CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club members this weekend will participate in the annual American Radio Relay League Field Day demonstration of emergency communications.

The event, from noon Saturday to noon Sunday — featuring an open house noon to 6 p.m. Saturday — is at Dorcas Fire Station 42 on Deer Springs Road. The league’s annual event allows thousands of so-called hams to set up their equipment and contact other Field Day groups all over North America. 

The North Okaloosa Radio Club voluntarily has provided emergency communications for more than 30 years.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Amateur radio club field demonstration set for Saturday

CRESTVIEW — Shelter House, a domestic violence shelter, seeks donations for summer assistance, as the facility reportedly sees a surge of clients this time of year.

Supplies needed include size 3-6 diapers, macaroni and cheese, liquid dish soap, canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter, jelly, soup, pasta sauces, toilet paper, paper towels and trash bags.

Donors can send items to these locations:

•290 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Crestview.

•102 Buck Drive, Fort Walton Beach.

•1846 U.S. Highway 90 W., Suite B, DeFuniak Springs.

Shelter House provides food and household products to women who have left abusive companions. Clients struggle financially but don’t qualify for other assistance.  

More women seek the shelter’s help during the summer because there’s less disruption of their children's schedules, a spokesperson said.

Call 243-1201 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Shelter House seeks donations for women, children

CRESTVIEW — Due to its eastern neighbors’ efforts, Baptist Hospital in Pensacola will have an extra $1,900 for assisting children with language disabilities.

The Crestview Scottish Rite club raised that much from a Friday lunch benefit where members sold plates of pulled-pork barbeque sandwiches. Proceeds benefited Baptist Hospital’s Childhood Language Disorders Clinic.

Fundraising results were more than satisfactory for the Okaloosa club’s first-time event, member Rick Mouer said, adding that the club appreciated residents and business’ support. Additionally, other clubs helped.

"The Old Spanish Trail Shrine Club donated 50 sandwiches to Walker Elementary School," Mouer said. "Walker is going to be distributing (the sandwiches) to needy families."

The lodge facilitated a child identification program during May’s Military Appreciation Recognition Celebration at Old Spanish Trail Park. Additionally, the club selects a Crestview area teacher at the beginning of the school year and provides him or her with classroom supplies.

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: Scottish Rite raises funds for children with language disabilities

CRESTVIEW — Covenant Hospice seeks prospective volunteers for a two-part training workshop later this month.

The not-for-profit organization provides care for terminally ill patients and assists their family members.

The workshop will present an overview of hospice care and volunteer opportunities such as community outreach, office work and fundraising. Volunteers can provide friendly visits, companionship, light housekeeping and transportation.

Covenant also seeks active duty military personnel or retired veterans and working or retired civilians.

The volunteer program offers a flexible schedule; duties can be daily, weekly or periodically.

Want to go?

What: Covenant Hospice volunteer training workshop

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 25 and 27

Where: Covenant Hospice, 370 W. Redstone Ave.

Register: Carolyn Williams, 682-3628

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Covenant Hospice volunteer training workshops begin June 25

CRESTVIEW — Schools are out for the summer, but many lunchrooms are open for Okaloosa County Schools’ Summer Feeding Program. The federally funded program bridges the gap between the school year and summer break by continuing to provide breakfast and lunch for children.

The program assures that youth participants under 18 years old receive a nutritious meal, organizers said. Meals include a sandwich wrap for lunch or a bowl of cereal or pastry for breakfast. Each meal includes a serving of fruit or vegetables along with milk or juice, per program guidelines.

Keep reading to see full program schedule.

"There are a lot of (children) that are not getting nourishment during the summer; a lot of them don't even get nourishment during the school year," said Richard Norris, the school district’s food services department specialist who oversees the program. Sodexo Inc. provides foods and services.

At least 50 percent of children in an area must qualify for free or reduced-price meals for locations to be approved. More children have used the program over the past several years, particularly after the recession, Norris said.

The program assures all children will be provided for, should a location run out of meals, Larry Haile, a general manager with Sodexo, said. 

"We can transfer meals from site to site," he said. "If they are willing to wait 10 to 15 minutes, we can provide them for them."

Baker and Laurel Hill schools are offering the program, as are several Crestview schools, including Davidson Middle School, Riverside Elementary School and Southside Center. The Crestview Family YMCA, Central Baptist Church and the Carver-Hill Community Center also participate.

