CRESTVIEW — When Okaloosa County residents visit the community’s French sister city in September 2017, they may see a piece of World War II memorabilia in action.

And if members of the Noirmoutier-based Atlantic Wall Memory Association — or AWM — get their wish, their Crestview friends can help restore the organization’s recently acquired 1940s General Electric searchlight.

The trailer-mounted light, used in anti-aircraft batteries, once lit up English skies and, after D-Day, those over liberated parts of continental Europe.

As attested by the “kills” — designated as aircraft silhouettes — on its barrel's side, the light was instrumental in downing at least three Luftwaffe, or German air force, bombers.

The AWM hopes American aid will once more come to the rescue, much as it did during and after World War II.

“For the repairs, we hope to have help of 500 euros,” or $550, association founding member Anthony Brochard said.

Brochard said his group found the searchlight through the Vintage Military Vehicles Collectors chapter in Vertou, a town near Nantes.

“We inspected it before, of course, and we know perfectly that it is in a good state of preservation,” Brochard said. “We have just to complete the light and repaint it.”

Donations will also help the AWM relocate the light to Noirmoutier, Brochard said, where it will be used in static displays of war-era equipment and in historical re-enactments.

The AWM, a spin-off of the Noirmoutier Classic Vehicles club, or NVA, was formed for collectors of World War II vehicles and equipment. The collection of accurately restored jeeps, troop trucks, wagons and equipment formerly was lumped in with the classic Peugeots and Citroëns that now are the NVA’s focus, Brochard said.

“Our association’s goal is to preserve the historic patrimony in a perfect state … and make World War II re-enactments with camps and military vehicles,” he said.

The AWM expects to relocate the searchlight to Noirmoutier by the end of January.

Any support from Noirmoutier’s sister city would reinforce the islanders' affection for Crestview and the U.S., Brochard said.

“American people are wonderful,” he said.

To help the Noirmoutier, France, Atlantic Wall Memory association restore a 1940s American GE anti-aircraft searchlight, send donations to the Crestview Area Sister City Program, 4693 Meadow Lake Drive, Crestview FL  32539-6376

WANT TO HELP?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa residents' help sought to restore Noirmoutrin WWII artifact

A week after 28-year-old Christopher Beal, of Crestview, went missing while swimming at Navarre Beach, the Navarre Fire Department has suspended its search.

Read more from the Northwest Florida Daily News>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: UPDATE: Search suspended for missing Crestview swimmer; friends grieve

PENSACOLA — Gulf Power customers' electricity bills will decrease this month, and the company will begin using wind generation as renewable energy.

Customers will see a 2.7 percent decrease in their January bills; the average residential bill for 1,000-kilowatt hours of electricity will drop $3.71.

The price decrease is a result of Gulf Power employees’ commitment to use the most cost-effective fuel resources available to generate electricity, according to Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. Employees found lower prices for natural gas and coal, which the utility company uses to generate electricity.

Each January, the Florida Public Service Commission adjusts the company's prices to reflect cost changes in fuel, environmental compliance and energy conservation programs.

Gulf Power customers also will see the addition of a renewable energy source added to the utility’s portfolio. The company's first wind project became operational Jan. 1. “The power we get from this project in the new year is expected to represent approximately 5 percent of our projected energy mix,” DelaHaya said.

Built in central Oklahoma, where conditions are favorable for wind energy, the project will supply 178 megawatts of renewable energy to Gulf Power — enough to annually power about 50,700 homes.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gulf Power lowers prices, adds renewable energy to portfolio

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce meetings are as follows:

●Monthly networking breakfast: 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Sponsored by Hub City Ford.

●Foy Shaw Memorial Scholarship Committee: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, chamber office, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Committee Chair Craig Shaw invites chamber members interested in being a part of this committee.

●Government Issues Committee: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, chamber office.

Call 682-3212 or email info@crestviewchamber.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview chamber sets meeting schedule

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Manor residents and military service members may face numerous challenges, but one thing is certain: They each know someone's thinking about them.

Crestview Girl Scout Troop 676 and Northwest Florida troops 742, 745, 818 and 1318 baked cookies, sang and presented gifts and cards to the Manor's residents as part of their holiday community service.

The 53 troop members — under Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola Council and Service Unit 625's direction — and their families provided gifts for the assisted living facility's 56 residents, according to Amanda Converse, of Troop 676. In addition, the scouts "(made) cards and hand-painted ceramic boots," she said. "Thank you, Harriet and Bill Watson, for making the boots."

The scouts also packed care packages for deployed Army and Air Force units, Converse said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Girl Scouts collaborate for community service

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Crestview will have no Mardi Gras observances, but area residents can travel just 35 minutes to let the good times roll.

The city of DeFuniak Springs and the Krewe de Yak Mardi Gras Krewe will bring Gras Fest to the city around the lake.

Food, along with art and craft vendors, a car show, a kids fun zone, and the Grand Parade take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 on Circle Drive in downtown DeFuniak Springs.

Contact Gayle Schupp, 333-3307, for more information, parade entry registration, or vendor registration.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mardi Gras parade set in DeFuniak Springs

NAVARRE BEACH — Six days after disappearing from Navarre Beach, the body of 28-year-old Christopher Beal has still not surfaced.

Read more from the Northwest Florida Daily News>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: UPDATE: Body of missing Crestview man still not found

VALPARAISO — The history of Shoals takes focus during the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County's next meeting.

The group will meet 10 a.m. Jan. 9 at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso.

Guest speaker Hank Klein will talk about how the once small village of Destin extended itself well into Walton County.  

"Although there is a sign on the side of the road as you drive east indicating you are leaving Okaloosa County and entering Walton County, folks today consider it all just Destin," an event spokesperson said. "No one remembers that, at one time, the area as you entered Walton County was called Shoals.

Contact Val Moreland, yosimite1@cox.net or 243-0352, for more information.

This announcement was edited Jan. 4 to correct the name of the Heritage Museum.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Learn about Shoals at Okaloosa genealogical society meeting

CRESTVIEW — Florida small business owners, including agricultural cooperatives, businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations, may apply for U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans for losses related to excessive rainfall, winds and flooding from Sept. 1 to Nov. 20.

Okaloosa, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Santa Rosa and Walton counties "are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Alabama," said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. "Disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines."

The loan amount can be up to $2 million, with interest rates of 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for small businesses, with up to 30-year terms.

The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, and bases them on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Applicants may apply using the Electronic Loan Application at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Call SBA’s Customer Service Center, 800-659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for details.

Send completed applications by Aug. 10 to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Economic injury disaster loans available for Okaloosa businesses

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — The Military Order of the Purple Heart Sgt. Timothy Padgett Chapter 811 will honor Florida residents who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending freedom.

The Day of Remembrance, a public event, is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 at the USAF Armament Museum on Eglin Air Force Base. The annual ceremony recognizes residents who have died in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001 while engaged in the Global War on Terror. 

The event will include a reading of the Okaloosa County proclamation naming the third Saturday of January as Okaloosa County — Military Order of the Purple Heart Day of Remembrance; lighting of a memorial candle for each fallen Floridian; and honoring Gold Star Families of Florida, with a promise to never forget their departed loved ones.

In addition, a formal announcement will be made about establishing a memorial park and gardens on the USAF Armament Museum grounds.

Attendees should dress in business casual or duty uniform attire.

Contact Sam Houston, MOPH chapter commander, at 729-2748 or shh1100@cox.net for additional information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eglin ceremony set to remember fallen Florida service members