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

The Road Honors Military Members On Week Seven Of The Inaugural Season Going into the seventh episode of CBS’s newest reality series, The Road, only half of the contestants remained in the running for the grand prize of $250,000 and a recording contract. Blake Shelton and Keith Urban are on a mission to find the […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Eglin Drone Failures Put Anduril Under the Microscope Staff Reports November 28, 2025 10:55 am Aviation, Eglin Air Force Base, Military In Brief: Anduril’s Altius and Ghost drones suffered multiple crashes during testing at Eglin Air Force Base and other military exercises, contradicting the company’s public claims of reliability and battlefield success. Military personnel, former employees, and Ukrainian operators report ongoing technical issues — including susceptibility to jamming and mechanical malfunctions — despite the company’s rapid growth and soaring valuation. The failures highlight broader challenges facing U.S. defense manufacturers as modern warfare shifts toward cheap, expendable drones and rapid development cycles. Two military drones built by Anduril Industries — the defense-tech startup backed by Silicon Valley billions — crashed during Air Force testing at Eglin Air Force Base this month, highlighting persistent gaps between the company’s public confidence and its real-world performance. According to sources familiar with the tests, one of the company’s Altius drones plunged roughly 8,000 feet straight into the ground after being launched from an aircraft. A second Altius spiraled down in a separate test shortly afterward. Air Force Special Operations Command confirmed the testing occurred but declined to release details. The mishaps come at a time when Anduril’s valuation has soared to $30.5 billion, tripling since late 2022 as drones reshape modern warfare and the Pentagon seeks faster, cheaper options for the battlefield. Public Promises vs. Test-Range Results Anduril founder Palmer Luckey — who has styled the company as a disruptive alternative to traditional defense contractors... Read More