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We have a new path! Okaloosa County, community leaders and members of the public officially celebrated the opening on The Bridge To Bridge Path on Okaloosa Island.

The 4-mile photoluminescent path on Okaloosa Island connects the Brooks and Marler bridges, featuring unique glowing rocks for night use. Learn more about the rocks at https://ambientglowtechnology.com/. Motorized vehicles, golf carts and LSVs are NOT allowed on the path. E-bikes are OK.

FORT WALTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT EARNS REACCREDITATION

We’re proud to announce that the Fort Walton Beach Police Department has once again earned reaccreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) with no non-compliant items.

Accreditation is a three-year process that promotes professional standards, accountability, and continuous improvement in law enforcement. The Fort Walton Beach Police Department was previously accredited in 2022 and, over the past three years, has adhered to those professional standards.

In August, a team of assessors visited the Fort Walton Beach Police Department for an on-site review and reported its findings back to the accreditation committee for a final decision.

“Accreditation is never about one moment or one inspection, it’s about every call handled, every report written, every interaction,” said Police Chief Robert Bage. “It’s about the culture of excellence we have built together, a culture that doesn’t settle for ‘good enough,’ but strives to lead by example in outstanding service to our community. This achievement is more than a certificate; it is a testament to our professionalism, consistency, and pride in the work we do every single day.”

Chief Bage accepted the reaccreditation recognition during the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation’s conference this week in Fort Myers. He was joined by Police Lt. Kendra Stalls, Lt. Terrence James, and City Manager Jason Davis.

FORT WALTON BEACH CRA EARNS RECOGNITION FOR CARSON DRIVE PROJECT

The Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency was recognized in October with an award from the Florida Redevelopment Association during the FRA’s annual conference in West Palm Beach.

CRA Administrator Alisa Burleson and Growth Management Director Tim Gibson accepted the “Roy F. Kenzie Best Book” award for “Innovative Blight Management Program” by a small city.

The award recognized a CRA project on Carson Drive to reduce crime and improve community safety using the principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).

“It was a holistic approach that took multiple city departments,” said Burleson, who also spoke about the project at one of the FRA conference workshops.

The project brought together the City’s Code Enforcement/Growth Management, Public Works, Recreation, and Police Departments, as well as Carson Drive residents and local investors.

“For the city to get this award was a big accomplishment,” said Burleson, noting that there are more than 260 CRAs in the state of Florida.

“The Best Book is a celebration of the transformative work happening across Florida by CRAs,” said FRA President Renée A. Jadusingh. “Each submission reflects the hard work that goes into improving our neighborhoods through various redevelopment activities.”

Learn more about the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency at fwb.org/CRA

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR FORT WALTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT WELLNESS K-9 MILO

We're celebrating the first birthday of our Police Department Wellness K-9 Milo with a party at the Fort Walton Beach Landing. We'll have food trucks and pet vendor booths, so bring your pup and join us for a “pawsome” birthday celebration from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at the Fort Walton Beach Landing.

Crestview High School Band Director Jody Dunn Honored with Prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Award

Jody Dunn, now in his 35th year as a band director and his 31st at his alma mater, Crestview High School, has been honored with a Special Award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The award, part of the Bandworld Legion of Honor, honors exceptional band directors who have dedicated their careers to high-quality concert band programs and significant contributions to the music profession. Throughout his career, Dunn’s ensembles have consistently earned superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association District and State Concert MPA, as well as at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival and the Smoky Mountain Music Festival. Read more...

Niceville High School Students Shine with AP Capstone Achievements

Three talented students from Niceville High School, Hannahlaura Schuchhardt, Brooke E. Arbic, and Jessica N. Berry, have earned the prestigious AP Capstone Award during the 2024-25 school year. Schuchhardt and Berry, both recent graduates, join Arbic, a current student, in this remarkable accomplishment. The AP Capstone Diploma program, a project-based learning experience offered by the College Board, challenges students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential for academic and career success. Over 3,500 schools worldwide participate in the program, and this year, approximately 27,650 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, while 12,430 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Read more...

Lula J. Edge Elementary Celebrates 100 Years of Public Education

The faculty and staff of Lula J. Edge Elementary invite the community to join them in celebrating 100 years of public education on Monday, November 10, 2025, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. This historic milestone commemorates the land that George Nathey deeded to the Okaloosa Board of Public Instruction in 1924. Read more...

It's time to supercharge your advertising! Join our upcoming webinar November 12th, led by Matt Weber of ROAR! Internet Marketing, to master the new wave of Google Ads AI. We'll show you exactly how to harness these powerful, infused tools to drive greater marketing success for your business. Don't risk having these fast-changing features work against you. Register today to unlock their full potential and ensure your campaigns are optimized for maximum results. tinyurl.com/ai-googleads

Ready to get crucial insights into the state of small business lending? Our webinar on November 6th is your opportunity to hear directly from financial experts, understand your funding options, and get the guidance you need to secure financial support for your venture. Make sure you don't miss out on this valuable session and register now! tinyurl.com/sbdc-capital