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By Lori Leath Smith A lot of families with a young child with Autism are thinking, “What if something happens to me? I just want to know that my child is safe, and someone will love them just as much as I do.” More than five years ago, Lindy Wood had...

By Doug Stauffer Kayleigh McEnany opened this year’s President’s Speaker Series at Mattie Kelly Arts Center. While introducing Kayleigh, President Devin Stephenson of Northwest Florida State College invited stated, “Northwest Florida State College is certainly honored to do our part in improving the quality of place in our community by...

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...

By Todd Craig, Journey Bravely As we come to the end of one year and the beginning of another, quotes from two of pop-culture’s great philosophers come to mind. Yogi Berra famously said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else.” The other comes from...

To kick off your new year, get your “Glitter and Glam” on with Diamond Dan at LJ Schooners’ New Year’s Eve party! Dinner specials will run from 5–10 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf will host Baytowne Countdown, Sat., Dec. 31, 6 p.m.-1 a.m., with two breathtaking fireworks displays at...

By Lori Leath Smith For many years, our piece of Paradise has ignited the holiday spirit in each of us and allowed the season to come to life for the young and young at heart. With a unique blend of theatrical storytelling, musical notes and beautiful and whimsical Christmas lights,...

By Doug Stauffer Sept. 11, 2001: the first enemy attack upon American soil since Pearl Harbor. World attention immediately focused on the innocent victims of the attack and the first responders who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Until recently, another heroic part of the story remained classified and hidden from public...

By Lori Leath Smith Are you looking for ways to help our community? As always during the holiday season, there is an ongoing need for giving. Many children don’t have enough food to eat over a weekend, much less over Thanksgiving, and have to return to school hungry. Some don’t...

By Doug Stauffer Okaloosa County recently gathered together to celebrate the military, first with the U.S. Air Force’s 75th Anniversary celebration, followed the next day with a salute to several veterans inducted into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame at the Northwest Florida State College Mattie Kelly Arts Center in...