CRESTVIEW — Friends, classmates, family members and acquaintances of Bravon Childs and her family gathered in Twin Hills Park Friday evening to support one another and the 18-year-old's parents, Kimberly Keen and Heath and Samantha Childs.

PHOTOS: Vigil for Bravon >>

The 2015 Laurel Hill School alumna, described by Karl Lavine, a friend of Bravon's father, Heath Childs, as "funny, cheerful and kind," died following a May 6 car wreck on U.S. Highway 90.

"She was just an all-around good person," Lavine said during Friday night's vigil. "She was a good girl."

More than 30 supporters attended the vigil organized by Brandy Crawford, a friend and colleague of Heath.

"There's a lot of people who love him and care about him," Crawford said.

'SHE LOVED LIFE'

After the tears flowed at Bravon's Thursday funeral and burial in Svea, Friday's vigil was a celebration of a girl who made everyone in her wide circle of friends and family laugh.

"She was something else," Heath Childs said. "She could meet a room full of strangers and leave a room full of friends."

Surveying supporters arrayed on the Twin Hills Park pier and gazebo, sitting on the grass alongside the pond, gathered under the picnic shelter and walking the half-mile track in contemplation, Childs said the turnout was indicative of how beloved his daughter was.

"This is a testament to who she was," Childs said. "She never met a stranger. She loved everyone. She loved life."

Supporters remembered Bravon's quirks and passions.

"She loved elephants, basketball, the Gators, the beach, her dog," cousin Cheyann Goodwin said. "She loved everything."

"She was a good kid," Bravon's grandmother, Cathy James, said. "She loved to have fun. She was always smiling."

"She was a good-natured young 'un," added "Pawpaw" Nat James.

MESSAGES OF LOVE

Bravon's sister, Taylor Henderson, laughed as she described practical jokes her sister played on her.

"She was a handful," Taylor said. "When she wasn't sleeping she was with her friends. She was a goofball. She didn't have no enemies. Everyone loved her. We used to joke with each other all the time, but we never got mad at each other. It was too funny."

Crawford said such memories of Bravon will never be forgotten.

During the vigil, folks wrote their thoughts and memories on note cards for Heath and Samantha and dropped them in a decorative box inscribed, "A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you."

"When it's the middle of the night, he can reach out and read these messages of love," Crawford said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family, friends and supporters hold vigil for family of Laurel Hill teen

CRESTVIEW — The Military Order of the Purple Heart Truck Run is May 25.

The nationwide cross country road trip — part of the Mobility Is Freedom campaign — showcases a modified 2015 Ford F-150 designed specifically for veterans who are paralyzed or had a loss of limb.

Wounded veterans, care providers, families, supporters, and medical/rehabilitation personnel may inspect the vehicle, ask questions and take photos of the latest in mobility technology at its tour stops in Okaloosa County.

Scheduled stops  on the 25th include:

●11 a.m., Milton's Veterans Memorial

●2:30 p.m., Eglin Armament Museum

Members of the patriot Guard will escort the truck down U.S. Highway 90 to Crestview, then south on State Road 85 to the Armament Museum.

At each stop Combat Wounded Parking Sign applications will be available for government, public, business, or private parking areas free of charge from the MOPH and other run-associated organizations as a way to honor and recognize Purple Heart veterans.  A sample of the sign will be in the museum parking lot.

The campaign is sponsored jointly by Wounded Warriors  Family Support (not affiliated with Wounded Warrior Project) MOPH.

A run spokesperson said, “The ability to be mobile will give these combat-wounded veterans the freedom to live a productive life.” 

The “Mobility is Freedom” Campaign is sponsored jointly by Wounded Warriors  Family Support (WWFS) (not affliated with Wounded Warrior Project) and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH).

For further information on sponsorships and donations by individuals, groups, businesses, and corporations, contact purpleheart.org, wwfs.org. You may also contact Purple Heart Chapter 811 at shh1100@cox.net or, you can text the word “give” to 703-372-9749.  

MOPH and WWFS are 501(c)3 organizations, and all contributions are tax deductible.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida Mobility is Freedom truck run is May 25

CRESTVIEW — Mia Batson of Ballet & Barre in Crestview will discuss and perform concepts of ballet, contemporary, and lyrical dance during a June 7 program.

“Dance: Its History and Beauty” begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Doors open at 10 a.m.; juice, coffee, and cookies will be served.

The free event is appropriate for children age 6 through adults. 

Call the library at 682-4432 or Ballet & Barre at 306-3913 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Program on dance is June 7 in Crestview

CRESTVIEW —  A former physical education teacher is all about moving to the music. 

Mr. Mac — Michael McCartan — is bringing music and movement to Warriors Hall at 6:30 p.m. June 7.  This free-for-you Special Family Event is designed for ages four and up. 

Younger siblings are welcome.  Registration is not required.

Activities for the event include:

●moving to original Mr. Mac Says children’s physical activity music

●performing hand drumming with wooden Tiki drums

●briefly reviewing the history of drumming with cadences to today's popular patriotic songs

●singing patriotic songs

●working as a team together to perform a variety of parachute tasks

●4th of July beach activities such as the limbo and  hula hoops. 

Visit www.mrmacsays.com for more details about Mr. Mac.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mr. Mac plans June 7 Crestview appearance

CRESTVIEW — The guest speaker at the next meeting of the Crestview Writers Group is Bob Newkirk, who will address the do's and don'ts of writing,  queries, synopsis and publishing.

