FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County Transit is accepting entries through Friday for its Art on the Move contest for local art students. 

The contest pairs public transportation and art while promoting local artists who will create murals that will – quite literally – move people across Okaloosa County.

“In large cities across the world, public transportation and art are frequently paired to enhance rider experience and spread art across communities,” OCT Transit Coordinator and Grants Manager Lani Birchett said. “We believe this is an amazing element of transit, and we want to encourage young artists at the same time.”

Participating in the contest provides many benefits to students at a time when schools are focused on standardized testing.

“With the focus on core subjects, it can be hard to find time to encourage creativity and to practice visual arts,” Mattie Kelly Arts Center Gallery Director K.C. Williams said. “However, studies have shown that fine arts education positively impacts test scores."

Williams said entering contests such as Art on the Move "is a great way to build the portfolios of our young artists. Displaying art on buses moving through Okaloosa County brings their work to a mass audience.”

The contest, open to all students in Okaloosa County, asks students to illustrate where they would like to go on OCT and to complete an official entry form.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Art on the Move contest will place student work on buses

FORT WALTON BEACH — Three Okaloosa County chambers of commerce will host their members' biggest marketing and networking opportunity — the Multi-Chamber Business Expo & Taste of Okaloosa County — tomorrow.

On March 20, the Destin Area, Greater Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville Valparaiso chambers of commerce, and their members invite you to learn about, enjoy samples from and network with area businesses at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach.

Featured restaurants include Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.; Capriccio Café; Chili's Grill and Bar; Fudpucker's on the Island; Helen Back Again of Niceville; KMJ Diner & Memphis BBQ 2 LLC; Miller's Ale House of Destin; Tijuana Flats; and Whataburger.

The event will be open to the public at no charge from 4-7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Expo, Taste of Okaloosa is March 20

Joseph “Brooks” Morrell of Bradford County recently reported three huge bass that he caught, documented, released and entered in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s TrophyCatch program.

These included the second and third Hall of Fame entries for the program’s second season (Oct. 1, 2013 to Sep. 30, 2014). The bass weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces and 14 pounds, 9 ounces and were caught March 1 and 8, respectively.

The third bass he caught on March 9 weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces.

All three of his trophy bass were caught sight-fishing with a soft-plastic Berkley crawfish bait on Lake Kingsley in Clay County.

Morrell grew up fishing in Florida and then spent six years in the U.S. Air Force security forces prior to returning to Florida to become a law enforcement officer in Bradford County.

On March 1, he located the 13-pounder on a bed guarded by a male. After working the male off the bed, he landed her using the artificial crawfish bait and called the FWC. Conservation officers Jason Bryant and Christiane Larosa were able to help measure the bass and even photographed its successful release, which allowed it to return to the bed.

A week later, Morrell was back on Kingsley Lake and landed the 14-pounder. It was 27.75 inches long with a 21-inch girth.

Various formulas used for estimating bass weights (available on the FWC website) project a bass with those dimensions would be between 13.5 and 16.2 pounds, further substantiating the catch. This is now the biggest bass of TrophyCatch season two, and Florida is right in the middle of peak fishing time for big bass – so the challenge is on.

“Fishing has been awesome this spring,” Morrell said. “I’m so glad that I could get these documented and then release the females alive right back on their beds."

TrophyCatch is the FWC’s premier angler-recognition program that encourages anglers who catch largemouth bass over 8 pounds to photo-document them on a scale showing the entire fish and its weight. Once documented, a fish must be live-released in the same water system from which it was caught.

In return for documenting and releasing these big female bass that typically are at least 8 years old and relatively rare, the FWC’s partners provide valuable rewards. FWC posts the images on the TrophyCatch Florida website and provides a full-color certificate and club decal. Corporate partners provide additional incentives including the following:

•Lunker Club (8-9.9 pounds): $100 in gift cards from Bass Pro Shops, Rapala and/or Dick’s Sporting goods, and a club T-shirt from Bass King Clothing.

•Trophy Club (10-12.9 pounds): $150 in gift cards from Bass Pro Shops, Rapala and/or Dick’s Sporting goods, and a long-sleeve club shirt from Bass King Clothing.

•Hall of Fame (13 pounds or heavier): Free fiberglass replica from New Wave Taxidermy ($500 value), $200 in gift cards from Bass Pro Shops, Rapala and/or Dick’s Sporting goods, and a duffle bag and custom hoody, with other goodies, from Bass King Clothing.

•The biggest bass of the year also receives a TrophyCatch championship ring from the American Outdoors Fund, and if the winning bass is from one of the major lakes in Osceola County, Experience Kissimmee adds a $10,000 check.

However, for many anglers more than the value of the rewards or the bragging rights associated with the program, the biggest thrill is releasing their catch to fight another day and knowing the information provided about the catch helps the FWC ensure trophy bass for future generations. Information reported to TrophyCatch is used by the FWC to determine what management programs such as habitat enhancement, aquatic plant management, fish stocking or regulations are most effective. Moreover, the information is very valuable for promoting Florida bass fishing, which generates significant economic benefits to local communities and encourages additional angling –including getting more youth involved.

For more information, visit the Trophy Catch website and follow them on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: TrophyCatch Florida: Angler catches two Hall of Fame, one trophy bass

CRESTVIEW — The Hub City might be the Love City if an online real estate brokerage's website is accurate. Crestview ranks seventh of 50 Florida cities for singles looking for love.

