CRESTVIEW — Last weekend's thunderstorm may have caused many North Okaloosa County residents to flash back to April 29-30, 2014.

One year ago, widespread flooding throughout the area broke dams and washed out roads; neighborhoods were isolated and culverts overflowed.

City and county public works officials are still making repairs, with federal disaster assistance money just beginning to make its way into local coffers.

Area repair projects include:

•Airport Road. A severe washout almost collapsed the roadway opposite Mill Brook Lane. County crews gave the repair a high priority and stabilized the area within a month of the storm. The new mitigation structure channels runoff from Brook Estates and either side of Airport Road into the Hunter Woods subdivision pond and, eventually, to Piney Woods Creek after passing through Grandview Heights' ponds.

•Grandview Drive. While Okaloosa County crews repaired a serious washout in Grandview Drive within two months of the storm, the homeowners' association has yet to approve repairs on a dam that failed April 30, 2014, draining Grandview Pond.

•Oak Hill Road. Davis Mill Creek flood-stage waters drove logs and debris against guardrails and washed out half the roadway. Water gushing down the hill's north side excavated a hole in the road, flowed under the asphalt before it burst to the surface through a widening crack, and formed waterfalls as it plunged more than 6 feet over the broken roadway. The Plum Orchard Way neighborhood is still cut off from Old Bethel Road; piles of dirt block a section of undamaged road, preventing residents from attempting to drive over the weakened roadbed. County Public Works Director Jason Autrey — who said FEMA received final requested documentation last week — is confident that given good weather, repairs will begin this summer. "It's taking longer because we're not putting back what was there," Autrey said. "We are building a mitigation structure, so the road will be better than before."

•Okaloosa Lane. County Public Works crews completed repairs on the washed-out section at the end of March, restoring access from U.S. Highway 90 to Aplin Road and Redstone Avenue. For almost a year, drivers had to make a detour.

•Phillips Drive. A cavernous gulch that formed at the foot of the water tower will be mitigated by a $1.3 million federal USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Services grant, received in February, to construct a stormwater control structure. The project is in the engineering and planning stage, Crestview Public Works Director Wayne Steele said.

•Sexton Drive, Baker. A 3-foot-deep washout made the country road's west end impassable except by driving across neighbors' property. Autrey said Public Works anticipates approval of the county's request to FEMA shortly, with repairs beginning as early as summer.

•Shoal River Drive. The development's homeowners' association funded the failed dam's reconstruction. With the project nearly complete, county road crews are poised to come in and rebuild the road that washed away from the top of the dam. The county could not use public funds to rebuild the privately owned dam, Autrey said, but can replace the county-maintained road.

MITIGATING, NOT PATCHING

"The best news is we're maximizing our reimbursement eligibility from FEMA," Autrey said. "In these situations, it is a case of quality over quantity."

Because many projects include future stormwater damage mitigation, engineering is taking longer than a simple fill-and-patch repair. But demonstrating the county is eager to mitigate future damage has made FEMA more willing to reimburse the county, Autrey said.

"I appreciate everyone's patience on this," he said. "In the long run, I think citizens are going to be pleased with the quality of the results they're getting."

CRESTVIEW PROJECTS

The Crestview Public Works Department addressed a list of seven major repair projects, encompassing streets, dams and drainage systems.

"We have completed all the repairs for the damage received from the storm event," Steele said. So far, he said, the city has been reimbursed for two of seven city-wide projects, amounting to $110,523 from FEMA for street shoulder and embankment repairs for 10 roads within the city limits.  

Some state money is expected to follow, but not all of the city's storm-related emergency repairs will be covered, Steele said. "The city really only receives a portion of the actual cost of repairs, and those amounts are based from their formulas of eligible cost, not actual cost."

Other projects include repairing failed retention pond dams at Kirkwood, Indian Trails and Old Bethel Estates; replacing drainage systems, curbing and paving on McLaughlin Street; and repairing the retention wall at the Twin Hills Park football field.

