Community

Former local Sean Dietrich (he recently moved to Alabama) is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. In addition to Bay Life, his work has appeared in Southern Living, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, Alabama Living, the Birmingham News, Thom...

The 4th Annual Westonwood Ranch Professional Rodeo returns to the Freeport Sports Complex March 25th through 26th. Come watch some of the nation’s top cowgirls and cowboys compete – bring the family and friends for a fun-packed weekend! Contestants will be coming from throughout the southwest region to compete in...

The Triumph Gulf Coast board has awarded Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) $21,787,560 for its Nursing Program expansion project. Triumph Gulf Coast is a competitive development fund in Northwest Florida that supports infrastructure needs and develops industry-driven workforce and education training programs. With the support from Triumph Gulf Coast, the College...

The Okaloosa County School District held a district-wide professional development day at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center Jan. 6. Superintendent Marcus Chambers spoke to OCSD employees about the hard work they do each and every day to make a positive impact on students. Todd Whitaker, teacher, principal, speaker...

By Kenneth Books In the late 1990s, three teenagers ran their hearts out as members of the Fort Walton Beach High School cross-country team. Today, all three – Mike Lowe, Ken Dwyer and Austin White – are colonels in the armed forces. Lowe and White are in the Air Force,...

By Kenneth Books The longest-serving city manager in Florida will leave office Aug. 1 after 52 years on the job. Lannie Corbin, 80, who was first hired as city clerk in 1971, then made city manager two years later, said he wants to travel with his wife and do other things...

On Christmas Eve, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Corporal Ray Hamilton was killed in the line of duty while attempting to arrest a man suspected of domestic violence. Hamilton served as a Special Response Team (SRT) member with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. To honor the memory and sacrifice of Corporal...

The Flying Needles Quilt Guild was started in 1989 by a group of 19 quilters and has grown to more than 100 members. Its goal is to serve the general public by donations to other community service organizations and by serving as a source of information and education through...

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 676 (2021) to help create a new “30A” specialty license plate for Florida motorists. The 30A tags cost $33, with all proceeds being donated to support Scenic Walton, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that promotes projects designed to improve the quality of life in Walton...

By Michelle Ruschman In 2008, The Children’s Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach opened its doors to provide additional shelter for foster children. Ken Hair, president and CEO of Children in Crisis, Inc spoke of how the neighborhood came to be. “Sharilyn Darnell, our founder, was a retired schoolteacher who was involved...