CHIPLEY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Panhandle Watermelon Festival has been taking place in Chipley, Florida, for 70 years.  The Big Melon contest and auction are a staple at the event. “Watermelons are fun to grow. I’ve had the opportunity over the years to interact with a lot of kids. And, you know, in relation to […] Read More

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A local beach is gaining some national recognition. U.S News and World Report ranked Seaside as the best family beach destination for 2026 in the entire nation. The ranking is based on safety, kid-friendly attractions, dining options, accommodations, and multi-generational appeal. The ranking coincides with Seaside’s 45th anniversary, which officials […] Read More

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Despite some recent rainfall, Florida is experiencing its longest drought in 25 years. Earlier this month, Governor DeSantis issued a state of emergency for all 67 counties because of the wildfires in South Florida and drought conditions in our area. Washington County is the only panhandle county currently under a […] Read More

Laura Lynch Killed In December 2023 Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, was killed in a car crash on December 22, 2023 in rural Hudspeth County, Texas. She was 65. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that Lynch was driving a 2016 Ford F-150 eastbound on U.S. Highway 62 when her truck was struck head-on by a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500.  Lynch was killed […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Road Rage Attack Ends in Arrest After Lengthy Investigation Staff Reports February 26, 2026 12:54 pm Crime, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Public Safety In Brief: Police arrested 21-year-old Kevyon Dawson in connection with an October 31, 2025, shooting. Detectives say the incident stemmed from suspected road rage on Sullivan Street. No injuries were reported, and Dawson was taken into custody without incident. Nearly four months after a Halloween night shooting in Fort Walton Beach, police have made an arrest. Officers with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department took 21-year-old Kevyon Dawson into custody on February 25, 2026, in connection with a shooting that occurred on October 31, 2025, along Sullivan Street. According to investigators, detectives with the department’s Special Investigations Unit located Dawson at Cash’s Pirates Cove on Beal Parkway NE within the city limits. Authorities said Dawson was wanted in connection with what detectives described as a suspected road rage incident. Police say the investigation revealed that during the October incident, Dawson exited the passenger side of a vehicle he was traveling in and fired multiple rounds at another vehicle behind him. Investigators stated there was no known relationship between Dawson and the victim. The victim was not injured. An arrest warrant was obtained the same day probable cause was established, and Dawson was taken into custody without incident, according to police. No additional details about potential charges were immediately released. More Local News Aviation Decorated Fighter Pilot Charged in a Shocking China Training “Betrayal” Emerald Coast Okaloosa... Read More