BAKER — The Old Spanish Trail Pro Rodeo has entertained North Okaloosa crowds for 25 years, and increasing attendance over that time has meant greater financial support for the Baker Area Recreation Association.

Now, members want to give some support of their own. 

"For 24 of those years, all of the proceeds have all gone back into the facility to improve the facility and keep it up," BARA President Mark Todd said. "This year, we wanted to (give) something back to the community."

The gift, $1,000 in proceeds, will benefit local breast cancer research and awareness. 

Sally Cary, an American Cancer Society community events specialist, said the donation goes to ACS's Emerald Coast office in Fort Walton Beach. The branch, which also covers Crestview and Baker, will help fund patient services. That includes providing free wigs to women receiving radiation treatments and offering a 24-hour informational and support hotline.

Todd said he and other members were inspired to support breast cancer research after learning Sadie Lynn, a member of rodeo participants the All-American Cowgirl Chicks, was diagnosed with cancer at a young age.

"Being aware of that … we felt that breast cancer (awareness) was something we wanted to contribute to," Todd said. 

BARA members plan to continue supporting breast cancer with future rodeos, Todd said.

And that's good, because many residents need the help, Cary said.

"One out of eight women is going to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and their chances of beating it are very, very good now," she said.

There is a 3 percent — or one out of 36 — chance that a woman will die from breast cancer, according to the ACS website, cancer.org. Death rates have declined due to awareness, early detection and improved treatments.

April's two-day rodeo attracted almost 3,000 attendees each night, Todd said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker recreational association gives breast cancer research $1K boost

The American Cancer Society invites Relay for Life attendees to bring their canine companions to the first registered Bark for Life of the Emerald Coast event. 

The event will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Destin Dog Park and City Complex, 4200 Indian Bayou Trail.

The day will include canine vendors and activities such as the Survivor Lap, Luminaria Lap, agility courses and a doggie cake walk.

Registration is $20 per dog, and participants can register online or at the event.

For more information, call Michelle with the American Cancer Society at 850-244-3813 ext. 3554 or visit www.relayforlife.org/emeraldcoastbarkfl.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bark for Life of the Emerald Coast, American Cancer Society invites dogs

The Crestview Police Department will have coffee with the public Thursday.

To start a conversation with the community, police will be at  McDonald's, 302 W. James Lee Blvd., from 4-6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview invited to coffee with Police Department

Crews will resume paving operations on State Road (S.R.) 20 Thursday, May 29 beginning at the Mid Bay Connector in Okaloosa County and continuing eastbound on S.R. 20 toward Walton County. Motorists can expect lane restrictions Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with flagmen directing traffic.  

All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. For more information regarding the Florida Department of Transportation District Three, follow us on twitter at @myfdot_nwfl.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa paving operations resume on State Road 20

CRESTVIEW —   The Main Street Crestview Association and the city seek artists interested in displaying their talents on downtown sidewalks.

A chalk art competition will coincide with a sidewalk sale on May 31. Entering the competition — which includes children, youth, adult and professional artist categories — is free. Participants just need to bring washable chalk and start their artwork early enough so it's completed by 2 p.m., event organizer April Meier said.

Each participant has a chance to win some of the $350 in cash prizes, thanks to local banks' sponsorships. Residents are encouraged to help select the competition's winners.

Click here for a printable registration form>>

"We want the citizens of Crestview to decide the winners," Meier said.

Voting begins at 2:30 p.m. Residents can stop by the Pawsitively Scrumptious Bark Bakery and Boutique, on the corner of Main Street and Woodruff Avenue, to receive a ballot.

Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. at the Main Street Crestview Association tent near Pawsitively Scrumptious, according to the registration form. 

The competition is a first for downtown Crestview, Meier said.

"We thought this would be a great way to bring more people to Main Street," she said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: "Sidewalk Mania," asidewalk sale and chalk art  competition

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 31

WHERE: Main Street, Crestview

COST: Free

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sidewalk chalk art competition part of this weekend's 'Sidewalk Mania'

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Area Sister City Program members anticipate welcoming two visiting French high school students this summer and three exchange students from the University of Nantes La Roche-sur-Yon campus this fall.

The university students will be the first to study at Northwest Florida State College under a newly signed agreement between the two schools that grew from Crestview's sister city relationship with Noirmoutier-en-l'Île.

Jeremy Ribando, Northwest Florida State College Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts department chair, and his wife, Ashley, briefed program members on Saturday during their spring "pique-nique" in Twin Hills Park.

Ribando also discussed his show choirs' May 2015 performances in Noirmoutier. The students, most of whom will venture out of the United States for the first time, will also visit Paris and London, he said.

Crestview's Sister City group will visit Noirmoutier at the same time, providing a hometown component to audiences welcoming the Soundsations, Madrigals and Belle Voci to the island off France's west coast.

The program's expanding educational component will include a visit by 23 Noirmoutrin teenage students in October 2015, Crestview High French teacher Chris Lanoue said.

"The program has grown in the last few years, with more members joining us," longtime member Joe Coffield said. "I like the idea of the kids coming, especially the high school kids.

"It might be better if the college kids stayed with hosts down in the Niceville area, though. But I'm always thinking on the practical, logistical side."

The 2015 exchanges mark the 20th anniversary of the cultural, educational citizen diplomacy program formed in 1995 through Sister Cities International. Membership is open to any Crestview area resident.

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: NWF State to welcome first French exchange students this fall

BAKER — The North Okaloosa Historical Association's Family Heritage Wall of Honor at Baker Block Museum has 15 new entries, bringing the list to 31 colorful, hardworking and beloved Okaloosa County honorees.

More than 70 attendees at Saturday's Wall of Honor induction ceremony listened enraptured as each inductee's biography was read.

Click here for a photo gallery from Saturday's Family Wall of Honor induction ceremony>>

The ceremony honored some who entered the roll posthumously as well as county residents who still contribute to the community.

FAMILY HERITAGE WALL OF HONOR

2014 Inductees

Cecil L. Anchors Sr.

John Pershing Bishop and Mildred Hoffman Bishop

Mack Brooks

Dorethea Griffith Woods and Charles Griffith

Danny Hall and Claudene Cook Hall

Tommie Autrey Holloway and Delean Austin Holloway

Louise Walton Lovell

Elton Ezery McCurley and Edie McCurley

Lucile Chessher Steele

Lucille Wanewright Wickliffe 

Audience members smiled and nodded as stories of family, love, faith, military service, community support, farming and cooking were related.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, in a letter his assistant, Helen Hunt Ridgon, read, praised the museum "for honoring the unsung individuals from Okaloosa County for their contributions to their families and local community."

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: UNSUNG INDIVIDUALS: 15 inductees enter Family Heritage Wall of Honor rolls