Newkirk recently completed a six-year journey in writing his book, “Life Beneath a Cemetery 1862.”

The meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, May 23 at the Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview writers meeting focuses on publishing and more

CRESTVIEW — The renovations at Arby's Restaurant are complete, and the company is planning a grand opening to celebrate its new look.

The Crestview restaurant is the first Arby's to undergo renovations for the brand's Inspire design, reflecting its new look and direction. The revitalized look includes updates to the interior and exterior, such as a fresh new color palate, strong geometric shapes and elements, renewed materials and subway tiling.

The public is invited to the opening, which is 3 p.m. May 13 at 3900 S. Ferdon Blvd.

Area residents may also join the Arby's Extras program at www.Arbys.com/get-deals at this location.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ribbon cutting is May 13 for newly renovated Arby's

GAINESVILLE — New research from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers shows birds may be avoiding habitats near noisy highways because they can’t hear fellow birds’ alarms that warn them of attacking hawks or owls.

Some highways cut through or run along natural areas, and researchers know that wild birds often make their homes away from those highways, but they don’t know why.

UF/IFAS researchers tested whether highway noise could be interfering with bird communication. Results of their study suggest too much noise around these highways keeps birds from hearing warnings from fellow birds about predators in the area, and that puts them at a higher risk of being eaten. It is also possible that the birds are hearing the alarms, but are too distracted by the noise to respond to them.

The researchers caution that they did not establish a causal link between highway noise and bird population reductions, although noise-disrupting alarm calls is a compelling possibility.

“Conservation of bird species should include decreasing noise in sensitive wildlife areas,” said Aaron Grade, who led the study as part of his master’s thesis in the UF/IFAS wildlife ecology and conservation department.

Grade and his graduate adviser, UF/IFAS wildlife ecology and conservation professor Katie Sieving, tested the abilities of northern cardinals to hear the predator alarm of tufted titmice by playing alarm calls to cardinals through speakers in both noisy and quiet locations in Florida state parks. They found that noise from vehicles along the busy highways often drowns out the alarms emitted by birds. Researchers went to Florida state forests near Interstate 75 and U.S. 441 in Alachua, Marion and Columbia counties to test whether highway noise could interfere with bird communication.

Northern cardinals and tufted titmice are two abundant bird species in the woods of eastern North America. Many bird and mammal species rely on information from tufted titmice calls to detect and respond to dangerous predators. This causes important information networks to form around tufted titmouse communication. Normally, northern cardinals listen to tufted titmouse predator alarm calls and will typically respond by fleeing or freezing until the danger passes.

But when tested near noisy roads, cardinals failed to respond to titmouse alarm calls, suggesting that the noise may prevent cardinals from escaping when there are dangerous predators around, Sieving said.

“Our work suggests that disruption of animal communication networks could hinder natural behaviors of wildlife and help explain patterns of reduced biodiversity near roadways,” said Grade, now a doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts.

Brad Buck is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences science writer.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: University of Florida study: Highway noise deters communication between birds

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public workshop for the Brooks Bridge Replacement Study.

The event is 5:30-6:30 p.m. May 17 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE.

Proposed improvements include replacing the Brooks Bridge and associated intersection improvements necessary at Perry Avenue in Fort Walton Beach, and in the vicinity of Santa Rosa Boulevard on Okaloosa Island. The project is in the study phase and is not funded for right-of-way acquisition or construction.

FDOT representatives will be available to discuss the project and answer questions. Maps, drawings and other project information will be on display.

A presentation for those who can't attend in person is set May 17-31 at http://www.brooksbridgereplacement.com.

People may submit comments via U.S. mail to April Williams, FDOT Project Manager, FDOT Environmental Management Office, 1074 Highway 90, Chipley, FL 32428; phone, 888-638-0250, ext. 1625; or email, april.williams@dot.state.fl.us.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Brooks Bridge alternatives public workshop is May 17

FORT WALTON BEACH — A 9/11 International Memorial Flag traveling exhibit for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the US will arrive Friday at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport.

It will be presented to community leaders and airport personnel upon its arrival.

The public may attend the exhibit's unveiling 1 p.m. May 16 in the airport lobby, 1701 State Road 85 N, Eglin Air Force Base. Parking is free for the event.

Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Kelly Windes said, “This is quite an honor for Eglin, the Destin-FWB Airport, as well as our visitors and residents, to have this flag on exhibit until it goes to its final resting place in September at the 9/11 Museum in New York City.

"We encourage emergency responders, police, deputies, firemen and our military to come out for this moving tribute to this flag and our nation,” said Airports Director Tracy Stage.

“It is appropriate that our joint use airport was selected to exhibit the 9/11 International Memorial Flag, where it can be viewed among the other tributes to our military in and around VPS. Okaloosa County is home to the men and women who have fought terrorism since the tragic events on that fateful day in 2001,” said OCC Vice-Chair Carolyn Ketchel.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 9/11 memorial flag ceremony is May 16 at NWF Regional Airport (VIDEO)

FORT WALTON BEACH —Children in Crisis has extra support for its programs benefiting at-risk children. Bit Wizards donated $360 to the nonprofit organization.

"The donation helped provide our children in need with school summer vacation activities and a BIG SMILE!  The donation truly made a difference and we are very thankful," Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO, said.

The CIC Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach provides emergency shelter for children removed from an unsafe environment on short notice, and offers housing to help with foster home shortage. 

Learn more at www.childrenincrisisfl.org or call 864-4242.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bit Wizards makes Children in Crisis donation