That wacko at the Crestview Christmas parade needs to be barred from next year’s parade.

If that can't be done due to constitutional rights, then I may put a float behind or in front of them and disparage their beliefs.

I don't care what anyone believes, just don't try and shove those stupid beliefs down my throat or my children’s.

I can buy a bigger megaphone and blast you with B.S.

What's your view? Email news@crestviewbulletin.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Don’t force your beliefs on my children

I am visiting my daughter and three small grandsons for about the 12th time this year. They live north of town on Lake Silver Road.

This seemingly quiet neighborhood is a prep course for an Indy event.

I sit on her rear decks and watch with fright at the speeds in which folks drive. They actually “gun it” when turning the corner; they are no doubt speeding in excess of 20 mph. The curve should be negotiated at maybe 15 mph. There are no shoulders.

Not only is this done by locals, but also by cement mixers, big rigs and dump trucks, not to mention school buses. Residents literally take their lives, and those of their children, at a significant risk when attempting to back out of their driveway.

This is by no means an exaggeration — maybe an understatement. Heck, retrieving your mail is death defying.

I have never seen any law enforcement ever.

So far, no one has been killed by a hit-and-run driver. I'd love it to stay that way. I have thought about sitting in her front yard with a video camera.

What's your view? Email news@crestviewbulletin.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Lake Silver Road treated like a speedway

The struggles of the small city of Laurel Hill have been well documented in the newspapers for years. 

I am happy that the current council members are not "hardcore" politicians and tend to take reasonable approaches to city issues.

Anyone who has traveled our roads can see the conditions that could possibly lead to safety issues and damage to vehicles. The roads and the water system are the primary issues of the city.

I think citizens will be shocked to learn of the mandates required by the state — like comprehensive plans and evaluation and appraisal reports — that cost the city thousands of dollars and do nothing for the people.

Many citizens have reached a position of intolerance concerning these issues.

Giving up the city charter is no easy task, and it will require negotiation of give-and-take, but I am convinced that doing so is in the best interest of the people of Laurel Hill.  

I urge all citizens residing within the city limits to attend the meeting (6 p.m. Dec. 11 at First Baptist Church of Laurel Hill) and voice your opinion.

I also urge users of the city water system to be at the meeting because you should have a voice in how the system is managed. Outside users are currently silent in the operation and management of the water system.

Council Chairman Larry Hendren is a very fair man and he will allow opinions to be voiced.

Please plan to attend this important meeting on the future of this community.

What's your view? Email news@crestviewbulletin.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Please attend Laurel Hill town hall meeting

In a recent report by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the 2012 Kids Count Data Book — which publishes national and state-by-state data on key indicators of child well-being — Florida ranked poorly overall at 38th, with domain rankings of 35th in both education and family and community, 38th in health, and a dismal 44th in economic well-being.

Now more than ever, this highlights the need for a major rally in community support and funding for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.

As the premier holistic youth development organization, we are poised to be the most effective partner to parents, teachers and schools, law enforcement and the community at large in preparing youth to be responsible, caring, productive citizens. 

Unfortunately, some of the children who are victims live right here in our communities. In fact, in Okaloosa County, statistics from the Kids Count Data Book are staggering. Although we have one of the strongest and most successful school districts in the state — and our educators should be commended for their accomplishments — the challenges they face are significant. 19.7 percent of children under age 18 in Okaloosa live in poverty while 38.6 percent are eligible for free and reduced lunch. Additionally, 223 teen pregnancies locally result in births to mothers ages 15- 19 with another 310 births to mothers with no high school diploma or equivalent, and the number of youth delinquency cases reported to the Department of Juvenile Justice was 1,134. The only answer to these problems is front-end awareness and pre-emptive action.

Boys & Girls Clubs focuses every activity on three intended outcome areas: academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.

The best part is that it all happens under the banner of a club where membership means a sense of belonging and fun. Boys & Girls Clubs act as cycle-breakers and boast highly meaningful relationships with caring adults for youths in grades kindergarten through 12th-graders.

BGCEC members — young people who need us most — graduate on time at 100 percent, avoid teen pregnancy and crime, and 57 percent say the club saved their life.

We are lucky to have our community’s deep support, but the need never ends for additional involvement and funding. I implore you, as a responsible citizen of this community, to make a special effort to reach out to your local Boys & Girls Club.

Find out all of the wonderful things happening to shape the lives of youth who are your next-door neighbor, your next high school intern, or headed off next fall to play football for your alma mater. What's your view? Email news@crestviewbulletin.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Help local youth, support Boys and Girls Club

Our nation’s most important pollution law is under attack and, even though the Clean Air Act is widely considered one of the most effective environmental laws ever passed, it is still a hot topic for politicians to cut the budgets.

Some in Congress want to repeal virtually any federal or state protections against the buildup of dangerous carbon pollution. They want to give big polluters free rein to continue dumping unlimited amounts of dangerous carbon pollution into our air, threatening our health and warming the planet.

For decades, the Clean Air Act has dramatically reduced dangerous pollutants like mercury and lead, prevented millions of illnesses like asthma and cancer, and saved thousands of lives. We can’t allow some in Congress to put polluters’ profits above public health. The Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act and other laws make up the safety net that protects our children’s future, and we can’t allow Congress to shred that net for polluters’ profit.

Please take a stand with me to protect the future of our children by urging Crestview citizens to write to their congressmen so that we continue to fund the Clean Air Act.

Together, we can change the minds of our legislature’s one step at a time. What's your view? Email news@crestviewbulletin.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Clean air if you care

On Election Day, our friends and neighbors exercised their most valued right as citizens of our great state and nation, and made critical decisions that will influence every aspect of their lives, from how their tax dollars are spent to what kind of academic opportunities their children will have. 

As a small business owner — born and raised in Northwest Florida — I hope to do everything in my power to help restore our local and state economies, and to help reduce unnecessary regulations to let our local businesses and industries continue to grow and provide sorely-needed jobs.

I look forward to continuing to work hard and believing in the great potential of our local industries and homegrown businesses. I have faith that together, we will work to achieve the prosperity our citizens deserve.

I thank you for your support and I look forward to serving our communities in the Florida Senate.

What's your view? Email news@crestviewbulletin.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Looking forward for District 2

As we listened to the latest political speeches and debates, it was clear that the future of Medicare will continue to be an important topic through Election Day and beyond.

While some legislators favor budget reductions to the program, I believe Medicare can be strengthened by investing in better, more efficient ways to care for our elderly population here in Florida and across the nation. 

For example, we should increase access to Medicare hospice services, which provide holistic care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Hospice is certainly more compassionate and potentially less expensive than dying in a hospital ICU. End-of-life care is important for Floridians, since we already have about 3.4 million Medicare recipients. Furthermore, our population age 65 and over is expected to increase more than 176 percent between 2000 and 2030.

As a hospice professional, I want to thank Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, and other members of Congress from both parties who are taking this approach with their support of the HELP Act. This legislation would maintain access to hospice care, offer better safeguards to encourage quality care and help more than three dozen Florida hospice providers to deliver even better services to their patients and families.

Supporting the HELP Act is an important step as we aid terminally ill Floridians and their families.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hospice worker sees HELP for Medicare