Lewis School Aide Charged with Abusing Student.
An Okaloosa County paraprofessional, Heather Bildstein, was arrested for allegedly striking a 5-year-old autistic student in the face at Lewis School in Valparaiso. While Bildstein denied the allegation, witnesses confirmed the incident, leading to a charge of Child Abuse Without Great Harm. The school district placed her on administrative leave.
Can Northwest Florida Train the Workforce America Needs?
Northwest Florida is positioning itself as a vital contributor to America’s maritime industrial base. With a $3 million grant fueling a new Maritime Fabrication Training Center at Northwest Florida State College, the region is leveraging its aerospace and defense expertise to build a skilled workforce capable of meeting national surge capacity demands.
Proud Moment: Fort Walton Beach Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist
Fort Walton Beach High School senior Keira Foy has been named a Semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit®Scholarship Program. Foy is among more than 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide selected from more than 1.2million students who entered the competition by taking the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT® in the fall of their junioryear. The Semifinalists represent less than one percent […]
What If America Needed 1,000 More Vessels—Right Now?
The United States faces significant challenges in shipbuilding capacity compared to global competitors. For Northwest Florida, the solution lies in “distributed surge capacity”—leveraging existing regional manufacturing capabilities to produce components for larger systems. This dual-use model sustains local industrial expertise while bolstering national defense readiness before a crisis arises.
Eglin announces extraordinary $50k gift to Niceville Chamber
Eglin Federal Credit Union has pledged a $50,000 donation to the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. This significant contribution is earmarked for capital improvements and exterior repairs to the Chamber’s historic facility, celebrating a partnership that has spanned over 53 years of supporting local economic growth and the business community.
From ancient mud and straw to autonomous vessels: The unprecedented story of composites
Northwest Florida is positioning itself to become a critical player in America’s maritime industrial base. By leveraging existing expertise in advanced composite manufacturing—honed in aerospace and wind energy sectors—the region is uniquely suited to address national surge capacity needs, bridging the gap between design and large-scale production.
Why Is Maritime Manufacturing Coming to Air Force Country?
Northwest Florida State College is establishing a Maritime Fabrication Training Center in Niceville, raising a compelling question: Why maritime in the heart of Air Force country? This series explores how our region’s aerospace heritage, workforce, and manufacturing expertise could uniquely position Northwest Florida to support America’s critical maritime industrial base.
Bill Lundy’s tale: The fake rebel who stole government money.
Bill Lundy became Okaloosa County’s most celebrated “living link” to the Civil War, even earning a Congressional medal. Yet, his fame was built on a foundation of falsehoods. Census records eventually revealed Lundy was born in 1860, proving he was merely a child, not a soldier, during the conflict.
DeSantis Awards NWFSC $3 Million for New Maritime Training Center
Northwest Florida State College is set to expand its workforce training offerings after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a $3 million investment Monday for a new Maritime Fabrication Training Center on the college’s Niceville campus. The approximately 4,000-square-foot facility will be designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in composite fabrication, testing and industrial pipefitting. NWFSC […]
Nationwide nonprofit gifts home to Crestview veteran
Former Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Williams and his family received a mortgage-free home in Crestview from Building Homes for Heroes. Williams, who served three deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq before being medically retired, said the home will give his family the stability and security they deserve after years of combat-related injuries and struggles.
