30A Breaking News

  By Maurice Stouse, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager The new year has begun for investors. After watching both the stock and market experience significant drawdowns in 2022 (a rarity for the two to move in tandem), people wondered what the new year might bring. Thus far, we have been showered by the media with talk of recession, stoking fear in the hearts and minds of consumers. Eventually, consumers begin to over worry and they begin to snap their wallets shut. This, however, does not seem to be the case, at least not yet. At this writing, while the economy has most definitely slowed, many companies continue to make money. Seventy-one percent of companies reporting their Q4 earnings have surpassed expectations. We are left to wonder which is the greatest evil: a recession, inflation or deflation. Inflation over time erodes the standard of living and is not sustainable. Deflation, we think, is the worst of outcomes as it is a collapse of demand and it eventually pulls the economy down, perhaps into a depression. We are reminded of a quote Ronald Reagan repeated more than once: A recession is when your neighbor loses his job, and a depression is when you lose yours. A recession is an economic reset and investors are reminded to take note that when the economy is seemingly at its worst, that is the time to invest in stocks if they are long-term, growth-oriented investors and have the tolerance for the risk. What is driving us... Read More

  By Michelle Ruschman In this ongoing series, What Teens Want Us to Know, we asked the question, “What “adulting” skills do you want to be taught before you leave home? (Consider what you might want to know in the areas of physical and emotional health, relationship building, professional success, lifestyle, creativity, practical skills, and education.)” At school, there’s a focus on social, academic, and extracurricular activities, but what about what they want to know…need to know… as they prepare to launch into life beyond graduation? In the busyness of working jobs, getting kids from one activity to another, church life, etc it’s hard to know what our kids don’t know. One mom mentioned, “My college-age son called me the other day and asked me how to make a grilled cheese sandwich! I didn’t know he didn’t know how to do that until that moment!” It’s easy for a modern family to miss the things that we, as parents and grandparents, took for granted growing up. Back then, there was time to learn how to cook together, we assisted our dads in the workshop or garage, and families lived closer together so elders could pass on what they knew to the younger ones. Kids still need this training and mentorship but there don’t seem to be the same opportunities. When our teens answered, there were clear themes they wanted to learn most: Financial Literacy – How to pay for different expenses, how to do taxes, and how to create a... Read More

  By Dr. Richard Chern, MD Today I’d like to talk about Levothyroxine or Synthroid. This is likely the most commonly prescribed thyroid medication in the world but this is slowly changing. This article may be a bit difficult to follow so don’t feel bad if you have to read it several times before it all clicks. I usually spend about an hour educating patients about the thyroid with white board drawings too so 500 words may not be enough to get the full picture. Thyroxine (T3) is the hormone that drives every metabolic process in our body, so of course, it’s extremely important. It turns all the factories in the body on, which then burns more fuel, which means thicker hair, less brain fog, not feeling cold all the time, and maintaining proper weight. We can get T3 two different ways. We can make it in the thyroid or we can convert T4 into T3. The thyroid is told when to make T3 and T4 by the brain. The brain secretes Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which tells the thyroid to make T3 and T4. To make sure we don’t make too much T4 tells the brain to stop making TSH. This is where Levothyroxine can be a problem. As we get older the body slowly loses its ability to convert T4 into T3. That means the only way we can get T3 is from the T3 produced by the thyroid and not T4 being converted into T3. This is... Read More

  By Kay Leaman, Health Architect These two organs are part of our digestive system and are often forgotten in our quest for better gut health. They are responsible for absorption and elimination and many diseases can be traced to the failure of these functions. We normally don’t even think about them until symptoms develop. So let’s take a brief look at these two critical organs. The liver consists of 2 lobes. It works with the gallbladder, pancreas and intestines to digest, absorb and process food. It’s main jobs are: • Making bile • Filtering blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body • Detoxifying chemicals and metabolizing drugs • Making proteins used for blood clotting and other functions The gallbladder sits under the liver and stores the bile sent to it by the liver. The gallbladder is triggered when we start to eat releasing the bile into the biliary ducts and ends up in the duodenum, the upper section of our small intestines. (If you’ve had your gallbladder removed and would like information on what you can take to improve your digestion and nutrient absorption (especially calcium) email me with ‘Gallbladder Aids’ in the subject line.) The bile is responsible for processing fats and absorbing the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and Beta Carotene. It’s also responsible for gallstones which consist of bile material. (This is why, if you’ve had your gallbladder removed, you can still get ‘gallstones’.) These stones... Read More

