PENSACOLA — Cowgirls 4 Community will have a fundraiser for the children of Kayla Crocker, a 28-year-old woman who died from a gunshot wound.

The event, hosted by Southern Oaks Farm, is set 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.

Attendees can enjoy food, family activities to include a bounce house, face painting, pony rides, a variety of vendors, a silent auction, prizes, live entertainment including the bands Branded X and TBA, and a 5D barrel race.  

Crocker died from a gunshot wound to her head following a home invasion and attack by William Boyette Jr. and his alleged accomplice, Mary Rice. She left behind a 2-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. 

“Kayla’s last act of selfless kindness was to donate her organs to bring life to others in need,” a Cowgirls 4 Community media release states.

All the fundraiser’s proceeds will go directly to Crocker’s children, a spokesperson said, adding that help is still needed.

“In order to make this event a success we are in need of donations, sponsorships, silent auction items, vendors and of course volunteers,” the release states. “If you feel lead to provide any of these things please contact us.”

See https://www.facebook.com/events/570917763097897/ for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fundraiser set for Kayla Crocker's children

CRESTVIEW—The Golden Buffet at 2680 S. Ferdon Blvd. has shut its doors once again, but faces different troubles compared to past closures.

The restaurant has been closed for several days, with an outside marquee stating the halt in business is due to equipment repair. This has left some residents asking if repairs were due to equipment or recent health violation issues.

UNPAID TAXES

The company has fallen into tax delinquency, according to a notice on the building from Revenue Recovery Solutions.

“All equipment, furniture and fixtures located inside this location, regardless of status (owned, leased, loaned or borrowed) are subjected to taxation and are now under a pending levy and seizure for unpaid tangible personal property taxes,” the notice states.

Tangible personal property is all goods and articles of value in a business. This can include equipment, furniture, fixtures, signs and machinery.

Revenue Recovery Solutions, a private collection company servicing TPP taxes in Florida. has been tasked with the collection but the Okaloosa County Tax Collector reserves the right to seize assets, according to a representative from Revenue Recovery Solutions.

The restaurant immediately owes $943.05, according to the posting. The owed amount stems from unpaid TPP taxes in 2015. Golden Buffet also owes $660.83 in unpaid taxes from 2016, all according to public tax documents.

“They typically pay but it’s always pretty late,” Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Director of Business Collection Josh Allen said. The restaurant made a payment in 2016 but it was for taxes owed from 2014.”

Allen confirmed public records detailing the restaurant’s debt. Hundreds of businesses across Okaloosa County have fallen behind on TPP taxes, according to Allen. In most situations, a payment method is worked out and delinquencies resolved.

Asset seizures are rare, despite late payments, according to Allen. The office would have to clean and sell a business’ equipment, which could be inefficient, he said.

“From my experience, it sounds like [Golden Buffet] might be getting ready to pack it up and leave,” Allen said in regards to the restaurant's financial and health code struggles. “Let’s just hope they settle these debts before deciding to do that.”

“I’ve been here for years and we’ll continue serving the community,” Chen Chong, the owner of Golden Buffet said during a phone interview. “We’ve changed our manager and [are] going to hire better employees.”

These are all part of a strategy to improve the restaurant’s conditions and stimulate income growth to afford taxes, according to Chong. No other comment was available.

HEALTH VIOLATIONS

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation closed Golden Buffet for several days beginning Feb. 1 due to a failed health inspection. This was the restaurant's fourth closure in three years due to failed health inspections.

An administrative complaint from the department is pending, according to DBPR Deputy Director of Communications Kathleen Keenan via email. These complaints can result in fines, license suspension or permanent closure but the department did not disclose what action it is currently pursuing.

The most recent health inspection at Golden Buffet was Feb. 17, and the company received a 100 percent score after no violations were found.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Golden Buffet closes doors — again

CRESTVIEW — The Club Challengers volleyball teams are champions following the Capital Classic Tournament held the weekend of Feb. 25 in Tallahassee.

