HWY 331

What’s the first thing you should do after you get the keys to a new place in Freeport? Kristin Marshall of Stoa Group has a simple answer. Take a break from unpacking and go for a walk.

On the HWY 331 Podcast, host Kerri Parker sits down with Kristin at The Waters at Freeport to talk about how neighbors get to know each other in a growing Walton County town. They talk about the friendships that start at the dog park, the team behind the apartment community, and what happened when staff went to the Freeport Publix to pay for shoppers’ groceries.

Explore floor plans or schedule a tour at The Waters at Freeport.

Find more information about STOA Group on their website.

What do you really know about the water flowing through your home, or the air you're breathing every day?

In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker connects with Marta Thorpe, co-owner of A Superior Mechanical, for a conversation about water quality, whole-home water filtration, water softeners, reverse osmosis, indoor air quality and the growing idea of whole home health.

Marta also shares the story behind A Superior Mechanical, the Northwest Florida company she and her husband, Jimi Thorpe, have grown from its HVAC roots into a locally owned mechanical company serving communities across Bay, Walton and Okaloosa counties.

The conversation breaks down some of the basics homeowners may want to understand, including the difference between hard and soft water, signs of water-quality issues around the home, how reverse osmosis works, what a water assessment can reveal and why indoor air quality has become another part of the healthy-home conversation.

And beyond the equipment and systems, Marta talks about something just as important: building a team homeowners can trust when they open their front door.

Listen and connect with the people and businesses helping Northwest Florida feel a little more like home.

What if you could park once and explore more of South Walton without spending the day searching for your next parking spot?

In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, we head to the beach with Tabby Bolen, Transportation Manager for Walton County Tourism Department Beach Operations, to explore Beach Park and Ride and a different way to experience South Walton.

We break down how Beach Park and Ride works, where to park, how often the trams run, what you can bring aboard and how current routes connect riders with destinations including Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Gulfview Heights, Ed Walline, Dune Allen and Fort Panic.

But this isn't only a conversation for visitors. We also look at how Beach Park and Ride can give Walton County locals another way to reach the beach during busy seasons, reduce the need to move a car from stop to stop and explore restaurants, shops and beach communities along the way.

The transportation is complimentary, while parking fees may apply at certain locations. Routes, schedules and seasonal service can change, so planning ahead is important.

Before your next South Walton beach day, check current Beach Park and Ride routes, stops and schedules at BeachParkAndRide.com.

Park once. Plan ahead. Then explore.

What changes for a rural community when healthcare that once required a drive becomes available close to home?

In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker sits down with Tyler Williams, interim CEO of North Walton Doctors Hospital in DeFuniak Springs, to talk about the hospital’s role in northern Walton County and what comes next as the community continues to grow.

North Walton Doctors Hospital is the only full-service hospital serving northern Walton County, with emergency care, inpatient care, surgery, laboratory services and diagnostic imaging available close to home. Williams explains what distinguishes a full-service hospital from a standalone emergency department and why access to local healthcare can matter far beyond the hospital itself.

The conversation explores the hospital’s investment in technology and diagnostic capabilities, its physician-owned model, plans to add mammography and MRI services, efforts to recruit physicians to the area and a partnership bringing Florida State University medical residents into a rural healthcare setting.

Williams also discusses plans for a mobile CT unit that will bring lung cancer screening into surrounding rural communities, as well as his long-term vision for expanding inpatient capacity as North Walton grows.

The larger story is about more than healthcare. Williams explains why a hospital can become part of a community’s economic infrastructure, supporting families, employers, schools, first responders and future growth.

At the center of it all is a simple idea: bringing more healthcare closer to home.

Listen to the conversation and learn more about the present and future of North Walton Doctors Hospital.

What does a community bank offer in a world where nearly everything can be done from a phone?

