CRESTVIEW – Act4Murder, a local professional comedy troupe, has scheduled "Muscling in on Murder," a dinner theater.

"The show will have your muscles aching with laughter. It’s all fun and games, but remember, someone is going to die! Will you and your table of sleuths win a prize for guessing whodunnit?" the media release states.

Seating starts 6 p.m. April 15 at Samuel’s Roadhouse Grill, 114 John King Road, Crestview. A three-course meal and the show begin at 6:30 p.m.

Cost is $38 per person. V.I.P. packages with special merchandise and recognition are also available. Make reservations at www.act4murder.com.

Call Act4Murder, 862-2885, for additional information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Act4Murder sets dinner theater

CRESTVIEW — The Spanish Trail Cruisers will present the 17th annual Average Joe Car Show.

The event begins at 8 a.m. April 22 on Main Street in Crestview. The show includes a competition with 15 or more classes, a 50-50 drawing and vendors.

Registration, 8-11 a.m., costs $25 per entry ($20 before April 14). The Cruisers will give dash plaques for the first 100 entries. There will be first- through third-place winners in each category, and $1,000 in cash drawings for registered participants. Trophy presentation is set 3 p.m.

Partial proceeds will benefit the Okaloosa School Nutrition Association Scholarship fund.

Vendor spaces are available with advance notice. Contact Mike Turman, 428-1161, for vendor details or more information on the event, or visit www.SpanishTrailCruisers.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Spanish Trail Cruisers set car show

CRESTVIEW — Baker Middle School's baseball team closed the year going 16-0-1, defeating Emerald Coast Middle School 10-5 April 6.

Emerald Coast captured the lead in the first inning. The Gators took the lead with two runs in the third inning. The Gators scored four runs in the fifth inning. 

Ethan Edge earned the win for the Gators, tossing four-and-a-third innings, surrendering zero runs, zero hits and striking out seven. 

Zane Steele started the Gators' game. He threw two-and-two-thirds innings, giving up five runs, one hit and striking out three. 

"In the history of Baker Middle School baseball, the team has never been undefeated. We are extremely proud of these young men," Nickie Edge of Baker said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Middle School baseball team goes 16-0-1

THE QUESTION

"What's up with the old YMCA? The number on the sign is never answered. Is there a contact that works better?" — Kyle N Christine Shoup, Facebook

THE ANSWER

YMCA of Florida's Emerald Coast closed all Okaloosa sites in Crestview, Destin and Fort Walton Beach Oct. 3, 2014, after it went bankrupt. The organization stated in a media release at the time that it operated in a financial deficit since 2007, when it constructed the Destin YMCA.

While area residents and former YMCA associates attempted to keep the Crestview and Fort Walton Beach YMCA doors open as independent branches, a spokesperson for the national organization said in a News Bulletin interview, "The Emerald Coast association's board of directors is the decision-making authority for the association. The board's decision to cease operations means all three branches must cease operations as YMCAs. The branches cannot continue independently."

When the Crestview YMCA abruptly closed, the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast assisted, taking over the YMCA after-school programs, but closed its Crestview program in July 2016, citing low attendance.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

Residents affected by the closures have to seek after-school care elsewhere.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'What's up with the old YMCA?'

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Courthouse records of marriages from March 9 to April 5 include:

•Debra Messenger and Merle Funk, both of Crestview.

•Kenneth Taylor and Heather Polanco, both of Crestview.

•Micah Owens and Jessica Watts, both of Crestview.

•Olivia Lasarte and Juan Ortega, both of Crestview.

•Hannah Spindler and Hunter Pharis, both of Crestview.

•Kyle Cahal and Erin Colleen Gough, both of Crestview.

•Jacob Potter and Sunny Kim, both of Crestview.

•Grace Forrest and Errol Crain, both of Crestview.

•Kayla Sharrow and Christopher Fulford, both of Crestview.

•Ethel Jackson and Emanuel Gissendanner, both of Crestview.

•Paul Ciurleo and Linda Stiles, both of Crestview.

•Arthur Darnell and Patricia Darnell, both of Crestview.

•Betty Beevers and Dale Hope, both of Crestview.

•Curtis Duvall of Crestview and Jacqueline Creamer of Milton.

•Merredith Roberts and Daniel Toups, both of Crestview.

•Lynda Sykes and Isaiah Raite Sr., both of Crestview.

•Deborah Privette of Niceville and Mahlon Haunschild of Crestview.

•Thomas Utterback of Fort Walton Beach and Laura Wellborn of Crestview.

