It took a two-year battle in the state Legislature before eastern Santa Rosa County and western Walton County voters went to the polls on Sept. 11, 1915.

They voted overwhelmingly to form a county that would provide local government access closer to their homes.

Twice Laurel Hill newspaperman and state Rep. William H. “Bill” Mapoles tried to sway fellow legislators to create a new county, historian N. Allen Robinson wrote in a series of 1975 Okaloosa Consumer Bulletin articles.

With backing from Walton and Holmes counties Sen. B.H. Lindsay, and a provision that voters in the affected area gave it their blessing at the polls, Mapoles’ bill passed on June 3, 1915.

On Sept. 11, 1915, it was up to the voters.

With a 4-1 margin in Walton County, and 2-1 in Santa Rosa, voters gave themselves a new county.

‘PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY’

The new 9,000-resident county's seat was temporarily established in a Milligan industrial building. On Jan. 3 and 4, 1916, state auditor E. Amos inspected the area.

“New record books have just been installed and opened up and the business of the county is proceeding satisfactorily,” he wrote in a report to Gov. Park Tramell.

 “Each county officer seems to be zealously striving to do his full duty and is manifesting much interest in the work entrusted to his keeping.

“The county boards are using care and good judgment and appear to have the best interest of the county ever in mind.

“The county commissioners are especially to be commended for the economical and business-like way in which they are managing county affairs.”

Mapoles, foreseeing growth 13 miles south of Laurel Hill, moved his family and newspaper to Crestview later in September 1915, and championed his new hometown as the county seat.

CRESTVIEW OPTIMISM

Other county residents shared Mapoles’ belief in Crestview’s potential.

An item in the Jan. 21, 1916 Okaloosa News stated, “Miss Francis Hilton, of Baker, was here Wednesday and bought an adjoining lot to the bank building.  Miss Francis says that she don’t know for certain where the court house will go, but believes Crestview will get it. Therefore she wanted to buy some property here. She says that she likes the appearance of things here mighty well.”

Garden City resident J.T. Green said, “Everybody in his part of the county is for Crestview for the court house,” the newspaper stated.

Another article in the same issue stated, “The business conditions of everything at Crestview is 25 percent better today than it was today a week ago, and 100 percent better than it was three months ago.”

INCORPORATION

A public notice also appeared in The Okaloosa News' Jan. 21, 1916 edition:

“Notice is hereby given that we the undersigned citizens, residing in Section 17, Township 3 North, Range 23 West, Tallahassee Meridian, will meet at the Congregational church, at 3 o’clock p.m., on Tuesday, the 22nd day of February 1916 for the purpose of incorporating ourselves into a municipal form of government and to select officers according to the laws and constitution of the state of Florida.”

The first signature beneath the announcement belonged to Okaloosa News Editor W.H. Mapoles.

Voters agreed and, on March 6, 1917, they chose between Baker, Crestview and Laurel Hill as their county seat.

In an April 3 runoff, Crestview beat Baker by about 80 votes.

In 1918, a yellow brick courthouse was built on property donated by the Crestview Land Company on the site of today’s county courthouse, anchoring Main Street's north end.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CENTENNIAL: Revisiting the birth of Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — As the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad line pushed eastward, depots — really, just railway workers’ and materials camps — advanced almost every 5 miles. 

First in the area came the stop railroad men called Milton. Holt and then Chaffin — today's Milligan — followed.

And then, pushing on, surveyors eyed the highest spot east of the Yellow River, just about midway between it and Shoal River. It was suited to situate a camp and maybe, one day, a depot.

It was high and dry, but had a couple of nearby spring-fed ponds for watering the locomotives. Given its proximity to the rivers, the site was destined to grow into more than a whistle stop.

Crest View was born.

SHIPPING STATION

At first, the small camp was just a shipping station, with a railroad agent working out of a boxcar that served as a depot.

“It is a small settlement,” the 1885 “Webb’s Historical, Industrial and Biographical Florida” stated. (Chaffin, on the other hand, was “a thriving lumbering town of 450.”)

