With the arrival of spring, many of us have one thing on our minds — fishing.

Unfortunately, development along the coast, additional boat traffic, and prohibitive costs associated with boat ownership have made saltwater fishing more difficult and less convenient for many aspiring anglers.

Fortunately, there is a convenient solution very close to where you live that offers quality fishing, unspoiled scenery and relative peace and quiet.

Anyone living in our area is familiar with Eglin Air Force Base and its surrounding pine forests, which are known as "the reservation." Many may be unaware that the reservation hosts many fishing opportunities accessible by the public.

To access these areas, all that is required is to visit www.isportsman.net, create a user account, watch a seven-minute safety video, and take a short quiz. After passing the quiz, you have the option to purchase a $5 daily recreation-fishing pass or for $20 you can purchase the annual recreation-fishing pass.

The pass is required for anyone over age 16. Of course, you will also need your Florida freshwater fishing license, which can be purchased at www.myfwc.com and many retailers such as Walmart.

The fishing areas can be reached by passenger car; no off-road vehicles are required. Most can be fished from shore and you always have the option to bring a kayak or canoe along. Each area has its own unique features such as docks, boardwalks, picnic tables or restrooms.

Near Crestview, on State Road 85, you can fish on Duck and Anderson ponds for largemouth bass and catfish. On U.S. 285, south of U.S. 90, Speck Pond offers largemouth bass and panfish. And in Niceville, on College Boulevard east of the Northwest Florida State College campus, you can catch panfish, largemouth bass and chain pickerel.

When fishing any of these waters, it is important to read the signs. Some have specific regulations regarding catch and release and size restrictions.

Also, remember that these areas are subject to closure during military operations, so make sure to pay attention to all posted signs.

With so many opportunities available to residents, there is no excuse not to get out there and enjoy all that our area has to offer.

David Boggs is a lifelong Northwest Florida resident. He works in children's ministry at Crosspoint Church on PJ Adams Parkway in Crestview. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Explore these local fishing hot spots

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

CRESTVIEW—The Crestview Fire Department has two new fire engines in its fleet.

The engines are 2017 Pierce Sabres and custom built to fit the needs of the CFD, according to Chief Tony Holland. Pierce has been building trucks since 1913 and fire engines since 1939.

The engines were leased to the city through Ten-8 Fire Equipment, located in Bradenton. Leasing the vehicles will cost about $109,000 each year for seven years. After seven years, the department can purchase the engines or trade them in for new vehicles.

Leasing allows the department to maintain up-to-date engines and avoid costly repairs or upkeep from older vehicles, Holland said. The two engines being replaced were built in 1985 and 1998, the oldest ones in the fleet, according to Holland.

Currently, the CFD has four pump engines and one ladder truck.

The new engines borrow from the department’s crest colors and add black paint to the exterior for the first time.

Older engines have stationary compartments that require firefighters to lean and reach for equipment. The new ones have sliding storage points that put the equipment immediately in front of responders. These extra seconds can make a difference during an emergency. The updated compartments also allow the crew to carry more equipment, including additional medical equipment.

Each engine features a 1,000-gallon tank for pumping water in the absence of, or prior to connection to, a hydrant line. Several additional hose lines — compared to other models — offer the crew diverse options to fight fires more effectively based on the situation. The engines can pump 1,250 gallons-per-minute.

Interior space is also increased in the new engines. While the crew will likely appreciate the extra personal space from their fellow crewmember, this additional space provides added room for storage of medical and other safety gear. Other features include a monitoring system to signal and record if a crewmember isn't wearing a seatbelt, in the case of an incident.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fire Department gets new fire engines

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

CRESTVIEW — Master Gardener Bob Bayer will present "Nature's Bounty on a Woodland Trail." 

The event — 10-11 a.m. April 19 at the Okaloosa County Extension Office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview — is a one-fourth-mile walk along a native plant trail.