In all, Steele's department seeks reimbursement for $1.525 million, of which $1.3 will be covered by the NCRS grant.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ONE YEAR LATER: Some roads still need repairs; Okaloosa maximizes federal reimbursement

MILTON — Those interested in forest stewardship and management can see a demonstration of those principles next month.

Click here for a map and more information on the tour.

The Florida Forest Service, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission annually work with private landowners to showcase forest stewardship and management activities on private forest lands as part of the Forest Stewardship program. The program helps landowners create a multiple-use forest management plan. In addition, participating properties are certified as Stewardship Forests.

Next month, the Spencer family has agreed to host a forest stewardship tour. The family has actively managed their land for generations and the property features all of the major pine timber species in Florida: longleaf, slash and loblolly.

The tour — 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14 at the Spencer property, 5001 Willard Norris Road, Milton —is open to the public but is tailored to private forest landowners and land managers. The cost of the tour is $10 per person, which includes lunch and materials.

Attendees will see a demonstration of management principles for high-quality pine timber production as well as wildlife habitat improvement, aesthetics and recreation.

Register at http://bit.ly/1HVwi76 or call the Santa Rosa County Extension Office, 623-3868. Space is limited.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Milton land tour highlights forest stewardship event

CRESTVIEW — Threatening skies and standing water on part of the festival grounds led organizers to reluctantly cancel the Laurel Hill Spring Arts and Heritage Festival Saturday.

Though a team of four volunteers called and emailed exhibitors to notify them of the cancellation, John Colby of the Crestview Spanish Trail Cruisers Club missed the notification and brought his 1969 Pontiac GTO for the event's planned show-n-shine.

"Oh well," Colby said. "I needed a good drive with the car. It was a great ride out in the country!"

For his dedication, organizers presented Colby the sole dash plaque awarded for the event. Classic car buffs collect the metal commemorative plates from shows at which they exhibit.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Car buff receives dash plaque for attending canceled Laurel Hill festival

The library provides information and resources at no cost to you.

Of course, you probably already knew that. But here's something you may not have realized: The library also is the place to go for many of your business and recreational needs. It is fast becoming the go-to, third great place outside of the home and your office.

Here at the Crestview Public Library, you can enjoy not only books but also meet friends and socialize. You also can participate in a book discussion and view art displays.

We realize budgets are tight and families need a place to go and enjoy their leisure time — a place that does not cost an arm and a leg.

Here are three ways to save money by spending more leisure time at the library.

•Educate and inspire yourself at no cost. We're always programming events for children and adults. Programs geared for adults on educational, enlightening topics are presented every first Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. Children's story time and lap sit programs are held weekly.

•Two words: free music. Our Music in the Library program on Monday and Tuesday evenings offers a relaxing evening of listening to area musicians perform.

In addition, we have a great selection of CDs, from country to R&B, that you can check out and enjoy at home.

•Classic TV on DVD. You will be surprised by the number and range of titles we have. We have classic westerns like "The Lone Ranger," comedies like "I Love Lucy," and many new award-winning titles.

You can reserve something if it's already checked out and, when it becomes available, you will be notified.

•Activities for all ages. The whole family can enjoy an afternoon at the library. Teens can play Wiki games after school and on Saturdays. Mom and Dad can read newspapers and current magazines or check out a great book. Meanwhile, kids can play Wii, do puzzles, and on certain Saturdays read to Dozer, a Great Dane who visits us.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lewis: 4 ways to save money by using your library

CRESTVIEW — Today's Okaloosa County had several early European influences, including colonial Spain and England, and migrating Scots and Scandinavians. The French didn't get much farther east than Mobile, Ala.

But 20 years ago, French influence at last arrived locally.

In September 1994, Russell Sneddon, chairman of Fort Walton Beach's Emerald Coast Sister Cities, suggested twinning Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, a French island community, with Fort Walton Beach, and three neighboring French communities with Destin, Niceville and Crestview.

