CRESTVIEW — Placing the McMahon Environmental Center's retired fire watch tower on the National Historic Lookout Register could facilitate obtaining grants to restore the structure as part of center refurbishments.

City Councilman Mickey Rytman, who supports preserving the tower, said he investigated including it on the national registry as a concerned citizen, not in his official council capacity.

"All I did was nominate it and the outcome was we are now on the registry," Rytman said.

Rytman's fellow council members were surprised by his report during Monday evening's council meeting.

"We were discussing taking the tower down but now it is on the National Historic Register," Councilman Tom Gordon said. "Have we just tied our hands by joining this registry?"

City Clerk Betsy Roy said the National Historic Lookout Register is not a Department of Interior protected historic structures listing such as the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the registry's website, it is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Forest Service and the Forest Fire Lookout Association.

"It is an organization that basically saves fire towers and gives us the chance to participate in grants that they have," Rytman said. "It doesn't lock us into anything."

The Crestview Kiwanis Club has undertaken refurbishment of the park as a community service project.

Roy, a Kiwanis member, said the club considers the tower's placement on the registry "a good thing" and welcomes the possibility of restoration grant money.

"Nobody really wanted to take the tower down and this could be a way to preserve it," Roy said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: McMahon Center fire tower placed on national lookout registry

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Housing Finance Corporation representatives are accepting online applications starting 9 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, May 15,  for the state's Hardest-Hit Fund Principal Reduction program.

Floridahomeowners who have remained current on their mortgages, but missed out on the opportunity to apply for the program last fall, will be able to do so later this week. Apply for free at the official Florida HHF Principal Reduction website for homeowners in all 67 counties.

“Since we first announced that the Florida Hardest-Hit Fund would implement a Principal Reduction program for homeowners who have remained current on their mortgages, we have been able to assist more than 2,400 homeowners with nearly $102 million,” said Steve Auger, executive director of Florida Housing.

“While our state’s housing market continues to recover, this is a second opportunity for those homeowners who did not apply last year to see if they may qualify for HHF-PR assistance.”

The program reached its goal of accepting 25,000 applications within one week prior to closing the application process last fall.

Florida Housing anticipates that online applications will continue until disbursements for qualified and approved homeowners near the $350 million in Florida Hardest-Hit funds approved by the Corporation’s Board.

As HHF-PR funding nears the allocation, Florida Housing will make public announcements approximately five working days prior to closing the application. Previous applicants who were deemed ineligible may have their applications re-evaluated by contacting their assigned HHF-PR Advisor and should not submit a new application.

The Florida HHF-PR program is designed to provide up to $50,000 to eligible homeowners who owe at least 125 percent more on their home than its current market value—commonly known as having a home that is “under water.”

Funds will be applied to reduce the principal balance of the first mortgage to lower its loan-to-value (LTV) to no less than 100 percent. The mortgage can then be recast (re-amortized) or refinanced to produce a lower monthly mortgage payment.

QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum qualifications a homeowner must meet to be considered for participation in the Florida HHF-PR program are as follows:

•Must be a Florida resident and a legal U.S. resident/legal alien, and occupy the property as the primary residence

•Must be current on the monthly mortgage payment—first mortgage payment cannot have been 60 or more days late within the past 24 months

•Must have purchased the home prior to January 1, 2010

•The unpaid principal balance for the first mortgage cannot exceed $350,000

•The loan-to-value ratio for the first mortgage must be more than 125 percent. In other words, home must be more than 125% “under water.”

•The total household income, including all persons age 18 years and older who live in the home, must be less than 140 percent of the Area Median Income.

Principal reduction program funds will be in the form of a 0-percent interest, forgivable loan that will be subordinate to current mortgages on the home. The loan can be forgiven over a five-year period, at a rate of 20 percent each year. For conventional mortgages, once HHF-PR funds are applied to the principal, the mortgage will be recast (the terms of the loans will remain the same, but the loan will be re-amortized).

If the borrower has a FHA, VA or USDA-RD mortgage, the mortgage will need to be refinanced within 180 days after closing on HHF principal reduction funds in order to receive the pro rata forgiveness.

If a refinance is not completed within the specified time, the principal reduction loan will be 100 percent forgiven after a full five years, with no incremental forgiveness.

Visit the website for more information or call the toll-free info line at 1-877-863-5244.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Housing corporation re-opens Hardest-Hit program fund

CRESTVIEW — With President Barack Obama's disaster declaration for Okaloosa County following the April 29-30 storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency may open an individual claims center in Crestview.

The City Council has unanimously approved Mayor David Cadle's request to provide the city's Senior Center in Old Spanish Trail Park for FEMA's use.

The center would handle residents' and business owners' claims for damage sustained during the April 29-30 storm, Cadle said.

Though he said FEMA might move into the Senior Center on Saturday, he did not know when the claims office will open.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele, who coordinated the local FEMA claims office's establishment with Okaloosa County Emergency Management Director Randy McDaniel, said it is not definite that FEMA will actually open a Crestview facility.

"We thought it was their intent to utilize the facility for North County residents but they have not yet made that decision," Steele said.

FEMA officials will tour the facility later in the week and then decide if they will open a local office, Steele said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FEMA considering Crestview storm claims office

Tami Kidd, who leads the Crestview Writers Group, has achieved much as a published author in such a short time.