But Crestview — its name now condensed from two words — already had a post office, which opened March 15, 1883, and its first citizen, Hamner “Doc” Powell, served as shipping clerk and railroad agent. 

The population grew to 100 folks by the time the 1889 edition of “Elliott’s Florida Encyclopedia” was published, which noted the town now had four general stores, a school and the post office.

A drug store, hotel, congregational church and more small businesses followed. As the turpentine and lumber industry geared up, mills and stills began springing up around the town.

When the Yellow River Railroad organized between Crestview and Florala, Alabama, in 1887, the little town became Crestview Junction.

CRESTVIEW GROWS

Crestview — which dropped the “Junction” in the late 19^th century — soon outpaced neighboring communities in size and population. 

By the time voters approved Okaloosa County's creation in September 1915, the town was positioned to contend with Baker and Laurel Hill as the county seat.

Florida state Rep. William Mapoles, who shepherded the county's creation through the legislative process, was sure Crestview would win the votes to become county seat.

To show his confidence, he packed up his family and his newspaper business and moved them to town. Once settled in, he threw his clout behind the movement to incorporate the city in preparation for it to become the county seat.

After an April 11, 1915, vote, conducted beneath the oak tree near the Congregational Church — which stood where Casey’s Electric is now — Crestview was incorporated.

Two years later, in an April 3, 1917, runoff election with Baker, the city was selected as the county seat.

Since then, Crestview has grown, becoming the county’s transportation “hub” with the addition of a major general aviation airport and one of the South’s primary east-west interstate highways.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CENTENNIAL: Crestview started small but outgrew its neighbors

Tiffani Lee’s journey has taken her from Baker School's athletic venues to Miami courtrooms.

The lawyer, a 1988 Baker graduate voted Most Likely To Succeed, traces much of her success to her Gator days.

KNOWING YOUR ROLE

Lee was an all-district and second-team all-state basketball player her senior year on a team ranked fifth in the state at one time.

In addition to basketball, she was a member of the track and field team, competing in the 100-yard dash, the 440 relay, the high jump and the triple jump. Lee was the 1988 Class 1A triple jump state champion with a 35-foot, 3-inch leap.

She also played volleyball through her junior year.

All of these experiences contributed to the person she is today.

“Being on a team helped me learn my role,” Lee said. “When I was at Baker, I was the center on the basketball team, and I knew what my role was.

“In law, you work on a case and, with multiple people, you have to figure out what I can contribute and how I can work well on the team. All of those things are directly related to (skills) that I can apply to my life.”

'YOU JUST RUN AROUND TOGETHER'

Lee fondly remembers the years when females were finding their place as athletes.

“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “A lot of talented players were just trying to come together to compete as a little 1A school in the middle of nowhere.

"One of the good things about growing up in a smaller town is you don’t have a lot of other distractions, so you just run around together and play the games."

Baker, at the time, had an exceptional football team, so "we always felt we were overshadowed by the men’s sports at times, and we were trying to carve out our own niche and be respected," Lee said.

 Being on the track team wasn’t so easy. The school lacked a high-jump pit and many coaches were still learning the triple jump.

“I was coached by Coach (Gene) Parrish, and his son, who was at Florida State, would come back and coach us in the triple jump,” Lee said. "I learned how to triple jump from him.

“The funny thing about Baker was we didn’t have a place to practice the high jump, so we would have to go to other schools early before actual meets and practice.”

TEACHERS REALLY CARED

Lee may be in Miami, but she hasn’t forgotten her Baker roots.

“(Attending Baker School) was a great preparation for life,” she said. “I tell a lot of people down here in Miami I felt like I got a private-school education in a public school.

“We had small classes. Everybody knew everybody. The teachers knew you and they really cared about making sure you progressed.”

Lee said Jim Berry, her basketball coach, constantly pushed her to work hard and set a high bar for success that has stayed with her through the years.

