This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: THE BULLETIN KID

You probably have thought about what you'd like to do during your retirement years. But all your plans probably depend, to at least some extent, on your financial situation.

What happens if you reach the age at which you wish to retire and you just don't have the money you thought you'd have?

If this occurs, it's time for "Plan B." What does that look like? Here are a couple of possibilities:

•Continue working. If you like your job, you may not mind working an extra year or so. You'll be bringing in more income and contributing more to your 401(k) or other retirement account — and, perhaps almost as importantly, you may be able to avoid tapping into these retirement accounts, thus giving them more time to potentially grow. (However, once you turn 70½, you'll need to begin taking withdrawals from your 401(k) and a traditional IRA.) But if you are really not enamored with the idea of working any longer, you might find that even the ability to "beef up" your retirement plans for another couple of years isn't much consolation.

•Adjust your retirement lifestyle. It's pretty simple: If you don't save as much as you had planned for retirement, you probably can't do all the things you wanted to do as a retiree. For example, you may not be able to travel as much, or pursue your hobbies to the extent you'd like.

Clearly, you'd like to avoid these "retirement contingency plans." To do so, though, you'll need to take steps well before you retire. And the most important move you can make may be to contribute as much as you can possibly afford to your IRA and your 401(k) or another employer-sponsored retirement plan.

During the last several years before you wish to retire, you may be in a strong position to "max out" on these plans because, at this stage of your life, your income may be at its highest point, your children may be grown and you may even have "retired" your mortgage. If you still have money left with which to invest, you may want to look at other tax-advantaged vehicles that can be used for retirement.

But while it's important to put in as much as possible to your retirement accounts, you need to do more than that — you also must put the money in the right investments within these accounts. Your exact investment mix should be based on your individual risk tolerance and time horizon, but, as a general rule, these investments must provide you with the growth potential you'll need to accumulate sufficient resources for retirement.

Of course, as you know, investments move up and down. You can't prevent this, but you'll certainly want to reduce the effects of volatility as much as possible when you enter retirement. Consequently, during your final working years, you may need to adjust your retirement accounts by shifting some of your assets (though certainly not all) from growth-oriented vehicles to income-producing ones.

It's a good idea to have contingency plans in place for virtually every endeavor in life — and paying for your retirement years is no different. But if you can make the right moves to avoid the contingency plans in the first place, then so much the better.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's your retirement 'contingency plan?'

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

CRESTVIEW — Since June 1935, the Kiwanis Club of Crestview has existed to serve the community and improve area children’s lives.

Kiwanis is a global organization with over 625,000 members who annually raise more than $100 million, according to its website. Raised funds go to over 150,000 service projects that vary based on a community’s needs. The Crestview chapter has 33 members, said Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Roy, but that hasn’t slowed the group’s influence.

Crestview Kiwanis annually awards a scholarship to a member of the Key Club at Crestview High School. Key Club, a service program for high school students, focuses on teaching leadership skills. Over 5,000 Key Club chapters exist globally, according to the Kiwanis website.

Additionally, Crestview Kiwanis has three endowed scholarships through Northwest Florida State College. The college chooses the recipients, but one of the scholarships must go to a student enrolled to become a teacher, Roy said.

Beyond scholarships, Crestview Kiwanis works with the city to revitalize the John McMahon Environmental Center. The center — which features over 100 identified trees native to Florida and houses an environmental museum — is used as a tool for area students.

Through donations, fundraisers and volunteer work, the chapter constructed a walking path at the center and cleans and maintains the facility. The next major goal, Roy said, is to construct a children’s park in the area.

Kiwanis has also used social media to encourage community participation in several local events such as a town hall discussion on homelessness, veterans’ parades, health care fairs and the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Triple B cookoff.

For those looking to become involved with the Kiwanis Club, the Crestview chapter meets at noon each Wednesday at Samuel’s Roadhouse on John King Road.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Kiwanis members work to improve children's lives

CRESTVIEW — Economical development may increase with health care consultant and Pensacola Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer investing up to $35,000 for a revitalization study.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Jacksonville, will conduct research to develop a statement of vision, mission and values for the Hub City, according to Community Redevelopment Agency Director Brenda Smith. This will be the first time such a study has been conducted in Crestview, she said.

Studer’s $100 million in investments and developments are mostly in the immediate Pensacola area, he said. However, “When I went to Crestview, there was great passion, great enthusiasm for the city,” he said. “It just needed good measurement and data to make it happen.”

The study and its results will be coordinated between Crestview city officials and the Studer Community Institute, which “is focused on improving our community’s quality of life,” its website states. The direction Crestview chooses to go with the results is solely up to the city and its officials, Studer said.

The company uses a series of metrics developed with the University of West Florida to measure the “educational, economic and social well-being of the community,” the institute’s website states.

Studer will meet with area stakeholders Jan. 17 at City Hall to begin research and coordination efforts, Smith said.

“The city as a whole needs an overriding mission statement,” Studer said. Crestview’s individual department heads have clear missions, he added, but without a “single focus,” the town would face growth difficulties.

The study should take less than a month to conduct, Studer said. From there, his firm can work with city officials to “build tactics” and achieve measurable goals.

In addition to the Mason-Dixon survey, the CRA has approved a contract for market assessment by Retail Strategies and a contract with West Florida Regional Planning Council and Atkins to develop a city master plan.

Retail Strategies is a consultant firm that works with cities to identify retail opportunities and create and execute a recruitment strategy, according to the company’s website.

Businesses, such as Target or Kohl’s, look to the research from firms like Retail Strategies to determine if an area is suitable for their business, Smith said. This research uses several metrics including income, current retail establishments, ordinances and demographics.

