BBVA Compass continued their great support to Children In Crisis again this year.  Thanks to the generous donation of $2,500 from the Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids program, all the kids living at the CIC Neighborhood will receive specialized training and counseling.

According to Ken Hair, CIC President & CEO, "The donation from BBVA Compass helped provide our children living at CIC with a vital educational program.  This donation truly makes a difference and we are very thankful."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BBVA Compass Donates to CIC Kids

Here are upcoming Crestview Public Library-related events. The library's address is 1445 Commerce Drive.

UPCOMING

POETRY OPEN MIC READING: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 and following second Tuesdays. Arrive at 6 p.m. for conversation and snacks. Poets and musicians may read, perform, improvise and play together. Free. Poetry starter: Christmas presents. Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432. 

 CRESTVIEW WRITERS GROUP: The CWG doesn't meet again until 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at the library. The special project for the January session is to write a 300-500 word short story, essay or poem and email it to group member Tami Kidd, tamilynnkidd@gmail.com, by Jan 21. She will present the works at the meeting, remove the author names and then see if attendees can determine who wrote what and provide feedback. http://www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php. 

BEGINNER'S CHESS CLUB HOURS EXTENDED: The group now meets from 3-5 p.m. every first and third Thursday at the library. For ages 6 and up. Learn to play the game.

RECURRING

ADULT COLORING THERAPY: 5-6 p.m. third Mondays for ages 18 or older. Hot tea, coloring pages, pencils and markers are provided.

FAMILY HISTORY CLUB: 10 a.m. to noon every third Thursday features the basics and a question-and-answer discussion led by volunteer Cindy Barber. Contact dotdane99@gmail.com for information.

ESSENTIAL OILS 101: 6 p.m. every fourth Thursday and 2:30 p.m. every fourth Saturday learn about essential oils with volunteer consultant Lynisha Smith. Contact 758-6482 or YLBlessed1@gmail.com for more information.

TEEN TIME: 2-4 p.m. Fridays at the library for students in grades six through 12.

READ TO DOZER: 10 to 11 a.m. on the first Saturdays of each month (as long as it's not raining).

COFFEE & CRAFT: 10 a.m. second Saturdays, Crestview library. Call 682-4432 to reserve your spot.

BRIGHT FUTURES VOLUNTEER HOURS: for students in grades nine through 12 to use toward Bright Futures scholarships. Contact Youth Librarian Heather Nitzel, 682-4432, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Public Library events

BAKER – It was fitting that Kenny Williams called it.

Defensive coordinator Andy Valmus can vouch for it. So, too, can Matt Brunson.

Before his senior year, before he replaced Zach Brown at middle linebacker and became “the quarterback of the defense,” Williams knew his destiny.

“I told my defensive coordinator that I was going to get defensive player of the year,” Williams said. “I was confident. I’ve been working hard for it.”

The hard work paid off. Williams, the face of a defense that allowed just 13 points a game and posted three shutouts, is the Daily News Small Schools Defensive Player of the Year.

“It feels amazing,” said Williams, standing 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. “It just validates all the hard work I put in.”

The hard work showed up on the stat sheet.

Williams had 91 tackles – 39 solo and five for a loss. He had six quarterback hurries, five fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a pass deflection.

Yet one play stood out from the 13-1, state runner-up campaign. One play set the tone for the entire season.

“Against Bonifay in the first game of the season, there was this pass in the flat to this tiny receiver. There was a big pile up and he emerged and I came in and lowered my shoulder for the hit. I knocked him out and he fumbled.

“Once I went through the highlights and saw it, I started to get motivated more and more for the season.”

But Williams’ impact extended far beyond the stat sheet.

After all, Brunson gave him complete autonomy to recognize the package, diagnose the play call and alter Baker’s base defense based on what he saw at the line.

“He gets us lined up, identifies the formation, communicates to his teammates and the sideline the call and … that’s how we operate,” Brunson said. “He understands the right play call and he competes at an effort level that's unsurpassed.

"He’s the quarterback of the defense. We were only as good as his communication.”

Williams, then at outside linebacker, watched Brown serve that role the previous two years. All the while he was soaking in every facet.

“He’s such a student of the game,” Brunson said. “He picks up on everything."

Yet Baker was able to run more sophisticated sets this year, Brunson said. And the team’s chemistry was never better.

