CRESTVIEW — A Crestview woman was among more than 100 men, women and children who participated in the Advocates United for Humanity's Frank P. Mills Cyber-Walk Against Child Abuse April 29 nationwide. But that's just one part of her journey against child abuse.

Lee Roberts of Crestview, an AUH co-founder, her service dog, Otis, and 21 local participants walked from the Neal Cobb Villa at Pandora and Kennedy Drives to the Casbah Coffee House.

Each participant documented their journey with photographs and short videos that were later posted on the grassroots organization's website. Walkers hailed from France, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Michigan, Florida and Pennsylvania.

CIRCLE OF TRUST

Last September, Advocates United for Humanity founders Donna Kshir and Roberts received an unexpected phone call from Magisterial District Judge Frank P. Mills of Renovo, Pennsylvania. Mills had great concern about the number of child abuse incidents on the rise in Clinton County, Michigan.

Kshir told Mills about her 2014 experience when she flew to Michigan to attend the Port Huron March against Child Abuse. She spoke of Damian Sutton, 2, of Michigan, who died from brain damage after an alleged beating at the hands of his mother's boyfriend. After hearing Damian's story, Mills made it his mission to tackle child abuse head on.

Over the next few months, Mills partnered with Kshir and Roberts to create the Circle of Trust Campaign. The goal is to help parents identify whom their child sees as trustworthy.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Roberts encourages parents to "look for signs of abuse that include grooming behavior, strange interactions with other adults and children, changes in your child's behavior and to always ask questions. 

"The best gifts you can give your child are open communication and knowledge," she said.

Mills donated $500 to get the Circle of Trust Campaign off the ground and will continue to be a campaign contributor. He also participated in the April 29 walk, which took place in 200 cities.

Visit http://advocatesunited4humanity.weebly.com or email au4humanity@gmail.com for more information or to be a sponsor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Look for signs'

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

CRESTVIEW — Elks Lodge 2624's Exceptional Children's Day returns this weekend.

The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 on Elks Lane in Crestview for all children with special needs and their families. The public may also attend. Hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken nuggets, drinks and snow cones will be served. All activities, performances, food and drink are free of charge for attendees.

The event is funded by a grant from the Elks Lodge National Foundation, and fundraisers Lodge 2624 holds throughout the year.

"We love what we do and we feel like we're giving back to our communities," Crestview Elks Lodge member Betty Clark said.

"We spend every dime of it for the kids. Some of these children do not want to make eye contact, but they're amazing, because of the arts and crafts that they do and the abilities that they have that people don't realize."

While the first Exceptional Children's Day in 2014 was solely for children with autism and their families, the program was expanded to include the families of all children with special needs, according to Brad Burnette, executive director of Autism Spectrum on the Emerald Coast.

"They all need a day to come out, stop worry about therapy sessions and just enjoy themselves," Burnette said. "These kids are going to occupational therapy and physical therapy and speech therapy. They need a time where they can just come and be kids."

Activities include water slides, bounce houses and face painting and live entertainment.

Elks Lodge member Betty Clark said one of the most anticipated appearances at the event is Reid Soria of Autism Sings LLC.

"He is just awesome," Clark said. "He is an outstanding young man. He's 31 years old and his parents have just absolutely found his niche. He knows 3,000 songs, all the words. He loves entertaining … He came out of his shell when he started entertaining audiences and singing."

Doctors diagnosed Soria with autism at age 3 and gave his parents little hope that he would progress, according to Soria's biography at www.autismsings.net. His parents and relatives never gave up hope. They accidentally discovered he could sing over five years ago, and since then, Soria has performed in musical productions and on stages throughout Florida.

Another appearance attendees will enjoy is a performance by Captain Davy and Crew, Clark said. Balloon sculpting, magic, and face painting are among the skills they bring to the stage.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We love what we do'

CRESTVIEW — Agricultural producers in Florida and Okaloosa County may apply for financial assistance to restore longleaf pine and build habitat for northern bobwhite quail habitat.

Landowners can apply through May 19 for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program of the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

NRCS helps landowners plant and manage longleaf forests through practices such as prescribed burning, brush management, noxious weeds control, firebreaks and a host of other practices. Longleaf forests benefit both wildlife and land managers.

Private landowners can get financial and technical assistance to restore and protect quail habitat in Okaloosa County.

This effort targets pine savannas, where NRCS is working with producers to manage forests and develop wildlife openings and the diverse understory vegetation the bobwhite needs. These habitats provide the forbs, legumes and insects that bobwhite need for food and the heavy or brushy cover for nesting, brooding and safety.

