CRESTVIEW — Family, friends, fellow barbers and clients of Rook Torres are asking the community for help after Torres was involved in a terrible motorcycle accident Saturday.

"Last night we almost lost him," Brent Parry wrote on a Go Fund Me account titled "Heal out Rook." The page is dedicated to helping Torres, 28, with his medical expenses.

Parry said Torres was leaving a get-together for a friend who opened a barber shop in Panama City. He lost control of his motorcycle and hit a car.

Torres walked away from the wreck and began having difficulty breathing, not knowing he was bleeding internally. EMS realized his condition and transported him to Bay Medical Sacred Heart, according to Parry.

Doctors were able to remove Torres' ruptured kidney and stop the internal bleeding. However, according to Parry, they could not sew Torres' incision because of swelling in his stomach area.

Parry said Torres, now in a drug-induced coma, is in an Intensive Care Unit but stable. Doctors are attempting to bring the swelling down and hope to perform surgery on his stomach by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Torres also has a laceration on his knee that won't be operated on until surgery on his stomach is completed, Parry said.

"He has a long road ahead of him, but trust me, he’s a fighter," Parry wrote in a Facebook post.

Parry said Torres is unaware of his situation.

In his current condition, Torres is expected to have at least a three month recovery.

Parry said after the incident occurred, clients began reaching out wondering how they could help with Torres' medical expenses.

"Hes been here since February and has hundreds of people that consider him family," Parry said.

As an independent barber, Torres doesn't have access to company-funded health insurance.

"That’s the thrill of being a barber … the freedom to control your own life," Parry said. “… It’s a risk we run.”

However, because Torres will be away from his barber chair — his livelihood — for at least three months, Parry hopes the community will help with expenses.

"We are his family," Parry said.

Torres' fellow barbers miss seeing his smile and having his positive attitude around the barber shop, Parry said.

Currently, they have a memorial display in his chair along with a donation jar.

"He's my best friend for a reason," Parry said. "He sees Crestview for what it is, and he sees a side of Crestview that a lot of people don’t."

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/heal-our-rook?member=888184 or bring donations to Hub City Barbers, 211 N. Main St.

Parry said there will be T-shirts with Torres' name on them for sale, and 100 percent of the proceeds going to Torres' medical expenses.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hub City Barbers seeks help to 'Heal our Rook'

CRESTVIEW — There are three factors in maintaining and improving memory for the elderly, according to Eden at Crestview assisted living community Executive Director Alan Woods: meals, medication and movement. It is the mission of Eden staff to work with its residents in these areas.

Meals

For seniors living at home, it takes a lot of time and effort to go to the store, buy groceries, come home, put them away, do the cooking and then clean up, Woods said.  And so it becomes easy to resort to quick, less-than-healthy food options, which can negatively affect memory.

Eden offers popular southern cuisine with meals approved by a registered dietician, according to Woods.

Medication

Incorrect medication dosage can have a detrimental effect on memory as well.

If memory is already an issue for seniors, keeping track of medication can become challenging and a concern for family members. Is mom forgetting to take her medicine? Is dad taking too much? Eden can take the worry out of medication management by allowing trained staff to keep its residents on schedule with the right dosages.

Movement

Movement encompasses three types of activity at Eden: physical, mental and social. Studies say, according to Woods, physical activity has a positive impact on mental acuity and memory. To this end, Eden provides physical activity like live music for dancing.

Eden activities staff also works with residents to keep their minds sharp with art projects, word puzzles, bingo and card games. There is also a library.

Finally, Woods said socialization is another important tool to maintain mental faculties.

"If mom or dad is sitting at home all day long, they start to withdraw. If you don’t use your social skills," Woods said, "memory starts going (along with) morale and attitude."

And so Eden provides group activities like a "happy hour" to foster building relationships among the residents.

The last Thursday of the month, Eden at Crestview holds a community update at Samuel’s Roadhouse, 114 John King Road. Call 417-0103 or email alan@livingateden.com to RSVP.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Three keys to improving your memory retention

CRESTVIEW — Local cook Sherri Williams is preparing for her return to the World Food Championships Nov. 7-11 in Orange Beach, Alabama.

