CRESTVIEW — Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County handed over the keys to their 61st homeowner on Oct. 26.

Shawna Holman and her three daughters, Laniyah, Kaleeah, and Malayah, moved into their home built by over 2,000 hours worth of volunteer service.

"As I was driving to sign the mortgage papers this morning, I was fine," she said. "But then, on the way there, it kind of became surreal…It's been a great day."

While looking at her beautiful new home, Shawna said her favorite part is the driveway.

"We've lived in a small apartment complex for a long time…(her daughters) always wanted to ride their bikes and stuff, but there was always a lot of traffic," Shawna said. "…I can sit outside and watch them."

A year in the making

Shawna said she would not have imagined this happening a year ago.

"I'm glad I picked this specific journey because throughout the year, it actually made me focus more on doing what I was supposed to do and going to work everyday," she said.

Shawna's experience with Habitat for Humanity guided her to becoming more financially responsible so she could pay the down payment and buy new furniture, she said.

"I lived two hours away from here, so I also had to save money to go back and forth to do the hours," Shawna said. "… All the debt that I've previously had and mistakes I've made in my early 20s, they're gone now."

One of the requirements to receive a home through Habitat for Humanity is each adult must put in at least 300 hours of work towards the home.

Shawna said her daughters were the driving force behind her motivation.

"Sometimes life happens unexpectedly. I didn't picture doing it alone at first, and then, life happens. You just have to make the best of it," she said.

As for what’s next, Shawna was focused on one thing—hanging out and eating pizza with her daughters and their dog in their new home.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Shawna Holman, her three daughters get a new start

CRESTVIEW — The Nichols family takes the spookiest night of the year to the next level in Crestview with a haunted walk-through full of ghostly displays and free treat bags for their visitors.

Grady and Lisa Nichols have always loved the holiday season starting at Halloween and ending at Christmas.

“Growing up, that was our favorite part of the year, and I was so excited that (Grady) wanted to go big with everything,” Lisa said.

Lisa said they began decorating 27 years ago, and the decorations were on a much smaller scale than they are today.

Along with scouring the Internet for decorations, Grady — or “Mr. Halloween” as Lisa calls him — made many of the characters in the house with pantyhose and latex for skin.

His signature touch is naming the character something that starts with a “b” like “Bucky” and “Bandito Bucky.”

“It’s a dying art,” Grady said.

But, this tradition dates back further than 27 years.

Grady said he’s been celebrating Halloween at this level since he was young.

“I remember when I was a kid. Some of my best memories were at Halloween,” Grady said. “… I just remember being so excited about it.”

After decorating their house for so many years, the Nichols have many unique items, so many that they have their own version of a haunted walk-through in their house.

The spooky journey begins with tombstones lining the front yard and giant, blow-up dragons.

They have a “Star Wars” display featured in the garage, with rare, life-size characters from the hit movies including Darth Vader and R2-D2.

The spooky sounds can be heard from the driveway.

After entrance into the house is granted by ringing the eyeball doorbell, Lisa greets visitors with a bag of goodies like candy and small toys.

The walk-through ends with a “creepy corn field," Grady said, but visitors are welcome to hang around and go through again.

Grady and Lisa said kids are welcomed inside because there aren’t jump scares unless requested.

If a group would like jump scares, the Nichols have actors hidden throughout the house ready to give a good scare.

Their decorations attracted over 450 guests last year, and Lisa said some of their neighbors and friends offer to help out.

Eventually, the Nichols hope to expand this into a business.

“We would like to do this year round,” Lisa said. “That’s our ultimate goal.”

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. for the Nichols’ Annual Haunted Graveyard Halloween Night.

The event is located in the Fox Valley Subdivision at 611 Terrier Trail in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The Nichols family goes all out for Halloween

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department said a fond “farewell” to one of its biggest supporters last week when Jae Williams stopped by the Whitehurst Municipal Building to say goodbye to his officer friends.

Jae, 8, has been a pal and frequent visitor to the Police Department since he was 5, when observing a backlash against many police officers around the country following a few isolated events, he told his mom, Cassie Williams, that he wanted to find a way to support local first responders.

With the aid of his mom, Jae soon started visiting the Crestview Police and Fire Departments, and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, bringing handmade cards, treats and little presents.

Soon he’d appear in his “official” uniform, complete with badge and shoulder patches.

Most recently, as the Police Department prepared to take relief supplies to law enforcement agencies affected by Hurricane Michael, Jae made a final appearance.

