CRESTVIEW — The Parkes — Kevin, Tiffany and their five children — have settled into a home they hardly recognize from last week.

While the family stayed on Eglin Air Force Base, crews from Lifetime TV's “Designing Spaces” moved into their Lake Silver neighborhood house for a “Military Makeover."

Film and TV veteran R. Lee Ermey — known as “Gunny,” for his U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant rank — joined Art Edmonds, the show's field correspondent, for the weeklong endeavor.

Improvements included a new kitchen with granite counters and custom artwork on the children’s bedroom walls, along with new furniture, including a Barcelona chair in the living room.

In addition to constructing a new koi pond and patio outside, the crew, using many local vendors, installed new floors, appliances, cabinets and furniture.

“It’s a no-holds-barred deal,” Ermey said. “We wanted Kevin and his family to have smiles on their faces. We want them to know America cares about them.”

Ermey said local contractors and “Designing Spaces” crew members weren’t the only ones working hard on the Parke home. “You’d be surprised how many neighbors came over with their hammers and saws,” he said. “They love Kevin and his family.”

“Gunny’s a lot of fun,” said Crestview contractor Mike Banks with CJM Enterprises, which installed the new kitchen cabinets.

Pete Elkins, the Crestview Consolidated Ace Hardware store's manager, said his business was proud to contribute to the effort. “We donated paint and labor,” Elkins said. “We like to support our neighbors and our vets.”

Knowing Kevin’s love of classic cars, “Designing Spaces” presented the veteran with a restored, right-hand-drive 1989 Nissan Skyline R32, a car not previously imported to the United States.

The surprises were just one way to say thank you to a disabled veteran.

Kevin Parke, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, applied for the makeover with his Purple Heart chapter's encouragement. 

“I thought this is pretty cool and I decided to put in for it,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d get it but I tried, and they gave me a call and said, 'Hey we want to come take a look at your house.' That was pretty cool.”

Parke has stability issues due to back injuries, and he has brain damage with "super bad headaches," he said. "I was struck three different times in one tour. The third time I was in the turret and I got knocked out from my machine gun smashing into my face."

The refurbished home will help make life easier and more comfortable for the family, he said.

“Pretty much my wife does everything,” he said. “We have five kids, and she takes care of them and she takes care of me.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lifetime TV show refurbishes Crestview veteran's home (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Loomis Bros. Circus announces its annual return to Crestview with a new show.

Performances are Nov. 12-15, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday at Old Spanish Trail Park on Stillwell Boulevard in Crestview.

Full-priced admission is $20 for adults and $8 for children ages 2-12.

The Crestview Historic Preservation Board, sponsoring the event, benefits from the proceeds of each ticket sold.

Coupons for “free kids tickets” are available at most merchants throughout Crestview and surrounding areas.

A limited number of half-price tickets are available in advance through the sponsor and at designated ticket outlets. Call 850-240-4053 for details.

Tickets also may be purchased, with cash only, at the circus box office on the day of show.

All seating is general admission, and doors open approximately one hour before each scheduled show time.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Loomis Bros. Circus returns to Crestview

BAKER — The Baker Block Museum's 11th annual Baker Heritage Day is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 7 at the museum’s heritage park, 1307 Georgia Ave., at the corner of US Highway 189 and State Road 4 in Baker.

The event features old time heritage demonstrations, southern folk and Americana music and more. Entertainment will be provided throughout the day.

Demonstrations and vendors include: flint knappers, blacksmithing, pine needle basket making, crocheting, corn shuck dolls, timber and turpentine tools, shingle making, ceramics, acrylics, homemade baked goods, local produce, a Florida Fish and Wildlife exhibit, Tri County Beekeepers Association and Florida Public Archaeology Network, among others.

A variety of foods, artists, craftsmen, local produce, homemade jellies and baked goods, antiques cars and much more will also be on site. Area residents Clint Harris and Jim Melton's cane syrup will be available for purchase for $5-7.

Contact the museum, 537-5714, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Block Museum schedules 11th annual Baker Heritage Day

CRESTVIEW — Ron Medlock of Crestview, a.k.a. Graybeard the Pirate, will give candy to children, in character, this Halloween.

Medlock, who has portrayed the pirate for several years in Crestview and surrounding areas, looks forward to the annual event.

"I can't disappoint the kids," he said.

He and his family will accept trick-or-treaters 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at 2754 Lake Silver Road, Crestview, "until I run out of candy or they quit coming," he said.

"We have a good time and make them laugh."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Graybeard the Pirate docks in Crestview for Halloween

CRESTVIEW — The 17th Annual Run for the Toys, a motorcycle event benefiting North Okaloosa families and the Families First Network of Crestview, kicks off soon.

