CRESTVIEW — The installation of red light cameras in Crestview is complete. However, the city council has a few decisions to make before they go live.

City Clerk Elizabeth Roy said at the Nov. 26 council meeting Florida statutes require the city to enact a resolution determining the clerk for a hearing officer.

"I have been getting a lot of input on our cameras forth coming, and I want the best resolution we can come up (with) on this thing," Councilman Joe Blocker said.

The hearing officer is an attorney that acts on behalf the city when a driver contests the notice. Hearing officers typically have no ties to the municipality that hired them.

Roy said the city could hire the hearing officer from Gulf Breeze for $175 an hour, the same amount charged to the city of Gulf Breeze.

"He is an experienced hearing officer that is willing to take on that role," Roy said.

The Crestview Police Department will monitor the red light cameras, Roy said.

"Photo Enforced" signs are already present at the intersection of Ferdon Blvd. and Redstone Ave. and the intersection of Ferdon Blvd. and James Lee Blvd., U.S. Highway 90.

If caught running a red light, the driver will receive a Notice of Violation from the Crestview Police Department, which will include photo evidence. First month offenders will receive "warning" stamped on their notices. After the warning period has concluded, drivers will be required to pay a notice fee or contest the notice through a hearing process.

Drivers will not receive points on their license, but licenses can be suspended if they don't pay the fine.

The initial notice fee is expected to be around $150. Roy recommended to the city council a maximum $250 fee for violation if drivers contest the notice and are found guilty.

The city council is expected to decide on the hearing officer clerk, the hearing officer and the municipal fee at the Dec. 11 meeting.

The red light cameras are expected to be active by Jan. 1, 2019.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Red light cameras expected to be active by January

Christmas is coming fast but try to slow down. Before you know it Christmas will be over.

Most of us live our lives in a hurry. We hurry to finish school, hurry through meals, hurry through the work week and hurry into retirement. In a twinkle of an eye we have hurried through our lives. The clock cannot be reset. The past is in the past and you can't change yesterday. You can relish, rejoice or regret about yesterday but you can't change the past. Actually you might not want to or you might tweak a few days if you could but you can't.

If you could you, might have spent an extra hour at the lake or an extra day on vacation. You might have given an extra hour to passing ball with your kids or staying an extra hour to help mom clean up the kitchen. You might retract some words that came out of your mouth in a moment of frustration. The scenarios are numerous when we look back.

We can only look ahead. 

Take the focus off spending lots of money. Consider drawing names if you have a large group that gathers. Why try to buy for everybody? Some of the people you buy for may be strapped for cash. They might be able to buy one or two gifts with a limited budget but they can't buy for ten or twenty people. Even if you are blessed with cash consider others who want to give but are limited. Plan a way that all can enjoy.

Take the focus off eating. Do you really want to start the New Year ten pounds heavier? Nobody needs five different kinds of pies and cakes. The more you have to eat in your refrigerator the more you will eat. Do your loved ones need diabetes? Don't add to their problem. Make some good food and make it as healthy as possible. However, take the time to enjoy what you made and try to enjoy it with people who are meaningful to you.

Try to focus on who and what Christmas is all about. A humble family giving birth to a baby in Bethlehem. Life was surely hectic and crazy for Mary and Joseph. They had made the trip to a tiny village to pay taxes, Mary had her baby Jesus and it was in a place where the animals were kept. The crib was a cow's trough. Life for them was surely filled with stress. Soon they would vacate Bethlehem because they feared for the life of their child. They certainly experienced tiredness and worries.

The old story says shepherds came to see the baby Jesus. Angels appeared in celebration of his birth. Wise men from the East came bringing him gifts. A lot of attention was given to the little baby.  This season focus on what and who are important before the season is over and take an extra moment to enjoy.

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author.

What’s your view?

Write a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Enjoy Christmas before it's over

CRESTVIEW — Here are upcoming and recent events in North Okaloosa County and surrounding areas. 

ARC  poinsettia sale fundraiser underway

CRESTVIEW — The ARC of the Emerald Coast annual poinsettia sale is in progress. All proceeds benefit ARC, which provides care and support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The deadline to order red, marble or white poinsettias is Nov. 26.

An eight-inch size costs $25 each, or purchase three for $60. Delivery is available for an additional cost, and orders must be paid by cash, check or credit card (via Square) before delivery.

