lifestyle | Crestview News Bulletin

Crestview police Drug Take-Back scheduled Saturday

Written by archive on October 24, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department will accept unwanted or expired medication from the public.

The CPD Community Services Division's drug take-back is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27 at Walgreen's, 2350 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.

"We will accept all prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements. This is a safe, secure way to dispose of your or a family member's unwanted, unneeded and expired drugs," a CPD spokesperson said.

"Never dispose of drugs by flushing them down the toilet or tossing them in the trash. Just drop them off Saturday in the marked secure containers guarded by our uniformed police officers. Your medications will not be examined and you will remain completely anonymous."

The department also recommends area residents check their elderly or infirm friends and relatives' medicine cabinets and medicine storage sections for expired medications or medicines they no longer take.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview police Drug Take-Back scheduled Saturday

University of Florida researchers: new stem cell use could help defeat brain cancer

Written by archive on October 24, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

GAINESVILLE — University of Florida Health brain cancer researchers have discovered a new use of stem cells that could clear a revolutionary pathway to making immunotherapy drugs effective in treating brain cancer.

“This is truly one of the more exciting developments I’ve seen in our field in many years,” said Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida. “This discovery gives us profound insights into the mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy drugs, and it may offer a roadmap to use immunotherapy to effectively treat many forms of cancer.”

Some tumors can send signals that prevent immune cells from recognizing and attacking the tumor. A new class of immunotherapy drug, called immune checkpoint inhibitors, blocks these inhibitory signals, allowing immune cells to be more effective in fighting the tumor. This treatment has been shown to be effective in treating many types of cancer, but many cancers, including brain tumors, have yet to demonstrate significant response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Catherine Flores, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UF College of Medicine’s Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, has been studying mechanisms of resistance to a type of immunotherapy called “PD-1 checkpoint blockade” in rodent models of glioblastoma and medulloblastoma.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of adult brain cancer, with life expectancy of less than 24 months from diagnosis. Medulloblastoma, a brain tumor in the cerebellum that occurs most commonly in children, is curable in most cases, but up to 20 to 30 percent of patients succumb to recurrent disease.

In her paper, Flores and her team show that in a rodent model, “hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells” isolated from bone marrow could be used to reprogram glioblastoma tumors to make them sensitive to immunotherapy treatment.

The diagnosis of glioblastoma is devastating for patients and their loved ones. Standard treatment includes high-dose chemotherapy, aggressive surgery and radiation. Without treatment, survival is typically less than six months.

Flores’ lab tested a new approach in three different malignant brain tumor models: glioblastoma, medulloblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, a rare but deadly glioma that arises in the brainstem.

Of the new approach, Flores said, “It was very encouraging to see that this therapy was efficacious in multiple animal models of brain tumors, not just glioblastoma but also medulloblastoma and brainstem glioma.”

“We have found that the stem cell transfer actually impacts the entire immune system, not just the tumor itself. So if we can boost a host immune system with a simple stem cell transfer, this may have huge implications across different tumor types,” Flores said.

Feasibility and safety studies are underway. Clinical testing may occur within the next 18 months.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: University of Florida researchers: new stem cell use could help defeat brain cancer

Cardiologist joins Sacred Heart Medical Group

Written by archive on October 12, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Cardiologist Martha Stewart M.D. has joined Sacred Heart Medical Group’s regional network of doctors. She will see patients from Sacred Heart Medical Group offices in Crestview, Pace and Milton.

Stewart is accepting new patients and most major insurances, with offices located at 550 West Redstone Ave. in Crestview; 3754 U.S. Highway 90 in Pace; and 5992 Berryhill Road in Milton. For information or to schedule an appointment, call 850-416-4620 or visit sacredheartmedicalgroup.com.

Including 11 years of practice in Pensacola, Stewart has more than 22 years of inpatient and outpatient cardiology experience. She has served as investigator on five clinical trials, and her research has been published in national peer-reviewed journals, such as Circulation, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. She is board-certified in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and internal medicine.

Stewart received her bachelor’s degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where she was named a Regents Scholar. After graduating with high honors from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, she performed her internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Stewart then completed her general cardiology and research fellowship training at Washington University and her interventional cardiology fellowship training at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cardiologist joins Sacred Heart Medical Group

Once a log cabin mission, now a full-time church: Bobbie Brown went through it all

Written by archive on September 25, 2018. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Bobbie Brown, 84, sifts through memories with Woodlawn Baptist Church's senior adult pastor George Katzman laughing and reflecting on a meaningful part of her life since she was 20 years old — her church.

