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Good morning!
Here’s what we are covering today:
- A beautiful new mural at HarborWalk Village honors Jeremy Carmical with his optimistic “This is the Best Day Ever” motto, while Crestview mourns the loss of building industry leader Jeremy Stewart. Fort Walton Beach High’s basketball program celebrates a remarkable turnaround season under new leadership, Eglin opens registration for its memorial run, and young dancers have a chance to audition for Northwest Florida Ballet’s tuition-free academy.
SPORTS
New coach, young team: Vikings exceed expectations with 12-win turnaround season
Fort Walton Beach High School’s baseball team has completed a remarkable turnaround in Coach Tony Stevens’ first season, finishing with a 12-12 record despite predictions they might not win more than four games all year.
- After securing a playoff berth on Friday, the Vikings travel to Panama City Beach today to face Arnold in the 4A Baseball State Championships Regional Quarterfinals.
The Vikings, who started four freshmen and three sophomores in most games, rallied behind Stevens’ “Burn the ships” motto—a reference to Viking warriors who would burn their ships upon landing to eliminate retreat as an option.
“When the Vikings would attack, they’d burn their own ships saying, ‘We’re taking over, we’re staying here, we’re here for the long run,'” Stevens explained. “That’s what I wanted our guys’ mindset to be.”
The team’s youth movement produced impressive results. Fourteen-year-old freshman Jacob Salley batted .360 in the three-hole while playing third base. Freshman Lavin McDaniel, son of Athletic Director Holly McDaniel, hit around .350 and became the team’s closer.
- A turning point came when the Vikings defeated both Tate and Crestview in the same week—schools they weren’t expected to beat.
Stevens, a former Minnesota Twins minor leaguer and decorated Marine veteran, implemented professional-level practice methods and emphasized fundamentals and early work. The approach resonated with the younger players and helped change the program’s culture.
Community support surged through first-pitch ceremonies and theme nights. With seven freshmen and three sophomores forming the core of this year’s team, Stevens sees a bright future for Viking baseball regardless of today’s playoff outcome.
“A .500 record far exceeded anybody’s expectation,” Stevens said. “The future’s bright. It’s time to start getting Fort Walton Beach baseball on the map.”
SPONSORED
Eglin AFB’s Gate-to-Gate Memorial Run/Walk registration now open
Established in 1986, the Gate-To-Gate Memorial Run/Walk, a 4.4-mile competitive race, is long-standing Eglin AFB tradition to remember our heroes who have served in the military. The date change matches up with Armed Forces Day in 2025.
- As Eglin has grown and we have Sister Services serving on Eglin AFB, we want to honor all branches. We honor America’s lost heroes who died defending our country’s safety and freedom. We invite all to pay tribute to their sacrifice and show support for the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country.
Team Eglin is proud to present this Northwest Florida community event with options to run or walk in honor of a lost loved one in your own life or to honor a service member. Our purpose of remembering and honoring our fallen remains intact.
Register today, as registration will close on at the end of the day on Thursday, May 1, for non-DoD civilians.
NEWS
Community mourns Crestview native and building industry leader Jeremy Stewart
Jeremy Stewart, a Crestview native and prominent figure in the local building industry, has passed away.
- Stewart, who twice served as president of the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa & Walton Counties (BIAOW), began his connection with the organization as a recipient of its scholarship program before returning as a builder member. He served as the BIAOW’s local president in 2011-2012 and again in 2020.
His leadership extended to the state level when he served as president of the Florida Home Builders Association in 2017. Stewart also contributed to local governance through his service on both the Planning Commission and Construction Board for Okaloosa County.
Fellow builder and BIAOW board member Jeri Toolan of Toolan Development remembered serving alongside Stewart since the early 2000s. “Jeremy has served our city, county and state selflessly. I don’t know of any position where he was compensated. He did it out of the goodness of his heart,” Toolan said.
- She noted they earned their Green Builder Certification together “before being ‘green’ was cool” and praised his expertise. “Most people didn’t know how dang smart he was,” she said, adding that Stewart convinced her to return to the BIAOW board in 2023 when he told her, “Jeri, we need you!”
Jason Carducci, a past BIAOW president, also remembered Stewart as “a close friend and mentor” whose absence “will be deeply felt.” Carducci credited Stewart with opening his eyes “to the industry’s significance and the unwavering commitment required to safeguard its interests.”
The BIAOW described Stewart as “a passionate advocate for growth, mentorship, and education” who consistently championed the next generation of builders.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker, followed by a service at 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life will take place after the graveside service at Gum Creek Lodge in Baker.
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SCHOOL
Northwest Florida Ballet opens auditions for tuition-free academy
The Northwest Florida Ballet is now accepting audition applications for its NFB Académie program for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
- The tuition-free program, offered in partnership with the Okaloosa County School District, combines academic instruction with professional dance training for students entering grades three through eight.
