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

CRESTVIEW — In our military community, Father’s Days often roll around to find many local dads deployed abroad with the armed forces or military contractors.

Families understand their fathers’ and husbands’ jobs require them to be gone during certain times of the year, and have developed ways to cope with their absence until they return home, including having a cyber “presence.”

Here are some local families’ suggestions.

Deanna Perry

Husband: Dustin Perry

Children: Hannah, 10, Gunnar, 6, and Gentry, 4

“One year we went to the beach and he was able to Skype with us while we were on the beach,” Perry said of her husband. “I had him on the phone and it was like he was really there. He got to be on the beach with us. I would take (the kids) to do things they liked to do with Daddy, like take them to the fishing hole. Skyping is the main thing, taking time to spend time with him. We had ‘daddy dolls,’ too.”

Kristal Petruzzi

Husband: Tony Petruzzi

Children: Jasper, 16, and Jonas, 10

“We visit with my mom and dad and with my family,” she said, referring to how she and their sons cope with her husband’s absence. “We Skype back and forth if he has the ability. We take pictures most everywhere we go and send them to him. If we go to the movies we take pictures of us in front of the movie poster. We love road trips, so we take pictures wherever we go. We try to act like he’s still here with us.”

Nicole Weaver

Husband: Andrew Weaver

Children: Zoe, 11, Jonathan, 10, Benjamin, 8, and Lily 6

“We Skype a lot so the kids can tell Daddy what's new or going on in their lives,” she said. “Paint pictures for Daddy! And try to have the same routine as we usually have when Daddy is home. We spend more time together because only one parent is home. Every Wednesday we have a game night!”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: When Daddy's deployed: Crestview military wives' Father's Day advice

CRESTVIEW — Residents here know the drone of aircraft over Bob Sikes Airport is the sound of what some have called the area’s economic engine.

Candidates for regional, state and federal offices are learning that, too.

Laurel Hill resident Dennis Mitchell, a former Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce president and Crestview Technology Air Park’s project executive, voluntarily conducts area economic tours for candidates.

“It has been somewhat of a hobby of mine for the past three years,” Mitchell said. “It helps them find out about the economic engines that drive our community.”

Destinations include Bob Sikes Airport and several of its tenants, such as C-TAP and fixed-base operator Emerald Coast Aviation, area manufacturers and educational institutions.

RECENT ‘TOURISTS’

Mitchell’s most recent “tourists” — James Zumwalt and Jayer Williamson, running for U.S. House District 1 and Florida house District 3 respectively — visited June 2.

They began their day at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, where they met local business, civic and education leaders.

Their tour included Bob Sikes Airport with a stop at Sunshine Aero Flight Test. Owner Bob Keller’s work in aerial defense equipment testing is often an eye-opener.

“Visitors are completely surprised at the impact this company has on the region,” Mitchell said.

REGULAR STOPS

Other stops on Mitchell’s tours often include:

●Emerald Coast Aviation, the airport’s fixed-base operator, and its new terminal facility

●Florida A&M University’s Durell Peaden Jr. Center, downtown Crestview’s pharmacy school

●Certified Manufacturing, a Holt company producing electronics and components for aviation and defense clients

●Businesses in the Okaloosa Business Air Park adjacent to Bob Sikes Airport

●American Elite Molding, formerly Bay State Cable Ties, also near Bob Sikes Airport.

Mitchell said Zumwalt and Williamson’s lunchtime conversation typified comments he hears during his tours.

“Lunch at … Casbah (Coffee Company) was filled with talk by both men about how little they really had known about Crestview, even with their long tenure of residence in the Panhandle,” Mitchell said. “I assured them they were not alone.”

EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCES

“I can’t thank Dennis enough,” Zumwalt said. “When I lived in Niceville, I was very aware of Crestview, but when I returned and looked at it through the prism of a political candidate, it fits nicely with my assessment of its potential.

“Everyone is fully aware of the importance of protecting our military, our tourism and our agriculture, but the fourth leg of the barstool is manufacturing. Crestview is a powder keg just waiting to burst with possibilities.”

Former Destin Mayor Mel Ponder, a candidate for Florida House District 4, said he knew Crestview as the Okaloosa County seat, but after touring with Mitchell, was impressed with the community’s business strengths.

“It definitely opened my eyes to the assets that are on the ground there and up and running,” Ponder said. “Every single stop we made was amazing. (Mitchell’s tour) adds tremendous value to not only knowing about the existing operations there but to the potential it has for more economic growth.”

“What manufacturers are looking for are favorable tax codes, a good workforce, a state where the workforce would be happy, cheap land, infrastructure and room to grow — and Crestview hits all those marks,” Zumwalt said.

“What I saw there in Crestview got me thinking, when we lay the groundwork to bring manufacturing back to the United States, we have to direct toward it Northwest Florida.”

NO POLITICAL AGENDA

Mitchell said his tours follow no political agenda, party or ideology.

“These tours are aimed solely at providing candidates with facts and figures that may be useful to them in the future concerning policy issues,” Mitchell said. “It has been a mutually gratifying experience for both the business leaders and all of the candidates that have been visiting our area.”

Even if his tourists aren’t elected to offices they seek, Mitchell said as civic and community leaders, the knowledge they glean during a fact-finding trip around North Okaloosa County can benefit the area in the future.

“Each one of these candidates who’ve taken the time, and interest, to learn about our region invariably has become an ambassador for the quality of the Crestview  area,” Mitchell said.

WANT A TOUR?

Candidates of any party for office who are not from Crestview and want to learn more about the area’s economic drivers can contact Dennis Mitchell, dennismitchell@fairpoint.net, for facility tours and information.

Candidates of any party for office who are not from Crestview and want to learn more about the area’s economic drivers can contact Dennis Mitchell, dennismitchell@fairpoint.net, for facility tours and information.

WANT A TOUR?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Candidates tour Crestview's economic hotspots: 'It opened my eyes'