CRESTVIEW — Milton, with a population less than half of Crestview’s, has three interchanges on Interstate 10. Crestview has one, which frustrates drivers more as the city grows.

But that may change.

Local officials are cautiously hopeful now that the Florida Department of Transportation has funded a $1 million feasibility study to examine constructing an interchange at Antioch Road and the interstate.

“You expect a year to 18 months for one of those studies from start to finish,” Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said. “It’s the second step in a long process to actually getting an interchange. The first step was getting the DOT to say there’s a need.”

When Interstate 10 came through town, a bridge on Antioch Road was built in 1969 to provide a second means of crossing the four-lane highway other than the State Road 85 underpass.

The bridge didn’t carry much traffic then, as there were few homes in what is today called the P.J. Adams Parkway-Antioch Road Corridor.

But by the turn of the millennium, the corridor’s stretch between I-10 and State Road 85 experienced unprecedented population growth, as developments such as Countryview Estates sprang up in what had been farmland and forest.

As development increased, it nudged closer and closer to the interstate and the two-lane bridge that crosses it. Antioch Elementary School opened in 1997 in the intersection’s southwest corner.

North of I-10, a residential neighborhood around Brunson Street was developed. The southeast quadrant was soon taken up by the Addison Place Apartments complex. And northeast of the intersection, Bel Aire Terrace Apartments were built.

With the intersection’s four quadrants developed, a traditional “cloverleaf” interchange between Antioch Road and I-10 is effectively ruled out. A cloverleaf interchange uses circular ramps to execute left turns from one road to the intersecting road. It is called a cloverleaf due to its resemblance of the leaves of the clover plant.

While Okaloosa County engineer Scott Bitterman couldn’t speculate on what FDOT’s study will ultimately recommend, “there are other options” to the cloverleaf, he said.

One is a “diamond interchange,” which features on- and off-ramps that parallel the interstate, rather than a cloverleaf’s looping ramps. Examples include Crestview’s current I-10 exit.

A simpler version is the Holt exit, which has no traffic signal but uses stop signs to control traffic exiting I-10 or driving through the intersection on Log Lake Road.

An advantage is the exit could be squeezed into the restricted space caused by development that encroaches on the intersection.

While a second Crestview interchange is years away from becoming reality, Boyles has no doubt it will eventually be built.

He sees it as part of the P.J. Adams-Antioch Road Corridor widening project, which begins with the first two phases this fall.

“I’m very optimistic that we will put a second interchange in Crestview,” he said. “We’re overdue for it and we now have the momentum building.”

Boyles said the FDOT’s backing of the corridor means the project has the state’s attention, and an interstate interchange is a logical part of the project.

“I believe our DOT district is very supportive of the project,” Boyles said.

Community   Population   Number of interchanges

Milton  9,400  3 (exits 25, 28, 31)

Holt   2,800 1 (exit 45)

Crestview   23,000 1 (exit 56)

DeFuniak Springs  5,600 1 (exit 85)

NEARBY INTERSTATE INTERCHANGES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Officials studying second possible I-10 exit in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Numerous Girl Scout Cookie sales are scheduled throughout Crestview.

Visit http://cookielocator.littlebrownie.com/ and search by zip code for all currently registered locations.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Where you can buy Girl Scout Cookies in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Rotary Club has scheduled it's second annual Great Gun Giveaway fundraiser.

The club will give a gun to a ticket winner every day Feb. 20 through March 20. Winners are those whose ticket number matches the Florida Lottery Cash 3 evening drawing winning numbers. Tickets could win multiple days.

Only 1,000 tickets are available, and purchasers get 30 chances for their $30 donation. To purchase one, call or text 305-0678.

For rules, prize information and other details, click here.

The event is sponsored by Precision Tactical Arms Co. in Crestview. For more on the CRC, visit its Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Rotary Club hosts gun giveaway (DOCUMENT)

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled the following events:

'Let's Do Lunch': Chamber Ambassadors will meet at noon Thursday, Feb. 11 at Helen Back Again, 5206 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview.

The event is "just one more way to get social, network your business, and build lasting business relationships," a media release states.

RSVP to Anne Shaffield, ashaffield@careersourceow.com.

Business After Hours: 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 at Community Bank, 345 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

Attendees can network and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a dessert bar. Those who bring business cards have the chance to win door prizes.

Professional and Inspired Leaders of Tomorrow: PILOT, for young professionals, will meet at noon Thursday, Feb. 18 at Mia's Italian Restaurant, 2203 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview.

Yvonne Shanklin, an Edward Jones financial adviser in Crestview, will be the guest speaker.

Contact committee chair Ryan Mabry, PearlMabrySOM@gmail.com, for details.

Tom Thumb Liquors grand opening: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 at 5150 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview.