She is cooking in the sandwich category this year, but hopes to eventually defend her 2017 WFC Granny Grilling win.

"I don't know if they're going to have that this year, but I hope they do, because I want to defend my title," she said, laughing. She especially enjoyed that their Grilling Granny judges were 20 middle- to high school-age children.

Some attendees may have recognized Williams from her appearances on Food Network competitions such as "Guy's Big Project" and "All-Star Academy."

Area residents got a taste of her competitive chops when the Army veteran cooked and shared simple recipes with the public Sept. 29 and 30 at the Niceville Walmart. The recipes Williams created and those by other WFC winners are posted available online as part of the Food Champ Recipe Club, https://worldfoodchampionships.com/fcrc-recipes.

Of the weekend cooking sessions, Williams said, "It went really well. I love it! I loved talking to them about food," she said. "It was a lot of fun." 

On Saturday morning she made sweet and spicy pulled pork sliders with mild peppers and ranch dressing, and a pecan pumpkin mousse parfait that afternoon.

Sunday recipes included Asian-inspired pork fried rice and piña colada slaw with pecans.

She also showed her audience how to make substitutions for recipe requirements that may not be in stock at the grocery store. For instance, sausage crumbles were an ingredient in the fried rice recipe. She showed attendees how they could buy sausage patties, chop them up and use them instead.

"We used all of Walmart's Great Value products and their Marketside Value, and all the recipes you can make in less than 30 minutes," Williams said, "and the meats are all fully cooked already."

The parfaits called for four ingredients, including pumpkin in the can, whipped cream, crushed shortbread cookies and nuts.

Sherri also spoke about her love of cooking competitions and the challenges that go with it. She said you have to be able to think really fast, make food that tastes good, cook it, plate it and put it in front of the judges.

"You've gotta be a real fast thinker. You've got to think on your feet and just do it," she said.

She said in one grilling competition, they had these huge red snappers that had to be scaled, cleaned and prepped before they could cook them in the limited time they had available. And the weather was not cooperating with the grilling they had to do.

"You have to have a back up plan," and adapt to the conditions you're working in, she said. With the rainy weather not helping, she wound up flaking the fish she prepared instead of serving the fillet portion she'd planned on.

This article was updated to correct the information about the World Food Championships dates, and Sherri Williams' military status.

Here's a list of articles the News Bulletin has written about the local chef through the years.

• Crestview cook enters Food Network competition: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/news/20171013/crestview-cook-enters-food-network-competition
• 3 local chefs collaborate on Crestview's first guest chefs' dinner (PHOTOS): http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/article/20151020/NEWS/151039931
• Crestview competitive chef inspires Northwood Cougars (PHOTOS, VIDEO): http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.441702
• Crestview woman: Hopefully, $10K contest win inspires other backyard chefs: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.340752
• Crestview's grilling guru: Sherri Williams wins regional grilling competition, advances to New York: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.332655
• Crestview woman quits job, focuses on cooking: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.276139
• WINNING WINGS: Crestview chef to appear on national talk show: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.85494
• Crestview woman's poppers recipe takes national contest's top prize: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.234339
• CULINARY ARTS: Crestview resident wins nationwide cooking contest: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.70923
• CULINARY ARTS: Award-winning braised beef short ribs and radishes: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/1.71286

More about Sherri Williams

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview cook prepares for culinary challenge

CRESTVIEW — From the Pacific northwest to the Florida Panhandle, Courtney Durke brings a little West Coast flare to her beauty shop in Crestview.

Durke, who moved to Crestview a year ago, opened Bloom Beauty Bar in August.

She said she wanted to open something more than a hair salon with a modern feel.

"I just wanted to create…a fun, trendy atmosphere, very modern for Crestview," Durke said. "I feel like it's something clients are looking for."

The building is filled with modern decorations and furniture, the majority of which has been built locally, according to Durke.

The main difference between the beauty bar and a typical hair salon are the services offered, Durke said.

