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Good morning!
Here’s what we are covering today:
- Okaloosa County advances the ‘Victory Village’ plan, a specialized retirement community for military veterans, while also approving a 6-foot sidewalk project that Shalimar residents have long requested. Fort Walton Beach narrows its city manager search to three finalists with a public meet-and-greet scheduled for April 17. Meanwhile, Elliott Point Elementary builds on its successful career day program, and commissioners formally recognize May as Mental Health Month.
SCHOOL
Elliott Point Elementary hosts second annual Career Day, building on last year’s success
Elliott Point Elementary School hosted its second annual Career Day on Tuesday, bringing together 38 local professionals to inspire students about future career paths.
- The event showcased diverse career fields including building trades, cosmetology, real estate and law enforcement, growing from 33 presenters last year.
“The purpose is to expose our kids to something they’ve never seen before. We’re trying to plant the seed so they can think about what they’re going to do when they grow up,” said Principal Scott Nuss. “It’s exposure and making connections with the community.”
Okaloosa County Superintendent Marcus Chambers addressed fourth-grade students, sharing his own career journey from substitute teacher to district leader.
“I didn’t start as a superintendent,” Chambers told the students. “My very first job in the school district was as a substitute teacher. That’s what started what I call a love for education.”
Chambers emphasized the importance of education in achieving career goals and the vital role teachers play in student success.
- “Your teachers are much more important than I am,” Chambers told the students. “Teachers are where the rubber meets the road. They absolutely love you guys.”
Superintendent Chambers also highlighted the school district’s economic impact as the second largest employer in Okaloosa County after the Air Force.
“If you’re the number two employer in a county, that means you’re important for the economy,” he said. “The work that you all do in school is important not only for you, but for your school, our school district, and this county.”
The career day connected classroom learning with real-world applications, allowing students to ask questions about various professions and explore potential career paths. Students shared aspirations ranging from engineering and professional sports to becoming chefs, military service members, and even astronauts.
School Board Member Parker Destin, who attended Okaloosa County schools himself, praised the event’s growth.
- “These types of events didn’t exist when I was coming through the Okaloosa County school system 20 years ago,” Destin said. “The fact that we have them and they seem to be growing every single year, connecting all of our young people with what will ultimately be their future careers or employment opportunities early so they can start thinking about it, is really heartwarming.”
Principal Nuss emphasized that career day serves multiple purposes, including breaking up the routine during testing season and highlighting educational paths for students.
“It’s about cohesion. The superintendent talks about cohesiveness and about all of us working together,” Nuss said. “It also highlights places in this community that we should highlight more, like our Okaloosa Technical College. They do a phenomenal job there with trades.”
In preparation for the event, teachers help prepare students with questions for presenters and provide feedback about which presentations resonated most with their classes.
- “The teachers absolutely love it because it’s like a glorified show-and-tell, like we used to have back in the day,” Nuss said. “We don’t get to do those as much as we used to, and we want to bring that back because they need those real-life experiences.”
The event highlighted local businesses and community partnerships, with every presenter from last year’s event returning and five new professionals joining, which Nuss sees as evidence of its success.
“My plan is to have this be an annual thing moving forward,” Nuss said. “It means the world to us — the fact that our business community has the buy-in, and they want to help our kids succeed.”
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POLITICS
Fort Walton Beach narrows city manager search to three finalists, meet-and-greet April 17
Fort Walton Beach City Council has selected three finalists from a field of 11 candidates to potentially become the city’s next permanent city manager.
During last Tuesday night’s regular meeting, the council narrowed its search to:
- Brian Bulthuis, former city manager of Clermont, Florida
- Jason Davis, deputy county administrator of St. Lucie County, Florida
- Mark Rooney, village administrator of Campton Hills, Illinois
The public will have an opportunity to meet the three finalists during a reception scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the City’s Public Works and Utility Services Field Office Complex, located at 7 Hollywood Blvd. NW.
The selection process began in January following the retirement of City Manager Jeff Peters, who left his position on January 24 to accept a position with the county. Former Fort Walton Beach City Councilman Dennis Reeves has been serving as interim city manager since then.
In January, the city council hired Colin Baenziger & Associates to conduct a nationwide search for qualified candidates. The firm, which also assisted with previous city manager searches, conducted extensive background checks on all applicants before presenting the council with a list of recommended candidates.
- The search process included individual meetings between council members and the recruiting firm to determine the qualifications and characteristics desired in the next city manager.
The final selection follows the council’s January discussion about the importance of separating the interim and permanent positions. During that meeting, council members expressed concern that having an interim manager who wanted the permanent position might discourage other qualified candidates from applying.
Reeves was appointed by a 6-1 vote in January, with the understanding that he would serve temporarily while the permanent search was conducted. The city charter requires appointment of a permanent city manager within 180 days.
