Small fire at Crestview High School; no injuries reported
CRESTVIEW — There was a small fire Thursday morning inside the girls locker room at Crestview High School, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office social media post. No injuries were reported, but two school resource officers, who extinguished the fire, were transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center for evaluation. As a precaution,...
Opinion: Positioning the Florida Panhandle for top nursing talent
As our Panhandle communities continue to grow from once-rural areas to more bustling cities, Northwest Florida State College is laser-focused on building a larger foundation of nurses and other critical healthcare workers. We are fortunate to have the support of state and local leaders who share our vision for creating the healthiest, most robust Emerald Coast of tomorrow — and we are making significant progress toward this important goal. A $30 million renovation of our nursing building...
Lakeview Center secures $320,000 Florida Blue mental wellbeing grant to aid in outreach
Lakeview Center has been awarded a mental wellbeing grant for $320,000 over the next four years from the Florida Blue Foundation – the only organization in Northwest Florida to receive this prestigious funding. This grant will be instrumental in enhancing Lakeview Center’s efforts to develop a robust behavioral health workforce pipeline through expanded internship opportunities and community outreach. With the support of the Florida Blue Foundation, Lakeview Center will hire a dedicated internship coordinator to serve as...
Week 10 high school football: Scores, updates and results from around Fort Walton Beach
Regardless of their respective rankings or records, the Choctaw-Fort Walton Beach rivalry remains one of the best in the state of Florida. It carries tradition with 53 matchups to date. It carries bragging rights. It carries district implications. Choctaw holds a 31-22 advantage in the rivalry with a current three-game win streak, including last...
Florida Department of Health issues health advisory for Boggy Bayou in Valparaiso
VALPARAISO — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County has issued a health advisory for Boggy Bayou in Valparaiso due to a wastewater release. The affected area stretches from Howell Road to Lincoln Park. DOH-Okaloosa officials say drinking water contamination is not a concern with the advisory. In a release, health officials noted...
Okaloosa School announce free lunch for kindergartners from Oct. 23-25
NICEVILLE — Beginning later this week, kindergarten students across Okaloosa County can enjoy a free lunch thanks to a national food provider. According to an Okaloosa County School District news release, kindergarten students will enjoy a complimentary lunch each day from Oct. 23 to 25. The lunch will be provided by The Nutrition...