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Let’s get to the news you need to know this Tuesday…
WEATHER
Heavy rain, coastal flooding expected as cold front approaches Okaloosa County
A “potent cold front” approaching Okaloosa County Tuesday night is expected to bring heavy rainfall and potential flooding to parts of the region, along with significant coastal impacts, county officials announced Monday.
- The southern portion of the county could see more than 5 inches of rain, with 3-5 inches expected across other areas on Tuesday, according to Patrick Maddox, Director of Public Safety for Okaloosa County. While much of the region remains under moderate to extreme drought conditions, officials are monitoring the potential for localized flooding.
“We are concerned about the potential for repeated rounds of heavy rain potentially overwhelming the soils and leading to minor, nuisance flooding across the southern portion of our area,” Maddox said.
Coastal impacts include high-risk rip current conditions through Wednesday along coastal Alabama and northwest Florida beaches. Officials expect surf heights of 5-7 feet tonight through Wednesday.
Minor coastal flooding is anticipated during late night high tide, with water levels projected to rise 2.0-2.5 feet above Mean Higher High Water along the entire coastline. Another brief increase to advisory levels could occur Tuesday night ahead of the cold front.
While officials have not issued a Flood Watch for the affected counties, they continue to monitor conditions and may issue one if confidence in widespread flooding increases.
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GIVING BACK
Cox Communications transforms Boys & Girls Club space into Innovation Lab in Fort Walton Beach
Cox Communications and Super Bowl champion Malcolm Mitchell marked a milestone in digital equity Monday, celebrating the opening of a new Innovation Lab at the Jacobe Turner Teen Center at Boys and Girls Club in Fort Walton Beach, culminating a day dedicated to advancing youth education across Okaloosa County.
- The state-of-the-art facility, funded by a $25,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, transformed a space on the second floor into a comprehensive digital studio where teens can explore projects ranging from digital media and blogging to video editing, graphic design, coding, podcasting and animation.
“The work that you guys do here is fantastic,” said David Deliman, market vice president for Cox, reflecting on the evolution of these spaces that Cox has made over. “I think back in the early days, they were truly just a computer lab. It was a computer, a keyboard, and a printer. To think of having a recording studio and podcasting and gaming – you guys really are preparing kids for what’s out there for the future.”
The lab opening commemorates the 20th anniversary of Cox’s partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which has established over 110 similar facilities nationwide since 2004. Cox and its foundation have invested more than $25 million in cash and in-kind support to the organization during this period.
Zakina Judd, Club Director for the Jacobe Turner Teen Center, emphasized the lab’s potential impact. “This lab will empower youth to gain practical experiences in technology and digital media, and foster their ability to express themselves,” Judd said. “Whether it’s gaming, construction, poetry, filmmaking, coding, fashion design, or music production, we’ll nurture future leaders who excel in these fields.”
Mitchell, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in 2017, began his day at Baker School in northern Okaloosa County, where he and Cox representatives distributed 11 iPads to selected students after speaking with 1st graders. The group then visited Lewis School in Valparaiso, with Cox contributing $5,000 to the Okaloosa Public School Foundation to support both institutions.
Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised Mitchell’s impact on the district’s students. “As a former Georgia Bulldog, NFL Super Bowl Champion, and passionate advocate for literacy, he shared an inspiring message about the importance of learning, reading, and striving for excellence,” Chambers said. “We are deeply grateful for his time to engage with our students, encouraging them to embrace education and recognize their potential. His visit left a lasting impression, and we are honored to have welcomed him to our schools.”
As Cox’s Digital Equity Ambassador, Mitchell connects his NFL success with his passion for literacy and digital access. He shared insights from his new children’s book, “A World Within Reach,” which encourages young readers to safely embrace technology to unlock their potential. The book aligns with Cox’s Connect2Compete program, aimed at bridging the digital divide.
- “I remember being a child only wanting to try to be my best and sometimes I was unaware of how exactly to do that,” Mitchell told the audience. “The more you seek knowledge, the more you try to learn, the more you believe in yourself, the closer you will get to living out your dreams, whatever they may be.”
Newly-elected Okaloosa County School Board member Parker Destin highlighted the crucial role of community partnerships as he toured the new Innovation Lab.
“Boys and Girls Club is one of our most important partners with the Okaloosa County School District,” Destin said. “These partnerships ensure that every single one of our students has access to as many good resources as possible so that everyone can have a good opportunity for a bright future.”
