CRESTVIEW — Crestview historian Jim Moore’s Jan. 22 and 23 impersonation of Okaloosa County founder William H. Mapoles will launch a year-long celebration of the Hub City's 100th anniversary.

Many historians enjoy researching archives and repositories. Moore does that, but he takes it beyond publishing books and articles about the people he studies.

He becomes them.

Lately, Moore has researched Mapoles, a state senator, county judge, newspaperman, champion of Crestview’s incorporation and a driving force behind its selection as Okaloosa County's seat. Mapoles guided Okaloosa's creation through the Florida Legislature and placed it before affected voters.

Moore will portray Mapoles during “Becoming the County Seat," scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 22 and 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at Warriors Hall in Crestview.

'WE'LL HAVE SOME FUN'

“As usual, in any kind of political situation, there’s always pulling and twisting and gnawing, and Jim Moore will re-enact that dramatic historic scenario,” Crestview Centennial Committee chairwoman Pat Hollarn said.

“And we want to explore why Crestview was chosen (as county seat) above other locations in the county,” Moore said. “We’ll have some fun doing it."

Laura Creighton, of Creighton Solutions, a dispute mediation consultant, is producing the program. Highlights include the Crestview Chorders dulcimer band's period music and World War I historic impersonator Stan Schneider. Judge Keith Brace will be master of ceremonies.

“It will set the early years of the county in its historic context,” Hollarn said.

BECOMING THE MAN

Moore will perform his presentation in a stage setting furnished with early 20^th-century artifacts provided by the Baker Block Museum. Hollarn said the museum advises the committee with centennial celebration event planning.

For his impersonations, Moore wears historically researched costumes.

“I need to be dressed as the person I’m representing,” Moore said. “It helps me get into his skin.”

Hollarn said she hopes the presentation draws a crowd.

“This is free to the public. We certainly hope a lot of people of all ages will come see where it all began,” she said. “This celebrates the creation of Crestview as the main town in the new Okaloosa County.

“It is a good way to open our centennial year.”

What: “Crestview: Becoming the County Seat” Centennial kick-off

When: 7 p.m. Jan. 22 and 2 p.m. Jan. 23

Where: Warriors Hall, Whitehurst Municipal Building, Stillwell Boulevard at Industrial Drive, Crestview

Cost: Free

Notes: This program, the first event in the Crestview Centennial Celebration, features historic impersonators Jim Moore and Stan Schneider, and music by the Crestview Chorders. Presented by the Main Street Crestview Association and the Crestview Centennial Committee.

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MORE CENTENNIAL EVENTS

The Crestview Centennial Committee has been planning for the city’s 100^th birthday for more than a year. The group will present celebration events almost monthly, with some months featuring multiple centennial events.

Centennial souvenirs and mementoes will be available for purchase at the events.

Some funding comes from the Community Redevelopment Agency, which has contracted with the Main Street Crestview Association to present several of the events. Okaloosa Gas District is the Centennial Celebration’s platinum sponsor.

NEXT MONTH:

Feb. 12: “Valentines and All That Jazz,” a concert by the Crestview High School jazz band, with catering by the CHS culinary department. 7 p.m., $10 per person, Warriors Hall, Crestview. Presented by Friends of the Arts.

Feb. 13: “Dance Through the Decades,” a gala ball, with catering by A Grand Elegance. 7 p.m., $30 single, $50 couple, at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 544 Main St., Crestview

WANT TO GO? | MORE CENTENNIAL EVENTS

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Historic impersonations, period music launch Crestview centennial events

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Photo Club's annual exhibition is on display now at the Crestview Public Library.

Photos by group members have been hung for viewing and will remain through Jan. 20 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

CPC members are amateur and professional photographers who meet regularly to share tips and techniques, have photo challenges, and more.

The next meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 701 James Lee Blvd. E., Crestview. Meetings are every third Thursday.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/CrestviewPhotoClub/ or contact MSgt. Jayly Jackson, jayly.jackson@us.af.mil.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Photo Club schedules next exhibit

CRESTVIEW — The Concerned Citizens of Crestview group has scheduled a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

It includes a march to the Okaloosa County Courthouse on Main Street in Crestview, followed by a ceremony. March participants will line up at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 16 at the corner of Lloyd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

The ceremony will include a proclamation of the event by Crestview Mayor David Cadle.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Martin Luther King Jr. walk planned in Crestview

A Crestview resident has joined the American Angus Association.

Allen Moczygemba, CEO of the national breed organization headquartered in Saint Joseph, Mo., announced that James R. Brown is now part of its membership.

The American Angus Association, with more than 25,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on over 18 million registered Angus.

The association records ancestral information and keeps production records and genomic data on individual animals to develop industry-leading selection tools for its members.

The programs and services of the Association and its entities — Angus Genetics Inc., Angus Productions Inc., Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Foundation — help members to advance the beef cattle business by selecting the best animals for their herds and marketing quality genetics for the beef cattle industry and quality beef for consumers.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man joins American Angus Association

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa Arts Alliance seeks artists and crafters for the annual Okaloosa Arts & Culture Fest, which is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the Fort Walton Beach Landing.

The annual event features dozens of local artisans and craft vendors, food and beverages, live music and art performances. Free family activities, a silent auction will help raise funds for OAA and the Okaloosa County School Poster contest entries will be on display.

Email Amy at amybaty1@gmail.com for a vendor application or more information about the 8th annual Arts Fest.

 For more information about the alliance, go to www.okaloosaarts.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Artists wanted for Okaloosa Arts & Culture Fest

CRESTVIEW — Baronstea.com, a Crestview-based tea retailer, and the Emerald Coast Science Center will host an information session on the science of tea brewing.

Learn about different varieties of tea and how to pair foods with them at the event, which is 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10 at the center, 31 Memorial Parkway SW, Fort Walton Beach.

Cost is $20 for Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce members, or $25 for nonmembers.

For more information, visit www.ECScience.org or call 664-1261.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview retailer schedules tea brewing presentation

U.S. Air Force Air National Guard Tech Sgt. David L. Blakley has retired after serving honorably for 25 years.

Blakley last served as non-commissioned officer in charge, Cyber Systems Operations, with the 216th Space Control Squadron on Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

He is the stepson of Margaret E. Blakley, of Crestview; brother of Sam Blythe, of Highland, Kansas; nephew of Nadine J. Bradbury, of Kelso, Washington; and cousin of Brad E. Haggard, of St. Joseph, Mo.

He is a 1978 graduate of Highland High School, Highland, Kansas, and earned an associate degree in 2002 from Vatterott College, St. Joseph, Mo.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview woman's stepson retires from Air Force National Guard

U.S. Army Pvt. Kyle J. Kilcrease has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Jackson, S.C.

For nine weeks, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Kilcrease is the son of Jennifer Kilcrease and grandson of Richard Underwood of Fort Madison, Iowa. He is the nephew of Donald Kilcrease, of Baker.

He graduated in 2015 from Fort Madison High School, Fort Madison, Iowa.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker man's nephew completes Army basic training

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