The 13U team placed fourth, and the 14U team won the tournament. 

"(I) just wanted to give these girls a little recognition for their hard work, and their amazing teamwork. This team has chemistry like no other, having fun, staying positive and making us proud on and off the court!" Club Coach and Co-Director Kahley Wibben said.

The Crestview club has players ages 10 to 14.

Search for Club Challengers Volleyball on Facebook for more information or to join.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview 14U volleyballers win tournament

CRESTVIEW — The Baker girls softball team scored 13-3 against Washington in Pensacola.

Shelby Sloan got the win as a pitcher, with eight strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs.

Baker batting was as follows:

●Shelby Sloan, 3 for 4

●Bethany McCranie, 2 for 4

●Emily Stewart, 2 for 4

●Jennifer Welch, 2 for 3

●Nicole Adams, 3 for 3

●Brittany Richbourg, 1 for 3

●McKenna Potter, 1 for 3

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gator girls beat Washington

CRESTVIEW — Gracie Grant, 11, of Crestview, is celebrating five first-place wins in Northwest Florida.

She was the overall Eglin Tour Championship winner and came in first in the tournament segments listed below.

Here are her scores, dates and tournament locations.

•38, Dec. 4, 2016, Blackstone Golf Course, DeFuniak Springs

•39, Dec. 11, 2016, Tiger Point Golf & Country Club, Gulf Breeze

•38, Jan. 8, Bay Point Resort Golf Club — The Meadows, Panama City

•42, Feb. 5, Bluewater Bay Resort, Niceville

•39, Feb. 12, Eglin Golf Course Tour Championship, Eglin Air Force Base

Gracie's parents are Shane and Kerri Grant of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Grant wins overall golf tour medal

CRESTVIEW — The Club Challengers volleyball teams are champions following the Capital Classic Tournament held the weekend of Feb. 25 in Tallahassee.

The 13U team placed fourth, and the 14U team won the tournament. 

"(I) just wanted to give these girls a little recognition for their hard work, and their amazing teamwork. This team has chemistry like no other, having fun, staying positive and making us proud on and off the court!" Club Coach and Co-Director Kahley Wibben said.

The Crestview club has players ages 10 to 14.

Search for Club Challengers Volleyball on Facebook for more information or to join.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview 14U volleyballers win tournament

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

CRESTVIEW — A Pennsylvania woman now knows what many out-of-towners before her have learned: that she can depend on the kindness of strangers in Crestview.

Zazoo, Lana Caputo’s Congo African gray parrot, flew away from a Crestview motel in late February but the pair reunited after residents and others rallied to rescue the runaway bird.

"It was a very stressful four days," Caputo said.

Caputo was preparing to leave Crestview about 3 p.m. Feb. 21 when Zazoo, whom she has cared for an estimated 22 years, escaped. She’d removed the perch and opened the cage door to put the perch inside — that's when her bird flew off.

Over the next four days, Caputo searched for Zazoo with help from parrot rescue organizations; she also placed flyers in local businesses.

Throughout the search, she met many people who went out of their way to help.

On Feb. 23, she visited the Goodwill store on Highway 85 to secure permission to place a "missing" flyer. While talking with Goodwill System Manager Mark Walters, she decided to step behind the building and see if the parrot was nearby.

"I called Zazoo's name and (his) answer came. I got so excited!" Caputo said. "I thought he was on the roof of the building. He was that close — I could hear him that plainly."

Caputo asked Walters for a ladder, and he recommended checking with a nearby auto shop. Two men from the shop came over with the ladder to help look for him.

"One guy climbed the ladder to the roof and said he wasn’t up there. I looked all through the bushes and stuff and couldn't see him,” Caputo said. “… I finally saw him in a tree up about 50 feet or more (near a retaining wall) … he was scared to come down. He flew up and he wouldn't fly down. I had to stay until after dark so he would stay there and not fly out."

Caputo said she had to place herself in the same area around 5:30 a.m. the next day, and maintained this schedule the entire time Zazoo was gone.

