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Good morning!
Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties have approved an interlocal agreement to study whether two separate collector road projects can be connected to reduce traffic congestion on Highway 98, while Okaloosa County also secures a $1 million state grant for Santa Rosa Boulevard improvements. Get an inside look at how Crestview High School Principal Victoria Hayden leads with purpose, presence, and Bulldog pride, United Fidelity Bank prepares to host its fourth annual Community Day in Fort Walton Beach, and the Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation hosts a Niceville gala to raise funds for foster children.
- Plus, try today’s WordroW puzzle.
HOW I WORK
How Crestview High School Principal Victoria Hayden leads with purpose, presence, and Bulldog pride
Victoria Hayden is the Principal of Crestview High School and a proud product of the Okaloosa County School District. Having moved to Crestview in eighth grade when her father was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, she now leads at her alma mater — a full-circle moment after more than three decades in education.
Her mornings start before sunrise, arriving at school around 5:30 a.m. to prepare for the day and connect with staff and students. Whether greeting buses, visiting classrooms, or attending after-school events, Victoria’s leadership is grounded in purpose, visibility, and relationships that build trust and community across campus.
Read the full Q&A to discover:
- What Victoria would tell her 20-year-old self
- Her favorite local tradition
- Why she stands instead of sits at her desk
- The students who inspire her most
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GAMES
WordroW: October 22, 2025
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
TRAFFIC
Okaloosa County secures $1 million state grant for Santa Rosa Boulevard improvements
The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a $1 million state grant Tuesday for the Santa Rosa Boulevard Improvement Project, advancing the first phase of a long-planned infrastructure overhaul on Okaloosa Island.
- The Local Transportation Project grant from FDOT will fund construction from the first beach park east to the Brooks Bridge project limits. The county will provide a local match of $2,802,281 from infrastructure sales-tax (surtax) reserves, bringing the total Phase 1 construction cost to $3,802,281.
“Because of the Board’s prioritization, the state’s awarding us with $1 million to construct the first phase of Santa Rosa Boulevard Project,” Scott Bitterman, Public Works Director, told commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting.
The project aims to improve pedestrian and roadway safety by reducing vehicle lanes and adding a multi-use path, while also addressing heavy rainfall flooding through stormwater enhancements and improving the boulevard’s overall aesthetic design.
EVENT
United Fidelity Bank to host fourth annual Community Day in Fort Walton Beach
United Fidelity Bank will host its fourth annual Community Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Fort Walton Beach Banking Center at 135 Perry Ave. SE.
- The free event will feature hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and drinks, along with face painting, yard games and inflatables for children. Entertainment will be provided by Reid Soria and Howling Jack, and the bank will hold drawings for various prizes.
Storybook Village, presented by Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast, will return to the event. Local childcare providers and the Fort Walton Beach Library will decorate booths, and the ELC of the Emerald Coast will distribute 4,200 books to children who attend.
More than 30 local civic and community organizations will participate.
“We are fortunate to operate in such a great community, and this event allows us to give back and also provide many diverse Okaloosa County organizations the opportunity to showcase the services they offer to our surrounding area,” said Ed Burns, Community President.
United Fidelity Bank has served local communities since 1914. All food and refreshments at Community Day will be provided free of charge.
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PUBLIC SAFETY
POLICE: 87-year-old man suffers self-inflicted gunshot wound at White-Wilson Medical Center
An 87-year-old man reportedly suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a medical center Tuesday morning, prompting a response from local police and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.
- Officers responded to the White-Wilson Medical Center at 1005 Mar Walt Drive at approximately 11:07 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2025, following a report of shots fired, the department said in a press release.
Upon arrival, officers determined the elderly man had sustained a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the release. The man was quickly given aid and transported by Okaloosa County EMS to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment, police said.
Investigators are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the incident, according to the department.
GIVING BACK
Niceville gala to raise funds for foster children in Northwest Florida
The Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation will host its annual Garden Gala on October 26 at The Shop at Baldwin Turf in Niceville, with all proceeds benefiting local foster children.
- The fundraising event runs from 4-7 p.m. at 739 John Sims Parkway and will feature wine from Thompson 31 Fifty Wines, craft beer, al fresco dining, live music, a wine pull and a silent art auction.
“When a child enters foster care, they’re often carrying a heartbreak far bigger than their years,” said Virginia Davis, president of the Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation. “Through the Garden Gala, we’re not just raising funds — we’re planting seeds of hope, stability, and love that can change the course of a child’s life.”
Tickets cost $150 per person and include wine and dinner. Seating is limited, and organizers encourage early reservations. Tickets can be purchased here or through Venmo @NWFGALF. Those using Venmo should include attendee names and “Garden Gala” in the memo.
TRAFFIC
Okaloosa, Santa Rosa counties approve agreement for Highway 98 connector study
Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties have approved an interlocal agreement to study whether two separate collector road projects can be connected to reduce traffic congestion on Highway 98.
- Okaloosa County Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement on Oct. 21, following Santa Rosa County’s approval on Oct. 9. The agreement formalizes a partnership for a $4 million state-funded study to determine if a collector road can connect the two counties’ separate projects.
The study will explore connecting Okaloosa County’s West 98 Collector road with Santa Rosa County’s Navarre Community Access Road. Both projects are designed to run parallel to and north of Highway 98, but currently stop short of extending to the county line, leaving a gap between them.
Okaloosa County is currently conducting a Project Development and Environmental study for the West 98 Collector, which would run parallel to Highway 98 from the area north of Green Drive east to Solar Drive and could include a new West Gate entrance into Hurlburt Field. Santa Rosa County is conducting a similar study for the Navarre Community Access Road.
“This is an opportunity to work with our neighbors – Santa Rosa County,” Jason Autrey, Okaloosa County Deputy County Administrator for Development Services, told commissioners. “We have an interlocal agreement that has been put in place because Okaloosa County is the recipient of a grant from the State of Florida and the amount of $4 million to study a potential – what we’re calling ‘connecting the collectors.’”
- Highway 98 is a Strategic Intermodal System route running through both counties. The four-lane road is overcapacity between Navarre and Hurlburt Field, and funding for widening Highway 98 is not imminent, according to the agreement. Many airmen who work at Hurlburt Field live west of the base with Highway 98 as the only continuous east-west connection.
The proposed alternative continuous collector road running parallel to and north of Highway 98 could reduce accidents, provide an alternate route in case of accidents, and reduce congestion between the two counties, according to the agreement.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
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Jared
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