Contact the Crestview USDA Service Center, 938 Ferdon Blvd. N., or 683-3714 extension 3, for more information. NRCS district conservationist Darryl Williams will help landowners develop a conservation plan customized to their land and assist with the application process.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: USDA offers longleaf pine habitat assistance

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

Here are upcoming Crestview Public Library-related events. The library's address is 1445 Commerce Drive.

WATERVENTURES: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13, in a 53-foot trailer in the library front parking lot. Learn how water moves through life. For ages 4 and up. Visit www.waterventures.us for details.

FRIENDS OF THE CRESTVIEW LIBRARY: 10:30 a.m. May 18, 1445 Commerce Drive, in the library meeting room.

READ TO DOZER: First Saturdays, 10-11 a.m.; for children ages 4 and up.

COFFEE & CRAFT: 10 a.m. second Saturdays, Crestview library. Call 682-4432 to reserve your spot.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: UPCOMING

If you are new to computers, haven't used them for a while, are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, DigitalLearn has the tools to help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed — in bite-sized pieces with five- to 20-minute lessons.

Starting out you can learn:

•Why you should use a computer — Reasons why you should take the time to learn about computers

•Getting started on a computer — What a computer is and how to use a mouse and keyboard

•Using a PC — Learn the basics of using a PC with the Windows 10 operating system (Windows 7 and Mac OS X also available)

•Navigating a website —  Learn your way around websites and emails

•Intro to email — Get started with email

•Intro to email2 — Go beyond the basics of navigating your email account

•Basic search — Learn about search engines and get started searching the internet

The Being Safe Online section teaches:

•Accounts and passwords

•Online scams

•Internet privacy

"Job skills" includes:

•Creating resumes in Microsoft Word

•Online job searching

Additional areas cover:

•Being productive with Microsoft Word to create, format, and save a document

•What cloud storage is and how it helps

•Connecting with others through Skype video calls and the basics of Facebook including signing up, finding friends, and privacy

•Online shopping like searching and buying a plane ticket (very helpful since most airlines now add an additional charge to buy by phone)

DigitalLearn.org is brought to you by librarians, so you know it can be trusted!

If you do not have a computer at home, just come into the library, and we will help you. So no excuses now; let us help chase away your fear of computers!

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Chase away computer fears with DigitalLearn

CRESTVIEW — Gordon Martial Arts' "Community for Cops" event on May 6 aimed to bring residents and first responders together — and have fun while doing it. 

Officer Mojica of the Crestview Police department said the event, which had numerous children's activities, is particularly important for those in law enforcement; although some people see negative news stories about police officers from other parts of the country and form their opinions, it's important for kids to know those in law enforcement are there to help. 

This is the second year that GMA has hosted the event, and it has seen much support from the community.

"This is a good opportunity for the kids to see the police officers in a non-confrontational, happy environment," Thomas Gordon, owner of Gordon Martial Arts, said.

Too often, the first time a child sees a police officer or fireman is under criminal circumstances, he said. 

"This is an opportunity for them to come out, they get to play with the dogs, see the guns with the S.W.A.T.," Gordon said. 

Officer Jennings, with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, said one issue the OCSO has is parents making police officers seem like the bad guy.

"They'll say the whole 'If you don't listen, he's going to have to take you to jail' thing," Jennings said. "I always look at the parents and say, 'I'll take you to jail before the kid.'"

Community for Cops offered a variety of activities for children, including a dunk tank, face painting and bounce houses and slides. There were several booths with vendors, information about the sheriff's office, door prizes and snow cones.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Building an alliance

CRESTVIEW—Okaloosa County is closer to receiving tens of millions of dollars from a stimulus program known as the Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.

The fund will be a point of deposit for monies from a financial settlement between Gulf of Mexico states and BP following the 2010 oil spill. An estimated $1.5 billion will be paid to eight counties along the Florida Panhandle between now and 2033.

The bill passed the Florida House of Representatives on Monday, the Senate on Tuesday and is expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Scott.

A section of the bill requires the state to immediately release $300 million to the fund, before being released to counties for projects. Each county will have to create a project list to submit to the fund for approval.

The list of potential projects is still a work in progress, according to Okaloosa County Commissioner Graham Fountain. However, Fountain and fellow County Commissioner Nathan Boyles are eyeing infrastructure projects in Crestview as possible funding requests.

Fountain’s district includes most of Crestview and areas such as Duke Field and Laurel Hill. Boyles’ district covers southwest portions of Crestview, Holt, Baker and Escambia Farms.

“Certainly, in a general category for me, would be crucial, new highway infrastructure projects like the Crestview [State Road] 85 bypass,” Fountain said.

Boyles also eyed highway improvement near Crestview, as well as other roadway projects that could affect his more rural constituents.