Registration is 9:30-11 a.m. Nov. 1 in the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot,           3351 Ferdon Blvd. S., Crestview. Entrants must bring a $10 donation and a new unwrapped toy for the event, which includes food, music and a 50-50 drawing.

The ride ends at VFW Post 5450 on U.S. Highway 90 in Crestview.

Contact Ken Payne, 612-5493, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 17th Annual Run for the Toys planned in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Confederate roses are in bloom, at least for some local residents.

Larry Williams, an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview, wrote about the flowers for the News Bulletin's Oct. 28-30 Midweek Edition, and a number of readers responded to the column.

Click here for William's column.

Some of our Facebook fans expressed favorable results.

"We have one in our yard … love it," Vickie Baker Johnson said.

"I love ours," Cam Milligan Sasser said. "It blooms throughout the month of October. Sometimes, a freeze comes and ruins all the remaining flower buds and that's it for the season, but usually it's done blooming by the time it freezes."

Other residents said they had difficulties with the plant.

"The deer keep eating mine down to the ground," Silvia Clem Womack said.

"Someone just gave my dad this plant, and since putting it in the ground the leaves have begun to turn brown," Heather Moore said.

"The buds were wilted, but one of them still bloomed a few days after putting it in the ground."

With proper care, a Confederate rose should grow into a 15-foot-tall bush during a single season, Williams said. But expect the entire plant to be killed to the ground during the winter.

"It usually sprouts rapidly from the base of the plant the following spring," he said.

But be careful — too much fertilizer can result in lots of leaves but few blooms, Williams said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Confederate roses in bloom across Crestview

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — Corvias Military Living, Corvias Group's military housing division, and the Army Wife Network LLC, a multimedia resource site for military spouses, will bring the Field Exercise: Battle Buddies program to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field in November.

The networking and military appreciation event — filled with friendship, laughter, prizes, advice and self-discovery, according to a spokesperson — is Nov. 5 and 6 at the Holiday Inn Resort in Fort Walton Beach. It is open to all military spouses.

Army Wife Network’s Tara Crooks, Janet MacIntosh and Paula Swanson will host two free sessions: 5-9 p.m. Nov. 5 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Both are free to attend and focus on creating a personal support network to help navigate military life.

 “Our Field Exercise will have a room full of talking and laughing spouses engaged with each other and recharging their spirits by putting themselves first,” Crooks said.

The two four-hour sessions are identical and will feature a full lunch or dinner, door prizes and giveaways.

Register at www.armywifenetwork.com under the events section if interested; space is limited. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free military spouse events scheduled in Fort Walton Beach

CRESTVIEW — Christie Cadenhead has joined Community Bank as an assistant vice president and loan officer.

With more than 10 years' banking experience, she will be instrumental in the Crestview market's growth, according to Jason Crowe, Community Bank's Florida Division president.

Cadenhead, a Crestview native, serves on the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, is a Kiwanis Club of Crestview member, and volunteers for Covenant Hospice.

She and her son, Seth, live in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cadenhead, Crestview resident, joins Community Bank

VALPARAISO — The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida presents “Okaloosa Steepheads,” a free lecture, at noon on Nov. 13. 

Guest speaker Walter G. Smith will discuss the region's deep ravines, one of the Southeast's most diverse, sensitive ecosystems.

Attendees can bring lunch for History Sandwiched-In, a free education program, but space is limited. Call 678-2615 to reserve a seat.

The event — at 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso — is part of Okaloosa County's 100th anniversary celebration.

Museum centennial events are made possible by a matching grant from the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs and Okaloosa County.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Okaloosa Steepheads,' free lecture, set Nov. 13

CRESTVIEW — A beloved senior citizen and town fixture says she enjoys riding a tricycle that numerous residents bought her.

Sara Reese, known as "Ms. Sara," often travels Crestview streets using just her walker. She frequently wears a neon shirt that says, "Please don't hit my back."

But now when she wants to travel down North Ferdon Boulevard, or otherwise get around town, she has an alternative.

Sixty-three Crestview residents raised $1,660 in two months on GoFundMe to purchase a new tricycle for Reese.

Before, Reese would have to hang groceries and other things on her walker. 

Her new, pink set of wheels has more storage, with a basket in the front and one in the back. In addition, the tricycle features a canopy embroidered with, "Sara." 

"I love it," Reese said. "It makes it a lot easier" to get around.

But don't expect Reese to entirely give up walking.

"It's good for my heart," she said.

<<Read more about 'Ms. Sara' in 'Related Content' at the left

Watch video of Ms. Sara on her bike>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's 'Ms. Sara' loves her new tricycle (VIDEO)