CRESTVIEW — After being diagnosed with lupus more than two years ago, Pam Pursley, 54, wants to spread awareness about the disease.

Lupus, a chronic, autoimmune disease, can cause chest pain, abnormal blood clotting, mouth or nose ulcers, low red blood cell count and extreme fatigue, among symptoms, according to lupus.org.

 An estimated 1.5 million Americans, and 90 percent of women, have some form of the disease, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

Pursley has systemic lupus, which inflames the body's major internal organs.

"It’s the worst kind you can have; not only does it mess up your skin and joints, but it can also mess up your heart, kidneys and your lungs," she said.

She sells homemade sugar scrub products on Fridays at the curbside market on Main Street. Pursley recently started making and selling the skin care product with her grandchildren’s help.

To honor Lupus Awareness Month, Pursley has donated a portion of proceeds to the Lupus Foundation of America. 

Pursley said she plans to start a support group for those affected by lupus. She would also like to start a community event that would raise awareness and — hopefully — more funding for lupus research.

"I would like to get a chapter going to start the lupus walk…that's my main goal is to raise money for research," she said.

For now, she’s dealing with challenges associated with the disease.

Pursley’s condition can at times leave her in such pain that she must rely on family members’ assistance.

"I can't even get up by myself; my daughter has to physically pull me up because it hurts so bad," she said.

Symptoms, which she takes 14 medications for, forced her to quit her job at Bayside Cleaners in Crestview. She is filing an appeal to receive Social Security disability benefits.

Pursley said she can barely pay utility bills. However, she receives some assistance from family members, and two doctors have helped her find reduced-cost prescriptions.

Despite her illness, Pursley has been on the go with her grandchildren. 

"(Doctors) have told me that I should have been in a wheelchair by now," she said. "I told them, ‘No, I have five little grandbabies… I have no time for a wheelchair.'"

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: Dorcas resident wants to raise awareness about lupus

CRESTVIEW — Post office employees will collect nonperishable and non-expired food items from area residents.

Leave the food donations in a bag next to your mailbox and the letter carriers will pick them up as they deliver mail on their routes.

This is a United Way event benefitting local food banks.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Letter carriers' Stamp Out Hunger food drive is Saturday in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — As a panicked resident cradled his unresponsive toddler in the front yard, three strangers answered his oldest daughter's cries for help and rushed the family to the hospital.

Jeremy Fouquet was doing homework April 24 as his daughter Alissa, 9, and her best friend Amber Panitzke, 10, played with 3-year-old Elizabeth. Suddenly, Elizabeth began having a seizure.

"She was just giving Elizabeth a hug and she started shaking," Alissa said of her friend. "She was so scared she called my daddy, 'Daddy.'"

"I was like, 'Daddy, Elizabeth's shaking,'" Amber said. "It was scary."

"I went into panic mode because I had never dealt with a seizure before," Fouquet said.

Fouquet said he "did everything wrong," grabbing Elizabeth and running for his truck to take her to the hospital while his father, Ward Fouquet, who lives with the family, called 911.

Discovering that his wife, Jessica, had taken the truck to work, Fouquet started looking for a neighbor with a vehicle while calling out for someone to help them. Alissa and Amber tried to flag down passing motorists.

Jeremy Fouquet said Elizabeth's eyes were wide, fixed, and the girl was "totally out."

"I thought she had died so I started pumping her chest and … everyone that gathered around started to try to stop cars," he said.

Multiple vehicles passed the family's Pearl Street home, one stopping but only to criticize the girls.

"This blonde lady in an SUV stopped and said we were stupid for trying to flag down cars," Alissa said.

Then college students Tahnee Burnette, Carissa Phillips and Lexi Burnette pulled into the driveway and took Jeremy and Elizabeth to North Okaloosa Medical Center.

With Tahnee at the wheel, "I won’t say that they broke any laws but they got me to the hospital in about three minutes flat," Fouquet said.

Jessica Fouquet said that emergency room doctors believe Elizabeth had a virus that led to the seizure. The toddler has now recovered.

"She's doing great now," Jessica said. "She's back to running around and being her own crazy self."

"Out of all those people who drove by, thank God there were three people who weren’t in a hurry for something more important," Jeremy Fouquet said. "They were on their way to do college girl stuff. They didn't have to stop and help."

"Angels never know when they're doing God's work," Ward Fouquet said.

"These girls were unselfish, caring and most of all, heroes," his son added. "I'd count my blessings but there are too many."