Email ethatcher.arcec@gmail.com or call 863-1530 to order.

Blood donations wanted

CRESTVIEW — People who donate blood or platelets at OneBlood Donor Centers through Nov. 30 will receive a OneBlood fleece blanket and a $10 eGift Card.

Locations include the OneBlood Center at 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite B, Crestview.

Visit oneblood.org/donorcenters for other locations, hours and appointments, or call 1-888-936-6283.

Church youths hosting pancake benefit for Walker students

CRESTVIEW — The Joy Fellowship Senior High youth group is raising funds to purchase new tennis shoes for Walker Elementary School children.

"Approximately 65 percent of the children at Walker are on free or reduced lunches and our youth group would like to bless some of the children with new tennis shoes," a youth group spokeperson said.

An all you can eat pancake breakfast fundraiser is 8-10 a.m. Dec. 1 at Applebee's, 215 Rasberry Road, Crestview.

Tickets cost $8 each and will be available at the door. Breakfast includes pancakes, two pieces of bacon, and coffee, tea, soda, orange juice or milk. Pancakes are all-you-can-eat. There are no substitutions for the breakfast menu.

20th Annual Ride for the Toys will help Crestview foster children

CRESTVIEW — The local American Legion Post 75 will have the 20th Annual Ride for the Toys in December. All toys and funds received will benefit Crestview children in the care of FamiliesFirst Network.

The run begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Walmart Supercenter parking lot, 3351 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.

The entry fee is a $10 donation, plus an unwrapped gift.

After the ride, attendees are invited to enjoy food, music and raffles at Post 75, 898 James Lee Blvd. E, Crestview.

Call Shelby Windham, 689-3195 or 305-3635 for more information about the run. Call Michelle Giordano, 850-860-4259, for more information about FFN, which is the lead agency in Circuit 1 for foster care and related services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

VOICES of Mobile to have local Christmas concert

CRESTVIEW — The acclaimed vocal ensemble VOICES of Mobile presents their free 2018 Christmas Tour Concert.

The event is 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at First Baptist Church of Crestview, 171 Hickory Ave. E.

A love offering will be received for the choir. The VOICES of Mobile is comprised of 18 vocalists from The University of Mobile.

Call 682-2544 for more information.

North Okaloosa Community Band to host Christmas concert

CRESTVIEW — The leadership of the North Okaloosa Community Band announces its upcoming Christmas music spectacular.

The free concert is 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive.

Under the direction of Kim Whaley, NOCB, Pensacola's Bay Community Band, Fort Walton Beach's Emerald Coast Community Band, and the Walton County Community Band will perform a diversified program of sacred and secular Christmas music.

The program includes several numbers by the individual bands as well as a rendition by the four combined bands.

Arts and craft vendors wanted for Heritage Museum Christmas festival

VALPARAISO — The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida invites arts, craft, and antiques vendors to participate in its Yule of Yesteryear – A Traditional Christmas Festival.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the museum and Perrine Park, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso.

Vendors must produce quality hand-crafted, original items only.

Yule of Yesteryear is a free event that includes musical and historical theatrical performances; Civil War Christmas re-enactments; and craft demonstrations such as blacksmithing and weaving.

To register, go to www.heritage-museum.org; email info@heritage-museum.org; or call 678-2615.

First Baptist Church of Crestview presents Christmas musical

CRESTVIEW — "Welcome to Bethlehem" is a free Christmas musical-drama that will be presented twice by the First Baptist Church of Crestview Sanctuary Choir and Drama Ministry.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. Dec. 9 and 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at the church, located at 171 Hickory Ave. E, Crestview.

"Joy and hope for a hurting world are the themes that shine through in this encouraging and relatable Christmas musical-drama," a media release for the event stated.

"In (the musical) we find the staff of Bethlehem Inn reaching its guests in their real-life struggles, from a couple struggling financially, to a teenage runaway needing help."

Call 682-2544 for more information. 

Gift card email scam targets Fort Walton Beach business

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is warning area companies about a a new scam designed to fraudulently use email and gift cards to gain cash.

A Fort Walton Beach business employee received an email that appeared to be from the business owner, asking her to purchase gift cards to give out.

The email, signed with the name of the owner, instructed the employee to use either a company credit card or her own and stated she would be reimbursed, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office media release.

