VALPARAISO — The Genealogy Society of Okaloosa County’s next meeting will feature speakers Barbara Russell and Dorothy Pichardo.

During the meeting — 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso — they will discuss the Electronically Preserving Obituaries as Cultural Heritage program, a depository of obituaries.

Russell, a Chipley librarian, has practiced genealogy for about 20 years. Her family tree includes a favorite story about her great-great-grandmother rising from the dead; her great-grandfather, who brought Chipley Power and Light to the area; and her cousin, Tift Myers, who was a pilot for several U.S. presidents.

She has been talking about cemeteries and obituaries for about five years.

Pichardo of the Washington County Library is a branch manager in Vernon and a tech specialist for the libraries in the county. She has worked with the library for about 20 years. She loves to hear about her ancestors and the past.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa genealogical society sets meeting

CRESTVIEW — If you want to work for one of Florida Trend magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” look no farther than the Auburn community.

Auburn Water System ranked 17th on the list of 42 small companies with 15 to 49 employees in the magazine’s annual listing.

It was the only Northwest Florida company to make the top 100 list, which also included 30 medium-sized companies of 50-249 employees, and 28 large companies of more than 250 employees.

In addition, Auburn Water was selected by the Florida Rural Water Association as the Medium Water System of the Year, the non-profit utility stated in an August billing insert.

THE PEOPLE

Auburn General Manager Doug Sims said the utility is proud of both recognitions but credit goes to its 22 employees.

“They are the ones who make this place work,” Sims said. “They pull together and they look out for each other and they look out for our customers. They can’t support the customers if they don’t support each other first.”

A culture of strong communication between employees, management and customers supplements a benefits package that includes not just the usual medical, dental and vision insurance, but also free legal and certified public accountancy services.

Among efforts to encourage and enhance employee camaraderie and communication are:

●Quarterly luncheons where management prepares the food for employees. “We use that time to bring everyone up to date on things that are happening,” Sims said.

●Monthly staff meetings following board meetings “to make sure the employees know any decisions the board has made.”

●Seeking employee advice on operations and services. “We always ask them because they’re on the front line,” Sims said. “Their input is incredibly valuable to us in making decisions.”

●Cross training in which “we have two or three people that know how to do every job. That’s unheard of in a company with 22 employees,” Sims said.

●Using mistakes as learning experiences. “When somebody makes a mistake you don’t jump on them,” Sims said. “You help them to learn from it. The last thing you want to do is jump on them.”

Sims said Auburn Water is constantly seeking ways to improve.

“The main thing is to try to get better every day,” he said. “I want to get better myself so I can help them (employees) get better.

“A lot of places say ‘we really care,’ but we do, about our employees and about our customers.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Culture of care lands Auburn Water on '100 Best Companies to Work For' list

CRESTVIEW — “The Great Escape” was an exciting World War II film. But some critics said the book was better.

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” was a lavish musical. But some believed the book was better.

“Excalibur” was an epical adventure. But some offer that “The Once and Future King,” the book on which it was based, was better.

Or were they?

A new display at the Crestview Public Library pairs books in multiple genres with original movie posters from films made from them.

News Bulletin writer Brian Hughes culled the display’s books from his personal library and posters from his film collection, supplemented by some from friend and Dallas film poster collector Clyde Ponder.

Some sources, or the films made from them, may be surprising.

While many musical fans are familiar with the Oscar-winning Liza Minnelli breakthrough, “Cabaret,” few know English writer Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories” also inspired an earlier film, “I Am a Camera.”

“Sound of Music” was inspired by Baroness Maria von Trapp’s multiple autobiographies, most notably “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.”

But the inspiring tale of an Austrian family was actually filmed as two German movies in the 1950s, which were edited into one and released in the United States as “The Trapp Family.”

Posters and books displayed include a Harry Potter film, a James Bond film, World War II films, children’s films, and classics such as “Dracula,” “Swiss Family Robinson,” “Dr. Zhivago,” “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Lost Horizon.”

The display runs through October in the library lobby.

Hughes said with so much material to choose from, he’ll probably swap out some of the books and posters midway through the exhibit.

So, was the book really better? View the exhibit, read the book, check out the film, and decide for yourself.

