Masked, Bejeweled, and Ready to Rule: Who Will Be Captain Billy 70?

Split image featuring a masked and sunglassed figure on the left and bold yellow text on the right that reads “Can You Guess the Captain? Billy 70 Keeps His Cover.”

Masked, Bejeweled, and Ready to Rule: Who Will Be Captain Billy 70? Staff Reports June 3, 2025 3:18 pm Events, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville In Brief: The mysterious new Captain Billy 70 will be revealed when the 70th Annual Billy Bowlegs Coronation Pageant sails into Niceville on June 14 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. […]

Will Niceville Eliminate THIS Affordable Housing Option?

When a local family added a small home to care for both their aging parent and son with autism, they followed all the rules—yet still sparked a citywide debate about property values, affordable housing, and what it really means to “keep Niceville nice.”

Taiwan Trip Sparks Big Ideas for Niceville’s Future

Niceville City Manager David Deitch in front of Taipei skyline with Taiwan graphic

Taiwan Trip Sparks Big Ideas for Niceville’s Future Staff Reports June 3, 2025 11:17 am Business, News, Niceville In Brief: Niceville City Manager David Deitch returned from his trip to Taiwan, where he met with local leaders – including a past and a future presidential candidate for that country. Deitch visited the island nation off […]

Grant Helps Kiwanis Deliver Hope to Foster Kids

Volunteers from the Kiwanis Foundation of Niceville-Valparaiso pack duffel bags filled with supplies for foster children in a community room.

Grant Helps Kiwanis Deliver Hope to Foster Kids Staff Reports May 26, 2025 8:55 am Uncategorized In Brief: A $3,000 grant from NextEra Energy Foundation will help the Kiwanis Foundation of Niceville-Valparaiso expand its Bags of Hope program. The initiative provides duffel bags with essential items to foster children across four Northwest Florida counties. With […]

City Manager Gives Update on Mullet Grounds Lease With Air Force, Potential For New Ball Fields in Niceville

Niceville City Manager David Deitch provided an update on efforts to expand the city’s sports field facilities, including ongoing negotiations with the Air Force for a long-term lease on the Mullet Festival Grounds and conversations with local landowners. The proposed lease would cost the city roughly $65,000 annually, though Deitch hopes to offset the cost with in-kind services. The total project could cost between $10-15 million, and the city is exploring a variety of funding sources to move forward.

Niceville Endowment Helps Fund College Dreams for Local Students

Kristi Evans and Mayor Daniel Henkel pose with three scholarship recipients at Niceville City Hall. Evans holds a ceremonial scholarship check while the students stand in front, smiling. An American flag and the Florida state seal are visible in the background.

Niceville Endowment Helps Fund College Dreams for Local Students Staff Reports May 19, 2025 8:46 am Uncategorized Four local students are heading toward college with a financial boost, thanks to more than $15,000 in scholarship funds from the City of Niceville’s Katie Mathews White Endowment. The scholarships, granted for the 2024–2025 school year, support participants […]

Niceville’s Hidden Post-Soviet Sister City

A newly resurfaced letter from 1992 reveals a long-forgotten attempt to form a sister city relationship between Niceville and Penza, Russia, echoing today’s discussions about partnering with New Taipei City.