Okaloosa School Board Member Resigns to Lead Destin High School

Destin High School welcomes a familiar face as its new principal, Dr. Diane Kelley, a lifelong educator and current school board member. Dr. Kelley, who will officially begin
Okaloosa Technical College Places 55th at National Competition

Okaloosa Technical College Places 55th at National Competition Staff Reports May 30, 2024 2:01 pm Schools and Education /*! elementor – v3.21.0 – 26-05-2024 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} In Brief: Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) ranked 55th in the nation in the Spring 2024 National Cyber League Competition among 7,412 college-level competitors. […]
Documents: Fired Deputy Who Shot and Killed Hurlburt Field Airman Disciplined in 2021, turned in resignation days before shooting.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has terminated Deputy Eddie Duran following an internal affairs investigation into the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson on May 3. The investigation concluded that Duran’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable, violating agency policy. Sheriff Eric Aden emphasized the incident should never have occurred and reaffirmed the office’s commitment to fairness, professionalism, and transparency.
BREAKING: Okaloosa Sheriff Release Call Logs, 9-1-1 Tapes From Airman Shooting Death

Mid Bay News received a heavily redacted police report and 911 call from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s office regarding the May 3 shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson. The report, which lists four witnesses and two victims, provides a timeline from the initial domestic dispute call to the arrival of EMS and subsequent actions taken by law enforcement. The names of witnesses and a responding deputy were redacted, and the Sheriff’s Office placed the deputy involved on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
PFLAG Niceville Reveals 2024 Pride Day Schedule

Emerald Coast Pride is set to kick off Pride Month with a celebration at the Niceville Community Center on Saturday, June 1. The event promises a full day of family-friendly activities, entertainment, and inclusivity, including games, crafts, food trucks, and a DJ.
Emerald Coast Open Helps Control Invasive Lionfish

The Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament, held from May 17-19, saw divers remove 11,844 invasive lionfish from the Gulf of Mexico throughout the event. Participants competed for $125,000 in prizes, with winners including VJL Seafood, Deep Water Mafia El Gato Negro, Lookin’ Back, and Bob Brown. The tournament also featured the Lionfish Festival and Restaurant Week, promoting conservation and culinary innovation with lionfish dishes.
Niceville FD Battalion Chief Fired, Firefighters Demand Answers

More than 20 Niceville Fire Department firefighters voiced their discontent at the City Council meeting regarding the termination of Battalion Chief JD Curry, highlighting concerns over lack of explanation and impact on department morale.
These Unique Concrete Blocks Will Change The Shape of Okaloosa County’s Diving and Fishing Industries

Marine life in the Gulf of Mexico celebrates a significant expansion in its habitat thanks to a $1.26 million artificial reef project. Funded by the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, this initiative has not only created new underwater habitats but also promises to invigorate the region’s fishing and tourism industries.
Okaloosa County Gets Damage Recap After Storm

Residents of Okaloosa County were jolted awake early this morning as a powerful storm system unleashed its fury across the region. With winds reaching speeds of up to 70 mph and lightning illuminating the sky, the community found itself grappling with the aftermath of nature’s wrath.
Boggy Update: Talking LiveOak Fiber, LGBTQ+ Issues at City Council

Here’s what’s up in Niceville, Freeport and the rest of the Choctawhatchee Bay Area with Paul Sjoberg and Christopher Saul. This week, we’re talking about:
π³οΈβπ Fallout from last week’s Pride Day discussion at Niceville City Council.
π An update on LiveOak Fiber’s entry into our market and their progress.
π¦ Eglin Federal Credit Union’s efforts to make students financially literate before they go into the world.
π An update on alleged Mike Ledford killer Dylan Deschaine’s trialπ Could Dr. Devin Stephenson leave NWFSC for a new job?
π©βπ» City of Niceville’s audit results are back. Here’s what they said: