CRESTVIEW — Yoga instructor Brooke Palmer will teach “Yoga: It Will Keep You Young” as part of the Crestview library's First Tuesday Lecture series.

The free program, for residents age 6 through adults, is 10:30 a.m. July 5 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

Cookies, juice, and coffee will be served at 10 a.m. when the doors open. 

For more information call the library, 682-4432.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Learn about yoga at Crestview presentation

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club members this weekend will participate in the National Amateur Radio “Field Day” exercise. 

NOARC’s 30-plus members will join more than 35,000 radio amateurs in the United States and Canada to practice their emergency response capabilities.

The North Okaloosa Amateurs will set up tents, generators, solar power systems, several operating stations and temporary antennas at the location of their future Communications and Training Center, 997 Webb St., Crestview. Club members recently purchased this lot and are raising funds to build a permanent structure there.

NOARC members will start “on air” operations at 9 a.m. Saturday June 25 and continue through mid-morning Sunday.

Anyone interested in learning about amateur radio can stop by, and might even have the opportunity to talk to other radio amateur clubs participating in this annual event.

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DID YOU KNOW?

●Last year, North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club members provided communications assistance to the Triple B Cookoff, Race for Lace, the Veterans Day and Christmas parades, the Fall Festival and several amateur radio related events. 

●They donated 672.5 hours, the use of 30 radios, and traveled over 914 miles for a total contribution value of $41,734.50, according to a media release.

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See www.w4aaz.org and www.facebook.com/groups/NOARC/?ref=bookmarks to learn more about the North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club schedules Crestview 'field day'

CRESTVIEW — Drivers should avoid a stretch of road that will be under construction on Wednesday, June 22, according to city officials.

The south end of Brackin Street, between East First Ave and East Pine Avenue, will be closed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day for sewer utility construction repairs, weather permitting.

“Please avoid this intersection and we apologize for any inconvenience,” a city spokesperson said.

If you have any question call 850-682-6132.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Drivers: Avoid this Crestview street on Wednesday

CRESTVIEW — CareerSource Okaloosa Walton has closed its only North Okaloosa County service center on Wilson Street in Crestview.

The agency, which shut its local doors June 3, served job-hunting residents throughout the region for more than 20 years, including more than 10 years on Wilson Street.

Job seekers and businesses seeking workers can visit south Okaloosa County CareerSource offices in Fort Walton Beach, Eglin Air Force Base and Northwest Florida State College.

Career Source’s Shalimar administrative center does not provide public services.

The decision to shut down the office “was money,” CareerSource’s Liz Westby said while in Crestview last week for the annual veterans job fair.

LIMITED CRESTVIEW SERVICES

CareerSource hasn’t completely abandoned the county seat, however.

Crestview Public Library Director Marie Heath said her facility is in a “tentative relationship” with the agency to host job services several times a week.

Heath said the library and CareerSource are discussing a formal memorandum of understanding, but are currently offering services through an informal agreement.

“As long as it doesn't impede our staff, we can work things out to help each other out,” Heath said during a report to the Crestview City Council.

MOBILE UNIT

In addition to employment counselors holding office hours inside the library, “We have the mobile unit at the library providing job searches,” CareerSource’s Gabriela Leysath said.

The Mobile One-Stop bus provides 10 computers, printers and its own Wi-Fi network, Heath said.

“We are working with them (the library) to establish an ongoing schedule,” CareerSource Executive Director Linda Sumblin said.

Westby said CareerSource may investigate offering mobile unit hours at City Hall as well.

Sumblin said job hunters can also use CareerSource’s online services.

“Résumé writing, employment opportunities, everything you can do in bricks and mortar you can do online,” she said.

For business partners needing workers, CareerSource’s business services representative Anne Sheffield will keep office hours at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, Sumblin said.

DOING BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY

Sumblin said the decision to close the Crestview service center was “extremely difficult,” saying it was entirely made based on funding availability.

“We’re one of the very few (employment centers) that has had the luxury to have two centers in one county,” Sumblin said. “It was a very difficult decision for our board to make.”

CareerSource has not abandoned North Okaloosa County, Sumblin said, “We’re just doing a business a little bit differently.”

The service also constantly evaluates customers’ needs, she said, and could possibly reopen a Crestview office in the future.

“If we identify the need and have funding, we will certainly explore the option,” Sumblin said. “We don’t want to close the door totally.”

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ALTERNATIVE OFFICES

CareerSource Okaloosa-Walton has recently closed its Crestview office, but patrons can use these offices in neighboring communities, including three centers in south Okaloosa County:

● Fort Walton Beach Center, 409 Racetrack Road NE, 833-7587

● Emerald Coast Technical College, 761 North 20th St., DeFuniak Springs, 520-5990

● Eglin Education Center, Building 251, Room 114; 502 West D Ave., Eglin AFB, 882-1446 or 279-6414

● Northwest Florida State College, Student Career Center, Student Services, Building 410, Room 129, 100 College Blvd. E., Niceville, 729-4994

CRESTVIEW SERVICES

CareerSource Okaloosa Walton’s Mobile One-Stop unit will be at the Crestview Public Library Thursday, and next Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23, 27 and 29.