Shervin Rassa, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, put the project in perspective. “Technology changes every day, and if we don’t afford our young people the advantage of the technology opportunities nowadays, we’re failing them because this is the way the world is right now,” Rassa said. “Our greatest legacy is not money, houses, or cars – it’s how well we prepare young people to be leaders when we’re gone.”
The new Innovation Lab represents Cox’s broader commitment to ensuring universal access to quality internet, whether through home connections, affordability programs like Connect2Compete, or community resources like the Boys & Girls Club facility.
- The lab, located at 923 Denton Blvd NW in Fort Walton Beach, serves both middle and high school students at the Jacobe Turner Teen Center, while the Fort Walton Youth Center in the same building provides services for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
BUSINESS
Twin Cities Hospital marks 45 years of growth with $46 million in recent improvements
When Twin Cities Hospital broke ground in August 1979, officials chose to “drop anchor” instead of the traditional shovel ceremony, burying a 200-pound boat anchor somewhere on the property.
- That symbolic gesture of permanence has proven prophetic, as the hospital approaches its 45th anniversary having grown from a modest 56,599-square-foot facility into a comprehensive healthcare center.
“The community continues to support this hospital,” said CEO Todd Jackson, who is completing his third year leading the institution. “The medical staff and colleagues that work here are the reason patients keep coming back to Twin Cities.”
The original facility, which opened its doors on December 30, 1980, as the Niceville-Valparaiso Hospital, began with 46 beds and basic services including an emergency department with two exam rooms, four treatment areas and one trauma room. The $6.8 million facility offered emergency services, limited inpatient capabilities, and basic surgical services.
- “When HCA Healthcare built this hospital in 1980, it had the best technology available at the time,” Jackson said. “And since then, we’ve continued to invest in the latest advancements to provide cutting edge patient care for our community.”
Major expansions through the decades have transformed the hospital. In the 1990s, the emergency department relocated to the opposite side of the building, allowing for expansion of diagnostic imaging services in its former location. The surgical services department doubled in size in the early 2000s, and in 2017, the hospital completed a critical care expansion that doubled the ICU to eight beds.
The ICU renovation incorporated modern design elements to enhance patient care. “It’s pretty commonplace now when ICUs are built to have workstations where nurses can observe both of their patients through windows while documenting,” Jackson explained. “If you ask a critical care nurse, that’s really important to them because they can document but have eyes on both patients they’re overseeing.”
The most recent emergency department expansion, completed last year, added 3,200 square feet and brought the total to 16 acute care beds. The additional space has dramatically improved patient experience by enabling immediate bedding in most cases.
“When somebody comes to the ER, as the name implies, it’s an emergency. They need medical intervention now,” Jackson said. “To provide that intervention, you need space. The expanded capability allows providers to start medical intervention as soon as patients hit the doorstep.”
The hospital’s growth continues with several projects underway or planned:
- Installation of a new $1.3 million MRI system.
- Upgrade to a 128-slice CT scanner in the first quarter of 2025.
- Expansion of laboratory and radiology department waiting areas.
- Kitchen and cafeteria renovation.
- Construction of a $19 million freestanding emergency room in North Walton County.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Fort Walton Beach police seize 358 grams of fentanyl in parking lot bust
Two men face trafficking charges after police reportedly seized more than 358 grams of fentanyl and $17,000 in cash during an arrest at a local nightclub parking lot on November 13.
- Kareem Mitry, 31, of Freeport and Mitchell McNabb, 33, of Fort Walton Beach were arrested in the parking lot of The Block nightclub after officers responded to a tip about a possible narcotics transaction, according to Fort Walton Beach Police Department.
Officers reportedly found the suspects exchanging items and cash. A subsequent search of Mitry’s vehicle revealed the fentanyl pills and money, police said.
The seized fentanyl was pressed into counterfeit pills designed to look like Oxycodone, according to the report from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that approximately half of the pills they’ve tested this year were counterfeit prescription medications containing fentanyl.
- Both men were charged with trafficking in fentanyl over 28 grams, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years if convicted. They are being held without bond at the Okaloosa County Jail.
According to the DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal to the average adult.
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department credited the arrest to cooperation between law enforcement, business and community leaders, and concerned citizens.
GIVING BACK
Specialty Roofers Inc. to give free roof to military member or veteran
A Northwest Florida roofing company is offering a free roof to military members as part of its community giving initiative.
