CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputies stationed at Wal-Mart on Saturday will collect unwanted or unused medications, no questions asked. The OCSO and Drug Enforcement Agency’s Drug Take Back aims to prevent drug abuse.

"We have had a great response to the organized events, which allow people to just drive up to the tent and get rid of the drugs," OCSO public information officer Michele Nicholson said in an email. "All the inventory is then destroyed per federal DEA guidelines."

Residents unable to attend Saturday’s event can drop off medication weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Judge Joe N. Livingston Jr. office on the corner of U.S. Highway 90 and State Road 85. Housebound residents can request an officer to collect unwanted prescription drugs.

Dropping off unused medication is officials’ preferred method for its disposal. Flushing it down a toilet or throwing it in the trash can present safety and health hazards, according to an OCSO news release.

Want to go?

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office drug take-back runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Crestview Wal-Mart. 

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: Unused prescription drug collection is Saturday at Wal-Mart

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

Garniers Park of Fort Walton Beach, Marler Park of Okaloosa Island, Henderson Beach of Destin and Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville have received advisories for enteric bacteria presence. This indicates fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage.

Current water quality ratings are listed below by sight name, advisory level, and water quality, with bold print for easier reading.

Liza Jackson Park, Fort Walton Beach; Pass; Good.

GarniersPark, Fort Walton Beach; Fail; Poor.

MarlerPark, Okaloosa Island; Fail; Poor.

WaysidePark, Okaloosa Island; Pass; Moderate.

PoquitoPark, Shalimar; Pass; Moderate.

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Okaloosa Island; Pass; Moderate.

East Pass, Okaloosa Island; Pass; Moderate.

Lincoln Park, Valparaiso; Pass; Moderate.

Henderson Beach, Destin; Fail; Poor.

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville; Fail; Poor.

James Lee Park, Destin; Pass; Moderate.

Emerald Promenade, Okaloosa Island; Pass; Moderate.

Clement E. Taylor Park, Destin; Pass; Moderate.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Four parks receive advisories for fecal matter

The Crestview Public Library has been celebrating National Poetry Month. If you have been reading our column or following us on Facebook, you have read about some of our events.

On April 18, we celebrated National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Library staffers submitted poems, or collected friends’ poems, and we made scrolls and tied them with different-colored ribbons so poems could fit in the recipient’s pocket. We distributed the poems to all library patrons.

Brightening our visitors’ day with some inspirational, funny or fun poem is our way of making each person’s visit to the library special. We also presented a display of poetry books that adults or children would enjoy. Two of my favorites for children are my Staff Picks for this week.

STAFF PICKS

“Stepping Out with Grandma Mac” by Nikki Grimes

Author Nikki Grimes writes insightful poems about her grandmother, a modern woman who is not the type to stay home and bake cookies. Her grandmother is ready for adventure — not a rocking chair. This is a must-read.

“Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a Celebration of Poetry  with a Beat” by Nikki Giovanni

This anthology teaches children about rhythm and elements that make up hip-hop, rap and African-American poetry. Kids will enjoy the rhyme and rhythm. A CD is included with poems spoken by Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooksand others.

Upcoming Events:

Lawn Care in Northwest Florida:10:30 a.m. May 7, with Larry Williams. Best management practices to make growing a Florida lawn less frustrating.

INVESTMENTS 101:6-7 p.m. Mondays through May 20. Taught by financial adviser Joe Faulk. First 20 to reserve a seat and attend the first class will receive free workbooks. Attend any or all classes: Take Stock in the Market, IRAs: Retirement Can Be Less Taxing, A Smart Start to Mutual Funds, Focus on Fixed Income, Tax-Free Investing and Retirement by Design. Call 682-4432 for details.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Poem in Your Pocket Day at library

CRESTVIEW — Spectrum House closed its parking area on Saturday to allow families to participate in several activities from jumping in a bounce house to tossing rings on a small inflatable pirate ship.

The goal was to raise awareness for its developmental program, which provides services for autistic children and people with neurological disabilities, whether severe, moderate or high functioning, said Crystal Burton, the center’s lead therapist.

"Our goal here is to make these children as indistinguishable from any child, whether you walk into a classroom or Walmart," therapist Mary Seidenfaden said. The center teaches kids how to interact with others and prevent outbursts at home or in the classroom.

Baker resident Andrea Franklin has been bringing her daughter Jessica Sollie, 16, to the center for about a year, and said, "She expresses more verbally than acting out or misbehaving.”

 Crestview resident Elizabeth Smith, who brings her 5-year-old son, A.J., to the center, said her son has become more sociable with kids his age.

Find it online:

spectrumhouse.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 Spectrum House raises awareness with public event

CRESTVIEW — Driving to DeFuniak Springs to sit with a hospice patient on a moment’s notice is no problem for Alice Fowler.

The Crestview resident primarily relieves caregivers, sitting with patients while a family member runs errands or works, and volunteers in every department at Covenant Hospice, administrators said.

"She has a lot of heart for the patients she cares for,” said Carolyn Williams, the Crestview location’s volunteer manager and community liaison.

Still, Fowler expressed surprise when hospice officials named her Volunteer of the Year during an April 16 luncheon.

