🌱 What police say happened inside the Beal Parkway Shell station

Cheers Fort Walton Beach! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What police say happened inside the Beal Parkway Shell station
• Cinco Bayou is open again—but what really killed all those fish?
• Why Fort Walton Beach police are keeping license plate readers running

Also on today's calendar: Operation Christmas Child - Project Leader Workshop and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What has 2 arms and a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 89 and low of 77 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, temps: high: 88, low: 76.
• Saturday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 87 and low of 77 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Fort Walton Beach man arrested after allegedly brandishing firearm at business (wkrg.com) — Fort Walton Beach police arrested a 24-year-old local man after witnesses reported he placed a handgun on the counter of the Shell station on Beal Parkway Northwest. Officers later stopped his rideshare, finding a loaded gun, extended magazine and suspected marijuana, and charged him with multiple firearm and drug felonies before booking him into the Okaloosa County Jail.
   

2. Cinco Bayou advisory lifted; Okaloosa cites low oxygen, algae bloom as likely causes (getthecoast.com) — Health officials have lifted the water advisory for Cinco Bayou in Fort Walton Beach after bacteria levels dropped, following a month of warnings tied to a major fish kill. County and city teams now blame low oxygen and a dying algae bloom, likely fueled by stormwater runoff and warm water, and say tests show the bacteria wasn't from human waste.
   

3. Fort Walton Beach Police keeps some license plate readers as other agencies pause use (weartv.com) — Fort Walton Beach police will keep using license plate reader cameras on city property and patrol cars, even as many nearby agencies pause the technology under a new state directive. Local leaders say the tools help solve crimes and find missing people, while critics raise privacy concerns. Lawmakers are expected to consider statewide rules, but for now local agencies decide.
   

4. Fort Walton Beach man gets 15 years for drug distribution (wkrg.com) — A Fort Walton Beach man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Prosecutors say he was caught after fleeing Florida Highway Patrol in 2024, and federal officials hope the case deters other drug dealers in Northwest Florida. No prior case details were released.
   

📸 Around Fort Walton Beach

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Fort Walton Beach

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday September 4
• Labor Day Weekend Event: A Night of Laughter - Laughs For Scholarships →
  The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday September 4
• First Friday Coffee, sponsored by Destin Fort Walton Beach
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Destin Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center (formerly known as the NWFL Fairgrounds) 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
  7:00 am
• The Decades by Request - A DJ Hosted Events
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce The Gulf Club Restaurant and Sports Pub 960 Highway 98, in the Sunsations Plaza, one block West from Big Kahuna's
  8:00 pm
Saturday September 5
• CALM Furniture Resale Store Open 9am -1pm, every Saturday of the month →
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce 34 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
  9:00 am
• Bunny Adoption Event by Bunnychick Haven of Navarre and Pet Supplies Plus-Destin →
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Pet Supplies Plus 4424 Commons Drive E Suite 1A Destin, FL 32541-3486
  11:00 am
• One Year Anniversary
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, 99 Eglin Parkway STE 8, Fort Walton Beach
  12:00 pm
• EXSA FOREVER ACTIVE- MOBILITY STRETCHING & INJURY PREVENTION CLASS
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce ONLINE LIVE COACHING
  2:00 pm
Sunday September 6
• VFW Post 7674 - Sunday Breakfast
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce VFW Post 7674 231 Carol Ave Fort Walton Beach, FL
  8:00 am
Saturday September 12
• Operation Christmas Child - Project Leader Workshop →
  Rosemont Baptist Church, 1601 27th St, Niceville
  9:00 am

📣 Fort Walton Beach Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday September 3
• 3 - 6 yrs old Story Time →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  10:30 am
• Youth Center Gymnastics Classes – Preschool 3:30 PM →
  Eglin AFB Youth Center, 2582 Hatchee Rd, Eglin AFB
  3:30 pm
• Youth Center Gymnastics Classes – School Age 4:15 PM →
  Eglin AFB Youth Center, 2582 Hatchee Rd, Eglin AFB
  4:15 pm
Friday September 4
• First Friday Coffee, sponsored by Destin Fort Walton Beach
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Destin Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center (formerly known as the NWFL Fairgrounds) 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
  7:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Im looking to change my homeowners insurance now that my windows have been updated.
  Can anyone suggest something with good rates in the FWB area besides Kin insurance. Not looking to stay with them. (Nextdoor Green Acres)
• This is for all of you who think its ok let your cat go outside:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJFucl8GNKk I use to think it was fine to let a cat go outside. It was nice to not clean a litterbox. (spoiler alert… (Nextdoor Upper Eastside)

• Kohl's posted a job opening for Part-Time Store Cleaning & Operations Associate in Fort Walton Beach. Apply here.
• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Merchandiser in Fort Walton Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fort Walton Beach here.

Ok Fort Walton Beach! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A shirt (Thank you Dianna H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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