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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
Okaloosa County secures significant funding to combat coastal erosion along Highway 98, while Niceville residents receive housing assistance through federal grants. Holiday festivities are ramping up with Christmas parades in Niceville-Valparaiso and Crestview, plus the return of the Grinch Glow Ride. Our community also mourns the loss of a local teen in Fort Walton Beach.
- Today: The 823d RED HORSE Squadron will be conducting a field exercise between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Dec. 3-4, 2024, near the 823d RED HORSE compound to maintain contingency preparedness. There will be an increase in field training activities throughout the exercise.
Let’s get to the news you need to know this Tuesday morning.
NEWS
A 17-year-old boy who went missing from Fort Walton Beach last week has been found deceased, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
- Brandon Bailey was discovered in the water behind a home on Beachview Drive in Fort Walton Beach, officials said.
Bailey had been missing since Nov. 27, when he was last seen around 2:30 a.m. in the area of David Street. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing dark clothing, including a black long-sleeve shirt, sweatpants, and a black puffy jacket.
The teenager was described as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 140 pounds, with long dark hair reaching his shoulders.
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THINGS TO DO
The 7th annual ‘Grinch Glow Ride’ returns to Fort Walton Beach
The seventh annual Grinch Glow Ride returns Dec. 5, inviting children and families to pursue the holiday villain through local neighborhoods on decorated bikes.
- The free community event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., starting at Livin’ Right Real Estate at 102 Buck Dr.
“We give the kids glow sticks and help them decorate their bikes. Then they chase the Grinch, and eventually the Grinch gets caught and arrested by the Fort Walton Beach Police to stop him from stealing Christmas,” said Matthew McGee, broker at Livin’ Right Real Estate. “It’s just a fun concept to get outside and have some fun.”
The event typically draws 500-600 participants. McGee emphasizes it is not a race, welcoming bikers, runners and walkers to join.
- “The Grinch will ride off on his bike from our office with a police escort because the kids like to try to chase him down,” McGee said. “Everybody follows the Grinch through the neighborhoods, and then he’ll circle back around and we’ll have a police blockade to arrest him.”
The Florida Department of Health will provide free bike helmets and fittings for children. After the chase, participants can enjoy an outdoor movie screening, Christmas lights, complimentary hot chocolate, popcorn and candy canes. Santa will be available for photos, and Tijuana Flats will serve food.
Event sponsors include 100.3 KROCK, 94.3 Freedom, 100.3 The Sports Ticket, The Creative Playschool, Ivy and Ale, All Star Liveaboards and Livin’ Right Real Estate. Grinch Ride shirts will be sold with proceeds benefiting FirstFamilies Network.
“To have parents come up to me in the summertime telling me that their kids are talking about it tells me that we’re accomplishing that in a little way,” McGee said. “Helping this community build its culture and sense of pride is a big thing for us.”
THINGS TO DO
Annual Christmas parade to bring holiday magic to Niceville-Valparaiso
The Niceville-Valparaiso Rotary Club announced its upcoming community Christmas parade, celebrating “The Magic of Christmas” theme through the local streets this December.
- The annual parade will take place Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The event, sponsored by the Niceville-Valparaiso Rotary, supports holiday meals for sharing and caring families and other Rotary community service projects.
Awards will be presented at the Niceville Valparaiso Rotary Club Meeting on Monday, December 9, including the Grand Marshall Award and President’s Choice Award. Results will be posted at the Niceville-Valparaiso-Bay Area Chamber of Commerce office by 3 p.m. on the day of the parade.
The parade is part of the organization’s annual Toys for Tots toy drive, combining holiday festivities with community service.
For more information about the parade, interested parties can contact the Niceville-Valparaiso Rotary Club via email at nicevalrotary@yahoo.com or visit their website at www.nicevillevalparaisorotary.org.
THINGS TO DO
Crestview to host annual Christmas parade with Santa’s Workshop theme
The Main Street Crestview Association will present the annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 7, 2024, transforming Main Street into a festive showcase of Santa’s Workshop-themed displays.
- The evening’s festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with the City’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, followed by carolers performing holiday songs. The main parade runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Parade participants are invited to create floats and costumes depicting various aspects of Santa’s Workshop, from busy elves to the North Pole’s twinkling lights. The event organizers are encouraging creative interpretations of the theme to make this year’s parade “the biggest and brightest yet.”
The family-friendly event will feature candy distribution, holiday music, and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The parade route will run along Main Street in Crestview.
