President Donald Trump came through Evansville, Indiana like a roaring locomotive last week — August 30, to be exact. If he had landed on the platform wearing a Superman outfit and cape I would not have been surprised. To the approximate 15,000 cheering fans he might as well have been Superman, aka, Super President.

I didn't even know The President was coming to Indiana until the day before and figured I would not get inside the gate. I was reading on the Internet that I had to have a ticket and thus filled out the form to receive the electronic text I was supposed to receive. I filled it out a couple of times and even made a donation. I eventually realized that filling out the form was all about getting my information and a donation.

The doors to the seven o'clock speech were promised to open at 4:00 at the Ford Arena in downtown Evansville. My wife and I got there about 4:30 and found a parking space several blocks away and began the hike to the arena. The line at 4:30 was massive – literally thousands were lined up for what seemed to be a mile or more. We couldn't even find the end of the line it was so long. We knew at this point that even entering the arena was already impossible.

We found a hotel lobby and got out of the summer heat. Fortunately the local television was glued to the events and so we watched Trump get off Air Force One from our hotel lobby and began his high security limo ride to the Ford Center. A few minutes later we walked out of the hotel lobby and lo and behold motorcycled policemen were everywhere escorting the black limo into a tent adjacent to the Ford center. There was our President but not in plain view as they pulled into the heavily guarded tent that would provide a passageway to the Old National Events Plaza and the Ford Center.

My wife and I enjoyed the dynamics of the parade, secret service people everywhere and the hoopla around our President's arrival and figured this would be our evening. As we left the hotel we could see the end of the line in the distance and figured we would get in line and walk with the crowd back to our car. The line was moving and we stayed with it for an hour and luckily made it inside the arena. Behind us literally a couple of thousand more had gotten in line by the time we got to the arena door.

Once we were barely inside the arena there were zero seats to be found. The arena for a concert seats 11,000 people. We felt crammed in like sardines by the time we found a place to stand and it was obvious an extra thousand or so people above the seating limit were standing in the corners, aisles and everywhere else.

We found a standing place on the second level of the arena that was filled with secret service and state police. We were allowed to remain in our little standing place with our backs against a wall but we had great platform visibility.

President Trump came onto the platform approximately at 7:15 to cheers and thunderous applause. I saw one woman escorted out for acting out of order and heard one negative person against Trump as we stood in line. I am told a couple of hundred protesters were out by the courthouse but I did not see or hear them.

Parts of Trump's speech have been replayed numerous times on various cable networks so there is no need to rehash his remarks.

Here is what I can say from what I saw in Evansville. The only way Trump will be defeated in 2020 will be for hell to freeze over. There is no person on the horizon that will swing the 12,000 people in the Ford arena last week to not vote for Trump. They are going to vote for him. This does not count the two or three thousand people who were standing outside the arena watching him on a screen.

While I was standing in line I did not hear one rude comment. I did not see any crazy behavior from the crowd. Inside the arena people were respectful, attentive but obviously resolved in their support and cheers for Donald Trump.

Yes, there are all kinds of bad things that have been said and will be said about Trump. I cannot determine what is and what is not true. I know that a few of my acquaintances, friends, old-time buddies, and maybe even a family member or two hate his guts. However, I also know what I saw in Evansville and that is a very sincere, determined group of people who will line up on Election Day and reelect him as America's President in 2020…unless hell freezes over and then anything might happen.

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: President Trump – If Hell Freezes Over

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter No. 811 will unveil a nurses monument this week.

The granite obelisk will pay tribute to four nurses, both military and civilian, living and deceased, who have shown an extraordinarily caring heart in their work.

The ceremony is 10 a.m. Sept. 7 in front of the Eglin Air Force Base Armament Museum, 100 Museum Drive.

The monument's four sides will memorialize and honor Florence Nightingale, 1820-1910; Major Annie Fox, 1893-1987; 1st Lieutenant Sharon Lane, 1943-1969; and Linda Whitenton, born in 1946.

