2024 Okaloosa County Candidate Forum
The Destin Chamber is partnering with the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Crestview and Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber to hold a 2024 Candidate Forum, Tuesday, July 9th, at 5 p.m. in the Niceville High School Auditorium, 800 John Sims Pkwy. Candidates for School Board and County Commission plan to participate.
Okaloosa County to Break Ground on Historic Bridge-to-Bridge Multi-use Path
Okaloosa County will be holding a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 7 a.m. at John Beasley Park on Okaloosa Island (1550 Miracle Strip Pkwy. S.E.) to begin construction on a multi-use path that will stretch about four miles between the Brooks Bridge and Marler Bridge on Okaloosa Island. The 12-foot wide path will allow cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the unique Destin-Fort Walton Beach scenery while having a protected route between both bridges. The project includes stabilizing the shoulders and parking areas along the south side of U.S. Highway 98 where the path will be built. Multiple funding sources, including tourism revenue and an FDOT grant, are being used for construction. The path is expected to be open to the public in early 2025.
Marcus Chambers Appointed to FHSAA Board
Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Marcus Chambers, Superintendent of Schools for Okaloosa County, to the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors. With more than 26 years of experience in education, Chambers received the First Year Teacher of the Year Award for Ruckel Middle School in 1999, the Okaloosa County Reading Leader of the Year Award in 2010 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Achievement Award in 2013. Chambers also currently serves as Chairman of the Florida School Labor Relations Service Board of Directors and is a member of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Okaloosa County Association of School Administrators. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Secure Temporary Storage of Luggage and Personal Items on the Destin Harbor
Locks on the Docks, LLC, recently celebrated a ribbon cutting with the Destin Chamber. Its goal is to provide security to locals and tourists, while they enjoy a harbor excursion, a day on the beach or any other occasion where they need a locker to temporarily store luggage and other items. You will find the lockers on the docks at HarborWalk Village between The Cantina and Boogies Watersports’ jet skis on the Destin Harbor. Visit Locks on the Docks on Facebook to learn more.
CVHN Record-Breaking Community Impact for 2023-24 School Year
Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) is proud to share the significant impact made on children’s dental health across Okaloosa and Walton Counties. This school year alone, CVHN’s efforts have more than doubled in regards to services provided, demonstrating their dedication to providing accessible and affordable healthcare to children in need.
CVHN’s two Mobile Dental Clinics, Pearl and Niecy, brought smiles and much-needed care to 1,265 children from preschool through 5th grades across the Florida panhandle. Combined, their team offered a total of $488,630 in donated dental services to children in need over the 2023-2024 school year in Okaloosa and Walton counties.
In a record-breaking year, CVHN’s impact was profound. Across both counties, 1,265 students received much needed dental care. 81% of students with cavities had their decay arrested on campus using the Atraumatic Restorative Technique (A.R.T.), which is a minimally invasive procedure that offers lasting protection against decay. CVHN’s network of generous dental providers were able to offer urgent dental care to the 16% of children that had pain and severe infection.
In addition to their two Mobile Dental Clinics, CVHN has several other programs to encourage laying the foundation for a lifetime of good health. The ‘Early Intervention Preschool Program’ rotates through preschool classes six times a year, applying a medicament that can reduce the incidence of decay by up to 97%. CVHN’s “My First Toothbrush Program” provides donations of toothbrush kits to students and non-profits throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties. This year alone, over 14 miles of floss went out into our community to encourage proper dental hygiene. CVHN’s ‘Non-Profit Partnership Program’ focuses on delivering care directly to their non-profit partners, ensuring that children most in need receive essential dental care, setting them on a path to a healthier future.
Looking ahead, the 2024-2025 school year will bring exciting expansions to all of CVHN’s programs. CVHN is thrilled to announce their services will be available to students at Destin Elementary School, Southside Primary School, and preschool students at the Wise Center and Freeport Learning Center. Furthermore, CVHN will be extending care to 5th graders at Freeport Middle School. These additions will increase the number of sites served to 24 locations.
CVHN plans to expand its network to include more dental, vision and mental health professionals. Physicians in the community interested in joining the network, and providing their time and occasional services, are encouraged to contact CVHN’s Executive Director, Megan Trent at megan@cvhnkids.org for more information. Visit www.cvhnkids.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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