What: “The Book Was Better” exhibit

When: During opening hours, through October

Where: Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'The book was better.' Or was it? (PHOTOS)

BAKER — Thomas Barrow, a Baker resident, said a single lily plant bore 33 blooms on a 1.5-inch stalk.

"Usually these August lilies have, at the most, six to eight blooms, and the stalk is about five-eighths of an inch round," Barrow said in a note to the News Bulletin.

"My wife, Linda, transplanted six dozen plants from my mom and dad's old home place about a half-mile north of our home on Old River Road."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker lily plant holds 33 blooms (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — The Constitution Party of Florida will hold its 2nd Annual Crestview Constitution Day Celebration soon.

The event is 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Crestview Library.

U.S. Army Col. Harry Riley, retired, of Crestview will share what the U.S. Constitution means to him. Riley is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.

Attendees also will sing a few patriotic songs.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Constitution Day celebration set

PENSACOLA, Florida — Tropical Storm Hermine (formally known as Tropical Depression No. 9) is starting to show itself in the Bay County area and should be coming closer in the next 24-36 hours.

Even though it hasn’t hit ‘hurricane’ strength, the storm will still result in wind and water damage and possible flooding to many consumers’ property.

BBB Northwest Florida reminds consumers to take certain precautions when dealing with cleanup and making repair decisions. Some of the most common "after-disaster" scams involve water and wind damage caused to roofs, homes or vehicles.

BBB offers the following advice to avoid becoming a victim of an after-disaster scam:

●Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid letting your emotions get the better of you. Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision with a long-term impact. Start your research with trust by finding a reputable business that can help with cleanup by visiting BBB’s accredited business directory, http://www.bbb.org/northwestern-florida/accredited-business-directory.

●Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts if temporary repairs are necessary.

●Take time to shop around for major repairs and get 3-4 estimates based on the same specifications and materials. Check out references that are at least a year old, verify that businesses are licensed or registered to do work in your area, and check with your local building inspector to see if a building permit is required. Get quick, easy, and free quotes from businesses you can trust by using BBB’s e-Quote service, http://nwfl.app.bbb.org/equote.

●Be wary of door-to-door workers who claim to have leftover materials from a job “down the street” or who do not have a permanent place of business. If sales people go do-to-door, check to see if your community requires them to have solicitation permits, ask for identification, and verify the company’s reliability with BBB.

●Be leery if a worker shows up on your doorstep to announce that your home is unsafe. If you are concerned about possible structural damage in your home, have an engineer, architect or building official inspect it. While most roofing contractors abide by the law, be careful allowing someone you do not know to inspect your roof. An unethical contractor may actually create damage to get work.

●Require a written contract agreement with anyone you hire. Be sure their name, address, license number, if applicable, and phone number is included on the contract. Read and understand the contract in its entirety; don’t sign a blank contract! Request a copy of the signed contract to be given to you at time of signature.

●A company who offers to pay your insurance deductible may recoup those costs by inflating their estimate to your insurance company, which leads to insurance fraud. Be sure to ask how they will cover the cost of your deductible before agreeing.

●Never pay in full for all repairs in advance, and do not pay cash! While many companies may ask for a deposit, BBB suggests that no more than one-third of the job be paid up front. Be sure the contract specifies the schedule for releasing payments to the contractor.

●Pay by credit card, if possible; you may have additional protection if there’s a problem.

Clearly written proposals that are detailed and broken down into separate line items are a good sign that the contractor is being thorough and has prepared an accurate estimate.

The following is a partial list of items your estimate or proposal should include:

●The type of material being used, manufacturer and color

●Scope of work to be done, including material and labor costs

●Who is responsible for repairing/replacing exterior landscape or interior finishes that are damaged during the course of the work? Make sure that your contract contains language addressing who is responsible for any damage that occurs as a result of the work.

●Approximate starting and completion dates

●Payment procedures

●Length of warranty and what is covered, e.g., workmanship, water leakage, etc.

●Who will haul away the old materials and/or project waste (e.g. extra materials, packaging, etc.). Is there extra charge for this service?

For additional information and advice you can trust, start with bbb.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BBB Northwest Florida has tips and advice for after Hermine

Weather experts are predicting Tropical Storm Hermine will likely bring heavy rain, wind and possible flooding to parts of Florida the next several days.

The storm is a reminder to all Floridians that we are in the middle of peak hurricane season, and all Floridians should be prepared for storms.

