PENSACOLA — Gilmore Services, along with WEAR-TV3,  Cat Country 98.7 FM and the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida, offer the public a chance to shred sensitive documents on Saturday, April 16.

The event is 8 a.m. to noon at Pensacola State College in Pensacola, and Santa Rosa Mall in Mary Esther. In addition to shredding, resources on how to protect your identity will be provided.

An individual may bring up to 50 pounds of sensitive information to be shredded. Remove documents from binders, but staples and paper clips are acceptable, event organizers said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Paper shredding event set April 16 in Pensacola, Mary Esther

CRESTVIEW — The Hub City’s Comfort Inn & Suites is a recipient of the 2016 Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International Inc., the Comfort Inn brand’s franchisor.

Platinum Award status represents an accomplishment for a hotel and its entire staff. Just the top 3 percent of hotels in each brand are eligible to receive this annual distinction.

The Comfort Inn & Suites here in Crestview is one of two Florida properties to receive this award.

As one of the company’s top-franchised hotels operating under the Comfort Inn flag, the hotel has demonstrated “an exceptional focus on guest satisfaction and dedication to providing superior service,” according to a media release.

Additional award criteria are evaluated by Choice Hotels through its official property ranking reports.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Comfort Inn & Suites among top-performing hotels

CRESTVIEW — Drivers will encounter traffic restrictions on these Okaloosa and Walton County state roads as crews perform construction activities.

Okaloosa County:

●Interstate 10 resurfacing: intermittent and alternating lane closures east and westbound, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 10 through Thursday April 14, between the Santa Rosa County line and east of the County Road 189 (Holt exit). 

●U.S. 90 resurfacing: eastbound and westbound lane closures, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, April 11 through Saturday, April 16, from west of Summertime Drive to Old River Road.

●U.S. 90 resurfacing: intermittent lane closures, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, April 11 through Saturday, April 16, west of Shoal River Bridge to the Walton County line.

Walton County:

●U.S. 98: intermittent and alternating lane closures, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 12, from Mack Bayou Road to C.R. 30A West, as crews perform roadway testing.

●I-10 resurfacing: intermittent east and westbound lane closures, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, April 11 through Thursday, April 14, west of Boy Scout Road to east of U.S. 331. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5 Okaloosa and Walton County traffic changes to expect

MILTON — Santa Rosa Tea Party Patriots will meet at the Santa Rosa County commissioners’ next workshop to protest a proposed 1 percent sales tax.  

The meeting is 6 p.m. April 11 at the Santa Rosa County Administrative Center, 6495 Caroline St., Milton. Commissioners will discuss implementing the tax for 10 years to build a courthouse in downtown Milton.

Tea Party participants will gather 5:30 p.m. on the sidewalk under the flag in front of the center. They will stand on the sidewalk until time for the workshop inside the board room.

If you would like to take part in this portion of the event, and if you are against the 10-year sales tax, make a sign that says something like, "No Ten Year Sales Tax!" a spokesperson with the event said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tea Party Patriots to protest Santa Rosa courthouse sales tax

CRESTVIEW — A job fair for certified nurse assistants is scheduled in Crestview.

The fair is 1-4 p.m. April 14 at North Okaloosa Medical Center, 127 Redstone Ave. E., Suite A, Crestview.

Applicants get same-day interviews and on-the-spot job offers at the event as long as the meet the following requirements:

●possess a current Florida  CNA license

●pass a pre-employment background and drug screening

●possess their Basic Life Support certification prior to start date if selected

Applicants should apply online at www.northokaloosa.com or in person.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview hospital plans April 14 CNA job fair

CRESTVIEW — Citing local aviator Bob Keller’s recent recognition by the Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control division, Mayor David Cadle proclaimed April 7 Bob Keller Day in Crestview.

Cadle’s proclamation praised Keller for “all the work he’s done in Crestview for so many years and all the successes he’s had,” including:

●More than 30 years as an established local aviation industry leader

●Serving as a now-retired Air Force officer and pilot

●Owner of Sunshine Aero Industries Flight Testing

●Experienced entrepreneur and co-founder of the Crestview technology Air park

“Bob Keller is to be commended for his continued devotion to excellence in flight testing that positively impacts the welfare of the United States of America,” Cadle’s proclamation stated.

The proclamation also saluted Keller “for his tireless efforts in expanding and improving Bob Sikes Airport.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Mayor declares Bob Keller Day

CRESTVIEW — An Emerald Coast Orphan Care information session is being planned for people interested in foster care, local and international adoption.

The meeting is 6 p.m. April 18 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3252 James Lee Blvd. E., Crestview.

Childcare will be available for attendees who RSVP. Send an email to questions@emeraldcoastorphancare.org.

The organizations website is www.emeraldcoastorphancare.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview meeting on adoption and foster care is April 18

MILTON — The South’s land and its people serve as inspiration for Dragonfly Artist of the Month Kathy Adkison’s paintings.

The Northwest Florida native is an emerging, self-taught artist who enjoyed drawing as a child and loved art history, but never took professional courses. 

“She is a free-spirited woman with a thriving passion of art, and never ceases to amaze those around her,” a Dragonfly spokesperson said.  

Adkison, who received a BSBA degree in Business Management from the University of West Florida, did not fully realize her passion for art until she began experimenting with oil and water color. She started painting with those mediums 10 years ago with friends, and has been doing so ever since.

Adkison’s work is on display 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at the Dragonfly Gallery, 6815 Caroline St., Milton.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free-spirited Milton artist has a passion for oil, water color

MILTON — Do you have bonsai on the brain? This plant takes focus during the “Mondays in the Gardens” series’ April 25 installment at Pensacola State College’s Milton campus.

Pierre Kaufke will lead the presentation — on planting bonsai and how to care for it — beginning 10 a.m. in room 4902 in the 4900 building at the north end of campus, 5988 Highway 90.

Kaufke's interest in bonsai goes back to 1975 while he was on retreat at the Trappist Monastery in Conyers, Ga. He built a bonsai collection of over 150 trees, which he sold in 2012 except for 12. These have now grown to over three dozen "research projects."

Kaufke regularly lectures on and gives live demonstrations about bonsai; he has shared his experiences with the subject in numerous articles.

Mondays in the Gardens is a free gardening program that UF Milton Gardens offers under University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Santa Rosa County Master Gardeners’ direction. No pre-registration is required.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PSC Milton campus sets April 25 bonsai presentation