With his father’s work being relocated, the family is moving out of state.

“Keep being a great kid,” Deputy Chief Jamie Grant told Jae as he presented him with an official Crestview Police lapel pin and challenge coin. “We’re going to miss you, buddy.”

Before Jae left, he had one more mission.

At his suggestion, Cassie had stuffed the back of the family SUV full of cases of water, many of which Jae carried into the Police Department himself.

“It’s to help the people hurt by the hurricane,” Jae explained as some of his officer friends helped him stack the cases of water in a hallway before loading them in a trailer.

Then looking at his handiwork, he gave a broad grin and said, “Look! We made a tower! It’s bigger than me!”

The Crestview Police Department wishes our pal, Jae Williams, much happiness in his new home.

And we have no doubt that local first responders will soon be receiving a visit from our policeboy.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview’s ‘policeboy’ moves out of town

CRESTVIEW — The activities listed below are scheduled through Nov. 30 in Crestview and surrounding areas. Email details of your upcoming event to news@crestviewbulletin.com to have it listed here.

CITY OF CRESTVIEW TRICK OR TREAT: Trick or treat hours for the City of Crestview are 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

LIVE OAK BAPTIST FALL FESTIVAL: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31, at the church, 4565 Live Oak Church Road, Crestview. The annual event includes food, carnival  games, prizes, inflatables, a hay ride, and a new train ride. Costumes are welcome!

GRAYBEARD THE PIRATE: 6-8 p.m. and later Oct. 31, 2754 Lake Silver Road, Crestview. Santa Pirate will be in the crow's nest, and the crew will be shooting the cannon at Billy Bowlegs' pirate ship that evening. "Anything north of Special Forces Road is mine," Graybeard said.

BAKER HERITAGE DAY: The free event is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Baker Block Museum and Heritage Park, located at the corner of State Road 4 and U.S. Highway 189, Baker. Demonstrations of heritage-based projects, food and product vendors, flu shots, a Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission exhibit and other activities are scheduled.

NEW BEGINNINGS FALL FESTIVAL: 4-7 p.m. Nov. 11 at New Beginnings Church, 412 U.S. Highway 90 W., Crestview. The free event includes a bouncy house, dunk tank, games, a cornhole competition, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and boiled peanuts. Call 689-2988 for details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fall festival activities set for October and November

CRESTVIEW — Wings on Wheels in Crestview, the mobile food vendor, fed over 1,500 Hurricane Michael survivors and relief effort volunteers hot meals in Marianna.

When Bradley White returned to his food truck after Hurricane Michael passed and began hearing reports of the devastation, he said God put it on his heart to help in some way.

"There was people that was in need, and the child of God that I am, that's what we're supposed to do for our brothers and sisters," White said.

White started by asking for donations instead of tips.

“Basically, I was telling the customers that was coming to Wings on Wheels that any tip they can leave was going to go towards the hurricane victims,” White said. “After that, it seemed like everything fell into place.”

Last year, when Hurricane Harvey tore through Houston, Texas, White sent a donation box.

“But, this time, it was just a little to close to home for us to send a donation,” White said.

With the help of friends, employees and donations, White began collecting items to take into the affected areas.

White and his crew of about 20 volunteers loaded everything up into his "kitchen on wheels" and headed to Marianna at 5 a.m on Oct. 20.

They didn't finish cooking until 9 p.m.

White said they had a total of six large freezers filled with food, and it was all cooked that day.

"'Tired' wasn't even the word," White said. "Everybody that was with us was falling asleep because it was non-stop. It was non-stop."

White was stretching for words to describe the devastation he saw on the way into Marianna.

"What pictures show you on Facebook, it's nothing like that in person," White said. "… People were still living in their homes with trees on it."

When they arrived at the First Baptist Church in Marianna, White said some of the volunteers already there had ran out of ice.

Luckily, White and his crew brought cold drinks and hot food for them — all for free.

Among the many that received a hot meal from Wings on Wheels were at least 600 volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in North Georgia.

"I talked to (White) about it, and I said, 'Why are you doing this,'" Andy Galt said. "He said, 'God sent me,' and I said, 'I believe that.' He sent us here to do this work, and he sent (White) here to feed us."

White said they wanted to give the people variety other than just the sandwiches and water.

They made a total of 2,000 wings and 900 hamburgers, and brought nachos, a bounty of snacks, cakes baked by the community, and a variety of drinks.

