News

CHELCO members provide children with meals through Operation Round Up

CHELCO members provide children with meals through Operation Round Up   DeFuniak Springs, Fla. (August 4,2020) – Food For Thought Outreach in Santa Rosa Beach recently received a $5,000 grant through CHELCO’s Operation Round Up program, a member-funded program that gives back to local non-profit organizations.   Food For Thought provides backpacks filled with healthy, easy-to-prepare food for our area’s students who are dependent on free or reduced school meals. Their goal is to bridge the gap between

Emerald Coast Theatre Company Launches 8th Annual Season

EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY LAUNCHES 8th ANNUAL SEASON  Expanded 2020-2021 Season to Include Four Professional Main Stage Productions, a New Second Stage Series, a New Theater Education Program for the Very Young, Three New StoryTeller Productions, Four Theatre for Young Audiences Productions and Six Educational Theatre Productions  Miramar Beach, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2020) — Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) announces its eighth annual season on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.  “Given the extraordinary

Walton County Jail Adopts New Digital Mailing System for Inmate Mail

WALTON COUNTY JAIL ADOPTS NEW DIGITAL MAILING SYSTEM FOR INMATE MAIL July 27, 2020 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Snail mail is becoming a thing of the past at the Walton County Jail. This week, Walton County Sheriff’s Office will transition to a digital version of all non-legal inmate mail. The new system is the result of a partnership with GTL, WCSO’s inmate video visitation provider, and comes at no cost to taxpayers. According to Sheriff Michael Adkinson, this decision was made to further mitigate the

Postponed: Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening – Walton County Skatepark

American Heart Association Quality Awards Recognizes Fort Walton Beach Medical Center’s Commitment to Stroke Care

American Heart Association Quality Awards Recognizes Fort Walton Beach Medical Center’s Commitment to Stroke Care  Fort Walton Beach Medical Center receives three quality achievement awards.    Fort walton beach― Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment

Trustmark Bank Continues to Strengthen Walton County Community with $10,000 Donation to Matrix COC

Trustmark Bank Continues to Strengthen Walton County Community with $10,000 Donation to Matrix COC  Tuesday, July 21, 2020: Trustmark National Bank, a community staple for many throughout Walton County, is continuing to give back through their generous donation of $10,000 to the Matrix Community Outreach Center’s COVID-19 efforts. While in the midst of uncertain times themselves, Florida Regional President, John Sumrall of Santa Rosa Beach, submitted for the Matrix to receive funds from Trustmark National

Last Call Restaurant Group Opens ‘The Courtyard at Pescado’ in Rosemary Beach®

Last Call Restaurant Group Opens ‘The Courtyard at Pescado’ in Rosemary Beach®   The Courtyard at Pescado, located on the ground floor of the ‘Orleans’ building in Rosemary Beach®, will officially open to the public on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Designed by Denise Billman with inspiration by Joseph and Jessica Freer, The Courtyard is based on the vibrant feel and musical heritage of New Orleans. Experience a touch of refinement while enjoying handcrafted cocktails and small bites in the luscious garden

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital Temporarily Deferring Scheduling of Elective Surgeries as a Proactive Measure to Focus on Immediate Community Needs

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital Temporarily Deferring Scheduling of Elective Surgeries as a Proactive Measure to Focus on Immediate Community Needs Fort Walton Beach, FL| Niceville, FL — As positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Florida and here in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center (FWBMC) and Twin Cities Hospital (TCH) are taking proactive action in order to position the hospital to better serve the immediate health care needs of

Back Beach Barbecue Raises $1,680 for South Walton Academy

Back Beach Barbecue Raises $1,680 for South Walton Academy    PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (July 9, 2020) – Back Beach Barbecue celebrated its three-year anniversary in business on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 and raised a total of $1,680 for South Walton Academy. To commemorate the occasion, Back Beach opened its doors for their loyal customer base to come enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with 25 percent of sales made throughout the day benefitting South Walton Academy.   Guests were invited to the Panama City

ECCAC announces 2020/2021 board of directors …WCSO’s Major Audie Rowell is new President

ECCAC announces 2020/2021 board of directors…WCSO’s Major Audie Rowell is new President  DeFuniak Springs and Niceville, FL (July 13, 2020)… At a recent virtual board meeting, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) announced their 2020/2021 line-up of board members and officers.   The Walton County Sherriff Office’s (WCSO)Major Audie Rowell is their new President, Janet Parker is Vice President and Alan Wood is Treasurer. Other members are immediate past president, Bill Fletcher, along with

United Way Hosts “Cram the Van” Back to School Supply Drive

United Way Hosts “Cram the Van” Back to School Supply Drive  -EVENT BRIEF-   WHO: United Way Emerald Coast   WHAT: Cram the Van 2020  WHEN AND WHERE:Staples CrestviewSaturday, July 25, 2020 | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm  Text and Virtual Donations accepted now through: Saturday, August 15, 2020  Text Donation: Text CRAMTHEVAN to 41444  Online Donation: Amazon Wishlist:https://bit.ly/CTVAmazonWishlistMake a Gift Online:https://bit.ly/MakeAGiftCTV  DESCRIPTION: United Way Emerald Coast and their community

Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Walton Program Now Accepting Applicants for 2020-2021 Class

Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Walton Program Now Accepting Applicants for 2020-2021 Class  WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (July 7, 2020) – The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce is now taking applications for the 2020-2021 Leadership Walton Class online until Monday, September 7, 2020.Since 2000, Leadership Walton has been training emerging and existing leaders in the Northwest Florida region. Leadership Walton is for men and women who have achieved leadership positions in their fields and are likely to be

FAQ for Restaurants and Bar Managers from the Florida Department of Health Walton County

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Farm and Fire Reopens and Absorbs North Beach Tortilla Co.

Farm and Fire Reopens and Absorbs North Beach Tortilla Co.   When Farm and Fire opened in 2019 it took off quickly and gained an instant customer base, fusing local Southern favorites with robust flavors from 800-degree coal burning ovens. The pizzeria and the Speakeasy are both well-loved, filling a need for a big city feel with local roots. During the Covid-19 pandemic Chef Jim Shirley and his team worked through many scenarios for reopening. The decision for Farm & Fire to take over North Beach

Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Advocates for Revised Emergency Declaration Executive Order

Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Advocates for Revised Emergency Declaration Executive Order  WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (April 21, 2020) – The president of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, Megan Harrison, successfully advised the Board of Walton County Commissioners, Walton County legal counsel, and administration to add an updated addendum to the pre-existing emergency declaration executive order that declares property damage related to COVID-19. Resolutions 2020-25 and 2020-29 make no mention of property

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, and DigiPro Media Launch “Save Florida Business Initiative”

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, and DigiPro Media Launch “Save Florida Business Initiative”  WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – In response to the significant economic impacts from COVID-19 in Florida, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA), Walton Area Chamber of Commerce and DigiPro Media have partnered to announce the “Save Florida Business Initiative” to support Florida businesses during this unprecedented time for the industry.   The “Save Florida Business