3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida
Preserving North Okaloosa history — one photo at a time
Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on North Okaloosa County nonprofit organizations improving our quality of life.
CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Historical Association Inc., is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving Northwest Florida and its residents’ history and accomplishments.
One of its most visible accomplishments is the creation of the Baker Block Museum, located at 1307 Georgia Ave., Baker.
Founded by Jeanette Henderson and her husband, the late Charles Henderson, the museum includes newspaper archives and a mercantile where visitors can purchase foods and merchandise.
The museum also houses several documents useful to genealogy enthusiasts. They include several cemetery books, obituaries and Native American and family name files.
The association also sells books and calendars based on North Okaloosa history and photos.
While proceeds support the museum, people can help others ways, too.
"They can help obviously through monetary donations and volunteering their time,” association member Tracy Curenton said.
She said area residents who have articles such as “old photographs and stuff they'd like to donate to the museum and have preserved for other people to see, we'd be interested in talking to them about that.”
Contact the museum, 537-5714, Tuesday though Friday to learn more about the association or become a member.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Preserving North Okaloosa history — one photo at a time
Bear hunt, tea at library
We’re going on a bear hunt in the Crestview Public Library on Jan. 26!
In addition to the bear hunt, we will read some stories and treat our bears to a Teddy Bear Tea. Someone in your party must be ages 3-14. Registration is recommended. Please call 682-4432 or come in to register.
Once you’ve secured your reservation, be here by 6:30 p.m. in your modest pajamas. Bring your teddy bear, flashlight and six cookies to share. (It would help if the cookies are individually wrapped). We should be done hunting by 7:15 p.m.
We’d like to thank our Friends of the Crestview Library for helping to make this Family Library Time free for you!
Heather Nitzel is the Youth Services librarian at the Crestview Public Library.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bear hunt, tea at library
Main Street Crestview announces Christmas Parade winners
CRESTVIEW — Winners of the Main Street Crestview Association’s Christmas Parade are as follows:
- First Place, Business: Hub City Glass
- First Place, Church: The Summit Church
- First Place, Civic Youth: Troop 30
- Second Place, Business: Assurance Realty
- Second Place, Church: Knights of Columbus
- Second Place, Civic Youth: Bob Sikes Elementary School’s Rockin’ Robots
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Main Street Crestview announces Christmas Parade winners
American Legion Post 75 hosts gun giveaway
CRESTVIEW — American Legion Post 75 is hosting a 30 Guns in 30 Days giveaway. The group will sell 1,000 tickets, and proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the post's local charities.
Tickets cost $30 per person, and the buyer's ticket numbers will be entered in each drawing from March 2-31. Winning numbers come from the Florida Lottery's Pick Three mid-day drawing.
The giveaway is open to residents ages 21 and up, with all Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms rules applying. Ticket sales end Feb. 28.
To purchase a ticket, go to the American Legion Post, which is open noon to 8 p.m. Sundays through Saturdays at 898 E. James Lee Blvd., or AA Tactical Inc., open 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at 451 Ferdon Blvd. N. in Crestview.
See www.alpost75.org for more rules and regulations concerning the gun drawing, and a list of the guns for each drawing date.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: American Legion Post 75 hosts gun giveaway
No facts, only opinions in alcohol debate?
Dear editor,
Monday evening, Nov. 28, the Crestview City Council voted 3-2 to accept Ordinance 1611 to expand alcohol sales in its downtown redevelopment district. There are many other changes.
It would be wise for concerned citizens to read this ordinance in full. It can be found on the city's webpage. Councilman Shannon Hayes stated, "I have received a lot of opinions on this issue — no facts."
I was present at the last three council meetings and there were indeed "facts" presented. I am of the "opinion" that alcohol is destructive to our society. However, I base my opinion on the following facts:
- On the left side of my face are two long scars that I received in Pensacola, Fla., some 60 years ago. These are "facts" I received from a man driving drunk when he hit the passenger side of the car my parents and I were in.
- There was testimony given from family members, neighbors, friends and acquaintances, both guilty and innocent, who died because of alcohol. All of these tombstones are "facts."
- One man at the second reading said he became an alcoholic in his teens and how he drove the streets of Crestview drunk. At times he was so drunk he did not remember what he had done. He was arrested; lost his privilege to drive. Did the arresting officer work by his "opinion" or the "facts?" Did the judge make his ruling by using "opinions" or "facts?" In his 50s, this man received Jesus Christ as his Saviour and the taste for alcohol was taken away by the Lord. Even today teens get a taste for alcohol and become addicted; that is a "fact."
There were plenty of "facts" given in opposition to Ordinance 1611, but three council members ignored these "facts" and failed to protect all citizens of Crestview from people who drink and drive.
When "facts" become "opinions," what do we base wise decisions on?
What's your view? Write a letter to the editor.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: No facts, only opinions in alcohol debate?
Milligan couple's Christmas display returns
MILLIGAN — Dan and Trish Gartner’s Christmas lights are once again up for display.
