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We’ve had a busy year here at Mid Bay News, and we are so thankful you will come along for the ride with us! Like every other year, we want to recap the ten biggest stories we’ve covered in the last 350 or so days.
We’ve just taken the stories with the most web traffic, but if you think other stories impacted Niceville, let us know what they are in the comments section. You can also email us at news@midbaynews.com!
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Love all y’all,
The Saul Family.
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Rapid housing expansion in Niceville continues in the Deer Moss Creek neighborhood – Builders will construct a couple thousand more houses by the time everything is said and done. Not everyone is happy about this because of the extra people that will put in the city and the additional strain on services, which could mean. However, the biggest complaint from most of the people in the comment sections was the expense of each house. According to our reporters, John Sallman and Kelly Humphrey stories on the topic – the average home in Deer Moss Creek in Niceville will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $675,000-$985,000.
When the development is said and done, you can expect another five to ten thousand people to live in the City of Niceville.
The development map, which you can see here, lists at least 12 phases in the Deermoss Creek subdivision that will hug the creek it’s named after on the east side of Niceville. So far, phases one 27 a and the enclave apartments are either under construction or have finished. There is still plenty more to do to build the entire development.
Former Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputy Eddie Duran was charged with the killing of Roger Fortson, an active duty Air Force airman, who was stationed at Hurlburt field in Northwest Florida.
Duran, who had been with the Okaloosa sheriff’s office on and off over the last couple of years, had been disciplined in the past. In addition, Mid Bay News found documents that revealed that he had resigned from his position with two weeks’ notice immediately before the shooting took place. In the meantime, nationally recognized civil rights attorney Ben Crump has taken the case on behalf of the family. State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden has taken the case and charged Duran with Fortson’s death.
Duran’s next court appearance is in February. Prosecutors have charged him with negligent manslaughter in the case.
Louisiana businessman Bobby Guidry is perhaps best known for paying a bribe to former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards for a riverboat gambling license, which he then turned around and sold for more than $100 million.
But that was the 90s. Nowadays, Guidry has set his sights on expanding his businesses from Louisiana to the Northwest Florida Emerald Coast. He pumped $38,000 into local races for school board, sheriff, and county commissioner – all but one of his candidates was victorious in their election races.
The next closest donors for local elections, Don and Matt Gaetz, Jay Ghosh, Sandra Phillps and Paul Barcus put a total of $7,000 into races each.
Guidry also opened up a marina on Okaloosa Island this year, in September.
This story taught me a lot about local journalism – specifically people just want to know what changes are coming their way most if they have to pass it daily.
Take this new business that started in Niceville this year in between the Zaxby’s and the Po’ Folks on John Sims Parkway. People really wanted to know what it was!
A Niceville man was arrested for assault following a confrontation over the placing of small pride flags in the median between the sidewalk and John Sims Parkway near the overpass by Niceville High School.
Niceville police later dropped the charges.
Big news from Capitol Hill up in Washington, D.C., usually comes in the form of defense spending bills that involve Eglin Air Force Base. Not so this year, when Niceville’s Congressperson (and Niceville High School Alumni) Matt Gaetz resigned from his office. Gaetz resigned in response to the incoming president’s nomination to make him Attorney General in 2025. Just a couple of days later, Gaetz withdrew his name for consideration and told U.S. House Republican Leadership that he would not attempt to come back to Washington for the 119th Congress in 2025. He has announced his next venture, a show on One America News that will compete in the prime time slot.
Gaetz’s resignation set off a chain reaction across the western panhandle as local politicos jockeyed for position to replace Gaetz in Congress. More than 30 names mentioned in some capacity that they might get into the race – but after the dust settled, a total of 16 names remain (at this point). They include Trump-endorsed former Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Dr. Joel Rudman – who resigned his position as Florida House of Representatives member to run for this position.
The special election primary that will determine the Republican nominee (and, let’s not kid around, the next congressperson for Florida District 1) takes place on January 28. The special election itself will take place on April 1.
Along with a new general leading the show at Eglin Air Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base released new base access rules for everyone who needs to enter the facility. The changes took place in May – and faced some blowback from local leadership. Some local officials were concerned about traffic issues that the 100% ID check rules caused for municipalities.
In addition to the 7 Brew coffee stand that popped up on John Sims Parkway between Plew Elementary and Publix, another, more controversial, business also got its start. After receiving a variance, the Express Oil Change, which now sits on the south side of John Sims Parkway, was allowed to move forward with construction – despite public outcry about the facility and its related construction noise. Residents appeared en masse at city council meetings to say their peace about the new facility. The Express Oil Change would move forward and is currently open for business.
A few days after starting his new job as the leader of Eglin Air Force Base, Brigadier General Mark Massaro relieved Colonel Jeremiah Hamill of his command of the 96th test wing civil engineer group. According to public affairs at Eglin Air Force Base, Hamill was relieved due to a loss of confidence and the ability to command. Hammill was due to transfer command just a few days before he was relieved of his duties.
Colonel Michelle Sterling replaced him in the role. Sterling’s previous assignment was as the 324th training squadron commander at Joint Base San Antonio.
The death of Mike Ledford and the subsequent trial of Dylan Deschaine for his killing has to be the ubiquitous story of the year. Not just for the killing itself but the secrecy that has surrounded the investigation, proceedings, and trial.
Immediately after Deschaine’s arrest for the killing, Niceville Police Chief David Popwell retired from the Niceville Police Department. An investigation by Mid Bay News led to body camera footage of the incident and an admission by city leadership that Popwell had a drink earlier in the evening before the arrest while he was off duty and that he had brought his wife to the scene of the crime.
Residents of Niceville rallied around the Ledford family in the wake of his death, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the family. Several months after his death, his family and business partner were able to open the restaurant he always wanted to make a reality, Post 20 Sushi.
Further investigation into the killing revealed a security video of the interaction between Deschaine and Ledford on the night of the stabbing death.
Deschaine’s attorney briefly filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing stand-your-ground laws – but withdrew the motion.
The case is now in front of a new judge, Lacey Powell Clark. She will have the pretrial conference with Deschaine, his attorney, and the prosecution on February 12, 2025. In the meantime, Deschaine is in jail, held without bond.
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