CRESTVIEW — One of the city's best-kept secrets could become a bustling public resource now that the Crestview Kiwanis Club has taken on the McMahon Environmental Center as a community service project.

The City Council has unanimously blessed the club's plan to hold a forum to solicit community input on improvements for the center.

Help from CH2M Hill

Jayne Swift of city water contractor CH2M Hill, a natural history education advocate, prepared a site map showing suggested improvements.

The plan, presented to the council on Monday, includes demolishing the tower and forester's cottage and building a larger museum combined with classrooms on the site.

It suggests building a children's playground in the fenced-in enclosure and an outdoor stage or amphitheater on the site of the current museum.

Swift and Kiwanis representative Jim Lundy said the recommendations are only discussion starters. They will have a public forum to accept residents' input before developing a final plan.

"This is just an idea," Swift said. "Nothing is set in stone."

Preserving history

City Councilmen Mickey Rytman and Shannon Hayes spoke in favor of retaining at least the observation enclosure from the top of the fire tower as part of the city's history.

"Over the years I've seen places like our train station just disappear," Rytman said. "I hate to see things we can never see or build again get destroyed."

A contractor has offered to dismantle the tower and forester's cabin at no cost to the city in exchange for salvage rights to the debris, Lundy said.

While they would coordinate planning and fund-raising for environmental center improvements, "Kiwanis is not assuming any responsibility for construction or destruction," Lundy said.

The almost 3-acre McMahon Environmental Center on Mapoles Street and Butler Circle includes a wooded park containing more than 100 samples of native trees.

The city Parks and Recreation department runs the center, a frequent field trip destination for school groups and library children's programs.

Retired forester John McMahon, for whom the center is named, created the resource on land the state donated to the city. He often acts as a docent, guiding tours of the park and its small natural history and regional heritage museum.

Facilities include a covered outdoor classroom, a picnic pavilion and two fish ponds. The center's landmark retired fire tower and forester's cabin at its base are reminders of the site's heritage.

A fenced-in enclosure occasionally houses derelict city vehicles and includes a shed holding parade barricades.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Kiwanis Club adopts McMahon Center; Environmental center could have expanded museum, playground, amp

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Fire Department has a new rescue tool with a Main Street business' donation of a pet oxygen mask kit.

Customers of Pawsitively Scrumptious, a pet food, snacks and supplies shop, donated $85 to purchase the first of what owner April Meier hopes will be five kits for other local fire departments.

The money was raised between cash donations and $1 donated from the sale of each Firehose Dog Toy, a chew toy made from recycled fire hoses.

The Wag'N O2 Fur Life kit includes three sizes of pet oxygen masks, tubing, a kennel leash and animal rescue incident reports responders can complete and give to veterinarians.

One of Crestview's three manned fire stations didn't have a pet rescue kit until Meier presented it Christmas Eve. The next day, firefighters used the kit to save the life of a dog comatose from smoke inhalation in a house fire.

"If they didn't have that kit, the pet wouldn't have lived," Meier said.

Meier said the donation effort grew from a conversation last year with Fire Chief Joe Traylor.

"The chief said we have three fire stations for the city and one of them doesn't have a pet rescue kit," Meier said. "The city didn't have any money so I said, 'We're going to do a fund-raiser, Chief, and get a kit for you.'"

Her store is raising money to buy kits for the Laurel Hill, Blackman, Baker and Holt and Almarante fire departments. Ken Nielsen previously donated kits to North Okaloosa Fire District, Meier said.

Meier officially presented the kit to Crestview Assistant Fire Chief Ralph Everage Jr. at Monday's City Council meeting.

WANT TO HELP?

Donors may contribute toward the purchase of Wag'N O2 Fur Life Emergency Pet Rescue Kits for area fire departments. To help, purchase Firehose Dog Toys or donate cash at Pawsitively Scrumptious, 198 N. Main St., Crestview.  

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pet supply shop helps Crestview Fire Department save animals

CRESTVIEW — When tragedy strikes, Samantha Torgerson will be there to help, and she hopes other North Okaloosa residents will be, too.