She is proud of her place in Baker athletics and equally proud of how the program has grown since she graduated.

“I think girls athletics overall have dramatically improved,” she said.

Lee encourages young women to follow her path and participate in sports.

“The life lessons are great,” she said. “The physical fitness is great. I just can’t imagine growing up without playing sports.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CENTENNIAL: Baker sports prepared standout athlete for legal career

Most people haven't heard of David Swinton, but he's one of Baker School's best track athletes.

Swinton won the Class 2A pole vault title in 1974 with a 12-foot, 6-inch leap. In 1975, he had a 14-foot, 6 3/4-inch vault, helping the Gators win the state championship.

On many track and field teams, he would have been the main attraction. But as he soared to new heights for the Gators, the legendary Houston McTear tied the world record in the 100-yard dash on May 9, 1975, and received most of the attention.

'I WANT TO TRY THAT'

Swinton said he didn't plan his ascent in the pole vault world.

“I went to a track meet at Milton and I was running the 330 intermediate hurdles and I saw some guys out there pole vaulting,” he said. “I went back to the coach (Will Willoughby) and told him, ‘I want to try that.’

“He said, ‘OK.’”

The coach let Swinton use an old pleated steel pole. Once Swinton showed his potential with it, Willoughby got him a fiberglass pole.

Willoughby provided the pole, but the school lacked a regulation track — much less a pole vault pit — so the rest was up to Swinton.

“I built my own pole vault pit at the house,” Swinton said. “I took a bunch of mattresses and stuck them all together. I went out in the woods and cut down some trees for the expansion and I rigged me up a cross bar.

“I basically put it together myself and I just kept on practicing — that was the only thing that got me there.”

PUTTING BAKER ON THE MAP

At first, Swinton said, he enjoyed seeing how high he could go. “It was just fun going to all the meets and for people to find out we actually had a team at Baker,” he said.

Then the Gators started winning.

“It was just an adventure being out there," he said. "You knew you were helping your community and helping put Baker High on the map."

As much as Swinton loved winning, he also enjoyed helping the opposition improve.

“Even though I was in competition with a lot of people, even if I saw them doing something wrong I would always try to give a lending hand,” Swinton said. “Coach Willoughby didn’t like me doing that, but it was just that I wanted to see them jump high.

“I felt good about helping somebody. That meant more to me than just being a winner all the time.”

'YOU ARE YOUR OWN TEAM'

Swinton pole vaulted at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., for a couple of years, earning All-American honors during his freshman year's indoor season. While there, he became friends with football great Walter Payton.

However, Swinton struggled academically, which led to his early exit from JSU.

“My athletic career, for what it was, was better than my academic career,” he said. “I got so far behind (academically) until it was hard for me to catch up.

“If I had it all to do over again, I would probably pole vault as hard as I did, but I would also be in my studies a lot more.

"We just live and learn in our lifetime.”

Swinton smiled as he reflected on four decades ago, when he soared like no one else at Baker.

“All in all, it was a beautiful way to go to school and it was a beautiful way to run track in the pole vault,” he said.

“Pole vaulting is like you really aren’t on a team — you are your own team, and it’s up to you to get those points. When I stepped out on the runway, I knew I was out there for points, and I wanted to be a winner.

“I enjoyed it. It was a very profound part of my life. It let me know if a person really wanted to do something, you can.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CENTENNIAL: Two-time Baker pole vaulting state champion recalls glory days

CRESTVIEW — Downtown patrons seeking a traditional barbershop have one option after Leon’s Barbershop closes tomorrow.

That would be Mack Brooks’ Barbershop, on the other end of Main Street.

Leon Johns died in February 2013, but his daughter, Nina Roberts, and her partners, Kristen Phillips and Andrew Scoles, continued the business.

But at 5 p.m. Wednesday the doors to a downtown landmark will close permanently after 60 years in business.

“It’s just one of those things,” Roberts said. “Everything has its season.”

