CRESTVIEW— Local children can bowl at no charge this summer at Shoal River Bowling Center.

The bowling center takes part in a national program called Kids Bowl Free. Children who register with the program at kidsbowlfree.com can bowl two games for free per day during June, July and August. 

According to Grady Rathel, an employee at the bowling center, kids can bowl for free in Crestview and at their sister center, Fort Walton Beach Bowl. The only amount the children have to pay is $3 for shoe rental.

“It’s been bringing quite a bit of business,” Rathel said last week. “We’ve been staying pretty busy. That’s all I’ve been ringing up all day long…”

There is another option when registering: parents can receive a family pass, and parents can bowl two free games with their children, according to Rathel.

Although this deal saves families money, the bowling center is still making funds through other means. 

“We ring it up, we get credits for sales,” Rathel said. “If you get moms and dads to come bowling, they are going to eat, they are going to drink, and so then we make money at our snack bar facility. 

"The more you bring, the more you feed, the more money you have to spend.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Did you know kids can bowl free all summer?

CRESTVIEW — Friends of a Paxton man requiring a liver transplant are working to raise funds needed for the operation.

Members of the Thomas A. McQueen Masonic Lodge in Paxton, including Steven Colson and James Adams, met last week to discuss funding ideas for their fellow Mason, 70-year-old Randall Harrison.

While they will have various community fundraisers, the Masons started a Gofundme page, https://www.gofundme.com/randall-harrison-support, to assist with medical costs. 

"It's beyond our means to come up with the amount of cash he needs. Anything is better than nothing. We don't have a set amount, (so we're) just trying to be proactive and start raising the money because he doesn't have any income coming in right now," Colson, a Crestview resident, said.

Harrison, a mechanic and owner of a garage in Paxton, received a diagnosis of (nonalcoholic) cirrhosis of the liver in April.

He has been unable to work due to swelling and weakness caused by the condition.

Adams said Harrison had had stents put in his heart and was doing well with those. 

But five weeks later, "He started having problems with his liver and then just started deteriorating rapidly after that. He declined super fast," Adams said, adding it was to the point where a doctor described his condition as being "in the 9th inning with two outs."

TESTING

Harrison and his wife, Pam, left June 15 to go to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. The series of tests Randall undergoes there will help doctors further assess his condition. 

"They've got to make sure, if he gets approved for the transplant, that his body can take it," Pam Harrison said. "They're doing bloodwork, scans, X-rays and all."

There are several stages to the testing, and the couple also has to go to educational classes throughout the two weeks.

As far as exactly how much it will cost, the Harrisons won't have a number until Friday.

"I know that they told us that Medicare will pay 80 percent and the rest is going to be 20 percent. They're talking like $20,000 that we would have to pay. And that's not even talking about the medication he will need after the transplant takes place if he's approved," Pam Harrison said.

The Masons said Harrison has been a pillar of support for people across Northwest Florida, and ask that they do what they can to help financially with Harrison's current situation.

"He needs a liver transplant. He needs the transplant or he's going to die. That's just cut and dried," Colson said.

"The insurance will cover a certain amount … but whatever the difference is he's got to pay it, (so) I was just trying to get that Gofundme thing in front of as many people as possible."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'It's beyond our means'

THE QUESTION

“I was wondering… what was being built by the Teacher’s Credit Union on the north side of town?” – Crestview resident

THE ANSWER

A Waffle House is being constructed on North Ferdon Boulevard next to the Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union, according to Teresa Gaillard, Crestview’s growth management director; however, it is being built within county limits.

According to Tim Durbin, a planner for Okaloosa County’s growth management department at Crestview’s planning office, the completion date is still unknown.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU 

Crestview will have a third Waffle House location; there is currently a location on South Ferdon Boulevard and another on West James Lee Boulevard.

 —

Clarification: The business will be built on property within county limits, not county property as initially reported.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Third Waffle House location in development

Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations that improve North Okaloosa County residents’ quality of life.

CRESTVIEW — The Walton Okaloosa Council on Aging has a new senior center in Crestview, and an open house is scheduled to celebrate the occasion.