The Okaloosa County Trauma Intervention Program, or TIP, seeks volunteers to help trauma survivors.  Just three cover the whole county, Torgerson, the group's crisis team manager, said.

No one should survive a crisis alone, whether it's a traffic accident, house fire, unexpected family death or becoming the victim of a crime, the Crestview resident said. 

Torgerson has responded to calls involving a homicide, suicide and helping a family cope with an unexpected death since she signed up to volunteer last April.

Responding to each call is challenging, and it takes "a person who is compassionate for everyone" to volunteer for the organization, she said.

Volunteers often serve as a liaison between first responders and victims, notifying friends and family about deaths, and help make arrangements for those needing food, shelter or clothing.  

Volunteers also help arrange follow-up services and provide referrals on agencies offering ongoing assistance.  

Torgerson invites any of those interested in becoming a member to contact her and consider registering for the TIP training academy classes.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: TIP Training Academy

WHEN: Jan. 23 through Feb.1, various times 

WHERE: Fort Walton Beach Police Department, 7 Hollywood Blvd. NE.

COST: $30; go to the TIP home page to register and see the training schedule.

CONTACT: Samantha Torgerson, storgerson@tip.org

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: Crestview woman: No one should face tragedy alone

CRESTVIEW — Bay Area Food Bank and Wal-Mart are raising the Panhandle's awareness for year-round hunger.

The Crestview Wal-Mart, among 21 Florida Panhandle stores, will hold a food drive through Feb. 2. All donations for the first Defeat Hunger Bowl will benefit Bay Area Food Bank and the pantries and soup kitchens it supports.

See a complete list of all stores participating in the first Defeat Hunger Bowl>>

"Currently, approximately one in six adults and one in four children are food insecure in our area … January is a tough time because people tend to focus on the issue more around the holidays, but hunger is a year-round problem," Dave Reaney, Bay Area Food Bank executive director, said.

Donors can purchase individual non-perishable food items or a $5 package of items available at participating stores.  

Kraft, Mondelēz, Coca-Cola and Campbell’s are other corporate partners for the effort.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bay Area Food Bank, Wal-Mart battling hunger through Feb. 2

CRESTVIEW — Organizers of March 29's Triple B: Blackwater, Bluegrass and Barbecue Cookoff  seek businesses and others interested in sponsoring the Main Street event.

"We are right on track," Christie Cadenhead, chairperson of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce event, said. "We had a real successful event last year and we are looking to expand on that."

Nearly 10,000 people attended the Triple B festival in the past two years, she said, citing the Crestview Police Department's data. 

In the Triple B's 10th year, event organizers want to attract more area musicians and entries for the barbecue cookoff without changing the event's format.

"We definitely don't want to re-invent the wheel," Cadenhead said.

Triple B features local musicians, including area church groups and school bands, like Crestview High's jazz band, which enhance the event, organizers said.

"We have found that people just enjoy listening to local talent," Cadenhead said.  

But sponsorships will help the event planning committee meet and exceed Triple B's potential.

Downloadable sponsorship details and application forms are available here.

Printable applications and sponsorship packages, which range from $250 to $3,000, will also be available at the monthly chamber breakfast meeting, which kicks off at 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.

Cadenhead encourages potential sponsors to submit the application forms early to better market their business or organization.  

WANT TO BECOME A SPONSOR?

Businesses and others interested in sponsoring this year's Triple B festival can click here for information on sponsorship packages and a downloadable application. Potential sponsors with more questions can contact event chair Christie Cadenhead at 796-2000 ext. 4601 or ChristieC@FNBT.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: Sponsors sought for Crestview chamber's annual Triple B festival

CRESTVIEW — Order Sons of Italy in America's Richard A. Capozzola Lodge 2865 presents a family pasta night Jan. 17.

Pasta with meatballs or sausage, salad, bread, tea and dessert will be served 5-8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Foxwood Country Club, 4927 Antioch Road.

Adults pay $7 per plate; children 11 and under pay $3.50 per dish. Take-outs are available.

Call Joy, 496-0085, or Karen, 682-1416, for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Italian heritage lodge presents Jan. 17 pasta night