Goodwill boss Steve Casker recommended contacting Signs Galore Inc. on Hammock Lane;  he knew they had a bucket truck she might be able to use to rescue the bird.

At this point, Zazoo had gone without food or water for a few days.

Signs Galore Project Manager Bryan Wibben sent Brandon Severns to Goodwill with the truck.

Severns, a sign fabricator and part-time installation technician, said, "As we approached the parrot it was whistling at us. It was just whistling songs to us, and as we got closer it got upset and went from singing to screeching," Severns said, laughing.

Because Zazoo only flies to Caputo, Severns had to hold onto Caputo as she leaned beyond the retaining wall to get Zazoo, who leaned toward her.

Area employees, and even motel guests, rooted for their reunion as she finally got her bird down from the tree. People, situated all along the fence, watched as she retrieved him, Caputo said.

And now?

The bird is recovering well, his owner said.

"His feet were a little roughed up from the branches up there, and he's a little more quiet than he usually is, but he seems fine," Caputo said.

She is grateful for everyone's assistance with the reunion.

 "They were really, really nice,” Caputo said of Crestview residents and those who cheered for her reunion with Zazoo.

“I just can't believe how they came through for me."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'They came through for me'

CRESTVIEW —The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing the 13th Annual Triple B (Blackwater, Bands and Barbecue) Cook-off.

The cookoff is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 25 at Old Spanish Trail Park, on Stillwell Boulevard in Crestview.

Attractions include arts and crafts vendors, entertainment, children's activities and booths. Many events are designed to entertain people of all ages, which will serve to keep families at the event for a longer period, hence spending more money at the vendor booths, according to a chamber media release.

“We expect participants from all over the region,” the release stated. “The day will be filled with live music, barbecue all around the park and plenty of vendors, and ends with the barbecue awards ceremony.”

Food vendors may visit www.myfloridalicense.com and click the link for mobile food vendors to see if they need licensing to participate in this event. Vendors and competitors are responsible for any fees they must pay due to improper licensing.

Potential participants may return applications by the March 20 deadline, along with a picture or description of the craft or product they're providing and a payment for the booth, to Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview, FL 32539.

Go to http://bit.ly/2lkXqDA for a vendor application; go to http://bit.ly/2mpz0NZ for a competitor application. Spaces are available first come, first serve. Refunds will not be given for no-shows or inclement weather. 

Contact the chamber, 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Chamber seeks vendors, competitors for barbecue cookoff

CRESTVIEW—The efforts of 600 volunteers, contributing more than 3,000 hours of work, culminated Tuesday.

That’s when Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County’s 57^th home officially opened the doors to its new residents.

“It just means so much to me — so much,” Esther Simmons, the homeowner said during the event. “It (the house) is something that I can pass down to my kids.”

Simmons, a mother of three, became familiar with Habitat for Humanity more than 15 years ago but never pursued an opportunity with the organization.

She finally completed an application for homeownership in January 2016 after seeing a home-building site.

Three months later, she got an acceptance call.

One of the requirements for homeownership through Habitat for Humanity is 300 hours of “sweat equity” on the part of the future owner. This equity is completed by volunteering hours at other build sites, at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore or by completing personal development classes for topics such as financial management.

Simmons performed about 100 hours of construction into her home, she estimated. She also helped construct another home before beginning on her house.

“I was a little nervous about the sawing part but they taught me everything,” Simmons said.

Mayor David Cadle, several city council members, volunteers and staff from Allen Turner Chevrolet — the official home sponsor— attended the open house.

“What Habitat for Humanity does is such an asset to our community and to the people it services,” Cadle said during the ceremony. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart and to God above,” Simmons said. “This is just a blessing.”

Habitat for Humanity is constructing its 58th home in the area; it will be next door to Simmons’ residence.

See www.habitatfwb.org for more information on Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County and to learn about its homeownership program.

ONLINE

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'This is just a blessing'