In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Michelle Johnson, Vice President of Lending for CCB Community Bank in DeFuniak Springs, shares what a career in Northwest Florida banking has taught her about relationships, local businesses and the value of knowing the people behind the numbers.

Michelle talks about raising her family in DeFuniak Springs, watching customers and their children grow, and helping local entrepreneurs build businesses of their own. She also shares the story of one business CCB helped finance that has since expanded across five states.

The episode looks ahead as CCB Community Bank approaches 80 years in business, serving communities across Northwest Florida and South Alabama, while preparing for a new full-service location on HWY 331 in DeFuniak Springs.

At the heart of the story is a simple question: In a digital banking world, does it still matter if your banker knows your name?

Listen to Michelle Johnson's story, subscribe to the HWY 331 Podcast and share this episode with someone who might enjoy it.

On this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, we're connecting you with Chef Todd Misener, owner of Iron & Grape Italian Kitchen in DeFuniak Springs. Hear the story behind one of Walton County's most talked-about restaurants, from his years training under Certified Master Chef Jack Shoop to building a scratch kitchen known for handmade pasta, wine dinners, and exceptional hospitality.

Every community has stories worth preserving. Some are passed down around kitchen tables, shared on front porches, or remembered at family reunions. Others find new life on stage.

In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker sits down with award-winning playwright and director Nancy Hasty and producer and musical director Latilda Hughes-Neel to explore the heart behind Holding Our Own, this year's original Grit & Grace Folklife production.

Built from the real voices and lived experiences of Walton County residents, Holding Our Own celebrates the resilience, humor, faith, family, and enduring connections that define our community. Nancy and Latilda share how oral histories become theater, why preserving local stories matters, and what audiences can expect when the curtain rises.

Whether you've called Walton County home for generations or recently discovered its unique character, this conversation is a reminder that our greatest treasures aren't just the places we love—they're the people and stories that continue to shape them.

Holding Our Own performs July 10–19 in Freeport, Santa Rosa Beach, and DeFuniak Springs.

For the complete performance schedule, venue locations, and links to purchase tickets online, visit the HWY 331 Calendar of Events at HWY331.com.

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to follow the HWY 331 Podcast and help us continue connecting Walton County through thoughtful storytelling.

In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, host Kerri Parker sits down with Main Street DeFuniak Springs board member Bailey Rushing and Executive Director Jaden Broadway to explore what Main Street actually means, why downtown revitalization matters, and how community momentum is built one project at a time.

From murals and beautification projects to volunteer challenges, historic preservation, economic development, and one ambitious new event generating conversation across the region, Faith Factor, this conversation explores what happens when communities decide their future deserves attention.

Whether you love small towns, care about local business, or simply want to understand why DeFuniak Springs feels like it’s entering a new era, this episode is for you.

Get Faith Factor Tickets

Laurie Hood of Alaqua Animal Refuge joins the HWY 331 Podcast for an emotional and inspiring conversation about rescue, resilience, compassion, and second chances. Laurie shares the story behind Alaqua’s beginnings, the national beagle rescue effort that captured headlines, the emotional toll of animal rescue work, and her vision for creating a sanctuary that heals both animals and people.

Growth is one of the biggest stories in Walton County, but what happens behind the scenes often gets overlooked. In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker sits down with Marina Khoury of DPZ CoDesign to unpack Walton 2040, the county’s long range planning process that helps shape how Walton County grows in the years ahead.They explore what Walton 2040 really means for residents, why planning matters to everyday quality of life, and how decisions made today could impact housing, roads, natural spaces, and community character tomorrow. Marina also explains the balance between conservation and development, projected population growth, and a proposed framework for where future growth should happen, where areas should be maintained, and what lands should be preserved.

Most importantly, this conversation highlights why public involvement matters. Walton County residents currently have opportunities to learn more and participate in the Land Development Code rewrite process through upcoming Community Roundtable sessions.

If you care about the future of Walton County, this episode is for you.

Register for the Roundtable Workshops here.