The Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, has honored Okaloosa County UF/IFAS Extension Services Agent Sheila Dunning with the prestigious DAR Conservation Award. The award recognizes volunteers with distinguished conservation efforts which include sustained accomplishments that improve the environment and educate the public on conservation issues while exceeding job expectations. The award was presented by Florida’s State Regent, Mrs. Cindy Addison, at the Chapter’s February meeting.
Rocky Bayou Christian School Rocks Brain Bowl
Mr. James Wagenschutz, Principal of Rocky Bayou Christian Academy, is pleased to announce that two seniors have been selected as finalists for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Christopher Seeling and Scarlett Stevens are among 15,000 Finalists in the nation and as such will continue in the competition for some 7,500 national Merit Scholarships, worth more than $35 million, that will be offered this spring. RBCS is very proud of Scarlett and Christopher for their high academic achievements. For more information about Rocky Bayou Christian School, please visit our website at www.rbcs.org.
Roller Selected to Serve on the FCSSGA State Executive Board
Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) student Lillian Roller has been selected to serve on the Florida College System Student Government Association (FCSSGA) State Executive Board as the Chair of the Temporary Committee. As the Chair, Roller will lead the planning efforts for the Student Leadership conferences in February and April. These two Florida Conferences host representatives from all 28 Florida College Student Government Associations. In her role, she will report directly to the FCSSGA President and will lead weekly meetings to plan and implement successful conferences.
Democratic Women’s Club of Walton County Celebrates 100th Member
The Democratic Women’s Club of Walton County was founded with only 12 members and now celebrates its 100th member joining the Club. We congratulate founder and current member Grace Marse for bringing this club to Walton County Democrats and Vice President in charge of membership Lesa Klein for her efforts that have increased membership. Recent public service projects include providing sheets and pillows for local Walton project, A Bed 4 Me; assisting Panhandle families to get out of medical debt by donating to RIP Medical Debt for $1,670,497 of debt erased, providing food for families at Fisher House, donating funds and volunteers to Point Washington Medical Clinic, and supporting a wide range of Walton County agencies and organizations through the years. “Together We Make a Difference” is the club’s motto. Men and women are invited to join to work together to improve our communities. To find out more or to join, visit https://waltoncountydwc.org/.
RBCS Junior Classical League Regional Forum Wins
Rocky Bayou Christian Academy’s Latin students recently earned both the Ordo Tertius (3rd place) overall trophy and individual ribbons at the Junior Classical League Regional Forum in January at Gulf Breeze High School. Five local high schools from four counties were in attendance. Individual RBCS winners for the academic testing were Seniors- Michael Mosley, 2nd Adv History of Empire and 3rd Adv Mytholog; Gideon Rossell, 1st Adv. Derivatives; Christopher Seeling 3rd in both Adv Greek Derivatives and Adv Latin Derivatives; Scarlett Stevens 3rd Adv Latin Literature and 2nd in Adv Grammar; Juniors- Oliver McKinney, 2 in the Heptathlon and 3rd in Adv Hellenic History; Jonas Mosley, 3rd Latin Reading Comprehension and 4th in Adv Greek Literature; and Austin Sanders, 3rd in Adv Greek Derivatives and 5th in Adv Latin Derivatives; Sophomores- Lela Cawood, 1st in Latin Grammar 2 and 3rd in the Heptathlon; Mckenzie Newsom, 2nd in Latin Grammar 2 and 4th in Heptathlon; Justus Rossell, 4th in Latin Derivatives 2; Colt Stevens, 1st in Latin Grammar 2 and 3rd in Ancient Geography 2; and Elijah Waller, 2nd in the History of the Republic 2 and Everly Willis, 3rd in Latin Derivatives 1; Freshman- Gaige Adkins, 3rd in History of Republic 1; Janessa Laemmel, 2nd in Greek Derivatives 1; Camden Miller 3rd in Latin Grammar 1 and 5th in the Pentathlon; Brianna Nutt, 3rd in the Pentathlon and 5th in Mythology 1; and Nolan Weisbruch 2nd in Latin Grammar 1. JCL Sponsor Julie Mosley is very proud of this small-school group for earning wins amongst much larger high schools in this “total points” competition. Pictured are left to right, back to front: Nolan Weisbruch, Colton Wilson, Gaige Adkins, Elijah Waller, Colt Stevens, Camden Miller, Lela Cawood, Everly Willis; Janessa Laemmel, Scarlett Stevens, Mckenzie Newsom, Justus Rossell; Brianna Nutt and Michael Mosley. Not in photo are Oliver Mckinney, Jonas Mosley, Gideon Rossell, Austin Sanders and Christopher Seeling. www.rbcs.org.
OCSD Kindergarten & New Student Registration Now Open
It is that time of year! Incoming kindergarteners and students new to the Okaloosa County School District for the 2024-2025 School Year can begin registering for school now. Parents must create a Focus Parent Portal Account to start the process.