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  Okaloosa County Okaloosa County School District parents can set up their FOCUS parent accounts at www.okaloosaschools.com and link their students to it if necessary. The OCSD Focus App can be found in the Apple App and Google Play Stores for download. Find it by searching for OCSD Focus Educational Portal. After download, sign in through the orange log-in button, and you will have access to your student’s schedule, grades and attendance. Students can download the same OCSD Focus app to access their grades and attendance without creating an account. They must click on the box marked “Sign in with SSO” and enter their school district email and network password. In November, the district launched a second app to receive school and district updates. Download the OCSD Apptegy App through Apple App or Google Play to access documents, events, news updates and emergency notifications. Okaloosa County School District Teacher of the Year The Okaloosa County School District Teacher of the Year is Royal Preston, construction teacher at Okaloosa Technical College teaching carpentry and building trades. “I always love celebrating our teachers who spend day in and day out going above and beyond to educate our students. They stay after and arrive early to tutor, sponsor clubs, coach sports, and mentor kids. Each teacher recognized this year represents the best of the best at each of our 38 schools, and I am proud to have Mr. Preston represent us at the state level,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. STEMM Academy Nominated for... Read More

  More public beach access in Destin is coming soon. A nearly 340-foot beachfront “Tarpon Beach Park” is now on its way to becoming a reality. The City of Destin, Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, Trust for Public Land and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourist Development Council have partnered to acquire land in Destin to expand the existing Tarpon Beach access. Three parcels adjacent to the Tarpon Beach Trail will be cleared to make way for the park, which will have new, stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico along Scenic Highway 98.“Making our beautiful beaches more accessible to our residents and out-of-town guests is a top priority for the County,” said Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Trey Goodwin. “This is a major step toward that goal, and we are grateful to have a team of partners that understand that commitment.” Added Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner, “These kinds of partnerships are an effective way to move Destin forward in a positive direction for both locals and visitors. I applaud the efforts of our partners and the work of former Mayor Gary Jarvis in making this a reality.” Okaloosa County and the City of Destin have pledged a combined $26.5 million to expand public beach access in Destin. The Tarpon Beach project is Phase II of this endeavor and the cost share is split 50/50 between the city and county. Phase I progress took place with the removal of structures in April 2021 to expand the Crystal Beach Access.... Read More

  By Teresa Halverson, Director of Business Development & Community Relations, The Manor at Blue Water Bay We are all blessed to live on the beautiful Emerald Coast. With more families moving to the area every day, our aging population continues to grow as well. Navigating the senior living and health care options can often be confusing. Our community is fortunate to offer so many different levels of care. Planning ahead, exploring options and taking a facility tour can help avoid crises when you need immediate assistance. There are many services available to choose from and there is no simple answer to which one would be right for you or your loved one. Knowing what is available will help you understand the difference and enable you to choose a service that best meets your family’s needs. The following services in our community provide care levels. Independent Living Facilities (ILF) for Seniors: Private Pay. Most residents are normally fully independent aside from some minor medical needs. ILF’s offer a wide range of social amenities and fine dining. Sometimes we are just ready to downsize without having to care for a larger home. Assisted Living Facilities (ALF): Private Pay. Need a little more assistance? No longer able to live alone? These facilities allow an individual to live in a private room. Assistance includes Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and medication management. Communal dining, housekeeping and recreation programs are typically offered. Many facilities offer transportation to appointments, shopping and medical appointments as well. Some ALF’s... Read More

  Remember to be careful as you navigate John Sims Parkway from Edge Ave. to west of Rocky Bayou Bridge. The FDOT $6.2 million resurfacing project is 2.6 miles and includes the following improvements: A grassed median west of Palm Boulevard, which is currently under construction. Widening the roadway in key locations to extend or widen existing turn lanes to improve traffic flow. The structural layer of asphalt is now in place. More paving and preparation are currently in operation. A new sidewalk on the north side of S.R. 20, from the Oak Creek Shopping Center to Rocky Bayou Drive. During construction, drivers may encounter intermittent and alternating lane closures between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights. There will be no lane closures during Niceville High School special school events. The project is estimated for completion this spring! All construction activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. The post John Sims Parkway Project appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  By Kevin Gaddie Eglin Air Force Base celebrated Black History Month with this year’s theme “Black Resiliency.” Retired Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Holmes, founder of the African American Heritage Military Society, shared what resiliency means to him during the kick-off ceremony. Holmes, an Army and Air Force veteran, lost a kidney while serving as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. After persevering through 12 years of dialysis and receiving a new kidney, he continued serving the military by founding the society. “There were a lot of people in my life, who blessed me with their strength and helped me become resilient,” he said. “I established the society for them. I feel it serves as a symbol to the African American men and women who served in uniform. It is a symbol of their resiliency.” In his opening remarks, Brig. Gen. Jeff Geraghty, 96th Test Wing commander, spoke about African American engineering aviation battalions, who made significant contributions in the base’s expansion during World War II. “It was these newly formed battalions, while training for war, that transformed Eglin’s landscape,” he said. The battalion personnel dealt with sweltering heat while cutting through dense forests to construct new roads, buildings and bridges, to pave the way for Eglin’s future. Their primary mission was airfield construction and repair. The airfields proved pivotal for Allied aircraft bombers as they returned riddled with bullets, and often broken as they landed. Their contributions and sacrifices played a vital role in shaping our nation’s history and securing... Read More