The employee was told to then send photos of all the

purchased card numbers and purchase receipt back to the owner, but when she went to follow through with the instructions, the credit card company texted the real business owner. He declined the transaction and notified law enforcement.

Although the original email to the employee had both her correct name and her correct email address, OCSO deputies found the email address given to her to use to relay the gift card numbers was not the business owner’s true email address.

It’s believed the scammers may have gotten accurate business-related names and emails from a combination of websites and business cards. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Community Briefs

CRESTVIEW — For more than a year, the sign in front of the former Yumi Buffet on South Ferdon Boulevard has read “reopen soon” and “new management.” But that is unlikely to be the case.

The business officially shut its doors in early 2017 after four closures in three years.

Now the 7,385-square-foot building remains empty. Crestview Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard said she hasn't seen any submissions to change that.

In addition to health violations, the company had issues with taxes.

A sign on the door of the restaurant states that $973.88 in property taxes has not been paid, and the property is subject to seizure. The notice warns owners to leave all furniture, equipment and fixtures within the building or face one-year imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine.

The owed amount stems from unpaid tangible personal property taxes in 2015. Yumi Buffet — previously Golden Asian Buffet — also owes $660.83 in unpaid taxes from 2016.

The restaurant made a payment in 2016 but it was for taxes owed from 2014, according to public tax documents.

Beach Community Bank currently owns the foreclosed property, according to the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser’s website. The bank purchased the property in late 2016 for $350,100.

According to Scott McCormick, Beach Community Bank senior vice president, the property is for sale through two brokers.

HEALTH VIOLATIONS

The restaurant was forced to close for the fourth and final time in February 2017 for a citation of 20 health violations, including six high-priority concerns, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s inspection report.

In October 2016, an inspector found about 75 droppings in addition to food storage violations. Another closure occurred in June 2016, when the business had 48 violations, 14 of which were high-priority. Approximately 230 rodent droppings were found during that inspection.

The restaurant also closed in May 2014 when over 50 droppings and about 37 live roaches were found in the kitchen. The restaurant reportedly has had 25 complaint-driven inspections since April 2014.

Google reviews from the weeks leading up to the restaurant’s final closure cite “poor quality food” for the 2.2-star ranking. Some even said they received food poisoning from eating there or saw live bugs in and near the food.

Just after the restaurant’s final closure in 2017, the owner, Chen Chong, told the Crestview News Bulletin that he planned to change the restaurant's manager and staff to improve the restaurant’s conditions and stimulate income growth to afford taxes.

However, Chong left the business and all the assets inside. There was no recent contact information available for Chong.

PROPERTY HISTORY

In 1978, Alvin “Al” and Faye McLain of Crestview purchased the property and built McLain’s Family Steakhouse, according to the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser’s website.

The McLains also owned a restaurant by the same name in DeFuniak Springs which opened in 1996. The Crestview location was open for many years before the couple sold it to Florida West Properties Inc. in 1998.

The McLain’s Family Steakhouse is still in operation in DeFuniak; however, the McLains sold the business in 1998.

A Sonny’s Real-Pit BBQ soon opened at the Crestview property and remained in business for 10 years.

In 2008, Crestview Trading Co. LLC purchased the building for $1.5 million and Golden Asian Buffet opened. After Crestview Trading Co.’s owner, Donald Moore, died in 2015. The company was dissolved, but the restaurant stayed open.

Daily News reporter Alicia Adams contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Golden Asian Buffet building remains empty, for sale

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jonathan A. Harris graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Harris is a 2017 graduate of Crestview High School, Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Harris completes Air Force basic training

Attendees enjoyed a variety of activities during Baker Heritage Day on Nov. 10. Here are some photos from the event.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Heritage Day offered glimpse of the past

CRESTVIEW — After being closed for several months, the locally owned North 85 Diner — formerly known as Penny's Place — has officially relocated and reopened.

Although the diner's location and name has changed, Penny Rink's vision for her restaurant remains the same — creating a family atmosphere.

"I don't meet a stranger," Rink said. "There is no one in here that is a stranger to me."

Shawn Woody, Rink's husband, said the restaurant has many regulars who have become like family.

A small wooden chair rests in the corner of the restaurant with the words "Bill's chair" written on the front.

Rink and Woody recalled one of their original regulars, Bill, who passed away a few years ago.

