Repeat Offender From Niceville Gets 15-Year Federal Sentence for Child Pornography Staff Reports December 2, 2025 11:54 am Crime, Niceville, Okaloosa County, Public Safety In Brief: A Niceville man with a prior conviction received 15 years in federal prison after investigators found thousands of child sexual abuse files. Federal, state, and local agencies collaborated to uncover the crimes and remove the offender from the community. The sentence includes lifetime supervised release, restitution, and continued sex offender registration. A Niceville man with a prior child pornography conviction has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after investigators uncovered thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children — including victims under the age of 12 — across dozens of electronic devices in his home. John J. Schugmann, 53, received the sentence on Monday in Pensacola federal court. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida said the case exemplifies the seriousness of online child exploitation and the high level of coordination it takes to catch offenders who attempt to hide behind digital platforms. How the Investigation Started The investigation began in December 2024, when federal authorities detected that Schugmann was uploading child sexual abuse material to an online search engine — an activity that triggered alerts for law enforcement. Court documents show that these uploads weren’t isolated incidents but part of an ongoing pattern of online activity. Federal agents and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained a warrant to search Schugmann’s residence. During the search, Schugmann... Read More

Smalls Sliders Launches Fort Walton Beach Location With Grand Opening Event Staff Reports December 2, 2025 10:52 am Business, Food and Recipies, Fort Walton Beach In Brief: Who: Smalls Sliders  What: Grand opening of a new Smalls Sliders restaurant, including ribbon-cutting, donation, and giveaways When: Tuesday, December 9 Where: 822 Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach Why: To continue the brand’s rapid expansion in Florida and bring its slider-focused menu to the Emerald Coast Smalls Sliders — the fast-growing cheeseburger slider chain known for its bright orange modular “Can” buildings — is coming to Fort Walton Beach. The company will officially open its newest Florida location on Tuesday, December 9, at 822 Beal Parkway. The Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will join the team for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Smalls Sliders will present a donation check to Arc of the Emerald Coast as part of the celebration. To kick off the opening, the first 100 guests through the door will receive a free pair of the brand’s signature Smorange slides. Smalls Sliders has been expanding rapidly across the Southeast, leaning into a simple menu – cheeseburger sliders, seasoned fries, and shakes – delivered out of its compact Can-style buildings. The concept has quickly positioned itself among the fastest-growing quick-service restaurant brands in the country by keeping operations streamlined and leaning into bold branding. The Fort Walton Beach opening marks another step in the company’s Florida growth strategy, bringing its slider-focused menu to the Emerald Coast for the first time. More... Read More

Team Reba And Team Bublé Kick Off The Voice Playoffs The Voice is one step closer to finding its six finalists for Season 28! Following the conclusion of the knockouts, 16 singers (four from each team) advanced to the playoffs. The first playoff episode of the season aired on Monday (December 1), featuring performances from […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

  The Daybreak 76 Marathon in Panama City Beach, Florida, on December 6, 2025, offers a variety of race options designed to accommodate runners of all experience levels and preferences. Here’s a closer look at the different types of races available: Full Marathon The full marathon is the centerpiece   Read More

Church Purchased By Zach Bryan To Become The Jack Kerouac Center “I looked up at the dark sky and prayed to God for a better break in life… The light of our tent burned on the frightful plain. The cowboy music twanged in the roadhouse and carried across the fields, all sadness. It was all […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Winter Sandyland returns to Okaloosa Island benefiting local children in need Staff Reports December 1, 2025 2:22 pm Charities and Nonprofits OKALOOSA ISLAND — For the third year in a row, one of the most interesting Christmas exhibits along the Emerald Coast returns, all for those in need. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, The Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach will host the third annual Winter Sandyland, a walkthrough Christmas art exhibit featuring sand sculptures made by local sand artists. Founded by Jason Harwell, owner of Erase The Trace Okaloosa and Sand Effects, in 2023. The event was created as a toy drive for local children in need. This year, toy donations will benefit children throughout Okaloosa County, with any remaining toys going to children in the Sylvania Heights area of Fort Walton Beach. For the 2025 event, Harwell will be joined by another sand artist, “Dan in the Sand, along with Peggy Nielsen, Shey Knight, Raleigh and Bobby Satterwhite, Keith and Tammy Byrd, Tony and Mica Tinnin and Rick Vanevenhoven. Parking for the event is free, and admission to the sculpture exhibit can be made with either a toy donation, a gift card, or a cash donation; the latter two will be given to a local organization.     More Local News Crime Repeat Offender From Niceville Gets 15-Year Federal Sentence for Child Pornography Business Smalls Sliders Launches Fort Walton Beach Location With Grand Opening Event Charities and Nonprofits Winter Sandyland returns to Okaloosa... Read More

