Emerald Coast Open Removes 20K+ Invasive Lionfish

Emerald Coast Open Removes 20K+ Invasive Lionfish Staff Reports May 22, 2025 8:43 am Charities and Nonprofits, Destin, Events, Fort Walton Beach, News, Okaloosa County, Wildlife In Brief: 🐠 20,502 lionfish were removed from the Gulf during the 2025 Emerald Coast Open and Lionfish Festival in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. 🎯 Deep Water Mafia 1 led […]
Troop 544 Honored for Rescuing Missing Child in Fort Walton

Troop 544 Honored for Rescuing Missing Child in Fort Walton Staff Reports May 21, 2025 1:09 pm Uncategorized In Brief: 🧭 Scouts from Troop 544 helped locate a missing 11-year-old autistic child near Ferry Park in Fort Walton Beach on April 7. 🏅 Okaloosa County Commissioner Paul Mixon presented the troop with a proclamation recognizing […]
Cold War Over Okaloosa’s ‘County Wide Assets’ Rears Head Again

Crab Island’s vessel-free zone is gone — and with it, the illusion that all county commissioners agree on who controls what in Okaloosa’s waters.
UPDATE: Army Responds to Allegations of Ranger Misbehavior at Crab Island

Tourists at Crab Island say they saw soldiers drinking and shooting during Billy Bowlegs weekend — We’re asking officials for the version of events and what will happen next.
Okaloosa County Begins Nightly Summer Mosquito Spraying

Okaloosa County Begins Nightly Summer Mosquito Spraying Staff Reports May 20, 2025 9:25 am News, Okaloosa County In Brief: 🦟 Okaloosa County has begun nightly mosquito spraying operations to combat seasonal mosquito populations and reduce disease risk 🗓️ Spraying begins one hour before sunset and follows a rotating schedule by region. Residents can check their […]
Governor Appoints Zack Smith to UWF Board of Trustees

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Pensacola native Zack Smith to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, providing the board with local legal expertise. Smith serves as Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. He also serves as a […]
What Docs Reveal About Former Okaloosa Jail Directors Dismissal

Okaloosa County’s former jail director resigned under a severance deal amid findings that he violated county policy by promoting a company owned by his brother to provide ACA enrollment services to inmates.
Okaloosa County Releases 2025 High School Graduation Schedule

The Okaloosa County School District has announced its 2025 graduation schedule, including dates, locations, and livestream links for all local high schools.
Over 600 Seniors Recognized for Academic Achievement at Annual Anne T. Mitchell Awards Ceremony

The Okaloosa County School District honored 619 graduating seniors from six high schools for achieving high academic distinction during the Anne T. Mitchell Academic Awards Ceremony on April 22 at Northwest Florida State College.
Five Okaloosa JROTC Cadets Receive Scholarships from Air and Space Forces Association

Five JROTC cadets from Okaloosa County high schools were awarded scholarships by the Air and Space Forces Association Eglin Chapter at a ceremony held April 15 at the Air Force Armament Museum.