For 62 years, Bobbie saw a church grow from a small log cabin with six members to the full-time ministry it is today.

"When I think about Woodlawn history, I get a little sentimental and a lot humble," Bobbie said. "And, sometimes I cry."

Woodlawn Baptist Church began in 1955 as a mission church — a church receiving support from other ministries.

First Baptist Church borrowed money from the Home Mission Board, which they used to purchase a log cabin in Crestview.

Thus began the Woodlawn Baptist Mission.

Bobbie, from Laurel Hill, was attending her parent's church and First Baptist Church prior to Woodlawn Baptist Mission.

One Saturday afternoon, Bobbie said the mission's pastor visited their home inviting them to the mission.

In January of 1956, Bobbie and her late husband, J. W. Brown, attended the mission's first Sunday night service in the cold log cabin with a broken fire place behind the preacher, one "naked" light that was just a light bulb hanging from the ceiling, and slatted pews Bobbie said were uncomfortable.

Three people not including her and her husband attended the service, Bobbie said.

At the first Sunday night service, J. W. became the first person to profess his Christian faith, according to Bobbie. He was also the first person to partake in baptism at the mission.

Bobbie said she moved her letter of membership from her church in Laurel Hill to the mission after that Sunday night service.

Although they were small, Bobbie said the church started on a good note with a pastor, a full set of Bible studies for Sunday school, and mission programs.

"We had Bible school, and we had one little boy that first year jump out of the screen window," Bobbie said.

Bobbie was involved in many parts of the church including the first five-person choir.

"We would sing and you had to watch — bugs would fly in your mouth," Bobbie said.

She also taught Sunday school classes and kept the church's records.

In one year, Woodlawn grew from a mission to a full-time church that no longer relied on help from other ministries.

But, this required hard work of members like Bobbie and her "dear friends" who believed in their cause.

"We had doubts, but our faith really helped us out," Bobbie said.

All of the labor, the church members did themselves from cleaning bathrooms to building Sunday school rooms. Katzman described it as "see a need, meet a need."

In 1958, the church moved out of the log cabin into a white cinder block sanctuary, one that Bobbie said actually had air conditioning.

"We had real good light there," Bobbie said as she chuckled.

From there, the church continued to expand their buildings and in 2000, had their first service in the current worship center.

"I think it was the Lord's will for it to happen," Bobbie said.

Although she's unable to attend church due to health issues, Bobbie still proudly holds on to many pieces of Woodlawn's history like a window and pew from the log cabin and other pieces of church history.

"Not a lot of people would go into a mission like that," Bobbie said. "You put more into it, but you get more out of it."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Once a log cabin mission, now a full-time church: Bobbie Brown went through it all

Lean on Me program evaluates disaster preparedness

Written by archive on September 21, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

FORT WALTON BEACH — Hurricanes and tropical storms can develop quickly in our area and the only way to successfully be ready is to have a plan before a storm becomes a threat. Severe weather can be catastrophic to community members of all ages, but vulnerable individuals — people with one or more disability who are 65 or older — are at the most risk.

The Okaloosa-Walton Medical Reserve Corps offers free preparedness support to vulnerable individuals and their families through an outreach program called “Lean on Me.” The Florida Department of Health program is a free service delivered by credentialed volunteers that help make this mission possible.

Program volunteers conduct in-home preparedness consulting to vulnerable Okaloosa and Walton County residents. They ensure community members know if they are going to shelter in place, evacuate or go to a shelter, then complete a plan and check lists to help guide the resident on assembling disaster supply kits and what actions to take.

The volunteers are trained to educate community members on measures such as individual health conditions, pets, family members, and other needs they may have. Upon each visit, participants receive a small disaster supply box, first aid kit, flashlight, and a weather radio.

“Since the Lean on Me program began offering this free service to our community members, we’ve seen an increased confidence in our vulnerable populations. They now know what to do, where to go, and who to call during emergencies, Karen Chapman, Okaloosa Department of Health director, said.

“We’ve successfully conducted Lean on Me visits to 87 vulnerable community members in the past year and we expect that number to continue to increase.”

The OWMRC is committed to providing these services to as many vulnerable residents as possible.