“It just came natural to me,” Williams said. “I can see the field well. Always have been able to.”

Williams and his defense held seven opponents to a score or less, 11 teams to 21 points or less and limited Madison County to just 14 points in the first half of the state title game.

“We knew they weren’t much better than us,” Williams said. “We were pretty confident going in even though we expected a lot from (Travis Jay). We knew if we could stop him at the line, we could limit him. Unfortunately he got past the line a few times and made some big plays.”

The 48-6 loss, though, didn’t damper his swan song. After all, Baker was 39-2 in his three years as starter, made the Final Four every year and advanced to two state title games.

“It was amazing. The only thing missing was the state title,” said Williams. We had a lot of talent but this was the most well-rounded group we had. We had harder hitters than the past and we adapted.

“We made plays to put us in position to win the state title.”

And here Williams is, Player of the Year. Just as he called it.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker's Williams named Defensive POY

Did you know that with your library card you are able to receive free online tutoring sessions?

A variety of topics are covered: trigonometry, algebra, chemistry, earth science, writing skills, and much more.

Go to readokaloosa.org and find the brainfuse HelpNow links to set up a free account with your library card.

Don’t have a card? If you are an Okaloosa County resident, you can set up a temporary online account and visit us at the Crestview Public Library at 1445 Commerce Drive (behind the post office) with a current picture identification and proof of residency.

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Library card includes free online tutoring

Most horses only need to be dewormed two to three times per year. The active ingredients in commercial dewormers need to be rotated to prevent resistance.

A new approach for worm control in horses is strategic deworming, in which you only treat at certain times of the year (spring through fall) or when fecal egg counts rise.

Fecal egg counts involve horse owners submitting fresh manure samples to a lab. Results are expressed as eggs per gram (epg) of manure.

According to the American Association of Equine Professionals, "a fecal egg count of less than 200 epg suggests a light parasite load. Horses with high fecal egg counts of 500-1000 epg suggest the interval between deworming is too long." Basically, fecal egg counts determine which horses merit treatment.

Generally, most horse owners deworm their horses whether they need it or not, every eight to 10 weeks based on the old recommendations. This practice has led to the development of drug resistance in worm (nematode) populations.

We have a limited number of dewormer products to use. To keep these dewormers effective, we must employ new strategies to prevent resistance.

In general, 20 percent of the horse population harbors 80 percent of the worm population. The other 80 percent of our horses may only need deworming twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

Not only will this help prevent resistance, but also save you money.

Our office conducts fecal egg counts for area horses. Interested horse owners should contact me at 850-689-5850 or bearden@ufl.edu for more information.

You can connect with the Okaloosa County University of Florida IFAS Extension at http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UFIFASOkaloosaExtension.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: This horse deworming strategy saves money

CRESTVIEW — For most college students, December means final exams and returning home for the holidays. For five Crestview High School alumni, it also means being able to play music with their friends.

Jacob Cyrus, Brenden Mears, Quinn Stegner, Ethan Mitchell and Sean Gabany make up the Dynamic Shades — a group of musicians who perform Christmas carols for their community each year.

But instead of singing like carolers normally do, they carry a tuba, saxophone, trombone and clarinet door to door a few nights in December to perform holiday songs with instruments.

“It was kind of all of our idea,” Cyrus said. “We had chemistry together our sophomore year, and we all sat by each other, and it was just kind of an idea.”

The group of friends, who were all part of Crestview High’s marching band and graduated at the top of their class, played at the city’s annual fall festival in 2014. The owners of Casbah Coffee Company heard the students performing, and invited them inside to play for customers.

A couple months later, one of their mothers suggested also performing Christmas carols. They jumped on the idea.

“We were like, ‘Hey, that was a lot of fun. Maybe we can do something else,’” said Gabany, the band’s manager. “Plus it was different, we wouldn’t be singing. We can’t do that.”

The Dynamic Shades — dressed in black suits, each with a different color tie, and sunglasses perched atop their Santa hats — received positive feedback from the families they visited the first year.

“We realized that this is something different that just we were doing,” Stegner said. “And it’s a lot of fun just to share that with each other. It kind of became our thing over time.”

The tradition started with two nights of caroling, then three, and last year they did four. This year, the Dynamic Shades went caroling five nights and branched out into different communities. On the last night of their 5th year, they came back to Casbah to perform where it all started.

