FORT WALTON BEACH — The Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization's next Lunch and Learn will focus on PR crises.

The presentation, "Prepare for PR Crisis Management but Try Not to Use It," is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at Chapala’s Mexican Restaurant, 67 Eglin Parkway NE, Fort Walton Beach.

Ken Hair, president and CEO of Children in Crisis Inc., will share ways to manage a crisis and negotiate your way through its associated publicity.

Hair, a senior practitioner in public relations, recently received national Accreditation in Public Relations. He has been with Children In Crisis for 10 ½ years, and has a bachelor’s degree in occupational education from Southern Illinois University. In addition, he has a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in management from Webster University.

He served in the U.S. Air Force for 29 years, and at retirement was Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Lunch costs $15 for members, $20 for non-members and $10 for students. If you do not want to eat but want to hear the program, the cost is $10. Guests are welcome and should bring business cards for networking.

Contact Kathy Morrow, 974-3662, or visit www.ecpro.org for more information about ECPRO.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Public relations crisis management takes focus Feb. 23

CRESTVIEW — Don’t expect 76 trombones leading a big parade, or 110 cornets. But at least two or three rows of local musicians may perform during a Fourth of July picnic celebrating Crestview's 100th birthday.

That’s if Lee Emerson’s plans to organize the North Okaloosa Community Band come to fruition.

“There seems to be a need for a community band,” said Emerson, UpBeat Music's repairs manager. “A number of adults in the area have come in and inquired about it."

With support from UpBeat owner Dick Reinlie — who provided a set of John Phillip Sousa music charts — and area high school band directors, Emerson believes such a band is possible.

He envisions an adult band — with musicians of all skill levels — supplemented by 11th- and 12-grade band students whose directors have given them written permission to participate in it.

The first rehearsal is Monday, March 14 in Shoal River Middle School's band room. Emerson plans for 10 or 12 rehearsals to prepare for a 30-minute Sousa concert during the old-fashioned Independence Day picnic, currently scheduled for Twin Hills Park.

“This is going to be ambitious,” he said. “We have to be aggressive to make this come together. But it’s going to fun and exciting.

"No one ever regrets the time they spent making music.”

What: North Okaloosa Community Band

When: first rehearsal 6:30 p.m. March 14

Where: Shoal River Middle School band room, 3200 Redstone Ave. E., Crestview

Notes: Open to adult musicians of all skill levels, plus 11th- and 12th-grade band students with written permission from their band director.

Contact: Lee Emerson, 398-4009, lee@upbeatmusic.com

WANT TO JOIN?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa's new adult band sets centennial performance rehearsals

A Crestview man has serious injuries after his vehicle overturned around 3:10 p.m. Feb. 10 in Jackson County. 

Jelterow McKinnie, 70, was driving eastbound on Interstate 10, near State Road 69, when his vehicle traveled left onto the median, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release.

McKinnie overcorrected the steering to the right, which caused the 2007 Ford van to cross both eastbound lanes, then overturn, landing on its left side on the grassy outside shoulder, according to the FHP. 

He is receiving treatment at Southeast Medical Center.

His passenger, Lori Ann Morgia, 52, of Crestview, was uninjured, according to the FHP.

Both the driver and passenger were wearing their seat belts, and an alcohol investigation is pending, according to the release. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man injured in Jackson County car wreck

CRESTVIEW —The Lewis & Clark Circus is coming to town.

Performances are 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, and 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Spanish Trail Park, Stillwell Boulevard, Crestview. Seating is first come-first served, one hour before showtime.

Foods, toys and rides will also be available for purchase at the event.

Ticket prices range from free to $12 online, and increase on performance days. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit http://lewis-clarkcircus.com/ or the company's Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Circus plans Crestview stop

CRESTVIEW — A downtown dance studio will host a workshop for children who want to perform or do stage work in a production of "The Little Mermaid."

Ballet & Barre's Feb. 22 through May 14 workshop will focus on character development, movement for the stage, vocal control and basic technical theatre training. It closes with a May 14 performance alongside Ballet & Barre dancers and musicians from The Pearl Mabry School of Music.

Attending the workshop — open to 8-year-olds and up — costs $200. This covers a child's costume, two tickets to the performance and production costs.

Registration begins Feb. 12 at the 520 N. Main St. studio. Call 306-3913 for more details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview workshop set for 'The Little Mermaid' production

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Society of Human Resource Management of the Emerald Coast is hosting a presentation on time management. It is sponsored by Bradford Health Services.

Guest speaker Sam Slay will present "Time Management is a Myth!" He'll address the changes necessary to merge person and organizational priorities and make them work for you.

Registration is at 7:15 a.m. Feb. 17, and is followed by SRHM business, then the 8 a.m. program at the Two Trees Restaurant on the Fort Walton Beach golf course, 1959 Lewis Turner Blvd.

Cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

For details, contact Meribeth Poole, mpoole@okaloosaclerk.com, or 651-7200 extension 4303.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Time management presentation set for Emerald Coast professionals

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Soccer organization is hosting a free soccer day from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at Garden City Sports Complex, 6330 Garden City Road, Crestview.

It includes warm ups, skill building drills and small sided soccer games for kids ages 3-9. Soccer cleats and shin guards are required for players age 4 and up.

Times are 12-1 p.m. for ages 3-4 (Cubs); 1-3 p.m. for ages 4-5 (U6) and 6-7 (U8); and 2-4 p.m. for ages 8-9.

Returning 2015 Crestview Soccer players are asked to wear their CSO jerseys and join in the fun.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview soccer group hosts free event

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview High School Thespians' Valentine's Parents' Night Out is 6-10 p.m. Feb 13 at the high school.

Games, snacks and a movie for children in kindergarten through fifth grades will be provided so parents can have a date night.

Cost is $20 per child, and only 50 children will be accepted. Proceeds benefit the school's Thespian Club, which plans a trip next month to state competition in Tampa.

Complete this form and return with payment to Annette Gebhardt, Crestview High School, Room 152. Make checks payable to Crestview High School.

Parents may drop off and pick up attendees by the bulldog statue in front of the school.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High students plan Valentine's date night fundraiser (DOCUMENT)

CRESTVIEW — The Emerald Coast Young Marines is hosting a spring boot camp for girls and boys ages 8 through high school.

Registration costs $250 per child, and includes the following: recruit's complete uniform, national registration and insurance, all name tapes and patches and sewing on of all tapes and patches, guide book, backpack, canteen, unit T-shirt, national T-shirt, dog tags, chevrons (rank), ribbon rack and ribbons as they are earned, tent when camping, food during boot camp.

Re-registration each year in August is $20.

A required meeting with parents and recruits is 12:30-2 p.m. Feb. 20 at American Legion Post 75, U.S. Highway 90, Crestview. Payment is due by the meeting and youths will be measured for their uniforms then.

Boot camp starts Saturday, March 5 at the post and continues Saturday, March 19 at a location to be announced. On Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, an overnight encampment and graduation ceremony are planned.

Contact Adjutant Kathy Warren, 758-9701  or ktwarren55@yahoo.com, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview meeting scheduled for boot camp hopefuls

CHELCO members can help keep energy costs low by participating in CHELCO’s “Beat the Peak” program tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 10 until approximately 8 a.m. 

The idea is to curtail usage of electrical devices or appliances during a period of peak usage. During extremely cold weather, CHELCO asks that members voluntarily conserve energy by following these simple tips:

Take showers or baths at night

Lower the thermostat to 68 degrees or below.

Turn off unnecessary lights

Postpone activities such as cooking, washing dishes and doing laundry

Do not use ventilation fans since they draw air outside.

CHELCO is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving more than 47,000 members in Walton, Okaloosa, Holmes and Santa Rosa counties.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHELCO asks members to conserve energy Feb. 10