WEATHER

Extremely cold weather for the Christmas Holiday Weekend

On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox sent out an update regarding the incoming arctic air that is moving toward the northern Gulf Coast.

• Overall, the forecast has had little change, with the exception of a HARD FREEZE WATCH now coming into the picture.

According to Maddox, a powerful arctic cold front will move across our area late Thursday into early Friday morning. Temperatures by Friday morning are forecast to be in the teens and 20s. Strong northwest winds are expected to follow in the wake of the front with winds currently forecast to gust frequently to 30mph or more by Friday morning and remaining somewhat elevated on Friday night.

“Given these gusty northwest winds, it will feel much colder with wind chill temperatures forecast to be in the single digits over almost the entire area on Friday morning, with below zero values possible across far inland areas,” he wrote. “With winds remaining somewhat elevated on Friday night, expect similar wind chill values Friday night into Saturday morning.”

He says that Friday high temperatures will struggle to climb above freezing over much of the area and may stay in the 20s over far inland areas. Even the immediate coast will only warm to the mid/upper 30s. 

• Friday and Saturday nights will see lows drop into the teens over much of the area with low/mid 20s across the beach areas.
• Highs on Christmas Eve will still struggle to climb out of the 30s and may still not climb above freezing in some inland areas.   

Maddox added that it is possible that once some areas north of Highway 84 drop below freezing late Thursday night/Friday morning that temperatures may not rise back above freezing until Sunday afternoon. 

“A HARD FREEZE WATCH is now in effect for all areas along and northwest of the I-65 corridor beginning late Thursday night,” he added. “Friday night through Christmas morning, a hard freeze watch is in effect for the entire region. Expect all areas currently in a hard freeze watch to be upgraded to a hard freeze warning as the event gets closer.”

According to the National Weather Service, as it stands now, daily highs on Christmas Eve will rank in the Top 5 coldest days since records began.

• Christmas morning, as lows plunge into the teens for much of the area, it will rank in the Top 5 Coldest Christmas Mornings on record.

Cold Weather Shelters will be open:

South County: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday morning

One Hopeful Place Opens at 4:00 PM.
850-586-7879
1564 Percy L Coleman Rd
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
Website: https://onehopefulplace.org

Pickup location is Bridgeway Center, 205 Shell Ave, Fort Walton Beach. Shuttle service starts at 3:30 and 4:00PM

North County: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless.

Opens at 6:00pm
850-398-5670
120 Duggan Ave,
Crestview, FL
Website: https://crestview.org

FROM THE STATE

Governor DeSantis appoints three to the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority

On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dewey “Parker” Destin and the reappointment of James Neilson Jr. and Kim Wintner to the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority. 

Dewey “Parker” Destin

• Destin, of the City of Destin, is the owner of Dewey’s Navarre and Dewey Destin Enterprises. He was previously elected to the Destin City Council and currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Gulf Coast Seafood Alliance. He is currently running for the 2024 Okaloosa School Board election.
• Destin received his bachelor’s degree in business management and entrepreneurship from the University of Tampa and his juris doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law.

James Neilson Jr.

• Neilson, of Destin, is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and retired with 23 years of experience in the insurance industry. He has served on the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority since 2004 and is the former President and General Manager of the Sandpiper Cove Condominium Association.
• Neilson has also previously served on the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, Destin Harbor Board, and the Sacred Heart Foundation.

Kim Wintner

• Wintner, of Niceville, is the President and Owner of Alliance Association Management Company. He previously served in the United States Air Force for 30 years, retiring as a Colonel. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Destin Chamber of Commerce and serves as the Chair of the Destin Military Affairs Council.
• Wintner earned his bachelor’s degree in police administration from Indiana University and his master’s degree in human resources development from Webster University. 

A MESSAGE FROM FLEET, SMITH & FREEMAN

Top 10 estate planning mistakes parents frequently make (and how to avoid them)

Get The Coast spoke to Fleet, Smith & Freeman’s estate planning lawyer, Whitney Smith, about the biggest mistakes parents make when it comes to Estate Planning. 

• Located in Shalimar, Florida, the attorneys at Fleet, Smith & Freeman have represented clients throughout the Florida Panhandle for more than 60 combined years. 

In this article, Smith discusses the Top 10 planning mistakes that parents easily make.

