Education Champion: Kimberly Day-Scanlon Earns Teacher of the Year Title Staff Reports January 21, 2026 12:27 pm Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Kimberly Day-Scanlon, Okaloosa County School District, Superintendent Marcus Chambers What: Selection of the 2027 Teacher of the Year When: Announcement made in 2026 following 2025 school-level selections Where: Kenwood Elementary School, Okaloosa County, Florida Why: To recognize outstanding educators and celebrate excellence in teaching Okaloosa County, FL — The Okaloosa County School District has officially named Kimberly Day-Scanlon, a special education teacher at Kenwood Elementary School, as its 2027 Teacher of the Year, recognizing her dedication to student success and excellence in education. Day-Scanlon serves as a 4th and 5th-grade ESE CBA teacher and brings years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, and her Master of Science in Inclusive Education/Special Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised Day-Scanlon’s impact on students and the district. “Ms. Day-Scanlon exemplifies the heart of teaching in Okaloosa County,” Chambers said. “Her dedication to students, particularly those with unique learning needs, reflects the very best of our profession.” In addition to the district’s top honoree, OCSD also recognized two runners-up for the 2027 Teacher of the Year title: Kimberly Moran, Art Teacher at Fort Walton Beach High School Sarah Theres, Music Teacher at Florosa Elementary School This year’s Teacher of the Year program included... Read More

Game-Changer for Walton County: New Emergency Center Delivers Faster, Stronger Care Steven Saul January 21, 2026 11:54 am DeFuniak Springs, Health, Okaloosa County, Walton County In Brief: The new HCA Florida emergency center opens in DeFuniak Springs in early February. The facility offers trauma care, imaging services, laboratory services, and ambulance transport. Project honors the historic medical legacy of Dr. Edgar Myers. Emergency Care is essential to any growing community, and having that care readily accessible is one of the ‘perks’ of the new HCA Florida – DeFuniak Springs Emergency, located at 160 Twins Springs Way in DeFuniak Springs.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new state-of-the-art emergency care facility located “just north of the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. 331 at exit 85.”   Many locals are familiar with the new Cefco #446 gas station on Myers Farm Lane. The emergency facility is just south of there.  Victoria Heller, Director for Media Relations for HCA, told Mid Bay News that the official date for opening the emergency facility will most likely be the first week of February. She added that the team staffing the emergency facility will include board-certified emergency medicine physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.  This new emergency facility is part of the HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital, according to Todd Jackson, CEO of HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital.  Jackson shared that the emergency facility “marks an important milestone as we celebrate a new chapter of healthcare in Walton County.”  Jackson shared a story about the... Read More