LIONFISH

Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament removes more than 13,000 Lionfish

The Emerald Coast Open, the world’s largest lionfish tournament, returned to Destin, Florida this past weekend removing an over 11,000 lionfish in the two-day period. 

This impressive number is in addition to the 2,582 lionfish removed during the pre-tournament competition, which kicked off on February 1, 2021. 

• In total, 13,835 lionfish were removed.  

Locally-based scuba divers, as well as those from around the country, descended on Destin for the tournament, which is hosted by Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). 

The festival and tournament was held at the world famous HarborWalk Village and AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar.

Aside from tournament numbers, last week was Restaurant Week in Destin. Restaurant guests were able sample lionfish at one of the featured restaurants during the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Restaurant Week! 

• Local chefs highlighted lionfish in unique dishes to help bring awareness to the lionfish invasion in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Brotulas (Chef Al Massa with Owner Tyler Jarvis) was crowned Restaurant Week Champ with their pan-seared lionfish, served with forbidden rice and zucchini ribbons. 

Over 50 volunteers from organizations such as Reef Environmental Education Foundation, Navarre Beach Marine Science Station and Sea Grant assembled to man the tournament and surrounding festival. 145 individual hunters competed for nearly $100,000 in cash and prizes.

• 1st Place Most – Deepwater Mafia 1 – 1,623 Lionfish
• 1st Place Largest – Big Blue – 436 MM
• 1st Place Smallest – Alabama Jammin – 39 MM
• Most pre tournament fish turned in – Tim Shivers – 604 Lionfish

Click here to see all of the tournament stats

PUBLIC SAFETY

Suspicious activity reported at Destin bus stop near Beach Drive

On Monday morning, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a report of “suspicious activity” near a school bus stop in Destin.

• According to the OCSO, interpreters are working to get all the information from a young girl who doesn’t speak English.

The initial information reported is that the 11-year old was at Beach Drive near Sandalwood Drive around 8:15am this morning when she saw a white car with two “American” men inside and another four-door white car with a Hispanic male. 

She says the Hispanic male got out and was trying to talk to her, making her fearful.

Deputies say no one touched the girl and they are investigating it as suspicious activity as they gather all the facts. 

“As a precaution, deputies say make sure you talk to your children about safety if they feel threatened or uncomfortable,” wrote OCSO.

GIVING BACK

City of Crestview joins in to celebrate Hospital Week

Last week was National Hospital week, and Crestview’s Mayor Whitten, Chief Tony Holland, and the Crestview Fire Department joined in to serve over 1,200 hot dogs and hamburgers to the men and women at North Okaloosa Medical Center.

• North Okaloosa Medical Center showed their support to their employees through a variety of events and activities held throughout the week, including a Carnival Day, Sweet Treats Day, breakfast, and gift bags.

“On behalf of everyone at NOMC, we want to express our gratitude to the Crestview Fire Department for coming out and serving our staff,” said North Okaloosa Medical Center Human Resource Director, Brad McCullough. “The community support is what makes a great team and a city we can be proud to be a part of.”

“We are honored to serve the men and women of North Okaloosa Medical Center,” said Chief Tony Holland at the close of the event. “They have always been there in our time of need, so it was a privilege to give back to them.”

TRAFFIC CRASH

Driver in critical condition after terrible crash in Fort Walton Beach

On May 16, 2022, at approximately 9:55am, officers responded to a traffic crash with injuries at the intersection of Eglin Pkwy NE/Highway Ave NE (Mariner Plaza near Aj’s on the Bayou).

• Two vehicles, a white Cadillac SUV and a black Toyota four-door sedan, were found to be involved.

The occupants of both vehicles were transported to the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center to be treated for their injuries, according to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. One of the drivers is currently listed in critical condition.

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is actively investigating the case. If you have any information pertaining to this incident, please contact Officer Montgomery by phone at 850-833-9546 or email mmontgomery@fwb.org

THINGS TO DO

Step One Automotive Group to host “Step One Fest” to celebrate the company’s first 5 years

Step One Automotive Group is celebrating their 5th Birthday and is inviting the entire community to celebrate on June 12, 2022, from 10am to 4pm at the Fort Walton Beach Landing Park.

