds to cover initial costs. Additional fundraising from the community will help pay the remaining expenses, estimated at up to $30,000 for pre-installation, installation and the first year. 

• Future costs will be $500 annually for recertification and maintenance, plus $500 for alarm monitoring.

Mayor JB Whitten shared his emotional experience learning about Ocala’s baby box, the only one currently in Florida. A firefighter who retrieved an infant from the box was able to adopt the baby with his wife. 

“The one time it gets used, it is worth it,” Whitten said. “To talk to the guy that actually took the baby and adopted [the child], it was stunning to me. It’s very emotional.”

The city plans to install the baby box at Fire Station 1 due to its central location and direct connection to dispatch. Box alarms will notify 911, with firefighters responsible for responding.

Councilman Ryan Bullard questioned whether the box could truly be anonymous with cameras present. The mayor clarified the box will not record the drop-off, allowing the parent to leave undetected after surrendering the baby.

While the boxes might not be used on a regular basis, the council ultimately agreed the life-saving potential makes the project worthwhile. The baby box provides an alternative to abandoned infants being found deceased.

“This is a reasonable proposal,” said Mitchell Reed, who spoke in favor. “It’s a transparent effort to allow and facilitate in the moment of crisis to save a baby.” 

Reed shared statistics on abandoned infants and emphasized the baby box as an alternative option.

• “If the existence of this resource were known, this could become an alternative to abandonment, homicide, suicide, et cetera. Since 2000, according to the state of Florida legislative analysis in 2021, more than 384 babies had been abandoned in the state alone,” Reed said. 

City Manager Tim Bolduc outlined how the project could be implemented, noting the fire station’s round-the-clock staffing makes it feasible.

• “If you guys decided to do it, we’d either allocate the funds or raise the funds for it. We’d get it done as soon as we got it in and hired a contractor to put it out,” Bolduc said.  

The Safe Haven Baby Box allows desperate parents a secure way to surrender an infant, while providing immediate medical care. 

Here’s how it works:

The parent opens the exterior door, triggering a silent alarm to 911 dispatch. After placing the newborn in a bassinet inside, a second alarm sounds to confirm the baby’s presence. The outer door automatically locks to ensure security. 

Within minutes, first responders arrive and take the infant to the hospital. A staff member can access the bassinet from inside the building to swiftly transfer the baby.

• The baby box has multiple alarm systems to alert personnel, which are tested weekly. The box is also checked periodically even without activations.

The anonymous drop-off is legal under Florida’s Safe Haven law, which aims to prevent dangerous abandonments. The surrendered baby enters a closed adoption process. 

“This is an opportunity. Our city hall is located in one of the poorest parts of town,” said Bolduc. “It’s also a part of town where we constantly battle with things like drug addiction and so the probability of this does exist.”

The city will now move forward with allocating funds and finalizing installation plans. If you are interested in helping with fundraising costs, please contact City manager Tim Bolduc for more information.

A MESSAGE FROM FLEET, SMITH & FREEMAN

Attorney Michelle Freeman discusses benefits of using a law firm for real estate closings

When it comes time to close on a new home, buyers in the Florida Panhandle may want to turn to a local law firm rather than a title company. That’s according to Shalimar attorney Michelle Freeman, who manages the real estate department at Fleet, Smith & Freeman.

• Freeman said buyers have more direct access to legal guidance throughout the entire closing process when using a law office.

“You have access to me at all times. Anything that comes in the office or goes out of the office, I’m reviewing and I’m discussing with my team. I’m making sure that it’s correct,” Freeman said. “Not only that, but if you have any questions that are sort of ancillary to the contract or related to a deal that we may have done in the past or something you’re just wondering about, I’m always available to talk about those things.”

In Florida, homebuyers can choose either an attorney’s office or a title company to handle their real estate closing. Freeman encouraged using a law firm because clients have access to an attorney at all times. She said law offices also adhere to higher standards.

• “We have a little bit higher standard for what we’re doing in the office,” Freeman explained.

When a law firm receives a real estate sales contract, the first step is to have their underwriter put together a title commitment, according to Freeman. The title commitment lists any requirements that must be satisfied to ensure the buyer receives clear title to the property.

Freeman said attorneys frequently spot issues in title commitments that require legal expertise to resolve properly. As an example, she said a deed could list a deceased person, meaning probate proceedings would be necessary. Fortunately, Fleet, Smith & Freeman offers probate services in-house.

“My team comes right down the hall to me and says we’ve got a probate issue on this particular title commitment. We need you to talk to the customers and go over what needs to be done,” Freeman said. “So the benefit is that when you use an attorney’s office for your real estate closing, we’re really a one-stop shop for all of those different needs.”

Freeman said her firm does not try to skip over title commitment requirementslike some title companies might.

• “We don’t believe in that philosophy. We want to make sure that title is clear, that the person who’s purchasing the property or home is going to have clear title going forward,” Freeman stated.