Bloom Beauty Bar offers many hair services like cuts, colors, and styling for events. One of the stylists, Shelby Smith, offers makeup services including airbrush makeup.

"I didn't want to limit it to just a hair studio," Durke said.

Eventually, Durke plans to have an esthetician — a person who specializes in skin care and provides facials.

One room in the beauty bar that is currently an office will eventually be open for rental to a masseuse.

Durke said she enjoys being a hair stylist because of the relationships she's able to develop with her clients.

"We really become more like family with our clients," Durke said.

Earlier this year, Durke said she had a client pass away, and her last wish was for Durke to do her hair.

"It was definitely sad, but it was rewarding in a way that we literally see our clients through death," Durke said. "…It was an honor."

Smith recently met Durke through the smartphone social media application Instagram and rents a booth in the beauty bar. Smith said this is one of the first times she's felt truly relaxed in a salon.

"I've been doing hair for a little over three years, and this is the first one I've been at where I felt at ease all day long," Smith said.

Currently, Bloom Beauty Bar is open with four stylists but will have a grand opening on Oct. 19.

They are located at 277 Texas Parkway.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bloom Beauty Bar brings a modern, trendy atmosphere to Crestview

The time has come for a decision to be made about Brett Kavanuagh's appointment to the Supreme Court. Bad things have been alleged against him and many, many glorious things have been said about him. The Judiciary committee, the Senate and all of Congress are now faced with the decision of what to do with Kavanuagh and that decision is to go forward. 

The sexual assault alleged against Kavanaugh is a heinous accusation that no one should ever take lightly. The lack of evidence and support that the accuser has from witnesses and other facts that she cannot present or remember is disconcerting. Not only is it disconcerting there is no enough evidence against Kavanaugh to make a legal case. Kavanaugh's denial and his life of service and commending testimonies from so many who have worked with him throughout the years have weighed heavily in his favor. 

Let's face it, almost all of the Democrats will vote against him and the Republicans will vote for him. Amazingly, with all of the rhetoric, testimonies and mud hurled from both sides of this debate it will come down to a decision to be made.  Many decisions will simply be made in favor of the President's recommendation and decisions will be made against the President's recommendation. It depends on whether you are a Democrat or Republican. 

I like Kavanaugh. I would vote for him. He has a lifelong outstanding record of service. I feel very sorry for his accuser. I hope that she can find emotional healing.  She seems to have lived a very productive life filled with educational and career attainments. 

It comes down to making a decision. My decision for Kavanaugh is based on substantiated facts. It's a lousy ugly process that seems now to be a part of every national debate. Time and again we are faced with "he said, she said," testimony that is factored into national elections and Supreme Court appointments. It will never go away and will be a part of most of our important elections and other national appointments from here on out it seems. 

Rapists, abusers, assaulters should not never be installed in places of such high service as the Supreme Court or even the Presidency. With that being said, we must not ever allow a last minute below the belt punch, which is what some of these accusations seem to be. They are like a last minute hail Mary thrown in hopes that someone somewhere will catch it and run with it to some kind of miraculous victory that otherwise would be impossible. 

Joseph was a young man in the Bible who lived an exemplary life. He was accused of rape by Potiphar's wife simply because he refused her advances to sleep with her. She was a scorned woman and was happy for Joseph to spend two years in prison because he refused her sexual advances. Joseph was falsely accused and treated very badly. Eventually he was freed from prison and went on to do great things for the nation of Egypt and his fellow countrymen.  

Kavanaugh's not going to jail but he has been through an emotional nightmare. He will go forward to serve our country in a great way.

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author. 

What’s your view? Write a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Kavanaugh – Decision Time – Emotional Nightmare

BAKER — In a team sport like volleyball, unity and chemistry is an important part of achieving success.

This rings true for the Baker School varsity volleyball team, who leads their district with an undefeated record working towards another successful season.

The back of their team t-shirt reads, "To everybody, we're a team, but to each other, we're a family."

Coach Kathy Combest said this is more than a saying — it's their motto.