1. Failing to Know the Difference Between Will/Trust
2. Not Putting Things Into Writing
3. Leaving a Mess (Literally!)
4. Not Creating a Power of Attorney and Advanced Medical Directive
5. Failing to Think of Children’s Needs
6. Failing to Analyze Estate Plan Upon Divorce
7. Fail to Treat Marriage Like a Business (So romantic!)
8. Realizing How You Title Assets Matters
9. Thinking Kids Can Share 
10. Thinking You Don’t Have Enough Assets to Put a Plan into Place

Fleet, Smith & Freeman does everything from simple wills to sophisticated estate plans. 

“We believe in tailoring estate plans to meet the unique needs of each client,” she added. “That is why we don’t take a cookie-cutter approach to estate planning. Instead, each estate plan we draft is just as unique as you are!”

Click here to read the full article

Contact the Fort Walton Beach estate planning attorneys of Fleet, Smith & Freeman, for help with all of your estate planning needs. Call their office at 850-651-4006.

GIVING BACK

Fundraiser launched to help Bonefish Grill employees in Destin following restaurant fire

On Monday morning, Destin Fire Control District, along with multiple other departments, responded to a kitchen fire at Bonefish Grill on Emerald Coast Pkwy in Destin.

According to the report from Destin Fire, the fire started in the kitchen and pushed into the attic space. Early-arriving crews were able to put an aggressive stop to the fire before it extended into neighboring businesses.

• As a result of the fire, the restaurant is now temporarily closed due to the damage.

With the restaurant being closed the week of Christmas, local resident and service industry representative Gil Osterloh has stepped up to organize a fundraiser to help the employees during the holiday.

Osterloh announced that Emerald Coast Community Cares Foundation has established a relief fund account with Synovus Bank to help the employees.

“The restaurant is closed until further notice, which greatly affects the financial situations of the staff,” said Osterloh. “This is especially tough on them given it’s Christmas and the week leading up to it typically brings a lot of generous tips and customer appreciation.”

• Osterloh said they plan to distribute donations directly to the staff after the close of business on Friday, December 23rd.

“Our goal is to generate enough donations to help the staff provide for their families at Christmas and to also help lessen upcoming burdens such as January rent, which will be due in a little more than a week,” he added. “Please help donate to this cause. If you’ve ever worked in the service industry, or know someone that does, then you know how much this must hurt coming at this time of year.”

You can donate one of the following ways:

• At any Synovus Bank branch in the Panhandle (Pensacola, Pace, Gulf Breeze, Crestview, Eglin AFB, Niceville, FWB, Destin) by telling them you want to donate to the Emerald Coast Cares Relief Fund.
• Through this GoFundMe account here: https://gofund.me/11679901
• Through the ECCCF Venmo https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3272835015376896761
• By check or cash (can be dropped off with Wayne Anderson at Cabana Cafe or message Gil directly on Facebook.)

NOTE: This story originally stated at Osterloh was an attorney. That was incorrect on our end. He is a service industry representative with Beverage Law Professionals.

GIVING BACK

All Sports Association donates $50,000 to improve school sports programs in Okaloosa County

Since 1970, the All Sports Association has supported and honored the “best of the best” High School, Collegiate, Amateur, Professional, and Special Olympic athletes and recognized individuals who have fostered youth activities in Northwest Florida.

• The ASA, made up of dues-paying volunteers, has donated their time and raised money for non-profit organizations emphasizing local youth sports programs.

This year, the ASA has made a generous donation of $50,000 to the Okaloosa County Public Schools Foundation to improve school-sanctioned sports activities for high school and middle school athletic programs in Okaloosa County, according to a press release from the school district.

“On behalf of the members of the All Sports Association and its many sponsors it is our pleasure to be able to provide funding to help the many sports programs in the Okaloosa County School District,” stated Gary McCoy, All Sports President. “We look forward to continuing this support in the years to come.”

In partnership with the ASA, the Public Schools Foundation was able to secure $15,000 in additional matching funds to support health and fitness among our student athletes.

• As a result of these donations, each of the district’s middle and high school athletic programs will receive $4,642.86 to use in areas of greatest need as determined by the leadership at each school.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the All Sports Association who continually make a difference and positively impact the lives of our student-athletes, our community, and beyond,” stated Superintendent Marcus Chambers.