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Good morning!
Here’s what we have today…
- A Senate committee takes a step toward repealing Walton County’s beach access law, while a Destin company secures a NASA contract for Kennedy Space Center upgrades. Okaloosa County celebrates 15 students who earned top honors at the State Science Fair, local hospitals prepare to recognize first responders, and Crestview’s Charity Pickleball Tournament returns for its third year.
HEALTHCARE
Local HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals to honor first responders
by Ashley Armacost
HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital and HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital are launching a new program to recognize the crucial role first responders play in patient care throughout Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties.
- The ‘First Responders of the Quarter’ program will honor outstanding individuals from the tri-county area each quarter, with one recipient selected by each hospital.
“We have this saying at the hospital, ‘care like family’,” said Todd Jackson, CEO of HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital. “When we look at healthcare, you’ve got doctors, colleagues, volunteers that work in the four walls of the hospital, but our family is a lot bigger than that. It’s the people out in the field, it’s also the first responders.”
The program will recognize personnel from various emergency response sectors, including EMS, fire departments, law enforcement, and beach lifeguards.
- “It’s not just EMS, although they’re certainly a huge part of that,” Jackson said. “It could be the lifeguards and the work that they’re doing out on our beaches. It could be the fire department, local law enforcement, county sheriff’s deputies — they are all a part of this because oftentimes those are the first people on the scene.”
The first nomination deadline is June 20, with winners to be announced in early July. Community members, colleagues, family members, and citizens who have needed emergency services can submit nominations through a form on the hospitals’ websites.
Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson in Fort Walton Beach is contributing to the recognition initiative. The locally-owned motorcycle dealership will provide additional items for the award recipients.
“It’s about community and coming together in this case through local businesses to recognize those on the front lines that deserve to be recognized,” Jackson said about Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson’s involvement.
- Winners will receive a plaque presented by hospital representatives, including EMS coordinators and staff from trauma and emergency department leadership teams. The ceremonies will take place at the winners’ workplaces.
According to HCA Healthcare, the program bridges an important gap in recognizing first responders and also acknowledges the unique challenges first responders face. Jackson hopes the program will gain significant community support.
“My hope is that this garners a lot of attention and support not just within the healthcare community across our area, but within the community as a whole,” he said. “It’s connecting the person, that first responder, that the work that they do out in the field, getting that message out in the community I think is important.”
To nominate a first responder for this recognition, click here.
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BUSINESS
Destin company wins NASA contract for Kennedy Space Center upgrade
Destin-based Panhandle Power Solutions has secured a design-build contract with NASA to replace electrical distribution lines at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- The project involves replacing approximately four miles of B-Line overhead 15kV electrical distribution lines at the space center. The work will also include civil site operations such as trenching, boring and installing concrete pads.
“This award signifies our unwavering commitment to the upkeep and advancement of NASA’s electrical infrastructure,” said Josh Bettinger, VP of Federal at PPS. “We are proud to continue our partnership with NASA, leveraging our expertise to support their critical missions.”
Throughout the project, the Destin company will work closely with NASA’s Environmental Assurance Branch to conduct biological surveys and carefully plan power outages to minimize disruption to essential systems including water, fire detection and protection, and air handling.
The contract adds to PPS’s growing portfolio of electrical distribution and transmission projects for federal clients. The company, backed by Bristol Bay Industrial, specializes in providing turnkey engineering, procurement and construction solutions with a focus on complex power systems and mission-critical facilities supporting national defense.
THINGS TO DO
Charity Pickleball Tournament returns to Crestview for third year
by Ashley Armacost
The Hub City Pickleball Derby Charity Tournament will return to Twin Hills Park in Crestview this spring for its third annual competition, with all proceeds supporting equine therapy programs for those in need.
- The tournament, scheduled for April 25-27, is presented by the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourist Development Department and benefits Healing Hoof Steps, a Crestview-based nonprofit that provides therapeutic interventions through horseback riding.
This event combines the growing popularity of pickleball with supporting an important local cause.
The three-day competition welcomes players of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced competitors, with separate brackets for singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Participants must be at least 14 years of age to compete.
- Registration remains open for players interested in joining the charity tournament. Each registration includes an event T-shirt and lunch during the competition.
Healing Hoof Steps operates from its facility at 3942 Jace Drive in Crestview, where certified professionals provide equine-assisted therapy programs. The organization holds 501(c)3 nonprofit status.
The tournament also seeks business sponsors to support the event, with various sponsorship opportunities still available.
“We’re encouraging everyone in the community to come out, whether as players or spectators,” said Narissa Jenkins, CEO of Healing Hoof Steps.
Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, has become one of America’s fastest growing sports in recent years, particularly popular among both seniors and younger players.
For more information about the tournament or to register, visit here.
SPONSORED
Origin Bank opens new location in Fort Walton Beach
Origin Bank has expanded its presence with a new financial center in Fort Walton Beach.
- Operating from a temporary building at 212 Racetrack Road NW (the intersection of Denton Boulevard NW), the center offers comprehensive banking services including small business and personal banking, home loans, and financial support.
The location currently operates Monday through Friday, with the drive-thru open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and appointments available by calling (850) 904-8613. For more information, click here.
