A Crestview middle school student tried to talk a friend out of bringing weapons to school, then made sure to tell an adult after his upset friend said he planned to use the weapons to kill two students who had been bullying him, law enforcement officials said today.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida office in downtown Crestview stands in an ideal location, said Katie Thompson, the nonprofit organization’s area manager for Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin metropolitan statistical area tops Veterans United Home Loans’ 2024 list of the “10 Most Patriotic Cities” in the United States.

I write these columns the week before they are published, so this piece will be read two days after the presidential election. It is safe for me to predict, now less than one week out, that roughly half of this nation is cheering the election results, and the other half is sorely disappointed, perhaps even angry. I suspect this could be said of any election.

I was at the water department today, November 4, attempting to straighten out where a water bill is being mailed, and a very slender gentleman came in wanting to put $8 down on his $20 water bill so his water wouldn’t be turned off. He’s been employed in the flooring business for more than 20 years and he said that this year has been the slowest. He thinks it is because people are waiting for the outcome of the election. He, like a lot of other people, think if Trump is not elected, the economy is going to get worse, much worse. By the time you read this, hopefully, there is a clear winner.

The District Board of Trustees of Northwest Florida State College today chose Okaloosa County District 5 Commissioner Mel Ponder as the college’s next president, pending approval of an employment agreement by the board at its Nov. 19 meeting.

Tallahassee – After months of voters getting bombarded with television ads and mail pieces, Tuesday is Election Day.

Officials broke ground on Friday on the Shoal River Ranch Water Reclamation Facility, which is expected to be completed in late 2026.

The new Dollar General Market in Blackman, north of Baker, is now open, Dollar General officials announced today.

The Crafty Bean, located in Florala, Alabama, has been awarded the “Best Artisanal Coffee Experience in Alabama of 2024” by Best of Best Review.