The council is expected to make its final selection following interviews with the three candidates and feedback from the public meet-and-greet session.
PUBLIC WORKS
Okaloosa approves long-awaited 6-foot sidewalk project for Shalimar
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a design contract Tuesday for a sidewalk project in Shalimar that has been a decade in the making.
- The commissioners voted to approve Task Order 1 with DRMP, Inc. for $102,862.49 to design a 6-foot wide sidewalk along 6th Avenue. The project will extend nearly a mile from Eglin Parkway to 11th Street, spanning approximately 5,075 linear feet.
”I asked for this 10 years ago, 2015,” said Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel during the April 15 meeting. “This is essentially a path that children use all the time.”
Scott Bitterman, Public Works Director, explained the project will begin at McDonald’s and continue eastward past the little league ball fields to 11th Street. The sidewalk construction is fully funded by a Florida Department of Transportation grant.
- “This project is being done with 100 percent grant funding,” Bitterman said. “The design task order with DRMP should be complete around the end of the year, and FDOT already has $1.2 million in their fiscal year 2026 budgeted for construction of the sidewalk.”
DRMP, Inc. was selected by the county’s selection committee in October 2024 to provide design professional services for FDOT Local Agency Program projects. The design work will be performed under the LAP continuing services contract held with Public Works.
The timing of the project highlights the often lengthy process of securing transportation funding. Ketchel expressed surprise that she was still serving on the commission to see the project come to fruition after requesting it a decade ago.
- “I can’t believe I’m still on the dais to see this happen,” Ketchel said. “When Mr. [Jason] Autrey told me that it was going to be on the agenda, I was so excited.”
The motion for approval was seconded by Commissioner Sherri Cox before receiving unanimous support from the board.
NEWS
Okaloosa commissioners designate May as Mental Health Month
The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation Tuesday designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel presented the proclamation, emphasizing that mental health is “an essential part of overall wellbeing” that impacts individuals, families and communities across the county.
The proclamation notes that one in five American adults experiences a mental health condition annually, yet stigma continues to prevent many from seeking help.
“Early intervention and access to quality care are crucial for managing mental health conditions and improving quality of life,” Ketchel said before moving to approve the proclamation, which passed with unanimous support.
Bonnie Barlow, President/Chief Executive Officer at Bridgeway Center, thanked commissioners for their continued support of mental health services in the county.
- “Bridgeway Center would not be in existence without your support,” Barlow said. “That is our mission, that’s why we exist, is to work with you and all municipalities to serve the citizens of Okaloosa County.”
Barlow invited commissioners and the public to attend a May 16 celebration at Liza Jackson Park, organized in partnership with the City of Fort Walton Beach, to raise awareness about mental health resources.
“We like to say there is no health without mental health,” Barlow said. “Bridgeway is a place of healing, hope and help.”
The proclamation encourages all county residents to educate themselves about mental health conditions and available resources, challenge stigma through respectful conversations, seek help when needed, and support organizations providing mental health services.
COMING SOON
Okaloosa commissioners advance ‘Victory Village’ military retirement community plan
The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved sending a large-scale land use amendment to state officials that would allow the Air Force Enlisted Village to develop a new military retirement community.
- The commissioners voted Tuesday to transmit a request to change nearly 80 acres at the northwest corner of Poquito Road and Sunset Lane in Shalimar from federal reservation to mixed use designation.
The property, purchased from the United States Air Force in June 2024, would become the site of “Victory Village.”
“The new land acquisition will allow us to develop Victory Village,” said Jeffrey McInnis, representing the Air Force Enlisted Village. “It will be a blended residential community comprised of wounded warriors and their caregivers and surviving spouses of retired enlisted soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, Coast Guard, and retired enlisted couples and age-qualified gold star spouses.”
Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert explained that the urban development boundary had not previously applied to this property due to its federal status.
- “The urban development boundary had not previously applied to this property because it was part of the Eglin Federal reservation…the federal trumps us. So it would’ve been a moot point,” Kampert said. “But now that this is owned by a private not-for-profit entity, it is appropriate to bring it into the urban development boundary if the future land use map amendment is approved.”
The mixed-use designation would provide flexibility for various residential dwelling types and supporting services.
The project calls for residential cottages, duplexes and apartments providing both independent and assisted living, along with amenities including an exercise gym, pool, medical offices, restaurant, church and community center.
“This is the essence of mixed use,” Kampert noted. “Otherwise, you’d have a patchwork of zoning districts and whatnot out there. So we really believe mixed use is the most appropriate district.”
Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who disclosed serving on the Air Force Enlisted Village board, made the motion to approve, which passed without opposition.
The proposal will now be sent to Florida Commerce for state agency review before returning to the county for final approval.
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