PENSACOLA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s second annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day is Saturday, May 14.

The occasion raises awareness about lionfish, a nonnative, invasive species that has a potentially negative impact on native species and habitat. The second annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 14-15 at Plaza de Luna, 900 S. Palafox St., Pensacola — will include celebrity chef and fillet demonstrations, lionfish tastings, family-friendly activities such as games and a fountain to play in, and more than 40 art, diving and conservation vendors.

Among festivities is the Lionfish Challenge kickoff: remove 50 or more lionfish between Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (May 14) and the end of September and get entered in the FWC’s Lionfish Challenge. 

Rewards include:

●A commemorative coin to mark membership

●An event T-shirt

●Lionfish Hall of Fame recognition on MyFWC.com

●Be entered in drawings to win prizes including fishing licenses, lionfish harvesting equipment, fuel cards and dive-tank refills

●If qualified before the relevant harvest season starts, the opportunity to take an additional spiny lobster per day during the 2016 mini-season (July 27-28)

●Whoever checks in the most lionfish will be crowned Florida’s Lionfish King or Queen and will receive a lifetime saltwater fishing license, have his or her photograph featured on the cover of the FWC’s January 2017 Saltwater Regulations publication, be prominently featured on MyFWC.com’s Lionfish Hall of Fame, and be recognized at the November 2016 FWC Commission meeting.

To enter the program, email photos of your first 50 qualifying lionfish to Lionfish@MyFWC.com. Include the harvester’s name, the date harvested and your signature in the photo (written on a piece of paper beside the fish for example) and your mailing address in the email.

To qualify for additional prizes and a chance to win Lionfish King or Queen, bring the tails of any lionfish harvested in excess of the initial 50 to an FWC-approved checkpoint (list coming soon to MyFWC.com/Lionfish by clicking on “Lionfish Challenge and Panhandle Pilot Program”).

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival set May 14-15

 MILTON — CrossFit SRC will raise money for Marine Special Operations Command personnel’s families while remembering 11 service members who died last year during Black Hawk training on the Santa Rosa Sound.

CrossFit’s second annual MOJO 69 Memorial Throwdown is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14. ‘MOJO 69’ refers to the designated call sign of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, which crashed while transporting seven U.S. Marines and four U.S. National Guard soldiers.

Pace resident Tyler Bennett, CrossFit SRC’s head coach, who also is a flight paramedic for the Lifeguard Ambulance Service, said the workout is a way to honor the fallen men while allowing participants to get in a WOD, or Workout of the Day.

“We call them hero workouts, just to memorialize the men and women perished in combat or, like in this case, a training exercise,” Bennett said. “It’s just exercising with a little higher intensity.”

That means:

• 69 air squats
• Four rounds of a 400-meter run
• 11 dead lifts
• 11 cleans
• 11 strict pull-ups

Barry Brinker, a manager at Anytime Fitness in Milton, said the workout can be adjusted for participants in need.

“We scale the workouts,” Brinker said. “If someone has a knee problem or they can’t run for whatever reason, we can always give them a different option. We don’t want anyone to injure themselves … it should always be your workout at your level.”

Several sponsors will provide refreshments, mist fans and provide trophies and medals. All proceeds will benefit Raising Raiders, a North Carolina-based nonprofit organization that helps MARSOC families in need. 

Last year’s event raised almost $8,000, Brinker said.

“With this event we just hope to be able to give a little something back to the men and women who serve, and show our appreciation for all that they do; and we greatly appreciate all the local businesses who have donated their money, time, and services to help us make this event great,” Brinker said.

“We couldn't have done it without them.”

—

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: 2^nd Annual MOJO 69 Memorial Throwdown

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14^th

WHERE: CrossFit SRC, 6568 Caroline St., Milton

NOTES: Competition will include Rx and Scaled divisions for the 18-39 and 40-and-older age groups. There will also be teen, ages 14-17, and adaptive athlete divisions.

ONLINE: Register at http://bit.ly/1SN6kHq

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Memorial Throwdown to honor fallen service members May 14 in Milton

CRESTVIEW — A local biking group will ride for a cause on May 18.

The Ride of Silence — a national event that honors bicyclists killed by motorists — promotes sharing the road and bicycling safety awareness, according to www.rideofsilence.org. The Crestview Community Cycling Club will participate in the local event.

Members will meet 6:30 p.m. May 18 at the Crestview Community Center. At 7 p.m., they will ride about 6 miles from the center, down Industrial Drive, to Twin Hills Park and back.