Participants must request this service by calling Peggy McDeavitt, 830-0743 or emailing Katie Scott, Katie.Scott@flhealth.gov.

Visit http://okaloosa.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/public-health-preparedness/index.html to learn more about emergency preparedness,

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lean on Me program evaluates disaster preparedness

How to spot and treat 4 common children’s health issues

Written by archive on September 18, 2018. Posted in lifestyle.

Tip of the Week

From a cough that won’t go away to a sore throat they caught from the classroom, children and their vulnerable immune systems can fall victim to common illnesses quicker and more often than adults. However, while these health issues are typical, it is not always easy to identify what they are when symptoms strike.

According to pediatrician Dr. Nina Shapiro, an important part in understanding a child’s symptoms is also being prepared to help fight back with the right tools at home and to know when it’s time to bring them to see a doctor.

Alleviating some of the uncomfortable symptoms at the first signs of sickness or discomfort will help your child get back to being a kid faster and can aid their long-term health. When pain and discomfort do strike, knowing the signs and symptoms of some of these common problems can help determine the best course of action.

1. Ear pain

Ear pain can be caused by myriad issues, including swimmer’s ear, an existing cold, an ear infection or tooth pain traveling up the jawline, among other things. An over-the-counter pain reliever, elevating the child’s head when sleeping and a warm compress on the ear may help lessen the discomfort. However, if the pain continues to worsen, is accompanied by a high fever and/or swelling and pus exists, the best option is to visit a pediatrician for an in-office exam to determine the exact cause.

2. Constipation

According to a recent survey commissioned by Pedia-Lax, nearly 45 percent of parents with children between ages 2 and 11 noted their children experience constipation at least once a month. Recognizing the symptoms of constipation can be tricky depending on the child’s age — especially if they can’t voice their issue. Luckily, there are physical and emotional symptoms to look out for, including less than three bowel movements a week, stomach aches, a decrease in appetite and increased irritability. Shapiro suggests opting for a medicine that’s formulated specifically for children versus an adult formula. To help prevent constipation, encourage your child to eat a well-balanced, fiber-rich diet, drink lots of fluids and speak up whenever they feel they need to use the restroom.

3. Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a pesky, highly contagious illness often seen in young children — especially during the beginning of the school year when children are back inside in close quarters. It is caused by a virus similar to the cold virus and, as the name suggests, can involve the hands (primarily the palms), the feet (primarily the soles) and the mouth. Telltale signs are sore throat due to sores on the palate and the lips, sores on the palms and sores on the feet. In general, the throat sores tend to give the worst of the symptoms, leading to inability to swallow, severe throat pain and fevers. Kids that refuse to eat or drink due to throat pain can be at risk for dehydration. The treatment plan includes pain medications, drinking cool liquids and rest.

4. Pink eye

From the bus to the classroom to the playground, children often spend a lot of time in close quarters with their friends. While sharing is an important lesson to learn at a young age, kids will often, unfortunately, share their germs too. Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is spread through hand-to-hand contact, which can transport the highly contagious condition to the eyes. While symptoms like itchy and watery eyes could be mistaken for allergies, watch out for increased yellow or green discharge and a change in color to the whites of the eye, which may indicate pink eye. Over-the-counter eye drops and a warm compress on the eyes can help soothe the irritation at home but, given how fast pink eye can spread to family and friends, it’s always best to head to a doctor for medication. Sometimes doctors will prescribe an antibiotic eye drop if the infection appears to be bacterial and not viral.

When sickness strikes, it’s important to be armed and ready with not only the knowledge of the common symptoms of these pediatric health issues, but also the best treatment options so your child can get back to the playground in no time. For more information on children’s digestive health, visit Pedia-lax.com.

Family Movie Night

"The House with a Clock in Its Walls"

Rated: PG

Length: 104 mins

Synopsis: Based on the popular book about a young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle (Jack Black) in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.

Book Report

"What Can a Citizen Do?"

Ages: 4 – 8 years

Pages: 40

Synopsis: Across the course of several seemingly unrelated but ultimately connected actions by different children, we watch how kids turn a lonely island into a community—and watch a journey from what the world should be to what the world could be.

