A group planning to revive the city's Hobo Festival has scheduled its next meeting.
The meeting is 6 p.m. July 1 at Laurel Hill City Hall, 8209 U.S. Highway 85 N., Laurel Hill.
Volunteers are much needed, and they are welcome to attend.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill Hobo Festival Committee meeting set
United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties' board of directors, which welcomes new members, now has 33 leaders.
The organization installed 2014-15 officers and Executive Committee members.
New board members are as follows:
•Sasha Jarrell, Northwest Florida State College
•Sean Lynch, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
•Patricia Parker Davis, Trustmark Bank
•Christine Powell, Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast
•Nathan Sparks, Okaloosa Economic Development Council
Board members use their personal and professional influences to accomplish United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties’ mission.
Their goal is to provide leadership and resources to those in need by uniting individuals and organizations with the means to solve problems.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties welcomes 2014-15 board members
Proceeds from a charity date auction next month, sponsored by Kick It Like You Mean It, will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.
The July 12 event, which begins 7 p.m. at the Lighthouse Amphitheater, 874 E. U.S. 98 in Destin, is free to attend. A paddle costs $5 to enter the bid for your potential next date.
Refreshments are available for purchase. In addition, raffles for prizes are scheduled.
"This is a fun opportunity to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, a place that believes afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and relieve working parents of worries about how their children spend their afternoons," a spokesperson stated. "Unfortunately, too many kids are left home alone in those critical out-of-school hours or on the streets where they are at risk and can be exposed to crime."
15.1 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends. After-school programs keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning, according to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
The organization serves over 1,950 youths across Okaloosa, Escambia, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.
Call 862-1616 and visit www.bgcec.com for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Charity date auction to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs
The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women announces the 2014 Women’s Wall of Honor Honorees.
These women have contributed to the well-being of our community's residents, a news release stated.
The honorees are:
Bev Bain, Dr. Naomi Barnes, Becky Belcher, Sallye N. Belton, Regina Bright, Ginger Boyd, Ranae E. Curtis, Margaret Mae Garrett, Tammy Magee, Char McElderry, Christie Owens, Jackie Pilcher, Judi Rutland, Lisa Snuggs, Janie Varner, Ginger Walker, Ouida Winters and Carol Wride.
Honorees' names are placed on a plaque located in the library at the University of West Florida's Fort Walton Beach campus.
A nearby book contains a biographical page for each woman.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Women's Wall of Honor honorees announced
A new nonprofit, 400 Paws Inc., is set on granting thousands of dollars to area animal shelters and rescues.
The group — whose goal is to get animals healthy and into permanent homes — is collecting annual memberships to benefit grants for area 501(c) 3 animal shelters and rescues. At the end of the year, members will vote to decide which nonprofit organizations will receive these grants.
President and founder, Kim Cheney, started the charity this year. It’s based in Escambia County but reaches out to Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties, too.
Learn more about 400 Paws>>
A Needy Paws fund will aid suffering animals that need surgeries, special apparatuses or otherwise expensive comprehensive care.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New charity raising money for needy animals
CRESTVIEW — Residents have exceeded loved ones' expectations in showing their support for Mark Kempski, who died unexpectedly June 17.
Donations toward the Kempski Tires owner's final expenses already have surpassed $5,400 since a gofundme.com account for the case was started last Tuesday.
“That just goes to show you how much he was appreciated,” Jennifer Rolling, a close friend, said.
Rolling, the business' bookkeeper, said Mark's generosity and ethical business practices will be remembered.
“He would give you the shirt off his back,” she said. “He was an honest business man and one of the best friends you could ever ask for.”
Baker resident Aaron Fountain, an independent contractor with FedEx, said Mark stayed friendly, even when busy.
“We did a lot of business together for the past three years,” Fountain said. “He would always ask how things were going (with me).”
The Industrial Drive tire-and-brake business' five employees are still in shock following the 36-year-old's death.
No cause of death has been confirmed, but Mark was known to take care of himself physically; he exercised at least five times a week at a local gym, friends said.
“I haven’t even slowed down to process it yet,” said employee, Michael Commee.
Mark's two brothers live out of town; his daughter, Elizabeth and mother, Jackie, live in North Okaloosa.
“When people would find out that I am his mother, they would often tell how lucky I am,” Jackie said. “It happened to me all the time.”
In addition to donating toward funeral expenses, customers have shown support by volunteering with business operations.
One regular customer offered to help run the front office; other customers have remained patient while the business temporarily closed following Kempski's death, Commee said.