June 17-28

Davidson Middle School, 6261 Old Bethel Road, Crestview: 7:15 a.m., and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

June 17 through July 25

Laurel Hill School, 8078 4th St., Laurel Hill: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 17-28, and July 15-26.

June 18 through July 25

Northwood Elementary School, 501 4th Ave., Crestview: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 18-27, and July 9-25.

Weekdays through Aug. 9

Antioch Elementary School,4700 Whitehurst Lane, Crestview: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Carver-Hill Community Center, 461 School Ave., Crestview: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Central Baptist Church of Crestview, 951 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Crestview Family YMCA, 298 N. Wilson St., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Riverside Elementary School, 3400 E. Redstone Ave., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Shoal River Learning Center, 5190 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview: 8-8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Shoal River Middle School, 3200 Redstone Ave., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 12-1 p.m.

Southside Center, 650 S. Pearl St., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Walker Elementary School,2988 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview: 7:15-8:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

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: Summer Feeding Program serving north Okaloosa children

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview public services department has replaced two flag poles with ones that should be more theft-resistant.

Chuck Powell, a city maintenance  supervisor, and two other city employees on Wednesday were preparing foundation base for one of the replacements at Confederate Park, located near the State Road 85-East First Avenue intersection.

Like the previous flagpole, the new one features an anonymously donated Confederate flag, Public Services director Wayne Steele said in an email. It honors Bill Lundy, Florida's last living Confederate soldier to serve in the American Civil War. He died in 1957 at age 109.

The Crestview Lions Club dedicated the Lundy memorial a year after his death. The department is responsible for maintaining the memorial grounds, Steele said.

Susan Hollingshead initially was concerned that the city was permanently removing the flagpole.

 "It’s part of the history and culture here in Crestview. If we don't keep our history, then what do we have?" she said.  

However, Hollingshead was relieved to learn that the flagpole was just being replaced.

Two Confederate flags were stolen from the Lundy memorial flagpole this past year, Steele said. 

 The new, nearly 30-foot-tall flagpoles, with ropes and pulleys out of pedestrians’ reach, make it more difficult to steal the flags.

The second flagpole replacement is near the public services building on State Road 85. It now features the American flag, Florida flag and city of Crestview flag. 

Maintaining the flagpoles is part of the city's maintenance duties, Steele said. The department installed an additional flagpole near City Hall earlier this year.

 The department also repaired flagpoles at the city's public library and Allen Park, in addition to regularly replacing damaged or worn out flags at all city flagpole locations.

Yesterday was Flag Day, a celebration of the American flag’s adoption. The Second Continental Congress approved the flag on June 14, in the Flag Resolution of 1777.

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: Replacement flags aim to celebrate city’s history, deter thefts

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that consumed Full Gospel Tabernacle Church on Wednesday. 

Most of the structure's surrounding brick walls at 602 8th Ave. remain standing, but the blaze ruined everything else. Fire officials estimate the total damage at $400,000.

The Rev. Steve Bolton and several church members stood near what was left of their church the morning after the fire. Bolton said he and nearly 10 members were inside the building the prior evening, before a regular evening service.

At about 6:45 p.m., he and other members heard a pop toward the building’s south end, near the electrical utility box. Electrical power loss followed, and everyone inside the building moved outside due to the air conditioning loss.

Before church officials could contact the building's maintenance worker, they noticed smoke leaving the building, and immediately called 911.  

Several units from local fire departments ─including the Crestview and North Okaloosa fire departments, and fire crews from Baker, Holt, Dorcas, Almarante and Eglin ─responded and eventually extinguished the flames.

 Firefighters stayed at the location into the early morning hours to ensure all flames were extinguished.  

"The important thing is everyone is safe," Bolton said. "Now, we are going to start over."

The building was fully insured, he said.

"Everybody is saddened, but they are hopeful that we can rebuild," Bolton said.

In the meantime, local churches have offered their help.  

"I had several pastors contact me and offer their buildings (for services)," Bolton said. "A lot of the community has reached out, and we appreciate that."

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: Church congregation moves forward after fire (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Officials with the State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating a Wednesday night fire that destroyed a church on Eighth Avenue.

More…

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview church destroyed in evening fire

FORT WALTON BEACH — Three Okaloosa County parks may have potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated this week.

Advisories have been issued for Clement E. Taylor Park of Destin, Lincoln Park of Valparaiso and Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville.

The department tests weekly for enterococci, which indicates fecal pollution and comes from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage.

Ratings are based on EPA standards.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Three parks receive advisories for hazardous water