The new business, located beside Tom Thumb, sells spirits, wine and craft beer. Free items available with each purchase. See store for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 4 Crestview Chamber of Commerce networking events

BAKER — The Rotary Club of Crestview's 23rd Annual Wild Game Feast and Quail Hunt is set for Feb. 19-20.

The feast, featuring speaker Jarret Johnson — a former National Football League player played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2003-2011 and the San Diego Chargers from 2012-2014 — is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 at Gum Creek Lodge in Baker. Hunts are scheduled Feb. 19 and 20.

Tickets are available as follows:

●Gold table: $800; includes eight tickets to the feast, one two- to four-person Quail Hunt (18 hunts maximum — first come, first served)

●Silver table: $450; includes six tickets to the feast

●Bronze table: $275; includes four tickets to the feast

●Individual tickets: $65

To get tickets, print this form and mail it with your payment.

All proceeds support Northwest Florida State College and the Rotary's health, hunger and literacy programs.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former NFL player to speak at Baker Wild Game Feast (DOCUMENT)

CRESTVIEW — "The Local Historian's Toolkit: North Okaloosa County History at the State Library and Archives of Florida" is a presentation scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 1 at the Crestview Public Library.  

Joshua Goodman, SLAF staff historian, will give an overview of the wealth of digital and manuscript records publicly available for studying the history of communities like Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill, Milligan and others in northern Okaloosa County.

The library is located at 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Learn about historical research during this Crestview presentation

DESTIN — The Junior League of the Emerald Coast's Rock the Road 5k/10k is scheduled for Feb. 27 at Clement Taylor Park in Destin.  Packet pick-up will start at 7 a.m. on race day; races begin at 8:30 a.m.

"Everyone is encouraged to dress as their favorite rock star," a media release stated.

Post-race festivities, including awards for top male and female runners, begin at 9:30 a.m. at Dewey Destin’s Bayside.

Registration, starting at $25, is available at www.active.com/destin-fl/running/distance-running-races/rock-the-road-5k-and-10k-2016.

Proceeds will help the league "further our mission in the community," Carly Harmer, JLEC president, said. "The race and after-party are a blast, and the money raised goes to support our community, the leadership training of our members, and various community projects."

The Junior League of the Emerald Coast Inc. is an organization of women who promote volunteerism. See www.jlec.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast Junior League schedules 5k/10k

CRESTVIEW — Hub City residents can still enjoy “America’s Best Buffet,” despite the announcement from Ryan’s parent company that more than 70 restaurants would close permanently.

Food Management Partners, which acquired Ovation Brands in August 2015, announced Thursday it closed 74 underperforming restaurants in its Ryan’s, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet, Fire Mountain and Country Buffet chains.

Ryan’s buffet restaurants in Crestview and Pace were not affected by the closures, but the Pensacola buffet was closed.

Read more from the Northwest Florida Daily News>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ryan's closes 75 locations, Crestview franchise survives

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — CHELCO has added a new feature to its online power outage viewer: estimated time of restoration.

 The outage viewer, at chelco.com, provides a map with current information on outages, such as location and the number of members affected and calls received. The newest advancement is available by clicking on an outage.

Generally, the time will show two hours until a crew arrives on scene and assesses the cause for the outage. From there, it will be updated based on the crew’s assessment.

At any time during repair, the time could be updated to a longer or shorter estimation, depending on what the crew finds along the way.  During severe storms, an estimate may not be provided until a crew is available to work that particular outage.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHELCO power outage map adds new feature

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa County fire departments' mutual aid agreements aim to ensure quick emergency assistance from nearby districts.

Under the covenants, one fire district calls another fire district for help responding to blazes. This particularly benefits stations with limited resources.

However, Crestview Mayor David Cadle says the burden of support too often falls on the city's fire department.

MUTUAL AID

Crestview's mutual aid agreements with neighboring districts state that participating agencies will provide comparable levels of support to one another.

“Mutual aid … is based on each agency sending the same basic number of personnel and equal equipment to emergencies,” Cadle said.

But that's not always the case, city officials said.

In 2015, the Crestview Fire Department responded to 80 calls for help outside city limits, according to CFD records. The same year, other agencies responded to 12 calls for help within Crestview city limits. (Editor's note: See sidebar at left for the data breakdown.)

It’s not that neighboring fire districts are unwilling, or unequipped, to provide the support they should in a mutual aid situation, Crestview Fire Chief Joe Traylor said.

Most surrounding fire districts, apart from the North Okaloosa Fire District, are staffed entirely by volunteers with other commitments, he said. (Editor's Note: See a map of North Okaloosa fire districts under 'FILES/LINKS' at left)

“The problem becomes that they may volunteer up here, but they work south at Eglin (Air Force Base), or Pensacola, or Destin or Fort Walton Beach,” Traylor said.

“They may not be able to leave their day job to fight a fire.”

