CRESTVIEW — With Northwest Florida's mercurial winter weather, we've entered the season of periodic dense morning fog. The Crestview Police Department joins the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Dept. in offering recommendations to make residents' morning commutes safer when fog blankets the area.

"Reduce speed!" Cmdr. Andrew Schneider said. "Officers can cite you for driving unsafe speeds for the road conditions, even if you're doing the posted speed limit."

"Driving in fog can feel like driving while wearing a blindfold," an article on SeniorDriving.AAA.com states. "Objects, such as other vehicles or traffic signals, may not be visible until the last moment – sometimes too late to take proper corrective action."

The Police Department reminds motorists that driving with hazard flashers activated is not only a distraction to other motorists, it is also illegal in Florida.

"Turn your headlights on," Crestview Police Officer Chaise Rawles said, but he cautioned motorists not to rely on automatic headlight activation systems in their vehicles. "It can't detect fog and won't turn your lights on," Rawles said.

Using headlights is particularly important, Schneider said, even if it's daylight. Vehicles driving without headlights blend into the fog bank are not visible to oncoming traffic until they are too close to react to, he said.

"If you can't see them, they can't see you if your lights aren't on," Schneider said. 

The officers also advised drivers to avoid using high beams in fog.

"Use low beams only," Schneider said. "High beams can reflect back on the fog and distract your vision."

•DRIVE WITH LIGHTS on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more.

•SLOW DOWN and watch your speedometer before you enter a patch of fog. Be sure that you can stop within the distance that you can see. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Speed is a major factor in fog-related crashes.

•WATCH OUT for slow-moving and parked vehicles. Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little to hear better.

•REDUCE THE DISTRACTIONS in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and cell phone. Your full attention is required.

•USE WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS liberally for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield.

•USE THE RIGHT EDGE of the road or painted road markings as a guide.

•BE PATIENT. Avoid passing and/or changing lanes.

•SIGNAL TURNS well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.

•DO NOT STOP on a freeway or heavily traveled road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision. If you must pull off the road, signal (people tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog), then carefully pull off as far as possible. After pulling off the road, turn on your hazard flashers (it is illegal to use your emergency flashers except when stopped). Move away from the vehicle.

Sources: Crestview Police Department, Florida Highways and Motor Vehicles Dept.

Foggy weather driving tips

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Driving tips for Northwest Florida’s foggy mornings

CRESTVIEW — “Cooking Matters with Healthy Okaloosa" is the next First Tuesday Talk topic at the Crestview Public Library.

Chandra Williams of the Okaloosa County Health Department will present the information 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. 

Attendees will gain hands-on learning through activities like using an onsite pop-up grocery store tour, making easy healthy recipes and playing interactive games.

Call 682-4432 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Healthy cooking seminar set

CRESTVIEW — Kiwanis Charity Clay Shoot organizers have sponsorships available for the second annual sporting clays fundraiser.

The shoot starts with registration and a light breakfast at 8 a.m. May 6 at Shoal River Sporting Clays, 3985 U.S. Highway 90 E., Crestview. A safety briefing for participants is at 9 a.m. and the shoot starts at 9:30 a.m.

Titanium sponsorship costs $2,000 and provides:

•Complimentary entry fee for two teams (eight shooters)

•Name on event banner

•Name on score cards

•Sponsor name and/or logo on four shooting station signs

•Recognition at award ceremony

Platinum sponsorship costs $1,500 and provides:

•Complimentary entry fee for one team (four shooters)

•Name on event banner

•Name on scorecard

•Sponsor name and/or logo on two shooting station signs

•Recognition at award ceremony

Gold sponsorship costs $1,000 and provides:

•Complimentary entry fee for two shooters

•Name on event banner

•Sponsor name and/or logo on one shooting station sign

•Recognition at award ceremony

Silver sponsorship costs $500 and provides:

•Half-price entry fee for two shooters

•Name on event banner

•Name on shell table

Bronze sponsorship costs $250 and provides:

•Sponsor name and logo on one shooting station sign

Other sponsorships available include goodie bag donation items for bags to be given to each shooter; and award sponsorships for the four first-place, four second-place, four third-place and one best shooter winners.