“It’s a joy for us to welcome them here,” said Casbah owner Bill Toannon. “We’re so fortunate to have them again.”

In November, they start planning by first picking a range of dates and where to go. Some people message the band's Facebook page requesting they come to their house.

“We’ve gotten better at planning each year,” Mears said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s so much fun.”

When they started, the Dynamic Shades used Christmas music from the high school band. But they said it wasn’t arranged for their specific talents.

“This year we decided that we’re tired of playing the same old five or six songs, so we would get Ethan to arrange it for us," Mears said.

In August, they put a poll on their Facebook to pick the top 10 holiday songs. Then Mitchell, a music education major, started arranging the music.

Balancing school, jobs, internships and music is tough, they all agreed, but it’s all worth it. While they sat in Casbah for their final performance of the season, the boys remembered the emotional experiences they’ve had over the years.

They’ve performed for a particular Crestview family for the last four years. Last year, their elderly mother was bedridden and unable to come to the door, so they came to her.

They thought that might be her last year, but were excited to see that wasn't the case when they returned earlier this month. When her foot tapped to the music, it was hard to hold back tears, they said.

“It’s humbling," Stegner said. "This little thing that we started doing for fun has turned into something that’s actually important to people and their families.”

Although they all went off to different colleges across the southeast, they look forward to gathering together each year. And they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

“We’ve branched out more, because we’ve been growing individually,” Stegner said. “Now this is something that really keeps us together and something we can come back to. And we want to share this with more people.”

They’re not sure where life will take them when they graduate college and start their careers. But they hope to continue this tradition. And if nothing else, they hope to inspire others to start a similar custom.

“The key thing is, we are a band, but we’ve been really good friends for a long time,” Mitchell said.

“We have a great time doing this, and we love it,” Gabany added. “We are so happy and so blessed to find that people enjoy letting us have fun with them.”

Facebook: The Dynamic Shades

Instagram: the_dynamic_shades

YouTube: The Dynamic Shades

Email: thedynamicshades55@gmail.com

CONTACT THE BAND

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Something that really keeps us together'

BAKER – The tales of Junior McLaughlin will forever be carved in Baker lore.

The man, the myth, the legend finished with 5,240 rushing yards and topped 6,000 all-purpose yards.

He scored 84 touchdowns, including 36 of his 40 starts.

He averaged more than 11 yards per touch.

He eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier all three seasons.

For a program steeped in tradition with four state titles, every rushing record – career- and season-wise – is his.

Yet his footprint extends well beyond the rural parts of Baker. The FHSAA record books will remember McLaughlin fondly too.

His 15 touchdown runs and 1,103 rushing yards in the playoffs during his swan song rank him third and fourth all-time, respectively, in the Sunshine State.

His 1,911 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns over 12 playoffs starts rank him in the top five career-wise.

Florida is a big state, filled with some of the all-time great high school running backs. You’re talking Emmitt Smith, Derrick Henry, Frank Gore and Travis Henry territory.

Alongside that lauded group is McLaughlin, who closed out his career with 2,920 rushing yards, 3,194 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns over 13 games (14th was a forfeit win over Joshua Christian Academy).

FYI, those 2,920 rushing yards led the Sunshine State.

Yet to appreciate the season, it takes a proper dissection.

He topped 200 yards and scored multiple touchdowns in all but two starts.

No foe held him out of the end zone, not even Madison County.

He had four passes that went for more than 40 yards, 20 runs that went for more than 50 yards and returned two punts to the house.

“Personally, I don’t think anybody in Florida is a better running back than him,” said teammate Kenny Williams, the Daily News Small Schools Defensive Player of the Year. “In hitting drills I’d always have to go against him. That’s the one person I can’t tackle.”

Matt Brunson said Williams isn’t alone.

“Never did the first guy tackle him,” Brunson said. “He runs a 4.5 40 and he’s this 5-10, 190 bowling ball. He’s such a physical runner.”

Affirming that strength, McLaughlin led the team in the power clean with 325 pounds, was second in the bench behind Zach Mason with 325 pounds and was top five in squats.

“What makes him so strong is his dedication in the weight room,” Brunson said. “Pound for pound no one in our weight room can touch him.”

Understandably, Brunson believes without a doubt McLaughlin will be playing on Saturdays next year.

