Ruckel Middle Honors Legacy of Dr. Ginny Morgan With New Cafetorium Staff Reports December 12, 2025 4:00 pm Niceville, Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Dr. Ginny Morgan, former Ruckel Middle School principal; Superintendent Marcus Chambers; Principal Joe Jannazo; the Morgan family What: Dedication of the new Ruckel Middle School cafetorium in Dr. Morgan’s name When: Ceremony held Thursday (2024) following school board approval in August Where: Ruckel Middle School, Niceville, Florida Why: To honor Dr. Morgan’s decades of service, her leadership philosophy, and her lasting influence on programs, staff, and student success Ruckel Middle School honored one of its most influential leaders Thursday with the dedication of its newly constructed cafetorium, officially named The Dr. Ginny Morgan Cafetorium. The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together district officials, former and current educators, students, family, and community members to celebrate the late principal’s decades-long legacy in Okaloosa County schools. The Okaloosa County School Board unanimously approved the naming in August. Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Henderson Morgan began her career at Ruckel Middle School in 1968 as a math teacher before moving into district leadership as Okaloosa’s math supervisor. She later returned to Ruckel as principal — a role that cemented her reputation as a transformative educator who elevated both academic performance and school culture. She died on February 15, 2024, at age 76. Superintendent Marcus Chambers, who was hired by Dr. Morgan in 1998, said her impact continues to shape the district today.“Dr. Morgan was a principal, but more importantly, she was... Read More

Niceville High Reimagines Henry VIII’s Wives in Spectacular Musical SIX Staff Reports December 12, 2025 3:15 pm Arts, Niceville, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Niceville High School Theatre Department, Director Ritchie Jackson, Choreographer Nicci Fahle, Vocal Director Arianna Reyher, the cast of SIX What: A full-scale school production of the hit musical SIX, featuring concert-style staging and special effects When: Jan. 9, 10, 23, and 24 (various showtimes) Where: Niceville High School Why: To bring an empowering, modern pop retelling of Henry VIII’s queens to local audiences and offer a unique, high-energy theatre experience The queens are coming to Niceville. The Niceville High School Theatre Department is kicking off 2025 with a high-energy, pop-infused twist on history, preparing to stage SIX — the international musical sensation that reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as modern-day pop royalty. The show, created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss and produced with permission from Concord Theatricals of NYC, takes the familiar Tudor tale and turns it into a 70-minute, no-intermission concert where each queen grabs the mic to tell her side of the story. Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr battle it out — not for a king’s attention, but for the crowd’s. To add an extra layer of flair, the NHS has also incorporated six footmen to help bring the queens’ musical numbers to life. Since first debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, SIX has become a global phenomenon with Olivier... Read More

TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court Thursday agreed to speed up consideration of a closely watched case about a 2024 Florida law designed to prevent children from having access to certain social-media sites. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request by the tech-industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association […] Read More

  The holidays in Panama City beach are truly unmatched! From larger-than-life Christmas displays and sparkling lights to festive markets, the beach transforms into a wonderland of cheer. Whether you’re checking off your annual traditions or creating new ones, you’ll find countless ways to celebrate,   Read More

Country Artist Sings Hymn To Point To The Reason For The Season Country singer Warren Zeiders’ latest single is his take on a hymn that transcends time and genre… and, in which by being about Jesus, it’s proving to be perfect for Christmas. “How Great Thou Art” may be one of the most recognizable songs […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Panama City Boat Parade of Lights is getting ready to set sail for its 39th year this Saturday, December 13. Hosted by Destination Panama City, the parade itself will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until 7:30 p.m. This year’s event will kick off at St. Andrews Bay Yacht […] Read More