Originally from Mountain Pine, Arkansas, she started a new life in the Florida Panhandle with her two teenage children in 2001. She was hired as a technical writer for a defense contractor, but always enjoyed writing on a personal level.

So she pursued it.

And after taking a Northwest Florida State College creative writing class in 2010, what once was a private hobby soon became a shared passion.

Awards and inspiration

Tami experienced tragedy with her young son, Richard's, sudden death in December, 2006.

A poem she wrote as a tribute to him, "I Thought I Saw You," won first place in the 2011 Baldwin Writers Contest, in Baldwin Ala. It has been included in the college’s "Blackwater Review" and "Collected Words from Writers of the Southern Coast."

In 2010, Tami took the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge and wrote 50,000 words from Nov. 1-30.

The challenge laid the groundwork for her novel, "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie," published in 2012.

Tami works full time but makes time to write, and says she has her husband, daughter and sister's encouragement and support.

Her love of the mystery genre and portrayals of strong female characters are major factors in her character-driven work, and she gains inspiration from life experiences, she said.

Writers unite

Writing has been a unifying force, Tami said. She has met many friends through the writing community and hopes to encourage others to pursue their dreams of becoming a published author.

And that's become more realistic with this year's establishment of the Crestview Writers Group, which regularly meets the fourth Monday of each month.

The library will be closed on Memorial Day, so the next meeting — scheduled for 6-8 p.m. June 23 — will feature guest speaker Laurie Allen, who will discuss “showing versus telling.”

As for Tami, she's working on the "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" sequel, and hopes to have it released late this fall.

WRITERS: WANT A REVIEW?

If you would like a critique of your written work, drop off a hard copy at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview,or email it to Tami Kidd, tamilynnkidd@gmail.com. (Limit to 10 pages.)

Marie Garcia is the Crestview Public Library's assistant director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Life experiences inspire local author, new writers group's leader

BAKER — Stanley Lane residents are still assessing damage from the historic floods on April 29. Several truck and trailer loads of roadside debris have been taken to a local landfill, but several more piles remain.

In homes, health is a top concern.   

"What we are doing now is trying to get (the house) clean, get all of the bacteria out and keep mold from growing (inside)," Kellye Gray said.

A foot of water ruined household furniture, interior walls and other items in the house that Pat Cyrus shares with her daughter, Kellye, son-in-law, George, and her two grandchildren.

The flooding also left two family vehicles inoperable; Kellye is now using a company-owned vehicle to commute.

The Grays are still going through flood-damaged storage sheds to see what is salvageable; family and friends have helped.

The couple could not estimate the total cost in flood damage, but whatever it is could have been offset by flood insurance. George said they didn't have it before the flood, but now he's reviewing policy options.

"Nobody out here has flood insurance," neighbor Michael Turman said. "Who would have thought you would need flood insurance out here?"

The neighborhood's properties average between 218 and 230 feet above sea level, according to Scott Henson, a stormwater division manager for Okaloosa County.

In addition to losing two beloved pet dogs, which drowned during the flooding, Turman estimates that the damage would cost around $30,000. His garage, including a couple of antique cars he renovated as a hobby, sustained enough damage to spur Turman to sign up for flood insurance.

"You (have to) be prepared for next time," he said. "This might be a once-in-a-50-year event, but it might not."

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 residents assess damage, consider flood insurance

CRESTVIEW — Nominations for the Mae Reatha Coleman Crestview Citizen of the Year Award are being accepted through June 13.

The award, named for its first recipient, a prominent community activist, will be presented for the third year this summer. Last year's recipient was former Mayor George Whitehurst.

Residents may nominate individuals who have had a positive impact on the Crestview community, enhancing residents' quality of life through involvement in local education, the environment, volunteer services, health, athletics and social programs.

To nominate someone, complete this form by June 13.

Forms may be submitted in person at Crestview City Hall or by email to cityclerk@cityofcrestview.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Citizen of the Year nominations now accepted (APPLICATION)

CRESTVIEW — The Carver-Hill Memorial & Historical Society has scheduled the following events for its annual May Day observance.

•8 a.m. May 23: Golf tournament at Foxwood Country Club, Crestview. Four-man, low-ball format. Cost is $45 per player. Mulligans are $1 each. Tournament proceeds will benefit the Caroline J. Allen Scholarship Fund. Lunch will be provided and trophies and prizes presented. Hole sponsorships and donations for prizes are sought. Call Barrow Evans, 368-4245, for more information.

•10 a.m. May 24: Community parade, McClelland Street, Crestview.

•10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 24: Carver-Hill Museum open for tours at 895 McClelland St., Crestview. Donations welcome for museum maintenance; make checks payable to CHMHS.

•11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 24: May Day Festival and Museum Day, Allen's Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

Includes May pole decorations by senior citizens, Mexican dancers at 11 a.m., a horseshoe competition, music by DJ Skanes from 2-6 p.m., a dance contest and sports competitions.

Prospective vendors may call Aaron Waters, 496-6150.

•3 p.m. May 25: May Day gospel program, Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, 502 McDonald St., Crestview.

Contact George Stakley, 682-2459, or visit the Carver-Hill society website for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Carver-Hill society plans May Day activities