Riders must wear helmets and have reflectors in the front and back on their bikes.

Event sponsors are Chained Concepts, CCB Bank, Days Tire and Wal-Mart.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview club to participate in May 18 Ride of Silence

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Marcelle A. Moorer graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Moorer is the son of Earline McMillian, grandson of Angunetta Patterson, and nephew of Latoya and Nate Moorer, and Rusty Moorer, all of Crestview.

He is a 2015 graduate of Crestview High School, Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man completes US Air Force basic training

LAUREL HILL — There's a problem in Laurel Hill.

In a message to the Crestview News Bulletin May 5, area resident Kathy Busbee said some of her family's headstones — and one other for a Gavin family member — in Almarante Cemetery have been vandalized, and several items have been stolen from the gravesite.

"Almost every angel statuette, crystal figurines, sentimental trinkets, a small mailbox, praying hands….almost everything we'd put there is gone," Busbee said. "Not valuable really to others but sentimental none the less."

Busbee, who found out about the headstones when she went to place flowers on her parents' graves, said six generations of her family are buried at Almarante.

This includes the Birges, her grandparents and great-grandparents, and Busbees, her mother and father. 

She hasn't visited the cemetery for six months and she believes the incident occurred between today and Thanksgiving 2015. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DESECRATED: Laurel Hill gravesites disturbed, woman says

CRESTVIEW — The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society now has extra support for its programs assisting animals in Northwest Florida.

The Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Richard A. Capozzola Lodge in Crestview donated $1,000 to the organization.

A lodge spokesperson said, "Their outstanding compassion for our animals, that so depend on us, raised our conscientious to assist them in their endeavors."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Sons of Italy Lodge makes animal welfare donation

CRESTVIEW — Shelter House now has extra support for its programs benefiting domestic violence survivors.

The Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Richard A. Capozzola Lodge in Crestview donated $1,000 to the organization.

The lodge has also pledged an additional $500 a month throughout 2016 to the organization.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Sons of Italy Lodge makes Shelter House donation

CRESTVIEW — Northwest Florida Lowe's stores will host donation drives to build up regional blood supply before hurricane season starts.

A free $10 Lowe's gift card is available for people who donate blood between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 16 and 20 at these stores:

May 16

●1201 Airport Blvd., Pensacola

●135 Business Park Road, DeFuniak Springs

May 20

●298 Rasberry Road, Crestview

●4405 Legendary Drive, Destin

●4335 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola

●774 Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach

●5143 U.S. Highway 90 W, Milton

Donors will also receive a wellness check-up of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count, including a cholesterol screening.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida Lowe’s stores set May 16, 20 blood drives

CRESTVIEW — Thomas Gordon, of Gordon Martial Arts, recently hosted the 10th Annual Korean Martial Arts Festival.

The first day included a session on kicking, and some tips on throwing techniques.

The second day featuredthe Sine Wave, among other taekwondo moves; lessons on breathing techniques, blocks, kicks, strikes, locks and throws; a session on knife and belt techniques; and tips on various defenses for the hook punch and bar room brawl overhand right.

In addition, the day featured the Korean Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame ceremony.

2016 Hall of Fame inductees honored on stage were:

●GM Kimm, He Young — Living Legend Award

●Master Harold “Hawk” Hawkins — Trailblazer Award

●Dana Hee — Competitor Award

●Master Chris Dufour — Competitor Award

●Master Wesley Wing — Competitor Award

●Stace Sanchez — Contributor Award

The third day featured a session on takedowns and various aspects of training; a session on principles, illustrated with a couple of techniques; and some joint lock flow drills.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man hosts Korean Martial Arts Festival (PHOTOS)

FORT WALTON BEACH — A Laurel Hill woman has a minor injury following a traffic accident that involved an Okaloosa County ambulance.

A 2006 Chevrolet Impala on Tuesday was traveling southbound on Patrick Drive and an Okaloosa ambulance were traveling eastbound on State Road 188 in Fort Walton Beach, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

Around 12:23 p.m., the Impala turned left in the ambulance’s path, and the Impala’s right front portion collided with the ambulance’s left side, according to the release.

Pamela Spear, 33, of Laurel Hill, was driving the ambulance and received a minor injury, according to the FHP. David Mills, 29, of Arcadia, was her uninjured passenger.

Frances Scroggins, 76, of Fort Walton Beach, was driving the Impala, which received $5,000 in damage; the ambulance received $8,000 in damage, according to the FHP.

Scroggins was charged with a right-of-way violation, according to the release.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill woman injured in traffic accident involving ambulance