CRESTVIEW — While the nation pauses today to reflect on the 9-11 terrorist attacks, locals also remember another 9-11. On Sept. 11, 1915, Okaloosa County was born.

Okaloosa's origin is traced to Laurel Hill newspaperman and state Rep. William H. “Bill” Mapoles, who tried to sway fellow legislators to create a new county, historian N. Allen Robinson wrote in a series of 1975 Okaloosa Consumer Bulletin articles.

With Walton and Holmes Counties, Senator B.H. Lindsay's support, and a provision that voters in the affected area give it their blessing at the polls, Mapoles’ bill passed on June 3, 1915.

Voters in eastern Santa Rosa and western Walton counties voted 2-1 and a 4-1, respectively, to form a new county on Sept. 11, 1915.

'PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY'

The new 9,000-resident county’s seat was temporarily established in an industrial building in Milligan. On Jan. 3 and 4, 1916, state auditor E. Amos inspected the new county.

“New record books have just been installed and opened up and the business of the county is proceeding satisfactorily,” he wrote in a report to Gov. Park Tramell. “Each county officer seems to be zealously striving to do his full duty and is manifesting much interest in the work entrusted to his keeping.

“The County Boards are using care and good judgment and appear to have the best interest of the county ever in mind. The county commissioners are especially to be commended for the economical and business-like way in which they are managing county affairs.”

A NEW COUNTY SEAT

Mapoles, foreseeing growth 13 miles south of Laurel Hill, moved his family and newspaper to Crestview in September 1915, and championed his new hometown as the county seat.

Other county residents who shared Mapoles’ belief in Crestview’s potential signed a notice to incorporate themselves in a municipal form of government. They met Feb. 22, 1916 at the Congregational church to create the city and select officers.

On March 6, 1917, voters chose between Baker, Crestview and Laurel Hill as their county seat. In an April 3 runoff, Crestview beat Baker by about 80 votes.

In 1918, a yellow brick courthouse was built on property donated by the Crestview Land Company on the site of today’s county courthouse, anchoring Main Street's north end.

WHAT: The Baker Block Museum's Okaloosa County Centennial Celebration, featuring an Indian drum circle and drum-making demonstration by Thom and Judy Dandridge, of Baker; a living history program with Bonnie Grundel, of Baker, portraying a 1933 sharecropper’s wife; and an old-fashioned homemade ice cream social

WHEN: 5-8 p.m. Sept. 19

WHERE: 1307 Georgia Ave., on the corner of State Roads 4 and 189, Baker

NOTES: Admission is free. Call 537-5714 for more details. The museum opens at 10 a.m. and will remain open through the evening celebration events.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CENTENNIAL: Okaloosa County observes 100 years

DESTIN — The Third Emerald Coast Transportation Symposium will be held Nov. 12 and 13 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Keynote speakers and panelists include:

•Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold

•Jim Johnson, profiled by Fast Company Magazine as "a geographer with a PhD, a professor with an endowed chair at a leading business school, an expert on poverty, and a tireless activist for social justice"

•Dan Burden, director of innovation and inspiration at Blue Zones

•Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, executive director of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise

•A representative from the Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans.

Registration is available at www.transportationsymposium.org or call 800-226-8914, extension 204.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast Transportation Symposium set Nov. 12, 13 in Destin

CRESTVIEW — The Constitution Party of Florida's Constitution Day Celebration is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Robert English and retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant Ernest Sordelet will speak on the topic, "What the Constitution Means to Me."

Tom Hood, along with a few Airport Road Church of Christ members, will sing a few patriotic songs during the one-hour event.

sParking is available in the east parking lot beside the Crestview Community Center.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Constitution Day celebration set in Crestview Thursday

CRESTVIEW —Members of the North Okaloosa Republicans meets second Tuesdays in Crestview. 

Their next meeting is 6 p.m. tonight, Sept. 8 at Hideaway Pizza, 326 N. Main St., Crestview.