•Julio Arellano and Sarah Peterson, both of Crestview.

•Joel Lopez Jr. of Crestview and Madeline Hernandez of Windermere.

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

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office employees will have a special election for naming two members to its Personnel Standards and Review Board.

Early voting is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 8–12 in the Supervisor of Elections offices, 302 Wilson St. N., Suite 102, Crestview; and 1250 Eglin Parkway, Suite 103, Shalimar. Voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 16 in the Supervisor of Elections' Crestview and Shalimar offices.  

Only OCSO employees are eligible to vote in this election.

Candidates for these seats must not be currently employed with the OCSO, nor can they be in the immediate family of any person employed with the OSCO. Candidates should submit a 500-word, one-page biography for distribution to all eligible electors. 

The qualifying period starts at noon April 17 and closes at noon April 21.

There are no restrictions on residence, provided that candidates are otherwise qualified Okaloosa electors. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sheriff's office employees to vote on board members

CRESTVIEW — U.S. Air Force Airman Deaja T. Ellis graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Ellis is the daughter of Robert Ellis of Gambrills, Maryland, and Jennifer Dowdell of Crestview. Her grandmother is Bessie Dowdell of Perry.

The airman graduated in 2016 from Crestview High School.

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

CRESTVIEW—The city’s first Winterfest might also be its last after a poor showing at Spanish Trail Park on Feb. 18. Although the event won’t impact local dollars, low concession sales and sponsorships reportedly meant the event’s investor lost over $22,000 on the festival.

The Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency partnered with event management group RE Development to host the festival, which was to be a fundraiser for the CRA. RE Development was confident that Winterfest would profit but still arranged to compensate the city for any losses incurred by expenses, according to CRA Director Brenda Smith.

The total cost for the event was $30,689.24 which included artificial ice, insurance, marketing, sponsorship banners and public services, according to a final report released on the festival. However, the event only raised $8,397 between concessions and sponsorship deals.

This brings the event’s losses to a grand total of $22,292.24. Of the amount, $1,125 was paid directly from RE Development to service providers and the remaining $21,167.24 will be reimbursed to the CRA.

“There’s no impact on [the CRA] budget,” Smith said. “I’m all for events like this, I think they need to be done.”

However, the CRA has no plans to continue the Winterfest into a second year. Event programming isn’t a traditional role for CRAs, according to Smith. The exception was made since they anticipated generating money from the event and to provide residents with a unique entertainment event.

“It just didn’t happen,” Smith said. “[RE Development] was confident in its ability to make money through concessions but people just didn’t buy anything.”

Concessions generated $897 during the Winterfest.

Still, “I’m glad we did it and I don’t regret it,” Smith added.

The CRA estimated 4,500 attended the all-day event and received positive feedback from those in attendance, according to Smith. Concessions sales, which included alcohol, weren’t enough for the event to chalk up success. The festival’s evening concert also showed little fanfare. Smith believed the style of the event simply didn’t fit the community based on the results.

RE Development will compensate the Crestview CRA for the $21,167.24 that wasn’t generated in revenue but the timeframe could be extensive.

The company’s agreement with the city gives it 14 months to completely reimburse the lost funds. This works out to monthly payments to the city of over $1,500 if the company decides to use the full term of the agreement.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Winterfest sees big losses

CRESTVIEW—The business rumor mill has recently included talks of a Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen moving to Crestview.

“The corporation is investigating the area for a site,” Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard said. However, this doesn’t confirm that the fast-food chain—known for fried chicken and biscuits—is ready to call Crestview its new home just yet.

Popeye’s hasn't submitted application paperwork to the city, according to Gaillard. Currently, the business is still conducting its own research and surveys to determine if a Hub City site is feasible for the brand.

Therefore, it’s not yet known if the company will open a new location in Crestview, as has been circulated on social media. It is also unknown what potential sites the company might be eyeing or if they are working with a timeframe.

Several companies have expressed interest in Crestview, according to a recent presentation by Retail Strategies to the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. The firm has been researching trends, demographics and business statuses in the city since October in an effort to market Crestview to new businesses and developers.

The group declined to directly reference which companies have shown interest due to ongoing negotiations.

Regardless of Popeye’s decision, there’s no need to fret for fans of chicken, as Chick-fil-A does have plans to open a location in Crestview. The site is at 3000 S. Ferdon Blvd., the former home of Ryan’s Steakhouse.

The Chick-fil-A chain is currently planning a rebuild of the location and no official opening date has been announced.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Is this fast food restaurant moving to Crestview?