Mid Bay News ranks the top ten football games from the 2025 season Collin Bestor December 19, 2025 11:30 am Opinion, Sports In Brief: Multiple games were decided by overtime, fourth-down stops, or final-play heroics Comebacks and momentum swings defined playoff paths for Choctaw, Crestview, Milton, and Rocky Bayou Rocky Bayou Christian capped its run with a state championship, while Choctaw and Niceville endured postseason heartbreak   So ever since I came to Mid Bay News in June, I have had the pleasure of covering high school sports in my professional career.  Over the course of 15 weeks, Christopher Saul has sent me to 16 games. I did two in one night, I visited the Eagles Nest for the first time in my life; and I got to say, I was not disappointed. (There was a reason Niceville won best home atmosphere in the Emerald Coast Elite awards.) Over the course of the season, we saw upsets, comeback victories and goal-line stands almost every week. Which got us thinking as what games were the best of the best during the 2025 season? Well, we here at MBN decided to rank our top ten games in a list that may or may not be controversial.  10. Cottondale @ Freeport A week four matchup that looked more like a basketball game than a football game, our list begins with Cottondale’s visit to Freeport. In the beginning, Cottondale jumped out to a 16-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. As the... Read More

Okaloosa Tech Students Excel in Cyber Competition Staff Reports December 19, 2025 10:32 am Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Okaloosa Technical College students led by instructor Daniel Sligar What: National recognition in the National Cyber League competition When: Fall 2025 competition season Where: National competition involving colleges and universities nationwide Why: To demonstrate real-world cybersecurity skills and career readiness Students from Okaloosa Technical College are gaining national attention after earning top-tier recognition in the National Cyber League (NCL) Fall 2025 Competition, one of the country’s premier real-world cybersecurity challenges. Led by instructor Daniel Sligar, OTC students competed against more than 8,520 students from 490 colleges and universities nationwide, ultimately earning a #45 national ranking in the NCL Cyber Power Rankings — a notable achievement for a technical college program. The National Cyber League, powered by Cyber Skyline, is designed to mirror real-world cybersecurity work performed daily by industry professionals. Through individual and team-based challenges, students test and strengthen skills in areas such as network defense, penetration testing, log analysis, and threat detection, while also earning detailed skills reports that can be shared with future employers. OTC Director Jon Williams said the recognition reflects both student dedication and the strength of the program. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our students and the exceptional instruction they receive at Okaloosa Technical College,” Williams said. “Competing at a national level against colleges and universities across the country is a testament to their commitment, teamwork, and readiness for cybersecurity careers.” The... Read More

Jake and Romy Reiner have issued a statement regarding the deaths of their parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. Rob and Michele Reiner were found deceased in their Los Angeles-area home on Sunday (Dec. 14) after being stabbed to death. Their youngest daughter, Romy, was reportedly called to her parents’ home by a massage therapist who […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Largest Missing Child Operation in North Florida History Staff Reports December 19, 2025 10:12 am Crime, Emerald Coast, Okaloosa County, Public Safety In Brief: 43 critically missing children recovered across North Florida and neighboring states 9 arrests made, with additional charges expected Multi-agency operation focused on recovery, care, and prevention The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), in coordination with numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, successfully led Operation Northern Lights, a large-scale missing child recovery effort that resulted in the recovery and safe location of 43 critically missing children from 14 counties across North Florida. The operation, conducted over two weeks in December, focused on locating children deemed to be at the highest risk of harm. The U.S. Marshals Service defines “critically missing” children as those facing elevated dangers, including exposure to violence, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, domestic instability, or criminal activity. Recovered children ranged in age from 1½ years old to 17 years old, highlighting the broad scope and urgency of the mission. While many children were recovered within Florida, others were located across state lines, including Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana, demonstrating the regional nature of missing child cases. Among the significant recoveries during Operation Northern Lights: A 1-year-old child missing from Leon County was located and recovered by U.S. Marshals personnel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A 17-year-old and a 1-year-old missing from Okaloosa County were recovered outside Jackson, Mississippi, resulting in the arrest of a non-custodial adult for interference with child custody. A 17-year-old missing from Suwannee... Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – As Christmas day nears, fire departments across the country experience an increase in their normal amount of calls. This is due in part to the lack of fire safety knowledge, as well as the influx of many fire hazards. News 13 spoke with the Panama City Fire Department to gain […] Read More

Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle Died On Thursday Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, five-year-old son Ryder, and 14-year-old daughter Emma were among the seven people killed in a plane crash at an airport in Statesville, North Carolina on Thursday (Dec. 18). Other passengers included Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

PARKER, Fla. (WMBB) – A West Virginia man was arrested Wednesday for alleged sexual abuse crimes against a child under the age of 12. According to court documents, in July, the Parker Police Department was contacted by a family member of the victim, reporting that the child had disclosed the alleged crimes committed against her […] Read More

FLORIDA – Legislation filed Thursday would set guidelines for local government rules involving the materials used for drinking straws and stirrers. The measure (SB 958), sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R- Fleming Island, says it is intended to “combat the harmful impacts of paper paper drinking straws” and “provide businesses and residents of this state […] Read More

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)- On Thursday, Walton County commissioners approved the final closing documents for purchasing property at 115 Sandy Lane in Santa Rosa Beach. The keyword there is sandy. The land includes a home on beachfront property, and its purchase will mark the start of a pilot program for the county. The plan is […] Read More

The mother-in-law of retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle shared the final text she received from her daughter moments before a tragic plane crash in North Carolina. Greg and Cristina Biffle were among seven who died in a plane crash in at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina, on Thursday (Dec. 18). The Biffles were […] More Country Music Nation  Read More