Scholarships Announced for Top Students in PR and Communications
The Emerald Coast Public Relations Foundation will award several $1,000 scholarships to high-achieving seniors in Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa counties who plan to pursue degrees in public relations, communication, marketing, or journalism. Supported by local sponsors including Eglin Federal Credit Union and longtime PR professionals, the program continues the Foundation’s mission to grow the next generation of communicators along the Emerald Coast.
Choctawhatchee High Students Learn Real-World Budgeting at Reality Check Event
About 80 Choctawhatchee High School students stepped into the world of adulthood during the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation’s annual Reality Check event, a hands-on financial literacy simulation that challenged them to budget, prioritize expenses, and navigate real-life choices with the help of community partners.
Repeat Offender From Niceville Gets 15-Year Federal Sentence for Child Pornography
A Niceville man with a prior child pornography conviction has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after investigators discovered thousands of child sexual abuse images and videos on dozens of devices in his home. Federal and local law enforcement officials say the case highlights the importance of coordinated efforts to protect children from online exploitation.
Florida Delegation Warns Trump: Drilling Threatens Military Ops
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and a group of fellow House members are urging President Donald Trump to remove several drilling blocks from an upcoming federal lease sale in the Gulf, warning that oil exploration in the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range could disrupt military testing, threaten Northwest Florida’s economy, and undercut the region’s tourism industry.
FWBHS Students Debut Tiny House, Gear Up for International Competition
Fort Walton Beach High School’s Building Trades students gave district leaders and community members an inside look at their in-progress tiny house project during a special preview event this week. The showcase highlighted the students’ growing expertise in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and finishing — skills they’ll put to the test when they compete at the 2026 International Builders’ Show® in Orlando.
OCSO Searching for Missing 35-Year-Old Tremaine McClellan
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is searching for 35-year-old Tremaine McClellan, who was last heard from on November 3, 2025. Investigators released photos of McClellan and the SUV he may be driving, urging the public to come forward with any information that could help locate him. Anyone with tips is encouraged to contact the OCSO or reach out anonymously through Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers.
Patronis Demands Answers on Special Operations Relocation
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are pressing Pentagon leaders for answers after the Air Force finalized its plan to move the 492nd Special Operations Wing from Northwest Florida to Arizona. In a sharply worded letter, the lawmakers warn the relocation could slow U.S. response times to growing threats in Venezuela and the Caribbean and question why the Air Force relied on Biden-era climate considerations instead of current national security priorities.
Back-to-Back Champ Coach Steps Down
Rocky Bayou Christian School Head Football Coach KC Woods is stepping down after leading the Knights to their second straight SSAA state championship. Woods will stay on as Assistant Principal as the school begins searching for a new head coach.
‘I don’t want to get a call that my son is gone’: Family fears Okaloosa inmate’s health is spiraling
The family of 33-year-old Robert Riddle says he’s growing weaker every month inside the Okaloosa County Jail, where he has lived with severe sickle cell disease since 2024. Advocates argue that essential treatments have been withheld, while county officials maintain he is receiving appropriate care.
Death Row Timeline Nears End for Frank Walls
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Frank Athen Walls, the Okaloosa County man convicted in the 1987 murders of Airman Edward Alger and Ann Peterson and later linked to three additional slayings. Walls is scheduled to be executed on December 18, marking another addition to Florida’s record-setting year for executions.