Participants can view a variety of native plants along the trail; each plant is listed in an accompanying brochure. 

Bayer will give a brief description of the trail's history and explain how the trail has provided raw materials for the office's compost project, which eliminated the need to purchase organic material for soil amendments and mulch.

This event is not handicapped-accessible. If there's severe weather, Bayer will present a program featuring photographs taken during the trail’s development in the extension meeting room.

Registration is required for the free event due to limited space. Call 689-5850 to register.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guided trail walk features native plants

CRESTVIEW — Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Emerald Coast Hospice partnered to provide Easter gifts for 200 people during their fifth annual 'Basket of Blessings' event. 

They presented baskets to residents at Twin Cities Assisted Living; Stanley House in DeFuniak Springs; and Silvercrest Health and Rehabilitation Center and Crestview Manor, both in Crestview, the week of April 7. The baskets and gift bags contained Kleenex, lotions, shaving cream, razors, brushes, shampoo, combs, snacks, games and puzzles.

But that's not all. 

"This year, our Jackson Hewitt owners, Carl and Carrie Kelley of Muskogee, Oklahoma, wanted to do something special for the residents, and each and every resident (also) received a Jackson Hewitt bag with pajama bottoms and baggy T-shirts, as well as a Jackson Hewitt shirt, to have something comfortable to relax in," a media release stated. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Assisted living residents receive Easter gifts

CRESTVIEW — L-3 Crestview Aerospace began laying off 130 employees from its plant on Thursday, according to Lance Martin, the company spokesman.

Staff reductions resulted from decreased customer workload, the spokesman said. Affected employees will receive severance packages as well as information regarding other L3 job opportunities and unemployment services, he added.

A company representative had reached out to CareerSource Okaloosa/Walton on March 29 to asking the agency to prepare a rapid response team to come to the facility and help employees affected by the layoff. The company representative had requested confidentiality.

CareerSource representatives had dropped off informational packets April 4, but did not hear back from L-3 until Thursday after the layoffs had begun.

The aerostructures group in Crestview manufactures and modifies cabins, fuselages, tail booms and other detailed parts for commercial and military aircraft.

Crestview's location had about 1,000 employees, including mechanics, electricians and logistics and management personnel before the layoffs, according to the company spokesman. Staff reductions span a range of positions, he said.

L-3 Crestview Aerospace was founded in 2006, but its roots trace back to 1964 as Fairchild Industries. The company crafted military planes during the Vietnam War and conducted battle repairs on aircraft.

Thursday was at least the second layoff since the company has been in Crestview. In January 2014, L-3 laid off about 100 employees, which was then described as about 10 percent of its workforce.

There were also rumors of a layoff in 2007 after the company lost a major contract. At that time, employees turned down efforts to unionize.

"I'm very disappointed to hear about that or any closure in our city," Mayor David Cadle said upon hearing the news. "Hopefully these people can get back on their feet quickly and are able to find new jobs to support them."

Employees affected by the latest layoff are encouraged to go to Jacobs.com, an aerospace company with local offices, to apply for jobs.

"We absolutely do have positions open," a company spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: UPDATE: Crestview mayor responds to L3 layoffs; employer steps up

CRESTVIEW — The News Bulletin has a winner in its "Funny Bunny" Scrambled Word, Easter-themed contest.

Tawny De La Cantera of Crestview won the April 10 drawing. More than 50 contestants correctly unscrambled all 15 words and turned in the page, as required, to be eligible for the grand prize.

Editor Thomas Boni presented De La Cantera with the prize April 11 at the News Bulletin office. She won an Easter basket containing a stuffed Easter bunny, a chocolate bunny and several candies, courtesy of Walmart; a $25 gift card from Floral Designs; and a John Deere toy tractor from Wise Equipment.

"My son will be more excited about that tractor than the basket; he loves John Deere stuff," De La Cantera said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview woman wins 'Funny Bunny' contest

CRESTVIEW — L3 Crestview Aerospace began laying off 130 employees from its Crestview facility on Thursday, according to a company spokesman.