GIVING BACK
City assists Niceville residents with new homes, repairs through federal grant program
Four local Niceville families now have safer homes thanks to a federal grant program that funded two complete rebuilds and two home repairs at no cost to eligible residents.
- The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which received $700,000 in funding for fiscal year 2024-2025, aims to improve living conditions for low- and moderate-income residents in Niceville.
The city administered the program with assistance from Summit Professional Services, Inc., whose consultants Dennis and Marie Dingman have worked with the CDBG program since 2008.
“It has been a blessing to help the residents of Niceville,” Dennis Dingman said.
City Manager David Deitch praised the program’s results. “We are thrilled to see how this program has positively impacted our residents. Providing safe and affordable housing is a top priority for our city, and we are committed to continuing this important work,” he said.
- The CDBG program will resume in 2026. Eligible residents are encouraged to apply when applications open.
For more information about the program, contact Public Information Officer Shannettra Francis at (850) 279-6436 ext. 1012 or sfrancis@nicevillefl.gov.
COASTAL RESOURCES
Okaloosa County receives $750,000 grant to combat coastal erosion along Highway 98
Okaloosa County has been awarded $750,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to begin planning a natural defense against worsening coastal erosion that threatens one of northwest Florida’s vital transportation corridors.
- The grant will fund site assessments and preliminary design work for a 4,500-foot living shoreline along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island, where the road comes within 20 feet of Choctawhatchee Bay in some areas.
“The living shoreline project is a proactive approach to address the coastal erosion issue while simultaneously providing multiple benefits to the ecosystem, community, and military,” said Michael Norberg, Okaloosa County’s Coastal Resource Manager. “By stabilizing the shoreline, we not only help protect the adjacent roadway but also create valuable habitat for a variety of species, enhance coastal resilience, and offer new recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.”
The project represents a collaborative effort between Okaloosa County, Eglin Air Force Base, and The Nature Conservancy. Unlike traditional hardened infrastructure such as concrete seawalls, the design will incorporate natural elements like limestone breakwaters and native vegetation to stabilize the shoreline while creating marine habitat.
The need for shoreline protection became evident after Hurricane Dennis in 2005 caused significant damage to the roadway, resulting in extended lane closures and requiring nearly $19 million in repairs and improvements.
- According to Norberg, the situation has grown more urgent as coastal erosion accelerates, threatening both the roadway and underground infrastructure, including fiber-optic communication lines used by both military and civilian entities.
The stretch of Highway 98 serves more than 43,300 vehicles daily and ranks in the 91st percentile of busiest roads in the county. It’s vital for military operations at Eglin and Hurlburt Air Force Bases, hurricane evacuation, and regional commerce. Without this connector, traffic would need to reroute more than 30 miles around the bay, adding nearly an hour to travel times.
The project aims to create more than 1.5 acres of intertidal reef habitat and 6.2 acres of protected seagrass recruitment area. It will also enhance 0.85 miles of native vegetated coastal habitat, including protection for an established nesting location for state-threatened shore birds.
The project also aims to boost tourism opportunities along the shoreline. Tourism plays a vital role in Okaloosa County’s economy, with eco-tourism alone generating $734 million in direct spending in 2023. The living shoreline project, supported by $100,000 in Tourist Development Department matching funds, will support fisheries through habitat creation and enhancement as well as provide a unique snorkel opportunity along the reef breakwater structures.
- “The need to expedite implementation was highlighted following the 2024 hurricane season in Florida,” said Michael Norberg, Okaloosa County’s Coastal Resource Manager. “Although Hurricane Helene made landfall more than 150 miles to the east, the northerly winds we experienced over a three or four day period resulted in the loss of more than four feet of shoreline in some parts of the project area.”
Norberg’s monitoring efforts have documented ongoing erosion over the years, which he attributes to strong seasonal winds from the north-northeast during the fall and winter months.
“We’re still awaiting some additional grant funding that will allow us to expand this initial phase, effectively ‘skipping’ another grant cycle, if awarded,” said Norberg. “This additional funding would take the initial phase of site analysis and preliminary design and allow us to move directly into final design and permitting.”
The grant is part of NFWF’s 2024 National Coastal Resilience Fund, which awarded $139 million across 94 projects nationwide. The projects leveraged an additional $141 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $280 million. Once design work is complete, the county plans to seek additional grant funding for construction of the living shoreline.
The project has garnered support from multiple organizations including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Emerald Coast Regional Council, and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.
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