Fireworks committee makes last-minute plea for 250 anniversary funds to Light up the Bayou
Niceville’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show needs community support to return for another year. Organizers are planning a bigger display to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, but the event relies entirely on tax-deductible donations rather than tax dollars.
Niceville teen battles flesh-eating bacteria from local waters
In Brief: This is a developing story that Mid Bay News will continue to cover as information is released. What should have been a relaxing day turned disastrous for one Niceville family after 17-year-old Joziah Thompson was hospitalized for Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria he contracted in the water at Lions Park, on Wednesday. Tirzah […]
OPINION: Niceville pickleball courts for seniors only – here’s why:
Judy Boudreaux, a longtime Niceville resident and past City Council member, argues that the fenced-in Pickleball courts at the Niceville Senior Center must remain exclusively for seniors.
What you want to know about Florida’s controversial property tax idea on the official 2026 ballot.
Voters in Florida will decide on an amendment this November that would significantly increase the homestead exemption, potentially eliminating non-school property taxes and providing savings for long-term residents. However, this change is expected to create “crushing deficits” for local governments, which rely on property taxes to fund essential services like law enforcement and fire protection. Furthermore, a clause requiring five years of residency to receive the new, additional exemptions would place a “heavier load” of increased taxes on active-duty military members and other new residents in the short term, as local governments may be forced to raise millage rates to offset revenue loss.
What’s Up With That Abandoned Building on Niceville’s Government Ave?
As you head into Niceville/Valparaiso on SR-85, you’ll more than likely see an abandoned building that sits on the right-hand side of the road before you pass Tradewinds restaurant.
Costa Union Club and MJs Reopen to Public Acclaim
MJs Place, the coffee shop owned by MJ and David Costa, Jr., is officially back, serving Lucky Goat Coffee in a newly renovated building with a 1920s Art Deco vibe. The space, which is part of The New Costa Union Club, was packed during its ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building features an open floor plan with a massive bar, a secret lounge behind a bookcase, a conference room, and a state-of-the-art podcast recording studio. David Costa, Jr. expressed excitement about bringing people together in Niceville, calling it a place where you go and a place where you grow.
Sam Hamm, an Amazing Niceville Good Neighbor
n a quiet Niceville neighborhood, Samm Hamm proves that being a good neighbor is really just about being a good person—day in and day out. He was nominated for the Niceville Good Neighbor of the Month award. When asked what advice he’d give about being a good neighbor, Samm’s answer was simple but powerful: “I think probably being a good neighbor is mostly being a good person all the time. It’s not trying to put out the effort to impress somebody… it’s just trying to be a good person all the time”.
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.
Massie accuser Cynthia West talks Okaloosa School Board race in exclusive interview
Okaloosa County School Board District 5 candidate Cynthia West addresses a high-profile deposition involving Representative Thomas Massie and explains why she walked away from a $60,000 settlement requiring a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to uphold the transparency she demands of district staff. West supports school vouchers, arguing that public education must adapt to school choice, and suggests co-locating charter schools in underused facilities to retain capital outlay funds. She criticizes recent school closures as “irresponsible to taxpayers” and proposes funding teacher raises by scrutinizing and reworking expensive contracts, such as for IT and School Resource Officers (SRO). She also highlights the current board’s lack of dissenting votes, warning against “groupthink” and an “echo chamber” in governance.
Chase is on the case in Niceville!
Niceville introduces its newest officer, K-9 Chase, a 1½-year-old German shepherd, and his handler, Officer Bronson. Already making an impact, Chase detected narcotics leading to an arrest and the seizure of 49 grams of methamphetamine in his first week on the street. The community-funded K-9 replaces retired K-9 Kodi.