The attorney said Fleet, Smith & Freeman has three lawyers licensed by the Florida Bar who must meet strict malpractice and ethics standards. The firm also employs licensed title agents.

“We are taking every step possible to be extra cautious and make sure that nothing is overlooked during the process, and that is the higher standard that we’re held to,” Freeman said.

Contrary to popular belief, using a law firm for real estate closings does not necessarily cost more than a title company, according to Freeman. She said the closing fee itself is the only major cost difference clients will notice.

• “That title insurance policy that you’re paying for is going to be based off your sales price. It’s a percentage of the sales price, and so that’s not going to change anywhere you go,” Freeman explained.

Still, some homebuyers may wonder what exactly happens during a real estate closing and why a law firm is the best option. Freeman laid out some of the key benefits:

• Direct access to real estate attorneys for any questions before, during or after closing.
• Review of the entire closing file by experienced real estate lawyers.
• Higher standards and ethics requirements than title companies.
• Ability to resolve title issues and probate problems in-house.
• Competitive pricing compared to title companies.

Freeman encourages local homebuyers to learn more about Fleet, Smith & Freeman’s real estate closing services by calling their office or stopping by in person.

“While these are just a few of the benefits of using an attorney’s office for your real estate closing transaction, there’s certainly more things,” Freeman said.

When it comes to the local real estate market, Freeman wants to make sure panhandle homebuyers understand all their options when it comes time for closing. She says that working with a trusted law firm can provide peace of mind and helpful legal guidance.

COMING SOON

OWA Parks & Resort to expand with $50 million resort-style hotel in Foley

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians plans to open a new $50 million resort-style hotel at the OWA Parks & Resort in Foley in May 2025, according to an announcement Thursday.

The tropical-themed hotel will be located next to the recently expanded Tropic Falls water park and will include kitchenettes, bunk beds and a resort-style pool with a bar and grill. 

• Other amenities will include a 24-hour fitness center, meeting space, lounge, convenience store and arcade.

Architects from Jackson, Mississippi-based Dale Partners designed the colorful, sleek hotel. Rabren General Contractors, one of the largest contractors in Alabama, will oversee construction.

Cody Williamson, president and CEO of the Tribe’s development authority, said the new lodging will give visitors “another option to relax in Coastal Alabama, while still enjoying all the fun amenities that OWA has to offer.”

The hotel adds to more than $400 million the Poarch Band has invested in OWA, including the $70 million water park expansion, new luxury RV park and growth in downtown OWA.

For more information on the park, visit visitowa.com.

NEWS

City Council discusses increasing density in Downtown Fort Walton Beach, future development

Before the regularly scheduled Fort Walton Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday, Growth Management Director Chris Frassetti presented a ‘Downtown Master Plan Density & Zoning Presentation’ to the council in a workshop.

• Frassetti gave an overview of options related to potential downtown density increases and the creation of a new MX-3 zoning district, as recommended in the Downtown Master Plan. The city currently has MX-1 and MX-2 mixed-use zoning districts downtown.

The presentation outlined what was being proposed for increased density to allow for more mixed-use developments downtown. 

Frassetti explained the process to date on implementing the Downtown Master Plan, including expansion of the downtown design overlay district, a library study, infrastructure master plan, and development of new downtown design guidelines.

• He summarized the recommendations from a July town hall meeting and an August stakeholder meeting with downtown property and business owners to gather feedback on density increase options. 

The proposed Downtown Master Plan envisions higher-density than what the current MX-2 zoning allows. For the presentation, Frassetti was only discussing higher density in the red area below:

Frassetti presented 3 options for increasing the MX-2 zoning density of 45 dwelling units per acre:

• Option 1: Base density of 40, max of 60 with bonuses
• Option 2: Base of 60, max of 90 with bonuses
• Option 3: Base of 100, max of 150 with bonuses

A highlight of the workshop was an unexpected conceptual rendering shown from a developer for the vacant corner lot at Perry Ave and Highway 98, site of the old Landmark Center.

The renderings depicted a mixed-use building with commercial space, a 90-100 unit hotel, and market-rate apartments, with attainable housing, according to developer Manoj Chauhan and attorney John Dowd who discussed the very preliminary plans. There is also a parking garage that has been tucked away, but still very much part of the design of the complex.

They said this type of development could drive demand downtown by adding a residential component with all the existing amenities nearby

While nothing is concrete at the moment, Chauhan told the council that they are potentially targeting residents who can afford $1,700-2,000 per month in rent. 

• In discussing the density options, Dowd estimated this proposed project would need around 135 units per acre. So it would likely require Option 3, which allows up to 150 units per acre with bonuses.

They noted the renderings were purely conceptual and no formal application had been submitted yet. It was shown as an example of what could be built if density allowances were increased.

The council took no formal action, as it was an informational workshop to gather feedback on the density proposals.

Click here to see more renderings