The Gator's volleyball team has taken the district title for 15 consecutive years.

Combest said she hopes to make this year number 16.

Currently, the team has a record of 15-3 with two losses to Crestview High School but no losses in their district.

Combest's goals for her team this year is to see them advance all the way to the state championship.

"This season, we want to go all the way," Combest said.

Winning a state championship is a big goal to have, but Combest said she has ways to prepare her girls for the challenge — intense training and playing tougher teams like Crestview High School and Fort Walton Beach High School.

"The better competition we play, either you're going to rise up to it or you're not," Combest said.

The Baker volleyball team has never won a state championship, Combest said.

Combest, also the girl's basketball coach, has been with the Baker volleyball team for a total of 26 years, but her career as a volleyball coach began in 1986.

Prior to 1986, Combest said she had never played volleyball.

"What got me into it is when I came here to coach basketball, the volleyball coach retired," Combest said. "…They asked me to coach, and I said, 'Well, I'll coach, but if I suck, you're going to find somebody else.'"

Combest retired in 2008 for health reasons but returned to the game in 2011 at Crestview High School.

In 2016, she made her return to Baker.

Combest plans to retire after next year's season, and her daughter Chelsea Combest, the assistant coach, will likely take over as head coach.

The Gators have six regular season games left including the district tournament on Oct. 15 at Central High School.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'To everybody, we're a team, but to each other, we're a family'

My doctor sent me for a CT scan after I went in to have a couple of lumps in my throat checked out. The lumps were never verified as being anything more than my spit glands. They just felt odd so I wanted them checked out.

The scan revealed I had some nodules in my thyroid. My family doctor sent me to a local endocrinologist who eventually did a fine needle biopsy. The biopsy revealed I had a suspicious nodule. Suspicious means, suspicious of cancer. I got a second opinion and got the same report from another doctor doing the same kind of biopsy. Eventually I had a more extensive biopsy performed which resulted in the same suspicion. The suspicion doesn't confirm anything but is enough to warrant my doctor's recommendation to remove my thyroid.

I have had zero problems with my thyroid. I cannot feel or see anything in my neck. My energy levels and weight have been fine. I have felt great. Yet, there is this report from two different doctors that they see something that could become very problematic and the recommendation is surgery.

The first doctor did give me the option of surgery or we could watch it and do occasional biopsies to track the growth of the nodule. I have not heard many success reports of anyone who has simply watched something get worse. A great friend of mine was told by local doctors that they would watch his prostate malignancy. They all watched it as it continued to grow and kill him.

Having surgery does not excite me. I hate the thought. I don't like the idea of having a surgery that has some potential of harming my vocal chords. I've been a speaker for most of my life. I like being able to raise my voice and even yell if I want to. In recent years I have taken back up my hobby of singing. Trust me, I know it's just a hobby but it's a hobby I enjoy. If I lost my voice I know I would be a sad guy because I've been down just thinking about all of this. However, it could happen.

What happens if I lose my voice or if it's greatly altered? First I will be royally ticked off. Next I'll try to deal with what will have to become a different life. I've preached sermons and taught and given speeches and used my voice in such ways all my life. God already knows I'll use whatever He gives me to praise and thank Him for his goodness toward me.

Next, I'll do what I can. I have a book or two I'm thinking about writing. I'll work on those books. I started taking fiddle lessons two years ago. Maybe there is a reason I'm playing the fiddle. I don't need a voice to play the fiddle. Finally, I'll have a good excuse to avoid talking to some people. I'll just wave my hand and nod my head to indicate I can't talk today.

Oh well, who knows what the heck we will have to go through in this life. I have friends who have already undergone heart surgeries and lots of other procedures. We aren't promised a bed of roses without a few thorns along the way. My first wife went through hell with twelve years of multiple sclerosis. There is no need for me to sulk about losing my thyroid. Hah, who knows maybe I'll end up with vocal chords that might actually sing on tune or a voice that people will listen to. All in all it doesn't really matter because whatever we have in health, life and time are gifts from God to be enjoyed and used for Him and to help others along life's journey. Experiencing life is a gift and that's a rose I want to smell in some way every day.

