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.
A cold front moving across the Florida Panhandle will bring scattered rain and isolated thunderstorms to the region Wednesday and Thursday, with limited severe weather expected. Cooler and drier conditions arrive late this weekend, with overnight temperatures dropping into the 40s and 50s after an unseasonably warm week.
Walton County is hosting a week of activities through Nov. 6 to educate residents about its 15 named coastal dune lakes, ecosystems found in only a few places worldwide. The county is organizing tours, movie screenings, presentations, cleanups and restoration project visits to highlight the lakes' importance to local wildlife and environmental quality.
A Crestview family of 13, including their dog, dressed as characters from "The Wizard of Oz" and won the Best Group Costume award at the Main Street Crestview Fall Festival on October 31. The group spent six weeks planning and hand-sewing most of their costumes, with organizer Teresa Bonham emphasizing the event's value in creating family memories.
The Destin City Council voted unanimously to lease approximately 4 acres of state-owned property on Holiday Isle for conservation and public recreation, with the city paying $300 annually. The lease requires state approval and a management plan within 10 months, with public input to be scheduled before the plan is finalized.
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The city is offering grants of up to $2,000 to low-to-moderate income homeowners with active insurance claims for roof damage, funded through a federal Community Development Block Grant. Eligible applicants must own a primary residence in Fort Walton Beach, meet HUD income limits, and hire a licensed contractor, with funds distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The SS United States, a 990-foot passenger ship that set an Atlantic crossing speed record in 1952, will be deliberately sunk Nov. 12 off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast to become the world's largest artificial reef. Okaloosa County spent more than a year preparing the vessel by removing hazardous materials and obtaining federal permits before the scheduled sinking.
The century-old Summerhouse Restaurant structure, which had sat vacant for two decades along Highway 98, was torn down on October 26. The building was relocated to the Navarre area by barge in 2005 to avoid demolition, but years of neglect ultimately led to its destruction.
Three incumbent council members and one newcomer are running in Destin's general election scheduled for Nov. 3. The candidates have outlined priorities ranging from limiting commercial development at Norriego Point to managing traffic and protecting public beach access.
Hurricane Isaias survivors in Walton County can apply for federal disaster assistance at registration points in Paxton, DeFuniak Springs, and Freeport through Nov. 4. FEMA and Florida emergency management personnel will staff the locations to help residents navigate the application process.
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Three firefighters from Station 7 received a Life Saving Award after responding to a cardiac emergency in September and administering advanced life support that helped a patient recover fully. The patient's wife was performing CPR when the crew arrived, and he was discharged from the hospital within a week with no complications.
Two restaurants in Okaloosa County received perfect scores during recent health inspections, while two others were cited for high-priority violations. The Northwest Florida Daily News publishes weekly inspection results since Florida does not require restaurants to publicly display their scores.
Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties have seen over 151,000 residents cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday's midterm election, with participation rates ranging from 31% to 44% across the three counties. Some polling locations in Escambia County were relocated due to hurricane damage, with voters directed to alternative sites.
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Okaloosa County voters in Destin will cast ballots Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at three designated precincts across the city. Voters must bring a current photo ID with a signature, or two IDs if their primary ID lacks one.
With Election Day one day away, nine Florida Panhandle counties have already seen substantial early voting participation, ranging from 22.69% in Holmes County to 47.32% in Liberty County. Voters who have not yet cast ballots will have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to vote at their polling locations.
Destin Fire Rescue responded to a major shed fire Monday evening off Benning Drive. Crews have contained the fire, though heavy smoke continues to linger in the area as firefighters work to fully extinguish it.
Gianna Goldsmith, who played soccer at Navarre High School, has taken over as head coach of Pensacola Catholic's girls soccer team in her first season leading the program. The appointment marks what Goldsmith describes as a full circle moment in her coaching career.
A sedan crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 98 near Casting Lake Road on Monday morning and struck a pickup truck head-on, killing its two occupants and critically injuring the truck driver. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the collision that occurred around 9:40 a.m.
Okaloosa County held its 11th annual Lazarus Memorial Service on Monday, providing dignified burials for 28 people who died without family or financial means. The interfaith ceremony at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, organized by county officials and clergy from 20 congregations, has interred 724 individuals since its inception in 2016.
The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center completed an expansion of the outdoor habitat for Safari, a 130-pound African-spurred tortoise that serves as an animal ambassador at the facility. Community organizations assisted with the project.
