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Good morning!
The 1st Special Operations Wing will be conducting a readiness exercise today, Nov. 20, 2024, to maintain contingency preparedness. There will be an increase in emergency response activity throughout the exercise, according to a statement from Hurlburt Field.
- “People on and off base should plan for additional travel time to and from appointments and for base services,” Hurlburt Field wrote in a press release.
Let’s get to more news you need to know this morning…
POLITICS
New terms start as Okaloosa officials take oaths of office across the county
Multiple governing bodies across Okaloosa County welcomed new and returning officials during swearing-in ceremonies held Nov. 18 and 19.
The Destin City Council installed four members Monday. Commissioner Mel Ponder administered oaths to incumbents Dewey Destin and Teresa Hebert, along with former council member Rodney Braden.
- Okaloosa County Judge Angela Mason, Destin’s first judge, swore in family member Sandy Trammell, who previously served on the council. Councilman-elect Kevin Schmidt was absent from the ceremony.
In Crestview, Commissioner Paul Mixon administered the oaths of office to Brandon Frost and former council member Shannon Hayes during an evening ceremony at City Hall Monday. Mixon also swore in incumbent Mayor JB Whitten.
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners held their swearing-in ceremony Tuesday at 8:15 a.m., prior to their regular 8:30 a.m. board meeting in the Board chamber in Shalimar. Former Commissioner Graham Fountain administered the oath to District 5 Commissioner Drew Palmer, while District 3 Commissioner Sherri Cox also took her oath of office.
- Chairman Paul Mixon is returning for another term to serve as Commissioner for District 1.
The Okaloosa County School Board conducted a ceremony Tuesday where School Board Attorney Jeff McInnis swore in re-elected Superintendent of Schools Marcus Chambers and Board Member Tim Bryant, along with newly elected school board member Parker Destin, who previously served on the Destin City Council.
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NEWS
Okaloosa Corrections Chief Nolan Weeks resigns, accepts private sector position
Okaloosa County Corrections Chief Nolan Weeks resigned from his position last Friday, county officials announced Tuesday.
- Weeks, who submitted his resignation on November 15, is leaving his role to join a private health insurance company.
Patrick Maddox, the county’s Director of Public Safety, will serve as interim Corrections Chief and oversee daily operations at the facility while officials conduct a search for Weeks’ replacement.
County officials said they plan to begin the recruitment process for a new Corrections Chief as soon as possible.
BUSINESS
Northwest Florida State College confirms Mel Ponder as new president
Northwest Florida State College’s District Board of Trustees unanimously confirmed Commissioner Mel Ponder as the institution’s next president at their November 19 meeting, concluding a six-month search that attracted more than 100 candidates.
- Ponder, who completed his term as Okaloosa County Commissioner on November 19, will transition from his current roles as Association Executive for the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and President of Business Empowered to begin his presidency on January 2, 2025.
“Thank you to the Board of Trustees for their time, energy, and effort throughout the summer and fall as we completed our rigorous presidential search process,” said Lori Kelley, NWFSC Board Chair. “I look forward to working with President-Elect Ponder when he starts in the Spring Semester as we begin an exciting new chapter in the College’s history.”
Ponder brings significant public service experience to the role, having served as Destin’s mayor, city councilman, and state representative. During his legislative service, he earned recognition as the Florida College System Council of Presidents Legislator of the Year. He currently serves on the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors, following appointments by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022 and 2023.
“This College has a rich legacy in our community, and I am excited to hit the ground running to build on the College’s reputation of serving its students, faculty, staff, and community,” Ponder said. “It will be a privilege to expand on the College’s work throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties as we transform lives and meet the workforce demand in our service area.”
A third-generation Floridian born and raised in Ocala, Ponder has lived in Okaloosa County for many years with his wife Mona of 33 years and their three children. He will become the fifth president in Northwest Florida State College’s history.
POLITICS
Crestview seeks applicants after Joe Blocker resigns from council seat
Councilmember Joe Blocker submitted his resignation from the Crestview City Council Tuesday, effective Nov. 30.
- Blocker has served the City of Crestview since 2013. He worked in commercial construction for more than 50 years before retiring and is a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County.
