Ted Corcoran, Gordon King and Alan Jowers share why the Around the Mound project is so important for our community. We are encouraging everyone to support alternative 1B. To share your comments follow the link below or scan the QR code at the end of the video.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/a39bcbbce77840d0a355362a76a9aa4e?item=3

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Check out these short tutorial videos that provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the online Member Information Center (MIC). These instructional videos will show you how to update your profile, add keywords, add job postings, register for chamber events/add your benefit discount, add events to chamber community calendar, pay invoices and much more!

The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources Team has been selected and was honored at the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday as the recipient of the 2025 Maritime Landscape Preservation (MLAP) Outstanding Preservation Award.

The 2025 MLAP Outstanding Preservation Award recognizes the team’s science-driven approach, innovative technologies, and dedication to partnerships across the Gulf Coast region.

Since 2020, the team has deployed 21 large vessels and thousands of tons of reef material, establishing Okaloosa County as a state leader in artificial reef development and marine habitat creation.

A flagship example of this leadership is the transformation of the historic S.S. United States into the world’s largest artificial reef, a project that unites heritage preservation, ecological restoration, and educational tourism. Complementing this marine work are innovations such as 3D-printed reef modules, advanced fishery monitoring tools, and interactive reef-mapping platforms that make marine science more accessible to students, divers, and the public.

The team’s commitment to stewardship extends inland as well. Land-resource initiatives include the restoration and management of sensitive upland habitats, riverine preservation, and the ongoing enhancement of the 410-acre Shoal River Preserve, which will feature nature trails, wildlife-viewing areas, and paddling access points.

Learn more about Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s Natural Resources Team at https://www.destinfwb.com/

Commissioners selected the 2026 Board Chairman and Vice Chairman during the December meeting. Congratulations to 2026 Chairman Trey Goodwin (left) and Vice Chairman Drew Palmer! We look forward to your leadership in the coming calendar year alongside your fellow Commissioners.

Learn more about all five Commissioners at https://myokaloosa.com/board-county-commissioners

City welcomes new director to Fort Walton Beach Public Library

We welcome Savannah Cole as the new director for the Fort Walton Beach Public Library. Savannah joined the City of Fort Walton Beach in November, replacing Karen Graham, who took a position as coordinator for the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.

Savannah comes to the city from the Leroy Collins Leon County Public Library in Tallahassee, where she served as library services coordinator for staff development and customer experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master of Science in Information from Florida State University.  

In her short time here, Savannah said she’s been especially impressed with both the library and its patrons.

“Our community is already using our books and eBooks regularly,” said Savannah. “But we want to highlight those other things we have as well.”

Some of those things include tutoring and job coaching provided by the library through online services. Others include physical assets, like the library’s media lab. The lab includes a studio with photo/video and sound equipment, as well as a computer editing workstation for creating videos and podcasts. The lab is available for patrons to use free of charge. 

“We have a lot of really awesome services here,” said Savannah. “We want to show people that the library is not just a space for books, but also a space for them.”

Christmas village comes to life at City Hall complex

Fort Walton Beach Growth Management Director Tim Gibson and his family have a Christmas tradition that goes back more than three decades, and this year they’ve decided to share it with the pubic.

In a vacant office located off the Growth Management Department lobby, Tim, his wife, Melissa, his daughter, Mikayle, and his mother-in-law, Charlotte Shelton, have created an elaborate Christmas village, with hundreds of buildings and figurines, a castle, and a functioning railroad train.

“It started with my dad buying these Christmas houses for my mom,” said Melissa. Since the late 1980s, the family has been accumulating Mervyn’s “Village Square” porcelain Christmas village buildings and figurines.

Tim estimates the collection now includes more than 1,000 individual pieces.

He and his family spent many hours working in the evenings and on weekends to assemble the Christmas village. All of Tim’s work was performed on his own time, and no city assets were used in the creation of the village.

“I want people to come in and experience it; every time you look at it, you see something new,” said Tim. “I just felt like it would bring joy to people.”

Want to see the village? 



Fort Walton Beach Growth Management Department

105 Miracle Strip Parkway SW

Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (through December)

*Tim and his family will also be hosting an “after-hours” viewing on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. They’ll have candy canes and hot cocoa, so be sure to bring the kids!

Fort Walton Beach High School Principal Lindsey Smith Named 2026 Bill Montford Administrator of the Year

The Okaloosa County School District is proud to announce that Fort Walton Beach High School Principal Lindsey Smith has been selected as the 2026 Bill Montford Administrator of the Year, an honor presented by the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee and the Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA). Established in 2023, the Bill Montford Award recognizes exceptional school leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to inspiring students and teachers, particularly through STEM education. The Challenger Learning Center, operated in partnership with the FSU and FAMU Colleges of Engineering, engages students from kindergarten through high school in high-quality, hands-on STEM programming across Florida. Read more...

Choctawhatchee High School Students Gain Real-World Skills at 4th Annual Reality Check Event

Yesterday, approximately 80 Choctawhatchee High School students participated in the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation’s (OPSF) 4th Annual Reality Check, a hands-on financial literacy simulation designed to equip students with essential money management and decision-making skills. During the event, students stepped into the role of working adults, complete with assigned careers, salaries, and family scenarios. They navigated stations such as Housing, Utilities, Insurance, Transportation, Communications, and more, making virtual payments and building budgets. The experience offered students a meaningful look at the realities of financial responsibility and the impact of everyday choices. Read more...

Ruckel Middle School Dedicates Cafetorium in Honor of Former Principal Dr. Ginny Morgan

Today, Ruckel Middle School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially name its new cafetorium The Dr. Ginny Morgan Cafetorium, honoring the beloved late principal whose decades of leadership and service left a lasting impact on the school and the Okaloosa County School District. The Okaloosa County School Board unanimously approved the naming in August. Superintendent Marcus Chambers, along with district leaders, current and retired school staff, students, family, and friends, gathered to celebrate Dr. Morgan’s profound legacy. Dr. Virginia "Ginny" Henderson Morgan began her career at Ruckel in 1968 as a middle school math teacher. She later served as the district's math supervisor before returning as principal, a role in which she transformed the school academically and culturally. She passed away on February 15, 2024, at the age of 76. Read more...

A denied loan application doesn't mean your business goals are out of reach. In fact, many successful businesses had to look beyond traditional banks to get started.

Join the Florida SBDC at UWF & Otro Financial on January 21st to explore alternative funding strategies and learn exactly where to turn when lenders turn you away. We will guide you through the options that can help keep your momentum going.



Secure your spot in this free webinar here: tinyurl.com/banks-say-no-sbdc