EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Briggs requested that his name not be published given the circumstances.

HOLT — Chronic active hepatitis purportedly plagues an emaciated paint quarter horse named Justice who is receiving care at Safe Haven Horse Rescue Center in Laurel Hill.

Dr. Jim Culotta, a Fort Walton Beach veterinarian, made the diagnosis.  

However, Safe Haven director Jim Bryan, who took the horse to a veterinary specialist in Milton, said Justice has liver failure. 

He will not know the horse’s health prognosis for at least a couple of weeks, he said, adding that Justice is starting to show signs of improvement.

Mr. Briggs, who raises horses in Holt, said he and his family have been unfairly judged, even threatened via Facebook, since their former horse became ill.

It started June 27, when residents passing by his private residence saw the horse, with protruding bones, he said.

Residents allegedly contacted Okaloosa County commissioners and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Briggs said.

“It’s being put out there that I hurt these horses and I don’t,” he said.

The Florida Agriculture Department and the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society have stated there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

“Everybody has said ‘no neglect, no abuse’,” he said.

In his 40 years of taking care of horses, Briggs said dealing with this type of illness is a first. As a precaution, he is having his other  horses tested by a veterinarian to ensure they are healthy.

“I have never had an issue with this type of ailment before,” he said. “I was out here every waking minute with (Justice) trying to figure out what more I could do for him.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Vet: Emaciated horse not neglected; has hepatitis

CHIPLEY   — Drivers will encounter evening lane closures in the outside right lanes of State Road 20 east and westbound between Roberts Drive and the Walton County line from  7 p.m. through 5 a.m. nightly July 13-17. The closures will allow crews to work on curbs and sidewalks. 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Evening lane closures planned in Okaloosa County

HOLT — So far, the Jaxon Long Leukemia Fund on GiveForward.com has accumulated more than $2,600.

And Holt Academy staff and parents have raised $1,600 on top of that by selling candy bars.

It all benefits former school employee Angie Pinkerton's 2-year-old grandson, who was diagnosed in May with acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis.

Pinkerton, the academy's former lead teacher for 2-year-olds, and her husband, Andy, moved to Ringgold, Ga., earlier this year to assist her daughter, Tiffany Long's, family of four.

Academy co-owner Jennifer Derrick said she and others were inspired to help Pinkerton, who was considered a valuable employee during her five years at the academy.

“She is just amazing with kids … the parents and children just loved her,” Derrick said. “She treated the kids like they were her own … we hated to lose her.”

Besides, Derrick, who's had no traces of cancer for four years, knows the high cost of cancer treatments and medications.

“Cancer is not cheap,” she said. “I really wanted to do something to help (Jaxon).”

Prior to Jaxon’s diagnosis, Derrick said the academy was planning to use the World’s Finest Chocolate candy bar fundraiser to purchase supplies.

However, the staff decided to donate the proceeds to Pinkerton’s family instead.

Pinkerton said she was “surprised” and “overjoyed” when she learned about the decision.

“We are all just so thankful,” she said. “I miss them all so much.”    

Jaxon is doing well after receiving medical treatments at a children’s hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., Pinkerton said. 

“(Doctors) said his progress is good right now,” she said. “He is right where he needs to be.”

HOW TO HELP

Visit http://bit.ly/1odrvAd to support Jaxon Long and his family

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Holt residents support beloved teacher's grandson who has cancer

CRESTVIEW — North county families’ history will soon be part of an elegant coffee table book commemorating Okaloosa County’s centennial next year.

Before Jon Shields of Pediment Publishing could set up his high-resolution scanner at the Crestview Public Library, eight residents were ready to share their family memories.

Pre-order “Okaloosa County Memories">> 

Follow the book on Facebook>>

Shields said the Crestview response was “excellent,” and far surpassed the book project’s first scanning session at Northwest Florida State College, which only one person attended.

As often happens locally when family photos get pulled out, soon small groups were chatting, passing around pictures and laughing while reminiscing over shared experiences.

While retired teacher Janis Griffin patiently waited with a large envelope of pictures, her cousin Barbara Adams walked in with an envelope of her own.

“Look, here’s Uncle Purl,” Adams said, passing Griffin a photo of her father-in-law, Purl Adams, who built many downtown buildings in the 1920s and ‘30s, including the Alatex Building.

Billye Carter and Joe Barley shared stories of their years in the First United Methodist Church while Barley showed pictures of former Crestview City Councilman Sam Hayes leading the first official delegation to Noirmoutier, France, in 1994.

Reference librarian Sandra Dreaden produced an overflowing box of photos and memorabilia donated by Eva Fountain from the first Bob Sikes library in Twin Hills Park, including photos of former U.S. Rep. Sikes speaking at the dedication.

Shields pored over James E. Cain’s bulging photo album, including pictures of Cain’s grandfather at the family sugar mill on the Yellow River in the early part of the 20th century.