Did You Know

Natural disasters in the news today are a good reminder that emergencies can happen at any time even during the school day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that parents follow the following A-B-C’s so that emergencies are less chaotic, children are kept safe, and families can be reunited safely as soon as possible:

Ask how you would be reunited with your child in an emergency or evacuation. For example, if students had to evacuate, where should you go to pick them up? And how would the school notify you in the event of emergency?
Bring extra medication, special foods, or supplies your child would need if you were separated overnight
Complete a backpack contact information card and tuck one in your child’s backpack and your wallet. The card can be downloaded and printed out at https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/readywrigley/documents/backpack_emergency_card.pdf

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: How to spot and treat 4 common children’s health issues

Operation Homefront accepting Military Child of the Year nominations

Written by archive on September 18, 2018. Posted in lifestyle.

Operation Homefront, the national nonprofit that builds strong, stable, and secure military families, is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Military Child of the Year Awards, as well as applications for the 2019 Military Child of the Year® Award for Innovation.

Military Child of the Year is the nation’s premier celebration of the achievements of military children. Nominations are open through Dec. 5, and all awards will be presented at a recognition gala April 18 in the nation’s capital.

The annual awards recognize seven outstanding young people ages 13 to 18 who are legal dependents of a service member or military retiree.

The organization will send all seven award recipients, and one of their parents or guardians to Washington, D.C. to be recognized at the April 18 gala, where they will receive $10,000 each and a laptop computer. The recipient of the innovation award will also receive donated business expertise in bringing their creative solution to market.

Six Military Child of the Year recipients will represent a branch of the armed forces — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard — demonstrating resiliency, leadership, and achievement during their parents’ military service.

The seventh award is the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation presented by global technology and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. This award goes to a military child who has designed a bold and creative solution to address a local, regional, or global challenge.

“(The) awards recognize the extraordinary young people in military families who serve alongside their parents and excel while facing the pressures and uncertainties associated with military life,” retired Brig. Gen. John Pray Jr. said. He is Operation Homefront's president and CEO.

To nominate a child for the award, visit www.militarychildoftheyear.org and click the Nominations tab.

Nomination fields include when and how long a parent has deployed, number of family moves, Gold Star Family or Exceptional Family Member Program status, whether a parent is a wounded service member, nominee’s volunteerism, and five short answers as to why the nominee is deserving.

Visit www.militarychildoftheyear.org for more information about the nomination process.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Operation Homefront accepting Military Child of the Year nominations

Holt resident accepts state volunteer award

Written by archive on September 4, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Dignitaries at the city, county and state level attended an Aug. 29 ceremony where 17-year-old Holt resident Railey Conner accepted the Florida Health Care Association Young Adult Volunteer of the Year award.

The Baker School honor student is a regular volunteer at Crestview Rehabilitation Center, whose staff nominated her for the award. It recognizes her work securing Christmas gifts for and visiting residents in Crestview nursing homes since the age of 11.

"We appreciate everyone that came out to make this day for Railey special, because she certainly makes our patients' lives special every year," Renita Infinger, CRC administrator, said. When she started working at the CRC three years ago, it was the first time in 31 years that she hadn't had to scramble around for patient gifts to let them have any Christmas.

"Railey is a huge part of that and I appreciate that greatly," Infinger said at the ceremony.

FHCA officials present included Director of Communications Kristen Knapp and Chief Lobbyist Bob Asztalos. Knapp said the FHCA represents over 550 of Florida's 685 nursing homes.

"We have a volunteer committee of administrators from across Florida that helped judge with these awards. They were so impressed with this amazing young lady," she said.

"Volunteers are really at the heart of quality of life for our residents … these people have given so much back to our communities, and to have such an inspiring young lady give of herself and inspire her friends and others in the community … her nomination stood above the rest," Knapp said.

Crestview Mayor David Cadle, Okaloosa County School Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson, Okaloosa School Board member Tim Bryant, and State Rep. Mel Ponder were also among those present.

Ponder called Railey's efforts "phenomenal."

"I don't know if you'll ever be able to tell the impact you’ve made in the lives of many, but I do hope and pray that you'll get to witness that at some point in time, so just from my perspective, congratulations. I'm really honored by your victory today and the recognition by Florida Health Care in representing Northwest Florida so well," he said.

Railey expressed her gratitude for the award and encouraged those present to give of themselves.

"I just wanted to say that it's very easy to give your time. It doesn't cost a thing. Just like when you have three days, just come up here, even, and hang out. All those residents over there are actually pretty cool. I love hanging out with them.

