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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
The Panhandle gets a new soundtrack with 92.1 ‘The Bone’ while Crestview’s newest school starts taking shape. Our community celebrates excellence as Niceville students present research internationally and holiday festivities unfold with Tree Trek Winners and Hanukkah celebrations. Meanwhile, United Way strengthens mental health support for the homeless.
Let’s get to the news you need to know this Friday morning.
BUSINESS
JVC Broadcasting launches new Panhandle rock station 92.1 ‘The Bone’
JVC Broadcasting will launch its new rock radio station at 10 a.m. today, transforming WECQ-Rock 92.1 FM into WBON 92.1 The Bone, promising listeners an extensive library of rock music spanning six decades.
- The station kicks off its debut at 10 a.m. with a promise to play 9,000 songs in a row, emphasizing its commitment to musical variety and deep cuts from well-known artists.
“Looking to duplicate on the success of our variety brand 102.1 The Wave which features 1000s of songs – The immense variety playing on 92.1 The Bone will be extremely unpredictable, yet oddly familiar,” said JVC Broadcasting Market Manager John Griffo.
The station aims to expand beyond traditional rock radio playlists, featuring lesser-known tracks from popular artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica.
- “With thousands of songs, some never played on the radio, 92.1 The Bone will be a unique and fresh approach to rock radio on the Panhandle,” said Programmer Matt Stone. “We can’t wait to for you to dig in and put a little meat on the bone.”
Starting in January, the station’s on-air lineup will feature market veteran Woofy Ramone, along with Theo and Stone. Ramone, who also serves as Operations Manager, said listeners should expect surprising song selections.
The station is owned and operated by JVC Broadcasting, which was established in July 2009 and operates 16 radio stations, Long Island Events, and The Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill.
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SCHOOL
Niceville High School’s NaGISA students showcase marine research at world congress in Japan
Eight Niceville High School students recently returned from Japan where they presented their marine biodiversity research at a prestigious international congress, representing the school’s Natural Geography of In-Shore Areas (NaGISA) program on the global stage.
- The students attended the 2nd World Congress of Marine Stations in Shizuoka during their 11-day trip over Thanksgiving break. As representatives of the only U.S. high school affiliated with the NaGISA program, they shared their work alongside researchers from top universities worldwide.
Four students — Jocelyn Wheeler, Noah Stickler, Hannah Castor, and Sasha McCraine — conducted a poster session on November 28, demonstrating their program’s collection and analysis protocols.
Seniors Lily Suttlemyre, Craig Falzone, Jacob Milz and sophomore Julia Milz delivered a main presentation titled “The Northwest Florida NaGISA Program as a Blueprint for Scientific Outreach,” which detailed their innovative “Sandy Beach” protocol.
“This trip offered these students the rare opportunity to present alongside counterparts from some of the world’s leading universities,” said Richard Hernandez, Teacher of the Gifted at NHS and NaGISA advisor.
The group was accompanied by Hernandez, social studies teacher Patrick Cole, and former NHS NaGISA student Savannah Mikus, now an adjunct lecturer of Japanese at the University of Florida, who served as interpreter along with her husband, Jacob Mikus, a registered nurse.
- Following the congress, Niceville High School was accepted as a World Association of Marine Stations member, joining a network of over 800 marine stations globally. The school has been invited to the next World Congress in two years and asked to contribute to the Atlas of Marine Stations.
Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised the achievement: “This trip exemplifies our students’ incredible opportunities to engage in world-class learning experiences. The NaGISA team’s dedication and passion exemplify the excellence we strive for in Okaloosa County.”
The NaGISA program, meaning “where the land meets the sea” in Japanese, is an international collaboration focused on monitoring and cataloging in-shore area biodiversity. Niceville High School’s program has contributed to marine science for over 20 years.
GIVING BACK
Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club announces winners of inaugural Holiday Tree Trek contest
The Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club has announced winners of its first Festival of Trees and Holiday Tree Trek competition, which united local businesses and community members in a holiday-themed contest benefiting local scholarships.
- Kyleigh Schindler claimed the $500 grand prize in the Holiday Tree Trek competition, which challenged participants to photograph themselves with decorated trees at participating businesses throughout the city. Schindler went to all 46 locations.
Mayor Dick Rynearson selected Fokker’s Restaurant for the Mayor’s Choice Award, citing their creative use of chicken wing ornaments. The Downtown FWB Organization Choice went to Salt Hop Brewery for their innovative tree featuring stars crafted from beer cans and hop lights.
The Fort Walton Beach Library earned the Woman’s Club President’s Choice Award, with President Linda Evanchyk praising the tree’s engineering. Artesano Boutique received recognition for Most Unique Tree.
- Other prize winners included Jackie Williamson, who won a two-night stay at Holiday Inn on Okaloosa Island; Yvette Edlund, recipient of a tree decorated with $100 in lottery scratch-off tickets; and Garette Morate, who won an Islander’s Coastal Outfitters gift package.
The event, sponsored by Get the Coast and supported by local realtors Jim Fish of Florida Compass Realty and Mack Bowman of ERA American Realty, will fund four $1,000 scholarships for graduating senior girls from Fort Walton Beach and Choctawhatchee High School.
All participating trees remain on display throughout the holiday season.