The business, which re-opened Thursday, will remain in operation, Rolling said.
After all, she said, “Mark would have wanted his community to continue to be served."
HOW TO HELP
Visit www.gofundme.com/af7abg to donate toward Mark Kempski's final expenses and express condolences
Want To Attend?
Mark Kempski’s funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. Visitation for family and friends begins at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service at Central Baptist Church, 951 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. Davis-Watkins is handling arrangements. The family asks that donations, in lieu of floral arrangements, be made toward funeral costs.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents remember business owner, son following unexpected death
Thanks to the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative, library patrons now have unlimited access to driver’s license practice exams and handbooks.
The Driving-Tests.org learning software, a highly realistic simulation of the DMV written test, is based on the 2014 Driver’s Handbook (both for car and motorcycle). There is also a very helpful Florida Driver’s License FAQ section.
The software is available both from within the library and remotely from home.
To access the software, go to www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php, click on “Electronic Resources” on the left side and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page.
You may also go directly to http://ocplc.driving-tests.org/florida.
Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT:Library has free access to driver’s license practice exams and handbooks
CRESTVIEW — It's been almost two months since historic floods washed out a number of Okaloosa roads.
But the News Bulletin has received a significant number of comments about one road in particular.
"Are there any plans to fix the washed out roads like Oak Hill Road in Northeast Crestview?" Joe Maneen wrote on Facebook.
"Any word from the city on when they plan on fixing Oak Hill Road off of Old Bethel?" Amanda Ledford said in an email.
"Okaloosa County, why have you not fixed roads, dams and water runoff areas after the historic flooding in April?" Todd Lawrence wrote in a letter to the editor. "Roads like Oak Hill are still impassable. They continue to erode every time it rains because of no action by the county."
County Public Works officials say there is no timeframe on when these roads will be repaired and reopened.
“I don’t have a status on when that road work will be done,” said Clay Simmons, county division manager over roads and parks.
The department is determining whether the road qualifies for repairs with FEMA or Natural Resource Conservation Service funding, he said.
In the meantime, county engineers are redesigning the road.
“We want (the roads) to be able to withstand future flooding, if it should happen,” Simmons said.
Simmons said his office has received a “handful” of inquiries about the roadway's repair status.
“For the most part, everyone seems to understand that we have a lot of road work to do since the storm,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ledford and her family wait.
“There are a lot of residents that live on this road and (we are) having to travel quite a bit out of the way because of the road being washed out,” she said.
"… Spending more time and gas because of it."
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County: No date set for Oak Hill Road repairs
CRESTVIEW — Deb Edwards wants to see the Emerald Coast Wildlife Zoological Park light up this winter.
Edwards, a volunteer at the Deer Springs Drive zoo, is planning a family-friendly holiday event featuring a Christmas light display.
But she'll need sponsorships to make it happen, and time is of the essence.
Christmasdonebright.com, which offers a variety of large animated light displays, is offering 20 percent off online orders until June 30.
“We are hoping to get some sponsorship,” Edwards said. “We don’t want to take any money out of the general fund.”
Edwards asks that potential sponsors contact her before making online purchases.
In addition to lights, the zoo seeks a volunteer-licensed electrician to install additional electrical outlets throughout the zoo.
The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation, education and rehabilitation of Florida wildlife, owns and operates the zoo.
Offering community events like the planned Christmas outing and April's Easter Egg-stravaganZOO — during which, residents could visit with the Easter bunny and decorate eggs — is part of a goal to help the zoo expand.
“We don’t think small; we have big dreams for this place,” Edwards said.
“We want to bring in more exhibits and more animals.”
HOW TO HELP
Contact Deborah Edwards, mknbkn4u@cox.net or 685-9014, if you're interested in sponsoring zoo lights at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Zoological Park
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Zoo seeks sponsors for Christmas light display
Thanks to the heavy spring rains — particularly April's flash floods that left standing water everywhere — mosquitoes have endless breeding grounds.
In Okaloosa County, the most common mosquito flying around is the anopheles crucians, said Scott Henson, mosquito control director.
While it doesn't carry disease, residents still should be vigilant against standing water on their property, he said. Even something as small as a bird bath or an old tire can serve as a breeding ground.
To combat the swarms, the county started its spraying early this year.
WHO TO CALL
Call the Okaloosa County Mosquito Control, 651-7394 or 689-5774, to report mosquito hot spots or ask questions
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mosquitoes strong in Okaloosa following wet weather
