Welcome to the Crestview News Bulletin, North Okaloosa County's news source that includes a twice-weekly print edition, daily news offerings on crestviewbulletin.com and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

All of these sources, combined, are second to none in covering North Okaloosa County's community, government, military, public safety, business, sports, education, health, cultural and faith news.

But I always say you have to use the right tool to do the job and, similarly, readers need to determine which source is best for them.

Print edition

The print edition, which publishes Wednesdays and Saturdays, covers Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill and surrounding North Okaloosa communities. It costs just $32.76 a year, in-county, and is our most convenient news source. That's because all the news, information and analysis you need is in one edition, and all it takes is turning the page to find what interests you. (No never-ending scrolling and searching. We've provided a clear beginning, middle and end, with an A section for general news and B section for Sports and extras.)

Further, subscribers and single-copy readers can enjoy a number of News Bulletin exclusives not offered on crestviewbulletin.com or other news outlets. (Trust me; I pick some of our best, long-form features to stay as premium options. Offering print exclusives ensures we can continue to bring top-notch content to all readers, whether in print or online.) 

Readers notice ongoing quality improvements, and have expressed us much in paid circulation, which is up 7 percent since February 2013.

CNB Online

Our website, on the other hand, offers 100 percent free access to a robust collection of categorized, timely news. It's frequently updated with regional news, commentary, our video line, including the weekly "North End Zone Sports Report" webcast, a Twitter feed and local updates from the Northwest Florida Daily News. 

Our news team — including seasoned journalists like Sports Editor Randy Dickson, who has covered Okaloosa County sports for 13 years, and Brian Hughes, who has covered Crestview area general news and cultural developments for seven years — has earned the community's respect and accolades.

Reporter Matthew Brown is always eager to cover Baker and Laurel Hill news —everything from Baker School students' strides to growing north county churches and the LH City Council.

Editorial assistant Renee Bell helps families tell the story of a loved one's life with regular obituaries, and accepts community announcements at news@crestviewbulletin.com.

And I constantly work with the staff and readers to gradually improve our coverage and content.

I've worked in journalism and news for almost nine years, mostly in Alabama and partially for internationally popular websites, but have never accepted that I know it all. This column's regular readers could tell you that From the Editor's Desk has evolved since we created an Opinion page in September 2012, one of numerous additions to better serve our readers.

You can expect a mixture of news, with a goal of always finding the silver lining, if possible. For instance, I wrote about a Crestview family's house fire on Saturday for crestviewbulletin.com. But if you've read about similar incidents, there would have been no point in reading about this one. That would mean less of a chance that we could help the family.

But Jennifer Pierce mentioned how her eldest child, Robert, 11, sprang into action, collecting fire extinguishers from neighboring Crestview apartments in an attempt to save their rental home.

It was a heroic action that would leave readers inspired rather than in poor spirits. And that's why we described Robert's heroism, and treated the fire as a footnote, when previewing the story on Facebook.

We say no to 'no'

What else can you expect in the News Bulletin?

Well, a great deal of transparency; it's not unusual for Randy to write  a column about what he was thinking during a game — something, of course, that can't be included in a fair news report — or for me to write about the back story of our articles or why we decided to cover a story.

We usually don't just tell the story; we also tell why it's important. For instance, when View From the Stage, the Crestview community theatre group, decided to present "The Miracle Worker," Brian tracked the significance of the relatively new group's transition from light fare to serious drama, and the chances that required taking.

Oh, and you can also expect as much North Okaloosa news as we can fit in the print edition or on crestviewbulletin.com.

You know, the print edition has space constraints, and we try to print everything submitted to us in some way, shape or form, but that second option is limitless.

"No" is not in our vocabulary. We serve Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill and surrounding north county communities. If our news team can't cover something in person, we appreciate community helpers such as folks from the Crestview YMCA.

I've always heard that a newspaper is like a bulletin board that anyone can add to.

If it has public interest, we want to know about it, and you probably have a digital camera, so you can help us "pin" things to that bulletin board!

And whether its staff-generated or reader-submitted news, we post most of it on our Facebook and Twitter channels, so tens of thousands of readers can see your announcements.

Instagram, our newest channel, offers news photos that usually don't make the print edition, and fun, behind-the-scenes extras.

And due to our team's ongoing efforts, the print edition and online offerings are not always just relevant and well written, but they also look better than ever. We've worked for the past year on enhancing crestviewbulletin.com, Facebook and Twitter users' experience.

