CRESTVIEW — Brandon Bess, 30, was last seen Sunday around 10 a.m., when he left his house on Antioch Road, his brother, Bobby Bess, Jr., said.

“He told his fiancée he was running a quick errand and would be right back,” Bobby said.

After repeated calls and texts to Brandon’s cell phone and checking with local hospitals, his fiancée contacted Crestview Police Department and filled out a missing person’s report.

Later in the evening, when Brandon still had not returned home, Bobby started sending out a message on his Facebook page asking friends to be on the lookout for his younger brother. The post has been shared hundreds of times, he said.

Read more from the Northwest Florida Daily News>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Have you seen this missing Crestview man?

CRESTVIEW — A homeless veteran has a new bicycle after receiving help from some area residents.  

Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless volunteers requested funds for the $150 bike Feb. 22, and was able to buy it a week later for David Payne, who stays in a tent behind Publix on South Ferdon Boulevard.

Payne will use the bike to visit CASH’s Helping Hands building behind First United Methodist Church.

"He needs to come to us to do his laundry and get a shower. He has medical issues: bad knees and hip, along with stomach cancer,” Anne Sprague, CASH’s president, said.

Payne is working toward securing disability benefits, Sprague said.

Helping Hands is located at 428 McLaughlin St., Crestview. Contact Sprague, 826-1770, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview area residents donate bicycle to homeless veteran

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Public Library's First Tuesday Lecture is scheduled.

Sheila Dunning, a horticulture agent at the Okaloosa County Extension Service, will present, "Don't Get Fooled By Fertilizer" 10:30 a.m. April 5 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

The lectures are free and open to the public.

For more information, call the library at 682-4432 or the extension office at 689-5850.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library schedules lecture on fertilizer

Okaloosa Beach Safety will begin active lifeguard operations on Saturday, March 12, and will continue daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., now through Memorial Day weekend.

After that weekend, lifeguard hours are extended from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. through Labor Day on Sept. 1. Lifeguards will continue to man the beaches through October 2016.

Beach flag conditions will be announced daily at 9 a.m.

Flag warnings are as follows:

●Green flags indicate a low hazard with calm swimming conditions

●Yellow flags — medium hazard

Red flag — high hazard.  If a double red flag is flying, the water is closed for swimming. 

●Purple flags indicate marine pests are present.

Lifeguards conduct training throughout the year to maintain their qualifications and preparedness for the summer season. For more information, contact Beach Safety, 609-5405; or the Citizens Information Line at 311 (within the county).

Okaloosa County Beach Safety urges everyone to be observant of the warning flags placed along public beaches, swim in front of a lifeguard and make wise choices to be safe in the upcoming summer months. 

Download the free Ready Okaloosa App for daily updates, flag warnings, hazards, surf conditions and more. Visit http://okaloosabeachsafety.org and follow Beach Safety on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lifeguards return to patrolling Okaloosa County beaches

NICEVILLE — The 11th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Challenge is scheduled.

Packet pick-up is 4:30-9 p.m. April 29 at Helen Back Again, US Highway 20, Niceville. It includes a pizza dinner for participants.

The race is 8 a.m. April 30, at the EOD memorial on Range Road, Niceville. Registration and check-in are at 6:30 a.m. for the event, which ends at Schooners Restaurant and Marina in Niceville.

The race will include three challenges for participants, with awards being given for the top overall male and female, and the top three males and females from each of three age groups.

The race can be completed as part of a team or individually. There is a six-person team minimum for the race, and everyone must finish together.

The first leg ncludes a 4.25-mile ruck race (30 pounds for men, 15 pounds for women), followed by a half-mile swim (fins and flotation devices permitted), and a 3.25-mile run.

In the ruck race, team members take turns carrying the weight through their leg of the race.

All proceeds support the foundation’s mission of helping EOD warriors and their families.

“The memorial challenge is a great event that has been growing each year,” said Nicole Motsek, the foundation's executive director. “It is a challenging course that puts your abilities to the test, but it’s for a great cause and it’s a lot of fun too.”

To learn more or register, go to http://www.eodwarriorfoundation.org/events.

The EOD Warrior Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help EOD warriors and their family members to include families of fallen EOD warriors. Specific programs include emergency financial relief, college scholarships, hope and wellness retreats and care of the EOD Memorial on Eglin Air Force Base.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 11th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Challenge is coming up

MOSSY HEAD — Choctawhatchee Electrical Cooperative is hosting a golf tournament, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and American Heart Association Heart Walk.

