CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County's longest-serving sheriff died Monday after a period of hospice care. Ray Wilson was elected in 1956 and served 20 years in office.

Wilson had campaigned for office promising to avenge the 1940 murder of his father, former Crestview Police Chief Lester Wilson, who was shot through the front door of the family home shortly after his son, then 12 years old, went to bed.

Lester Wilson was planning to run for sheriff at the time.

"He was a cinch to be elected," Ray Wilson said in a 1958 interview with The Miami News. "He had promised to clean up gambling and bootlegging."

After tracking down three suspects 18 years after the murder, Ray Wilson continued searching for those he said "paid them and some others who did the planning."

Sheriff Larry Ashley conferred a Civic Leader Award on Wilson in April  2012 and spent "a couple hours talking and going over old pictures," sheriff's spokesperson Michele Nicholson said.

Nicholson said the two sheriffs remained good friends. Ashley said Wilson "was known for his fairness, grit, intelligence and, of course, his ever-present cowboy hat."

"It was obvious to me how much he had genuinely loved serving this community for 20 years as sheriff," Ashley said.

Arrangements are being made with Brackney Funeral Home in Crestview. No details are available as yet.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Longest-serving Okaloosa County sheriff dies

CRESTVIEW — Feb. 15 is the deadline for parents who want to sign their children up for next month's 26-hour Emerald Coast Young Marines boot camp.  

Boot camp — March 1, 8 and 15, for children ages 8 to high school graduates — will require participation in drills, running and completing multiple team-building exercises.

"The boot camp is the initial way to become part of the Emerald Coast Young Marines," Unit Cmdr. Lynn Dominique said.

And prospective recruits, take note: You will be watched throughout the camp.

"Every single recruit has the opportunity to step up and show leadership," Gunnery Sgt. Michael Warren said. "We are scrutinizing them the entire way, so if they have traits that exemplify good leadership, we are going to take note of that."

That could mean promotion to higher ranks within the organization.

The camp takes place at several locations, including the Crestview Elks Lodge, American Legion Post 75, Twin Hills Park and a U.S. Army Ranger training facility on Eglin Air Force Base.

The organization can change recruits' lives, Warren said.

"Before I joined, I had little to no morals to God and country," he said. "Thanks to boot camp, the experience has awakened me to the (military) heritage and the responsibilities American youth have."

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Emerald Coast Young Marines Boot Camp seminar

WHEN: 1 p.m. Feb. 15

WHERE: Elks Lodge 2624, 127 W. Pine Ave., Crestview

CONTACT: Unit Cmdr. Lynn Dominique, staff@emeraldcoastyoungmarines.com or www.ecymfl.com

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Young Marines boot camp teaches leadership skills

When the Rev. Heath Burchett announced in 2008 he'd been called to another church, First United Methodist Church members were heartbroken.

However, loss of the church's young youth minister and associate pastor and his energetic wife, Amanda, was another ministry's gain.

Since leaving Crestview, the Burchetts have been building a mission the couple founded in Belize City, Belize.

Full story in the Feb. 5-7 edition!

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: COVER STORY: Former Crestview pastor's Belize mission makes a difference

CRESTVIEW — Jane McCreary and Joe Jones, Master Gardener interns, aren't yet tree planting experts, but they're learning quickly.

"We're getting there," Jones said. "It's fun. If you like nature and gardening and growing things, this is a very enjoyable group to join."

McCreary and Jones are earning hours toward their certification with various activities, including Monday's tree-planting at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Services County Extension office. About a dozen volunteers showed up recently to help plant trees around the extension's Crestview branch.

"This piece of property already had a fairly good collection of native plants and we're adding to that," Larry Williams, county extension director, said. The tender young trees will form part of the county extension stormwater management program and enhance the quarter-mile nature trail through the woods behind the Airport Road facility.

"The purpose of the trail, and ultimately the landscape, will be educational. We will eventually label a lot of the plants," Williams said. "Also, it's an attempt to bring better awareness to people about the wealth of native plants that are suitable for landscape and encourage use of those plants."

Volunteers enjoyed the fellowship among green thumbs.

