CRESTVIEW — Applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program will be available Jan. 12-23 at the Crestview Housing Authority front desk, 371 W. Hickory Ave., Crestview.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The voucher program is for family with very low income.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Housing Authority's Section 8 applications waiting list opens Jan. 12

Okaloosa County parks will be open on Christmas and Jan. 1, but the restrooms will be locked. Parks will reopen after each holiday period.

The Wright and Baker Landfills will close at noon on Dec. 24 and are closed all day Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. They reopen at 7 a.m. Dec. 26.

Waste Management will not collect household waste, recycling, yard waste or bulk items on Christmas or New Year's Day. Collections will be postponed until the next regularly scheduled collection days.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County park, landfill and Waste Management holiday closures announced

LAUREL HILL — Saturday will be filled with holiday cheer, beginning at 3 p.m. with the city’s annual Christmas Parade.

“It’s the long route this year,” Mayor Robbie Adams joked.

The parade begins at the P.A.W.S. kennels at T.E. Rogers Road, proceeds on New Ebenezer to Fifth Street, then Second Avenue, and Eighth Street to Earl Campbell Road. It crosses State Road 85 and continues on Sunnyside Avenue, south on Fourth Street past Laurel Hill School, up Third Street and turns east on First Avenue to Steel Mill Creek Road, north to Second Avenue, and east to the First Baptist Church.

City Clerk Nita Miller did not immediately have a count of parade entries, but noted there is always room for more. “Anybody wanting to participate can contact me (at 652-4441),” she said. “There’s no charge to enter.”

After the parade, Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church members will present their annual Living Nativity, a program in which the audience makes its own “journey to Bethlehem.” Groups depart every 10 or 15 minutes along a luminaria-lined footpath around the church’s grounds, pausing at campfire-lit stations where they’ll encounter actors portraying historic biblical figures from the Nativity story.

“…Instead of sitting and watching the nativity unfold before you, you actually make a spiritual journey of your own,” the church’s pastor, the Rev. Mark Broadhead, said.

Actors and volunteers represent several area churches, including the Laurel Hill and Crestview Presbyterian churches, First Baptist Church of Laurel Hill, Live Oak Baptist Church of Crestview, and First United Methodist Church of Crestview.

Refreshments in the historic 1903 church’s fellowship hall follow the roughly 20-minute journey.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Laurel Hill Christmas Parade

WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: See report for details

WHAT: Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church's Living Nativity

WHEN: 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 13

WHERE: 8114 Fourth St.; parking available at the Laurel Hill School track on Fourth Street at Park Avenue

COST: Free; donations accepted

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Christmas on the Hill: Christmas Parade, Living Nativity are Saturday

CRESTVIEW — The Friendly Thriftiettes Charity Club's annual banquet is 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at Carver-Hill School Center, 461 W. School Ave., Crestview.

The banquet will feature guest speaker Evangelist Nate Moorer  of Resurrection Baptist Church.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10 per person or two tickets for $18. You may also contact any club member.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Friendly Thriftiettes Club annual banquet is this weekend

CRESTVIEW — The Main Street Crestview Association and city's Christmas Parade rolled downtown on Saturday.

Here's what our Facebook fans had to say about it:

•Shalotta Denmon: "As new residents of Crestview, we were very impressed with the parade."

•Beth Brinker Olney: "I think Santa coming five minutes after the rest of the floats was sad; a lot of people around us left thinking there was no Santa in the parade. The rest was great! Really enjoyed it."

•Erin Gygi Waters: "I think more adults could have stepped back and let the kids enjoy more along the rail … I witnessed a bunch of adults catching stuff before kids."

•Kenneth Pratt: "The new rule for tossing candy was to toss it towards the street; a lot of (parade participants) threw it in the air." Still, he said, "It was a great parade."

The parade participant contest's winners are as follows.

Commercial/Government/Individual

•First Place: Crestview Wholesale

•Second Place: SpeeDee Printing/Lou Lou Beans

Church/Religious Group: First Place (tie): Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and New Beginnings Baptist Church

Civic/School/Youth Group

•First Place: Knights of Columbus Assembly 2789 and Council 7968

•Second Place (tie): 4-H The Roundup & 4H Country Club; and Crestview Elks Lodge 2624

Window decorating contest

•Large window: Forever Victorian Antique Mall

•Small window: LPL Financial

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'VERY IMPRESSED': Christmas Parade attracts thousands to Main Street

It’s the season for giving and forgiving at the library.

During our Food for Fines campaign — through Dec. 20 — you can bring in canned or dry foods and, for each item, we will forgive $1 off your accumulated fines up to $20. All donations will go to Crestview's Caring and Sharing facilities.

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Our Give the Gift of Reading campaign has also begun. We are collecting new or slightly used books for toddlers through preschoolers. We will donate the books to an Okaloosa Head Start school.

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Mark your calendar for the free holiday activity, Noel Night, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. We will celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa with cookies, carols and crafts!

Kids can learn about different cultures through crafts during this fun family event — and there just might be a surprise visitor in a red suit.

During December, come and see our Christmas trees decorated by Head Start and local preschool children.

In addition, check out our large selection of holiday books for adults and children!

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Want to pay off your library fine? Donate food

CHIPLEY — Construction crews are installing foundations and support poles along Interstate 10 for a new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).

Drivers will encounter intermittent right lane closures on sections of I-10 east and westbound, between U.S. Highway 331 (Exit 85) in Walton County and State Road 189 (Exit 45) in Okaloosa County, Monday, Dec. 8 through Thursday, Dec. 11. The lane closures will occur primarily during daytime hours.

The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Intermittent lane closures planned for Interstate 10

VALPARAISO — The Heritage Museum at 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, announces their Home School Fridays & Hands-On History Saturdays.

Once a month, from January through June, a different program will be presented. Friday programs are for home-schooled students and their families; Saturday programs are for children and families of all ages.

Programs are held from 10 a.m. to noon each day.

Home School Friday dates: Jan. 16-June 19.

Hands on History Saturdays: Jan. 17-June 20.

Topics include: Junior Historian, Dino Bones, the ARt of Storytelling, Break New Ground, Antiquated Architecture, and Taste of History.

Cost is $7 per student or $5 per student with museum membership.

Preregistration is required due to limited space. To sign up, call 850-678-2615; email info@heritage-museum.org or visit www.heritage-museum.org.

Requirements meet the Next Generation Florida Sunshine State Standards for learning. Each lesson includes information about Okaloosa County history as the museum celebrates the Okaloosa County Centennial in 2015.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Heritage Museum announces Friday and Saturday programs for 2015