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CELEBRATIONS: Moorman and Stephens announce engagement

Written by archive on . Posted in celebrations, lifestyle.

Casey Moorman and Clinton Stephens

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Moorman, of Baker, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Casey Moorman, to Clinton Stephens, son of Lamar and Debra Stephens of Crestview.

Miss Moorman, a graduate of Pensacola Christian College, is co-owner of AAA Waste Services Inc. in Crestview and financial secretary of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Crestview.

Mr. Stephens graduated from Samford University, and is a pharmacist at Moulton’s Pharmacy in Crestview.

A wedding planned for Oct. 24, 2015 will be officiated by Rev. Glenn Moorman at the Barn at Water Oaks Farm in Laurel Hill.

The News Bulletin publishes North Okaloosa County residents' “Celebrations” — birth, centenarian, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements — at no charge. We may edit submissions for length and style.

Call 850-682-6524 for more information or email the announcement to us. You may include a photo.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CELEBRATIONS: Moorman and Stephens announce engagement

CROSE: Goals apply to households, businesses and government

Written by archive on . Posted in columns, lifestyle.

"Cities, towns, counties and states need to state their goals to residents and then implement them," Crestview resident Janice Lynn Crose says.

We have goals in every aspect of our lives, whether we recognize it or not.  But not everybody effectively plans to make those dreams a reality.

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!" This is certainly true today.

Several of my friends have been talking about retiring, and they're taking deliberate steps to do so successfully. Their goal is to be financially stable, and they are meeting with financial planners to ensure they maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

That's a good idea for more than potential retirees.

After all, families have a range of goals; sometimes, those may be as simple as sleeping through the night after a new baby's birth. Other times, goals and budgets go hand in hand.

For instance, sending children to college, paying off home loans, replacing vehicles, taking vacations and planning for retirement all require some investment, and you won't achieve those milestones overnight.

Our church, First United Methodist, has a timeline posted on the wall so the congregation can track their goals. A great idea!

Similarly, businesses and governments need to set short- and long-term goals. Cities, towns, counties and states need to state their goals to residents and then implement them.

Here are a few considerations:

●How large do we want to grow our community?

●How will we maintain our infrastructure?

●How will we fund our emergency services? 

●Where do we want to be in three, five and 10 years? 

●What services will we need to add as the municipality grows? 

●How will we fund needed services, roads and traffic lights?

●What about traffic flow? 

●How will we, as a city, county or country, attract new businesses to our area, which will increase the tax revenue base and bring jobs?

All these questions must be asked.

The Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound, or SMART, goal-setting standard, can help, whether in households, businesses or government. 

We all need to be intelligent about setting goals and following through on them. 

We don't want to be in crisis mode because we failed to plan. So let's get to work — set goals and implement them.

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: Goals apply to households, businesses and government

North Okaloosa Medical Center physicals help students kick off a healthy year

Written by archive on . Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

“Annual checkups allow a physician to get to know the medical history of your child and monitor their development from year to year,” said Dr. Keely Kubly, pediatric specialist with North Okaloosa Physician Group. “Establishing baseline information and history makes it easier to identify potential concerns over time."c

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa County students are going back to school on Monday, which also means it's time for annual physicals and immunizations.

“Annual checkups allow a physician to get to know the medical history of your child and monitor their development from year to year,” said Dr. Keely Kubly, pediatric specialist with North Okaloosa Physician Group. “Establishing baseline information and history makes it easier to identify potential concerns over time. These visits are very important to maintaining the health of your child.”

At a checkup, children receive a full physical exam — including measurements such as height and weight — and parents can discuss any concerns about the child's developmental, emotional or social well-being with the physician. Most insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover the visit.

Many children beginning school for the first time are required to have received certain vaccinations. “It is essential for children to receive the right immunizations at the right time, especially before beginning school,” Kubly said. “There is a very low chance that your child will experience side effects after receiving any immunization, but remember: these shots will protect your child in the long run.”

For children involved with sports or other physical activities, coaches may require a sports physical before they can play. A sports exam is similar to an annual physical exam, with addition of the physician’s review of sports-related matters such as nutrition and injuries. A primary care physician such as a family practice or pediatrician can conduct this physical.

