Early Voting Temporarily Halted in Okaloosa County Due to Winter Storm Enzo
Early voting in Okaloosa County is temporarily suspended on January 21 through 23, 2025, due to Winter Storm Enzo, with operations resuming on January 24 and key details provided for Election Day and voting procedures.
Okaloosa County School District Opens Kindergarten and New Student Registration
Okaloosa County School District has opened registration for kindergarteners and new students for the 2025-2026 school year, requiring families to use the Focus Parent Portal for enrollment.
Fort Walton Beach Student Named Sunshine State Scholar
Reese Armstrong, a Fort Walton Beach High School junior, has been named Okaloosa County’s 2024-2025 Sunshine State Scholar for her academic excellence, leadership, and contributions in STEM and community activities.
📸: Niceville Kids Enjoy City’s Fall Festival
Niceville’s annual fall festival on October 22 attracted a large crowd for pony rides, candy-themed activities, and a special performance by the Ruckel Middle School majorettes.
French Students Arrive in Crestview for Cultural Exchange
Twenty students from Crestview’s Sister City of Noirmoutier are exploring American culture through an exciting two-week exchange filled with activities and new friendships.
Strange Colt Announces Closure of Brewery
As Strange Colt Brewing bids farewell, Niceville’s craft beer scene tightens—what’s next for local breweries amidst a wave of closures?
ALICE In Wonderland: The Hidden Struggle for Survival in Niceville
Luis Torres, a Niceville Walmart employee and father, embodies the struggles of the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, facing challenges with childcare and housing. High childcare costs and restrictive housing options push many working-class families like his to the brink of financial instability. Local leaders, including City Manager David Deitch, are exploring solutions to alleviate these burdens, such as increasing affordable housing inventory and advocating for policy changes to support these families.
Record Breaking Hurricane Beryl Advances Toward Mexico
The first hurricane of the 2024 season, Hurricane Beryl, has hinted at the possibility of several powerful storms forming over the next few months. In May, the NOAA predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year, mainly due to near-record high water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, the development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, and reduced Atlantic trade winds and wind shear. Beryl, which strengthened to a Category 5 storm just 33 days after the start of the hurricane season, became the earliest Category 5 storm in any Atlantic hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center’s most recent advisory, Hurricane Beryl is progressing steadily across the Northwestern Caribbean Sea after weakening to a Category 2 hurricane following its official landfall in Jamaica yesterday. Beryl is currently 135 miles west of Grand Cayman and 275 miles east of Tulum, Mexico, moving northwest at 18 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center warns of strong winds, dangerous storm surge, and damaging waves as the storm is expected to make landfall on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico by early Friday.
Try these 10 amazing Summer activities in Niceville with kids in 2024!
Looking for things to do this summer in Niceville for kids? Here are the top ten places you can check out for an afternoon of fun for free or cheap. Niceville has plenty to offer children; you don’t need to cross the bridge over to Destin to make a fun day happen. Check out the top ten things to do with your kids in Niceville during the summer!
Children Chosen for Creativity in Tax Collector Tag Art Contest
The Okaloosa County School Board meeting was filled with excitement as Tax Collector Ben Anderson and Sheriff Eric Aden, along with Superintendent Marcus Chambers, presented the Award of Distinction to the winners of the Kids Tag Art Program. This program, which combines an art contest with a fundraising initiative, raised over $18,000 for school arts programs this year, showcasing the creative talents of local 5th graders and supporting the arts in Okaloosa County schools.
