As a representative of Okaloosa Saves and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, I was delighted to present a check for $1,000 from America Saves to local resident Diana Mongeau, of Niceville.

Diana entered the national #imsavingfor contest at the Okaloosa Saves Eco-Nomic Living Expo held at the Santa Rosa Mall in February. She made a short video at the mall, with her granddaughter Jazzy, explaining her savings tips.

The same day the check was presented Diana explained that she was heading out to deposit the check in a new savings account for her granddaughter and entering the Teach A Child To Save contest in hopes that Jazzy would be a $50 winner.

The 2017 Teach A Child To Save campaign runs from April 24 to July 31. Any youth (17 years and younger) who sets a savings goal is eligible to win $50.

Enter the drawing by making a deposit into your account and registering as an Okaloosa Saver (one entry per day allowed).

Six children's names will be randomly drawn from all entries, and each will win a $50 cash award to add to their savings accounts. David Money of First Bank provided funds for the prizes.

The 2017 participating banks and credit unions are:

•Bancorp South, Miramar Beach

•Beach Community Bank

•Eglin Federal Credit Union

•First City Bank

Since Okaloosa Saves introduced Teach a Child to Save in 2004, a total of 2,969 children has saved over $300,000.

If you would like to start saving, take a small step and pledge to save at Okaloosasaves.org.

To view Diana’s winning video visit the Okaloosa Saves Facebook page.

Contact me at jbreslawski@ufl.edu if you have questions or want more information.

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa 'Teach Children to Save' contest promotes financial responsibility

All investments carry risk. But, as an investor, one of the biggest risks you face is that of not achieving your long-term goals, such as enjoying a comfortable retirement and remaining financially independent throughout your life. 

To help reach your objectives, you need to own a variety of investment vehicles — and each carries its own type of risk.

If you spread your investment dollars among vehicles that carry different types of risk, you may increase your chances of owning some investments that do well, even if, at the same time, you own others that don't. As a result, you may be able to reduce the overall level of volatility in your portfolio. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can't guarantee a profit or protect against all losses.)

To diversify your risk factors, you first need to recognize them. Here are some of the most common types of investment risk:

Market risk — This is the type of risk that everyone thinks about — the risk that you could lose principal if the value of your investment drops and does not recover before you sell it. All investments are subject to market risk. You can help lessen this risk by owning a wide variety of investments from different industries and even different countries.

Inflation (purchasing power) risk — If you own a fixed-rate investment, such as a Certificate of Deposit (CD), that pays an interest rate below the current rate of inflation, you are incurring purchasing power risk. Fixed-income investments can help provide reliable income streams, but you also need to consider investments with growth potential to help work toward your long-term goals.

Interest-rate risk — Bonds and other fixed-income investments are subject to interest rate risk. If you own a bond that pays 4 percent interest, and newly issued bonds pay 5 percent, it would be difficult to sell your bond for full price. So if you wanted to sell it prior to maturity, you might have to offer it at a discount to the original price. However, if you hold your bonds to maturity, you can expect to receive return of your principal provided the bond does not default.

Default risk — Bonds, along with some more complex investments, such as options, are subject to default risk. If a company issues a bond that you've bought and that company runs into severe financial difficulties, or even goes bankrupt, it may default on its bonds, leaving you holding the bag. You can help protect against this risk by sticking with "investment-grade" bonds — those that receive high ratings from independent rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's or Moody's.

Liquidity risk — Some investments, like real estate, are harder to sell than others. Thus, real estate is considered more "illiquid" than many common investments.

Make sure you understand what type of risk is associated with every investment you own. And try to avoid "overloading" your portfolio with too many investments with the same type of risks. Doing so will not result in a totally smooth journey through the investment world — but it may help eliminate some of the "bumps" along the way.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Diversify your investment risk

A train was filled with tired people. Most of them had spent the day traveling through the hot, dusty plains. At last, evening had come and they all tried to settle down to a sound sleep.

However, at one end of the car a man was holding a tiny baby, and as night came on the baby became restless and cried more and more. Unable to take it any longer, a big brawny man spoke for the rest of the group. "Why don't you take that baby to its mother?"

There was a moment's pause and then came the reply. "I'm sorry. I'm doin' my best. The baby's mother is in her casket in the baggage car ahead."

Again there was an awful silence for a moment. Then the big man who asked the cruel question was out of his seat and moved toward the man with the motherless child. He apologized for his impatience and unkind remark.

He took the tiny baby in his own arms and told the tired father to get some sleep. Then in loving patience he cared for the little child all through the night.

How often do you stop to think about what another person is going through when you become agitated? Think about the driver of a vehicle who is speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. Instead of cursing such a person, do you ever offer a prayer? Perhaps there is a medical emergency, or a friend or loved one who needs serious help.

So many people's reactions today show a lack of patience or an attempt to understand, including the immediate reaction that takes another's actions like they were an intentional personal affront. So, retaliation or harsh words are engaged.

Do you have what it takes to give someone the benefit of the doubt when something unpleasant happens? Do you have what it takes to realize that not everything that happens to you was done intentionally? Do you have what it takes to offer a prayer instead of a curse?

Disciples of Jesus Christ should take Paul's admonition seriously: "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness." (2 Timothy 2:24)

It's not always easy to do, but with time and a great deal of practice, kindness and patience will become a way of life. Harsh and rash assumptions will disappear. And relationships will grow.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Make kindness, patience a way of life

The Robert L. F. Sikes Public Library in Crestview is wonderful. It has an amazing collection of books on many different subjects, from technical information to history to science fiction. Whatever one may be looking for is available.

The library also hosts an open microphone night for musicians, writers and poets as well as exhibits of different types, all to enrich our learning.

The exhibit currently on display is "1967: A pivotal year in American film" and displays some film posters from movies made that year. Brian Hughes and his friend Clyde Ponder have graciously put their movie posters on display from now until the end of August.

It is hard to believe that 1967 was 50 years ago, and a big year for movies of all types. Here are a few titles you may have heard of or remember:

•"40 Guns to Apache Pass"

•"Barefoot in the Park"

•"Bonnie and Clyde"

•"Camelot"

•"Cool Hand Luke"

•"The Dirty Dozen"

•"Doctor Doolittle"

•"El Dorado"

•"The Gnome-Mobile"

•"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"

•"Jungle Book" (animated)

•"The Taming of the Shrew"

•"Wait Until Dark"

•"The War Wagon"

•"Thoroughly Modern Millie"

•"You Only Live Twice"

There were many more films that year. Some were memorable, and some were not.

Library patrons can see an interesting variety of film poster types, including rare "three-sheet" posters for "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and the year's Best Picture Oscar winner, "In the Heat of the Night," according to Brian Hughes. There are more film posters exhibited and a plethora of information. He has done a wonderful job with this exhibit.

Dr. David Simmons, Film and Humanities professor at Northwest Florida State College, will give a presentation on the significance of 1967 in American film at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. It promises to be fascinating as well as informative. There will be a reception afterward. I hope to see you there.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, 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: Film poster exhibit is at the library