“Several colleges have interest,” Brunson said. “He’s still taking some tests and has some work to do, but whoever gets him will get a stud.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker's McLaughlin nabs Offensive POY again

CRESTVIEW —The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections offices are preparing for the Jan. 8 enactment of Amendment 4 – the Voting Restoration Amendment approved by Florida voters in the November general election.

Both offices will be accepting new voter registration applications, including applications by former convicted felons who will be eligible to register beginning Jan. 8. Voters removed from the voter rolls due to a felony conviction must re-register after that date. Any applications received prior to January 8, 2019 will be processed according to the law currently on the books and may not be eligible. 

A majority of convicted felons in Florida who have completed their sentences, including parole and probation, will be eligible to have their voting rights automatically restored.

Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses will not be eligible unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights through the clemency process currently in place.

Individuals unsure of their status should contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where they were sentenced or the Florida Department of Corrections where they were supervised or incarcerated.

Individuals may search or apply for Restoration of Civil Rights through the Florida Commission on Offender Review, Office of Executive Clemency.

The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections will continue voter registration and education efforts. They will also continue support of community groups and third party voter registration organizations to encourage and assist individuals who will become newly eligible in January.

Call 689-5600 or 651-7272, the OCSOE offices, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Supervisor of Elections office Amendment 4 enactment

CRESTVIEW — At 9 a.m. Dec. 18, Community Services officers, patrol officers, Crestview Citizens Police Academy Alumni volunteers and Allen Turner Chevrolet employees descended on the Crestview Walmart where, armed with the lists, they dispersed into the toys and crafts departments where over the next two hours they filled more than 25 shopping carriages with goodies for the kids on each volunteer’s lists.

Through the Crestview Police Department’s Cops For Kids program, hundreds of local families have been helped over the program’s nearly two decades. Parents or legal guardians apply for assistance through the Community Services Division program, provide wish lists and describe their children’s interests.

Community Services officers marshaled the carts as the volunteers grabbed another list, noted its contents and headed back into the aisles. Periodically volunteers offered each other advice when someone was stumped for gift ideas.

Helpful Walmart staff were on hand to direct the shoppers and offer advice.

"What can I get a 7-year-old boy who likes bugs?" Officer Justin Wallen said as he wandered the aisles. Later he and Officer Gabe Dunlap provided each other support as they faced a plethora of options for Lego building block sets.

"Should I go with Harry Potter or Jurassic World?" Officer Dunlap mused.

In all, more than 55 families — close to 200 kids — were assured a great Christmas morning by more than 12 volunteers.

"It’s the most we’ve ever had," Community Services Officer Wanda Hulion said happily as she accepted another stuffed lawn-and-leaf bag and sent the volunteer back into the toy section with another list.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cops For Kids helps almost 200 local children

On Saturday, December 15, 2018, Marilyn Creighton Holland, mama, mema, aunt, daughter, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 68.  

Born on January 30, 1950 in Pensacola, Marilyn lived most of her life in Pace. In her youth, Marilyn had accepted Jesus into her heart and was baptized at Cinco Baptist Church in Fort Walton.  Eventually, she graduated from Pensacola State College, and through the help of a beloved Uncle Alvin Lee, she accepted a position at ST Regis Paper Mill.  After retiring from International Paper, she returned to school and worked as medical assistant at Sacred Heart Hospital for a short time. 

Marilyn loved to spend time with family, she loved to travel, and she loved to attend the various activities her grand and great-grandchildren were involved in.  She took great pride in celebrating the successes of all of us no matter how big or small.

She is preceded in death by her beloved sister Elaine Roberts and brother Thomas Creighton.  She will be fondly remembered by those she leaves behind:  parents Lamar and Libbie Creighton, daughters Leslie Briggs and Regina Clapper (Laird), grandchildren:  Adam Jones (Megan), Ian Briggs, Annabeth Briggs, Kylie Clapper, great-grandchildren Bryce and Ashlynn, special nieces and nephews: Lisa Callahan, Wesley Roberts, Peggy Walker, David Roberts, and special friends Jane Harrod and Marti Short.  

A gathering at 10:00 a.m. and a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. was held Friday, December 21, 2018 at the National Cremation and Burial Society in Pace.  Reverend Jim Waters of Friendship Baptist Church officiated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Marilyn Holland