Ditto for advertising solutions.

Often for businesses, the best solution for press or publicity is an advertisement, and Sherrie Stanley, Melissa Tedder and David Dimond, our media sales consultants, can suggest targeted digital solutions that far surpass what you would imagine from a news organization.

That's partly because we are so much more than a news organization. 

Community involvement

We don't just cover the communities; we care about them. Our staffers represent numerous organizations, including Sister Cities International, the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life and the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's Professional and Inspired Leaders of Tomorrow and Arts and Culture Committee, Toastmasters International and others.

Knowing what's happening in your community is vital to understanding your surroundings, being alerted to traffic conditions and health concerns, but it also brings the community closer together when you read uplifting, inspiring stories about finding grace under fire.

The story of Jennifer Pierce, which continues from the early web report, concludes with a hopeful ending.

"People need to know that there are good people out there — not everybody's bad," Jennifer said.

We see news about crime all the time.

She knows the importance of bringing good news, too.

So do we — and that's why you should keep reading the Crestview News Bulletin. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR'S DESK: An introduction for our new readers

Northwest Florida State College students Karen and Richard Strong are passionate about education.

The Holt area couple are working toward their Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, according to an NWF State spokesperson.

Despite having earned a number of certificates and degrees, Richard's going for one last degree — this time, public safety — and his wife, who already had an associate degree, will receive her B.A.S. in human resources.

 Continuing their education wasn't a hard sell, they said.

It's so true, Richard told the college spokesperson, that he has a message to young people: basically, stay in school, work hard and go to college. 

It makes sense.

United States citizens earning less than a high school diploma potentially earn less than those with additional education and certifications, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest data.

Check out these median weekly earnings, according to the BLS:

•Less than a high school diploma, $472

•High school diploma, $651

•Some college, no degree, $727

•Associate degree, $777

•Bachelor's degree, $1,108

•Master's degree, $1,329

•Professional degree, $1,714

•Doctoral degree, $1,623

Not only that, the unemployment gap narrows as education heightens.

Unemployment rate by education is as follows, according to the BLS:

•Less than a high school diploma, 11 percent

•High school diploma, 7.5 percent

•Some college, no degree, 7 percent

•Associate degree, 5.4 percent

•Bachelor's degree, 4 percent

•Master's degree, 3.4 percent

•Professional degree, 2.3 percent

•Doctoral degree, 2.2 percent

Granted, your pre-tax income may not look like this despite all your degrees.

And if you're a millenial, it might be more difficult to get a job due to several factors.

Time Magazine cites a survey by the Workforce Solutions Group at St. Louis Community College; according to results, 60 percent of employers said applicants just lack basic job skills. So they might have the education, but they can't communicate effectively, dress or act professionally.

In a past job, I dealt with that a lot: Thinking that being asked to perform a task was an option. Reporting to work in flip-flops or glassy-eyed. Bemoaning bills, birth control and other personal issues that have no place of discussion in a workplace. Not completing tasks or flat out telling a supervisor, "I'm not doing this, but I'm doing this…" (Can't stress enough how this was another job in another state.)

I've read stories in trade magazines about millenials bringing their parents to a job interview. It's what happens when you win a trophy for being part of the team or get a gold star "just for being special" — i.e., without having earned it. (OK, that last part's just my soapbox.)

Just some thoughts to ponder.

In other words, back to the daily grind and usual problems, which might be a refreshing change after the unusual destruction we witnessed during last week's record flooding.

We'll be following up on that, by the way. But as of this writing, there's no new information on expected costs to repair damaged roads. 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR’S DESK: Taking education seriously, behaving professionally can pay

"Do it with love."

It's the Frances Smith Herron Dance Studio's motto, and Northwest Florida State College dance faculty take it to heart.

"It's about doing what you do with grace and love for both the art and the student who creates the art — to help make our students become better persons and live life to the fullest, just as Frances did," professor of dance Joseph Taylor told News Bulletin reporter Brian Hughes.

The motto — which embodies Herron, the studio's late founder and former department head — offers words to live by.  

People who put passion into their work tend to leave a mark with ripple effects that last for days, months, years and even generations.

An endowment to name NWF State College's dance studio in Herron's memory has surpassed $105,000 and funded $5,000 in dance scholarships and program support, according to Hughes' report.

And this past weekend's American Cancer Society Relay For Life definitely left its mark.