Rain Pushes Christmas Parade to December 2 Staff Reports December 1, 2025 2:00 pm Events, Fort Walton Beach In Brief: WHO: Parade organizers and participating community groups WHAT: Annual Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade, now rescheduled WHEN: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. WHERE: From Eglin Parkway & First Street north to Hughes Street WHY: Forecasted rain prompted a postponement for safety and comfort Fort Walton Beach’s annual Christmas Parade will have to wait just a bit longer to roll. Due to expected rain, city officials have postponed the parade to Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The beloved community event will keep its traditional route. The parade will step off from the intersection of Eglin Parkway and First Street, travel north along Eglin Parkway, and conclude at Hughes Street. Eglin Parkway will close to vehicle traffic ahead of the start time, and spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good spot. This year’s theme — “Zoo Animals” — promises a fun lineup of creative floats, costumes, and characters. Organizers welcome participants to embrace the theme fully but remind everyone to leave real zoo animals at home. Pets may attend but must remain leashed. Families and parade fans are invited to gather along Eglin Parkway on the new date to cheer on their favorite entries and enjoy one of Fort Walton Beach’s most festive traditions. The holiday spirit will be out in full force — just one night later than planned. More Local News Crime Repeat... Read More

Overnight Storms Could Pack a Surprise Punch Staff Reports December 1, 2025 1:36 pm Weather In Brief: WHO: Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox and local emergency officials WHAT: Marginal risk of severe storms, including damaging winds and possible brief tornadoes WHEN: 9 p.m. Monday through 7 a.m. Tuesday WHERE: Coastal Baldwin County, AL, east through the western Florida Panhandle WHY: A low-pressure system may push a warm front inland, creating a narrow window for severe weather development Coastal communities from Baldwin County, Alabama, through the western Florida Panhandle are being urged to stay weather-aware tonight as a developing low-pressure system brings the potential for a few strong storms — including a brief tornado or two — to the northern Gulf Coast. According to a memo from Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox, a marginal risk of severe weather has been issued for the region from 9 p.m. Monday through 7 a.m. Tuesday. The system is expected to skirt the coastline overnight, and forecasters say the exact track will determine whether the warm, unstable air needed for severe thunderstorms can push inland. If it does, the environment could support landfalling waterspouts — the kind that become rain-wrapped, fast-moving tornadoes once they reach shore. Warm Front Is the Wild Card Maddox said confidence in any particular outcome remains low because the warm front’s northward progress is still uncertain. Two scenarios are possible: Onshore Track:If the low hugs the coastline closely, the warm front could slide into coastal Alabama and... Read More

Despite Song In Commercial Being Original, Johnny Cash’s Estate Alleges The Sound Is Too Similar To That Of The “The Man In Black” If you’ve been enjoying football season, you may have seen a commercial that has become the center of a lawsuit. Back in August, Coca-Cola released a commercial dubbed “Go The Distance,” which […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Will Walton Commissioners End Wood Bonfires on the Beach? Steven Saul December 1, 2025 10:07 am 30a, South Walton, Walton County In Brief: Bonfire Debate Heats Up: Walton County officials discuss banning wood fires due to safety and debris, but propose options including propane-only and hybrid models, with input from fire marshals and vendors. Public Input and Decisions: Commissioners consider surveys showing preference for wood bonfires, suggest app tracking and higher permits for compliance, and unanimously approve all three bonfire types. Tent Regulations Tightened: Code Enforcement enforces 10×10 foot tent limits to combat overcrowding, clarifies umbrellas are exempt, and explores categorizing beaches for further restrictions. The Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) spent a good deal of time this week in a “heated discussion” over beach bonfires.   Code Enforcement brought up bonfires at the Walton County Commission meeting due to safety concerns and the residue that can remain on the beach after the embers cool.   Over the last quarter, Walton County Code Enforcement has held meetings and made presentations that initially supported a ban on all wood fires on the beach.  Code Enforcement brought up this solution as a way to reduce calls about burn waste on the beach.  At every meeting concerning the wood-burning bonfire ban, South Walton Fire District Fire Marshal Sammy Sanchez indicated that moving to a “propane-only” bonfire option would provide a cleaner, smokeless environment and reduce potential debris from evening beach fires.  At earlier meetings, it appeared that wood-burning bonfires might be dead ‘at’... Read More