The tournament starts with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and tee time at 1 p.m. March 18 at Blackstone Golf Course in Mossy Head. Cost is $350 per team, and hole sponsorships are $100 each.

For more information, contact Kevin Campbell, 307-1123, or Bryan Gilbert, 307-1125.

Make checks payable to Blackstone Golf Course, and mail to CHELCO, Attn: Marketing, P.O. Box 512, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHELCO charity golf tournament scheduled

CRESTVIEW — The city of Crestview’s Easter egg hunt is 9 a.m. to noon March 26 at Twin Hills Park.

In addition to the egg hunt, attendees can enjoy a train ride, a bounce house, a 27-foot slide, prizes and a visit from the Easter bunny.

The schedule is:

Ages 0-3: 9 a.m., small soccer field

Ages 4-6: 10:30 a.m., small soccer field

Ages 7-12: 11:30 a.m., football field

Kids should bring a basket and a camera.

Call 682-4715 for details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Easter egg hunt scheduled

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Manor residents are enjoying two new pine picnic tables after a donation from American Legion Post 75.

Tiffany Wrathell, Crestview Manor activities director, recently asked post members if they knew anyone who could donate the assisted-living facility a picnic table; the previous one was thrown out due to old age and dry rot.

"We no longer had one, and the director, Becky Brice-Nash and I, were talking about how it would be nice to get one before spring,” Wrathell said. “That's when I got to talking to Gene Morris (of Post 75) about seeing if he could just ask around."

She received a surprise the same night.

"…(He) called me and said he had something better. He had two,” she said. “I wasn't expecting it so quick. I also didn't expect for them to be brand new. They are beautiful!"

The tables, purchased in DeFuniak Springs with American Legion Post 75 donations, are now in front of the facility by the gazebo.

Wrathell said of Morris and Post member Cheryl Anaya, "They are both frequent donators on behalf of the legion. They donate clothing, food and other essentials.

“They provided all food for the valentine's dance and snacks. The legion has blessed us with some very caring people. We are very grateful for all they do."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: American Legion gives Crestview nursing home residents a place to sit

CRESTVIEW — Club Challengers Volleyball is a locally based, U.S.A. Volleyball-affiliated travel program for 10- to 14-year-old girls.

The team — divided in 14U, 13U, 12U and grassroots groups — focuses on competition, fun and individual and team improvement, and includes players from Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill as well as Walton County and Santa Rosa County.

Most tournaments are played in the Pensacola and Mobile, Ala., areas, but teams also compete in Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Panama City.

See more information about at www.clubchallengers.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview area volleyball players compete with Club Challengers

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Legislature has passed a House bill that changes the Florida Death Penalty Law’s procedure.

Under the law, the state attorney’s office would have to give written notice of its intent to seek the death penalty, and which so-called aggravating factors the state says would support such a sentence.

 Further, a jury must unanimously find the existence of at least one aggravating factor for a defendant to be eligible for execution, and must vote at least 10-2 in favor of death, according to a state attorney’s office media release.

Otherwise, the sentence would be life in state prison.

In addition, “the judge may still impose a life sentence if he or she finds that is the more appropriate sentence,” the attorney’s office states.

Locally, the changes — which follow a United States Supreme Court ruling, Hurst v. Florida, and Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign them into law soon — likely won’t alter the circumstances for 13 pending cases where the state seeks death.

In Okaloosa County, that includes the cases for Bernard Nunnally and Marvin “O.G.” Wilkins of Crestview, who are charged with killing a Crestview teenager.

A six-month investigation revealed that he belonged to a “gang and marijuana distribution operation” called the Money Mafia, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has said.

Nunnally, along with Russell Jacoby Nijajuan of Ozark, Ala., and Erich Lenquell Justice of Fort Walton Beach, allegedly pulled off State Road 85 while heading to supposed group leader Wilkins’ hotel room in Fort Walton Beach and shot Crestview teenager Mark Anthony Williams Jr. His body was then dragged close to the woods.

Witnesses reported that Wilkins had sent the men to pick up Williams in Crestview because he believed Williams was giving information to a rival gang.

Williams’ friends told investigators after his death that he had talked about becoming a gang member about a month before he was killed, the reports said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: How Florida Legislature's death penalty changes affect Crestview men's cases