CIVIL WAR HISTORY: Destin demands ship’s quick return
When the Civil War reached the bayous of the Choctawhatchee Bay, Leonard Destin, a Connecticut native living in Florida, faced a dangerous dilemma. Suspected of harboring federal sympathies and living as a squatter on naval land, Destin’s life became a high-stakes negotiation when he boarded the USS Water Witch in July 1861 to reclaim his confiscated fishing boat. His actions, intended only to secure his livelihood, inadvertently fueled the suspicions of the local Confederate Walton Guards, placing him and his family at the center of the conflict.
The Creek’s unexpected, costly disaster at Shoal River
On Independence Day, 1837, the militiamen cornered the Creek warriors at a bend in the Shoal River, which, if you look at it on a map, eerily resembles Horseshoe Bend. The 70 or so Jackson County militiamen engaged about 100 Creek, just a portion of the total number of warriors estimated in the area, and routed them. As they fled across the river, they left between eight and ten dead Creek behind, according to Pensacola State Historian Brian Rucker. Jackson County’s men took three wounded in the 20-minute battle.
These tremendous Niceville grads have THIS huge advantage over other West Point cadets:
Three Niceville High School alumni—Logan Michel, Jace Schmidt, and Jocelyn Wheeler—have all earned appointments to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Class of 2030, an extremely rare achievement for a single graduating class. Though they didn’t start as close friends, they formed a crucial support network to navigate the intense, 12-month-long application process, including securing necessary nominations. Each cadet was drawn to West Point for different reasons—Jocelyn for better medical opportunities, Jace for the balance of academics and athletics, and Logan for the call to Army infantry and service. They now face the physical and mental demands of “Beast Barracks” together, knowing that while the next six weeks will be difficult, they won’t be alone.
This little-known land transfer revolutionized the Emerald Coast forever!
On June 27, 1940, over 340,000 acres of the Choctawhatchee National Forest were officially transferred from the Department of the Interior to the War Department. This historic move was driven by President Franklin Roosevelt’s conviction that the U.S. needed to prepare for war, primarily in response to Axis aggression and the U.S. embargo on Japan. This single action fundamentally transformed the local economy and environment around Choctawhatchee Bay, shifting it from a rustic, subsistence living to a hub that enabled the space age and the American Defense Industry. The land soon became the Valparaiso Gunnery Range, the precursor to a massive military-industrial-research complex that brought billions of dollars and a storm of new residents to the Emerald Shores.
Today in History: The Mid-Bay Bridge opens with stampede of runners
On June 27, 1993, 5,200 runners from across the country came to inaugurate the Mid-Bay Bridge with a 5K run across the span. Florida Governor ‘Walkin Lawton’ Chiles pulled the trigger on the starting gun and set the runners on their way to Destin across the 3.6 mile structure above the Choctawhatchee Bay. The bridge, which was built for $81 million and initially cost $2 to cross each way, cut off about 25 minutes of travel time and was finished five months ahead of schedule.
Port Dixie: The mysterious Okaloosa city that never was!
Before it was known as a vacation destination or a military hub, Okaloosa County’s early business leaders wanted it to be known as a maritime superpower on the Gulf Coast known as Port Dixie—a “grandiose scheme” that never materialized.
The Nomads’ darkest day: The bombing of the Khobar Towers
Thirty years after the tragic Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, we remember the 19 U.S. service members killed and the lasting impact of this terrorist attack.
Developing: Crestview Police Announce Arrest of School Bus Driver. Has she driven your child?
An Okaloosa County School District bus driver faces DUI and six counts of child neglect after a low-speed collision in Crestview on Friday. Police say Mechelle Prevoznik, 62, had a 0.048 BAC while transporting six children. Records show she has a history of traffic infractions dating back to 2000.
Eglin welcomes new commander during critical time for essential missions
Colonel Chris Keithley has officially assumed command of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, taking over leadership from Brig. General Mark Massaro. During the ceremony, Major General Scott Cain emphasized the critical role the wing plays in national defense, while Keithley urged the team to avoid complacency and continuously assess their operational assumptions.
Big Florida Energy: Suspect demands Niceville police stop chasing him
A high-speed pursuit on June 12, 2026, spiraled into a chaotic, multi-agency event reaching speeds of 117 mph. The suspect, 46-year-old William George Smolar, fled Niceville police in a black 2020 Kia Optima without headlights. The pursuit spanned two counties and included near-misses with civilians, a detour onto a residential lawn, and a bizarre phone call from the suspect demanding that authorities call off the chase. Smolar was ultimately apprehended by Walton County deputies and faces felony charges for fleeing and eluding, as well as multiple traffic violations.