“The development of bypass routes around Crestview and the stabilization of dirt roads that contribute to water quality issues are examples of worthwhile projects in North Okaloosa that I believe will meet funding criteria,” Boyles said, adding he will push for projects that can help the entire county.

Funds from the stimulus must fall into one of these categories for approval:

• Property tax reduction
• Impact fee payments for new development
• Public infrastructure projects
• Grants to create or assist disaster response plans
• Educational grants for career preparation programs
• Skilled adult education program grants
• Tourism promotion grants

The call for infrastructure improvements isn’t just made by county officials; members of the Crestview City Council also hope to secure Triumph funds for the city’s roads.

“We have several road projects under consideration right now that are in need of funds,” Councilman J.B. Whitten said. “The key to submitting them is to demonstrate that their completion will enhance economic recovery, diversification and enhancement as defined in the bill.”

“[Improvement] of our main traffic areas throughout our county’s road systems” has also been eyed by Councilman Joe Blocker.

“I believe by directing a fair amount of revenue toward grants for (the) purpose of developing programs and infrastructures, that would promote the opportunities in developing and educating our entire workforce of Okaloosa County,” Blocker said.

Whitten is also looking at grants or other financial assistance for disaster response programs.

“Under consideration could be funds to enhance our ability to respond to natural disasters — again, as defined by this bill,” Whitten said.

Monetary relief could still take months to receive, even if the county is cleared to receive part of the stimulus. Whitten has been through a similar process the last time BP funds were distributed to the area.

“Based on my experience with the initial release of money, we will be just beginning a process that could take a while before we ever see any money,” Whitten said. “Our council will have to work with the mayor, the city clerk and our department heads to come up with the worthiest projects.”

While the funds might take awhile to receive, officials still hope they can bring some of it to the northern end of Okaloosa County.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Oil spill money could stimulate road projects

CRESTVIEW — Passersby can see a new water tower off State Road 85 in Crestview, at an area locals have long referred to as Blueberry Curve.

Officially, the tank is identified as Mid-County Tank No. 4, but employees of the county have started referring to it as “the Blueberry Tank.”

According to Jeff Littrell, director of water and sewer in Okaloosa County, the new tank will increase storage for the mid-county upper zone in general and for the Bob Sikes Industrial Air Park in particular. A major consideration was increasing storage capacity to enhance fire protection for the Industrial Air Park.

“Our mid-county service area has two pressure zones: upper and lower,” Littrell said. “The lower pressure zone already has two elevated tanks. The upper zone only has one elevated tank, a relatively small 200,000-gallon tank on Airport Road.”

The new 750,000-gallon water tank will be connected to the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer water distribution system.

Its construction is costing the county $2.7 million, with $1.25 million coming from a grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District, according to Littrell.

Construction is almost complete.

“We still have to have it painted and connected to a 12-foot water main recently laid up Highway 85 from Airport Road,” Littrell said. “We expect to be putting the new tank into service late summer, early fall.”

As for the paint job?

“About a year ago, our area received national recognition as a Great American Defense Community,” Littrell said. “We are going to put the GADC logo on the north side of the tank so that it will be viewed by people driving into our area coming south on Highway 85.

“There will be a standard Okaloosa County logo on the south side of the tank.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Water tower erected off State Road 85

SHALIMAR — Representatives from the Okaloosa County Tax Collector's Office will conduct workshops educating citizens on the annual tax certificate sale.

"Our workshops are a great place to share valuable information about this sale, which offers winning bidders an opportunity to earn between 5-18 percent interest. In 2016, investors earned an average of 6.15 percent," Tax Collector Ben Anderson said.

These workshops are set:

• 6 p.m. May 9, OCTC office, 701 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville.
• 6 p.m. May 11, Okaloosa Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 101, Shalimar. This workshop will also be live-streamed on the OCTC Facebook page.
• 6 p.m. May 18, OCTC office, 302 Wilson St. N, Crestview.
• 6 p.m. May 23, Okaloosa Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 101, Shalimar. This workshop will also be live-streamed on the OCTC Facebook page.

Potential investors can log on to www.BidOkaloosa.com to learn more. Bidding begins May 10 and ends June 1.

The required published advertisement of delinquent parcels appears in the Crestview News Bulletin May 10, 17 and 24 editions. Copies will also be available at all OCTC locations and www.OkaloosaTax.com.

Delinquent taxpayers have until 4 p.m. May 31 to make payments on their account or a certificate will be sold June 1. Payment must be made by cash, cashier's check, money order or by credit card.

Call the Tax Department at 651-7604 with questions concerning the tax certificate sale.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa tax sale workshops scheduled