"If you call bingo, you'd better call it right though, or else you're going to hear it … They're like my bonus grandparents and I wouldn't trade them for anything," she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Holt resident accepts state volunteer award

Teen Volunteer of the Year has a passion for giving

Written by archive on August 29, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — A Florida organization will recognize a Holt senior Aug. 29 for her volunteer work helping residents in area nursing homes.

Railey Conner, 17, is a Baker School student. Crestview Rehabilitation Center nominated her as a Youth Florida Health Care Association Volunteer of the Year candidate and were notified that she won the award this month.

CRC Administrator Renita Infinger said FHCA represents over 82 percent of Florida’s nursing homes, over 550 of Florida’s 685 facilities, and Railey was chosen out of all the young adults who volunteer in member centers across the state.

In the nomination essay, Infinger stated, "Not only does she deliver Christmas gifts, but she also develops lasting relationships with many of the patients. She knows many patients by name, and she knows their hobbies, interests and life stories … Railey helps our patients reach their full potential by getting to know our patients and by giving them something to look forward to each year."

Railey said working with nursing and rehabilitation residents has made her focus more on her studies as an honor student.

"What happens now won't necessarily matter in the future, so I kind of focus on my studies more than the whole popularity thing that a lot of people focus on in high school … I want to focus on the big picture, because it's like you need to kind of do what's best for your future and take advantage of opportunities … It's shaped me into the person I am today because I do spend a lot of time volunteering. It's made me more compassionate, I would say."

What started out as a charitable way to celebrate her 10th birthday in 2010 has become a way of life for Railey.

"It started because my grandmother was in a nursing home and had Alzheimer's for a number of years at that point, so we used to go to church and take her by the nursing home … the first thing Railey wanted to do was make sure all the residents there got Christmas presents," Railey's mother, Angie Holland, said.

"It has varied from someone wanting red lipstick and red hair to wanting a thing of cheese puffs and a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper. And she makes sure that whatever they have asked for, they get that," Holland said.

Railey said the most popular requests are crosswords, word search puzzles; bingo; large-piece puzzles suitable for young children and items with different textures for Alzheimer's patients.

"But really, they just like to see people … if you have a day or two or three and you're willing to go out there and chill with some old people, that really means the most to them," Railey said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Teen Volunteer of the Year has a passion for giving

DeFuniak Springs car wreck victim seeks help

Written by archive on August 1, 2018. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Donors have contributed $750 of the $2,000 requested for a DeFuniak Springs resident injured in a June 29 accident.

The daughter of Priscilla Grubbs of Crestview, Sheana Moran was on her way to her mom's house to pick up her two daughters and sister when the three-vehicle wreck occurred at the intersection of Camellia Avenue and U.S. Highway 90.

Moran, 26, said her boss started the fundraiser, listed at https://www.gofundme.com/sejna-helping-a-beautiful-soul, to help her purchase a replacement after her car was totaled in the wreck.

"I thank everyone for supporting me and all the donations. This will really mean a lot," she said.

She spent a week in the hospital and three days in rehabilitation before going home to recuperate.

"I have a broken, right-side wrist; a laceration on my right knee from one side to the other, down to the bone; and a broken, right ankle. They had to go in on both sides of my ankle because it just wasn't broken; it was shattered," Moran said.

She can't bear weight on her right side and uses a platform walker and a wheelchair to get around.

Her sister, Leslie Moran, who lives with her, has been her caretaker.

"I have a three-month-old of my own. Sometimes I'm not able to tend to her when she's crying when I'm assisting Sheana in her daily routines such as bathing, dressing, doing her hair, sometimes have to assist toileting her, etc. I also have to take care of her two kids as well as my own. I take care of all responsibilities in the home as well: cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.

"At the end of the day, even though life isn't a walk in the park right now, all that matters to me and the rest of my family is that Sheana is alive," Leslie said.

Sheana said her surgeon wanted her to wait until late August or September to return to work. As the main provider and currently the only person with transportation at her home, Sheana wanted to go back to work earlier.

She returned to work July 30 instead, as the last check she received from her job otherwise was July 27.

The Florida Highway Patrol issued her a citation for careless driving after the accident. She disputes the FHP's account and hired an attorney.

"The only reason I am fighting this is because even though I don't remember the accident, I know from the evidence … that (some witness statements were) not true … it just makes me wonder how many other people have wrongly been charged," Sheana said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DeFuniak Springs car wreck victim seeks help

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