CRESTVIEW — Artist Nicole Weaver is the winner of the News Bulletin’s Redesign the Rack contest.

Weaver, who says her seven children inspire her colored abstracts, painted themes that reflect North Okaloosa County for her submission.

The newspaper's management plans to use her design, with a few suggested revisions, on the rack outside the newspaper's 638 N. Ferdon Blvd. office. Weaver also wins a $100 check.

News Bulletin staffers selected the artist’s design from two other finalists' submissions. All the finalists submissions were impressive, but when the time came to choose the first-place recipient, the decision was clear, Editor Thomas Boni said.

"Nicole's attention to detail, her submission's reflection of North Okaloosa culture and values and her artistic skill are to be commended," Boni said.

The winning design resulted from a spur-of-the-moment burst of creativity shortly after the newspaper announced the contest in early July, Weaver said.

“I did it because I had free time that day,” Weaver said. “It was a one-hour thing that I did. I will work with Thomas to refine it.”

The News Bulletin rack will be Weaver's first local public installation, although she had done some pieces of public art in her native Germany.

Weaver recently exhibited at the Crestview Public Library and will conduct student art workshops at Northwood Arts and Science Academy in October.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview artist wins News Bulletin's Redesign the Rack contest

CRESTVIEW — U.S. Army veteran Nicholas Moore wants to begin his final year of flight school next month and become a certified international commercial airline pilot.

But he'll need some emergency financial assistance to finish the program.

FRIENDS SEEK HELP

Moore served over six years as an unmanned aerial vehicle mechanic/operator and deployed to Afghanistan three times during Operation Enduring Freedom.

 The 26-year-old single father, who is licensed to fly single-engine aircraft, left the Army to raise his 5-year-old son, Hayden. Now, he wants to complete his final year of flight school at the Airline Training Programs School in Jacksonville.

However, Moore— who was honorably discharged in May— has used all of his V.A. G.I. Bill benefits and student loan options to pay the school’s tuition costs, and he is $15,000 short.  

But friends believe where there is a will, there is a way. In this case, they hope, Moore can benefit from a GoFundme.com page.

Pensacola resident Amber Meche started the fundraising account for her friend.

“He has done a lot of good things to help people and he doesn’t charge anyone,” Meche said. “I just thought it would be nice to help him out.”

As of this writing, the site has raised just $150 toward the goal.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

In addition to Moore's service to his country, he has given back to the community by offering plane rides to people unable to fly commercial airlines.

Pressure changes from flying at a high altitude would cause hearing problems particularly problematic for some people, but flying at low altitude causes no change in pressure, Moore said.

Moore spent over 56 hours in the air allowing children with hearing and other health concerns to ride while in the Virginia and Washington State areas.

He paid for the airplane rentals, and estimated that he has spent $9,000 on 18 charitable flights in the past three years.

But it was worth it, he said. For instance, while in the air, he would let passengers get behind the controls and fly the aircraft under his supervision.

“They had a sense of over-enjoyment; they were ecstatic,” he said. “Most of these kids have never had the opportunity (to fly).”

Moore plans to offer the same services to patients at a hearing center in Pensacola.  

Upon getting his aviation degree and becoming an airline pilot, Moore wants to expand his charitable services.

“The goal is to take (these) people worldwide,” he said.

WANT TO HELP?

Visit www.gofundme.com/dxzq5c to support Nicholas Moore’s final year in flight school 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community service fills pilot's dreams, but advance tuition presents challenge

In 1987, Secretary of Education William J. Bennett  said, “Let’s have a national campaign … every child should obtain a library card  and use it.” 

This statement kicked off the observance of Library Card Sign-Up Month. Every September, libraries across the country join the campaign to ensure all children have a library card.

We encourage parents and guardians to bring their children to the library and sign them up for a free card. Adults may apply for their children's cards and they are responsible for all materials checked out.

A photo ID, proof of current street address (such as driver’s license, voter registration or utility bill) and telephone numbers are required to get a library card. 

A card issued at any Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative member library (including the Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Niceville and Valparaiso libraries) is valid at all six member locations. Members' cities and the Board of County Commissioners fund OCPLC locations.

As an incentive, every child who applies for a library card during September will get his or her name put in a Sept. 30 drawing for a book bag filled with fun items. We will notify the winner by phone. 

Bring the kids in for a library card.  It will open the windows of the world for your child.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Prize drawing set for library card sign-ups

CRESTVIEW — A recent health care mission in Belize was eye opening for several North Okaloosa residents.  

Seventeen volunteers spent a week in the Central American country providing clinical treatments, supplies and health education to people in seven impoverished villages.

Although several volunteers, including organizer Dr. Joseph Peter, were already aware of the area's health care needs, a number of first-time participants — who arrived Aug. 27 and returned last week — said the experience was memorable. 

“After getting (to) see the poverty these people lived in, all I wanted to do was help them out even more,” Fallon Simmons, a Crestview registered nurse, said in an email.

Volunteers evaluated and administered physicals to adults and children, and physicians prescribed any necessary medications, Simmons said.

