SPONSORED BY
Good morning!
There’s quite a bit to cover this morning so let’s just jump into…
GIVING BACK
Gulfarium CARE Center raises more than $155,000 at annual TurtleFest
The Gulfarium CARE Center raised more than $155,000 at its annual CARE on the Coast TurtleFest, held April 18 at Gulfarium.
- More than 1,200 guests gathered for an afternoon of live entertainment, local food and drinks, animal meet and greets, and educational activities, all in support of sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts along the Gulf Coast.
The center carried that work forward last week with its first sea turtle release of the season at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.
SPONSORED
It’s the perfect season to tee up and enjoy the ride.
It’s the perfect season to tee up and enjoy the ride.
- With auto loan rates as low as 4.74% APR, Eglin Federal Credit Union can help you go farther—for less.
Shop for your new or used vehicle at any participating dealer to apply for on site financing with Eglin Federal Credit Union, or apply online at eglinfcu.org/auto.
Your best round starts with a great drive.
Eglin Federal Credit Union. Where members matter most.
GAMES
WordroW: April 30, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
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
Fort Walton Beach High School names Shawn Snyder as new head baseball coach
Fort Walton Beach High School has hired Shawn Snyder as its new head baseball coach, bringing 28 years of head coaching experience and over 485 career wins to the Vikings program.
Athletic Director Holly McDaniel announced the hire, calling Snyder “an outstanding addition to our athletic program.”
- “We are excited to announce the hiring of our new Head Baseball Coach, whose extensive experience and proven track record make him an outstanding addition to our athletic program,” McDaniel said.
In addition to his baseball coaching career, Snyder has 28 years of experience as an assistant football coach, including stints at Seminole High School in Oklahoma and most recently serves as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Vikings.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Niceville, Valparaiso fire agencies to launch ‘boundary drop’ response model May 1
Three area fire agencies will begin operating under a new “boundary drop” response model on May 1, 2026, an arrangement officials say will cut response times by sending the closest unit to emergencies regardless of jurisdiction.
The Niceville Fire Department, in coordination with the East Niceville Fire District and the Valparaiso Fire Department, will implement the change across all three jurisdictions.
Under the boundary drop model, the closest agency responds to emergencies between all participating agencies. Previously, independent agencies responded to incidents within their respective jurisdictions, which in some cases did not allow for the closest unit to respond, according to the announcement.
PROMOTED BY UNITED FIDELITY
STOP Missing Out! Your Checking Account Should Pay YOU
Tired of your checking account giving you next to nothing?
Our Elevate Checking account lets you earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)!
Earn more with a local bank you can trust.
Visit unitedfidelitybank.com/elevate to learn more about how to get started.
SPORTS
Diaris Morales throws six touchdowns to send Choctaw flag football to Sweet 16
Leading up to Tuesday, it was unknown whether Choctaw quarterback Diaris Morales would even play. She had spent much of the previous week fighting the flu, missing valuable practice time as she worked to get healthy enough to take the field.
- But on game day, that didn’t stop her from delivering a performance for the ages.
Morales threw for six touchdowns in a 39-0 rout of Menendez, sending Choctaw into the Sweet 16.
“I wasn’t 100 percent, but I thought I could pull through, and they were very nice to me and let me take my time off [practice] so I could feel better for the game,” Morales said.
GAMES
Jigsaw – “Norriego”
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Ready for this week’s Jigsaw puzzle?
Each week, we use local pictures from around Okaloosa County as part of our puzzles. They’ll include current dated photos to historical ones. Do you recognize this place?
SPORTS
Destin flag football earns first playoff win in school history
History was made Tuesday night for Destin High School and the Destin community.
The Destin flag football team defeated Bradford 25-0 on the road in their regional quarterfinal matchup, securing not only the first playoff win in program history, but the first playoff win in the history of Destin High School since becoming a member of the FHSAA.
The victory came in large part thanks to an athlete who is quickly building a case as one of the most impactful in the school’s history: Neilya Stewart.
BUSINESS
Okaloosa School Board Member Tim Bryant earns FSBA Distinguished Leader Award
Okaloosa County School District Board Member Tim Bryant has received the Distinguished Leader Award from the Florida School Boards Association, the district announced.
The award is one of FSBA’s highest honors and is given to board members who demonstrate excellence in governance, leadership development and continuous professional learning. To qualify, recipients must complete both the Certified Board Member and Advanced Certified Board Member programs.
“Tim Bryant leads with integrity and a genuine passion for serving our students, staff, and families,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said. “He is thoughtful in his approach, committed to doing what is right for children, and consistently works to strengthen our schools and community. This recognition is well deserved, and we are grateful for his leadership and service to Okaloosa County.”
PUBLIC SAFETY
Fort Walton Beach police safely take armed man into custody after standoff
Fort Walton Beach Police officers safely resolved a standoff Wednesday with an armed man in crisis at Mooney Road NE and Windsor Lane NE.
- Officers on patrol encountered the man around 12:32 p.m. holding a knife to his neck before he fled into a nearby residence. He later emerged with a firearm pointed at himself, according to the report.
After roughly two hours of negotiation, the Okaloosa County Multijurisdictional Special Operations Team and Crisis Negotiation Team took command. When the man tried to breach the perimeter, officers used less-lethal force and a K9 to take him into custody.
He was transported for medical evaluation.
COASTAL RESOURCES
Destin-Fort Walton Beach partners with Yamaha Rightwaters on environmental stewardship
Okaloosa County’s tourism team with Destin-Fort Walton Beach has announced a partnership with the Yamaha Rightwaters initiative aimed at supporting sustainable fisheries, environmental stewardship and eco-tourism.
- The partnership includes projects tied to the planned deployment of the SS United States as the world’s largest artificial reef, as well as the county’s ongoing management of the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament.
“Our biggest asset in Okaloosa County is the environment that surrounds the residents who live here and the landscape that our visitors have come to enjoy,” Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin said. “We welcome this partnership and look forward to the environmental benefits that it will provide.”
Under the three-year sponsorship, Yamaha Rightwaters will promote environmental stewardship through marketing, outreach and direct project support, while Destin-Fort Walton Beach will provide branding, recognition and engagement opportunities to Yamaha.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday. 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!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
Published with ♥ by Get The Coast.
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here.
124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548