FORT WALTON BEACH  — Drivers traveling State Road 189 (Beal Parkway) at Gap Creek Bridge will encounter intermittent lane restrictions as crews work to transition traffic from the median to the newly constructed southbound roadway.

Crews will then complete work in the median, lay the final layer of asphalt (friction course) and stripe the roadway. 

Hours are 11 p.m. June 2 to 6 a.m.  Friday, June 3. Motorists are reminded to use caution and obey the posted speed limit when traveling through the work zone. The project is slated for completion early July.

Construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fort Walton Beach southbound traffic shift is June 2

CRESTVIEW — Victor Everett graduated from Crestview High School in 2000 and went into the Navy the following year. As a corpsman, he served five years during the Iraq conflict’s peak.

Serving in the line of fire, Everett was wounded while rescuing Marines in his platoon during an insurgent attack. For his gallantry, he received the Navy Commendation with Valor.

When the nation pauses Monday to remember its fallen military members, it’ll be a day like most others for Everett.

“For many people, it’s a ‘celebration,’ the start of summer, though it’s not supposed to be a celebration,” he said. “It’s a day to stop and remember those who died for them.

“… The weird thing is when you first come back, these holidays, like Memorial Day, you don’t want to forget the people you served with who died, but it’s hard to reflect on those awful memories.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is that when you come back from combat, when you first come home, people do talk about it. But no matter what you say, people don’t understand what it was like so you stop talking about it.

 “So for us, you take the time out on Memorial Day, you take the time out on Veterans Day and you take the time out on the day they died. You take time out every day. 

“It’s more than just one day for people who’ve been through what we’ve been through. It’s every day.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: For Crestview High alumnus and Iraq War vet, every day is Memorial Day

During National Military Appreciation Month, Florida McDonald’s restaurants are highlighting local owner/operators who have served their country.

Among them is David Costa, a retired U.S. Air Force major who owns 21 restaurants from Navarre to Crestview and Port St. Joe. 

While serving in the U.S. Air Force, he began training to become a McDonald’s owner/operator, spending his days going from his work at the base straight to McDonald’s to train in operations of the restaurant. 

After three years of training and more than 4,000 hours, Costa retired from the Air Force and became a McDonald’s owner/operator.

His Air Force experience has helped him along the way. 

“A military background truly lends itself to a successful career at McDonald’s, because from an organizational standpoint they are very similar,” he said. “The different jobs I’ve held in the military also greatly helped me in my career with McDonald’s — from contract negotiations on behalf of the U.S. Air Force to troubleshooting and problem solving when I served as a Titan II Missile Commander. 

“Moreover, being able to manage and lead people is a skill that the U.S. military taught me that really helped prepare me for being a McDonald’s owner/operator.”

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Editor's Note: A previous version of this article contained an image of David Costa's son, not David Costa, a spokesperson stated. We've replaced the photo with the correct one. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NWF restaurant owner credits military experience for success

CRESTVIEW — The community’s own “Flanders Field” memorial has again sprouted along U.S. Highway 90 on the lawn below American Legion Post 75 as veterans and their supporters look ahead to Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day observances.

Friday evening, post volunteers started placing white crosses in several neat rows, scattering their ranks with red artificial poppies as the memorial was completed Saturday morning.

Against the post’s white retaining wall, black silhouettes of soldiers in combat poses flank a “Flanders Field” banner. East of the display, more silhouettes recreate the flag raising on Iwo Jima.

“This year someone has gone out of their way to ceremoniously set it up,” an anonymous caller and post member told the News Bulletin. “They did set it up nicely.”

Because of a 1915 poem, “In Flanders Fields,” by Canadian World War I physician Lt. Col. John McCrae, the poppy became a symbol of allied veterans and their fallen comrades.

The American Legion post’s Flanders Field will be dedicated to North Okaloosa County war dead during a Memorial Day ceremony, 11 a.m. May 30.

A lunch will follow the dedication. The public is invited to both events.

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WANT TO GO?

These Memorial Day observances are scheduled on Monday, May 30:

●10 a.m.: Disabled American Veterans Memorial Day observance, Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery, North Avenue at Mapoles Street

●11 a.m.: Flanders Field dedication, American Legion Post 75, 898 East James Lee Blvd., Crestview

●Noon: Memorial Day lunch, American Legion Post 75. Information: 689-3195

FLANDERS FIELD

Crestview American Legion Post 75’s “Flanders Field” is named for a poem about the Belgian site of the May 1915 Second Battle of Ypres. Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae penned the poem, called “In Flanders Fields,” upon the death of a friend, Lt. Alexis Helmer, during the battle.

