Drew Barefield, 12, of Crestview, is in critical condition after being struck by the propeller of a boat headed at high speed. He was snorkeling in the bay off Choctaw Beach Sunday evening.

Anyone can send cards and notes of encouragement Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., or mail them to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3252 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. The church office will be closed Thursday.

Also, gifts of Prepaid Visa gift cards or donations that the family may use for meals and incidentals while they are staying in Pensacola, would be graciously accepted.

Also an account to assist with expenses and bills has been set up with BBVA Compass Bank.

Those wishing to donate may donate in person to the ‘Drew Barefield Donation Account’ or at www.ebccrestview.com on the "Online Giving" Page.

Fish and Wildlife officers confiscated a boat late Monday “possibly connected” to the accident. No arrests have been made in connection to the incident.

Quick, efficient effort by father Trey Barefield after the accident gave emergency crews a fighting chance to get Drew needed medical attention, a Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Donations accepted for injured Crestview boy; ongoing investigation

Our summer reading program is off to a fizzing, booming start! 

And it’s not too late to join!

Check out the Youth Services page on our website, cityofcrestview.org/library.php, for details about programs for youths from 1 day old through 17 years old. 

Print out the Summer Reading Log (or pick one up at the library) and challenge your rising first-grader or older child to read each day for at least 15 minutes! 

Every day they rise to the challenge, they earn a funny money dollar. Turn in Reading Logs no later than July 23. Then, come to Reader Awards at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29 at the Community Center. There, readers can spend their hard-earned cash at the Funny Money Auction and Store. 

Although readers must be rising first-graders or older, younger siblings are welcome to come and cheer for their big brothers and sisters at Reader Awards! 

We will have a yummy treat provided by Quiznos for all in attendance! 

Prizes have been donated by the community. If you have something in great condition that will light up a child’s eyes, please bring it into the library! We accept Funny Money Auction and Store prizes year-round in order to have ample supply and variety for our readers! 

This event is sponsored by the Crestview Public Library.

Please call 682-4432 with questions. 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Read books and earn funny money for prizes

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Rotary Club has its largest class of new members in recent history and a new slate of officers.

At the club’s June 25 meeting, assistant district governor John Blair, a Crestview club member, swore in the organization’s new president, Hub City Smokehouse owner Mike Carroll.

“I have some really big shoes to fill,” Carroll said, acknowledging past president Don Turner's accomplishments.

Under Turner’s administration, the Crestview Rotary established a student Interact Club at Crestview High School, and won the Rotary Zone 34 Public Image Award.

The zone encompasses the entire southern U.S. and the Caribbean, Blair said.

Joining Carroll on the new club board are directors Bill Barnhill, Larry Ward and Chad Wilkinson; treasurer Kim Day-Scheid, sergeant-at-arms Ronnie Lunsford, secretary Pat Hollarn and president elect Allyson Oury.

“To the past board, thank you,” Carroll said. “To the new board: Roll your sleeves up. We have a lot of work to do.”

The local Rotary’s next project will be the annual September distribution of free dictionaries in north county schools.

WANT TO GO?

The Crestview Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Coach-N-Four, 114 John King Road, Crestview.

Contact club secretary Pat Hollarn, 585-7768, or president Mike Carroll, 685-3614, for details.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rotary installs new officers, inducts new members

CRESTVIEW — The Bouton family wants you to meet their newest addition.

Andros, a trained guide dog, is a black Labrador who will assist Chad Bouton, a 21-year-old with a progressive eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. RP has left him with 10 percent vision peripherally, and he is legally blind.

VIDEO: Watch Crestview resident Chad Bouton shows how Andros, his guide dog, will help him get around>>

 Chad and his sister, Alexa, 19, were both diagnosed with RP at a young age.

 “First it attacks your peripheral vision then it attacks your central vision, until it leaves you completely blind,” Chad said.

Chad and Alexa are taking treatments to slow the disease’s progress, but there's no cure for RP.

“There is no surgery or no cure for it, because it is a mutated gene,” said Donna, Chad and Alexa’s mother.

Strength, determination

Chad and Alexa use canes to get around, especially during evenings, Donna said. 

Family and friends walk slightly ahead of Chad, who holds on to their elbows; that's how he knows when he needs to step up or down for curbs.

Donna said her children are her heroes for how they've coped with declining sight.

“I am beyond proud of my children for their strength and determination,” she said in an email.

Now, a little extra help is needed. Chad and his family reached out to Southeastern Guide Dogs, a Palmetto, Fla., non-profit organization that pairs visually impaired individuals with a trained guide dog.

In May, Chad stayed at the south Florida campus for 26 days, while he trained and bonded with Andros.

Through a donation from the Lions Club of Sarasota, Chad attended at no cost.

Ready for college

Chad returned to Crestview earlier this month and continues to bond with Andros, who's been trained since he was a puppy to help people get around safely.  

Androsguides Chad around objects in his path and warns him of approaching doorways or sidewalk curbs.

Chad, who majors in history at the University of West Florida, said he looks forward to having Andros with him in the fall.

Using a cane is not nearly as good as having a guide dog because a cane cannot detect limbs hanging down on sidewalks, Chad said. Plus, his cane gets caught on limbs, leaves and cracks in the sidewalk. Andros steers him away from path obstructions, his mother said.

Alexa doesn't have a guide dog, but her mother says she's interested in seeing if she can have one, too.

Donna said she is encouraged by what she's seen.

 “After watching Chad work with Andros, I have so much more confidence now,” she said. “I don’t worry so much … I know that he has got Chad.” 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: COLLEGE-BOUND LAB: Crestview man gets extra help on campus

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

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

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