Choctaw Adjusts Schedule, Removes Final Game Of The Season
Yahoo Sports— Choctawhatchee High School’s football schedule has been revised following disruptions caused by Hurricane Isaias, which left the Big Green with only six games completed through nine weeks. As a result, the team has canceled its season-ending trip to face Thompson High School in Alabama, a nationally ranked powerhouse, allowing Choctawhatchee to avoid an especially demanding stretch of three games in 13 days. Instead, the team will finish the regular season with three consecutive home games against Gulf Breeze, Booker T. Washington on October 29, and Fort Walton Beach on November 4. The schedule change also gives the players additional time to recover and prepare for the postseason. Coach Frank Beasley’s team has bounced back from an 0-2 start by winning four straight games and remains in a strong position to capture its fifth consecutive district championship while pursuing another appearance in the regional finals after reaching the state semifinals last season.
Read full story →Munitions Testing Scheduled For Gulf Waters Today
WJHG TV7— The U.S. Air Force plans to conduct munitions testing in the Gulf of Mexico off Okaloosa Island on Wednesday, October 21, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., according to officials at Eglin Air Force Base. Backup testing dates are scheduled for October 22 and 23 during the same hours if needed. During the operation, boaters must stay outside the designated hazard area, which begins about seven nautical miles south of Okaloosa Island and extends southeast roughly 32 nautical miles from Destin East Pass. The 96th Test Wing also warns residents and visitors not to touch or move any unidentified military equipment or test-related debris they may encounter. Anyone who discovers suspicious items should note their location from a safe distance and report them to local law enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, or Eglin’s 96th Security Forces Squadron. Mariners can monitor safety advisories on VHF Channel 16 or HF upper sideband 2182 kHz.
Read full story →Destin, 30A and Panama City Beach Short Term Rental Realtors Pass $500 Million in Airbnb Sales
PR Newswire— The Short Term Shop, a real estate brokerage specializing in vacation rental investments, announced that it has helped investors purchase nearly 700 Airbnb and short-term rental properties worth more than $500 million across Destin, 30A, and Panama City Beach since 2019. The company attributes its growth to increasing interest in these popular coastal destinations, where investors are exploring vacation rental properties as income-generating assets. Three of its agents—January Johnson in Panama City Beach, Jess Foy along 30A, and Pete Appezzato in Destin—have collectively generated nearly $200 million in short-term rental property sales. According to the company’s founder, Avery Carl, investors should choose real estate agents with specialized knowledge of vacation rentals, including local rental regulations, homeowners association restrictions, property management, and potential returns. Founded in 2017, The Short Term Shop provides guidance and educational resources to help investors purchase and operate vacation rental properties in markets across the country.
Read full story →Navarre Library To Reopen Today
Navarre Press— The Santa Rosa County Library System will reopen its Navarre branch on Wednesday after a partial power failure forced a temporary closure. A three-phase power issue affecting the building's air conditioning units has been resolved by Florida Power & Light, allowing normal operations to resume.
Read full story →Hurricane Isaias Strips Roof From Navarre American Legion Post
Navarre Press— Hurricane Isaias tore the roof off American Legion Post 382 in Navarre on October 9, causing serious damage to the building's storage area and meeting room. Members and volunteers spent days clearing debris and salvaging contents as the post works toward recovery.
Read full story →UPDATE From FWB On The Storm Debris Collection Progress
City Of Fort Walton Beach— The City of Fort Walton Beach has provided an update on its storm debris removal efforts following Hurricane Isaias, with DRC Emergency Services handling the collection of fallen trees, bushes, fencing, docks, drywall, and other hurricane-related debris from residential neighborhoods. The cleanup is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which requires all collected debris to be documented and measured at the disposal site. DRC crews began work in the Elliott’s Point neighborhood on October 14, 2026, and are currently operating near Waynel Circle, working seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. City officials estimate that the first citywide collection pass will take about a month, although weather conditions, improperly bagged debris, mixed materials, and piles near power lines or tree canopies could cause delays. Additional crews may be assigned to Fort Walton Beach as cleanup operations in neighboring counties are completed, potentially speeding up future collection rounds. Although officials acknowledge residents’ frustration with the lengthy process, they are asking for patience as the city works to restore normal conditions safely and efficiently. Residents can also monitor cleanup progress through an online dashboard provided by Tetra Tech, the company overseeing the debris collection contract.
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