Anyone can complete the survey located at www.retailstrategies.info/getting-to-know-your-community/

The contract with West Florida Regional Planning Council and Atkins will help the CRA create a master plan, Smith said. Master plans promote a framework for supporting investment, stressing desired change and preserving a town’s character.

Establishing a master plan will help address issues and strategies for destination development in Crestview. Additionally, a master plan is often required for a city to receive statewide and national grants, according to Smith. These grants, she said, can be used for development, public projects or agency funding.

Due to these various projects, Smith said Crestview currently has record opportunity for growth and development.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Investing in progress:

CRESTVIEW — Here is the latest roundup of North Okaloosa County projects in development.

THE PROJECTS

A development at 2150 S. Ferdon Blvd., next to Publix, will feature three buildings for restaurant and retail establishments.

Crestview Crossing has signed multiple leases for McAlister’s Deli, Marco’s Pizza, Fusion Bistro and Sport Clips. Crestview Growth Management Department Director Teresa Gaillard said these comprise the first wave of expected businesses in the shopping center.

Construction will occur in two building phases. The first phase will involve the building of two structures: one 4,600 square feet; the other 9,460 square feet. The second phase will see the construction of a 6,000-square-foot building for retail use.

Rumors about a Wal-Mart Grocery, the company’s food-only store, opening at the location are false, according to Gaillard. An investment firm is working with the city to secure property for what could become a Wal-Mart Grocery, but it is more likely to be a smaller version of the traditional store, Gaillard said.

Gaillard also stated that David’s Catfish House, a restaurant near the intersection of North Ferdon Boulevard and Old Bethel Road, is nearing completion.

THE PROGRESS

Crews working on Crestview Crossing have cleared the land and are beginning phase one of constructing the first pair of buildings.

Gaillard said this is an ongoing project and, although an exact opening date is unknown, she states it will be in the immediate future.

A potential Wal-Mart location, of any kind, is in the earliest of planning stages, according to Gaillard. She said the project, if it happens, wouldn’t be slated until 2018.

David’s Catfish House is the most immediate of several projects. Gaillard said the Alabama-based chain is scheduled to open its Crestview location at the end of January.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Crossing brings new business to town

1. ENJOY A MOVIE NIGHT. The Marquis Cinema 10 at 2828 Richbourg Lane, Crestview will be open Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. For showtimes, see http://www.movieshowtime.net, or pick something entertaining on cable, online or in DVD form.

2. TAKE YOUR FIRST HIKE OF 2017 with the Florida Trail Choctawhatchee group. Members will tour the Timberlake Recreation area. It starts at 2 p.m. Jan. 1 at a kiosk on Ranger Road, and Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. To RSVP, go to http://bit.ly/2iJtxvM. An Eglin permit is required. See https://eglin.isportsman.net/Permits.aspx for details.

3. CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS with a puzzle-building session. The person to snap in the last outside frame piece gets bragging rights. (There are few local events this time of year, but this suggestion is oldie and goodie.) 

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

Several mutton snapper management changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2017. These changes were approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's September meeting:

•Recreational, commercial, importation and sale minimum size limits will be 18 inches in all state waters.

•The recreational bag limit will be five fish per person within the 10-fish snapper aggregate bag limit in all state waters.

•The commercial trip limit will be five fish per person, per day or per trip from April through June in Atlantic state waters (this will replace the prior May through June commercial trip limit that was effective for all state waters).

•A 500-pound commercial trip limit is in effect for the remainder of the year (July through March) in Atlantic state waters.

Though mutton snapper is not overfished or undergoing overfishing, the 2015 stock assessment indicated that the population is smaller than previously estimated. Atlantic federal fishery managers recently approved measures that would make Atlantic federal regulations similar to the recent state changes.

Gulf federal fishery managers are also considering making similar measures for Gulf federal waters. These changes are intended to prevent harvest from exceeding the planned federal quotas, or the number of fish that can be harvested.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mutton snapper management changes expected

Several mutton snapper management changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2017. These changes were approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's September meeting:

•Recreational, commercial, importation and sale minimum size limits will be 18 inches in all state waters.

•The recreational bag limit will be five fish per person within the 10-fish snapper aggregate bag limit in all state waters.

•The commercial trip limit will be five fish per person, per day or per trip from April through June in Atlantic state waters (this will replace the prior May through June commercial trip limit that was effective for all state waters).

•A 500-pound commercial trip limit is in effect for the remainder of the year (July through March) in Atlantic state waters.

Though mutton snapper is not overfished or undergoing overfishing, the 2015 stock assessment indicated that the population is smaller than previously estimated. Atlantic federal fishery managers recently approved measures that would make Atlantic federal regulations similar to the recent state changes.

Gulf federal fishery managers are also considering making similar measures for Gulf federal waters. These changes are intended to prevent harvest from exceeding the planned federal quotas, or the number of fish that can be harvested.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mutton snapper management changes expected

CRESTVIEW — An out-of-town passenger suddenly died Tuesday afternoon, according to the Crestview Police Department.

The vehicle's driver called 911 at 3:28 p.m. to report her grandfather had a "medical event" while traveling on Interstate 10, according to the CPD. The vehicle pulled off I-10 and parked at the McDonald's on South Ferdon Boulevard to wait for emergency services' arrival. CPD officers arrived first, followed by the Crestview Fire Department and Okaloosa EMS. 

Emergency medical technicians performed CPR on the man, a CPD spokesperson said. However, Okaloosa EMS reported to CPD, the man "was dead on arrival at the scene."

The victim's information has not yet been added to police reports, but the CPD spokesperson stated they believe the man was "from Mississippi or Louisiana."

—

This is a developing story. We will post updates as they become available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Out-of-town vehicle passenger dies