Pirates, Fireworks, and Treasure: Billy Bowlegs Returns in Full Force
Pirates, fireworks, and parades return to Fort Walton Beach as the Billy Bowlegs Festival celebrates 70 years of Emerald Coast tradition and family fun.
Sturdy offensive line bolsters this tenacious 2026 Crestview Bulldog team
Crestview Head Coach Thomas Grant views the upcoming spring game as a critical evaluation tool and the next step in the Bulldogs’ deliberate march toward a program-first state championship. The 2026 squad will feature a new starting quarterback, Brock Spears, and rely on an experienced, physical offensive line and a run-first mentality. Grant believes the defense has the potential to be one of the most elite units of his era. The team will face a “brutal” schedule, including multiple out-of-state powers, which Grant designed to battle-test the team for the tough Class 5A competition.
After remarkable 2025 success, Choctaw looks to smash 2026 expectations
Head Coach Frank Beasley isn’t resting on last year’s Final Four run, instead focusing on the foundation laid during 6:00 AM workouts in February, calling it the moment the team’s success was “actually poured.” The Choctaw Indians are preparing for the 2026 season with a philosophy built on physicality, fundamental execution, and “contact courage”—the mental fortitude to seek out high-impact collisions. With a battle-tested roster and a schedule featuring Florida powerhouses and defending Alabama state champion Thompson High School, Beasley is committed to playing the best to be the best. The program’s success is tied to a culture where the logo on the helmet always comes before the name on the back of the jersey, ensuring collective sacrifice drives their push for another deep playoff run.
Josh Pulliam and the Vikes have epic spring game lineup as they row hard to Valhalla
Fort Walton Beach High School head football coach Josh Pulliam, a local who graduated from Choctawhatchee High School, returned to Okaloosa County after playing college ball and coaching at USF to rebuild the Vikings program. Now leading the team, Pulliam is focused on developing his players into better men through “small daily disciplines,” guided by the mantra “chop wood and carry water”. Despite the program having been “down for a little bit,” he notes that the community passion remains, and the Vikings are “rising from the ashes” with a committed staff. Looking ahead, the Vikings plan for offensive creativity, utilizing versatile players like Lavin McDaniel and Cannon Wilbur, while rebuilding a sound, aggressive defense. The coach is urging the community to come out and support the team at the upcoming spring game against Crestview, Mosley, and Pine Forest.
Crisis on Mooney Road: Armed Man Taken Into Custody
A potentially deadly standoff in Fort Walton Beach ended peacefully after officers and crisis negotiators worked for hours to take an armed, suicidal man into custody.
This massive concert transformed Emerald Coast tourism forever!
On April 21, 1984, the band Heart played a free beach concert on Okaloosa Island to 35,000 people, causing a traffic nightmare that lasted for hours. This pivotal event—fueled by free beer and college Spring Breakers—forced Okaloosa County to choose whether the Emerald Coast would be a destination for rowdy students or for families.
Manhunt Underway in Okaloosa After an Armed Home Invasion
Two masked suspects carried out an armed home invasion late Sunday night near Fort Walton Beach, prompting an ongoing investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
PHOTOS: Coffee Shop opens at Emerald Coast Autism Center
PHOTOS: Coffee Shop opens at Emerald Coast Autism Center Christopher Saul April 16, 2026 2:23 pm Uncategorized Community leaders, chamber representatives, families, and students gathered this week at the Emerald Coast Autism Center (ECAC) for the official ribbon cutting of the Carter Cafe, a new training space supporting the Center’s Transition to Work program. The […]
Comunity Pillar Moves Foward After 30 Years of Service
Kimberly Hixon is being recognized for 30 years of service with Eglin Federal Credit Union as she prepares for her next leadership role.
History of the Emerald Coast: Camp Walton shelled by Union forces
On April 1, 1862, soldiers of the Union Army fired their cannons at the Walton Guards on the temple mound of Camp Walton and caused them to flee all the way to Boggy Bayou. Here’s how it went down.
