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Good morning!
Here’s what we are covering today:
- Destin leaders hear plans for the next phase of HarborWalk Village’s development, while also exploring a potential pedestrian underpass for Highway 98. Destin High School launches a fundraiser to deploy 15 new artificial reefs, and a family continues searching for a missing Marine veteran in Walton County. Meanwhile, our community mourns three teens lost in a Walton County crash, and firefighters respond to a waterfront home fire near Shalimar.
COASTAL RESOURCES
Destin High School aims to deploy 15 new artificial reefs with upcoming fundraiser
by Ashley Armacost
Destin High School’s Fishing Program will host its annual artificial reef fundraiser on April 26, building on the success of last year’s efforts that expanded marine habitat and created memorial tributes in Gulf waters.
- The event will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Half Hitch Tackle, located at 621 Harbor Blvd. in Destin, with a goal of building 15 reefs this year to add to the “Destin High School Reef.”
Last August, the school’s fishing program deployed 14 artificial reefs in an area now known as Destin High School Reef, located in about 65 feet of water just a couple of miles off the beach. Each reef stood 8 feet tall with a 9-foot triangular base and weighed 5,500 pounds, providing new habitat in waters near the Okaloosa Island Pier.
The project included memorial reefs honoring community members including Tucker Reese, a 9-year-old local baseball player who passed away following an ATV accident, and Jonathan Hughes, described as a “Shark Dad” with a child attending Destin High.
- Contribution options include donating lightly-used fishing tackle for sale, participating in a 50/50 drawing, supporting memorial reefs for local captains or family members, or purchasing a reef named after the donor’s choice.
Okaloosa County’s Natural Resources Team received a $10,000 grant to help supplement the school’s fundraising efforts through the FishAmerica Foundation and Brunswick Foundation. The Emerald Coast Reef Association is also contributing funds towards this effort.
Okaloosa County’s artificial reef program is one of the most active in the nation, with more than 564 reef sites deployed off Destin-Fort Walton Beach since 1976. Over 300 of these have been placed since 2019.
Those interested in donating can scan a QR code at the event, or text “dhsreef” to 41444.
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.
TRAFFIC
Destin City Council eyes pedestrian underpass on Highway 98
The Destin City Council approved a proposal Monday for engineering firm Kimley-Horn to prepare an application for federal funding for a pedestrian underpass near the Stahlman Avenue intersection.
- During the council meeting, City Manager Larry Jones presented the proposal for Kimley-Horn to apply for the Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant. The deadline for application is June 26.
“This undergrounding or an underpass at Stahlman Intersection would be an ideal candidate for these SS4A grants,” Jones said.
Councilman Dewey Destin made the motion to approve the proposal. The council voted to engage Kimley-Horn for $38,750 to prepare the grant application.
The project could potentially fund both design and construction phases for the underpass. According to city documents, the total project cost—including design, construction, and inspection—is estimated at $10 to $15 million.
- Okaloosa County has expressed support for the project and is willing to utilize county surtax funds to help meet the required 20% local match for the grant, according to the city.
The proposed U.S. 98 pedestrian underpass would be similar to the $5.6 million lighted Inlet Beach underpass that was completed in 2024.
City staff indicated that eliminating north-south pedestrian crossings at the Stahlman/Highway 98 intersection would improve both safety and traffic flow, while the underpass would maintain pedestrian connectivity.
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PUBLIC SAFETY
Fire damages waterfront home near Shalimar bridge
Emergency crews responded Tuesday afternoon to a house fire near the Shalimar Bridge, prompting road closures and a large emergency response.
- Upon arrival, firefighters found a large two-story home on the water with heavy smoke and flames visible, according to the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District.
Units from Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District and Fort Walton Beach Fire Department worked together to bring the fire under control. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.
Traffic on Eglin Parkway was affected due to lane closures while emergency personnel worked at the scene. The Shalimar Police Department, Florida Power & Light, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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.
Join today and make an IMPACT in your local community! You can also email them at Impactnwf@impactnwf.org with any questions.
NEWS
Three teens killed in Highway 98 crash in Walton County
Three teenagers were killed and one other critically injured when their SUV collided with a tractor-trailer Monday night on U.S. Highway 98 in Walton County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
- The crash occurred around 9:28 p.m. approximately one mile west of South Watersound Parkway, FHP reported.
According to investigators, an SUV carrying four 18-year-old passengers was traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 98 when it collided with a trailer being hauled by a tractor-trailer that was performing a U-turn in the paved median.
Following impact, the SUV crossed the median and both eastbound lanes before coming to rest in the wood line on the south side of the highway.
Two of the SUV occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two occupants sustained critical injuries and were transported to Bay Medical Center. WJHG has confirmed that one of those occupants involved in the fatal crash has now passed away from her injuries.
The driver of the tractor-trailer and a passenger were not injured in the crash.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Family launches new search for missing 36-year-old Marine veteran in Walton County
by Ashley Armacost
Family members are organizing a new search for a missing 36-year-old Marine Corps veteran from Wisconsin who disappeared nearly two months ago in Point Washington State Forest.
- Bret Valona, an Iraq War veteran and avid outdoorsman, was last seen March 1 when family members dropped him off at the Eastern Lake Trailhead. He has not been in contact with anyone since the morning of March 2, and his phone has not worked since that time.
Valona was reported missing to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office by his sister after he failed to check in at an expected time.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Walton Correctional K-9 Team, conducted a search operation on March 30 in the area of the Eastern Lake Trailhead.
Valona is known as a “primitive outdoorsman” who uses minimal equipment to camp and can survive off the land for up to three weeks at a time. Deputies say they don’t believe he has a communication device with him.
- A new search effort is scheduled to begin April 24 at 10 a.m. at the Eastern Lake Trailhead in Santa Rosa Beach. Family members, who reside in Wisconsin, are organizing to travel to Florida to conduct the search.
The family has established a Facebook group called “Search Efforts for Bret Valona” to coordinate their efforts and share information.
Valona is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 190 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a brown goatee. He was last seen wearing a flannel shirt, khaki pants, and a yellow rain jacket.
Anyone with information about Valona’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at 850-892-8111.
BUSINESS
Destin City Council hears presentation on phase two of HarborWalk Village
Representatives from Legendary Companies outlined plans for Phase II of HarborWalk Village at Monday’s Destin City Council meeting, sparking lengthy discussions about parking requirements, traffic congestion and pedestrian safety at one of the city’s busiest intersections.
- Attorney Dana Matthews, representing the developer, provided council members with a detailed history of the 14.7-acre waterfront property, explaining that while the original development order was approved in 2003, Phase II plans have been vested since 2009 with a development order valid until October 2031.
Phase II will primarily develop the eastern nine acres of the property, and Matthews emphasized that the new construction would remain within previously approved building envelopes and height restrictions of nine stories or 100 feet from grade.
According to documents presented at the meeting, the proposal includes:
- 60 multi-family residential condominium units (down from the 90 originally approved).
- 245 hotel units with two bedrooms each (totaling 490 sleeping rooms).
- Approximately 16,749 square feet of conference space.
- 56,330 square feet of retail space — an increase of 31,330 square feet from the originally approved 25,001 square feet. Matthews explained that the additional retail space would be transferred from unused entitlements in Phase I.
The developer plans to build Phase II in stages, beginning with a parking garage that Matthews said would provide approximately 500 spaces beyond what’s required for the development.
The meeting was informational in nature, with no formal vote taken. The project will undergo a full review by the Technical Review Committee before returning to the city council for formal consideration at a future public, quasi-judicial hearing.
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