MILTON — James Harvey is the latest player to achieve a hole in one at Tanglewood Golf and Country Club.
A hole in one occurs when a golfer hits the ball from the tee directly into the cup.
The 71-year-old achieved the honor Oct. 9 on hole 5 from 121 yards. Jim Lucassen witnessed it.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Harvey hits a hole in one
CRESTVIEW — After being forced to suspend operations throughout parts of its service area due to Hurricane Matthew, OneBlood, the local blood center, has resumed operations and urges residents to donate as soon as possible to replenish the blood supply.
There is an urgent need of O Negative blood, platelets and AB plasma.
“The hurricane has greatly reduced our ability to collect blood … and as a result we are now facing the reality of a severe blood shortage,” said Susan Forbes, vice president of Marketing and Communications. “The donations that come in from the areas where we are now operating are helping sustain the blood supply throughout OneBlood’s entire service area.”
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays at the Crestview Donor Center, 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite B. The phone number is 306-2455.
Healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Donations sought during ‘severe’ blood shortage
Screwworms infecting wild deer in the Florida Keys have captured headlines, and experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and UF's College of Veterinary Medicine say livestock and pet owners in the state should keep a watchful eye for signs of infection in their animals to aid the eradication effort.
Florida residents who own cattle, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, poultry, exotic birds or other warm-blooded animals should know the symptoms animals exhibit when infected by the larvae of the New World screwworm fly, said Dr. Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
"We have every reason to believe that the current outbreak will be contained and eradicated," Payne said. "… Having said all that, we need state residents to provide an extra measure of protection, just by observing their animals."
Dr. James Lloyd, dean of the UF veterinary college, explained that screwworm infestations occur when an adult female screwworm lays eggs on an open wound or mucous membranes in a warm-blooded animal. When the eggs hatch, screwworm larvae burrow into the host animal's flesh to feed. Infestations can strike otherwise healthy animals, he noted.
"The symptoms of a screwworm infestation might include a festering wound or sore or an unexplained lump under the skin, particularly if there's a discharge or foul smell associated with it," Lloyd said. "Also, you may observe fly larvae on the animal or in its quarters."
A veterinarian should evaluate any animal with a suspected screwworm infection immediately, said Wendy Mandese, a clinical assistant professor with the UF veterinary college’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.
"Open wounds and unexplained lumps can indicate serious health issues other than screwworm infection, so the key point is to get treatment for the animal as soon as possible," Mandese said.
Time is of the essence because delayed treatment gives screwworm larvae more time to develop and cause damage to the host animals, said veterinary entomologist Phil Kaufman, an associate professor with the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department.
"The pest we're talking about, the New World screwworm fly, Cochliomiya hominivorax, is not something you can ignore because there’s no such thing as a tolerable infestation," Kaufman said. "The larvae of this species consume healthy tissue — they create wounds. They are also capable of burrowing deep into the host’s body tissues to reach previously uninfected areas. Untreated cases can lead to death within a matter of weeks, maybe less."
Clinical treatment of infected animals typically involves the application of medication to the animal’s wounds to kill the larvae, larvae removal, administration of antibiotics and general supportive care, Mandese said.
“When caught in time, screwworm infections are treatable,” she said. “Even if it turns out your animal has a different health issue, immediate attention is appropriate for any unusual wound, sore or persistent discomfort you notice in a pet or livestock animal.”
Tom Nordlie is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences science writer.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Watch for signs of screwworm on livestock, pets
The average American retires at about age 63, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. If you enjoy your work, of course, you may want to go well beyond that age. But what if you don’t want to wait until 63 or so? Can you afford to retire early?
Possibly – if you follow these suggestions:
• Research the costs involved. What will you do during your retirement years? Will you travel the world or stay close to home, pursuing your hobbies? Will you downsize from your current home? How will you pay for health care until you’re old enough for Medicare?
You will need to answer these and other questions to determine how much you will need to sustain a comfortable lifestyle as an early retiree.
• Invest more – and invest for growth. One big advantage in retiring at the usual age, or even later, is that it gives you more time to invest. But if you’re determined to retire early, you will almost certainly need to accelerate your investment rate – which, in practical terms, means you’ll likely have to contribute more each year to your IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan than if you were going to retire later on. Plus, you may have to “ratchet up” the growth potential of your investment portfolio.
However, because growth-oriented investments typically are more volatile than other investments, you will be taking on more risk than you might otherwise. If you are truly uncomfortable with this risk level, you may need to re-evaluate your plans for retiring early.