According to Woody, Bill came and sat in his chair while sipping coffee every day from the diner's first opening.

"He'd sit right by the kitchen door, and if anybody came in, he'd be banging on that door — 'Hey! You got somebody here,'" Rink said.

"It was always family," Woody said.

Louisiana-style cooking

The diner has been in Crestview for eight years.

Woody has been in Crestview his entire life, but Rink moved to the area in 2001 from Louisiana, where she was raised.

After working in the restaurant business as a waitress, Rink decided she would branch out and open her own diner.

She said that owning her own restaurant is challenging, but also rewarding.

"I love my customers, every one of them," Rink said. "I contemplated not opening and doing something else, but I couldn't not do it. They wouldn't let me."

Rink said she learned many of her cooking techniques growing up in Louisiana and watching her grandmother cook.

To incorporate some of her upbringing, Rink has Cajun-style classics on the menu like gumbo and shrimp etouffee.

Rink also plans to keep a popular item on the breakfast menu — the omelette with a shrimp etouffee topping.

The diner's new space is much larger than the former location on North Ferdon Boulevard.

"We loved it there … but we needed some place to be bigger to accommodate more customers," Rink said.

Moving into the new location took several months due to septic tank issues at the new location that are now resolved, Woody said.

North 85 Diner is located at 6194 State Road 85 N. in Crestview.

For more information, including hours and menu items, call the diner at 306-3277.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Penny's Place diner reopens under new name

CRESTVIEW — After being closed for several months, the locally owned North 85 Diner — formerly known as Penny's Place — has officially relocated and reopened.

Although the diner's location and name has changed, Penny Rink's vision for her restaurant remains the same — creating a family atmosphere.

"I don't meet a stranger," Rink said. "There is no one in here that is a stranger to me."

Shawn Woody, Rink's husband, said the restaurant has many regulars who have become like family.

A small wooden chair rests in the corner of the restaurant with the words "Bill's chair" written on the front.

Rink and Woody recalled one of their original regulars, Bill, who passed away a few years ago.

According to Woody, Bill came and sat in his chair while sipping coffee every day from the diner's first opening.

"He'd sit right by the kitchen door, and if anybody came in, he'd be banging on that door — 'Hey! You got somebody here,'" Rink said.

"It was always family," Woody said.

Louisiana-style cooking

The diner has been in Crestview for eight years.

Woody has been in Crestview his entire life, but Rink moved to the area in 2001 from Louisiana, where she was raised.

After working in the restaurant business as a waitress, Rink decided she would branch out and open her own diner.

She said that owning her own restaurant is challenging, but also rewarding.

"I love my customers, every one of them," Rink said. "I contemplated not opening and doing something else, but I couldn't not do it. They wouldn't let me."

Rink said she learned many of her cooking techniques growing up in Louisiana and watching her grandmother cook.

To incorporate some of her upbringing, Rink has Cajun-style classics on the menu like gumbo and shrimp etouffee.

Rink also plans to keep a popular item on the breakfast menu — the omelette with a shrimp etouffee topping.

The diner's new space is much larger than the former location on North Ferdon Boulevard.

"We loved it there … but we needed some place to be bigger to accommodate more customers," Rink said.

Moving into the new location took several months due to septic tank issues at the new location that are now resolved, Woody said.

North 85 Diner is located at 6194 State Road 85 N. in Crestview.

For more information, including hours and menu items, call the diner at 306-3277.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Penny's Place diner reopens under new name

CRESTVIEW — After being closed for several months, the locally owned North 85 Diner — formerly known as Penny's Place — has officially relocated and reopened.

Although the diner's location and name has changed, Penny Rink's vision for her restaurant remains the same — creating a family atmosphere.

"I don't meet a stranger," Rink said. "There is no one in here that is a stranger to me."

Shawn Woody, Rink's husband, said the restaurant has many regulars who have become like family.

A small wooden chair rests in the corner of the restaurant with the words "Bill's chair" written on the front.

Rink and Woody recalled one of their original regulars, Bill, who passed away a few years ago.

According to Woody, Bill came and sat in his chair while sipping coffee every day from the diner's first opening.

"He'd sit right by the kitchen door, and if anybody came in, he'd be banging on that door — 'Hey! You got somebody here,'" Rink said.

"It was always family," Woody said.

Louisiana-style cooking

The diner has been in Crestview for eight years.