The first stanza is:

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.”

Source: www.greatwar.co.uk

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview field of crosses and poppies to be dedicated on Memorial Day

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.  

No lane closures will take place on the state road system from 12 p.m. Friday, May 27 to 12 a.m. Tuesday, May 31. 

Okaloosa County: 

• Interstate 10 Resurfacing– Intermittent and alternating lane closures east and westbound between the Santa Rosa County line and east of the County Road (C.R.) 189 (Holt Exit) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 31 through Thursday, June 2. 

• U.S. 90 Resurfacing– East and westbound lane closures from west of the Shoal River Bridge to the Walton County line from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 through Saturday, June 4 as crews perform construction activities. 

• U.S. 90 Resurfacing– Eastbound and westbound lane closures from west of Summertime Drive to Old River Road from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 through Saturday, June 4 as paving operations continue.

• State Road (S.R.) 285– Intermittent lane closures between S.R. 20 and E. College Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 3 through Thursday, June 9 as crews trim trees around power lines. 

Walton County:

• U.S. 98– Westbound lane closures east of C.R. 393 Tuesday, May 31 through Friday, June 3.  Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews construct a new right turn lane.

• I-10 Resurfacing – Intermittent westbound lane closures between Mile Marker 75 and Mile Marker 69 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 31 through Friday, June 3 as paving operations continue.    

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 6 Okaloosa and Walton traffic changes to expect beginning May 31

Need something to do this week? Check out these fun events:

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

CRESTVIEW — Local acoustic guitarist Ian Gomez has set three Music at the Library performances.

Hours are 6-8 p.m. fourth Mondays June 27, July 25 and Aug. 22 at the Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

Gomez plays a mixed catalog of "folk-punk" music. "I write a bunch of original stuff, but I'll probably do a cover here and there," he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guitarist series of performances start June 27 in Crestview

BAKER — A long-time Baker resident's 100th birthday celebration is this weekend.

Friends and family members may attend the celebration, which is 3 p.m. May 28 at the Gray home on Washington Street in Baker.

Juridell Gray, born May 27, 1916, is the sixth of 11 children — four of whom were twins — born to Nelson and Camilla Easley Gray.

She has a great sense of humor about her upcoming birthday, her niece, Baker resident Jean Bradley, said.

"She said, 'I'm waiting for my party. I'm not going anywhere, 'cause I'm nowhere near dying!'

Juridell, affectionately known as "Sang" and "Jewel" in the Baker community, retired from laundry work at Eglin Air  Force Base.

The mother of three has one surviving daughter, Juanita Gray Whitley of Baker, and a granddaughter, Dyan Whitley Ross of Atlanta, who is expecting twins.

The News Bulletin publishes North Okaloosa County residents' “Special Occasions” — birth, centenarian, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements — at no charge. We may edit submissions for length and style.

Call 682-6524 or send us an email for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker resident is ready for May 28 100th birthday celebration

CRESTVIEW — Buddy’s BBQ of Crestview has a a top 10 rating after a surprise visit by nationally acclaimed barbecue restaurant owners Bryan and Nikki Furman of B’s Cracklin Barbeque in Savannah, Ga.

Naaman Eicher, Buddy's owner, stated in a media release that the Furmans have been nationally acclaimed in Bon Appétit Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, Gun and Garden, and by Thrill List.com. He said he was shocked when B’s Cracklin Barbeque stopped by to sample Buddy’s offerings, and then immediately went to Instagram and posted that Buddy’s BBQ was in the Top 10 list of barbecue food they had eaten. 

Furman said in his post, “The meats I give 5 stars…I put him in my top ten!!!! No doubt about it!!!!!!"

The Furmans were Eicher's last customers of the day. "I stopped by the picnic tables at Waterfront Rescue Mission where they were eating to be sure that everything was all right before closing. 

"Talking shop with legendary pit masters such as the Furmans was fun and educational as they shared tips, techniques, and their mutual love for good food and barbeque. 

"We also completely agreed in the practices of fresh, never frozen, farm to table, the use of heritage breed hogs, cooking fresh daily, and letting the meat speak for itself without the addition of sauces while cooking,"  Eicher said.  

The release stated Furman will be opening a restaurant in Atlanta soon and he advised Eicher to consider opening in the Destin marketplace. 

"I am seriously considering (that)," Eicher said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview company receives top rating from B's Cracklin Barbeque