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

CRESTVIEW — Sandra Bratcher, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lives on Social Security benefits, appreciates a little extra help.

For food, that means regular trips to the Raymond Williams Mission Center, a New Beginnings Church ministry. The West James Lee Boulevard facility, the namesake of the church's recently retired pastor, provides groceries and clothing to needy county residents. 

Helping people like Bratcher is fulfilling, volunteer Tommy Reaves said.

"It is people like her that make doing this worth it," he said.

In addition to being open Monday through Friday, the center opens the fourth Saturday each month for the United States Department of Agriculture's commodity food giveaway.

Soon, hours will change; the center will remain open on weekdays but the last Saturday food giveaway is June 28.

"We are going to assign everybody who comes on Saturday to come in one day, Monday through Friday," missions director Jimmy Smith said.

The decision allows volunteers to spend more time with family members and enjoy their weekends, he said.

Volunteers expect to see a daily increase in the number of needy residents with the change. Almost 400 residents come to the center's USDA days for groceries provided by Milton's Bay Area Food Bank and items donated by local Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart stores.

To meet federal guidelines, volunteers register residents who come in monthly to receive one bag of non-perishable groceries.

The center provides additional groceries as needed during emergencies, Smith said.

That's reassuring for residents like Bratcher.

 "I think it's wonderful what they are doing," she said as Reaves and Jodie Carter loaded her groceries in a taxi. "I just thank God that we can come and get this stuff."

NEED HELP?

WHAT: Free food, clothing for needy residents

HOURS: 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday

WHERE: Raymond Williams Mission Center, 404 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview

CONTACT: 398-6760

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview mission limits service to weekdays, but remains committed to community, volunteers say

CRESTVIEW — The American Red Cross and Winn-Dixie's “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” community donation program this month allows customers to make in-store donations for flood victims.

Donations will be accepted through May 20 at Panhandle stores including those in Crestview, 1326 N. Ferdon Blvd., DeFuniak Springs and Niceville.

Okaloosa and Walton counties are eligible for FEMA's individual and public assistance following the April 30 flooding. Counties and municipalities can seek reimbursement for expenditures and mitigate damage, a county spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Red Cross, Winn-Dixie partner for disaster relief efforts

Did you know the Crestview Public Library has a Skype computer for customer use?

Skype allows users to speak with friends and family over the Internet. You can phone other users who have Skype at no charge, and you can make conference calls including up to 25 people.

Imagine the possibilities!

Have a job interview out of the area? Why not request a video interview and use our Skype computer.

Keep in touch with your spouse or relatives overseas with a click of the video button on Skype's website. The software is easy to use; just create a password and know the phone number of the person you want to contact.

To access the library's Skype website, present your library card at the front circulation desk and ask to use the Skype computer.

We'll loan you a laptop computer and show you to a private tutor room, where you can access the webpage and begin your communication.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Communicate with relatives, business associates worldwide with Skype