CRESTVIEW — A member of the Crestview Sister City organization has received France's highest accolade.

Don Bohler, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former Air Force Academy faculty member, received the Legion of Honor for his work recognizing American World War II heroes who aided in France's liberation.

"It wasn't expected," Bohler, of Niceville, said. "I didn't know until the consulate called me up and said, 'We need a copy of your passport.'

"I said, 'Why?' They said, 'Well, you've been nominated for the Légion d'Honneur,' and I said, 'Well, isn't that something.'"

Bohler and his wife, Marie-Claude, spend summers at the couple's home near the Mediterranean Sea in Montpelier, France.

While there, Bohler pursues his interest in history. In 2009, he was instrumental in locating family members of a fallen U.S. fighter pilot, who, with 23 fallen French Resistance fighters, is memorialized at the La Pezade memorial in the South of France.

Bohler also located the flight leader, then 87, and in 2010 was instrumental in bringing the veteran and members of his family to La Pezade for honors and decoration by the French government.

Most recently, Bohler's research skills located the co-pilot's brother and crewmen's descendants of an American B-17 that crash-landed off the beach of Noirmoutier, Crestview's French Sister City. The Bohlers were among a 22-member delegation from Crestview that visited Noirmoutier in June to help commemorate the unveiling of a memorial to the bomber's crew.

'Profound gratitude'

In a letter notifying Bohler of his receiving the Legion of Honor, French ambassador to the United States Françis Delattre expressed "profound gratitude" for Bohler’s "exemplary courage and exceptional commitment to the memory of the fallen."

Bohler received the Legion of Honor by mail earlier this week at his Niceville home. The decoration, a merit-based honor created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, will be officially conferred at the French consulate in Miami, probably at the beginning of the new year.

Bohler said he wouldn't miss the ceremony for anything.

"I want the handshake and the kiss on both cheeks," he said.

Upon officially receiving the order, Bohler will be elevated to the French rank of "chevalier," or knight.

"I looked up who received the Légion d'Honneur, and found some really important people received this," Bohler said. "I'm gratefully appreciative of the honor of joining their ranks."

In good company

Crestview Sister City organization member Don Bohler joins a long list of distinguished Legion of Honor recipients.

Among them are Alexander Graham Bell, Desmond Tutu, Jacques Cousteau, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Sean Connery, Salvador Dalí,Céline Dion, Kirk Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jane Goodall, Norman Mailer, Wynton Marsalis, Sir Paul McCartney, George S. Patton, Luciano Pavarotti, Colin Powell, Robert Redford, JK Rowling, Nicolas Sarkozy, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Sister City member joins the Legion of Honor

My name is Amber Kelley — maiden name Howell. I am a Laurel Hill “lifer.” Although I moved away for a short period following high school, this peaceful community beckoned me back.

In my opinion, this is the perfect location to raise a family. My wonderful husband, Adam, and I have five children, two of whom are miniature Hoboes, just starting their school career and loving it.

Long-time News Bulletin readers may remember my great aunt, Estelle Rogers, who previously wrote about her experiences in Laurel Hill through “Up on the Hill.”

I’m following in her footsteps, but my column will have a bit of a different spin, informing readers of community events and happenings.

Traffic safety

Recent temperamental weather has residents enjoying beautiful clear blue skies just moments before ducking and running for cover due to thunderstorms that seem to appear from nowhere!

Many mornings have been extremely foggy, forcing drivers to keep their lights on well into 9 or 10 a.m. — which reminds me: Between 7 and 8 a.m. and 1:50 and 3 p.m., our school zone lights are flashing, so your speed should be decreased from 35 mph to 20 mph.

In addition, during these hours, the block of Fourth Street in front of Laurel Hill School is one way. Please obey these rules. We have many independent little ones who walk these streets to and from school. Despite Sheriff Larry Ashley’s saying that the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office will cut back on writing citations, that doesn’t mean deputies have ceased writing them all together.

The no texting law is now in effect, so that should decrease the number of accidents drastically if people obey the law.

Fundraisers

Laurel Hill School students are selling Little Caesar’s Pizza kits for a senior trip to New York. Orders are due Oct. 16; pizzas will be available around Halloween.

Until Friday, secondary students and the cheerleading squad sold kitchen and grill items out of Rada Manufacturing Catalog to raise money for Spirit Week and Homecoming, which are just around the corner. Residents purchased cutlery sets, pizza cutters and serving utensils, along with delicious pies, dips, sauces and soup mixes.