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: Angels in Crestview: Strangers aid man during daughter's seizure

CRESTVIEW — Aileen Barley, a longtime area educator and community activist, died Wednesday following a recent illness. She died a day short of her 87th birthday.

During her funeral Saturday, her son, Joe Barley, credited his maternal grandparents for instilling in his mother the desire to help other people.

"She learned how to care for people from her folks," Joe Barley said, relating how his grandparents often invited in down-on-their-luck people who passed by their Ohio farm during the Depression.

"Mother always had her wallet open, whether it was for cats or Sharing and Caring," Barley said, referring to the Crestview food bank that he co-founded.

Aileen Barley joined Sharing and Caring two years after she retired from a 38-year career as an elementary school teacher at Crestview schools.

Her June 1989 retirement from teaching was really just the opportunity for his mother to transition to serving her community full-time for more than 20 years, Joe Barley said.

Serving others

Before Sharing and Caring opened its center off Wilson Street, the Barleys would distribute bags of food from their car to transient or homeless people passing through Crestview.

"Sometimes you have to take the service to where the people are who need it," Joe Barley said.

Even in her later years, Aileen Barley would hand food out of her car window to people she'd see by the side of the road.

"If we didn't have bags of food, we gave them a sandwich," Joe Barley said.

In May 1995, Aileen and Joe Barley and Joe's wife, Cecile, comprised the first contingent from Crestview to venture to what became the community's Sister City, Noirmoutier, France, and remained active in the program for many years.

In addition to visitors from Noirmoutier, Aileen Barley hosted foreign exchange students at her Crestview home.

Return to the classroom

Aileen Barley established a mentorship program at Northwood Elementary School, having been the third-grade teacher of the school's guidance counselor, Martha Barton.

"When the county started doing it (mentoring students), we had already been doing it for 10 years," Joe Barley said. "They wanted us to re-apply and get fingerprinted."

Aileen Barley also mentored students at the former Southside Elementary School and at Laurel Hill School, and was a volunteer for the Guardian Ad Litem program.

She served at the First Presbyterian Church of Crestview's weekly soup kitchen for several years, and taught a Sunday school class for mentally challenged adults at the First United Methodist Church, of which she was a longtime member.

"Mother was always out there trying to help people," Joe Barley said. "My mother had a great life, a life of caring for others."

Aileen Barley was interred in Enterprise, Ala., the home of her late husband, Carl Barley. In addition to their son, Joe, the couple had two daughters, Mary Shaver and Susan Young; and two grandsons, David and Danny.

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: Longtime Crestview educator, community activist Aileen Barley dies

CRESTVIEW — The Distinguished Young Women of Okaloosa County scholarship program has five Crestview candidates seeking scholarship donations.

Baker School student Emily Parker, Crestview High School students Moriah Brannon, Hayley Marshall and Ashley Guthrie, and Niceville High School student Ashley Grabowski are collecting "fan support" donations for scholarship fund awards.

To make a tax-deductible donation, send a check, payable to DYW of Okaloosa County Inc., to Carole Byrd, DYW Director, 205 Fir Ave., Niceville, FL 32578.

The competition's Northwest Florida portion is 7 p.m. July 27 at Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E., Fort Walton Beach. Admission costs $5 per person at the door.

Judges will evaluate participants’ fitness, talent, grades, public speaking and interviews. A minimum of 10 awards, including four-year college scholarships from Troy State University and the University of West Alabama, will be presented to winners.

The winner advances to state competition, and each state winner goes to nationals in June in Mobile, Ala.

The Okaloosa County DYW program credited April Linton of Crestview for supporting Okaloosa participants.

"She is our biggest supporter and active team member," said Carol Byrd, chair of Distinguished Young Women's Okaloosa branch.

For more information on DYW, visit http://distinguishedyw.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DYW Crestview participants seek scholarship donations

CRESTVIEW —  Today's Environmental Conservation Fair, scheduled to take place on Main Street, has been postponed.

Event organizers meet earlier this morning and decided to postpone the event due to the forecasted weather conditions.

No rescheduled date has been announced at this time.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Environmental Fair postponed

CRESTVIEW — Two martial arts students said recent seminars helped them improve their technique and inspired continued education in combat practices.

The Korean Martial Arts Festival on April 20 featured 21 master-level instructors from across the world who conducted seminars at Gordon Martial Arts.

"The more I attend these conferences or festivals, the more I thirst for knowledge," said Crestview resident Dr. Alberto Barbon. Learning about various techniques, including forms, sparring and weapons training, reminded him “you can always improve on what you’re doing,” he said.

