Community

In April, A Superior Air Conditioning Company held its second quarterly Veterans & First Responders Appreciation Lunch of the year at Faith Assembly Christian Church, aka The Rock n Roll Church in Miramar Beach. Veterans and First Responders are encouraged to apply online at ASuperiorAC.com for the Free HVAC...

A new, regional Aquatic Center, a state‐of‐the‐art aquatic facility, is set to be constructed in Niceville, which would include a 50-meter, Olympic-sized pool. The center aims to provide a wide range of aquatic programs for locals and promote community well‐being as well as stimulate economic growth. On June 13, the...

By Doug Stauffer Sunday morning, while preparing my sermon, I received a call from Lt. Kearns about a death in Niceville that required my attention as a police chaplain. A retired EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) technician had passed away in his home. After arriving, I comforted the grieving widow and...

Locals and summer visitors to Walton County will once again be able to enjoy complimentary day-use admission to Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Walton County Tourism Department is paying the cost of entry for day-use visitors to increase available parking for beachgoers during the...

NWFSC Collegiate High School Student Selected for Hites Transfer Scholarship Northwest Florida State College’s Collegiate High School Student, Sean Arbuckle, has been selected to receive Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 Hites Transfer Scholarship. Arbuckle is one of only 15 students to receive this scholarship and was up against more than 2,700...

Congratulations to our Leadership Walton Class of 2022-23! The group of professionals have accomplished so much in the past nine months and we look forward to seeing them in our community! Thank you to all the companies who have invested in their employees through the program.

By Doug Stauffer Leadership Okaloosa, a well-respected leadership training and development program with a 30-year history, held its annual graduation ceremony at the Northwest Florida State College. The ceremony brought together the college and its partners, including the Crestview, Destin, Niceville-Valparaiso and Fort Walton Beach Chambers of Commerce. Together, they...

The Fireworks Trust Fund will fully fund the annual 4th of July Fireworks Show over Boggy Bayou through donations from the community this year. This cherished tradition has been a staple in the Niceville‐Valparaiso area for many years, and the Fireworks Trust Fund is proud to continue to support...

By Doug Stauffer Ted Corcoran and the Fort Walton Beach Chamber hosted the American Veterans Center (AVC) from Washington D.C. They interviewed numerous local veterans who have bravely served their country. I was honored to be invited by Ted to share in this incredible experience and interact with the seven men telling their stories. Col. George Ferkes served...

By Doug Stauffer The 174th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) recently held its 30th reunion at the Island Resort, Fort Walton Beach. I was privileged to meet with them and talk with some of the members. When the Vietnam War raged on, the United States military faced numerous challenges in combating the...