PUBLIC SAFETY

Police make arrest in connection with death of beloved local food truck owner

A beloved local food truck owner was fatally wounded behind the Niceville CVS pharmacy Friday night, according to the Niceville Police Department.

• Around 7:58 PM on February 9th, Niceville police received multiple 911 calls reporting a possible gunshot victim in a truck parked behind the CVS pharmacy.

Once officers arrived on scene, they observed a truck with 42-year-old Michael Ledford inside who was badly injured. The injury was not a gunshot wound, however, but “possibly caused by a sharp-edged weapon.” Officers immediately administered first aid while awaiting EMS.

• Ledford was transported by ambulance to Fort Walton-Destin Hospital where he later died from his injuries, according to the police statement.

While processing the crime scene, Niceville police were contacted by the mother of 24-year-old Dylan Deschaine, who stated her son had just told her he had “possibly hurt someone.” After several hours of negotiation with police, Deschaine peacefully surrendered after exiting a bathroom at the Cumberland Farms gas station in Niceville where he had been hiding.

According to Niceville PD, Deschaine had injuries on his hands and was transported to Fort Walton-Destin Hospital by police before being remanded into custody at the Okaloosa County Jail. According to the Niceville PD statement, Deschaine faces additional pending charges as the investigation continues.

The State Attorney’s Office is working with Niceville PD on the open investigation. Several other agencies assisted Niceville police in the incident Friday night, including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE agents, the North Adams Police Department in Massachusetts, the Medical Examiner’s Office and staff at Fort Walton-Destin Hospital.

• The police statement asked that the privacy of the victim’s family be respected at this difficult time. Anyone with additional information related to the case should contact Detective Sergeant Horace Paine Jr. at (850) 420-4731 or hpaine@niceville.org.

GoFundMe

Ledford was just weeks shy of the grand opening of his new restaurant in Niceville. He was a husband and father to three children. If you would like to help out the Ledford Family during this difficult time, here’s how you can.

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REAL ESTATE

Okaloosa to discuss acquiring 207 acres of Eglin AFB land for affordable housing in Niceville

The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting Tuesday, February 13, to discuss acquiring 207 acres of Eglin Air Force Base property west of Northwest Florida State College’s Niceville campus for a potential affordable housing development.

• The 2 p.m. meeting at the county’s Crestview Courthouse will focus on potentially purchasing the land near College Boulevard.

The county sent a letter of intent to Eglin last August stating interest in developing workforce housing on the wooded site once used as a golf course. In the letter, then-Commissioner Trey Goodwin outlined an overview of what the county would like to pursue.

“The intent of this proposal is to expand the opportunity of various segments of our population to obtain practical, affordable housing,” wrote Goodwin. “Though only in the concept stage, the vision is a mix of single-family and multi-family units that would be sold to a blend of owners that would include service personnel, senior citizens, and the general population. The exact mix would be refined as the planning matures in preparation for actual development.”

• Along with the residential components, the letter indicated that various commercial uses are being contemplated “not only to support the needs of the future residents, but also to provide much-needed, viable office space for defense support contractors and offer new retail options for all of Okaloosa County’s residents and visitors.”

Although a number of issues arose during early negotiations, the County and Military continued to discuss the project. Last week, the potential to purchase the property fee simple was offered to the County. 

According to county documents, any actual sale would be subject to a process involving appraisals and legislative action from Congress. “The process will likely take some amount of time to complete, which would allow some of the other details to be developed beyond any acquisition,” according to the county. 

The property itself is shown as 207 acres and indicates approximately 36 acres of wetland/conservation due to Mill Creek running through the property. The current cost of the property is unknown as of this time.

• Any housing development would have height restrictions and lighting standards to avoid interfering with Eglin’s missions. Previous mixed-use plans also included potential defense contractor offices and new retail space.

Funding the acquisition remains undetermined, but county documents show potential sources including general fund reserves, affordable housing fees, American Rescue Plan Act money and state housing grants. Each option carries various development conditions and spending timeline limitations.

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PARKS+REC

Committee approves phased plan to ‘transform’ aging Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach

Major upgrades are being proposed for the longstanding Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach after Okaloosa County purchased the aging 20-acre property last year. (see renderings)

• The fairgrounds, built in the 1960s and 70s on Lewis Turner Boulevard, has hosted the annual Northwest Florida Fair and other community events for decades. But many of its buildings have fallen into disrepair over the years.

Okaloosa County stepped in last June, buying the fairgrounds from the City of Fort Walton Beach for $4.05 million in bed tax funds. The county committed to keeping it a public space and bring a much-needed facelift to the property.

On Wednesday last week, the county’s seven-member Fairgrounds Advisory Committee unanimously approved a conceptual master plan for phased renovations of the property. The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners will review the plan March 12 during their regular meeting.