"I just retired and I thought, 'I want to do something,'" Rusty Weenink said as he helped Master Gardeners President Stacey Taylor and member Les Chambers plant a Southern sugar maple.

University of West Florida environmental studies students Jessica Kaono and Elizabeth Steele were among the volunteers who partnered with Master Gardeners to learn planting techniques.

Former Master Gardeners president John Bauer helped Steele plant a crabapple tree as extension horticulture agent Sheila Dunning  supervised the planting and delivered wheelbarrows full of saplings.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gardening experts-in-training enhance county extension grounds, nature trail

CRESTVIEW — Terell Burgess appreciates getting AARP volunteers' free tax filing advice at the Crestview Public Library.

"It is very beneficial coming to the library, rather than going to somewhere else and spending $50 and $100," he said. "I highly recommend this to other people."   

Volunteers will assist low- to moderate-income residents four days a week through April 15. 

Many residents from North Okaloosa and parts of southern Alabama have traveled to Crestview just to get their taxes ready for the IRS,  second-year volunteer Irene Maier said.

Volunteers say a growing number of area residents seek assistance.

'"It has increased over the years," 11-year volunteer Louise Eastridge said.

Each volunteer receives a week of training, either in person or online, and must pass an Internal Revenue Service test, certifying them as tax preparation counselors.

Depending on the number of people who sign in and the complexity of their tax returns, Eastridge said volunteers try to see as many people as they can between each period.

But their help is in limited supply.

"We have to cut it off at some point," she said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: AARP Tax Aide Preparation

WHEN: 2-5 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  

WHERE: Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive

COST: Free

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: AARP volunteers offer free tax preparation

Dr. Erica Elaine Syklawer and Dr. Neel Mukul Kumar were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Jan. 18, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans. The Rev. Frederick Powell officiated at the ceremony.

The couple's parents are Dr. and Mrs. Ricardo Syklawer of Dothan, Ala., and Mr. and Mrs. Mukul Kumar of Snohomish, Wash.  Dr. Erica Syklawer Kumar is the granddaughter of Edith Newton Hilburn of Crestview, and the late Howard Edward Hilburn.  

The bride's father gave her in marriage. Dr. Alex Kosmidis and Dr. Cassidy Koonce presented the music, playing piano and organ and violin, respectively. 

The bride's sisters, Dr. Allison Syklawer Tutwiler, Dallas, and Sarah Brooke Syklawer, Birmingham, Ala., and the groom's sister, Monica Renu Kumar, Mobile, Ala., presented the Scriptures.

Dr. Allison Syklawer served as matron of honor. Sarah Syklawer served as maid of honor. Monica Kumar; Jennifer Leigh Tosch, Mobile; Dr. Christine Elizabeth Jabcuga, Burlington, Vt., and Dr. Rashmi Sajjan Rajendra, New Orleans, were bridesmaids.

Vijay Kumar, Seattle, Wash., the groom's brother, and Jason Paul Tornquist, Seattle, served as best men. Dr. Araya Negash, East Lansing, Mich.; Dr. Tony C. Chang, San Francisco, Calif.; Casey Joe Jones, Everett, Wash.; and Dr. Vikram T. Saini, New Orleans, were groomsmen.

Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception  at the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom in the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. The groom’s parents entertained the wedding party with a rehearsal dinner at Pat O’Brien’s on the River.

After honeymooning on Bora Bora Island, the couple will live in New York City to begin their fellowship programs in July 2014 after completing their residency programs.

The News Bulletin publishes north Okaloosa County residents' “Special Occasions”— birth, centenarian, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements— at no charge. We may edit submissions for length and style. Call 850-682-6524 or send us an email for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: WEDDING: Syklawer and Kumar wed

The Carver-Hill Memorial & Historical Society's annual Black History Program is 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Carver-Hill Center on School Avenue in Crestview.

This year's guest speaker is U.S. Army Col. Arvesta Roberson, a Crestview native and Crestview High School graduate. His mother is Rae Roberson of Crestview.

Contact society president George Stakley, 803-3459, for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Black History Program coming Feb. 8