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Good morning!
FDOT will begin $11.6 million resurfacing work on Eglin Parkway in Okaloosa, while Ruckel Middle School dedicates its cafetorium in honor of former principal Dr. Ginny Morgan. Lady Vikings basketball is off to a dominant 9-0 start behind a young core, Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club brings back ‘Holiday Tree Trek’ featuring 40+ local businesses, and multiple local teams score big wins in basketball and soccer. The Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a shooting that injured two people in Fort Walton Beach.
- Plus, try today’s WordroW puzzle.
SCHOOL
Ruckel Middle School dedicates cafetorium in honor of former principal Dr. Ginny Morgan
Ruckel Middle School unveiled the Dr. Ginny Morgan Cafetorium on Friday morning, officially dedicating the new facility in honor of the beloved late principal who shaped the school’s culture for decades.
- The ceremony brought together Superintendent Marcus Chambers, the Morgan family, and dozens of former colleagues, friends, and community members to honor Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Henderson Morgan, who passed away on February 15, 2024, at age 76.
The Okaloosa County School Board voted unanimously in August to name the cafetorium after Morgan, who began her career at Ruckel as a math teacher in 1968 and later served as principal.
Chambers, who was hired by Morgan in the 90s, emphasized the significance of the honor.
“To have a building named after you in this school district, you have to have significant impact,” Chambers said. “The amount of names that are on buildings across this school district, it’s not a lot, and yet her name is here.”
During her tenure, Morgan introduced transformative programs including the International Baccalaureate and emphasized what she called the “three A’s” — Academics, Arts, and Athletics. Her influence helped establish Ruckel as a destination school, with families specifically seeking to be zoned for it.
Dr. David Morgan, her husband of 56 years, spoke proudly of his wife alongside his daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
SPONSORED
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GAMES
WordroW: December 15, 2025
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
SPORTS
Lady Vikings basketball off to dominant 9-0 start behind young core
Coming off a Sweet 16 loss last season, Fort Walton Beach High’s girls basketball has roared back with a 9-0 start that has the Lady Vikings looking like the gold standard the area has come to expect.
- It’s not just that they’re winning — it’s how they’re winning.
Through nine games, Fort Walton Beach has won by an average margin of 27 points, including a 60-point victory over Rutherford. The dominant stretch also includes wins over teams with winning records: an 11-point margin over Pine Forest, a 24-point margin over Chipley and a 21-point margin over Rickards.
Coach Mercedez Clayborne points to resilience as the driving force behind this hot start, staying true to the “Whatever It Takes” mantra that has become synonymous with Lady Vikings basketball.
- “It’s just the resilience of our team,” Clayborne said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we show up, and we remember that the standard must be the standard.”
The success appears to be the product of a young core group of Lady Vikings.
PROMOTED
Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club brings back ‘Holiday Tree Trek’ with 40+ local businesses
The Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club announced its 2nd Annual Festival of Trees — Holiday Tree Trek event, running December 1-17, combining holiday tree displays with fundraising for scholarships and local programs.
- The “Magic Around Every Corner” festival, sponsored by Get The Coast and United Fidelity Bank, invites area businesses to create branded holiday tree displays between 5-7 feet tall within their stores. Businesses may also create window displays this year.
Residents can tour participating locations to view the decorated trees or follow Holiday Tree Trek Cards, taking selfies with listed trees and submitting them through https://getthecoast.com/trek/ for prizes.
Random drawings on December 20 will award a $500 grand prize donated by United Fidelity Bank, a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Resort on the Island, two $100 prizes donated by club members of Kathy Baird and Vivian Green, a $75 gift certificate from Caddies Corner, a $50 gift certificate from Cajun Crab, and gift coupons from Florida Place Food Trucks and Rock’n Taco.
Click here to pick your trek and explore with your family
SPORTS
PREP ROUNDUP: Big wins for FWB basketball, Choctaw and Niceville soccer
FWBHS boys and girls basketball picked up wins over Niceville and Choctaw, while Choctaw and Niceville soccer posted shutouts throughout the week.
PROMOTED
‘Charms for Children’ holiday donation event
Charms for Children is a holiday donation campaign that focuses on serving girls ages 8–15 in pediatric cancer treatment centers, children’s hospitals, long-term care homes and mission-driven nonprofits within our community and Charmology needs your help!
- On Sunday, December 21 starting at 9am, the public is invited to come out and build charm kits based on the 6-question questionnaires that are submitted by girls who need it most.
This is a free and not-for-profit event. Charmology just needs your help building these charm kits! Holiday themed brunch – hot chocolate – popcorn!
What’s in a charm kit? 1 chain necklace, 9 hand-picked charms, 2 pliers, 10 jump rings & assembly instructions.
What to expect? As a volunteer, you will be in charge of picking the charms and packaging charm kits for each child.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office investigates shooting that injured two in Fort Walton Beach
Two people were injured early Saturday when someone fired multiple rounds into a Fort Walton Beach home, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to reports of gunfire around 12:30 a.m. at a residence on Dates Avenue and found a man and woman had been struck after shots were fired through a bedroom window, the sheriff’s office said. Both sustained injuries that did not appear life-threatening.
- No suspects have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information can contact the sheriff’s office at 850-651-7400 or submit tips anonymously through Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477, online at emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips mobile app.
TRAFFIC
FDOT to begin $11.6 million resurfacing work on Eglin Parkway in Okaloosa
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will begin an $11.6 million resurfacing project on Eglin Parkway (State Road 85) from Richbourg Avenue to U.S. 98 in Okaloosa County.
FDOT first announced the five-mile project in May 2024.
The project includes:
- Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including ADA upgrades.
- Signalization upgrades.
- Stormwater management enhancements.
- New signing and pavement markings.
During construction, drivers may encounter periodic lane closures Sunday through Thursday evenings between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The project is part of FDOT’s continued effort to improve traffic flow and increase safety on state roadways. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2027.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Monday! 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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Jared
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124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548