Known as the founder of modern nursing, Nightingale managed and trained nurses during the Crimean War. Pursing professional roles for the women who came after her time, she founded her nursing school, St Thomas’ Hospital in London, and authored “Notes on Nursing.” Her legacy elevated the nursing profession. In recognition of her work nurses today recite the “Nightingale Pledge” aiming for devoted service while encouraging elevation in achievements.

Fox served as an officer in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World Wars I and II. One month into her post as chief nurse at Hickam Field, Oahu, Hawaii, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The bombing raids resulted in overwhelming numbers of injured and burned personnel, yet Fox served with a “calming professionalism.” As a result of her work, she became the first female recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star commendations.

Lane, who joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Reserve in 1968, served in the 312th Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai, Vietnam in the Surgical ICU and in the Vietnamese Ward. She was killed by a salvo of 122mm rockets fired by the Viet Cong on the Hospital. Though one in eight American military nurses died while serving in Vietnam, Lane was the only American nurse killed as a direct result of hostile fire. Lane was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with “V” device, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross (with Palm).

Whitenton has 50 years of nursing and training nurses. Her work designing and directing nursing and health care programs in private and academic sectors led to the education of countless health degree students and employees. She also built and oversaw The Northwest Florida State College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, Registered Nursing to Bachelor of Science Nursing degree programs, Emergency Medical Technician /Paramedic, Radiography, Dental Assisting, and Surgical Technology programs. Her love for learning enriched her career and continues to enrich health professionals' careers.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Military Order of the Purple Heart to host nurses monument ceremony

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County approved financing for phase three of the PJ Adams Parkway project early this year, but construction of the road won't begin until 2019.

County Engineer Scott Bitterman said that the county is currently waiting on a 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers—a permit that is designed "to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands," according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's website.

After the county receives the permit, Bitterman said they would begin the process of "bidding" the project, which is the process of advertising the project to construction companies.

Bitterman said there is no estimated time-frame on when they will receive the permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, but according to a presentation given to the Crestview city council on Aug. 13, the county anticipates bidding to begin by the middle of October, which would mean construction could begin in January 2019.

Earlier this year, County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said construction should begin at the end of this year, but Bitterman said the the project would likely begin in 2019 because of the time length required to complete all necessary tasks before beginning construction.

"We would start construction about four months after we get the permit," Bitterman said.

The project will turn the PJ Adams Parkway into a four-lane road from Highway 85 to Wild Horse Drive.

The three phases of the project will begin at the same time to attempt shortening the construction time, Bitterman said.

The first phase begins on State Road 85 to Key Lime Place, the second phase is from Key Lime Place to Ashley Drive, and the third phase is from Ashley Drive to Wild Horse Drive, which is where the project ends.

Construction on the road is expected to last about a year, Bitterman said.

Public Works Director Jason Autrey spoke to the Crestview city council on Aug. 13 about the possibility of expanding the construction to the entire southwest corner of Crestview.

"We're very optimistic on how we can get that funded and move forward," Autrey said.

The additional phases, phases four and five, would extend from Wild Horse Drive and stretch all the way to U.S. Highway 90 and a portion of Rasberry Road.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PJ Adams project moving forward, expected to begin in 2019

CRESTVIEW —It’s that time of the year that workers all across America will enjoy a three-day weekend.

Some families will grill or spend a day at the beach. Some might even attend the fireworks event at Twin Hills Park.

Many will spend time relaxing and enjoying Labor Day with family and friends. But this article honors the laborers of our nation for whom the holiday is just another Monday in the office—laborers like firefighters, police officers, dispatchers, and emergency department employees.

Let’s face it. Working on any holiday is not ideal.

“It needs to be done. Someone needs to be out there doing it. That’s all there is to it,” Crestview police officer Even Reynolds said.

But, some who work on holidays find themselves enjoying the day with their work family.

“I came out of the military, and it goes right along with it—helping your fellow people,” Crestview firefighter Matt Baker said. “Coming right into this, it’s the brotherhood and sisterhood. These people are like my second family.”

“We are one big family here on the Emerald Coast,” emergency physician at North Okaloosa Medical Center Steve Noggle, M.D. said. “Working on Labor Day means … we are taking care of our men and women, our mothers and fathers, and their families who go to work every day. That’s a privilege.”