The Crestview Relay committee's efforts, led by event co-chairs Megan Bowersox and Loney Whitley, attracted just under 300 participants, 37 teams and, as of this writing, more than $87,000 for cancer research.

The spirit came alive during Relay's opening ceremony as we watched residents from different walks of life unite to fight cancer. Walking for loved ones with cancer, remembering those who died from it, and working together to raise money and one day beat it.

It was truly inspiring.

Knowing the great commitment involved — particularly from Bowersox and Whitley, who worked tirelessly raising all that money and handling the main event's logistics; spending a full 24 hours at Shoal River Middle School for event preparation and breakdown — there's no doubt that they did it with love.

I've always believed businesses should operate similarly.

Over the weekend, a reader asked, "How long does it take to produce an article?"

Well, reporters get a news tip, test its accuracy by making several calls to various sources to corroborate it, call more sources for depth, write an outline of the story's key points and draft the article before spell-checking and submitting it.

The editor reviews the article to ensure it's complete and has substantial support, offers follow-up questions to fill in the blanks, and checks for clarity, style and flow, making changes or, requesting them to be made, along the way.

The copy desk receives the next version of the story, lays it out with pagination software, checks for style and cuts for space. 

Finally, the news team receives proof pages to review the story's final version, as it will appear in the paper, and checks for spelling and style. (You'd be surprised how many things you could miss just by seeing a story on the monitor; something about the hard copy changes that.)

Stories never die on the web, so something in the print edition might be tweaked even more for clarity or ease of reading.

Done right, it's definitely a labor of love — you usually see the fifth or sixth version of a story when you open the paper — and that passion surpasses the newsroom's walls.

To properly cover the community, you have to love the community — and take all that goes with it: the long hours, the sleepless nights and ramping up community involvement to enrich residents' lives.

Soon, we will release a campaign that shows you how much our staff loves the Crestview area, and how that helps us better able to serve you.

Keep reading the News Bulletin for more on that campaign, which kicks off Saturday.  

What's your view? Email News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni, tboni@crestviewbulletin.com, or tweet him, @cnbeditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR’S DESK: 'Do it with love': words to live by

April is National Financial Literacy Month, and we appreciate Edward Jones financial adviser Yvonne Shanklin and CCB Community Bank President Derek Lott for sharing what North Okaloosa residents should be doing, if they aren’t already, to save wisely.

Initially, we asked our Facebook fans about which financial matters concern them, hoping our experts could offer more targeted answers. No one replied, but it’s understandable. Money is a personal subject, and we respect that North Okaloosa residents may not delve into those matters as freely as Suze Orman guests do each week on CNBC.

Still, that means “the non-expert,” one perspective I’d hoped to see in our National Financial Literacy Month feature, is missing. So I’ll do the honors.

Money’s hole

Something Shanklin said, about how we must identify financial "holes" — that is, unnecessary expenses — resonated. I saw a webinar a few years ago in which the narrator said, “Remember this: Money has a hole in it.”

Back then, I thought of all the furniture and other items purchased for three apartments over several years. Things I broke and threw away, and all the not-cheap wall hangings that drifted out of style and, in hindsight, seemed like poor decisions.

There had to be a way to buy quality items, not to mention live comfortably, contently and without breaking the bank.

Setting expectations

From that point onward, I refused to be swindled out of a hard-earned dollar.

After setting that expectation, it was time to put the plan into action.

That meant cutting — big time. It was easy; I just remembered how things were at a previous workplace. There, you got a few pens, a notebook and… well… that was pretty much it for the month. Seriously, the bathroom had one roll of toilet paper, and more rolls were provided from a locked closet as needed.

You could put staples and paperclips on your expense report but there were no Post-Its. (However, in lieu of them were notepads made from the backs of used fax cover sheets.) And there were no extras. Heck, the petty cash maximum per month was $20. 

In fairness, other than computers and cameras, pens and notebooks were all you needed to do the job. The streamlined operation was justified, and that business manager was brilliant.

My supervisor at the time said, “There are a lot of things you’ll learn here that will carry you through life — such as dealing with different personality types and mastering money management.”

She was right.

It’s illuminating and empowering once you realize you can get by with much less.

Home-cooked meals

At work, lean mindedness meant shifting responsibilities to cut out middlemen (that’s just a fancy word for me doing parts of everyone else’s job, which wasn't efficient), training associates to edit their own video, creating templates, automating production tasks and using a stopwatch to time everything, including seconds I spent on idle chit-chat.