Head Start safari

Tiny Hoboes in the Head Start Program enjoyed a day away from campus Sept. 27, when kids, 15 adult volunteers and I made the exciting journey to Emerald Coast Wild Life Refuge Zoological Park (formally Sasquatch Zoo).

Although one-third of the park is still under construction, no one seemed to notice. Our safari began with a meet-and-greet with all the animals; we learned their names, types, origins and hobbies. We then chased our tiny Hoboes around while they relished the opportunity to feed a few of the animals.

Some of our Itty Bitty Hoboes’ favorite attractions were Levi the African Lion and Darian the Umbrella Cockatoo. Levi, being the king of the jungle, enjoyed lounging in the sun. Darian enjoys dancing and singing; his favorite song was "Happy Birthday."

Others enjoyed feeding Andy the Fallow Deer and his pen mate, Amy the Axis Deer.

The park — which has a wonderful picnic area under a blanket of old oak trees with huge curvy branches, where we enjoyed our picnic of sack lunches — is 95 percent run by volunteers.

The gift shop is still under construction but there is a concession stand with small souvenirs and drinks. The staff hopes to complete remodeling by the holiday season.

Submit news

My great aunt wrote about her daily experiences and views. My goal is to inform residents of community events.

I could do that much easier if readers help me out! So feel free to email me about Laurel Hill fundraisers and other items of interest at hobo.homefront@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you soon!

Until next week, be safe and God bless!

Amber Kelley lives in Laurel Hill.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: THE HOBO HOMEFRONT: Observe traffic safety, Head Start safari

CRESTVIEW — With the Blue Jean Ball, the library book sale, the Community Health Fair, the International Festival, corn mazes, Crestview High's stage comedy "Dear Ruth," foot races and the Fall Festival, the October community events calendar is bursting with activities.

With so much planned for autumn's cooler days, Rae Schwartz, Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Arts and Culture Committee chairwoman, said organizations have had conflicts with other planned events.

Using the chamber's online calendar — on which all of the area's events are listed in one place — when planning activities can help avoid those conflicts, Schwartz said.

"I've had several people tell me they have started looking at the calendar either to see what's going on or to make sure the event they want to put on it isn't in conflict with anything else," she said.

Listing a club, association or organization's meetings or events is free, and chamber membership is not required, Schwartz said.  

The chamber is also compiling a roster of all open-membership community organizations for a spring 2014 expo of area clubs, societies and associations.

"The expo will be a great opportunity for people to find out about what's available," Schwartz said. "Maybe they'll find interests they didn't know they even had."

Schwartz said the organizations roster might ultimately be added to the chamber's website as a resource for residents seeking to get involved with the community.

"Because our chamber encompasses so many businesses, organizations and individuals, we thought this was a great venue to make this listing," Schwartz said.

FIND IT ONLINE

See www.crestviewchamber.com to check the community events calendar or add a listing. Membership in the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce is not required.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Using Crestview chamber's calendar may help with scheduling conflicts

CRESTVIEW — Even the threat of Tropical Storm Karen couldn't keep crowds away from this year's "Casino Royale"-themed Blue Jean Ball.

The evening of dancing, silent auctions, gourmet cuisine and desserts netted $28,000 for Covenant Hospice, and a fun time for more than 250 attendees.

View a gallery of photos from the Blue Jean Ball here>>

"To have exceeded our goal is absolutely wonderful after all the volunteers' hard work," Covenant Hospice development manager Jenni Perkins said on Monday.

Bonnie Grundel, a participant in the "Dancing with the Crestview Stars" competition, raised almost $7,000 of the four local celebrities’ total. She credited North Okaloosa Medical Center colleagues for helping her win the fundraiser.

"We vowed to make her the highest-amount winner," Becky Spera said.

Laura Chamberlain of Laurel Hill; Dr. James Stevens, a Crestview radiation oncologist; and Steve Tuttle,president of the local chapter of the Special Forces Association, also raised funds in the dancing competition.

Casino royale-ity

Cards slapped and dice tumbled down the green baize tables as partiers gambled with play money. If Lady Luck had fled, players could donate to Covenant to replenish their kitties.

Florida Chautauqua members, clad in Vegas feathers and frills, hovered over a lavish dessert bar that included cupcakes, parfaits and a candy bar backed by oversized film posters from the 1967 and 2006 versions of the James Bond "Casino Royale" films.

Four "dancing docs” — Drs. Michael Hamby, Gregory Coates, Don Grundel and Jonathan Lohrbach — led a spirited performance of the Village People's disco classic, "YMCA."