Step One Fest is the company’s way of saying THANKS to team members and their families, partners, and the community after five years of service, growth, forging new friendships, team accomplishments, and “stepping together“.

• Step One Fest will feature live music, food trucks, non-profit organization booths, and a kid’s zone complete with a touch-a-truck exhibit. 

“We are thrilled to be celebrating the fifth anniversary of Step One Automotive Group with our team members, customers, partners, family, and friends,” said Maureen Bierman, Director of Marketing and Communications of Step One Automotive Group. “Being part of this community for the last five years has been a pleasure and a privilege.”

Register early at the link below and you can be entered to win any of these prizes: 

• 2 tickets to the Boogie Wonder Band at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village on June 23, 2022
• $50 gift card to Lulu’s
• $25 gift cards to Lulu’s
• $100 gift cards to Pepitos
• 4 Hancock Suite tickets for the June 17, 2022, Wahoos game
• 4 Box seat tickets behind home plate for the June 17, 2022, Wahoos game 
• 2 VIP experience tickets to Lee Brice at the Pensacola Bay Center on August 11, 2022
• 2 Monster Jam tickets at the Pensacola Bay Center on August 11, 2022
• Orca 20qt Cooler 
• Gulfarium Marine Park tickets for a family of four

Step One partners with charitable organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Saving with Soul Pet Rescue, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, The Hsu Educational Foundation, local military groups, and more.

To register for Step One Fest and sign up for the opportunity to win some prizes, click here.

MILITARY

Navarre-native honored with Silver Star, Bronze Star for bravery in 2017 night raid in Yemen

On Friday, May 13th, 2022, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Cory Haggett was presented the Silver Star Medal and his second Bronze Star Medal at Hurlburt Field.

• Gen. Jim Slife, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, presided over the ceremony. 

Staff Sergeant Cory A. Haggett distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force near Yemen on January 28, 2017. 

On that date, according to Hurlburt Field, as Lead Pararescueman for a Joint Task Force, in support of overseas contingency operations, Sergeant Haggett displayed exceptional battlefield courage as a member of an assault force on a direct-action night raid deep into enemy territory. 

Following a difficult 8-kilometer infill to the set-point, the assault force immediately took heavy and effective enemy fire within 75 meters in all directions. 

• When a teammate was struck in the chest by small arms fire, and with total disregard for his own life, Sergeant Haggett quickly moved to his aid, dragging the casualty, shielding him with his own body, and rendering trauma care under intense enemy fire.

Determining his wounded teammate required an immediate evacuation, Sergeant Haggett led an element of four teammates to carry the casualty over 130 meters under tremendous small arms, according to Hurldburt. 

“Shortly after movement began, Sergeant Haggett received a radio call for additional support, and without hesitation, he directed a member of his element to return to the assault force to provide support while the element continued to slide down the steep and slippery, shale faced mountainside,” wrote Hurlburt in a press release.

Once Sergeant Haggett and his element arrived at the helicopter landing zone, he performed an expedited cricothyrotomy to establish an airway and stabilized his teammate until the medical evacuation helicopter arrived. 

• Following the evacuation, Sergeant Haggett immediately ran the 130 meters back up the rocky mountain face, “braving fierce and unrelenting enemy fire” as rounds impacted the ground within inches of his position. 

Upon reaching the assault force and his second wounded teammate’s position, Sergeant Haggett once again selflessly shielded him with his own body and rendered treatment even while intense small arms fire impacted the area around him. 

Additionally, once the movement started to the exfil site, Sergeant Haggett provided medical assistance to a third teammate requiring medical attention to a blunt force trauma wound to the face. Sergeant Haggett quickly bandaged the wound permitting his teammate to stay engaged in the firefight. 

Finally, once the assault force arrived to the exfil site, Sergeant Haggett treated a fragmentation wound to his Troop Chief’s arm, treating the wound to mitigate exposure to the elements and the chance of infection.

“By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Haggett has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force,” wrote Hurlburt Field in a press release.

Sergeant Haggett is currently assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 

He graduated from Navarre High School in 2005 and attended Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 2006. 

His other awards and decorations include:

• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal with Combat Device
• Joint Service Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
• An Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster