columns | Crestview News Bulletin

DICKSON: Help comes in time of healing

Written by archive on July 21, 2015. Posted in columns, Sports.

The last few weeks have been interesting at times and trying at others as I’ve started healing from my June 25 shoulder surgery.

I say "started" healing because I still have a long way to go before my left shoulder and arm are again fully functional. I’m currently limited to lifting no more than a pound with my left arm. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to start lifting more by the end of next month.

Even if I knew all the medical jargon, I couldn’t begin to explain everything they did to repair my wounded wing. I can tell you they had to detach and reattach my bicep to get to some troubled areas in the shoulder. I also can tell you that I’m fortunate that my rotator cuff remains intact.

Being on the disabled list is never easy, especially for someone as independent as me. It was hard to let go of my reins as Crestview's sports authority, but I knew I would be in no state to even think about writing for several weeks. I want to give a shout out to the sports guys at the Northwest Florida Daily News, for picking up the ball when I couldn’t, and providing stories to keep the News Bulletin sports section going.

There are so many people to thank: from my sister, Kathy Rhodes, for helping me out a few days after surgery, to Mike Dean for sending a crew to my house to fix a busted fence. Crestview High School baseball Coach Tim Gillis and his wife, Amy, drove from the Hub City to Fort Walton Beach and brought me a delicious roast. Amy, a nurse by training, even helped change my bandages.

Friends from Beachside Community Church in Fort Walton Beach brought me food and helped mow my lawn. Kelly Humphrey, the Northwest Florida Daily News military writer, and her husband, John, brought me chicken one night. Friends from my church in Knoxville that I haven’t seen in years have sent cards and videos to help me pass the time.

My best friend, Ken Hardy, came over from Baldwin County, Ala., to check on me one day. And my diabetes educator, Deanna, made a house call to make sure I was OK.

Countless others, including members of the Baker School football team, have encouraged me by telling me I am in their prayers.

It has been, and will be, a team effort as the healing continues.

I started physical therapy last week and one of the therapists, Leslie, is a former Fort Walton Beach High School athlete I covered during her playing days with the Vikings. I think Leslie’s nickname for me might be “Relax,” as she encourages me to let go of my control and let her do the work needed for my rehabilitation.

Crestview High Quarterback Club’s Chris Moore has volunteered to help me with the photos I need until I’m able to lift my camera again. And I know others will continue to come to my aid as needed here on the job, as well as on the home front.

I am humbled and blessed by the outpouring of support I have received. Thanks to everyone for letting me see that I do have other shoulders to lean on during the many seasons of life.

Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DICKSON: Help comes in time of healing

HELMS: Seek God's truth by reading His Word

Written by archive on July 20, 2015. Posted in columns, Opinion, your-voice.

Sometimes, I wonder if people even read the Bible anymore.

Somehow, we feel it is outdated, out of touch or no longer reliable as a blueprint for our lives.

While King David stated he would hide God's words in his heart so he might not sin, today we do not even read the Word, because it shines in our lives and we realize how much sin is there.

We desire comfort, not His leadership.

Perhaps we need a lesson on the importance of reading His Word, starting with prophecy.

Just on the predictions of Christ's birth, we see that each prophecy was fulfilled, right to the smallest detail.

Cyrus was to be a leader, a written prophecy calling him by name a few hundred years before it happened.

The city of Tyre's walls were to be torn down and cast in the sea, and become a place where fishermen would take care of their nets. That happened, too.

The Bible has been proven both by archeological research, and just seeing people whose lives are changed by daring to believe in God's great promises.

I choose to take Him at His Word, and find great pleasure in studying it, many times in the late night hours.

True, sometimes His Word seems aimed right at my actions and thoughts for the day, and I must decide to react to it one way or another.

While it's uncomfortable to be corrected by His Word, it is also a pleasure when you see His promises become active in your life.

Seek God's truth by reading His Word. I challenge you to read it just for the pleasure of reading. He can help you find others who will help you explore and understand different passages.

And we have the promise that His Word will never return unto Him void, but will always do that which He intended.

May God bless you.

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Seek God's truth by reading His Word

HUBBUB: Crestview should have a surplus, stop the annexing

Written by archive on July 20, 2015. Posted in columns, more-voices, Opinion.

Editor's Note: These featured comments are the most thoughtful or eloquently stated comments from our Facebook page and crestviewbulletin.com and do not necessarily reflect the newspaper management's views.

•••

In the Weekend Edition, Crestview's city councilmen shared their preferences for dealing with a $2 million budget shortfall. Here are readers' thoughts about the issue.

The city should have a surplus

When is the last time you heard the word surplus used within the city of Crestview? The city needs to be aggressively pursuing businesses that the citizens of Crestview and North Okaloosa County would like to shop and/or dine at. Businesses that would cause more transient people to stop and stay longer here.

How about a local option sales tax? Occupancy tax? These two options alone are producers of revenue and also capitalize not only on residents but (also) those who shop from outside of Crestview and the many visitors who travel from out of our state. While a local option sales tax would affect citizens directly, an occupancy tax would affect more transient and business travelers than local. There are options available, but taxing on those things such as fire, water and sewer and millage should be considered last resort.

The more businesses you have within the city, the more tax revenue you will have. The City of Crestview needs to change their business approach from passive (if they come, they will come) to aggressive (we will go and get them).

The city of Crestview should be running a surplus every year and the budget should almost be double if it this city were managed properly.

Jeremiah Hubbard

•••

Time to raise taxes

We need a tax increase. Crestview cannot sustain its size and grow without it.

Todd Lawrence

•••

Higher taxes in other areas

The taxes here are almost nothing. Want to complain about taxes? Visit Washington D.C., New York or California. There needs to be slight increases across the board and it will make up the deficit quickly.

Paul Guenther

•••

Stop the annexing

One thing they must stop is annexing properties that they cannot afford to provide services to.

I, for one, would like to know how I can get out of the city. It would seem that if Joe Citizen wants to be annexed and can be, then Jane Citizen can opt out.

Silvia Clem Womack

•••

Okaloosa County's NAACP chapter has asked the Crestview City Council to establish an ordinance banning Confederate flags from fluttering on public property. Most of our Facebook fans opposed the proposal.

Confederate veterans are U.S. veterans

… In the late 1950s, by an act of Congress, all Confederate soldiers were declared U.S. veterans.

That flag was part of the memorial honoring a U.S. veteran — shame on those who had it removed. What an insult to the Lundy family and this community.

Fifty million Americans honor their families' Confederate soldier's ancestry. Removal or destruction of any memorial or headstone should be considered criminal, not celebrated.

Linda Meyers

•••

Citizens should have voted

It shouldn't be up to the NAACP; it should be up to the people, the citizens of Crestview. This is getting out of hand; you can't erase history.

Pamela Wratchford Austin

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Puzzled by flag's removal

The flag was not flying over Crestview; it was over a memorial dedicated to Confederate veterans.

Still trying to figure out why that was a problem.

Bella Pitts

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Disband the NAACP

How about we vote to disband the local chapter of the NAACP? They offend me! They stir the pot and help keep racism going to justify what they do.

Scott Zamorski

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More important things happening

We got people killing each other, stealing cars, dognapping — let's make sure we worry about important things like a flag.

Priscilla Lynn Lusk

•••

Is rewriting history next?

Too bad the city of Crestview is now bowing to pressure from one group of people. Pretty soon we won't be able to have any history in schools because it will offend somebody, or we'll just rewrite it to suit the special groups — never mind about the truth or what really happened.

Linda Grossman

•••

We're all in this together

Leave our flags alone, quit trying to act like we are all not in this life together — and it's time the race card be torn up and thrown away.

Melonie Lewis Wimberly

•••

A proposal to install parking meters in downtown Crestview drew mostly opposition from our Facebook fans.

Here are some of their comments.

•••

People will find free parking

The city of Crestview has gotten … greedy. Bet they figured by putting in parking meters, in comes money. But sorry, it'll be quite the opposite, because people will park somewhere else for free!

Brandi Lynn Parton

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Will not pay to park

If parking meters are put in, you may as well board up Main Street. I will not pay to park.

Shirl Griffin Long

•••

Focus on State Road 85 traffic

You want Main Street to flourish? Then leave it be. (If) you start limiting parking time or put up meters, businesses will pack up because people won't come.

Businesses and organizations have lunch meetings — do you want them to take their meetings elsewhere? There are dance studios, exercise studios and hair salons that will lose business due to parking restrictions and will fold or move.

Don't try to fix something that isn't (broken). Instead, worry about traffic on (State Road) 85.

Kellie Coe Vest

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Spending a day on Main Street

I can easily spend a whole day on Main Street! Sometimes, I'll go all out with my hair and nail appointments … then afterwards, I treat myself to Korean, and visit the boutique across the street, the pet store, and the new Rustic Reflections place. The appointments at the salon alone can take anywhere from two to four hours.

Sarah Hawkins

•••

Support the library

The Crestview library is a vital resource for our area's residents — not only for cultural pursuits, but (also) for internet access needed by our citizens to obtain their financial and health benefits, which allow them to continue to function as taxpayers.

Area residents of all ages count on our library to fulfill necessary and unique needs; we all need to support all they do!

Raymonda Schwartz

Join the conversation on our Facebook page>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Crestview should have a surplus, stop the annexing

GOLDEN: District realignment shorts Baker

Written by archive on July 20, 2015. Posted in columns, Sports.

Baker School’s football team plays two district games this fall.

That means coach Matt Brunson had to find eight non-district games for his Class 1A squad.

So who did he schedule? A bunch of Class 1A teams.

Teams that aren’t in Baker’s district, but easily could be; games against similarly sized opponents that don’t really matter, but should.

Why can’t the Florida High School Athletic Association figure this out?

Why can’t the FHSAA find a way to fix its broken district alignment system, especially in Class 1A?

Why does Baker — and its District 1 companions, Jay and Northview — have to find eight non-district games to fill its schedule with longer road trips and more headaches?

Hats off to coach Brunson and the Baker Gators, who repeatedly get the short stick on the district realignment.

Baker’s schedule should look like this: district games against Freeport, Holmes County, Jay, Northview, South Walton and Vernon. Those are the six closest.

Now that’s an intriguing district.

And look, that’s more than half the schedule filled with meaningful, playoff-implicating football games!

Then Baker can plug in five non-district games against out-of-classification teams — such as Walton and Rocky Bayou, which Brunson scheduled, and maybe a combination of Pensacola Catholic, Marianna and Rutherford.

Instead, with the way the FHSAA set it up — with a greater number of smaller districts rather than fewer larger ones — Baker is left scrambling, trying to find eight games that don’t really mean anything.

And the Gators have to travel all the way to Liberty County and Blountstown — farther than some would-be mandatory district opponents — because some coaches might not want their teams playing (and getting mercy-ruled by) a powerhouse that has won 20 of its past 21 regular-season games.

But hey, it’s the Panhandle. So who cares, right? That appears to be the FHSAA’s mentality.

Devin Golden is a sports writer for the Northwest Florida Daily News. Email him at dgolden@nwfdailynews.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GOLDEN: District realignment shorts Baker

CROSE: City should consider elderly, disabled when budgeting

Written by archive on July 15, 2015. Posted in columns, lifestyle.

It seems to me that no matter what party affiliation an elected official claims, they all love to spend money.

I would hazard a guess many politicians have never met a tax increase they won't embrace.

While I understand there are real needs to be addressed in Crestview — like new police cars and fire equipment — I am sure that the city's budgets are not what many families would consider bare bones.

I haven't seen the financial statements or the budgets, but I imagine the average family could find many ways to still cut expenses from the city's lean budget.

A financially strapped family must make difficult decisions; needed items are put on the back burner to pay for necessities, such as food and shelter.

Making do with what one has is the norm for many residents; families (tax payers) have to tighten their belts to make ends meet — so should cities, counties, states and the federal government.

Make some meaningful, tax-saving changes.

In addition, difficult questions must be asked. First, why were 26 police cars purchased the same year? Most financial experts would recommend making capital expenditures over several years, so that in the case of needed police vehicles, they can be replaced over an extended period.

I would highly recommend that this type of procedure is implemented when new cruisers are purchased.

I fully support raising our fine police officers' salaries, and I know that we need to replace some fire equipment; but we also need to be aware that raising taxes strains already financially strapped families.

Long-term expenditures should be carefully examined to see if they are truly needed.

City leaders: Please be responsible, as paying tax increases, for those on fixed incomes, may mean going hungry or losing their homes.

We need to protect our vulnerable elderly and disabled residents.

Janice Lynn Crose lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: City should consider elderly, disabled when budgeting

BONI: The Confederate flag deserved a proper farewell

Written by archive on July 15, 2015. Posted in columns, more-voices, Opinion.

Crestview's almost two-decade Confederate battle flag saga has culminated.

City workers on Thursday unceremoniously removed the rebel flag from the William "Bill" Lundy Memorial on East First Avenue and North Ferdon Boulevard. Such a flag had fluttered in the city since 1958, when the Crestview Lions Club dedicated a memorial to Lundy, purportedly Florida's last surviving Confederate veteran.

But this symbol of Southern heritage — for many residents, anyway — seemed more like a celebration of the oppressive South's slavery to others.

Okaloosa County's NAACP branch and community activists had publicly objected to the flag since 1996, but efforts to have it removed, up until 2013, failed.

Then Dylan Roof, a white man, killed nine black people mid-June at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., and a photo of him with the Confederate flag spread on the internet. Outrage fueled a nationwide effort to move all rebel flags from the public square to museums, where critics said they belong.

TV Land pulled "The Dukes of Hazzard" from its schedule, apparently, because the 1980s series' iconic General Lee featured the rebel flag.

And professional golfer and Great Floridian Bubba Watson, who owns the actual General Lee, vowed to take the Confederate flag off the top of the 1969 Dodge Charger, according to CBS Sports.

2015 has not been the Confederate flag's year; various states have sent a clear message by removing it from the public square.

A crowd of hundreds cheered Friday in Charleston as the rebel flag came down at the South Carolina Capitol grounds. Uniformed highway patrol officers lowered the flag, folded it and retired it during the ceremony, during which some sang, "Hey, hey, hey, goodbye," according to CNN.

A much different response followed the Crestview flag's unceremonious removal.

"Don't you just love it when politicians cave to the pressure of political correctness?" one woman said on the News Bulletin's Facebook page.

"Whether you agree or not, it should alarm and concern every voter that they were given no say in the matter," another said.

"What gives them the right to just do this?" one man said. "The people have no voice anymore!"

That's not so surprising when you consider public opinion: 57 percent of Americans view the flag as a symbol of Southern pride, not racism, according to a CNN-ORC poll.

Of course, some, like Sabu Williams, of the local NAACP, and community activist Mae Reatha Coleman spent years petitioning for the flag's removal — with Coleman, whom I know personally, telling anyone who would listen why it's so painful for her to see the city endorse this otherwise harmless piece of fabric. They're among those who have seen victory after fighting so long for what they believed in.

Then there's the Lundy family, whose members intimately feel the sting from Thursday's action. For them, this isn't just about preserving history but also protecting Bill Lundy's honor, particularly as a number of residents question his military record's accuracy.

So many aspects to this story have made it one of the most difficult ones to cover. Crestview's flag isn't just about Southern heritage or racism, depending on your view; it's also about family honor and now, as former Crestview City Councilwoman Robyn Helt pointed out Monday, protocol. She criticized the city for removing the flag outside of Florida's Sunshine law.

She has a fair point, for more reasons than one.

With all the passion, pride, pain and scrutiny surrounding this flag, residents needed a public meeting about its fate.

And if the flag had to come down, then, like in South Carolina, the city's residents needed a proper ceremony to cheer or mourn its departure.

It's unfortunate that, after more than 50 years fluttering, Crestview residents didn't have that chance to say goodbye.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BONI: The Confederate flag deserved a proper farewell

BROADHEAD: What have you done for Jesus lately?

Written by archive on July 15, 2015. Posted in columns, Opinion, your-voice.

Shortly after Jesus began his ministry, he visited Simon's home and healed his bedridden mother-in-law.

Those who witnessed this were astonished. Word spread like wildfire — there was a miracle healer at Simon’s house. By nightfall, the whole city had gathered around the front door, having brought all who were sick or demon possessed.

They wanted what Jesus gave Simon’s mother-in-law. Jesus obliged them and healed as many as he could, and the people clamored for more.

It seems the mindset alive in that day continues today. People hear of the way Jesus will heal people of their afflictions, turn to him, and receive the kind of spiritual, emotional and oftentimes physical healing they desire.

Many are grateful, but others clamor for more; they are not satisfied. The gratitude they felt for the gift they received wears off quickly and they look for the next freebie.

Yes, Jesus forgives our sins, promises that he will never abandon us in this lifetime, and promises eternal life in heaven. But the relationship we enter with Jesus is not about what we can get from him.

Some people mistakenly believe that once they declare Jesus as their Lord and Savior, he becomes their personal wish-granter and is supposed to give them anything they desire.

Instead of asking, “What has Jesus done for me lately?” the question should be, “What have I done for Jesus lately?”

Ask yourself how you have helped build Jesus' kingdom, how you have praised him, how you live in gratitude for the ultimate gift anyone could receive — forgiveness for your sins.

If you ask Jesus for more than you give to him, it’s time to change your focus.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: What have you done for Jesus lately?

HELMS: You don't have to stay a Judas

Written by archive on July 14, 2015. Posted in columns, Opinion, your-voice.

There is no way my mother could have identified with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

I could see Jesus as a boy playing hard, perhaps being very curious. He could have even had a bit of mischief in His actions as a young lad.

However, The Bible says He never sinned.

My mother could probably identify more with Judas' mother. We do not know a lot about him or his past. By the very nature of his sin against the Savior, we assume that, even though he walked with the Lord, his heart never fully sold out completely to salvation. He died alone and was buried by those who did not really care.

Perhaps even now you are still walking as Judas, one not really knowing how precious a gift our salvation is. You have yet to sell out and depend on His grace and mercy.

None of us is perfect, for the Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Sin in our lives put us at risk to reject Him, too. Stop, analyze your life every day through the light of His Word and Spirit.

Having long passed the age of childhood mischief, I too must daily check my life against His example.

While my mother could probably relate more to Judas' mother than to Mary, I do not have to turn out that way — neither do you.

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: You don't have to stay a Judas

HUBBUB: Try used cars, everyone wants the winning team

Written by archive on July 13, 2015. Posted in columns, more-voices, Opinion.

•••

The Crestview Police Department has 26 patrol cars breaking down at the same time, but no money to replace them. Readers shared these thoughts about the issue.

Start planning for it

This is a prime example of the city not planning for capital expenditures. If you know a car needs replacing in eight years, you start planning for it. All servers need replacing every four years. This isn't rocket science, folks.

Silvia Clem Womack

•••

What about next time?

So why wasn't there a phased replacement program and maintenance program to prevent the need to replace that many (cars) at once? If all 26 are replaced now, won't the same thing happen years later as well?

Mark Hilton

•••

Tax increase OK

I'm okay with paying my fair share of a tax increase to support the (police and fire departments). I'm not okay with the tax breaks that keep being given to new businesses and developments who use the same infrastructure I do.

Kurt Burgess

•••

Try used cars

Buy used cars and keep them maintained. Put some (officers) on motorcycles. Put some on bicycles. Have running limits during the months of March through May and September through November.