“The thing I enjoyed most from this trip was seeing just how appreciative these people were that we came to help them,” she stated. “They all were so kind and polite at all times. They are willing to walk for miles away just to be seen for an hour by some doctors and nurses.”

Sharlene Cox, who said she helped register nearly 650 people for health screenings, noticed the change in culture.

“There would be people lined up for an hour (before we got to the villages) and you never heard a child throwing a tantrum during that time,” she said.

After seeing Belizeans' eagerness for medical assistance and witnessing their living conditions, Cox said she will not take America for granted.

“It has made me appreciate what we have here in America,” she said.

Loren Wilkinson, a prospective RN, agreed.

“The people we encountered live without basic necessities,” she stated in a Facebook message. “But seeing how others with very little are so grateful each day for what they have is a great lesson.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EYE-OPENING MISSION Residents help impoverished Belizean villages, learn life lessons

CRESTVIEW  — The Friends of the Crestview Library will host its regular library benefit sale Oct. 3-5 this year.

The venue is now Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. 

The fundraiser starts 5-8 p.m. Friday, with an "early bird" preview sale. Entry costs $2 for non-Friends of the Crestview library. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 and 5, at no charge to attendees.

The sale includes college text, large print, hard cover and soft cover books, children's books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cookbooks, historical books, classics, jigsaw puzzles, book sets, and more.  Most books cost 25 cents to $1. All are in good to new condition.

To get a $4 discount off your purchase on one of the book sale days, join or renew your Friends membership by filling out a short form and paying the inexpensive dues. Call 850-682-4432 for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Friends of the Crestview library sale moves to new location

CRESTVIEW — A 5-year-old boy with multiple disabilities will have a new iPad thanks to his mother’s Facebook “family” and the community.

Kendra Franklin, a 2007 Crestview High School graduate, moved back to the area last month with her two young sons.

Harlen, who is 5, was born with a deformed frontal lobe and has cerebral palsy. He is blind and can neither walk nor talk. But he can use an iPad to play his favorite songs, using special applications.

His mother had just bought him one, which disappeared during their move. After Franklin filed a police report about the incident and posted on Facebook about how upset she was, her mother started a Go Fund Me account to raise $1,000 for a new one. The money was raised within two days, with enough left over for iTunes songs and apps.

Although Harlen has fewer options for communicating than most children, he is a sweet boy who loves music, especially rap, his mother said, adding she believes he is drawn to the beat.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community replaces blind boy's stolen iPad

CRESTVIEW — Dozer the therapy dog’s monthly visits to the Crestview Public Library do a lot more than provide children a big, furry reading buddy.

When kids read to the Great Dane, they gain confidence and improve their reading skills, library staff members and supporters say.

Saturday morning, the Friends of the Crestview Library expressed their appreciation for Dozer’s contributions toward area child literacy with a gift bag of treats for the dog and his mistress, Angie Nousiainen.

Pawsitively Scrumptious, a Main Street business known for its support of community animal-related programs, donated some of the goodies.

“One of the things we like is you help kids learn how to interact with animals,” friends President Rae Schwartz told Dozer and Nousiainen. “Especially big animals.”

“He’s so big I could ride him like a horse,” Violet Content, 6, said as she and her sister Vivian, 7, stroked Dozer’s back.

Nousiainen cautioned the girls that though Dozer is indeed as big as some miniature ponies, his bone structure is not suited for carrying riders like those of equines.

“You could actually hurt Dozer if you tried to ride him” Nousiainen said.

Vivian and Violet represented one of the constituencies the Friends of the Library enjoys supporting, Schwartz said.

“We get to do a lot of things to support the library,” she said. “This is my favorite. Dozer’s visits are just one of several youth programs we do throughout the year.”

Nousiainen said Dozer has between five and eight young friends read to him on a typical Saturday morning. When he visits Northwood Elementary School, the numbers jump.

“At Northwood we’ll get 30 or 35,” she said. “The kids have to read a certain number of books to earn the right to read to Dozer.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Dozer rewarded for supporting child literacy

CRESTVIEW — A Saturday morning mechanical failure left a 1999 Corvette damaged in the woods off Farmer Street and its owner heartbroken.

“I love that car,” he said. “It’s something I wish I didn’t have to be seeing.”

The owner, a Crestview resident who didn’t give his name, said he had worked hard to buy the car. He was giving his younger brother a ride when the car suddenly veered off the road at a bend shortly north of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tire tracks showed the car rode the curbing for a short distance while the driver struggled with the steering before jumping the curb. The driver believes the sports car’s control arm broke but won’t know for sure until the car is raised on a lift.

“I was trying to turn that way and it went the other way,” he said.

Neither the driver nor his brother was injured in the mishap. The owner could not estimate the damage to the Corvette until it could be extracted from the woods where it came to rest.

He estimated he was driving around 30 mph when the accident occurred. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article referred to the vehicle as "classic" and "vintage." We removed these references in the revised article. 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Saturday accident leaves vintage Corvette in the woods