Business leaders urge Okaloosa County to renew half-cent infrastructure surtax Collin Bestor December 12, 2025 8:00 am Okaloosa County In Brief: Chamber leaders urged Okaloosa County commissioners to place a renewal of the half-cent surtax on the November 2026 ballot, arguing it has funded critical road, stormwater, and public safety projects. The tax has generated more than $136 million and secured $279 million in matching grants, with over half of the revenue coming from tourists rather than local residents. Commissioners signaled support and plan to take up the ballot language early next year, as business leaders push for a 10-year extension of the surtax through 2038.       CRESTVIEW — Leaders from chambers of commerce across Okaloosa County appeared before county commissioners this week to urge placing a renewal of the county’s half-cent surtax on the November 2026 ballot, arguing that the tax has delivered millions in infrastructure improvements and leveraged significant outside funding.   Gordon King, chairman of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, addressed commissioners with a presentation outlining what he called the surtax’s measurable successes since voters first approved it in 2018.   “It’s an honor to be before you today,” King said, appearing with several chamber and business leaders. He noted that the Chamber of Commerce “would like to ask for your consideration” in renewing the tax for an additional 10 years beginning in 2029.   King highlighted more than $136 million raised through the surtax to date, which he said allowed the... Read More

Okaloosa County approves concept plans for new youth sports complex in Baker Collin Bestor December 12, 2025 7:30 am Okaloosa County In Brief: Three to four new multipurpose athletic fields LED lighting, improved drainage, and stabilized parking Future plans include walking trail, playground, and concession stand CRESTVIEW — Plans to significantly expand recreation opportunities in Baker moved forward Tuesday as the Okaloosa County Commission approved the conceptual layout for a new multipurpose athletic complex adjacent to the existing Baker Athletic Complex on Charlie Day Road.   The county purchased the 10-acre parcel in March 2021, creating more than 130 acres of contiguous county-owned property bordered by roads on three sides. After meeting with the Baker Area Youth Association (BAYA), county staff identified a significant shortage of dedicated multipurpose fields, as football and soccer teams often practice on baseball and softball fields.   Parks Director Jeff Peters told commissioners the first phase of the project focuses on addressing that need.   “This is a multipurpose athletic complex addition to what’s already there,” Peters said. “Their biggest need is a multipurpose field. Soccer, football, they don’t have that… So our goal was to design a multipurpose complex that can be utilized for the kids to play those types of sports.” $1.261 Million Phase 1 Plan Under the conceptual layout, Phase 1 would cost $1.261 million and deliver three to four multipurpose athletic fields, lighting, drainage improvements, stabilized parking and a restroom facility. The phased approach is designed to meet budget constraints while... Read More

Okaloosa County allocates $5M to cap remaining dirt roads in “50 in 5” project Collin Bestor December 12, 2025 7:00 am Okaloosa County In Brief: 52 miles of dirt roads set for asphalt capping $5 million allocation approved for project completion Nearly 200 miles already stabilized, surpassing original goal CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $5 million allocation to finish capping the remaining stabilized dirt roads in the county’s long-running “50 in 5” road improvement initiative, a project officials say has far exceeded its original expectations.   Public Works Director Scott Bitterman noted the department’s multi-year effort to convert county-maintained dirt roads into safer, more durable paved corridors. He then turned the floor over to Road Division Chief Rob Vandenbrock, who has overseen much of the on-the-ground implementation.   “We’ve stabilized 200 miles, and about 148 of those miles have been capped,” said Vandenbrock. “This $5 million asked here is to cap the remaining 52, and we’ll be out of the quasi dirt business.”   Commissioners praised the project’s success, which began as an effort by then-Commissioner Nathan Boyles to stabilize 50 miles of dirt roads in five years.   Instead, crews identified and stabilized roughly 200 miles, and 148 miles have already been capped with asphalt. The work is designed to improve safety, reduce erosion and cut recurring maintenance costs. Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel expressed enthusiasm for the project’s impact.   “I feel like we should name this the ‘Nathan Boyles Amendment’…he really championed this. So I’m... Read More

Jelly Roll Shares He Wants To Petition His Right To Possess A Firearm Jelly Roll shared he intends to formally petition the government to restore his legal right to possess a rifle for hunting purposes. The country star appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, where he discussed the conditions of his parole, which currently prohibit […] More Country Music Nation  Read More