Proceeds will be used to renovate the John B. McMahon Environmental Center in Crestview. The project's first phase covers installing restrooms, playground equipment, fencing and parking.

Contact Karen Donaldson, 826-2630 or karendonaldson@coastalbankandtrust.com, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Kiwanis clay shoot sponsorships available

CRESTVIEW — Act4Murder, a professional comedy troupe, will present a murder mystery dinner performance. 

Seating for "A Vacation to Die For" starts 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Samuel’s Roadhouse Grill, 114 John King Road, Crestview. Dinner and the performance begin at 6:30 p.m.

"The show will have you roaring over the antics of Becky Boudreaux, Kitty Wunkus, Tommy Wunkus, Mama Wynonna and Bunky Wonky as they sing and dance their way into your hearts. 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.

The cost is $38 per person. RSVP at www.act4murder.com. V.I.P. packages with special merchandise and recognition are also available there.

Call Act4Murder, 862-2885, for additional information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'A Vacation to Die For' coming soon to Samuel's Roadhouse

CRESTVIEW—Building homes is nothing new for Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa County. The nonprofit is currently working on its 58^th home in the area.

The site at 582 S. Savage St. is being sponsored by Gulf Power through a grant program. The utility company has partnered with Habitat on about three projects, according to the regional nonprofit’s Community Outreach Director Melissa Litscher.

The organization builds about 2.5 homes each year, Litscher said. The completion process for each home is about six months and takes the work of 600-700 volunteers.

These volunteers come from various backgrounds and become involved with Habitat through different means. Help is enlisted from local businesses, churches and the military. Volunteers of all skill levels can contribute their time to the building process. Building volunteers must be at least 16 years old but other opportunities are available for individuals as young as 13.

The typical day for a Habitat volunteer begins with a morning meeting to discuss the day’s projects or tasks, according to Litscher. From there, more experienced volunteers take charge of those less experienced and teach them the skill they need for the day.

Aside from Gulf Power, Habitat affords construction projects with the help of individual donors, business sponsorships and its two area ReStore locations in Fort Walton and Crestview. Homes are built on land the organization has acquired through donation or purchase.

Contrary to the belief of some, Habitat homes are not given away.

“Homeowners buy at cost of construction, not appraised value,” Litscher said. The approved families are offered a zero percent mortgage and complete 300 hours of “sweat equity,” she added. Sweat equity is a Habitat form of community service that can include time at a ReStore location, building homes or select financial management classes.

Other requirements for ownership include having existing unhealthy or unsafe living conditions, financial strain, a $500 down payment and living or working in Okaloosa County for at least one year, according to the organization’s website.

Habitat opens the housing application process occasionally and allows between three and five people to be approved before closing it, Litscher said. This ensures applicants will receive housing in a timely matter.

Visit www.habitatfwb.org for more information on volunteering, donating or homeownership. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hub City's latest Habitat for Humanity home under construction

CRESTVIEW — Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County

•State Road 85 resurfacing from Brandt Pond Road to State Road 123: South and northbound lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through mid-February as crews perform paving operations.

•U.S. Highway 98 over East Pass Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Intermittent westbound lane closures between 9 p.m. Feb. 9 and 5 a.m. Feb. 10 as crews perform maintenance activities on the bridge pilings.

•U.S. 98 turn lane construction at Pryor Drive, Palmetto Drive and St. Mary Avenue Southwest, Mary Esther: Construction activities are underway. Drivers can expect lane closures between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Walton County

•U.S. 98 widening from Emerald Bay Drive to Tan-O-Mar Drive: Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Holiday Road and the Okaloosa/Walton county line from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. through Thursday, Feb. 9. The closures will allow crews to begin roadway widening and drainage work.

•U.S. Highway 331 Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge Project: Daytime paving and guardrail work north and southbound, south of the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge to Chat Holly Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Wednesday, Feb. 8. One lane in each direction will remain open during the work.

•State Road 20 routine maintenance west of Chippewa Drive: Eastbound lane closure west of Chippewa Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Feb. 10 as crews place bank and shore material along the south side of the roadway.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 6 Okaloosa and Walton traffic changes

CRESTVIEW—David’s Catfish House is bringing its Southern-style seafood to the Crestview area.