In May 1995, a 12-member Okaloosa County delegation visited Noirmoutier. It included Crestview contractor Joe Barley, Niceville Mayor Randall Wise, Cliff Herron of then-Okaloosa-Walton College, and "a group of ladies from Bluewater Bay," Barley said.

"Fort  Walton didn't send anyone and they were the intended partner of Noirmoutier."

STEP-SISTERHOOD

An October 1995 reciprocal visit was postponed when Hurricane Opal struck. In February 1996, the French delegation was charmed by Okaloosa County's beaches and Crestview Mayor George Whitehurst and citizens' hospitality.

The attempt to unite three of the French communities with Destin, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach failed.

In May 1997, Noirmoutier instead formalized a partnership with Crestview under Sister Cities International, an offshoot of President Dwight Eisenhower's "citizen diplomacy" initiative.

"We were supposed to be the step-sister, but we were the ones who got partnered," Barley said, chuckling at the irony. "We've had Noirmoutier for 20 years so we did pretty good."

"The Sister Cities relationship works well and our activities have grown to be quite numerous," said RenéRelandeau, president of Noirmoutier's Sister City Committee. "The frequent exchanges, encounters and contacts generate numerous friendships."

EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT

Crestview High School French teacher Chris Lanoue said students — some of whom are underprivileged and might not otherwise experience foreign cultures — benefit from the program's cultural and educational opportunities.

The Northwest Florida State College show choirs perform every two years in Noirmoutier. Select University of Nantes' business students study at NWFSC and intern at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce.

On May 6, an 18-member Crestview delegation with 56 college show choir students and faculty arrives in Noirmoutier to help celebrate the 70th anniversary of France's World War II liberation.

In October, 22 Noirmoutrin students will visit Crestview with eight adults. In 2016, a 45-member delegation, led by Noirmoutier Mayor Noël Faucher, will help Crestview celebrate its Centennial.

'DELIGHTFUL PEOPLE'

"They are the most delightful people," Mayor David Cadle said.

Cadle's favorite experience with the relationship was when Faucher made him an honorary Noirmoutrin, draping a red, white and blue sash around his neck before a crowd in Jack Foster Stadium.

"We had that ceremony before the game and we had both flags flying and the band played 'La Marseillaise,'" Cadle said, referring to the French national anthem. "I felt so international."

Barley said he is pleased the program has been so successful.

"It's such a beautiful, interesting place, so full of history," Barley said of Noirmoutier. "The people are wonderful, the food is great. I was just using some of their salt the other night while cooking," he added, referring to Noirmoutier's famous high-grade "fleur de sel" sea salt harvested in the island's central marshes.

BY THE NUMBERS

110: Approximate number of Crestview/Okaloosa County adults welcomed in Noirmoutier homes since 1995

450: Approximate number of Northwest Florida State College show choir students welcomed in Noirmoutier

80: Approximate number of NWFSC faculty welcomed in Noirmoutier

190: Noirmoutrin adult visitors to Crestview and Okaloosa County

63: Noirmoutrin high school students welcomed in Crestview homes

6: French interns at Crestview and Okaloosa County businesses on multi-month internships

3: University of Nantes business students studying at NWFSC

INFORMATION

To learn more about the Crestview Area Sister City Program, contact Pam or Joe Coffield, 682-8437, jcoffield@cox.net, or Isabelle or Jim Mills, 682-8215, isajim1@cox.net

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview, Okaloosa County celebrate 20-year friendship with French island

Editor's Note: Seeing city crews working between Mapoles street and U.S. Highway 90 this week raised some residents' concerns. You asked what was going on — here's the answer.

Email us if you have a question you want answered.

CRESTVIEW — The sight of a Public Works crew working on the block-long length of Mapoles Street between U.S. Highway 90 and Hickory Avenue has raised some residents' suspicions.

Workers were closing off the block to prevent access to U.S. 90 at the Florida Department of Transportation's request. The work coincided with a project to remove soil contaminated by a gas station that once stood on the location.

The DOT claimed the street posed a hazard for drivers trying to turn onto the highway, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said. The affected block passes between First Baptist Church and the Burger King.