It worked, and I successfully turned a 50-hour job into a 40-hour one.

The concepts naturally crossed over to the household budget. Why buy junk food like pizza and burgers when you could decompress from work by slowing down to cook, enjoy an elegant meal on a nice dish, and save on groceries?

In 2006, my average grocery receipt was $70 and food barely lasted a week. And doing the single-guy thing where you peel plastic wrappers off TV dinners, nuke ’em and pour a glass of Coke grew unpleasant as I matured.

I started going lean, and a funny thing happened. Cutting grocery costs meant eating healthier and enhancing the dining experience. 

In 2014, it’s closer to $30 per grocery receipt, and whole wheat linguine, along with fresh and canned fruits and vegetables — I call them standards — last much, much longer. There’s always something waiting to be cooked or prepared. There’s no stress about pulling over at a fast food restaurant or ordering a pizza.

It’s comforting to know that everything I need is in one place, and pouring a glass of pinot grigio to pair with that pasta carbonara almost makes you feel like you’re at a restaurant.

But that was just part one.

Thrifting

Just a month ago, I discovered the Dollar Tree on North Ferdon Boulevard.

Whoa.

Deodorant for $1. Four rolls of toilet paper for $1. Three-liter cola product for $1. Rice crackers? Yup, $1.

That’s what I call beating the system. (Except for the cola part. I prefer water or wine, avoiding caffeine addiction when possible, but how can you pass up 3-liter cola every now and then?)

It’s become a hobby to stop by that store every week, grab household essentials and fight the beaming smile that wants to break through as the cashier announces the price for so many items. (Especially if it’s a group of items I know would cost $16 at another store and they’re just $6.)

Then there’s Exodos Ministries Thrift Store. (I went here, for the first time, right before covering the Triple B Festival; our news team has written about the establishment’s cause, to fund a Christian men’s substance abuse rehabilitation program, and that was even more reason to see its organizers in action.)

I met hometown angels whose families join in long, all-volunteered hours, and quickly realized this was a great place to enjoy good conversation, network and search for treasures.

I have a trained eye for quality products, and last week happened to catch a quartz wall clock with Roman numerals, a glossy black metal case and a glass lens — perfect for my bedroom, which has all black furniture.

This was a confident purchase, but afterward I got on the smart phone, searched for the same clock and learned this like-new time-teller was a London import worth 10 times the purchase price. 

That's beating the system!

Now, let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean thrift for everything, although that’s not a bad idea. It’s all about balance and purpose, I believe.

For instance, I felt passionately about supporting local businesses, and deliberately bought a number of items from the Crestview Badcock and Jazzi Rae’s Discount Furniture and Gifts when I moved here nearly two years ago.

Then again, I might buy an otherwise plain picture frame from a discount store and paint it for a unique look that matches my surroundings. (I gave that royal treatment to two keepsake frames housing portions of a "Happy Boss Day" card that our news team surprised me with last year.)

Doing it yourself, or DIY, is a great way to save money, beat the system and feel great about it.

Budgeting

One of Shanklin’s suggestions is to plan a monthly budget. It’s great advice for those who require more restraint. So far, I’ve been OK winging it, though that's not for everyone. Still, these guidelines seem to work well:

•Put gas in the car $20 or $30 at a time. (Why say goodbye to $40 or $50 if driving carries over to next week and could come from another paycheck?)

•Spend just $30 for groceries, whether that’s once or twice a week. (OK, that limitation's much easier for single people.)

•Eat out just once a week unless it’s a special business or networking opportunity. Otherwise, prepare everything yourself.

•Put the rest toward bills, savings and the smallest percentage toward entertainment, wardrobe and splurging

That’s my plan, but every situation is different.

Thankfully, we have the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences office right here in Crestview, and programs like Okaloosa Saves, which are possible thanks to people like retiring Extension agent Elaine Courtney, who care so much for their communities to impart these valuable life skills. 

Challenges

Now for a reality check: Spending the least on entertainment and extras means sacrifice. For instance, a friend really wanted me to attend a concert in New Orleans this month. Well, the ticket cost $100 and I would have enjoyed hanging out with the group, but not if that meant paying so much for a singer I wasn't crazy about. I voted with my wallet. Had it been a different singer, the answer easily could have been affirmative. No big deal. We made other plans.

