What is happening in Okaloosa County and along the Emerald Coast. Every story is briefed in our own words, with links to everyone who reported it.
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The city will reinstate late fees and service disconnections for overdue utility accounts beginning November 16, ending a temporary suspension put in place after the hurricane. Customers with past-due balances are urged to settle accounts before the resumption of normal delinquency processing.
Meigs defeated Destin 27-21 in the county championship game when eighth-grader Kiry Robinson intercepted a pass at his own 10-yard line and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown with 15.6 seconds remaining. The victory gave Meigs its first perfect season and first county title since 1992.
Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Isaias made landfall, Santa Rosa County officials estimate debris removal costs will reach at least $51.5 million, with work underway to clear roads and debris from public and private areas. The county is awaiting federal funding to help cover the months-long cleanup effort.
Navarre Beach recorded 17 loggerhead sea turtle nests this season containing an estimated 1,700 eggs, but a series of July storms flooded 13 nests with water, destroying them by preventing hatchlings from breathing through their porous shells. Only two nests survived to completion, marking a disappointing end to what initially appeared a relatively strong year.
The Crestview Bulldogs ended their season with a 44-38 loss to the Dothan Wolves, both teams entering the game with identical 2-7 records. The Wolves scored early and held on to secure the victory in what was Crestview's second trip to Alabama this season.
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The Crestview Community Chorus will perform free Christmas concerts Dec. 3, 4 and 6, featuring traditional and contemporary holiday music arranged in four medleys. Performances run 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Dec. 3-4 and 3 p.m. at Woodlawn Baptist Church on Dec. 6.
Multiple anglers landed competitive fish on Oct. 29 during the 2026 Destin Fishing Rodeo, with Gordon Powell's 8-pound red grouper leading the day's entries. Catches ranged from triggerfish to grouper and snapper, with participants fishing from various charter boats competing for leaderboard positions.
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The city council proclaimed October as National Liver Awareness Month to highlight the health crisis affecting an estimated 100 million Americans with liver disease. The American Liver Foundation, marking its 50th year, accepted the proclamation to promote education and research on conditions ranging from hepatitis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
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The city is accepting entries for its annual Christmas Parade, themed "Inside Santa's Workshop," running along Eglin Parkway at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. Organizations must apply by Nov. 24 with a $35 fee and proof of liability insurance.
The Okaloosa County Commission will hear staff findings Tuesday on how large data centers could affect the county, following a September request to research the facilities' potential consequences.
Crestview High School's volleyball team lost its final home game and senior night celebration when Hurricane Isaias forced a cancellation of the matchup against Milton. The school is working to find an alternative date to honor its seniors.
The Navarre Raiders were blanked 46-0 by the Pace Patriots on Thursday night at Bennett C. Russell Stadium, continuing a difficult season for the team.
Dean Ferguson, a senior and commander of Choctawhatchee High School's Air Force JROTC unit, built a 250-foot obstacle course and orienteering training area on school grounds over the summer as his Eagle Scout project. The course, which opened with a ribbon cutting Wednesday, includes low crawls, tire runs and monkey bars for cadets to use during training.
Fourth-seeded Middleburg rallied from a 23-17 deficit in the fourth set to defeat third-seeded Niceville in Wednesday's Region 1-5A final at Niceville High School. The Eagles' season ended despite winning two of the first three sets in front of a packed home crowd.
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Fort Walton Beach City Council presented its monthly Student Award for Civic Excellence to Isabella Blackshear of Choctawhatchee High School and Jack Hanneken of Fort Walton Beach High School during an Oct. 27 meeting. The award recognizes high school students demonstrating outstanding leadership in school and government at local, state and national levels.
Two of eleven fire district commission seats up for election in Santa Rosa County face contested races this cycle. Holley-Navarre Fire District and Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District each have two candidates vying for open positions, while the remaining nine races feature single candidates running unopposed.
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Fort Walton Beach city officials issued a proclamation recognizing First United Methodist Church for eight decades of community service since its 1946 founding. The church began with 13 charter members and has operated from multiple locations throughout its history.
Ashbrie Cinemas' theater at the Breeze closed for a week following an electrical fire on its roof on October 16, with Midway Fire District responding to the incident. The cinema reopened after repairs were completed.
The MKAF Festival of the Arts drew more than 100 artists to Destin on Oct. 24-25, with Paul Henry Devoti winning Best in Show and $2,000 for his ceramic work. Jordan Aucoin of Miramar Beach received the $1,000 People's Choice Award for sculpture, while Andrea Scurto took Best in Show in the Collaborative Tent adult division for an oil painting.
Country singer Riley Green's acoustic version of "Bartender in Destin" has gone viral on YouTube, prompting locals and fans to identify which Destin establishment inspired the track. The Boathouse Oyster Bar has emerged as a leading candidate based on lyrical details, though patrons and staff remain uncertain which bartender the song references.
The Emerald Coast Public Relations Foundation is accepting applications through March 15, 2027, for $1,000 scholarships available to high school seniors in Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties planning to study public relations, communication, marketing or journalism. Applicants must maintain a 3.75 GPA or higher and demonstrate leadership or community service.
Crestview's boys and girls golf teams traveled to Stonebrook in Pace for the District 1-3A tournament. The course had been cleaned up following Hurricane Isaias damage to the area.
Crestview is traveling away from home for a final week of October game under the lights. Baker is also playing on the road this week.
The Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless has reached a tentative deal to buy its Duggan Avenue building and is seeking community support for the five-year acquisition plan.
Emily Simon, who has taught since 2010, was recognized as West Navarre Primary School's teacher of the year for her work leading the school's STEAM education program, which covers science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
The City of Crestview marked the completion of renovation projects at Fire Station 3 and B&T RC Raceway with a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony. The city celebrated both infrastructure improvements at the same event.
County tourism officials are launching a broader marketing campaign to promote attractions and recreational opportunities in Crestview and northern Okaloosa County. The effort includes the Crestview Welcome + Adventure Center as part of the expanded initiative.
Disaster relief teams from Georgia, Arkansas, Delaware and Maryland are rotating through Northwest Florida to help residents recover from Hurricane Isaias, with 50 volunteers arriving each week to remove trees, repair roofs and clear debris at no cost. Since arriving two weeks ago, the crews have completed 185 jobs and plan to continue operations for another week and a half.
Crestview, Baker and Laurel Hill competed in the Walton County cross-country meet on October 27 at Eagle Springs Golf Course. The event served as preparation for the teams ahead of their upcoming district competitions.
Florida voters will decide next week whether to expand homestead property tax exemptions, a change supporters say will ease housing costs but which Okaloosa County officials warn could force small municipalities to close. County Administrator John Hofstad projects the first-year revenue loss at $15 million, potentially doubling by year two.
Gulf Pointe Latin's volleyball team won the Panhandle Christian Conference championship for the second consecutive year, finishing the season undefeated at 23-0.
The Florida Small Business Development Center is deploying temporary assistance centers across Santa Rosa County from November 2-5 to help business owners navigate disaster loans and recovery. Consultants will staff pop-up locations in Milton, Jay, and Navarre during extended business hours.
President Trump approved a federal disaster declaration for Florida following Hurricane Isaias, unlocking Public Assistance funds for local governments and schools in Escambia County and surrounding areas. Individual assistance for residents remains pending as federal officials complete damage assessments to determine eligibility under FEMA's thresholds.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.