Visit NorthOkaloosaPhysicianGroup.com or call 398-8725 for more information on annual physicals and immunizations. Same-day appointments are available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Medical Center physicals help students kick off a healthy year

Fort Walton Beach book signing with Pentagon attack survivor cancelled

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Texas, will discuss his experiences surviving the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon at a reception and book signing event in September.

FORT WALTON BEACH —The Sept. 17 book signing and reception featuring Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Texas, has been cancelled.

The retired colonel wrote a book, "Refined by Fire," about his experiences surviving the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

American Flight 77 crashed a few feet from Birdwell's desk on 9-11, and he was engulfed in flames.

For more information, contact the Okaoosa GOP at 850-496-8458.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fort Walton Beach book signing with Pentagon attack survivor cancelled

Northwest Florida State College associate nursing program earns national accreditation

Written by archive on . Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida State College's Associate in Nursing program has been awarded national accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

An evaluation team from ACEN visited the college in late January and recommended the program for national accreditation for five years. The ACEN Board of Commissioners met in July and made the final decision to award the accreditation through spring 2020.

“ACEN accreditation indicates that NWF State College’s associate degree nursing program meets national standards and guidelines for nursing education," said Director of Nursing Dr. Marty Walker. "The nursing faculty at NWF State College is an excellent example of dedicated and caring nurse educators. The program could not have been as successful without the entire NWF State College team and the community partners who work diligently to aid in the delivery of our quality nursing programs. We are and will continue to be committed to the delivery of quality nursing education.”

The college’s nursing education programs have maintained continuous accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since their inception. In addition, the RN to BSN program has been accredited since 2009 by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, went through reaccreditation in 2013-14, and was awarded an additional 10 years for continued accreditation until 2024.

The RN to BSN degree is available completely online with guided clinical experiences that can be completed in the student’s place of employment.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida State College associate nursing program earns national accreditation

Crestview nonagenarian reaches top Toastmasters tier

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

Crestview resident William Oneby, 92, displays the Toastmasters International certificate he received by completing 40 addresses plus an hour-and-a-half speech.

CRESTVIEW — A 92-year-old World War II veteran has achieved Toastmasters International's top communication recognition.

William Oneby — who has completed 40 speeches in his five years as a Crestview Toastmasters member — recently gave the speech that put him over the top. The talk, which had to be between an hour and a half and two-and-a-half hours in length, qualified him for the Advanced Communicator Gold level. “I gave them a life story and it probably only took a little over an hour and a half,” Oneby said with a chuckle.

Twice-monthly Toastmasters Club meetings — which help members improve their public speaking skills — last an hour, so members went to Oneby’s home to hear his major speech. “I was amazed that people were not bored,” he said. “I was a teacher of night school and I discovered I could give a lecture for 15 minutes, and then beyond that I’d be putting people to sleep; but when I told them my life story, they didn’t go to sleep. It sort of woke them up.”

Distinguished Toastmaster Kathy Morrow, a past president of Crestview's club, said Oneby's speeches have inspired her.

"We've all learned so much from him," she said. "His speeches have been about growing up poor, working hard throughout his life, his various jobs throughout his life, his experiences during World War II and getting an education after the war.

"When I hit a slump, I asked Bill to mentor me through three speeches to get me going again. We discussed each of my speeches and he helped me to get back on track. His achievement shows the level of dedication he has for completing a task.

"Bill wanted gold, and he got it."

Oneby attributes his interest in public speaking and storytelling to his grandfather. “I was born in a small town in Wisconsin called Chippewa Falls, and my grandfather used to sit me on his lap and tell me about his gold prospecting days, which I didn’t understand,” he said. “But since he had me on his lap talking all the time, I learned the English language pretty quickly. I learned the stories even if I didn’t understand them.”

Oneby said he enjoys Toastmasters, which meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays at Destiny Worship Center on Stillwell Boulevard. "You get to mix in with other people who are trying to learn public speaking," he said. "Public speaking is a lot of fun, and it’s somewhat of a necessity to learning.

"Nobody can speak for you. Even Donald Trump.”

