Tough but Necessary: Okaloosa Will Close Two “Outstanding” Schools Staff Reports February 25, 2026 3:31 pm Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Okaloosa County, Schools and Education, Shalimar In Brief: Who: Okaloosa County School Board & Superintendent Marcus Chambers What: Unanimous vote to close Mary Esther and Longwood Elementary When: Vote held Feb. 24, 2026; closures effective end of 2025–26 school year Where: South Zone of Okaloosa County, Florida Why: Steep enrollment decline, budget pressures, statewide funding trends Fort Walton Beach, Fla. — February 24, 2026 — The Okaloosa County School Board voted unanimously Monday night to close Mary Esther Elementary School and Longwood Elementary School at the end of the 2025–26 school year, citing long-term enrollment declines, significant budget pressures, and shifting statewide education funding trends. All five board members supported the closure plans under Resolutions 26-01 and 26-02, finalizing months of study and public discussion. The board also unanimously approved Resolution 26-03, which reassigns students from the two schools to six other South Zone elementary schools for the 2026-27 academic year. “Bringing a proposal like this here in this school district … is not easy in any way, shape or form,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers, emphasizing the weight of the decision on educators, families, and the broader community. “School is more than just a building… It’s about togetherness.” Chambers highlighted that the decision is not a critique of school performance. Both campuses have served students well academically. The decision is a response to demographic shifts and fiscal realities facing public education... Read More

The Grand Ole Opry Honors Ronnie Milsap On Tuesday, February 24th, an all-star lineup gathered at the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Opry Member Ronnie Milsap. The country music legend was first inducted on February 6, 1976, at the age of 33. His debut album was released that same year. Since […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

U.S. Coast Guardsman Saves Over 160 People In Texas Flood Rescue Mission On July 4, catastrophic flash flooding ripped through parts of Texas’ Hill Country, leaving at least 135 dead. Among those dead were 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River. Extreme rainfall caused the […] More Country Music Nation  Read More