It’s about not going with the flow.

And ladies, it also may mean re-framing your thinking. Do you really need this season’s latest dress? Or does the house’s décor really need to change seasonally? Or if it does, does it all have to come from Ethan Allen? What about a good ol’ do-it-yourself project?

And couples, remember: The diamond ring pretty much only became a tradition for engagements because of a 1940s DeBeers campaign. Get one if it fits the budget, but guys should not feel burdened to buy something they can’t afford. Love is love and its true test is if it can survive peer pressure and changing trends.

Compromise

None of this means you live an isolated life.

For instance, I’m frugal but still footed all expenses for a dear friend who spent Saturday with me. We enjoyed View From the Stage’s “The Miracle Worker," ate at Song’s Cafe afterward and went on an ice cream run before heading back to my place.

She paid not a cent, but investing in her seemed like the right thing to do since she came all the way from Mobile just to see me and experience Crestview. And gas ain’t cheap.

So this doesn’t mean you're cheap or uncharitable, or that chivalry is dead. (Although I do have more thoughts on that topic for another time.) It just means that it’s good to vote with our wallets and ignore those songs on the radio that suggest cashing a paycheck, blowing the full amount at the bar and not giving a darn.

It means flat-out ignoring consumerist culture and making purchasing decisions that make sense based on your needs, wants and household budget. 

That works for me, but you have to do what’s right for you.

What's your view? Email News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni, tboni@crestviewbulletin.com, or tweet him, @cnbeditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR'S DESK: Identify money's holes and don't go with the flow

The State Attorney's Office has cleared two Crestview Police Department officers for their actions during a Jan. 2 shootout that resulted in a man's death.

Aphrey Collis, once charged with seven counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, also was cleared following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation.

Forensic enhancement of video from an officer's helmet-mounted camera helped investigators determine that Collis did not shoot at SWAT team members who raided a Crestview residence. Rasheik  Calhoun, whom officers fatally shot, was the one who opened fire on the SWAT team, according to the final report.

Crestview police had arrest warrants for Rasheik and Yoni Calhoun — wanted on charges of armed robbery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and firing a deadly missile into a vehicle — and believed the men were heavily armed and staying at 462 Savage St., according to reports.

SWAT team members rammed the house's door open before it slammed shut, and kicked it open to reveal a man, since identified as Rasheik Calhoun, who opened fire and struck two officers, according to the review. 

Officers initially misidentified the man who fired at them, describing him as a black male "who appeared to have long dreadlocks," according to a court order releasing Collis.

“What officers believed to be long dreadlocks was in fact a camouflage jacket with a hood pulled up over the suspect’s head (as video revealed)," it said.  

There's a presumption of innocence in this country, and too often we forget that an arrest doesn't automatically mean guilty.

Ryan Massengill's cartoon this week, pictured above, illustrates how the court of public opinion sometimes gets it wrong. Often, we hear that someone is arrested and it's a social media field day. I won't repeat some of the things I've heard pertaining to an unrelated case that hasn't come to court yet, but saw no less rage. 

It's the court of public opinion that precedes the court of law in this country. And in light of Collis' being cleared of wrongdoing, it seemed like a fitting time to point that out. And suggest a change.

Let's rethink what we say about people in that time between their arrest and their day in court. 

In other news, can we take a moment to admire Crestview arts enthusiasts' recent accomplishments?

Crestview High School's band took an unforgettable spring break trip to Washington, D.C. and New York, where they performed on the famed Carnegie Hall stage. Not to mention the high school's chorus members who performed last week on the Grand Ole Opry stage. How many people get to do that?

Antioch Elementary School student Lucas Kornegay, along with other Sinfonietta Strings members, opened for — no joke — Broadway legend Patti LuPone. 

And we're sure that View From the Stage's cast will put on a great show as Crestview's community theatre troupe steps into serious drama territory, tackling "The Miracle Worker."

Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Arts and Culture Chair Rae Schwartz's message about the importance of local business and community leaders supporting the arts is not lost here.

I have company in town this weekend, and we have tickets to the Old Spanish Trail Pro Rodeo. And I have some regional community benefits to attend; it's a packed weekend, but I hope to see our local actors' interpretation of the production. (If I don't make it, believe me, it's not for lack of trying.)

Upon seeing photos, I told Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes, "That looks cinematic."

It looks like it'll be a great show.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR’S DESK: Differentiating between fact and the court of public of opinion