One reason for closing is increasing traffic south of town, Roberts said. In the evenings, many customers who got evening trims couldn't make it to her shop before closing.

“That, and every time I turn around, another salon has popped up,” she said.

MOVING THE SHOP

While the closure of one of the city’s few old-time barbershops is bad news for longtime customers, the good news is Roberts and her team will still work in a similar traditional environment.

“We’re going to merge with the Wright Barbershop on Beal Parkway (in Fort Walton Beach),” Roberts said.

There, Ivan McCard operates the barbershop his father ran until his death. “It was his dad’s shop, like this one was my daddy’s shop,” Roberts said.

For customers who follow Roberts to Fort Walton Beach, their new barbershop's surroundings won’t be entirely unfamiliar.

“We’re actually taking our chairs,” Roberts said. “We’re taking our shop with us.”

'IT'S NOT A SALON'

Neither Brooks nor Johns operated “salons.” Their establishments are barbershops — down to the traditional red-and-white striped barber pole outside, and the aroma of Barbicide inside.

“It’s not a salon, and it’s not a chain stylist,” Roberts said. “It’s a barbershop, plain and simple.”

Banter flies between barbers, customers in the chairs and those waiting along the wall, as a News Bulletin reporter recently observed.

“You mean I got to go all the way down to Fort Walton to get a haircut?” longtime customer Jerry Franklin said as Roberts trimmed Josh Miller’s hair.

“Yes you do, and you know it’s worth it,” Roberts said.

Roberts paused while blasting hair off Miller’s cape with an air hose, and looked around the worn cabinets and mirrors of the barbershop that’s stood beside the Fox Theatre almost as long as the cinema.

“I’m going to miss it,” she said. “But like I said, everything has its season.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Barber shop, a Crestview landmark, closes after 60 years

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Clean Boating Partnership recognize two Eglin Air Force Base marinas for their commitment to environmental stewardship and protection.

The Post’l Point and Ben’s Lake marinas join almost 300 other marinas across the state as designated Clean Marinas.

Ben’s Lake Marina has the distinction of being designated as a Clean Marina, a Clean Boatyard and a Clean and Resilient Marina. In addition to the facility's emphasis on preventing the release of pollutants into surface waters, the marina has taken steps to strengthen its ability to withstand natural and man-made disasters.

Post’l Point Marina provides monofilament recycling, convenient disposal of solid and hazardous waste in clearly marked bins and recycles solvents used at the facility.

Florida’s Clean Marinas adopt safeguards that keep solvents, sewage, fuel and oil out of the water.

"By educating boaters and improving operations at marine facilities, Florida’s Clean Marinas are helping to ensure a sustainable future for the environment, boaters and the marine industry," a spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eglin receives clean marina designation

HURLBURT FIELD — The 2015 winner of the Phoenix Award for Maintenance Excellence is the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Hurlburt Field, the Department of Defense announced.

The award annually designates the best maintenance unit out of that year's six Secretary of Defense Field-Level Maintenance Award winners.

In fiscal year 2014, the Hulburt unit's maintenance actions produced more than 1,200 sorties and 3,500 flying hours, more than 28 percent of the 1st Special Operations Wing's mission.

Heavily engaged in Overseas Contingency Operations, the unit facilitated safe transportation and recovery of three battle-damaged CV-22 aircraft valued at $267 million for subsequent depot repair. In addition, the unit achieved a deployed mission capable rate that exceeded the command standard by 24 percent.

The 801st authored 328 engineer requests resulting in modifications that saved over $8 million and 2,000 labor hours and produced mission capable assets an average 33 percent faster than similarly equipped units accomplishing major aircraft phase inspection and repair.

The unit also won the 2014 Phoenix Award for maintenance.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hurlburt Field unit wins maintenance award for second year in a row

DESTIN — Okaloosa County has broken tourism records for the fifth consecutive year.

Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island achieved their highest monthly year-over-year growth in revenue, up 13.04 percent, during fiscal year 2015. This also marks 21 consecutive months of year-over-year revenue growth. A monthly revenue of $72 million was achieved in July for the first time in the county’s 100-year history. 

The year saw economic growth with the grand opening of several new restaurants and family attractions.

Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone, on Okaloosa Island, features a miniature golf course, frozen yogurt shop, zip line, full-service sit-down pizzeria, and a 30-foot rock climbing wall. Gulf seafood restaurateur Lucy Buffett opened her 20,000-square-foot LuLu’s Destin restaurant along the Choctawhatchee Bay. The “Gulf to Table” movement continued with the opening of 10 on the Harbor at HarborWalk Village as well as Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer, sister restaurant to Jackacuda’s, which specializes in fresh, local seafood and large steamed shellfish platters.

Other openings included Destin Diner, which offers a retro atmosphere, originality, comfort, and food, and The Craft Bar, which offers 30 craft beers on tap as well as cutting-edge handcrafted cocktails created by its own mixologists.

Additional tourism initiatives throughout the year included a rebranding of the destination’s airport to increase its recognition as a central travel hub into the Emerald Coast.

In addition, the Emerald Coast encouraged Chicago residents to leave behind the icy weather of the Windy City and “Escape to Sun” during their coldest winter months. The campaign prompted Chicagoans to visit microsite www.EscapetoSun.com to learn more about replacing their wind chills with extreme thrills and learn more about the Emerald Coast beaches, activities, dining, and events, as well as exclusive offers and opportunities.

"It is so encouraging to see the boost that tourism gives to our local economy, and we are excited to announce another record-breaking year for our destination," Ed Schroeder, ECCVB director, stated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast has historic revenue growth for fifth year

CRESTVIEW — Creative Orthotic & Prosthetic Services LLC has received accreditation from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Inc.

The company is a veteran-owned private facility that provides custom-fabricated orthotics and prosthetics devices for patients with congenital, traumatic or sports-related injuries.

ABC’s evaluation included a thorough review of the physical facility and quality of patient care. Its associates interviewed staffers and patients and reviewed organizational documents, including records of patient care.

"We are extremely pleased to have achieved this designation," COPS owner Charlie Mata said. "Accreditation is a rigorous process, but one that we welcome as a continual quality improvement mechanism.

"Earning ABC accreditation is another measure of our excellence as a premier provider of prosthetics, orthotics, pedorthics and reflects our commitment to our patients."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview prosthetic provider earns accreditation

CRESTVIEW — As some children around town observe Kwanzaa today, their homes will be decorated with festive ornaments they made themselves during the Crestview Public Library’s Noel Night.

The library was filled Dec. 17 with families and individuals enjoying an evening of music, games, refreshments and craft-making celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Christmas music from community groups, including the Chanticleer show choir from Crestview High School filled the crowded meeting room.

In the library’s main section, Destin Hubbard, 8, and his friend Amirah Shiraz, 5, proudly held up books they won in the scavenger hunt, during which staffers and Friends of the Crestview Library volunteers guided them from clue to clue.

Volunteer Wanda Fogle, bedecked in a festive red hat festooned with ornaments, strolled around greeting admirers. A member of the Red Hat Society, “Every year I’ve been adding something to it,” she said.

In the children’s story room, Cyrius Davis, 8, and Natoria McRae knuckled down to get their Kwanzaa crafts just right, carefully gluing googly eyes to traditional African-inspired animal decorations.

Brycen Graham, 5, and Annie Grace, 7, discovered fun from another culture as they spun the dreidel and won prizes in the traditional Hanukkah game.

“She’s learning about Jewish customs,” Annie’s mom said, noting her daughter is home schooled.

As a mountain of cookies and gallons of punch were whittled down and the joyful strains of music died, library staffers looked at the smiling faces around them and had to smile themselves.

“This is so much fun,” Audrey Milcarek said. “We look forward to this.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Noel Night fills Crestview library with music, laughter, games and crafts (PHOTOS, VIDEO)