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

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