Former Okaloosa deputy charged in airman’s murder seeks dismissal
The court recessed until August 4 after a day-long hearing concerning a motion to dismiss the murder case against former Okaloosa Deputy Eddie Duran. The hearing featured emotional testimony from Fortson’s girlfriend, Tatyiana Hendricks, alongside medical examiner findings and statements from Fortson’s neighbors and friends regarding the events in May 2024.
1950: “Playground City” Sheriff gets suspended by irate governor
Today in History, Governor Fuller Warren removed Okaloosa County Sheriff Isle Enzor amid accusations of lax gambling law enforcement. The removal followed investigations into illegal casino activity at the Magnolia and Shalimar clubs. Discover the full story behind this historical political scandal on the Emerald Coast at midbaynews.com.
HISTORY: Defiant Panhandle Congressman blames media conspiracy for THIS scandal
July 29, 1976, marked a seismic shift for Florida’s Panhandle. U.S. Representative Bob Sikes—the architect of the region’s military-industrial boom—faced a historic reprimand from the House for improper financial disclosures and conflicts of interest. It was a stunning fall from grace that signaled the end of an era of unfettered political power on the Emerald Coast.
These little-known tricks you need to make back-to-school painless
As summer fades, shifting kids to a school-year sleep schedule is essential for brain development and mood regulation. Pediatric experts recommend starting early, implementing consistent bedtime routines, limiting digital devices, and ensuring daytime physical activity to help your child head into the school year well-rested, less anxious, and ready to learn.
FLORIDA HISTORY: Union Forces’ Fearless Raid on Depleted Walton County
In the summer of 1864, the quiet town of Eucheeanna, Florida, braced for invasion. Hungarian-born Union General Alexander Asboth, leading the newly formed 1st Florida Cavalry, Union Volunteers, turned his sights on Northwest Florida. His force, comprised largely of former Confederates who had switched sides, descended upon a militia of old men and boys guarding the county seat. This raid marked the start of Asboth’s aggressive, yet complicated, campaign through the pine forests of the Gulf Coast.
America Ascendant – Deft Maneuvers Lead to Peaceful Capture of Florida
The Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, ratified in 1821, served as a pivotal turning point for the Emerald Coast, marking the transition from Spanish-controlled territory to American frontier. By formally ceding Florida to the United States, the treaty ended Spanish rule and unleashed a wave of American migration into the Panhandle, significantly altering the region’s demographic, economic, and political landscape.
HISTORY: Okaloosa finally integrates its schools
Twelve years after the Brown v. Board ruling, Okaloosa County Schools finally voted to integrate on July 13, 1966. While initial resistance was strong—backed by local politicians and the “Pork Chop Gang” in the state legislature—the district eventually conceded to federal integration mandates to avoid losing critical funding.
The unknown Civil War battle you’ve never heard of at this unique Florida vacation destination
On a quiet summer morning in 1861, a minor skirmish at East Pass, Florida—later dubbed the “Battle of Destin”—marked a tense confrontation between the USS Water Witch and local Confederate militia. This brief, bloodless exchange near the Choctawhatchee Bay reveals the war’s grip on the local community, specifically the family of Leonard Destin, whose loyalties were tested amid the shifting tides of the American Civil War.
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.