It includes a Dutch treat dinner at 6 p.m. followed by meeting at 7 p.m. New members and interested persons may attend.

For more information on the group, email norcoffl@outlook.com or contact Club president Jeremiah Hubbard, jeremiah.hubbard@gmail.com or 758-6706.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Republicans meet tonight in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — No one was appointed as the new city attorney during a special meeting Thursday evening to interview, and possibly select, one of four applicants.

The City Council deadlocked 2-2 on appointing former city attorney Ben Holley. A motion to appoint North Okaloosa Fire District attorney Jonathon Holloway failed for lack of a second.

City Clerk Betsy Roy said the matter will return before the council at its regular Sept. 14 meeting.

“We’ll see what the options are then,” Roy said.

Current attorney Jerry Miller — who represents the city under a contract that expires Sept. 28 — has not applied to continue in the position.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council deadlocks on city attorney appointment

LAUREL HILL — The City Council's ad valorem rates will stay the same when the 2015-16 fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a 3.5 ad valorem millage rate, along with a $605,874 budget that includes a $396,374 general operating fund and a $209,500 enterprise operating fund.

 The millage is projected to raise $52,900 toward the city’s revenue, with a further $42,000 electricity franchise and utility tax forecast. Other revenue sources include $40,000 in local government half-cent taxes; $35,000 in local option fuel taxes; $19,900 in rent from Elite Trailers, the city’s industrial park tenant; $11,324 from a state mowing contract; and $33,500 from state revenue sharing.

The enterprise fund will see $195,000 revenue from water sales and $14,500 in garbage, impact and water fees, including late fees and reconnect fees.

 The city expects to pay off a $35,520 FNB Bank loan by September 2016. A motion at the Aug. 6 council meeting to pay off the loan early failed on a deadlocked vote, with Council Chairman Larry Hendren and Councilman Scott Moneypenny voting in favor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council OKs $605K budget, maintains millage rate

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 for a budget workshop at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda:

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation: Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open meeting

4. Note: Due to the necessity of re-sending City of Crestview Truth in Millage notices, the meeting may be recessed until 5:05 p.m. Sept. 22.

A public hearing for the adoption of 2015-2016 tentative millage rate and tentative budget will be held on that date.

5. Public hearing: Adoption of 2015-2016 tentative millage rate and tentative budget

6. Adjournment

"The necessity for the re-TRIM was due to an error by the city, not the Okaloosa County Property appraiser's office," City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

"The Department of Revenue and the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser's Office have been extremely patient and  helpful during this process." 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council to discuss Truth in Millage notices

CRESTVIEW — The Mobile District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Okaloosa County Water and Sewer will host meetings to obtain public input on water supply alternatives.

Meetings are as follows:

●6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Administration Building, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., third floor, Fort Walton Beach.

●6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview

Feedback obtained will be considered in ongoing analysis for a long-term project to develop additional potable water supplies for Okaloosa County citizens, businesses and military establishments.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Public input requested on Okaloosa water supply

CRESTVIEW — A new IRS scam is circulating in Okaloosa County.

The con-artist calls or emails someone saying he or she owes money to the IRS and tells them to get a “Green Dot Card.” The con-artist says that if they do not pay the money owed today, they will be arrested.

Other scams about tax returns involve IRS rebates, audits and using variations of the IRS name, with companies or individuals using the IRS acronym, but with different words; one example is the fictitious Internal Refund Service.

If you receive an email from someone claiming to be from the IRS, forward the email to phishing@irs.gov.

Remember:

●The IRS will not contact you by telephone or e-mail

●The IRS will use the mailing address you place on your return

●Use direct deposit into your checking account for tax returns

If someone contacts you claiming to be with the IRS, hang up and call the IRS at 1-800-366-4484.

To learn more about scams involving the IRS, go to www.irs.gov.

For more ways you can protect yourself from con-artists, visit the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention website, www.sheriff-okaloosa.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office reports IRS scams