"The church is concerned about the elderly folks in motor vehicles who try to exit at that intersection," Steele said in an August 2014 News Bulletin report. "You have two city streets that try to merge onto Highway 90 at basically the same point. It's very dangerous; you can't see."

Last year, the city offered to vacate the street to the church and restaurant. However, nothing can be built on the strip of roadway because Public Works requires unrestricted access to buried utilities beneath it.

"Both parties responded saying they had no need for the property," Steele stated in an email.

This week, some residents, unaware of the circumstances, thought city workers were performing a service for the church or the fast food restaurant when they were seen paving the block-long section of Mapoles Street.

An anonymous resident, who contacted the News Bulletin's sister, the Northwest Florida Daily News, said the work smacked of "good ol' boy politics" because "lots of prominent people go to that church."

But that was not the case at all, Steele said.

"The r.o.w. (right of way) was not abandoned," he stated. "We just changed that small section of Mapoles to a dead-end street."

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will reimburse the cost of resurfacing the street.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: YOU ASKED: State to reimburse Mapoles resurfacing cost

CRESTVIEW — Elks Lodge No. 2644 in Crestview is hosting  a pancake breakfast for the public Saturday.

The event is 7-10 a.m. April 25 at 127 W Pine Ave., Crestview. Plates cost $6 each. The lodge will be closed afterward.

Funds go to community services and scholarships sponsored by the Elks.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Elks Lodge plans Saturday breakfast fundraiser

CRESTVIEW — Nominations for the next Mae Reatha Coleman Citizen of the Year recipient are due June 1.

Past recipients include the award's namesake, a longtime community activist; former Mayor George Whitehurst; and last year's recipient, educator Dr. Naomi Barnes.

Coleman, who chairs the Citizen of the Year selection committee, encouraged residents to recognize hard-working, often unsung members of the community who volunteer to better the lives of their fellow citizens.

"This is for the people that get things done for our people," Coleman said of the award.

Nominations should be for "specific acts that put others first, overcoming odds, enhancing the quality of life," application guidelines state. They must be for "selfless acts and not related to the person's job."

Nomination forms are available at the News Bulletin office and at City Hall.

FYI

Nomination forms for the Crestview Citizen of the Year award are available at the Crestview News Bulletin office, 638 Ferdon Blvd. N, the City Clerk's office at City Hall, or at www.cityofcrestview.org. Completed nomination forms are due to the city clerk's office in person or by email, cityclerk@cityofcrestview.org, by June 1.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Citizen of the Year nominations are open

FORT WALTON BEACH — Covenant Hospice now has $9,514 extra to help provide compassionate care for people with terminal illnesses.

Lee Subaru presented the check following the dealership’s 2014 Share the Love campaign. The initiative allowed each person who purchased or leased a Subaru between Nov. 20, 2014 and Jan. 2, 2015 to select a charity from a pre-determined list of non-profits. That charity then received a $250 donation from Subaru of America. Lee Subaru of Fort Walton Beach selected Covenant Hospice as its “Hometown Charity” to be featured on the list of charitable organizations. 

“We are proud to support the mission and work of Covenant Hospice, who was there for my family when we needed them," dealership owner Bob Lee said. "Our experience with their caring staff and services made the choice for hometown charity an easy one.”

Support from Lee Automotive Group — which encompasses five locations in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville — will help Covenant Hospice better serve Okaloosa and Walton County residents, according to the nonprofit's spokesperson.

“Programs like our free grief support groups, special outreach for veterans, and programs for kids and teens coping with the loss of a loved one are available to our patients and their loved ones, as well as the community at large, because of these sorts of donations, grants and fundraising efforts," development manager Rachel Mayew said. "This innovative partnership with Lee Subaru could not have been successful without the help of a supportive community who recognizes the importance of what Covenant does each day in the lives of those we serve.”

Contact Covenant Hospice, 729-1800, or visit www.covenanthospice.org for more information on its services.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: This Northwest Florida hospice just got $9K more for its programs