Movoto, "the fun real estate research site," according to the company's public relations associate Chad Stiffney, compiled the list by comparing these data:

•Percent of population within the 18-44 “dating age range”

•Percent of population who take public transit, because "you’re not going to find love in your car"

•Number of singles per bar; "the fewer the better"

•Number of singles per romantic restaurant; "ditto"

Crestview was the only Northwest Florida city to make the top 10 list.

"Crestview … ranked 26th for singles within our dating age range, comprising 40.5 percent or 6,349 of its residents," Movoto content editor Randy Nelson stated in an online article. "You’re not going to meet these folks during your commute, though, as a mere .55 percent of them take public transportation.

"On the bright side, the city ranked 49th for bars with one for every 454 singles and 32nd for romantic restaurants, with one place offering perfect date night ambience for every 529 unattached residents."

The website didn't specify which area restaurant offered that "perfect date night ambience," but Mike McDuffie, who co-owns The Wild Olive with his wife Susan, likes to think Movoto had their establishment in mind.

"I'm not sure our place would be the place to meet anybody but it sure would be a nice place to come if they brought them here once they met them," he said.

Movoto's 'Love Meter'

Movoto ranked all 162 Florida cities with populations above 5,000 people.

"Each place was then given a score from 1 to 162 in the four criteria, with one being the best," Nelson stated in his article.

"Finally, we averaged these scores together to get an overall Big Deal Score, the lowest of which was our winner."

Topping the list was South Miami, a Miami suburb of 12,000 people. At the bottom of the top 50 was Haines City, a town south of Orlando.

Rounding out the top 10 were Palmetto, Key West, Lake Worth and Kissimmee (tie), Sebring, Longwood (tied with Crestview), Miami Beach and Cocoa Beach.

Destin ranked 49th; Niceville, 40th; and Pensacola, 27th. Fort Walton Beach did not make the top 50.

See Movoto's list of top 50 Florida cities for singles here >>

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview ranks 7th in state for singles looking for love

CRESTVIEW — Destinie McCara is 13, but she's already learning mechanic work so she's ready when it's time to drive.

For that, she can partially credit Hub City Ford and North Okaloosa Medical Center employees and Tuesday's "Heels and Wheels" automobile maintenance clinic.

PHOTOS: See 12 photos from the event here>>

Kimberly Davis said she wants her daughter to know the basics. 

"I wanted (Destinie) to know how to change her tires and change her fluids before she starts driving," Davis said. "I think it is very beneficial for every child to learn how to change a tire or check their oil … because a tow truck could take (up to) three hours to get there."

Destinie said she learned how to change a flat tire and what to look for when replacing brake pads and checking vehicle fluids. 

Car problems will happen, she said, adding, "I'd rather do the manual labor than have to spend money."

Ford Motor Company employees and representatives taught attendees how to check tire pressure and change tires, and how to use roadside assistance, among other helpful tips.

"We are trying to dispel the myths that auto care facilities are taking advantage of women," said Dion Stakley, the dealer's parts and services director, one of several employees who answered questions from 30 attendees. "To help prevent that is to empower women on the maintenance process."

EmailNews Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitteror call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Women learn do-it-yourself tips during automobile maintenance clinic (PHOTOS)

NICEVILLE — One of Neil Simon’s most well-known comedies will be presented tonight and tomorrow at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center's Sprint Theater stage in Niceville.

“The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” presented by Northwest Florida State College’s Fine & Performing Arts Division, begins at 7:30 p.m. each night.

In the play, main character Mel Edison is a well-paid executive of a high-end Manhattan firm, which has suddenly hit the skids — and he gets the ax. His wife, Edna, takes a job to tide them over; and then she too is sacked.

Compounded by air pollution killing his plants, and with the apartment walls being paper-thin, allowing him a constant earful of his neighbors' private lives, things can’t seem to get worse.

But then they do.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youths age 18 or younger. NWFSC students receive one free ticket at the box office with valid college ID.The box office will open at 6 p.m. each show night for remaining tickets, subject to availability.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘Prisoner of Second Avenue’ continues through March 15

CRESTVIEW — Residents don't need to go bankrupt to have fun, memorable vacations, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension agent Elaine Courtney said.

By planning a budget, saving for a vacation, checking Internet bargains, vacationing at home or traveling off season, travelers can maximize their vacation for minimal dollars, she said.

Saving toward a trip months in advance can save thousands compared to charging it to a credit card, said Courtney, who works in the Extension's Crestview office.

For instance, the average family's vacation costs $1,600; if charged to a typical credit card, it would take 14 years to pay off making minimum payments, and would cost $3,500 with interest, she said.

Adequate vacation planning also is essential for a stress-free get-away, taking the most advantage of limited vacation days, Courtney said during a March 4 presentation at the Crestview Public Library.

Visiting the library for planning tools such as travel guides and atlases, especially if planning international travel, can help, she said.

Vacationers with limited budgets might consider a vacation at home, also called a "staycation."

"Most of us like to go on vacation, doing and seeing new things, but the dollars are limited," Courtney said. "We want to get the most vacation we can for the least amount of money."

Visiting local museums, free or inexpensive state parks and beaches, attending library or church-organized lectures and activities, and canoeing on local rivers offer cheap, fun daytrips, she said.  

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's how you can vacation on a budget