Community

By Lori Leath Smith Each February, many of the area’s top high school, collegiate, amateur, professional, Special Olympics athletes, and individuals who have fostered youth activities are honored during the annual All Sports Association’s (ASA) Awards Banquet. The ASA is a Northwest Florida non-profit organization whose primary mission is to help...

Niceville’s Special Election for Mayor Judy Boudreaux and Daniel Henkel, both long-serving members of the Niceville City Council, are slated to run for Mayor of Niceville. Balloting for the special election is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall on April 14, 2020. The special election is needed to...

By Cami Adams Did you know Walton County is one of nineteen Florida counties that employ chickens to help guard against mosquito-borne diseases? Sentinel chickens perform a very important job for the public because they are our first line of defense for monitoring arboviruses in the area. Samples are taken weekly...

By Dave Saviola Fear. Anxiety. With election hacking, international tensions, politics, viruses and stock market corrections, these emotions seem to be commonplace these days. Interestingly, fear and anxiety are often used synonymously with one another, but they are actually quite different. Fear is an essential emotion built into our body...

By J.S. Green Imagine seeing a large male bear hanging out by your backyard firepit as if he were ready to watch the sunset while waiting on an evening cocktail of honey in a highball glass. What about a bear cub climbing the ladder of your child’s playhouse in your...

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): cdc.gov Okaloosa County Health Department: okaloosa.floridahealth.gov Walton County Health Department: Walton.floridahealth.gov Walton County Emergency Management Department: www.WaltonCountyEM.org Florida Department of Health: www.floridahealth.gov CDC recommendations for Workplace and Commercial establishments best practices: www.cdc.gov/…/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf CDC COVID-19 Information: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Resources for Businesses and Employers: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businessesemployers.html Florida Chamber of Commerce:...

Each with the Heart of a Champion By Scott Miller Congratulations is in order. The Niceville High School Men’s Soccer Team is now also known as Florida State Champions! That’s something which is earned only through hard work and dedication, through teamwork and homework. Not only did they finish their 2020...

Alaqua Animal Refuge announced today that it will host its 10th Annual Sip N Shop event on Friday, April 3 at Emeril’s Coastal Italian in Miramar Beach beginning at 11 a.m. Presented locally by Insurance Zone, the event is in partnership with the Emeril Lagasse Foundation and is one of...

By Laura Tiu, UF/IFAS Marine Science Extension Agent, Okaloosa and Walton Counties Are you interested in learning about marine life, going fishing, or exploring the underwater world with a mask and snorkel? If so, this is the camp for you! This local education opportunity for budding marine scientists will be...

Free Federal income tax preparation is being offered in 2020 for low to middle-income families and individuals, with special attention to senior citizens. Sponsored by the AARP Foundation and the IRS, according to Joe Perry, tax-aide district coordinator, “There are no age restrictions, AARP membership is not required, and...