FWB Man Charged In Fatal Stabbing
WEAR TV3— A 42-year-old Fort Walton Beach-area man, Sedrick Hill, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder following a fatal stabbing Sunday evening on Lovejoy Road in Okaloosa County. Deputies responded to a reported disturbance at a residence on the road around 8:20 p.m. and found a man in his 20s suffering from a stab wound. The victim was taken to HCA Florida Fort Walton Beach-Destin Hospital, where he later died despite efforts to save his life. Authorities said witnesses identified Hill as being involved in an altercation with the victim, and deputies reportedly found him at the scene holding a fixed-blade knife. Hill remains in the Okaloosa County Jail without bond while the investigation continues.
Read full story →CRA Citizens' Input Meeting Set For Tomorrow
City Of Fort Walton Beach— The City of Fort Walton Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will hold its monthly Citizens’ Input Meeting from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at the Growth Management Office in the City Hall Complex. The meeting will provide updates on current and upcoming CRA projects, including proposed designs for a new welcome arch at the north end of Vandegriff Park, which will be presented for public feedback before being considered for final approval by the CRA Board on Aug. 25. The CRA, which oversees a 607-acre district covering about 12% of Fort Walton Beach, uses a portion of property tax revenue to fund infrastructure improvements, redevelopment and community enhancement projects.
Read full story →Coffee With A Firefighter Planned For Tuesday Morning In Downtown FWB
City Of Fort Walton Beach— Fort Walton Beach residents will have an opportunity to meet local firefighters during a “Coffee with a Firefighter” event from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at Beach Weekend Coffee in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The informal gathering is designed to give community members a chance to talk with firefighters, ask questions, share feedback, or simply stop by for a conversation over coffee. The event will take place at Beach Weekend Coffee, located at 170 Miracle Strip Parkway SE.
Read full story →US 98 Congestion West Of Hurlburt Discussed With Local Leaders
Get The Coast— Military leaders, elected officials and transportation representatives gathered in Fort Walton Beach on Aug. 17 for a roundtable focused on addressing traffic congestion along U.S. Highway 98, a key route for Hurlburt Field and surrounding communities. The group reviewed progress since a similar meeting in 2023 and discussed short-term measures such as increased Florida Highway Patrol patrols during peak periods, coordination with transportation officials during construction, improved traffic signal management and upgrades to the Okaloosa County Traffic Management Center. Longer-term plans include improvements to Hurlburt Field’s gates, a proposed West Gate project, the West Highway 98 Collector project, widening Highway 98 between Hurlburt Field and State Road 87, expanding connections between Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties, a proposed Navarre Community Access Road and improvements at the Highway 98 and State Road 87 intersection. Officials emphasized that continued cooperation among military, state and local agencies will be necessary to improve traffic flow, emergency response and quality of life in Northwest Florida.
Read full story →New Pineview School Opens In Crestview
Get The Coast— The Okaloosa County School District celebrated the opening of Pineview School in Crestview with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, marking the district’s first new campus since 2008 after an 18-month construction project. The K-8 school, located on Enzor Road along the Southwest Crestview Bypass, welcomed its first students earlier in the week and was built to help relieve overcrowding in schools across northern Okaloosa County. The 40-acre campus includes classroom wings, administrative and media center spaces, a cafeteria, gymnasium, band and chorus facilities, and a Career and Technical Education wing, with room for up to 1,200 students. District officials said the school’s construction reflects continued investment in local education and is expected to support the area’s rapid growth while providing students with modern learning facilities.
Read full story →Navarre Beach Boardwalk And Welcome Center Goes Out For Bids
WEAR TV3— Santa Rosa County has moved forward with plans for a new boardwalk and welcome center at Navarre Beach by putting the project out for construction bids, despite continued opposition from some local residents. The development, which has been under consideration since 2019, is planned for an undeveloped dune area between the Navarre Pier and existing pavilions and would include a boardwalk, parking area, event hall and public facilities. County officials revised the design after receiving community feedback, with commissioners favoring a proposal that replaced the original visitor center with a community event hall and placed restrooms in a separate building. Opponents remain concerned that construction could damage the dune system, affect the beach environment and contribute to overcrowding.
Read full story →EXTREME Heat Warning Issued Through 8pm
National Weather Service— The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for coastal areas of the western Florida Panhandle, including Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Aug. 18, with dangerously hot conditions and heat index values reaching as high as 115 degrees. Officials warned that extreme heat and high humidity can significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and advised residents to drink plenty of fluids, remain in air-conditioned spaces when possible, avoid prolonged sun exposure and strenuous outdoor activity, wear lightweight clothing, and check on family members and neighbors.
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