Locals might already be familiar with the regional brand that operates a location in Milton and several locations in south Alabama. The expansion to Crestview was an easy decision for the company, according to general manager Dan West.

“[Crestview] seemed like a good market, so after a couple years of talking about it, we decided to make the move,” West said.

The company frequently had diners from the Crestview area at its other locations, according to West. That’s how they determined the Hub City was a logical site for a new location.

David’s serves a mix of seafood options including catfish, shrimp and oysters, but also features “turf” options like hamburgers and chicken. Catfish is sourced from Mississippi and local companies, according to West, ship all other fish from the Gulf of Mexico.

Although catfish is in the name, that’s not the only thing David’s prides itself on.

“Our cole slaw is a signature item,” West said. The cole slaw can be bought by the gallon at some locations, according to the company’s website.

David’s will open for business at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4, West said. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

The stand-alone location is at 1296 N. Ferdon Blvd., near the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: David's Catfish House sets opening

CRESTVIEW — The Hub City Lakers AAU boys basketball team has scheduled tryouts for sixth- through 12th-grade students.

Tryouts start 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at Richbourg School, 500 Alabama St., Crestview.

Contact Coach David Loggins, 376-6212, lakerbasketball2014@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/aauhclakers, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Basketball tryouts set

CRESTVIEW — Gulf Power Company wants to increase its base rate charge, but what would that mean for customers?

The base rate is the amount the utility company charges customers regardless of how much power is used. Currently, the rate is about $18.60 per month for residential customers. Gulf Power filed paperwork with the Florida Public Service Commission on Aug. 12, 2016, to increase that amount to an average of $47.40 per month.

Gulf Power has also filed to reduce the kilowatt-per-hour charge from $0.04 to roughly $0.03 for customers.

“This would do away with spikes customers see on their bills during summer and winter months when energy use is greater,” Gulf Power Media Relations Supervisor Rick DeLaHaya said. “The change would allow more predictability in calculating your bill.”

The average utility bill for consumers would increase by about $15, despite a proposed decrease in use rate.

The restructuring in base and use fees would create more “predictability” on average bills but affect power-saving initiatives by consumers. Several regional clean energy companies and organizations have expressed concerns about the proposal for this reason.

For example, if a resident didn’t use power for the entire month they would still be charged nearly $50, simply because they have service. This also affects users of solar energy, who use low amounts of energy to power homes.

“This is dis-incentivizing to investing in your own personal property in order to lower your bills through solar,” Director of Conservatives for Energy Freedom Tory Perfetti said at a recent public hearing regarding the rate adjustments.

Gulf Power will not receive any increase in profit due to the rate restructuring, DeLaHaya said. Additional money gained from the rate increase will go toward “significant and critical capital expenditures for infrastructure,” according to the power company’s original request to the public service commission.

These infrastructure costs would relate to improving the grid through new power lines and poles and better technology to manage the utility, DeLaHaya said.

“Gulf presently estimates that an increase in annual revenues of approximately $115 to $125 million is necessary” to provide the service customers require, the proposal filing stated.

The city of Crestview has not looked into the matter and therefore, neither opposes nor endorses the plan, according to Mayor David Cadle.

The commission will address the increase in April and vote on May 9. If approved, rates will increase in July.

THE ISSUE: Gulf Power is seeking an increase to its base rate charge.

LOCAL IMPACT: Consumers’ average utility bill would increase by about $15, despite the proposed decrease in usage rate.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What would a Gulf Power increase mean for residents?

Richard Marshall, a part-time resident of Crestview, is an alumnus of Michigan State University, Lincoln Christian College (University) and Lincoln Christian Seminary.

He has been in the ministry for 50 years and preached revivals in 13 states. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for almost 60 years.

The Marshalls call Crestview home for half the year and call Franklin, North Carolina home for the other half.

You can check out a copy of his book, "All Things Together," at the library or meet the author at the Crestview Writers Group’s Local Author Meet and Greet on May 27.

Here's an excerpt: “Times of joy and jubilation, times of disappointment and heartache, adulation, rejection, false accusation, death of loved ones, incarceration; all these were a part of the experience of a preacher of the Gospel who continued in fruitful ministry by his faith and confidence in the ultimate goodness of God."

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A look at local author Richard Marshall