News Archive

While many communities across the United States berate and disrespect the local law enforcement, that isn’t the case in Okaloosa County.

The seventh annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was held May 23 at Blackwater Golf Club in Crestview.

A corner of the façade of the Florida A&M pharmacy school building in downtown Crestview involves some humorous and perhaps little-known history.

The pharmacy school, which opened in 2012, represents the university’s Durell Peaden Jr. Rural Pharmacy Education Campus. The two-story building it uses at 153 W. Woodruff Ave. was built in 1937 and housed a garment factory for many years.

Divers participating in the fifth annual Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament set a new record with the successful removal of 24,699 lionfish.

Last year’s total was 13,835. Divers from around the country competed for prize money totaling more than $100,000 in an effort to eradicate this invasive species in the Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have few known local predators due to their venomous spines.

The Crestview High School Class of 2023 celebrated graduation last Thursday night with 482 newly minted alumni taking part in the ceremony before a packed house at Jack Foster Stadium.

Dignitaries in attendance were Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Marcus Chambers, School Board Chairman Tim Bryant and Okaloosa County Commissioner Paul Mixon.

Smiling customers have been synonymous with Rainbow Snow Cones during its almost quarter of a century in business. Since 1999, the family-owned snack stand has served tasty frozen treats from its spot on the northwest corner of State Road 85 and PJ Adams Parkway, across from Tom Thumb.

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – A Crestview native recently completed an intensive 10-week training program to become a member of the elite U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard. Seaman Karley Snow, a 2015 graduate of Everett Community College in Everett, Washington, joined the Navy six months ago. Today, she serves as a U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guardsman.

To help meet an Okaloosa County requirement, the developer of the massive Patriot Ridge subdivision is donating 186 acres of land by the Shoal River to the county for a proposed public park.

A Fort Walton Beach teenager faces a second degree felony in connection with alleged threats of a mass shooting at a local school.

Because of a lack of customers, Rollerworld of Crestview closed for good on May 26, according to the roller rink’s co-owner, Jiani Hawks.

The closing of Okaloosa County’s sale of 48 acres of Shoal River Ranch industrial park land to a manufacturing company is targeted for mid-July, said Nathan Sparks, executive director of the One Okaloosa Economic Development Council. The company, the name of which has not yet been publicly revealed, aims to use the land for a 300,000-square-foot facility that would have 350 employees.