“The committee jumped in with both feet, touring the facility, looking at current events and facility deficiencies, and lastly considering what events the facility might host in the future and what improvements might be needed to accommodate those future events,” said Ted Corcoran, Co-chair of the Committee and Fort Walton Beach Chamber President.

If approved, Phase 1 improvements would include demolishing dilapidated buildings on the property’s east side, add new entry, general cleanup efforts, relocating storage items, adding more parking space and upgrading electric and stormwater infrastructure.

• In this phase, the old walk-up ticket booth entry would be torn down.

Phase 2 would entail renovating remaining buildings by adding new facades, entrances, catering kitchens and bathrooms. This phase also would add a 30,000-square-foot multipurpose building to host events needing tall ceilings like cheerleading competitions. The new building would be positioned on an angle. (see above)

• Subsequent phases would include adding RV spaces, more buildings and additional parking based on the fairground’s usage.

The total vision could take eight to 10 years to complete all phases. But Corcoran believes starting Phase 1 this year is critical for the aging facility.

“Let’s knock down the fence. Let’s make it look appealing from the street,” he said.

Fort Walton Beach Chamber members and other community groups have sought an event venue that can host 300-plus people for a lower cost than renting the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. Corcoran said the future fairgrounds with onsite kitchens will fill this need.

• The convention center’s food costs are too high for many nonprofit groups and civic organizations, he said. “Having people like the Fort Walton Beach Chamber and other groups in this area who wants to have a function in their hometown, they’ll be able to rent it reasonably and be able to cater it themselves,” he said.

Improving the fairgrounds also fits with increasing development on the north end of Fort Walton Beach. Jay Odom’s “Freedom Tech Park” is making significant progress on the 50-acre development right next to the Fairgrounds.

“It’s finally indicating that the Fort Walton Beach area is going to catch up to Crestview,” Corcoran said. “This is going to transform that space between the fairgrounds and the airport.”

The project’s Phase 1 could start in the next six months once final approval is given, Corcoran said. The conceptual master plan was developed by Sharon Gold, the county’s facilities project manager, and Jason Floyd, a local architect familiar with the fairground’s buildings.

The Board of County Commissioners created the volunteer Fairgrounds Advisory Committee last July to guide enhancement plans for the property purchased just a month earlier. Panel members toured the grounds and researched how to improve existing structures while allowing for more community usage.

• In addition to Corcoran, members included Charles Rigdon, Sandra Wilson, Gloria Frazier, Nathan Kelly, Bernard Johnson and Jason Belcher.
• Fort Walton Beach City Manager Jeff Peters served on the panel as a non-voting member.

At the March 12 county commission meeting, the committee will recommend starting renovations this year by demolishing old structures and cleaning up the property. Corcoran believes the commissioners will support the conceptual master plan and Phase 1 and 2 work.

He told Get The Coast the planned renovations will give the community an affordable, quality venue flexible enough to host events small and large — from weddings to trade shows. The goal is upgrading the infrastructure and appearance while keeping outdoor space available for the annual fair or staging in the event of catastrophic weather.

With a fresh look and improved buildings, Corcoran hopes to see the fairgrounds utilized more by residents. The Chamber plans to host its monthly First Friday Coffees there and he hopes past fairground events like sports banquets make a return.

• “Once you start getting people in there again and seeing the fairgrounds as a usable facility…then we have that capacity needed to add on the big building and continue on from there,” he said.

Click here to see the renderings of the 5 phases

SPORTS

Vikings’ Paravalos, Kleppinger named District Coach and Player of Year

The Fort Walton Beach High School girls soccer team is embarking on a journey this week to the Class 5A state soccer tournament.

• The young but mighty Vikings (11-9-1) clinched the District 1-5A title on Jan. 30 by defeating rival Choctaw High 3-1. They now face the No. 4-ranked Lecanto Panthers (16-2-1) on Tuesday in the regional quarterfinals.

It’s the latest milestone for second-year head coach Manny Paravalos’ program. Just a season ago, the Vikings came within one goal of a district crown before losing to Arnold High 2-1.

This year’s breakthrough to the state playoffs comes after sticking to their attacking principles and seeing the benefits of roster continuity, Paravalos said.

“We have quality players from our starting 11 down to our rotations,” he said, crediting his deep bench. “This year we also picked up two key players as well. We picked up a striker and an attacking mid, which really changed the dynamic of the game for us.”

The newcomers have enabled a more aggressive, offensive tactic.

• “It allowed us to play a more aggressive, attacking style of play that opened up more goal scoring opportunities for us and just allowed us to go forward and move away from that defensive style of play and move to a more attacking minded approach,” Paravalos said.

Playmaker Keelie Kleppinger, a sophomore center back, said bonding with teammates and learning different roles also paved the way to playoffs.