During his one-and-a-half-hour speech, Bill Oneby related this joke he learned as a soldier in the World War II European theater.

“Adolf Hitler went for a ride in the country with his chauffeur. The chauffeur hit and killed a farmer’s dog, so Adolf told him to go tell the farmer what happened. The chauffeur came out of the farmhouse with lots of fruits and vegetables. Adolf said, ‘What happened?’ The chauffeur said, ‘I went up to the farmer and I said, ‘Heil Hitler! The dog is dead,’ and he gave me all these fruits and vegetables.’”

A WORLD WAR II JOKE

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview nonagenarian reaches top Toastmasters tier

Florida blood centers announce merger

Written by archive on . Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

Two of Florida’s independent, not-for-profit blood centers, OneBlood, Inc., and The Blood Alliance, Inc., have merged. 

The newly formed organization will distribute more than 1 million blood products annually, serve over 210 hospitals throughout most of Florida, parts of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina and employ more than 2,400 people.

 In addition to mitigating cost to hospitals and patients, the merger is expected to bring additional operational efficiencies and further stabilize the blood supply, especially in times of natural disasters such as hurricanes and enhance donor outreach initiatives.

 OneBlood CEO, Don Doddridge, who began his blood banking career in Jacksonville, will lead the newly merged organization and an 11 member board of directors will provide oversight, governance and guidance.

 Integration of the two organizations will begin immediately.  In addition, The Blood Alliance will undergo a rebranding phase in the coming months and transition to the OneBlood brand. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida blood centers announce merger

HELMS: God shapes us for His glory

Written by archive on . Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

A carpenter's wood does not complain when it is scraped, sanded and torched. "Perhaps it trusts the craftsman to use it correctly," the Rev. Richard Helms says. "God allows us to be shaped for His glory. Perhaps we can trust that His imagination does not run short on how He wants to use us."

An energetic person can fashion a piece of wood into a crude swing, a bow and arrow, spear or club.

My grandfather could build almost anything he desired from wood. If there were a serious flaw in it, he would save that piece for a different use.

His projects seemingly lasted forever. I still have a bookcase he made many years ago; it houses my most precious treasures.

I have an uncle who uses his skills to make paddleboats, airplanes, cars and trucks. Kids — even those of us over age 50 — love to have his wooden works and see the detail he puts into them.

Growing up, a board was not safe during quiet times around my dad. With one of his pocket knives, he would shape it into propellers for airplanes, slingshots — almost anything you can imagine.

The airplane design was simple, but the whole idea was for the props to spin, and did they ever. A couple of years ago, he made a slingshot for one of my grandchildren. It is in my home, locked away for times when he comes up. He loves to shoot it, and it brings me pleasure to share this part of my heritage with my grands.

In these men's hands, a simple piece of wood could become almost anything one's heart could desire.

God the Father looks at us in the same light. We come to Him unshaped, possibly flawed, and yet He can remove our flaws and use us for His will. He looks at us with a desire in His heart to make us into something that can protect, uplift, strengthen, and even correct another.

However, He does not need a special tool to transform us; He simply needs our obedience.

The events of your life are being used by the Master to create His most perfect work yet.

That wood does not complain when it is scraped, sanded and torched. Perhaps it trusts the craftsman to use it correctly. 

God allows us to be shaped for His glory. Perhaps we can trust that His imagination does not run short on how He wants to use us. 

I believe it is about time that we trust Him to use whatever means necessary to bring out the best in us — for His glory, not ours.

Look at what He has brought you through, and rejoice that He will get you through even more, and you will be more beautiful in His sight. 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: God shapes us for His glory

DOH-Okaloosa receives Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award

Written by archive on . Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

OKALOOSA COUNTY — The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County received the Florida Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award.

The award is given by the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition to recognize businesses who are providing support in the workplace to their breastfeeding employees.

DOH-Okaloosa received a Gold Level award, which is the highest designation.

“This award shows that DOH-Okaloosa is serious about being an example of how community employers can provide support to their working moms,” stated Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County. “I encourage all workplaces to strive towards being breastfeeding friendly, so we can make Okaloosa the friendliest community in the state for breastfeeding moms and their babies.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DOH-Okaloosa receives Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award

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