• Cut down your debt load. It’s always a good idea to enter retirement with as few debts as possible – but if you want to retire early, you may need to be even more diligent in controlling your debt load.
• Know the rules governing retirement plan withdrawals. If you want to retire before age 59½ and begin taking distributions from your IRA or 401(k) plan, you will generally be subject to a 10 percent early distribution penalty, plus normal income taxes. (To withdraw your earnings from a Roth IRA tax and penalty free, you generally must have owned the account for at least five years and have reached age 59½. You can withdraw your contributions at any time tax and penalty free.) However, you may be able to avoid the 10 percent penalty if you take “substantially equal periodic payments,” which are calculated based upon your age and other factors. Once these distributions begin, they must continue for five years or until you reach age 59½, whichever is longer.
Other rules apply to these distributions, so before taking any, you will want to consult with your tax and financial professionals. And keep in mind that if your withdrawal rate is too high, you risk seriously depleting your retirement accounts, especially if your investments decline in value during the years you’re taking these payments. Most importantly, do everything early: Plan early, invest early (and don’t stop), and lower your debt load early.
Getting a jump on all these activities can go a long way toward turning your early retirement dreams into reality.
This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Want to retire early? Start planning now
Okaloosa County 4-H members have an opportunity every October to participate in our Northwest Florida Fair at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach.
This year’s fair was Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, 2016. Okaloosa County 4-H, as usual, held many livestock shows during the fair. We had poultry showmanship, rabbit showmanship, a dairy and meat goat show, a beef cattle show and a dog show. To participate in livestock shows, youths must be enrolled as an Okaloosa County 4-H member.
We also had opportunities for 4-Hers not interested in showing animals. For example, exhibit entries included anything from photography, canning and sewing to knitting and posters.
The fair premium book contains all of the categories for all exhibit entries. Each Okaloosa County 4-H club also enters a club booth in the fair. The exhibits and club booths are judged and, depending on where you place, there are opportunities to win premium money.
To participate in the Northwest Florida Fair you must be a registered 4-H member by Sept. 1, and you must complete a pre-registration form.
Okaloosa County 4-H is always excited to have new members join our program and experience a great 4-H opportunity at the Northwest Florida Fair.
If you are interested in joining 4-H and participating in the fair, or you just want some more information on what 4-H has to offer, please contact me at the Okaloosa County Extension Office, 689-5850 or mismith@ufl.edu.
Misty Smith 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: NWF Fair features 4-H opportunities
CRESTVIEW — Woodlawn Baptist Church members and officials recently hosted a lunch honoring North Okaloosa County’s first responders.
Guests included Crestview police and fire departments, north end deputies and EMS workers. About 65 people attended the Sept. 27 luncheon.
“We are so thankful for all of our Crestview area and Okaloosa County first responders,” Woodlawn’s senior pastor, Patrick Pfrimmer, said. “The appreciation lunch is just a small token of our thanks for their daily work and sacrifice. We always want to be available to them for whatever help and support they need.”
George Katzman, the church's Minister of Education, encourages other churches and civic organizations to find ways to express thanks to first responders as well, the media release stated.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Woodlawn Baptist honors first responders
Keep alert! Remain vigilant! These are words to the wise, especially in matters of living the Christian faith.
Every day, temptations present themselves, situations arise and confrontations rear up. They challenge us to compromise our faith and what scriptures say is right or wrong.
Some people face the temptation of cheating on a spouse, to return to an abandoned destructive habit, or to start a destructive habit or addiction. There are circumstances when angry words are exchanged over a misunderstanding, or when people feel cheated or swindled by unscrupulous business people, or by seemingly unfair laws of government.
Yet, every day we need to be vigilant because one little slip in our watchfulness can get us in a whole lot of trouble. The strength of your faith will determine how vigilant you remain and how you respond to life’s circumstances.
In Romans 12, the apostle Paul offers some excellent guidance for remaining vigilant. “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.”
“Let love be genuine.” Don’t just give lip-service to saying you care about people and their circumstances in life. Be genuine. Talk with people. Show interest in them. Be concerned for their welfare.
“Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.” When you hate what is evil, if you do your best to get rid of it, evil will be destroyed. When holding to what is good, there is no room for evil to take hold, for your heart is already full.
“Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” Respect others just as much — or more than — you respect yourself. Can you imagine what it might be like?