“It was the ability of players to be able to move around,” she said. “The ability to realize each other’s potentials and understand each other has really helped throughout the season. We had this bond that allowed us to get as far as we did so far.”

Last week, Paravalos was named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association 5A District 1 Coach of the Year. Kleppinger earned 5A District 1 Player of the Year honors.

Paravalos deflected praise to his assistant coaches and parents but said the personal recognition pushes him to set the bar higher for the young program.

• “It’s another milestone. It’s not at all where I want to stop or set my goals,” he said, eyeing eventual state title contention. “I try to make sure I keep a level head because what I see for the future of this team is a lot larger than I think they can see at this point in time.”

For Kleppinger, the award was an honor as a defender getting recognized ahead of forwards and midfielders.

“It’s been an honor to actually have this award because I know there’s been a lot of great players that have come through. Being a defender and achieving this award is something great for me because usually people always look at forwards and look for the people that stand out the most,” she said.

A win Tuesday would move Fort Walton Beach into Friday’s regional semifinals against likely top seed Lincoln High of Tallahassee. From there, the Vikings could clinch the regional banner on Feb. 21 and a trip to the state tournament later this month.

“This team is capable of going beyond regionals,” Paravalos said. “If we don’t accomplish it this year, then definitely next year we’re gonna shoot for a larger milestone.”

After ending a district title drought in recent history, Paravalos has transformed the girls soccer narrative to one of possibility and promise. For Fort Walton Beach High School Athletic Director Holly McDaniel, its the standard set by Coach Manny that has gotten them here.

• “I think what Coach Manny has been able to do is establish a standard, and it began last year,” said Athletic Director Holly McDaniel. “Sometimes you have to take some lumps and get through some tough times, like last year. When you’re able to do that and you get a group of kids to buy in and commit to it where everybody’s held accountable, this is what ends up happening.”

As for the two Vikings being named Coach and Player of the Year, McDaniel said it is more than simply looking at talent. She said that district coaches look at the character of the program, along with how players and coaches act on and off the field, when determining who will receive the honor.

“I think what it represents more than anything is that what we put on the field is quality. There’s a lot of things that go into Coach and Player of the Year, it’s not just on talent,” she added. “It’s also how you represent the program, sportsmanship and people have to respect you in order to vote for you. What Coach Manny has been able to do and how he interacts with other head soccer coaches speaks volumes.”

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MILITARY

Eglin AFB to detonate WWII-era bombs found in Choctawhatchee Bay near Shalimar

Divers from Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) Six, Detachment from Panama City will dispose of unexploded ordnance (UXO) with controlled underwater detonations in the Choctawhatchee Bay Feb. 14, 2024, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

• The backup date for the disposal is Feb. 15 if the weather is bad, there are people or water mammals in the area, or other safety concerns are identified by the responders, according to Eglin.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) environmental restoration contractors discovered two World War II-era UXOs off-shore at Eglin AFB’s Bay Range in Shalimar, Florida, near Two Georges Marina on Jan. 15, and a third UXO Jan. 29 during an Air-Force funded routine remedial investigation of the Bay Legacy Range.

• The plan is to dispose of the 80-year-old UXOs, two 250-pound bombs and a 1000-pound bomb, the same day to minimize impact to the public. This disposal will not require residential or commercial evacuations and there is no danger to the public, according to a statement from Eglin.

“People, vessels, and water-based activities are required to remain clear of the safety zone during these mission times for their safety,” wrote Eglin AFB in a press release.

The safety zone includes all navigable waters of the Choctawhatchee Bay within an up to 2,050 yard radius of approximate position 30°25’52.57314”N,  86°35’08.49867”W, and a moving safety zone around any vessel involved with relocating unexploded ordnance.

The safety zones will be enforced during daylight hours on Feb. 14 and, if required, during the backup date of Feb. 15, 2024. The U.S. Coast Guard Destin and Okaloosa Sheriff’s office will have people in the area to prevent boaters from entering the safety zone.

• “We have committed the required resources and conducted exhaustive planning efforts with our partner agencies to ensure the safe disposal of the UXOs,” said Col. Thomas Tauer, 96th Test Wing deputy commander.

The UXO disposal mission is a coordinated effort between the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, the USACE Omaha District Military Munitions Design Center, the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the U.S. Navy EOD Mobile Unit SIX Detachment Panama City, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Programs, the U.S. Coast Guard Destin, the Okaloosa County Sheriff Department and its Marine Unit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“This has been a team effort throughout the process from discovery to planning how to dispose of these UXOs.  USACE, the Navy, the Coast Guard, Okaloosa County Sheriff Department-Marine unit, along with multiple state and county agencies have been extraordinarily supportive, and we greatly appreciate their partnership and professional assistance,” Tauer said.

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