Sheena Faircloth

•••

Ride bicycles

Switch (cars) out for bicycles in the suburban areas! Cops can really have a chance to interact with the community and stay in shape and save the city money! It's a win-win.

Julio Escobar

•••

Police should hoof it

With the amount of traffic in the poorly planned and managed city, a patrol car is not needed. Responding on foot is way more efficient.

Dennis Luczak

•••

Learning that at least six Crestview High School football players transferred to Baker School raised readers' concerns. Here are some of their thoughts on the issue.

Everyone wants the winning team

It's funny to me how the tables have turned. When my child played football at Baker, we had a mediocre team due to our most athletic players playing at Crestview High School under Matt Brunson as coach, who had just had a team go to state playoffs. We could have had a great team if our Baker athletes had stayed at Baker.

When you take three to five good players from a small school, you hurt their program greatly. They have to play younger, smaller athletes on varsity because of the small amount of kids left.

Now, the situation is reversed! Coach Brunson is at Baker and has just had an outstanding season there and went to the state playoffs. Players from Crestview are transferring to Baker. After Niceville had a great season and went to the state playoffs, some of Crestview's players transferred to Niceville!

Point is: Everyone wants to play on the winning team! It's not right but that is what is happening.

Steffanie E. Cook

•••

Good for those who transfer

Crestview has so many kids on the football team that most of them don't really see any play time during the season. So if they want to transfer to a school that has opportunities for them to play, then good for them.

This is the last chance most of the kids will have playing a team sport. They grow up and go on to other things in an adult life. They all can't play college ball or be in the NFL. They're not hurting anyone or Crestview by playing a team sport at another school.

Jennifer Graham

•••

That's what parents want

I think it's the parents, ultimately. They want their kid to be on the "winning" team. Today's society is breeding a bunch of kids who never learned what it was like to lose!

Jackie Pritchett Flavors

•••

Academics come first

Where are the parents that want their kids to become great hardworking citizens who have respect for people, laws and our country?

It all comes down to "Let's make sure your kids are getting academics first and then extracurricular second."

Haley Stone Caraway

•••

Not an educational transfer

This should be investigated as to why the students transferred. No recruiting may have occurred but they should not be transferring because the football program at Baker has been more successful. That is not an educational type transfer.

Gisela Harper

Join the conversation on our Facebook page>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Try used cars, everyone wants the winning team

GUEST COLUMN: Stop the P.C. madness before it's too late

Written by archive on July 13, 2015. Posted in columns, more-voices, Opinion.

I grew up in the North — yes, I am a Yankee, born and bred. I have no "dog in the fight" when it comes to some cultural or historical connection to the South, its heritage and the Confederate flag.

Yet, this whole recent uproar over that flag has, for the first time, made me passionate about that flag.

Not because I choose to fly it at my home, or display it prominently. I don't and likely will not. But this is yet another example of the insanity of our time, how the tragic incident in South Carolina has created such a backlash against — what else — this flag.

As if this flag had anything to do with that event.

What about the moral breakdown of the society, and the fact that the sick young man who murdered nine people came from a terribly dysfunctional background brought on by a broken family life?

Instead, the left and media go off on a symbol of Southern heritage, claiming somehow that it contributed to this man's hate. True, that flag has been used in the past as a racist symbol by some, but today it's largely representative of Southern heritage.

This whole episode is really about the left jumping on every opportunity, or forcing opportunities, to change society into their leftist image — one without values, except, of course, theirs; one deplete of our historical American way of life; and one in which we can boldly move forward into the "brave new world order" of tomorrow.

A world in which the elite among us — specifically, leftists, who are, of course, smarter, wiser, and simply better than the rest of us minions — can dictate their worldview to everyone else. After all, they, of course, have all of our best interests in mind. And we can trust them.

Really?

In truth, this is political correctness simply out of control. We need to stop the madness before it's too late!

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet @cnbeditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GUEST COLUMN: Stop the P.C. madness before it's too late

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