THINGS TO DO
Temple Beth Shalom plans community Hanukkah celebration at Fort Walton Beach Landing
Temple Beth Shalom will host a community Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony on Dec. 28 at Fort Walton Beach Landing Park.
- The free event, scheduled for 5:30 p.m., will feature music and celebration of the Jewish festival of lights. The ceremony will take place at 139 Brooks St. SE.
While RSVPs are not required, interested participants can find additional information at the temple’s website, tbsfwb.com.
For more information about the event, contact Temple Beth Shalom at 850-862-6086.
NEWS
United Way grant boosts homeless mental health services in Northwest Florida
Lakeview Center’s efforts to support homeless individuals with mental health issues received a boost through a $19,066 grant from United Way Emerald Coast for 2024.
- The funding will support the organization’s Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) team, which serves clients in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The program provides mental health care and case management services by meeting clients where they are, addressing transportation barriers that often prevent access to care.
The grant will help provide temporary shelter in hotels and motels, assist with apartment down payments, and supply essential resources like bus passes, bedding and clothing needed for employment.
“Mental illness can be a barrier to employment and housing. Likewise, a lack of housing can exacerbate symptoms for those who already struggle with severe or persistent mental illness,” said Shawn Salamida, president of Lakeview Center.
Lakeview Center operates more than 60 programs across Northwest Florida’s Escambia to Walton counties, offering behavioral health care services. The PATH team connects individuals struggling with mental illness to appropriate care services.
Those seeking assistance, including self-referrals, can contact the PATH team at 850-307-8333. Additional information about Lakeview Center’s homeless assistance programs and donation opportunities is available at eLakeviewCenter.org.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa School District breaks ground on new Pineview School in Crestview
Local officials and community leaders gathered Thursday morning to break ground on Pineview School, launching construction of Okaloosa County School District’s first new school since 2008.
- The ceremony, which featured presentations by the Crestview High School Junior ROTC and chorus, represented the culmination of six years of planning and community support, according to Superintendent Marcus Chambers.
“Six years ago, we set out on a venture. We said that we need to look at a half-cent sales tax for Okaloosa County,” Chambers said. “Because of the community, because of the citizens today, we’ve raised over $40 million more than anticipated.”
While Pineview School itself isn’t funded by the half-cent sales tax, Chambers explained how the tax initiative made the project possible. “This project that you see behind me… it’s not a half-cent sales tax project, but because of the half-cent sales tax project, it’s made our capital budget even stronger,” he said.
The impact of the tax extends beyond this new school. “Throughout this district, we’re upgrading our facilities,” Chambers said. “You’re seeing roofs that are being replaced, air conditioning systems that are being replaced, we’re having parking, paving, [and] none of this would have been possible without the half-cent sales tax.”
The new 1,200-student K-8 campus comes at a critical time for the district. While educational experts recommend planning new schools when existing facilities reach 80% capacity, Chambers said almost every school in Okaloosa County is operating at 95% capacity or higher, with many exceeding 100%.
- When Pineview opens in August 2026, it will enroll approximately 1,000 students, providing immediate relief to overcrowded schools while leaving room for future growth, according to Chambers.
“Almost every elementary school in the Crestview area is going to be impacted. Both middle schools will be impacted,” Chambers said. “There’s going to be more room at the elementaries. There’s going to be more room at the middle schools because this school behind me is going to be built.”
The state-of-the-art facility will feature modern amenities including specialized band and chorus rooms, a media center, and advanced classroom technology. The campus design includes two-story classroom wings, a gymnasium with PE/Athletic locker rooms, and a cafeteria designed as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area.
School Board Member Linda Evanchyk, who represents District 3 where the school will be located, emphasized how the project fulfills promises made to the community during the 2020 sales tax referendum.
- “As board members, many years down the way, it never crossed our minds that in 2024 we would be breaking ground and have this new school by ’26,” Evanchyk said. “Today is one more example of how we’re keeping promises to our students and our community.”
The school’s name, chosen through a collaborative process involving administrators and students, reflects both the area’s natural features and its historical significance. Located west of the new Crestview bypass on a 49-acre portion of an 80-acre parcel, the site showcases the region’s distinctive elevation and abundant pine trees.
“The pine tree is deeply woven into Crestview’s area’s identity,” Evanchyk explained. “At the turn of the 20th century, when our county was getting started, which was started in 1915, lumber and turpentine were the major economic factors here.”
The project represents part of a broader district-wide modernization initiative. “You go to Laurel Hill all the way down to the beaches of Destin, [and] you’re seeing classroom additions, you’re seeing new multi-purpose buildings,” Chambers said. “You’re seeing cafetoriums that we used to call cafeterias because now it’s a cafeteria and an auditorium all in one.”
- The site includes a curved parent pickup and drop-off area on the north side, with bus pickup on the south side. A frontage road will run the length of the property, allowing for future expansion. The remaining acreage could accommodate an additional school when needed, with plans to potentially transform the K-8 facility into a dedicated middle school.
Assistant Superintendent Grant Meyer acknowledged the collaborative effort behind the project, particularly highlighting the work of the district’s Facility Department with the city of Crestview and county stakeholders.
“This school is not going to just be brick and mortars,” Meyer said. “It’s going to be where students can grow. Dreams are going to be built. Relationships will be built.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Friday. There is a very good chance that this is my last email before Christmas. News will be slow after today so if I do not get another email out, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.
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