The occasion ended after Donna Summer's "Last Dance" drew attendees to the floor at 10 p.m.

Before stepping out into the humid night, folks posed for another round of photos in front of the lobby bar festooned with more 007 film posters.

Crestview High School and Rocky Bayou Christian School students helped to clear tables during the event and joined DJJ students and Covenant volunteers in taking down decorations.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Blue Jean Ball raises $28K for Covenant Hospice (PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL — Although this year’s Hobo festival was canceled, area residents can still expect a fall festival this Saturday at Gene Clary Park.

Event sponsor Safe Haven Horse Rescue Center will feature a couple of therapy horses that provide comfort to ailing and disabled residents, namely wounded military service members.

In addition to food and art vendors, the Laurel Hill Volunteer Fire Department, a co-sponsor, will display some of its fire engines and members will sell raffle tickets for an AR-15 rifle. 

Local gospel and country singers will perform on the center stage. Country music artist Ed Tanza will sing "God Bless the USA" following the opening ceremony, which will include the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and the 7th Special Forces Green Berets’ presentation of colors. Tanza also will perform "Horses with Heart," a theme song for Safe Haven.

Festival organizers invite area motorcycle enthusiasts to appear in a motorcycle parade starting at 1 p.m. at the track around the park.

 Additionally, motorcyclists are encouraged to visit the Gold Wing Road Riders Association booth, which will feature safety information.

The Hobo Festival took a one-year hiatus due to permitting issues, but the event is expected to return next year, organizers said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT:  Laurel Hill Fall Festival

WHEN:  9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Gene Clary Park, on the corner of New Ebenezer and Park Street.   

COST: Free admission; individual costs for food and other purchases

 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: Hobo Festival’s replacement is this Saturday

October is National Reading Group Month, which the Women’s National Book Association established in 2007. The group aims “to promote reading groups and to celebrate the joy of shared reading.”

Do you belong to a reading group? Would you like to join one? Come into the library; we can offer a space for your group meetings. If you have a group now and would like a change of meeting space, give us a call.

In addition, we can help you with your choice of books to read. Below is the Women’s National Book Association’s list of “Great Reads.” These titles are available in our library or through the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative system.

2013 NRGM Great Group Reads

•"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

•"Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walter

•"Big Brother" by Lionel Shriver

•"A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" by Anthony Marra

•"David" by Ray Robertson

•"The House Girl" by Tara Conklin

•"How It All Began" by Penelope Lively

•"Is This Tomorrow" by Caroline Leavitt

•"Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson

•"Margot" by Jillian Cantor

•"Mary Coin" by Marisa Silver

•"The Middlesteins" by Jami Attenberg

•"Nowhere Is a Place" by Bernice L. McFadden

•"The One-Way Bridge" by Cathie Pelletier

•"Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger

•"The Other Typist" by Suzanne Rindell

•"The Round House" by Louise Erdrich

•"Schroder" by Amity Gaige

•"Sparta" by Roxana Robinson

•"Wash" by Margaret Wrinkle

•"The Yellow Birds" by Kevin Powers

Some of the titles are available as e-books. Go to our online catalog and look the titles up. Remember, if you have a library card from any of the cooperative’s six member libraries, you can borrow e-book titles.

See www.nationalreadinggroupmonth.org/# for more about National Reading Group Month.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Library observing National Reading Group Month

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview High School alumna will reign over this year's Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival. Michelle Bryan, a 2013 CHS grad, is queen of the 37th annual event.

Michelle, last year's Crestview High Homecoming queen, had also been last year's first runner-up in the Mullet Festival Pageant.

"I wanted to come back and try to win this year," she said.

She defeated a dozen other girls in the 16- to 21-year-old age division to win the crown and a $250 savings bond. The competition included an interview with the judges, and judging on poise, appearance and personality.

As Miss Mullet, Michelle will appear and assist during the Oct. 18-20 event, where she can mingle with headliners including country music performers Vince Gill, Justin Moore and Thompson Square.

She also will represent the festival during community events such as the Niceville Community Christmas Parade.

Michelle, a freshman at Northwest Florida State College, is considering going into nursing. She also can be found serving up Godzilla Rolls at Bamboo Sushi in Crestview and is an active member of Live Oak Baptist Church.

At Crestview High, she was a chorus member and appeared in several drama program productions.

"I'm excited," Michelle said of her newest role. "I can't wait."

WANT TO GO?