Woody has been in Crestview his entire life, but Rink moved to the area in 2001 from Louisiana, where she was raised.

After working in the restaurant business as a waitress, Rink decided she would branch out and open her own diner.

She said that owning her own restaurant is challenging, but also rewarding.

"I love my customers, every one of them," Rink said. "I contemplated not opening and doing something else, but I couldn't not do it. They wouldn't let me."

Rink said she learned many of her cooking techniques growing up in Louisiana and watching her grandmother cook.

To incorporate some of her upbringing, Rink has Cajun-style classics on the menu like gumbo and shrimp etouffee.

Rink also plans to keep a popular item on the breakfast menu — the omelette with a shrimp etouffee topping.

The diner's new space is much larger than the former location on North Ferdon Boulevard.

"We loved it there … but we needed some place to be bigger to accommodate more customers," Rink said.

Moving into the new location took several months due to septic tank issues at the new location that are now resolved, Woody said.

North 85 Diner is located at 6194 State Road 85 N. in Crestview.

For more information, including hours and menu items, call the diner at 306-3277.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Penny's Place diner reopens under new name

ESCAMBIA FARMS — For more than 80 years, the Youngblood family gathered sugar cane before winter and produced a southern delicacy called syrup using a cane mill that has been a part of the family since the 1950s.

On Nov. 17, the mill ran for the last time.

Syrup making only comes once a year for the Youngblood family since David “Ray” Youngblood passed away in 1993.

This family tradition begins with the cane mill heating up at dusk and runs until about noon.

With a pan of fresh biscuits and musical talent from Mississippi, the Youngblood family gathers together and makes about 80 gallons of syrup.

David Youngblood Jr. and his brother, DeWayne Youngblood, do most of the syrup making. Both face health issues that prevent them from continuing their father’s work any further.

“You have no idea how hard it is to do, how much work goes into making (syrup),” David Jr. said. “…I don’t think there’s anybody that’ll every come along to do it.”

The history of syrup making for David Jr. and his siblings dates back to World War I and ties into the history of Escambia Farms.

In the early '30s, the country fell into worst economic depression in history known as The Great Depression. The stock market crashed and banks began failing.

Families across the nation were suffering, many of them unable to afford food and housing. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Resettlement Administration, which was used to relocate families to government planned communities.

The federal government acquired land in Okaloosa County, and part of this land became Escambia Farms.

David “Ray” Youngblood, who served in World War I, and his wife Annie Mae were enlisted into the Escambia Farms project.

David Jr. said the government built houses, a school, a general store, a cold storage unit for farmers, a sowing factory and the cane mill.

With a need to make money, Ray began farming and sold his produce at the general store, which is now the Blackman County Store located on the corner of Highway 189 and Red Barrow Road.

During WWI and the Great Depression, sugar rationing became necessary, and syrup became the only type of sweets they had.

“They learned how to make a lot of things from syrup,” David Jr. said.

The Resettlement Administration fell through in 1937, but many of the programs remained through the Farm Security Administration.

Because the government project failed, David Jr. said his father and another man purchased the general store and sold syrup. The store went bankrupt a couple years later.

In the early to mid '50s, David Jr. said his parents decided to buy their own cane mill and sold syrup to farmers in the Escambia Farms community.

“They made a living, but barely,” David Jr. said.

Along with syrup, the Youngblood family farmed cotton and many types of produce on their 290 acres of land.

“You just scratch out a living where you can, and it was hard times for them,” David Jr. said. “They were just old dirt farmers.”

Ray may not have made much money off making syrup, but that didn’t keep him from continuing on.

David Jr. said his father would make about 100 to 110 gallons every day from 4 a.m. until dark.

“He did it until he couldn’t,” David Jr. said.

David Jr. and DeWayne learned the trades from a young age by watching their father make syrup. After Ray’s passing, David said making syrup once became less about money and more of a family gathering.

Emotions run high for David Jr. as he thinks about never making syrup again.

“It is sad,” he said. “Time marches on. It waits for no man.”

Not knowing this year would be the last they make syrup, David Jr. wrote in a Facebook post last year, “Now, the mill sits again silent to wait another year. Who knows when time weathers, and there will be no ‘another year.’”

Although “another year” may never come, the memories will always remain.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The Youngbloods fire up the cane mill for the last time