Staff reductions result from decreased customer workload, the spokesman said. Affected employees will receive severance packages, as well as information regarding other L3 job opportunities and unemployment services, he added.

The aerostructures group in Crestview manufactures and modifies cabins, fuselages, tail booms and other detailed parts for commercial and military aircraft.

Crestview's location had about 1,000 employees including aircraft mechanics, electricians and logistics and management personnel before layoffs. Staff reductions will involve a range of positions.

L3 Crestview Aerospace was created in 2006, but its roots trace back to 1964 as Fairchild Industries. The company crafted military planes during the Vietnam War and conducted battle repairs on aircraft.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: L3 lays off 130 employees

CRESTVIEW—When Jennifer Jackson created the Facebook group Crestview Citizens for Change, she wanted to make a space for city and nearby county residents to share ideas and form a more active role in local politics.

“It started almost as a joke in response to [City Councilman Joe] Blocker’s response to the Mason-Dixon study,” Jackson said. “Since then, it’s taken a life of its own.”

Blocker submitted a response to Larry Harris and Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, who completed a citywide study showing Crestview was at a “great risk”, to the News Bulletin on March 27. Blocker believed the presentation to be an “attack” presented with an “offensive approach” to the city and leaders.

Crestview Citizens for Change formed the next day.

“People are pretty frustrated with the lack of growth and it seems like our leaders are stuck in the 1950s,” Jackson said. “This isn’t some kind of modern-day Mayberry,” she added, a reference to the fictional town featured in TV's "The Andy Griffith Show."

A mother of young children, Jackson personally wants to see more places to spend her money locally and additional outlets for her children to play and be entertained.

Jackson’s family moved to the north end of Okaloosa County about 15 years ago after residing in Fort Walton Beach. However, dollars she’d like to put into Crestview go to Pensacola, Destin and other neighboring cities with more businesses.

“Crestview has grown in population and it will continue to do so but it doesn’t seem urgent enough for City Council to bring in businesses to keep money here,” Jackson said.

Jackson has found it challenging to become directly involved civically with Crestview, living outside of the city limits. And she’s not alone.

“There’s a lot of us that moved to Crestview, wanting to be in this city but it wasn’t at the forefront of our minds that many of the homes here aren’t actually in Crestview,” she said. “We’re frustrated because we feel like we don’t have a voice.”

The issue was discussed at a March 30 town hall meeting hosted by City Councilman J.B. Whitten, which Jackson attended. Whitten encouraged those living outside city lines to still voice their concerns at City Council meetings, in addition to their county commissioners.

“We might not be in the city lines but we still live here,” Jackson said of people who fall under the governance of Okaloosa County but still spend money in Crestview and use its services. She’d like to see the city open the annexation process to make it easier for residents like herself to join Crestview.

The group hosted a meeting April 9 to discuss the upcoming City Council meeting on government restructuring scheduled for April 24. Jackson said members of the group have expressed the need to shuffle the city’s current system to make it more efficient.

“We understand it’s not going to be a quick fix but we have to get the ball rolling,” she said. The group is working to spread the word about the meeting and encourage people to voice their opinions to the City Council.

“Right now, people are frustrated,” Jackson said.

Jackson said she’s never been engaged in local politics and believes the same is true for other people in the group. But after seeing a lack of growth, according to Jackson, she believed this was the opportunity to become active and have her voice heard.

“When I go to the south part of the county and tell them I live in Crestview, you know what I hear? ‘Oh, Cres-tucky,’” she said. “I want to give my children a place to grow up that they can be proud of.”

Crestview has that opportunity, according to Jackson.

The Facebook group has nearly 350 members as of Monday afternoon, most of whom joined after the town hall meeting. Posts include contact information for city leaders, email templates, city council meeting information, various public documents and discussions on topics concerning growth.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Right now, people are frustrated'