CareerSource Okaloosa-Walton has recently closed its Crestview office, but patrons can use these offices in neighboring communities, including three centers in south Okaloosa County:

● Fort Walton Beach Center, 409 Racetrack Road NE, 833-7587

● Emerald Coast Technical College, 761 North 20th St., DeFuniak Springs, 520-5990

● Eglin Education Center, Building 251, Room 114; 502 West D Ave., Eglin AFB, 882-1446 or 279-6414

● Northwest Florida State College, Student Career Center, Student Services, Building 410, Room 129, 100 College Blvd. E., Niceville, 729-4994

CRESTVIEW SERVICES

CareerSource Okaloosa Walton’s Mobile One-Stop unit will be at the Crestview Public Library Thursday, and next Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23, 27 and 29.

ALTERNATIVE OFFICES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CareerSource closes Crestview office

CRESTVIEW — An evening of Latin dance will feature entertainment by DJ Taino.

Fred Astaire Studio is hosting Latin Night 9-11 p.m. June 24 at 544 Main St. N.

Cost is $8 in advance, or $10 at the door. For more information call 682-1455, go by the studio, or visit fredastairecrestview.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview dance studio hosts Latin Night

CRESTVIEW — A Cage Wars event is coming to Crestview.

Doors open at 6 p.m. June 25 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, with the fights starting at 7 p.m.

General admission cost $25, VIP ringside seats are $35, and kids 10 and younger get in free. Military members get $5 off with their I.D.

The event is  presented by Brad Stewart Law Firm, and Mark Harris Bail Bonds.

For more information call Sammy Collingwood, 850-333-8620.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cage Wars scheduled in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — The Concerned Citizens Group of Crestview will host a free Military Appreciation Day luncheon for military members, retirees and their families.

The event, which includes games and fellowship, is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16 at the Carver-Hill Annex, 461 School Ave.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Concerned Citizens group to host Military Appreciation Day

CRESTVIEW — The Southern Wrestling Alliance will bring a show June 18 to the Crestview National Guard Armory.

SWA wrestling’s bell time is 8 p.m. at 1518 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Door opens at 6:30 p.m.

Cost is $10, general admission, for ages 6 and up; $12 for the front row; and kids 5 and under get in free. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wrestling comes to Crestview June 18

Mercer University has announced the President's List and Dean's List for the spring 2016 semester. 

Cheyenne Andrew, senior, School of Engineering, is a Pace resident who made the dean's list.

Inclusion requires students to meet rigorous grade-point-average standards specific to the college or school within the University.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Blueberries' health benefits better than many perceive

CRESTVIEW — Applicants were fewer at this year’s North Okaloosa Veterans and Florida Manufacturing Career Expo.

But that’s a good sign, recruiters said.

“That means the economy is getting better,” InDyne personnel assistant Patty Ross said. “But if we walk away with even one good hire, we’re happy.”

More than two hours after the fair’s 9 a.m. start Thursday, only 70 applicants, many of them veterans or military members about to separate from the service, had walked through the Crestview Community Center doors.

Previous years have seen several hundred applicants on the floor within the first couple hours.

But for job seekers such as Nicki Ogle, who was scouting opportunities for her active duty husband at the Troops to Teachers table, the slow pace allowed an opportunity to spend more time with a potential employer.

“My husband is separating soon and he’d make an awesome teacher,” she said as recruiter Carolyn Sutton gave Ogle recruiting materials and registration instructions to share with her husband.

SERVICES PLUS JOBS

In addition to employers, attendees found a variety of veterans services and educational opportunities.

“This is what makes us a little different than other job fairs,” CareerSource Okaloosa Walton’s Liz Westby said. “We have it all.”

The fair was part of a statewide series of job recruitment events emphasizing careers in manufacturing, “but we found a strictly manufacturing job fair doesn’t do real well in this area,” Westby said.

One area business, Holt-based Certified Manufacturing, was hoping for exactly the sort of new-hire a manufacturing job fair might attract.

“We are very, very busy,” Director of Administration Michelle Rasbeck said. “We had to open up our third building that we were using for a warehouse for production.”

BACK TO SCHOOL

University of West Florida military veterans coordinator Deborah Cluff said many veterans are seeking to return to college after separating.

“We’ve had quite a bit of interest both for jobs with the university and for education,” Cluff said.

While most of the 39 recruiters represented local companies, some gladly offered positions throughout the region and the state.

“We have 1,700 vacancies throughout Florida and about 400 in our region,” Sgt. Paul Pollak of the Florida Department of Corrections said. “If you want to work in Miami, I can get you to Miami.”

Pollak said his department particularly likes hiring veterans because their training is perfectly suited for jobs as a corrections officer.

“We roll out the red carpet for our veterans,” he said. “We love our military applicants: they’re boots-on-the-ground ready. They’re my dream applicant.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview job fair sees fewer applicants