- Specialty Roofers Inc. (SRI), in partnership with GAF Roofing, announced its Roofs for Troops campaign to provide a complete roof installation to either an active duty service member or veteran.
“As a local company that deeply cares about our military members, we want to give back to those who fight for the freedoms that we enjoy at home,” said Mike Miller, President – General Manager of Residential Roofing Division.
The prize, valued at more than $7,000, includes all labor and materials. The selected homeowner can choose their shingle color and will receive SRI’s Golden Pledge warranty, covering materials for 50 years and labor for 25 years.
This isn’t SRI’s first community giveaway. The company has previously provided free roofs to first responders and local educators.
- The award-winning company has earned recognition as one of Northwest Florida’s top roofing contractors, receiving accolades from Northwest Florida Daily News and Emerald Coast Magazine from 2018 to 2020, along with multiple “Best in Niceville” honors.
The free-to-enter contest will close with winner selection in early December. Winners will be notified by email or phone.
BUSINESS
A Decade of Impact: Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson celebrates 10 years of growth, giving back
When Daniel “Gus” Gusoff and his wife Sam purchased Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson in 2014, they didn’t just buy a motorcycle dealership – they invested in a vision to become a pillar of the Fort Walton Beach community.
- A decade later, that vision has evolved into a thriving business that has redefined what it means to be a community-focused motorcycle dealership.
The transformation has been remarkable. What began as a modest operation with 12 employees, mostly family members of the previous owners, has grown into a powerhouse that has employed up to 90 team members at its peak and currently maintains a staff of 40. In ten years, they’ve sold more than 8,000 motorcycles – a dramatic increase from the few hundred bikes sold annually under previous ownership.
But for Gusoff, success isn’t measured solely in sales figures. “We want to be industry leaders in both employee and community growth and development while creating kickass customer experiences,” he said, describing the dealership’s vision statement. “We focus on our team and we focus on our community.”
Gusoff’s path to dealership ownership began at age 18, washing bikes and cleaning bathrooms at a Harley-Davidson store. After graduating college, he briefly ventured into corporate America, but the corporate world didn’t suit him.
In 1996, a conversation with a mentor named Roy changed his trajectory. When Gusoff expressed his dissatisfaction with corporate life, Roy suggested he could make the same money selling motorcycles. “I said, ‘great. When can I start?’ He said Monday,” Gusoff remembered.
This decision led him to South Florida, where he had to choose between two dealerships: a gleaming new facility in Miami that “looked like Miami Vice” with neon lights, or an older, less glamorous location in Fort Lauderdale. Gusoff chose Fort Lauderdale because of a connection with the owner – a decision that would shape the next two decades of his life.
- “I worked for him for over 20 years,” Gusoff said. That relationship evolved from employee to minority partner, and eventually, the owner helped Gusoff purchase the Fort Walton Beach location. “He made that happen for me… It’s life-changing stuff. This can be a generational business if my kids choose to do it.”
The Harley-Davidson presence in Fort Walton Beach stretches back decades, serving as a fixture in the community since 1980. When the Gussoffs purchased the dealership in 2014, they saw an opportunity to build upon its established foundation while bringing their own vision for community engagement and growth.
The dealership’s physical location has evolved over the years. Originally situated on Beal Parkway near the current CEFCO, it later moved to its current location where it converted an auto parts store. That structure was eventually torn down and replaced with its current facility that was built in 2006. Under Gusoff’s ownership, the property has seen continuous improvements.
“We’re a lifestyle brand and people want an experience when they come in here,” Gusoff explained. “We’re continuously investing in the property. We have certain standards we have to maintain with Harley-Davidson as well, but we budget for capital expenditures every year.”
The transformation went far beyond physical improvements. When the Gusoffs took over in 2014, they rebranded from Heritage Cycles to Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson, marking the beginning of a new era. The change in name reflected a broader shift in philosophy and community engagement.
Their success has been recognized with numerous accolades: seven Platinum Harley-Davidson Finance Awards, two Diamond Awards, one Chairman Award, and Business of the Year from the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps most notably, they’ve been named the top military performer for nine consecutive years, reflecting their deep commitment to serving the military community.
- This commitment is exemplified by their annual donation of a motorcycle to the VFW Spectre Post 11367 in support of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which helps raise approximately $50,000+ each year. The foundation, which began after a failed hostage rescue attempt in Iran left eight special operators’ 17 children without fathers, ensures college education for the children of fallen special operations personnel.
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