“We got us a lot of history right here,” Cain said, patting the album.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa residents contribute to centennial book

CRESTVIEW — Tons of dirt driven by spring rains fill retired forester John McMahon’s 10-acre wetland off Texas Parkway.

 “We received more than 10,000 square feet of dirt and trash that washed on our property,” McMahon said. “It’s ironic, me preaching the environment, that I would be the recipient of environmental pollution.”

McMahon, who founded the city’s McMahon Environmental Center park, said the damage began before the April 29 rains and continued with May and June's subsequent deluges.

What was a small stream 30 years ago when McMahon bought the property has since been incorporated into the city’s storm water runoff system, bringing water from as far away as the Crestview High School area, McMahon said.

“That’s part of the problem,” he said. “Over the years we got more erosion. The latest rains were the most destructive.”

STREET WASHOUT

Several years ago runoff washed out part of Phillips Drive between Gil-Ava Street and Texas Parkway, forming a large gully that the Public Works department and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service tried to mitigate.

This spring’s heavy rains further eroded the gully, bypassing the erosion control structure built by NRCS, bringing the washout within feet of Gil-Ava Street and a Phillips Drive home’s side yard, and dumping more sand and debris in McMahon’s property.

“The weight of saturated soil and the force and weight of water is just unbelievably strong,” McMahon said.

Saturated soil weighs 100 pounds per square foot, he said, meaning his land received more than 1 million pounds of debris, or in excess of 500 tons.

“When I bought the property, it was a beautiful spring-fed stream,” McMahon said. “It has received serious damage to a wetland area, which environmentally is a no-no.”

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said the city is seeking funding from FEMA and the NRCS to address the recent erosion, but it can’t clean up McMahon’s property because it is private and the city was not negligent, Steele said.

“Because this is a natural disaster, Mr. McMahon is eligible to get funding (from FEMA) to clean it up, if he qualifies,” Steele said.

McMahon said the county tax assessor’s office estimated the damage to his property at $20,000.

“It does impact the environmental conditions of the wetland,” Steele said. “It’s not something that can’t be mitigated, but we don’t have the funding. FEMA and NRCS won’t give us funding to do the clean-up on private property, but the owner can get assistance to do it.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Federal mitigation funds sought by city can’t be used on private land

CRESTVIEW — Calvary United Church members want to provide school supplies for needy local students.

But they'll need the community's help.

The school supplies will be given to area children Aug. 15 during the 9th annual Back-To-School Bash at Old Spanish Trail Park.

Riky Edwards, an event organizer, said attendees can expect attractions similar to last year’s event, which attracted nearly 3,000.

The event features live entertainment under the pavilion, including martial arts demonstrations, prize giveaways and an eating contest for kids.

“We just want the kids to know that the community cares about them," Edwards said.

 On Aug. 9, event sponsor Hub City Ford will have two vans available at the Crestview Wal-Mart ready to be packed full of school supplies, Edwards said.

Event organizers need paper, pencils, glue and other supplies.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT:  ‘Stuff the Van’ with school supplies

WHEN:   8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 9

WHERE: Crestview Wal-Mart at 3351 South Ferdon Blvd.

CONTACT: Riky Edwards, 682-1776 or yankeeandyankeedoodle@cox.net

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Donations, school supplies needed for 9th Back-To-School Bash

LAUREL HILL — A severely ill, dehydrated 17-year-old horse is under veterinary specialists' care after being discovered last week in Holt.

A Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences official was working with the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society on the case, Safe Haven Horse Rescue Center staffer Brittany Coplen said.

Both departments learned about the horse, named Justice by Safe Haven, early last week, PAWS Executive Director Dee Thompson said.

Thompson said she is unaware of any charges being filed against the original owner, who handed Justice over to Safe Haven on July 4.

“The veterinary reports were inconclusive of neglect of any kind,” she said. 

The horse was relinquished on Friday to the Northwest Florida Animal Clinic in Milton for additional treatments. Justice returned to Safe Haven on Monday.

Veterinary specialists' tests confirmed the horse was not spreading illness to other horses at the Holt property.  

 “It’s not malnourished; it’s just very ill,” Thompson said.

PAWS is watching over the horse while he remains in Safe Haven's care in Laurel Hill, she said.

Due to the level of dehydration, specialists used an IV treatment on the horse, Coplen said.    

 “He wasn’t eating when he got here (at Safe Haven),” she said. “Now he is trying to eat and drink.”

Still, Justice has an uphill battle; veterinary specialists diagnosed liver failure, Coplen said.  

Safe Haven director Jim Bryan said Justice has a 50/50 chance of surviving the illness as of this time. However he and his family are doing their best to help the horse recover to full health.

HOW TO HELP

Contact Safe Haven at 652-3350 to make donations toward Justice's recovery. Visit Safe Haven Horse Rescue Center's Facebook page, on.fb.me/1rJ0slv, to follow Justice's progress.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Holt horse remains in critical condition; no charges filed