The Focus Parent Portal Account will allow parents to: View their student (s) class schedule and grades; View attendance; View discipline; and Communicate with teachers. Create a parent portal account at https://okaloosa.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/
To enroll, families must use their child’s legal name and a valid address in Okaloosa County to begin. A registration kiosk at the student’s enrolling school’s front office is available to complete this process. For an overview of the Parent Portal registration process, watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dTnw4yrsHU.
The online enrollment request will serve as a valid enrollment pending receipt of other documents requiring a parent/legal guardian signature and proof of residence that must be brought to the school. The child will be linked to the parent’s portal account upon completion.
Green Thumb Garden Club Offers Scholarships to Walton Co. Students
For over four decades, Green Thumb Garden Club has awarded Mercer Scholarships to college students from Walton County. Students must be currently enrolled or must have been accepted by a college, university or technical school with a major in agriculture, biology, botany, ecology, environmental studies, forestry, horticulture, landscape design or an acceptable related course.
The scholarship amount has been increased for 2024 through generous donations from GTGC members, fundraising events and the Walton County community. A total of $4,000 is available for award. The amount of each scholarship will be based upon applicants’ qualifications. Detailed application requirements and forms are available on the GTGC website, www.green thumbgardenclubinc.org. Submit to club member, Debbie Michel, GTGC Scholarship Committee Chair, by April 30. Contact Debbie Michel with questions or email greenthumbgardenclubinc@gmail.com. The scholarship covers tuition only paid directly to the college, university or technical school. The winner will be requested to make a presentation at the award ceremony for the scholarship in May 2024.
COME GROW WITH US!
The Walton County Master Gardeners will be hosting an Open House, March 2, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at its Coastal Branch Office on 70 Logan Ln. in Grayton Beach. The event will offer information on a wide range of topics at tables attended by Master Gardeners available to answer your questions. The topics covered are as follows:
• “Plants that Work, Even if you Don’t” or Florida Friendly Landscape
• “The Fungus Among Us”
• Master Gardeners Training Program – YES, YOU CAN!
• Beneficial and not so Beneficial Insects
• “Warning: Trespassers will be Composted”
• Plant-Scaping a/k/a Pruning: Sometimes, less is more
• Zen and the Art of Hydrangea Maintenance
• Soil Blocking and Seed Starting
• Herbs: The Useful Plants
• Recycled Planters: Creative Containers
In addition, there will be two lectures offered. At 10 a.m. Evan Anderson, the Horticulture Agent for Walton County, will present “What’s Bugging You? Evan knows…” And, at 1 p.m., Andrea Schnapp will present “No Yard, No Problem – Container Gardening.”
There will be light refreshments. Due to limited parking on site, guests are encouraged to park at the Public Parking lot located on the east side of CR 283 directly across from Logan Lane and walk to the building. Door prize for the first 50 to attend. (Surprise: it is plant related!) For questions, call the Extension Office at 850-892-8172. Reservations are not required.
DCWAF’s 3rd Annual Galentine’s Day Fundraiser Raises $113,000
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) 3rd Annual Galentine’s Day Fundraiser raised a record-breaking $113,000 for young women in need in Northwest Florida—$20,500 increase over the previous year’s event. Hosted on February 3 by DCWAF trustee Candis Wilson and DCWAF board members Tiffany Edwards, Jeanne Dailey and Lane Redding, the event brought influential women in the community together to support one another while raising money for programs designed to empower young girls through the Foundation’s 17 partner children’s charities. Led by dynamic keynote speaker and founder of Good Grit, Laura Quick, all individuals and businesses affiliated with the production of the event are female owned and operated.
2024 Perfect in Walton County Award Winners Announced
The Walton County Tourism Department recently announced the winners of the 2024 Perfect Awards. Now in its 10th year, the annual awards are nominated and voted upon by residents and visitors alike who choose their favorites in tourism-related businesses, services and organizations. More than 5,000 votes were cast across 30 categories to determine the best dining, entertainment, shopping and more in Walton County; the 91 winners, first through third place, are featured in our Perfect in Walton County 2024 guide, and may be viewed, along with listing by category, on perfectinwaltoncounty.com. Additionally, Stacey Brady, director of marketing and communications with Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, was this year’s winner of the tourism department’s annual Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award.
Niceville Cheerleaders Win State Title
Congratulations to the Niceville Cheerleaders who won their fifth state title in the Florida High School Athletic Association Large Varsity State Championship. The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Championship was held in Lakeland, Florida at the Jenkins Arena. The Eagles Cheerleaders are once again the 5X FHSAA Large Varsity State Champions!
New Airline at VPS
Avelo Airlines recently announced exclusive nonstop service between the Florida Panhandle’s Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) and Southern Connecticut’s most convenient airport – Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN—the first and only airline offering nonstop service between Florida’s Emerald Coast and Southern Connecticut. Avelo will operate this route twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, with a special Friday inaugural flight on May 1. Avelo will operate Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft on this route. Introductory low one-way fares between VPS and HVN start at $79*. Customers can make reservations at AveloAir.com.