The barbecue competition and fundraiser takes place November 6 at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, featuring unlimited samples from local and regional restaurants competing for top honors. General admission tickets cost $70, with proceeds benefiting The Sonder Project, a nonprofit providing clean water and educational support in Africa.
The 26th annual Navarre Beach Car, Truck & Bike Show attracted classic hot rods and modern sports cars on Oct. 31, organized by Pirates on the Panhandle, a Navarre-based club that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Northwest Florida nonprofits and schools since 2009.
Young volunteers at First Methodist Church in Crestview distributed 40 meals to people in need during their monthly soup kitchen event on October 31, with newly appointed youth pastor Mark Barfield participating for the first time. The church's youth group operates the soup kitchen on the fifth Saturday of each month.
The Air Commando Heritage Foundation received support from Lockheed Martin's $25 million 25Forward initiative to build a museum at Hurlburt Field's Memorial Air Park. The five-year program, marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, will help preserve Air Force Special Operations history and educate future generations about Air Commandos from World War II to present.
The Niceville-Valparaiso Christmas Parade Committee selected Tricia Brunson, the departing Chamber president, to serve as Grand Marshal for the 2026 parade. The committee cited her community involvement and volunteer history as reasons for the honorary selection, which traditionally places the honoree at the head of the parade procession.
The Emerald Coast Association of Realtors drew about 600 real estate professionals to its annual RE Bar Camp on Oct. 30 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. The daylong event featured industry vendors, a musical keynote performance and breakout sessions where attendees shared ideas on topics ranging from affordability to marketing practices.
A pickup truck with a utility trailer and a smaller car collided on U.S. 98 near Destin East Mobile Home Park on Nov. 2, trapping at least one occupant. All lanes were shut down, with authorities warning of delays lasting four to six hours.
A 28-year-old Georgia man was struck by a power line while riding atop a moving debris removal tractor on Oct. 27, causing him to fall and be run over by the trailer and a passenger vehicle near Gulf Boulevard. The worker underwent multiple surgeries and is recovering in the hospital.
Facing post-Civil War debt, Florida negotiated selling its western territory west of the Apalachicola River to Alabama for bonds worth roughly $24 million in today's dollars. Panhandle voters approved the measure by nearly two-to-one in November 1869, but Alabama's own financial strain led Governor William Hugh Smith to reject the deal, and the region remained part of Florida.
Several swimmers from Santa Rosa County have advanced to the Florida High School Athletic Association 3A state swimming championship, scheduled for Friday in Ocala. The meet will take place at the Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training Center.
Eric Davis, who teaches at Davidson Middle School in Crestview, has been named AFA Middle School Teacher of the Year. Davis switched careers to education 12 years ago after working in the city's planning department.
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Local residents will gather Nov. 7 to plan a new community garden on city property south of the Fort Walton Tennis Center. The volunteer-led project will be funded through grants, sponsorships, and plot rentals, with interested community members invited to help design, build, and maintain the space.
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Fort Walton Beach will hold its monthly Coffee with the City Manager on Nov. 5 at 10 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, at the Fort Walton Beach Library. The informal gathering allows residents to discuss city matters directly with City Manager Jason Davis with no registration required.
The City Council voted 4-3 to allow cottage food operators one outdoor cart or stand, resolving a dispute that began when code enforcement targeted operations like Austin's Cookies. The ordinance sets restrictions including a 20-square-foot size limit, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. operating hours, and required off-street parking, giving the city regulatory control over businesses protected under state law.
The City of Destin will mill and resurface Airport Road from near Destin Executive Airport to U.S. Highway 98 starting Monday through November 12. Motorists should expect lane closures, traffic delays and temporary business access disruptions during the work.
The South Walton Fire District began its offseason Sunday, reducing lifeguard coverage from daily patrols to limited hours between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. through March 1, 2027. Lifeguard towers have been removed, though personnel will continue monitoring beaches and responding to emergencies via 911.
Choctaw's senior class secured its fourth consecutive district championship with a 49-7 victory over Booker T. Washington on Thursday night. The Indians will face Fort Walton Beach on Wednesday in what the program calls "The Game.
Middleburg rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Niceville in a five-set volleyball match on Oct. 28, ending the Lady Eagles' first Elite Eight appearance since 2020. The Lady Broncos won the decisive fifth set 15-8 after a late run in the fourth set forced the match to a tiebreaker.
Multiple highways across Escambia County will experience lane closures and traffic shifts through Nov. 5 as crews conduct resurfacing, paving and interchange work. Most disruptions occur during nighttime hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., affecting Interstate 10, State Road 292, U.S. 90 and other major routes.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.