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BEDS FOR KIDS: The Fort Walton Beach Lowe’s will host a bed build event Saturday, wrapping up a nationwide week of servi...
09/10/2026

BEDS FOR KIDS: The Fort Walton Beach Lowe’s will host a bed build event Saturday, wrapping up a nationwide week of service aimed at providing beds to children who don’t have one.

The local build is part of Bunks Across America, the flagship annual initiative of the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The weeklong event, running Sept. 5–12, brings together local chapters, volunteers and corporate sponsors across the country. Lowe’s is a national sponsor of the 2026 effort.

Volunteers, Lowe’s associates and local leaders will work to saw, sand and stain materials for 50 beds during the Fort Walton Beach event, which runs from 8 a.m. to noon at the store on Beal Parkway. No prior experience with power tools is necessary.

Details: https://getthecoast.com/lowes-sleep-in-heavenly-peace-to-build-50-beds-for-local-children-this-saturday-in-fort-walton-beach/

POLITICS: Ten candidates vying for 4 seats on the Fort Walton Beach City Council have been invited to participate in a p...
09/10/2026

POLITICS: Ten candidates vying for 4 seats on the Fort Walton Beach City Council have been invited to participate in a public forum featuring a meet-and-greet session followed by a question-and-answer period.

The forum, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14 at The Venue at Beach Weekend in Fort Walton Beach, will begin with a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m., followed by candidate questions at 6:15 p.m.

Candidates invited to participate include:

- Brandon Bishop
- Schuyler Black
- Steve Caldarelli
- Tyler Capelotti
- Gloria DeBerry (incumbent)
- Denise Dierker
- Glen Guarin
- Jeff Pendleton
- Matt Turpin
- Payne Walker (incumbent)

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

HOW I WORK: Jacob Hill has spent nearly half his life working in the golf business, with a career that has kept him clos...
09/10/2026

HOW I WORK: Jacob Hill has spent nearly half his life working in the golf business, with a career that has kept him close to the Northwest Florida communities where he grew up.

Born in Fort Walton Beach and raised in Inlet Beach, Hill started working in golf while still in high school and has built his career by learning nearly every side of the operation.

Today, Hill serves as Golf Course Director for the City of Fort Walton Beach, where no two workdays look quite the same. From checking course conditions and helping run tournaments to managing inventory, merchandising the pro shop and working on reports, he likes being involved in the entire operation.

Along the way, he’s learned the value of taking on responsibility before the next opportunity arrives — even if, looking back, he admits he might have told his younger self to slow down and enjoy the journey a little more.

Full interview with Jacob: https://getthecoast.com/how-i-work-an-inside-look-at-how-jacob-hill-turned-a-lifelong-connection-to-golf-into-a-career/

RETIREMENT: The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to a retirement reception honori...
09/09/2026

RETIREMENT: The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to a retirement reception honoring Bernard Johnson, a longtime leader in Okaloosa County’s business and civic community, on Thursday, October 1st, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Home2 Suites at Freedom Tech Park.

The event is free and open to the public, and no RSVP is required. Johnson’s final day with Florida Power & Light is September 30th.

Johnson’s career has been defined by decades of service to Okaloosa County’s business community. He is believed to be one of the only individuals to have served on the board of directors of every chamber of commerce in Okaloosa County, in addition to serving on dozens of other boards throughout his career.

For the past 20 years, Johnson has served as the primary point of contact for Gulf Power and, more recently, Florida Power & Light, building relationships with elected officials and military leadership across the region.

“Bernard Johnson is a business icon in Okaloosa County, and his impact on our community over the past several decades is undeniable,” said Ted Corcoran, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Congrats on your retirement, Bernard!

https://getthecoast.com/fort-walton-beach-chamber-to-honor-retiring-business-leader-bernard-johnson/

HEROES & PATRIOTS: The Okaloosa County America 250 Commission and community partners will host a free appreciation event...
09/09/2026

HEROES & PATRIOTS: The Okaloosa County America 250 Commission and community partners will host a free appreciation event for military members, first responders and their families on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Hsu Innovation Institute North at Bob Sikes Airport.

The Heroes & Patriots Appreciation Day is open to active-duty military, retirees, veterans and local public safety personnel, including law enforcement, fire and EMS. The event runs from 2 to 9 p.m. at 5793 John Givens Road in Crestview. Pre-registration is required.

“This event not only honors our nation on its 250th Anniversary, but recognizes the sacrifices of our heroes in uniform,” said Okaloosa County America 250 Commission Chair Graham Fountain. “Their service sometimes goes unnoticed. It is our responsibility to let them know that we see them and appreciate what they do for their country and for the local community.”

The event will feature live music from multiple bands, televised college football, food trucks, a beverage truck and several dessert stations offering free ice cream, snow cones and cotton candy while supplies last. Interactive and static activities will be available for children and adults.

