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

NICEVILLE — The Emerald Coast Association of Realtors' May 30 golf tournament at Eglin Golf Course will benefit Emerald Coast Toys for Tots.

Registration will begin at 10 a.m., followed by lunch and a silent auction at 11 a.m. and a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. The golf course is located at 1527 Fairway Drive in Niceville.

“We have a big need for toys, and with that comes a big need for monetary donations, which is why fundraisers such as our upcoming golf tournament are so important to the Emerald Coast Toys for Totsmission,” said Ashley Botelho, ECAR's Toys for Tots Task Force chair.

During the 2014 holiday season, Toys for Tots provided 16,906 toys to 10,204 Okaloosa and Walton County children. This was an average of 1.66 toys per child, just below the organization’s two-toys-per-child goal. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eglin golf tournament to benefit Emerald Coast Toys for Tots

CRESTVIEW — OneMain Financial in north Crestview is planning the events below to benefit the March of Dimes.

DINING TO DONATE

Applebee's is hosting OneMain Financial's Dining to Donate event from 11 a.m. to closing on April 29 at its 251 Rasberry Road, Crestview location.

Customers must present a copy of the Dining to Donate flyer to their server for the donation to be counted. When they do, 10 percent of their bill will be donated to the March of Dimes.

FLAPJACK FUNDRAISER

The flapjack fundraiser breakfast is 8-10 a.m. May 2 at the Crestview Applebee's. Tickets cost $7 for adults; children under 5 eat free. The meal includes pancakes, bacon and a drink of your choice.

To purchase tickets, or for more on either event, contact Arcelia or Amanda, 682-2781, or fax your request to 682-1373.

The March of Dimes works to improve healthy birth rates and full-term pregnancies. For more information, visit http://www.marchofdimes.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: March of Dimes fundraisers planned in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — April is Financial Literacy Month, an ideal time to “Teach Children to Save.”

During the event, which runs through July 31, youths can set a savings goal, make a deposit into a savings account, and earn a chance to win a prize.

Youths age 18 and younger must make deposits to savings accounts at Beach Community Bank,   Eglin Federal Credit Union, First City Bank and    PenFed Credit Union to be eligible.

Once entry forms are collected from these financial institutions, six winners will receive $50 to deposit into their savings account.

Okaloosa $aves, part of the national initiative America Saves, is coordinated by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension in Okaloosa County.

Since 2004, Okaloosa $aves has awarded children $7,800 in savings bonds and deposits.

The organization received an A+ School Recognition Certificate at an April 14 Okaloosa County School System faculty meeting.

Call 850-689-5850 to learn more about the project.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Children's saving program kicks off in Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — “Scams and Fraud: Prevention is the Key” is scheduled for May 5 at the Crestview Public Library.The program, part of the library's First Tuesday Series, begins at 10:30 a.m., with coffee and cookies served at 10 a.m.

Ashley Bailey, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office crime prevention manager, will talk about identity theft; telemarketing, mail and Internet fraud; home improvement and investment fraud; caregiver exploitation; and predatory lending scams.

In addition, attendees will receive a free “Power against Fraud Handbook."

The library is located at 1445 Commerce Drive behind the post office in north Crestview. Call 682-4432 for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Scams, fraud presentation scheduled at Crestview library

CRESTVIEW — Jasmine Carson, 12, has plenty to celebrate.

She won sixth place all-around at the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Level 6 Florida State Championships, held April 10–12 in Coral Springs. In addition, she placed second in the floor exercise with a score of 9.325, and third in uneven bars with a score of 9.125.

Jasmine trains at U.S. Gold Gymnastics Academy in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gymnast among state champs; trains at Crestview academy