For area residents age 60 and up, and their caregivers, the open house is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22 at 292 Oakdale Ave. W, Crestview.

Council services are provided at nine centers in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The nonprofit's program's funding comes from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs through the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, according to Council Director Kay Brady.

"We have 250 clients in Okaloosa County. Some of them get services daily, some of them get services a couple of times a week," Brady said.

The council provides activities such as bingo and trivia, and serves meals Monday through Friday in Crestview. 

"We can also provide transportation, so we bring people in from Baker, we bring people in from Crestview, and some of the ones up in Laurel Hill, because Paxton is closer, they just go over to the Paxton one," she said. 

"The main benefit of that service is this: They get out of their homes, they socialize. They have a hot meal that they don't have to cook. They have input on their menus and have some say in what they would like on their menus, but it mainly gets them out and gets them socializing," Brady said.

Having that say in center meals gives seniors more flexibility and more input.

"One of our caregiver programs allows the individual to get reimbursed and use it where they need. Whereas if they use a vendor, they have schedules, but we have one caregiver program that they hire their own people, so if they need to go out on a date Saturday night with their husband, they can have someone come in."

Additional council programs include Meals on Wheels; housekeeping; personal care; respite; and companionship.

Brady said the respite program provides personnel who keep an eye on an elderly loved one while their caregiver handles things like grocery shopping, doctor's appointments and other personal needs.

"We also have a grandparent program where we can help grandparents with some of the cost for things such as babysitting (and0 after-school childcare" when that grandparent is named a guardian for children, Brady said.

Call 423-7320, 892-8165, or the Area Agency on Aging Resource Center at 866-531-8011, or visit www.wocoa.net for more information on the nonprofit.

The council's program includes these services for seniors age 60 and older:

• Meals on Wheels
• Weekday meals and educational programs
• Shopping assistance
• Light housekeeping
• personal care
• respite care
• case management for clients who need additional assistance
• social activities
• a loan closet for medical and non-medical supplies

Services for all community residents:

• A loan closet for medical and non-medical supplies
• Referrals for Medicare programs and legal aid
• helping seniors finish paperwork for Medicaid, SNAP food vouchers, etc.
• Emergency Energy Assistance for the Elderly, which helps those over 60 pay for utility bills after late or pending disconnect notices, and propane tanks

Source: www.wocoa.net

Walton Okaloosa Council on Aging services

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council on Aging gets permanent location

If you could travel anywhere in the world this year, where would you go? Do you need some ideas?

Thanks to our Friends of the Crestview Library group, we just added 60 new travel guides to the collection. Most of the new titles are from DK Eyewitness Travel, whose motto is, "Your bucket list starts here."

For decades, the guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews for these highly visual travel guides.

Thousands of photographs, maps and custom illustrations bring each destination to life, while in-depth cultural and historical information ensures you know the stories behind the sights.

The beautiful glossy pictures and fascinating behind-the-scenes insights make DK Eyewitness Travel Guides a wonderful read — even if you have no intention of being anything but an armchair traveler!

 Be sure to also check out the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Collections of electronic resources on the Online Tools tab of our website or at www.flelibrary.org under "All Resources."

This collection provides access to journals, magazines and trade publications that cover topics including the cultural and economic aspects of travel and tourism, and the historical and current state of affairs in these industries. The curious traveler will find a wealth of information, from contents on state parks and information on planning a vacation to full-text Fodor's travel guides.

So as Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: These travel guides provide comprehensive information

CRESTVIEW — If you have an event you would like to submit, send your first and last name and information about the event to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — Air Force Airman 1st Class Abbigayle K. Wagner graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed eight weeks' training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Basic training graduates earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Wagner earned distinction as an honor graduate.

She is the daughter of Bridgette and Chad Knight of Saraland, Alabama, and wife of Robert Wagner of Crestview.  

The airman is a 2011 graduate of Black Forest Academy, New York, N.Y. She earned an associate degree in 2014 from Faulkner State Community College, Gulf Shores, Ala.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wagner completes basic military training

CRESTVIEW — Marquis Cinema 10 is showing children's movies free of charge this summer. People of all ages may attend, and seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and movies start at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 3 (except for July 4) at 2828 Richbourg Lane, Crestview.