"I'm blown away," she said. "I have only been doing it for a year and a half."

During the volunteer appreciation luncheon, the hospice honored its unpaid helpers — thosewho assist in caring for terminally ill patients and provide support for their families — with an award ceremony and door prizes. Crestview Mayor David Cadle stopped by to give a proclamation for National Volunteer Week.

Covenant’s ‘heart’

"I didn't understand it at the time when I first started, but the volunteers are truly the heart of Covenant Hospice," said Carolyn Williams, the Crestview location’s volunteer manager and community liaison.

 Williams, who has worked from the Crestview location for the past four months, said the volunteers here have impressed her.

"I just tell them where they need to be and they are there; they represent us with dignity and style," she said. "It's not about themselves, it's about the patient."

Williams recognized 13 other volunteers with various recognitions, including the Service Hours Award, Community Award and Patient and Family Support Award.

Holt resident David Brown, who has volunteered more than a year, won the Ambassador award. Brown plays gospel music for hospice patients in Crestview assisted living facilities Carrington Manor and Crestview Manor.

"I wanted to make a difference in their lives, even though it is toward the end of their life," Brown said. "It's rewarding to me … I hope it is to them."

Fowler said volunteering fulfills her.  

 "Just knowing I helped somebody … it’s just everything," she said.

Want to help?

Prospective Covenant Hospice volunteers can call 682-3628. The office is at 317 W. Redstone Ave. See covenanthospice.org for more information.

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 Covenant Hospice honors volunteers with luncheon

DESTIN — The Okaloosa Time Capsule Committee has selected Heritage Museum as the VIVA Florida Anniversary Time Capsule’s location.

Factors in the choice included the museum's proximity to all Okaloosa County residents and security.

Capsule items will preserve memories of today’s events and lifestyle, such as tourism, beaches, military presence and local festivals, restaurants, architecture and businesses.

Photographs, documents or nonperishable objects may represent popular culture, geography, industries, agriculture, education, libraries, museums, cities in the county, and the day’s issues.

For more information, call 609-5102 or 651-7270.

The sealing date celebration is set for the museum's Yule of Yesteryear in December. The capsule would be opened 100 years later.

VIVA is a celebration of Florida’s 500th anniversary.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Heritage Museum will house Okaloosa's VIVA time capsule

CRESTVIEW — Erica Duenas, 8, stood on tip-toes to peek inside a 1953 Packard Convertible, its grille a tribute to Detroit's post-war affection for chromium.

"It's really pretty," she said after examining the car from several angles.

She and her grandfather, James Ward, were among attendees at Saturday's Spanish Trail Cruisers Club annual Average Joe Car Show, which transformed Main Street to a blast from the past.

VIDEO: See "Related Media" at top left of this article.

Near the Packard, Al and Vanessa Lucido and their sons Sal, 11, and Michael, 14, admired a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

"That's the cleanest engine I ever saw," Al Lucido said.

The sunny, breezy day drew crowds downtown for the car show and the Main Street Crestview Association's Taste of Crestview restaurant crawl. This was the first year organizers combined the two events.

By 11 a.m., 110 vehicles had registered for the show, and a few more trickled in as the morning progressed, organizers said. Latecomers drew admiring glances as they purred down Main Street to their assigned parking positions.

Keeping "law and order" was car show regular J.T. Garrett, who dressed as "Mayberry RFD" Deputy Barney Fife.

Garrett and his vintage 1960s Ford Galaxy black-and-white squad car, complete with a revolving red "gumball machine" light on top, attracted many attendees eager for photos.

For the burnout contest, in which a car is chained to a heavy-duty wrecker as the driver spins the tires, Kyle Cramer, 17, camera phone in hand, joined crowds pushed against the barricades for a good view.

When the first car, a cherry-red 1960s Buick sedan, received the organizing official's signal, Kyle and surrounding people promptly disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.

"That was awesome!" Kyle said.

Tom Murrie of Crestview chatted with an attendee who admired his jet black 1961 Chevy Corvair, which reminded him of family vacations in his parents' Corvair, he said.

"That's what these shows are all about," Murrie said. "It brings back peoples' memories. They say, 'I used to have a car like that.'"

Car Show Winners

·        Best Paint- Kirk & Diane Peterson, 1957 Chevy 3100 Truck

·        Best Engine- Joe Foster, 1966 Chevy II coupe

·        Best Interior- Fred Fisher, 1951 Ford Lead Sled

·        Best of Show- Louie Lanthrip, 1971 AMX Custom

·        Most Rusted- Randy Wilhert, 1967 GMC Truck

·        Worst Paint- Rick Wiltberger, 1955 Chevy Station Wagon

·        Still in Progress- Bo & Joyce Robinson, 1951 Mercury Coupe

·        Ugliest Entry- Rick Holcomb, 1948 Crosley CC

·        Best Club Participation- Andalusia Classics & Street Rods

Burn Out Contest Winners

·        1st Place- Amanda Dotson, 1941 Chevy Truck/Rod

·        2nd Place- Scott Guthrie, 1974 Chevy Corvette

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: Annual car show and restaurant crawl draw families downtown