Crestview High School alumna Michelle Bryant is Miss Mullet in this year's Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival, Oct. 18-20 at the Niceville Festival Grounds, State Road 85 at College Boulevard. Festival tickets are available at the Crestview Public Library and Beach Community Bank in Crestview.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High alumna is the 2013 Mullet Festival queen

CRESTVIEW — June Meeks has a few more books to read, and she won’t have to return these titles after two weeks, even though she received them from the Crestview Public Library.

That’s because library staffers gave her a tote bag full of books Thursday morning to celebrate their 1 millionth patron to pass through the doors.

"I was quiet surprised," the Crestview resident said of the honor.

 Meeks — who visits the Commerce Drive facility weekly and regularly brings her 8-year-old grandson, Tommy Meeks — said she appreciates the library staff, especially when it comes to handling Tommy.

"He can kind of be a pill sometimes, but they are always patient with him," she said.

Reference librarian Sandra Dreaden said she was happy to see the honor go to a longtime patron.

"She is a fitting patron to represent the 1 millionth person to walk through our door count," Dreaden said. Library staffers can track visits with a counter inside the entrance.

Meeks said she finds comfort from visiting the library.

"This is my second home and it reminds me of when I was back in school,” she said. "I would get my work done so I could go to the library."

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: Librarian: Crestview woman a ‘fitting’ patron for 1 million honor

LAUREL HILL — About a dozen people turned out Saturday morning for the annual Almarante Cemetery clean-up day. They cleaned grave markers, raked leaves, picked up sticks, pulled weeds and shrubbery, and cut down dead trees, all while reminiscing about the family and friends at rest around them.

The Rev. Mike McVay and Mike Kerwin spent the morning marking rows for future plots to help keep the cemetery's slow northwest expansion orderly. "Up there, they just put plots anywhere and didn't line them up," McVay said, indicating a section where plots were set at rakish angles, not aligned with one another and encroached on neighboring plots.

See a gallery of clean-up day at Almarante Cemetery in Laurel Hill>>

Nearby, Neal Twitty, 9, his sister Hannah, 7, and their cousin, Bryce Wooten, 11, swept gravel and leaves off flat family grave markers as their grandmother and aunt, Janet Twitty, put fresh floral arrangements in urns. "He was my great grandpa!" Neal said as he swept former Laurel Hill Mayor Morris Rogers' grave.

The graves of another north county mayor, Cortez Steele, and his wife Eunice received equally tender care from their grandson, Joe Steele. "He owned Cortez Steele and Sons," Joe Steele said. "And he made it 'and Grandson' because I was pumping gas there as soon as I learned my numbers."

The former gas station is now the Laurel Hill Grill, from which cemetery commission chairwoman Tracy Curenton and her family members purchased chicken tenders and hamburgers for lunch.

They picnicked in the shade of a towering magnolia among the now-tidied resting places of generations of residents dating back as early as the 1700s.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Volunteers clean cemetery; remember family, friends (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Even the threat of Tropical Storm Karen couldn't dampen the Bulldog spirit as the annual Homecoming parade rolled up Main Street the afternoon of Oct. 4.

Following the parade with a 49-21 football victory over the Leon Lions, Bulldogs still have more Homecoming fun on the horizon. Due to the cancellation of weekend school district activities, Saturday's Homecoming dance was rescheduled for Nov. 2.

View parade photos here.

The Army ROTC battalion and the Big Red Machine led the parade, which included the Homecoming court princesses, princes, alumni and local supporters.

Alysa Schoffner and her friend Deja Patterson eagerly strained to catch a glimpse of Alysa's cousin, Daz Schoffner, a trombonist in the high school band.

Farther down the street, Brayden Powell, 6, kept a wary eye on the rolling floats and vehicles as he dodged the barricades to snag some elusive candy tossed by marching units.

Nearby, Sarah Reese, a familiar Crestview figure, popped out of Coney Island Hotdogs with a tasty hamburger to feast on after she took her position along the street to watch the parade.

Group after group called out, "Hi, Miss Sarah!" as they marched pass, receiving a friendly wave in return.

As the first marchers finished, many worked their back up Main Street to watch other marching units and business entries that were just starting to roll.

James Small, 12, welcomed a Crestview High junior uniformed as a member of the Junior ROTC battalion who had walked back down the street after his unit disbanded.

"This is my big brother!" James said, proudly putting his arm around Joey Small's neck.

Foster Lux, was to ride in an open convertible with other beauty queens, but first, duty called. She led the Big Red Machine as one its drum majors before running back down Main Street and, to a burst of audience applause, bounding onto the car's tonneau.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Homecoming parade rolls in spite of storm threat (PHOTOS)