Here are the remaining dates and movies to be shown.

•June 22 — "Finding Dory" and "Monster Trucks"

•June 27 and 29 — "Despicable Me 2" and "BFG"

•July 6 — "Secret Life of Pets" and "Middle School"

•July 11 and 13 — "Sing" and "Pete's Dragon," the 2016 version.

•July 18 and 20 — "Kubo and the Two Strings" and "Ice Age Collision Course"

•July 25 and 27 — "The Lego Batman Movie" and "Nine Lives"

•Aug. 1 and 3 — "The Angry Birds Movie" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass"

NOTE: This article was  updated June 21 due to an incorrect date for the July 25 and 27 movies. The source material contained an error.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview theater offers free children's movies

CRESTVIEW — The nomination process for the next Mae Reatha Coleman Citizen of the Year Award is open through July 1.

Nomination forms are available at the Crestview Clerk's office, 198 Wilson St. N.

Nominees must reside in or have an interest in the betterment of Crestview over the past year. The nomination form should list selfless acts not related to the nominee's job; discuss who benefited, what was accomplished, breadth of the impact, and how it related to the community.

Submit nomination packages to City Clerk's Office or email them to cityclerk@cityofcrestview.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City seeks Citizen of the Year Award nominees

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Courthouse records of marriages through June 15 include:

•Jaliza Aguirre of Crestview, and Luke Harshaney of Eglin Air Force Base.

•Judy Gore and Bobby McGregor, both of Holt.

•Kaicey Johnson and Christopher Northrup, both of Crestview.

•Amanda Pack and Joshua Ray, both of Crestview.

•Molly Busby of Milton and Billy Thibodeaux, of Crestview.

•Dwendolynn Cato and Louis Bertrand, both of Crestview.

•Shirley Solliday and Robert Mitchell, both of Crestview.

•Tess Harrison and Brooks Goldsmith, both of Crestview.

•Laura Laux and Richard Laux Jr., both of Holt.

•Meagan Perrault of Panama City and M-Kyla-Rae Bleakney-Jefferys of Crestview.

•Alexis Castillo and Darrell Eddings II, both of Crestview.

•Brittany Moore and Kenrick Jacqmin, both of Crestview.

•Jessica Angela Wade and Ivan Sostaric, both of Crestview.

•Victoria Crisman of Crestview and Christian Stapp of Baker.

•Linda Mitchem and Luke Sheplock of Crestview.

•Haley Wagner and Michael Jones, both of Baker.

•Leanna Owens and Louis de Lange, both of Holt.

•Kari Gay and Adam Richards, both of Baker.

•Jaqui Miller of Laurel Hill and Joseph Rogers of Florala, Alabama.

•Sherry Boles and Dwight Dunford, both of Crestview.

•Timothy Peasley and Tonie Allen, both of Crestview.

•Brittany Reed of Laurel Hill and Matthew Rakas of Crestview.

•Sarah Rippert and Rodger Ates, both of Crestview.

•Karen Muszall of Graniteville, South Carolina and Shawn Spencer of Crestview.

•Bre Ann Cooke and Jon Rodgers, both of Crestview.

•Rebecca Arnett and Christopher Okarmus, both of Crestview.

•Becky Lubben of Crestview and Jeffrey Gilmore of Navarre.

•Courtney Lock and Teneka Spates, both of Crestview.

•Taneisha Foster and Carey Everett, both of Crestview.

•Reagan Masera and Christopher Reynolds, both of Crestview.

•Lavasia Caldwell and David Bozeman, both of Crestview.

•Stephenie Downey and Laurence Shipley, both of Crestview.

•Angela Radcliffe and Nestor Fuentes Jr., both of Crestview.

•Noelle Perry of Crestview, and Isaac Good of Los Osos, California.

•Ashley St. John and Haley Parks, both of Crestview.

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 682-6524 or email news@crestviewbulletin.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa marriage licenses