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author. 

What’s your view? Write a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Surgery, Thorns and Roses

CRESTVIEW — Soggy ground caused by a broken water line required several hours of work Monday morning on Carver Avenue in Crestview.

Rita Florence, who lives on Carver across from Evelenar Missionary Baptist Church, said her sister, who lives with her, knocked on her door and asked her if she knew what was happening in their front yard.

"She said, 'There's something wrong. The mailbox is gone.'

"I was coming out here and then the water just shot up and the whole road collapsed. They're trying to get the mailbox out now," Florence said.

Part of Florence's front yard and the road next to it had become waterlogged when a fire hydrant pipe below ground burst open. Her mailbox, which had a brick surround, sunk into the dirt underneath it, and the paved road buckled as well.

"I'll have to go to the post office and tell them to hold the mail," Florence said.

Auburn Water System employees arrived that morning and began digging to uncover and fix the pipe that had burst, with Okaloosa Gas employees on stand by in case gas lines were affected.

AWS General Manager Doug Sims said the company uses two types of water lines, one of which is for potable water residents use for drinking, cooking and the like.

"Another is a solid line used for fire hydrants. They come in 20 foot sections that fuse together. One of the fused joints came loose," he said.

The company had to order parts set to arrive the next day, "two couplings to make that joint strong again. It's buried about 10 feet deep. We want to make sure it doesn’t come undone again," Sims said.

Since the pipe was for fire hydrants, residents won't need to boil water due to the broken line.

He said the section of road would be finished off by Monday evening as a dirt road so that residents could access the area. AWS is sourcing contractors to repave it with asphalt.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Water line break occurs on Carver Avenue

CRESTVIEW — Here are some of the latest North Okaloosa events, from Northwest Florida organizations.

Crestview Fire Department extinguishes vehicle, dumpster fires

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Fire Department responded to a fully involved vehicle fire at 10 p.m. Sept. 21 at the intersection of Tallokas and Old Bethel Roads in Crestview.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. 

According to an online CFD Facebook post, the fire was the result of the driver of the vehicle losing control and overcorrecting, causing the vehicle to leave the road and then return back to the roadway.

"Once the vehicle had returned to the roadway, damage from under the vehicle created friction with the roadway asphalt. It is believed that the fuel tank had ruptured and the heat caused by the roadway friction lead to the ignition of the fire," the CFD stated in the post. 

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire and the vehicle was considered a total loss. The Crestview Police Department also assisted with the incident.

The CFD also responded to several dumpster fires after 3 a.m. Tuesday in the Miramar Apartment Complex on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Crestview, according to information on the CFD Facebook page.

"Firefighters arrived at the apartment complex and were able to quickly extinguish the dumpster fires. Personnel were not able to determine what, or who, caused the fires, but it is believed to be the result of criminal mischief," the CFD stated.

The fires caused minimal damage to both dumpsters and their contents, but no other property was damaged. No injuries were reported as the result of the fires. The Crestview Police Department also assisted with the incident.

Okaloosa commissioners board passes surprise county clerk audit

SHALIMAR — Okaloosa County Clerk agents visited all locations of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Sept. 10 and 13 to ensure all funds were accounted for and used appropriately, as well as to inspect the cash collection procedures and physical safeguards in place to protect the taxpayers’ money from theft and fraud. No discrepancies were noted at any locations.

In a statement to the Board, County Clerk J.D. Peacock stated that the results of the audit were exceptional, with no discrepancies were noted in any of the locations.

While this was not a full review of the practices in place, it shows the level of honesty and

transparency the Board of County Commissioner’s employees operate with on a daily basis, the BOCC stated.

“County government will never be perfect, but I am very pleased at the great strides in accountability that have been made over the last six years. Clerk Peacock has been an invaluable partner, working with the Commission and County staff to develop a 'trust but verify' culture that promotes integrity and open communication,” Commissioner Nathan Boyles said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Community Briefs