State Farm encourages all residents in the projected path of the storm to plan now and protect themselves and their property should the storm threaten their area.

Homeowners should secure outdoor objects such as lawn furniture and other items that could be tossed around by winds and cause damage to their property. Inside the home, residents should locate important documents such as insurance papers.

Given the potential for heavy rain, drivers are urged use caution when dealing with flooded roadways. If you can, simply avoid flooded areas — especially those with rapid water flow. Keep things safe and simple: reschedule your plans if you're aware of flooding in the area.

Given the expected heavy rain and possible flooding, drivers with water/flood damaged vehicles are encouraged to follow below insurance tips:

●Do not start a flooded vehicle until it has received a thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic.

●Record the highest level of water exposure on your flooded vehicle.

●Contact your agent or insurance company and advise them that your vehicle has been flooded. The sooner the vehicle can be evaluated and dried out, the less damage the vehicle will sustain. If you don't have the right training and personal protective equipment, it's safer, in most cases, to leave the cleaning up to professionals. Some floodwaters contain raw or untreated sewage and other contaminants that may pose serious health hazards during cleanup.

Given the possibility of home damage and claims from the storm, State Farm wants to make Floridians aware of an important issue called Assignment of Benefits and provide additional details.

Florida media outlets previously reported on the issue, highlighting claims where AOBs may have inflated damages or may even rise to the level of insurance fraud, which has a cost for Florida consumers. Many Floridians are experiencing homeowners claims involving AOBs.

State Farm has seen an increase in claims with AOBs throughout the state. If you have home damage from the storm, please follow these tips to avoid an AOB mistake:

●If you have a property damage loss in your home, contact State Farm immediately to report the claim, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

●Be careful before signing anything without fully reading the documents. An AOB transfers the payment and many rights of your claim to the vendor or contractor for the services provided or to be provided. This language is often difficult to identify in the documents. Be careful about plumbers referring other companies to you as the vendor may take AOBs. Keep your rights!

●Vendors taking AOBs may be water mitigation companies, roofers or other contractors. Be diligent before signing anything with a vendor/contractor that solicits you directly and advises you to file a homeowner’s claim.

●Preserve all building and/or plumbing materials removed by any contractor or vendor until you speak with State Farm.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: State Farm urges storm preparation for Florida residents

CRESTVIEW — The recreational harvest season for snook is now open statewide.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages anglers to use moderation when determining whether to take a snook home. Gulf snook populations were negatively impacted by a 2010 cold kill.

Gulf snook numbers currently exceed FWC management goals, but the fish are still rebuilding to pre-cold kill levels, which is one of the reasons why it is important to handle fish with care and use moderation when determining whether or not to harvest one.

During the open season, the daily bag limit is one fish per person.

In the Gulf, snook must be not less than 28 inches and not more than 33 inches total length.

In the Atlantic, snook must be not less than 28 inches and not more than 32 inches total length, which is measured from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed while the fish is lying on its side.

A snook permit, as well as a recreational saltwater license, is required unless the angler is exempt from the recreational license requirements. Snook may be targeted or harvested with hook and line gear only. Snagging is prohibited.

Snook are closed to harvest Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31 in Gulf state and federal waters, including Monroe County and Everglades National Park. In Atlantic state and federal waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, snook is closed Dec. 15 through Jan. 31 and June 1 through Aug. 31.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Limited harvest for snook in season

CRESTVIEW — The recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles) is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October.

The daily bag limit is two fish per person within the 10-snapper aggregate bag limit. The minimum size limit is 16 inches total length.

The private recreational angler red snapper season in Gulf federal waters was June 1-9 and was extended two days due to Tropical Storm Colin, closing June 12.

The federally permitted charter boat and head boat season for federal waters ran June 1 to July 16 (closing July 17). The federal red snapper season will remain closed during the September-October state season.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gulf recreational red snapper weekends open

BAKER — Thomas Barrow, Baker resident, provided photos of a single lily plant bearing 33 blooms on a 1.5-inch stalk.

"Usually these August lilies have at the most six to eight blooms and the stalk is about five-eighths of an inch round," Barrow said in a note to the News Bulletin.

"My wife, Linda, transplanted six dozen plants from my mom and dad's old home place about a half mile north of our home on Old River Road."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lily plant in Baker holds 33 blooms (PHOTOS)