White said he will be going back to help.

"If the hurricane had shifted, I believe they would have done the same for us," White said. "I wish I could stay."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wings on Wheels delivered hot meals to over 1,500 in Marianna

Here are upcoming Crestview Public Library-related events. The library's address is 1445 Commerce Drive.

UPCOMING

TRUNK OR TREAT: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29, in the library's east parking lot. TO RSVP a space: Call Ginny, 682-4432. Prizes for best trunk decorations. Call to volunteer or donate candy.

RECURRING

ADULT COLORING THERAPY: 5-6 p.m. third Mondays for ages 18 or older. Hot tea, coloring pages, pencils and markers are provided.

CRESTVIEW WRITERS GROUP: 6-7:30 p.m. every fourth Monday, Crestview Public Library. Online: http://www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php.

POETRY OPEN MIC READING: 6:30 p.m. second Tuesdays. Arrive at 6 p.m. for conversation and snacks. Poets and musicians may read, perform, improvise and play together. Free. Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432. 

FAMILY HISTORY CLUB: 10 a.m. to noon every third Thursday features the basics and a question-and-answer discussion led by volunteer cindy Barber. Contact dotdane99@gmail.com for information.

BEGINNER'S CHESS CLUB: 3-4 p.m. every first and third Thursday at the library. For ages 6 and up. Learn to play the game.

ESSENTIAL OILS 101: 6 p.m. every fourth Thursday and 2:30 p.m. every fourth Saturday learn about essential oils with volunteer consultant Lynisha Smith. Contact 758-6482 or YLBlessed1@gmail.com for more information.

TEEN TIME: 2-4 p.m. Fridays at the library for students in grades six through 12.

READ TO DOZER: 10 to 11 a.m. on the first Saturdays of each month (as long as it's not raining).

COFFEE & CRAFT: 10 a.m. second Saturdays, Crestview library. Call 682-4432 to reserve your spot.

BRIGHT FUTURES VOLUNTEER HOURS: for students in grades nine through 12 to use toward Bright Futures scholarships. Contact Youth Librarian Heather Nitzel, 682-4432, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Public Library events

Crestview Library is holding its first ever Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Stop by the library to view the artistic talent in our community and vote for your favorite. They will be on display through Halloween. 

Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's youth services librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Design a pumpkin for the library's contest

CRESTVIEW — Loomis Bros. Circus – America’s last real 3-ring circus, will be making their annual return to Crestview’s Old Spanish Trail Park, Nov. 8-11.

Shows will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. only. The circus will perform in the park’s covered theater pavilion located on Stillwell Blvd, one block off N Ferdon Blvd. (Highway 85).

The annual fundraising event is once again sponsored by the Crestview Historic Preservation Board, who receive a portion of each ticket sold. 

The Florida based Loomis Bros. Circus has been keeping the circus tradition alive for over twenty years, and this year’s show promises to be bigger and better than ever with a world-class cast of both human and animal performers assembled from all corners of the globe. 

Presented in a traditional fashion, the show is over ninety-minutes of family fun featuring three rings of everything you would expect to see in a circus including elephants, tigers, acrobats, clowns, and motorcycle daredevils. This year the circus is excited to feature “Magical Quick Change”, as seen on NBC television’s summer talent series, performed by the amazing Matagirov Duo who come to us all the way from Moscow, Russia. 

“Loomis Bros. Circus is currently the only show touring the United States to still have a full live band, animals, and three rings.” said producer Justin Loomis, who also serves as the show’s singing Ringmaster. 

“The circus is deep seeded in American history and is as much of an American tradition as baseball and apple pie,” Loomis said. “Every child deserves a chance to see the circus! It’s a truly magical place where you can get lost just for a little while and forget about your troubles, a place where even the adults get to feel like a kid again! Don’t miss what could be your last chance to see this living treasure known as circus.” 

Admission to the circus is $20 for adults and $8 for children ages 2-12. Coupons for “Free Kids Tickets” are available at merchants throughout Okaloosa County. There are also a limited number of discounted $10 adult tickets, which include free child’s admission, available for purchase in advance only at retail locations in the area by calling the event’s sponsor at (850) 537-5714 or online by visiting the show’s website at loomiscircus.com. Full priced tickets will be available on the day of show at the circus box office or online. The onsite box office opens one hour prior to each showtime. All seating is general admission and patrons are encouraged to arrive early for best seat selection. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The circus comes to Crestview