DIVERTING RESOURCES

The Crestview Fire Department's three stations are staffed with 46 professionals; 14 per shift. The CFD has four engines, including one back-up; a 75-foot ladder with pump; and one command/rescue vehicle.

“Every time we send an engine out of the city, that’s one engine that’s not available to fight a fire in the city,” Traylor said.

Traylor said there have been instances when Crestview firefighters and equipment have had to be recalled from a mutual aid response to fight a fire within the city limits.

“We’ve also had to refuse to respond (to mutual aid requests) because of a situation in the city,” Traylor said.

Such situations raise concern because they could mean the difference in saving a life or a structure.

Currently, the city’s main mutual aid support comes from Eglin Air Force Base’s Fire Emergency Services at Duke Field. On a couple of occasions, Eglin firefighters had to fight a Crestview fire while Crestview resources were providing mutual aid elsewhere, Traylor said.

“While most of these calls did not require us (to be on-scene) for a long period of time, they did reduce the ability of the fire department to meet the needs of Crestview,” Cadle said.

AUTO-AID

Under mutual aid, a fire department assesses the engulfed area in its jurisdiction and summons assistance if needed.

“Mutual aid was designed to support individual fire departments that exceeded their internal ability to contain the situation,” Traylor said. “We have a situation occur, we get on scene, we evaluate it and we commit our resources. If I need more, I request mutual aid.”

Mutual aid with the North Okaloosa Fire District evolved into auto-aid, in which adjacent jurisdictions automatically respond to each other’s fires.

But because NOFD’s firefighters are based at Bob Sikes Airport, there is a delay getting to the John King Road substation 5 miles away. The Crestview Fire Department, based out of its P.J. Adams Parkway station, often arrived at an NOFD fire first.

“Everything south of the interstate, we would automatically respond to regardless of who’s paying for the services,” Traylor said.

“If my engine south of the interstate is fighting a fire in the county and a fire occurs in the city, the citizens of Crestview are getting less services than they paid for.”

BACK TO BASICS

Traylor and Cadle want the city’s mutual aid agreements to return to their basics.

That means terminating auto-aid responses.

“We do not want to see anyone’s house burn down; however, we are asking the requesting agencies to abide by the original understanding of the mutual aid agreement and specifically request our presence if needed,” Cadle said during his Jan. 25 State of the City address.

“We’ve helped them, and we’ll continue to help them,” Traylor said. “The difference is now, we want someone from their jurisdiction to be on scene and evaluate it. We’re not doing the automatic thing.”

North Okaloosa Fire District Chief Ed Cutler said his agency directs most of its mutual aid responses to the Dorcas Fire District.

But if funding becomes available, re-staffing the John King Road station would be a priority.

“If we have the manpower, that’d be the first station we’d staff,” he said. “We don’t have auto-aid with Crestview anymore.”

Neighboring fire districts frequently request the Crestview Fire Department's assistance through mutual aid agreements.

In 2015, the CFD responded to 80 calls outside city limits in this areas:

●North Okaloosa Fire District: 38

●Holt Fire District: 20

●Dorcas Fire District: 11

●Baker Fire Department: 10

●Duke Field Fire Emergency Services: 1

The same year, these agencies responded to 12 calls within Crestview city limits:

●Duke Field Fire Emergency Services: 7

●North Okaloosa Fire District: 3

●Baker Fire Department: 1

●Holt Fire District: 1

Source: Crestview Fire Department

NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICTS

Almarante Fire Department: All volunteers. Equipment: 3 engines and 1 attack truck

Baker Fire Department: 35 volunteers. 2 engines, 1 tanker, 1 brush truck, 1 ATV and 2 rescue trucks

Blackman Volunteer Fire Department: All volunteers.

Crestview Fire Department: 46 professionals (14 per shift). 3 stations. 4 engines (including 1 back-up), 75-foot ladder with pump and 1 command/rescue vehicle

Dorcas Fire District: 1 professional, 8 volunteers. 2 engines, 2 brush trucks, 1 tanker, 1 rescue vehicle and 1 attack truck

Holt Fire District: 22 volunteers. 3 engines, 1 brush truck, 1 tanker, 2 air support trucks, 1 rescue truck

Laurel Hill Fire Department: 8 volunteers. 2 fire engines, 1 rescue vehicle, and “Old Red,” a restored 1940s show truck.

North Okaloosa Fire District: 21 professionals, 9 volunteers. 4 stations (3 unstaffed but equipped). 5 engines, a ladder truck, a tanker, a brush truck, and 3 airport fire vehicles

Blackman and Holt fire officials did not immediately return phone calls.

Sources: Department personnel, websites and Facebook pages

MUTUAL AID RESPONSES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SPECIAL REPORT: Mutual aid agreements strain Crestview firefighters' resources (MAP)