“His extensive management background and commitment to education in leadership and government operations have equipped him to effectively represent the people of Crestview,” the city wrote in a press release. “With a strong belief in thorough preparation and prioritizing the community’s needs in decision-making, Mr. Blocker has made a lasting impact.”
The city is accepting applications to fill the vacancy through November 2026. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens and live in Precinct 1 – East Crestview (south of Highway 90 and east of Main Street/Highway 85).
Interested residents can apply at CityofCrestview.org. For more information, contact City Clerk Maryanne Girard at (850) 682-1560 ext. 250 or girardm@cityofcrestview.org.
MILITARY
1st SOW Commander adds mental health to Hurlburt Field’s top priorities in county update
Hours after greeting airmen returning from an unplanned deployment, Col. Patrick T. Dierig provided his update to the Okaloosa County Commission on Tuesday.
- The commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing emphasized the strong relationship between Hurlburt Field and its surrounding communities while outlining current challenges facing base personnel and their families.
Dierig’s early morning duties illustrated the base’s ongoing operations. “At 2:36 a.m. this morning, I was on the ramp welcoming home some folks who just came back from deployment on a C-17,” he told commissioners. “They launched off of alert with hours’ notice. We did not plan for them to deploy, but there was a crisis in the world and they responded.”
In his address, Dierig outlined the dual mission of the 1st Special Operations Wing (1SOW). “We really serve two purposes. Number one, inside AFSOC, we are the special operations lead wing for the Air Force. On the special operation side, we’re the Air Force component to special operations,” Dierig explained, noting that about a third of their personnel are deployed at any given time.
Dierig outlined three established priorities: mission first, developing Hurlburt Field as a world-class installation, and pathfinding. For his second priority, he emphasized the importance of making Hurlburt Field exceptional for its 23,000 personnel, focusing on both mission quality and quality of life.
- The pathfinding priority involves innovation, with Dierig noting that many Air Force initiatives begin in special operations before moving to conventional forces.
Housing remains a significant concern, with Dierig reporting that service members living off-base are spending large portions of their base pay to supplement their housing allowance. He mentioned ongoing renovations at Live Oak housing section and expressed interest in finding creative housing solutions with local partners.
Regarding childcare, Dierig highlighted unique challenges facing military families. “A lot of our airmen work on shift work. They might work in the middle of the night. Many of them have to launch off alert,” he said, noting that while the base childcare center is being renovated, significant gaps in service remain.
Traffic concerns took on a new dimension when Dierig tied them directly to military readiness. He cited two recent incidents: a fatal accident in early 2024 that closed Highway 98 for four hours and an October 22 construction project that caused severe delays, including three-and-a-half-hour school bus commutes.
- “The traffic issue for me is a readiness issue,” Dierig emphasized, advocating for an east-west parallel road to Highway 98.
The commander’s newly added fourth priority focused on mental health resources, particularly for military families. “It’s just really hard to be a military kid and a military dependent,” Dierig said, noting that many families have relocated nine, ten, or even fifteen times.
Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, a licensed clinical social worker, acknowledged the mental health challenges and highlighted the county’s mental health diversion program, one of only three in Florida. She also shared a personal connection to Hurlburt Field through her husband, who spent 23 years there “before it was the Special Ops base it is now.”
Ketchel expressed frustration with the lack of progress on traffic solutions, referencing her year-long participation in roundtable discussions. She offered to work directly with base leadership on childcare solutions, noting recent success in securing childcare for Eglin Air Force Base.
- “There’s money in the federal budget. If we can expand that, I would be glad to work with you to advocate for that,” Ketchel said.
Commissioner Paul Mixon credited the strong partnerships between the military and local community. “It wouldn’t exist to be that style of community if we didn’t have the partnership on both sides,” Mixon said. “Thank you for the work you’re doing and glad you’re back here at Hurlburt.”
Dierig concluded by extending his gratitude beyond military service members to include teachers, healthcare workers, road crews, and law enforcement. “They serve just as much as you and I,” he said, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of community service.
WEATHER
Did you see the pink/reddish sky last night?
After the rain last night, the sky turned a very pink/reddish tone that was both eerie and very cool.
According to meteorologist James Spann, “the colors are the result of the angle of the sunlight, and how it passes through raindrops and particulates, which scatter the light.”
Here’s a look from the County Admin building in Shalimar!
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.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday. 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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