The couple's front yard — which includes a nativity scene, The Nutcracker, Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas trees and Disney characters, among other cheerful sights — is lit 5-10 p.m. seven days a week at 5206 Ray St., Milligan.
The annual display takes three weeks to recreate, Trish Gartner, a Publix employee, has said. The couple design the display together and Dan sets up the lawn decorations and strings the lights.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Milligan couple's Christmas display returns
Girl Scout Troop 676 carols at Crestview Manor
CRESTVIEW — Crestview Manor residents received a surprise visit Dec. 8 from Girl Scout Troop 676 members.
The girls, led by Daisy Leaders Jeane Gardner and Heidi Gallegos, sang “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
They also gave cards and snowman treats to residents.
Tiffany Wrathell, activities director at Crestview Manor, said residents loved having the girls and they enjoy having visitors. Call 689-7850 if you or your group is interested in doing something for the residents or sponsoring them.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Girl Scout Troop 676 carols at Crestview Manor
Respecting the dead
CRESTVIEW — A number of volunteers have ensured that American veterans are unforgotten.
Saturday, members of Crestview’s VFW Post 5450 met at Old Bethel Cemetery on Old Bethel Road to clean gravesites and surrounding areas of veterans of American wars. Some of the gravesites have broken headstones; some of the names are indistinguishable.
“There are 66 veterans buried here dating back to the pre-Civil War period. Most of them from that period were Confederate soldiers,” said Trent Rundell, a 24-year Air Force veteran. Volunteers sprayed a solution on headstones that helped make names more visible.
“This is the first time our post has come out here and done this. We do come out here and to other local cemeteries every Memorial Day and place American flags on gravesites,” said Scott Hice, a 22-year Air Force vet.
Also helping was John Hamilton, a retired Marine who served in Vietnam. He recently retired as the VFW's national adjutant general and was the national commander-in-chief from 2012-2013. He moved to Crestview to help in VFW District 1.
The Crestview Historic Preservation Board in 2013 selected Old Bethel Cemetery as a location for a historical landmark marker. The marker also recognizes the significance of the Old Bethel Church, a log structure that dates back to the 1830s.
Local oral history says a mass grave of Confederate soldiers, from a skirmish in the nearby Yellow River, is buried within a circle of a field of stones in the cemetery’s oldest section. However, University of West Florida archaeologists say they cannot find evidence of bodies below the markers.
In 2017, the post’s members hope to help clean other local cemeteries where veterans are laid to rest, volunteers said.
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Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article misspelled Scott Hice's name. In addition, the article previously included incorrect positions for John Hamilton within the VFW.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Respecting the dead
Nonprofit: Apartments one solution for Crestview's homelessness
CRESTVIEW — Homelessness in North Okaloosa County is a problem, but what is the solution? Crestview City Councilman J.B. Whitten held a town hall meeting on the issue Thursday night at Azteca Restaurant in hopes of working toward one.
Forty attendees included Mayor David Cadle; Ann Sprague, the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless president; and Teresa Gaillard, the city’s growth management and administrative services director.
“My goal is to have an open dialogue between me, a city councilman and those in the community who have concerns about our needy and homeless people here in Crestview,” Whitten said. “I see my role in leading this discussion as being educated, knowing available resources, spreading the word and encouraging and promoting solutions.”
Whitten said he would like to see a coalition of churches and non-profits pool their resources and plan a consolidated approach to the homelessness problem.
Sprague explained what Helping Hands of Crestview is doing to help the homeless.
“Research has shown that the best way to help the homeless is to house them individually or as a family,” she said. “We would like for the community to help raise funds to purchase an acre of land to build efficiency apartments for the homeless.
“We have been working since April with over 80 homeless individuals and families here in Crestview. We feel like we are just hitting the tip of the iceberg. We know where the resources are and we do what we can to find and offer services to the homeless.”
Helping Hands can provide IDs and take people to doctor’s appointments. Volunteers also work with military veterans to connect them to services.
“We have many Iraq and Afghanistan vets in this area who do not have services,” Sprague said.
Also speaking at the town hall meeting was Sarah Yelverton, the executive director of the Homelessness and Housing Alliance in Fort Walton Beach. This organization is the primary continuum of care for Okaloosa and Walton counties. She spoke about applying for state grants to provide housing for the homeless. A state pilot grant provides $750,000 in a forgivable loan for housing for the homeless, for which Okaloosa and Walton counties have applied.
Whitten said he felt the town hall discussion went well.
“What I brought away from the meeting was that there was an agreement that a coalition of churches and non-profits might be able to tackle the homelessness situation in a better fashion that we are currently doing,” he said.
“Those in attendance expressed a desire that some type of plan be presented by city leadership. I agreed to request a city council workshop in the near future in pursuit of that goal.”
Helping Hands is located at 428 McLaughlin St., in Crestview. The center is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Call 398-5670 for more information.
HOW TO HELP
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nonprofit: Apartments one solution for Crestview's homelessness