ALICE In Wonderland: The Hidden Struggle for Survival in Niceville

Luis Torres, a Niceville Walmart employee and father, embodies the struggles of the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, facing challenges with childcare and housing. High childcare costs and restrictive housing options push many working-class families like his to the brink of financial instability. Local leaders, including City Manager David Deitch, are exploring solutions to alleviate these burdens, such as increasing affordable housing inventory and advocating for policy changes to support these families.
Niceville, Freeport, and Crestview Kids Learn Selflessness at This Summer Event

Heat, humidity, and gnats are the three guarantees for a June in Florida. Steve Schutt hopes that as Crosspoint Church’s annual service outreach, Mission Northwest, enters its 14th year, it will continue as the fourth constant for Niceville in June. Schutt, along with other volunteers, will lead 275 children in grades 5-12 in service projects around the Florida Panhandle, helping non-profits and fostering a lifetime commitment to serving others and empathy.
A Catholic School in Niceville? Here’s What We Know:

At the end of the meeting, Jeff Witt invited a crowd of about 150 Catholic adults at 3rd Planet Brewing in Niceville to join him in The Lord’s Prayer, but before he could begin, 100 voices had already started on their own. The gathering, which outgrew its initial side room and moved to the beer garden, aimed to gauge interest in starting a Catholic school in Niceville. Witt, a parishioner at Christ our Redeemer Catholic Church, highlighted the strong local desire for Catholic education, emphasizing the thriving community and the absence of a nearby Catholic school. Witt plans to gather further community input through a poll before making concrete decisions, with a vision of creating a faithful, affordable, and excellent Catholic school in Niceville.
Catholic School in Niceville? One Group Aims to Make It Happen ASAP!

Niceville Catholic Education invites the community to a pivotal meeting on June 9 at 3rd Planet Brewery to discuss the future of Catholic K-12 education in the Niceville and greater Choctawhatchee Bay area. The meeting will cover updates from local pastors, vision and scope for the initiative, ways to get involved, and an open Q&A session. All interested families and community members are encouraged to attend and participate in shaping this educational endeavor.
Florida’s Catholic Bishops Announce Opposition to Amendment 4

Florida’s Catholic bishops have announced their opposition to Amendment 4 – which will be on the ballot this November.
UPDATE: Clergy, LGBTQ+ Advocates React to Klan Comparisons at Niceville Council

Several citizens, including a Catholic Deacon, called for the city not to rent out the Niceville Community Center to a nonprofit that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Now, the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and members of the LGBTQ+ community weigh in on the incident and what it means for Niceville.
Proposed Pride Gathering Compared to Ku Klux Klan at Niceville Council Meeting

A heated debate erupted at the Niceville City Council meeting over a planned Pride event, with one man making comparisons of the event to the Ku Klux Klan. Find out what led to this contentious discussion.
Boggy Update: The Flagrant Rebrand

Paul Sjoberg, a local entrepreneur, joins Journalist Christopher Saul as a co-host on the podcast. The pair discuss everything going on in our part of paradise.
Artful Things Niceville Prepares Customers for Easter

Discover the soulful connection between art and faith at Artful Things Niceville Gallery. Local treasures await
The Top 10 Stories of 2023

These are the top ten stories, as judged by the number of people who read them, in 2023. What did you think was the most important local story of the year? Vote now!