Crestview resident Angela Mobley agreed. She began practicing martial arts nine months ago following her children’s participation in the program.

"It's something we can do together, it’s exercise, it’s learning something new," she said. 

…for more information go to www.gordonmartialarts.com/bulletin

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: Martial arts festival brings master instructors, continued knowledge

CRESTVIEW — An animal rescuer will care for an injured Twin Hills Park Muscovy duck after a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-licensed rehabilitator provides treatment.

Public Works Department staffers on Wednesday captured the 10-pound waterfowl, which had eluded rescue since December.

The duck, with distinctive red head markings, had been a concern for park regulars who noticed fishing line wrapped around its swollen left leg.

RondaBell on Monday noticed the duck's injured leg had fallen off over the weekend.

"Bless his heart," she said.

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said his department, which oversees Parks and Recreation, received many calls about the bird.

Public Works, Parks and Recreation staff, and Panhandle Animal Welfare Society animal control officers tried unsuccessfully to capture him.

"He's able to fly and he's a good flyer," Steele said. "He's real strong."

The duck tried to take flight and was about 3 feet off the ground when he and Kenny Martin, Ricky Gomiller and Cody Suggs from his department moved in to capture him, Steele said.

"I dove and got him by the wing and it was just enough to get him slowed down until Cody behind me got the net over him," Steele said.

As Steele wiped mud from the front of his shirt, the result of his dive for the duck, the men laughingly compared themselves to cast members of A&E’s "Duck Dynasty," a reality TV series about a rural Louisiana family.

"I think Kenny was like Uncle Si," Steele said, referring to the show's Silas Robertson. "He was telling us what to do."

The duck spent a couple hours Wednesday nestled in a cage at the Public Works maintenance warehouse until wildlife rehabilitator Tomy Thompson took it to her north Crestview home.

"When I first saw (the leg socket) I thought maybe it might need some medical attention, but when I saw it today it looks like a clean break, and it looks like it hasn't got any gangrene," Thompson said. "It should be OK. He's a fighter!"

After Thompson rehabilitates the fowl, Bell — who said she has rescued horses, dogs and cats, "but never a duck” — will provide a home for the duck, which Thompson named Lucky.

Because the duck has one leg, it cannot run from snapping turtles, loose dogs or other Twin Hills Park dangers, and cannot be returned there, officials said.

Steele said he and his crew were glad to finally get the duck the rehabilitation it needs.

"There's a lot of facets to this job," he said. "It makes you glad when you're able to do some good for the community and sometimes for our animal friends."

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: Injured Twin Hills Park duck receiving treatment after rescue

CRESTVIEW — An afternoon of tea and fashion has garnered new volunteers and money for Covenant Hospice.

The annual A Day at the Derby Fashion Spree and Tea on April 27 attracted more than 50 area women, raised $1,600 and recruited Blue Jean Ball fundraiser committee volunteers and a new hostess for next year's tea, organizers said.

Eight women served as tea hostesses, transforming the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall into a tea parlor. Each hostess decorated her table, selected teas and refreshments and served her guests.

Though hostesses also offered donations — some as much as $500 — to Covenant Hospice, fundraising was not the tea's main purpose.

"It's more of a friend-raiser than a fundraiser, because what we're able to do is exponentially reach out to the hostesses' friends and use their connections," Covenant Hospice development manager Jenni Perkins said.

Tea, fashion and hats

The annual Kentucky Derby-themed event was the brainchild of Covenant volunteer Bonnie Grundel.

"When you use nice china, whether it be old or new, you get the sense that you need to be gentle and slow in your movements and actions," she said. "Your conversation tends to follow suit."

A Churchill Downs backdrop, painted by former Laurel Hill School art teacher Sabine Lyons, helped set the theme.

As the women sipped tea and nibbled sandwiches and baked goods, volunteer models paraded Red Raspberry Boutique’s spring fashions.

"One of my favorite charities is Covenant Hospice,” boutique owner Donna Howard said. “I have personally seen their dedication in providing compassionate care to patients and their loved ones during times of life-limiting illnesses." 

Hannah Bray, 5, won an award for wearing the best hat.

Grundel and her co-hostess, Delilah Lewis, won the best table décor award for their cherub vase with greenery, 19th-century china and tea served from an antique teacart.

"The wonderful thing about this event is it's a nice, quiet intimate time," Perkins said. "We … get to know each other better and have those meaningful conversations you can't have at bigger, louder events."

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: Afternoon tea and fashion show nets $1,500 for Covenant Hospice