These are challenging words from Paul. However, when you give your heart to Jesus, a transformation takes place. You are called to put on a new life. Paul says in Romans 6:6: “We know that our old self was crucified with Jesus so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”
When you give your life to Jesus, love becomes genuine. You learn to love others with mutual affection. You learn to outdo others in showing honor, and so much more. It is in Jesus that you find strength to live the life he has set before you.
Keep alert! Remain vigilant! With vigilance, perseverance and renewing of your mind and heart, new life will come — a new life full of blessing and honor.
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: Be watchful and avoid temptation
CRESTVIEW — Board-certified Pediatrician Rebecca Susong has joined Sacred Heart Medical Group’s regional network of physicians as part of the Sacred Heart’s Pediatrics at Crestview office.
Susong graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in child studies from Vanderbilt University, and she received her medical degree from Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland, Ore.
After graduating with her master’s degree in public health from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and performing an internship with the American Academy of Pediatrics, she completed her residency training in pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
The member of the American Academy of Pediatrics is fluent in Spanish, and has special interests in public health policy and advocacy, as well as treating children with asthma. As part of her public health studies, Susong researched factors contributing to the severity of RSV bronchiolitis and examined the relationship between RSV and asthma.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview pediatrician joins Sacred Heart Medical Group
CRESTVIEW — Fathers, brothers, uncles and grandfathers may attend a ball fit for a princess while supporting a cause.
A princess-friendly dinner for girls 13 and younger is set 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive.
Two tickets cost $40, which covers the princess and her escort. Additional princesses in the same family may attend for $15 each. All net proceeds support the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life fundraiser in Crestview.
Formal and princess attire are requested. Moms may photograph the official entrance of princesses and their escorts, but only princesses and escorts may dine and dance.
Three-hundred tickets are available; the deadline to purchase them is Oct. 10. A ball representative sells tickets 6-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9-10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10-11 a.m. Saturdays at Panera Bread, 2670 Ferdon Blvd. S., Crestview.
Contact Chris Cox, 902-1075, or Loney Whitley, 537-4654, for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Princess ball to benefit Crestview Relay For Life
It’s open enrollment season, so if you work for a medium- or large-sized company, you will need to make some choices regarding your employee benefits — and these choices can have a big impact on your financial situation.
Depending on your employer, your benefits package may include various types of insurance, plus access to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan.
Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of these benefits:
• Health insurance — Companies regularly change plans and providers, so the coverage and premiums you had last year may not be the same this year.
In any case, look at all aspects of your coverage options — premiums, deductibles, co-pays and total out-of-pocket limits. A lower premium may seem attractive, but you could end up paying even more if the coverage is not as good. So, choose wisely.
• Life insurance — You may want to take whatever life insurance your employer offers, but it still might not be enough.
To determine how much life insurance you need, consider a variety of factors — your age, income, family size, spouse’s income, and so on. If your employer’s coverage is insufficient, you may want to supplement it with a separate policy.
• Disability insurance — This could be a valuable employee benefit — but, as is the case with life insurance, your employer’s disability coverage may not be enough for your needs, especially if you’d like to protect yourself against an illness or injury that could sideline you from work for a long time.
Consequently, you might want to consider purchasing your own disability policy.
Apart from reviewing your insurance options, you may want to examine your 401(k) or similar retirement plan.
Of course, your employer may allow you to change your 401(k) throughout the year, but you’ve got a particularly good opportunity to do so during open enrollment when you’re already looking at all your employee benefits.
So look at your contribution level. Are you putting in as much as you can afford? Your 401(k)’s earnings can grow tax deferred, and you typically contribute pre-tax dollars, so the more you put in, the lower your taxable income for the year. (Taxes are due upon withdrawal, and withdrawals made before age 59½ may be subject to a 10 percent IRS penalty.)
At a minimum, invest enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. And increase your own contributions whenever you get a raise.
As far as your investment choices, you’ll want to spread your dollars among the different investments within your 401(k) in a way that reflects your risk tolerance and time horizon.
During the early stages of your career, when you have many years to go until you retire, you can probably afford to invest more heavily in growth-oriented accounts. These will fluctuate more in value, but you have time to potentially overcome the downturns.
When you’re nearing retirement, you may want to shift some of your assets into more conservative vehicles — but even at this point, you still need some growth opportunities. After all, you may spend two or three decades in retirement, so you’ll need to draw on as many resources as possible.
Open enrollment isn’t just a time to fill out a bunch of papers. It’s also a chance to reconsider — and maybe even upgrade — many areas of your financial outlook.
This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Use 'open enrollment' to improve your financial outlook