The first 500 people through the gates will receive a free meal.

https://hsu-foundation.org/heroes-patriots-appreciation-day/

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: When Carter Marracco took the field against Pace on Sept. 4, his entire family had come down from M...
09/09/2026

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: When Carter Marracco took the field against Pace on Sept. 4, his entire family had come down from Michigan to watch. His parents, Stephanie and Curtis, were in the stands. And the Indians still needed their first win of the season.

Marracco helped deliver.

The senior running back scored two touchdowns and a rushing two-point conversion, accounting for 14 of Choctaw’s 21 points in a 21-14 victory.

“That night was my birthday, so it was already a great night, and my whole family came into town from Michigan, so they were all there to watch it,” Marracco said. “I’m glad that we got the win.”

The Pace game was the latest chapter in what has kicked off a great senior season already. Through three games, Marracco has rushed for 180 yards and five touchdowns on 23 carries, added 75 receiving yards, and even thrown the ball in trick-play packages. Against Auburn in Week 2, he broke off a 62-yard run on his way to a 103-yard night.

Full interview: https://getthecoast.com/athlete-of-the-week-choctaws-carter-marracco-does-a-little-bit-of-everything-on-his-birthday-he-did-all-of-it/

HALL OF FAME: Charlene Couvillon was sitting in a car dealership in Montgomery, Alabama, with her longtime friend and fo...
09/08/2026

HALL OF FAME: Charlene Couvillon was sitting in a car dealership in Montgomery, Alabama, with her longtime friend and former colleague Alexis Tibbetts when the call came from Fort Walton Beach High School. She had been selected for the Viking Hall of Fame.

Her first reaction was pure Couvillon.

“Oh, my gosh. They’ve run out of people,” she said, laughing. “I don’t think that I’m really worthy of this honor. I just did my job.”

That job stretched nearly four decades across Okaloosa County: 10 years teaching at Bruner Middle School, 10 more in the classroom at Fort Walton Beach High School, six at the district level and more than a decade back at the high school as assistant principal and then principal. She retired in March 2015.

And if there is one thread that ties those chapters together, Couvillon said, it is that none of them were part of some master plan she had.

“Every move I made was not really something that I desired or longed for,” she said. “It just kind of fell in my lap.”

Couvillon will be inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame during halftime of the varsity football game on Friday, Sept. 11, at Steve Riggs Field at Viking Stadium.

In this interview, we look back at nearly 40 years: https://getthecoast.com/charlene-couvillon-viking-hall-of-fame/

SANDESTIN: Beach Liquors has opened its sixth store along Northwest Florida, joining the dining, entertainment and retai...
09/08/2026

SANDESTIN: Beach Liquors has opened its sixth store along Northwest Florida, joining the dining, entertainment and retail businesses at The Market Shops at Sandestin.

The 4,800-square-foot store sits on the far west side of the shopping center at 9375 Emerald Coast Parkway. It is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with delivery service from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The store features retail sales alongside a self-serve w**e and wh***ey bar with more than 35 fine w**es and premium whiskies available by the individual pour. Customers can shop with the guidance of an in-house w**e steward, explore a large walk-in craft b**r “cave” and find ci**rs supplied by Harbor Ci**rs of Destin, as well as THC-infused beverages and gummies.

“We are excited to be part of The Market Shops family of businesses and look forward to serving all the residents of Sandestin and other nearby communities,” said co-owners Mike and Chuck Kelley.

Full story: https://getthecoast.com/beach-liquors-opens-sixth-northwest-florida-store-at-the-market-shops-at-sandestin/

WEATHER: At 5:26 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 11 miles east of Ro...
09/07/2026

WEATHER: At 5:26 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 11 miles east of Roeville to 7 miles northwest of Wright to Fort Walton Beach. Movement was west at 20 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Be safe

CHOCTAW: The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Choctaw. If the Indians wanted the opportunity to host multiple playof...
09/07/2026

CHOCTAW: The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Choctaw. If the Indians wanted the opportunity to host multiple playoff games, they could not afford to start 0-3. They didn’t, defeating Pace 21-14 in an absolute grindfest of a contest.

“The way we won, battled back and forth, it’s always difficult to come to Pace and win, super physical game, super proud of our guys,” Choctaw Head Coach Frank Beasley said.

Carter Marracco scored two touchdowns and Amir Reese hauled in a go-ahead score.

“I wanted to win. I didn’t want to lose again,” Reese said. “I knew when I went out there, my QB Baker was out there. I knew he wanted to throw me the ball, so I was ready for a pass. So I made a play and got us the win.”

“That was the greatest catch I’ve seen in a minute,” Marracco added.

Full story from Travis Espy: https://getthecoast.com/choctaw-holds-off-pace-21-14-in-back-and-forth-battle/

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