SCHOOL
15 Okaloosa County students earn top honors at State Science Fair
by Ashley Armacost
Fifteen Okaloosa County students brought home multiple awards from the State Science Fair held March 25-27 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, competing against nearly 700 students from across Florida.
- Students from Ruckel Middle School and STEMM Academy earned six category awards and three special recognitions, highlighting the district’s strong science programs.
“I am immensely proud of the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of our students displayed at the State Science Fair,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “Their success not only highlights their talent and hard work but also reflects the strength of our STEM programs in Okaloosa County.”
Eva Stenstad from Ruckel Middle School received second place in Intelligent Machines and was nominated to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
STEMM Academy students dominated the Engineering category with Brantley Lane earning fourth place, Ryan Gregg taking third place, and Diego Escobar receiving an honorable mention.
- Ian Allen from STEMM Academy placed second in Physics and joined Stenstad as a nominee to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
Moria Reyenga of STEMM Academy secured third place in Earth and Environmental Science, while Anthony Doyle earned both the Monroe County Award and NASA Award in Intelligent Machines.
The three-day competition showcased young scientists from middle and high schools throughout Florida presenting research projects across various scientific disciplines.
Chambers said these achievements demonstrate that Okaloosa students are well-positioned for futures in STEM fields. “These young scientists represent the future of innovation, and I have no doubt they will continue to accomplish incredible things.”
POLICE BLOTTER
From Walton County…
Woman charged in Walton County with soliciting teen, evidence tampering
- An Alabama woman allegedly drove two hours to meet a teen in Santa Rosa Beach, and reportedly sent explicit messages. Click here to read story
Woman arrested in fatal Highway 98 hit-and-run from last year in Walton County
- The Florida Highway Patrol arrested Heather Dickison after a year-long investigation into the crash that killed a 57-year-old jogger wearing reflective clothing on her daily run. Click here to read the story.
BEACHES
Senate committee advances bill to repeal Walton County beach access law
A bill to repeal a controversial 2018 law that limited public access to beaches in Walton County cleared its first legislative hurdle last Tuesday in the Florida Senate.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-2 to advance SB1622, sponsored by District 2 Senator Jay Trumbull, which would eliminate a law that preempted Walton County’s customary use ordinance. Senators Don Gaetz and Kathleen Passidomo cast the only dissenting votes.
“Walton County was uniquely affected by this statute due to a narrow exception which recognized only ordinances before January 1st, 2016,” Trumbull told the committee. “The result was Walton County’s ordinance, which was adopted in October of 2016, was preempted, which afforded private beach owners, many of whom held deeds to the mean high waterline, the right to call out beachgoers for trespassing on dry sand behind their homes.”
Under Florida law, “customary use” refers to the public’s right to access and use the dry sand areas of privately-owned beaches if that use has been ancient, reasonable, without interruption, and free from dispute. While the state owns the wet sand area below the mean high-water line as public land, the dry sand areas above this line can be privately owned.
The 2018 law established stringent procedures that local governments must follow to claim customary use, including filing a lawsuit and proving customary use for each individual parcel. This effectively overturned Walton County’s 2016 ordinance that had declared customary use rights for the public across all county beaches.
- Following the 2018 law, Walton County filed a lawsuit seeking declaration of customary use for 1,194 private properties. After nearly five years of litigation, most property owners either obtained dismissals or negotiated limited 20-foot public access areas.
Walton County Commissioner Tony Anderson, who has lived in the county for 69 years, spoke passionately in support of the bill.
“Walton County had customary use for years,” Anderson said. “I’ve walked every mile of that beach numerous times. I’ve crabbed there, I’ve fished there, I’ve sunbathed there. Until 2018, everybody that grew up in Walton County used those beaches publicly.”
Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner voiced support for neighboring Walton County, noting how beach access restrictions have created conflict. “We’re seeing fights break out. Sheriffs are getting involved, and it’s really making a black eye in the panhandle,” Wagner said. “For us, being a southern culture of hospitality, it’s turning into a political nightmare with literal lines in the sand.”
The economic impact on the county has been significant, according to testimony at the hearing. One speaker noted that while tourism increased 1.8% statewide, Walton County has seen an 11% decline. Real estate professionals testified that residential sales volume is down 36% from its peak, with transactions down 47%, and the county now has a higher inventory of unsold homes than the state average.
Senator Passidomo, who sponsored the 2018 law, defended her legislation. “The bottom line is the original bill came as an amendment to a marketable record title act bill that I had filed in 2016,” she explained. “My feeling is customary use is something that the courts determine. The courts need to do that.”
Senator Don Gaetz, who voted against the bill, offered a more cautious assessment of the situation, drawing from his 40-plus years as a Walton County property owner.
- “Whatever you do with this bill is not going to solve the problems in Walton County,” Gaetz warned the committee. “My fear is, in fact my hard prediction is that whatever you do with this bill is not going to solve the problems in Walton County of people who think they own property near the beach or on the beach because they bought it from being very upset when somebody else tries to use that property.”
In the House, a companion bill (HB 6043) sponsored by Representative Alex Andrade was approved last Thursday by the House Civil Justice and Claims Committee and next faces the Natural Resources and Disasters Subcommittee.
The bill was heard by the Senate Community Affairs Committee yesterday where it also passed favorably.
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