Auditions for incoming third-grade students will be held April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and April 27 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Incoming fourth-grade students can audition April 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- All auditions require appointments, with online registration closing April 24 at 2 p.m.
The academy provides an environment for students with dance passion and potential, offering daily ballet training alongside academic instruction.
Parents and students interested in the program can register for audition appointments at nfballet.org/auditions. Additional information is available by contacting the Northwest Florida Ballet at info@nfballet.org or (850) 664-7787.
SPONSORED
$1,000 is all it takes to help change lives in Okaloosa and Walton counties
Changing lives in our community one woman at a time. The idea is simple: 100 women donate $1,000 each to form a $100,000 high-IMPACT grant to help transform local nonprofit organizations.
- Since 2012, Impact100 NWF has given away $4.9 million dollars in grants to local nonprofits in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Area nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for these grants.
Impact100’s goal is to have at least 500 members so that they are able to give away one $100,000 grant in each of the 5 categories: Arts and Culture; Education; Environment, Recreation & Preservation; Family; and Health & Wellness.
The organization is also very grateful for their business sponsors who assist with events as well as sponsoring memberships. If you are not a woman in the local area but want to help, please reach out as well!
Upcoming membership enrollment events:
- April 22nd: Join Impact100 for our final membership event of the 2025 enrollment period at The Beach House in Miramar Beach from 5:30- 7:30
Join today and make an IMPACT in your local community! You can also email them at Impactnwf@impactnwf.org with any questions.
ART+CULTURE
“This is the Best Day Ever”: New mural honors memory of Jeremy Carmical at HarborWalk Village
A vibrant mural honoring the memory of Jeremy Carmical now adorns a wall specially constructed for the tribute at HarborWalk Village in Destin.
- The artwork, created by Off The Wall Murals artists Caroline Holland and Tianna Kuwica, depicts elements representing Carmical’s passions and interests — from fishing and surfing to his love for Christ, America and being outdoors.
An anonymous donor commissioned the mural, which features the phrase “This is the Best Day Ever,” words Carmical said daily, according to his mother Michelle Carmical.
“This is our favorite way to use our skills, to create something that’s meaningful and pays a tribute to him,” Holland said during a recent interview at the site. “Or just sparks conversation about who he was.”
Holland and Kuwica collaborated with Carmical’s family to ensure the mural accurately reflected his life and interests. The family opted for a representational design rather than a portrait, providing photos and details about Carmical’s favorite activities to guide the artists.
- “We contacted the family and talked about styles first, what kind of painting style they like, things like that,” Kuwica said. “They told us everything that he liked to do, all the things they wanted included.”
HarborWalk Village erected a new wall at Margaritaville specifically for the mural, which spans just over 200 square feet. The location carries special significance as HarborWalk Marina served as the meeting site for the search party that looked for Carmical after he went missing.
“This mural is more than just a piece of art—it’s a tribute to someone who left a lasting imprint on everyone he met,” said Ragan Bonner, Director of Marketing & Consumer Experience at HarborWalk Village. “HarborWalk was honored to host a prayer vigil during the search, and now this mural, beautifully created by Off the Walls, feels like the perfect way to carry on his spirit!”
Bonner recalled first meeting Carmical at a farmers market. “Right away, his warmth and passion for people stood out. Through his work with Phoenix Roasters & his interest in community events, we were lucky enough to welcome him to HarborWalk Village for a few of our events, and he was always so kind, so genuine.”
- “After his passing, it became clear just how deeply rooted his connections were here—from the marina to our local businesses—and how many lives he touched,” Bonner said. “It captures the heart of who he was—someone who brought light & kindness wherever he went.”
Carmical, 32, passed away on September 24, 2024, while diving off the coast of Destin. Born in Fort Walton Beach, he was a lifelong resident of the Florida Panhandle and a combat veteran who served as a flight paramedic with the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.
After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Carmical continued his passion for mission work as the Emerald Coast Area Representative for International Ministries with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
An avid and passionate outdoorsman, Carmical was never far from a body of water and could frequently be found spearfishing, diving, fishing, free-diving, paddle boarding and, of course, his longest passion, surfing.
- Even when his military service took him to landlocked New Mexico, he immediately found his fix for adventure in hiking, rock climbing, and dirt-biking. When he wasn’t outdoors, he could be found enjoying a fresh hot cup of coffee, while reading a book or journaling about his day. All of these elements are captured in the mural.
The artists worked for about five days to complete the mural, which was designed to resonate both with those who knew Carmical and visitors to the area.
“We want everyone to be able to connect with it,” Kuwica said, explaining that elements honoring Carmical are subtly incorporated into the design. HarborWalk is considering adding a plaque with information about Carmical near the mural.
For Holland, projects like this affirm the purpose behind their work. “This is exactly why we do what we do,” she said. “Projects like this solidifies that we’re doing what we’re meant to do.”
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