“It’s rewarding,” Kimberly Huggins, a dispatcher at the Crestview Police Department, said. "Everybody is just like a second family:”

Firefighters, police officers, and EMS workers all agreed that Labor Day is busy for them because of the level of activity happening.

Labor Day, also called the “workingmen’s holiday," became a federal holiday in 1884 when Congress passed legislation after 30 states had already been celebrating.

The U.S. Department of Labor website states that Labor Day, “constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

For Jonathan McCleod, a city water operator, working on a day like Labor Day when other's have time off isn't an issue because he enjoys his job.

"I love working with the water," McCleod said. "…It's just another day. Normally on holidays, I try to check wells early."

Kelly Thomas, also a Crestview firefighter, talked about why she continues to do her job even when she has to work holidays.

“It really takes a special person to do this, and we do it for community,” Thomas said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Another Monday

I respected Senator John McCain. I loved him as a war hero and a fellow American who served his country in an astounding way. Few people in our country will ever accomplish all that McCain accomplished in his life. He served his country in the military, suffered as a prisoner of war and became one of the most respected United States Senators in our nation's history.

He also came to my hometown of Inez, Kentucky when he was campaigning for President in 2008. I am told the one sight he wanted to see up the road in our town of Martin county was the house that President Lyndon B. Johnson visited in 1964. Johnson put our county on the map and one of our families as the "poster child" of American poverty. He and his entourage visited a family with the promise of lifting them and all poor American families out of poverty. The man he visited died about as poor as or poorer than he was the day Johnson visited him.

John McCain had a good heart to come to Martin County. He respected our poor county enough to consider that our votes were important enough to extend some effort and energy our way. I have to appreciate anyone who shows this kind of respect for average folks.

I've been to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It's a stately, regal place and a national treasure. The campus is unreal and to be buried in that special cemetery is only a place where our nation's most honored and respected will ever be buried.

I've never heard of a Prisoner of War that wanted to be caught and tortured. All POWs are caught as best as I know. Being a POW is not a vacation or anything pleasant that anybody would ever want to endure from everything I've ever heard or read about.

My wife's grandfather was a POW in the Philippines. He suffered at the hands of the Japanese for four very long years. He was forced with 80,000 others to walk the 65 mile Bataan Death march and barely survived it. Thousands died on that walk. All in some way were horribly abused. His imprisonment was something he couldn't emotionally talk about. When he finally got back home to the United States he weighed less than 90 pounds. When he got home he was met by his wife and two daughters – one daughter that was not quite four years old that he had never seen before. He moved his family to Long Island where he worked construction for a long time. He never received any parades. He was never elected to public office nor did he ever run for office. He lived a quiet life, died of lung cancer at age 65 and was buried by his family and friends who celebrated his life but without any national attention. His name was Lyle Harlow. He was a Prisoner of War. He was an American hero.

If you watch or watched Senator McCain's funeral I strongly suggest celebration and admiration of a great American. May the celebration of his life be symbolic of Lyle Harlow and thousands of other Americans who suffered as POWs. Many never made it back to America alive. Or, they made it home and gave their lives building buildings, cars, farming or raising good and decent American families.

Possibly, for a little while, all of us as Americans could just shut up and stop insulting and hurting each other. I realize in political rhetoric it's all about the Limbo, how low can you go it seems. It's not making us better in America.

We will forever hear the sound bite that came from the lips of Senator McCain about President Barack Obama when one naysayer of Obama was critical and McCain corrected her saying, "No Ma'am he's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about."

Surely, heaven and earth all applauded and were astounded that day by John McCain. May it be that kind of speech and behavior that wows us and charts the course of this nation.

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: John McCain – Chart a New Course

CRESTVIEW — Air Force Airman Marc Mesa graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

He is a 2017 graduate of Baker School, Baker.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mesa graduates from basic military training

LAUREL HILL — You could count the number of men on one hand at the Barn at Water Oaks Farm in Laurel Hill Saturday.

The venue was filled with women "in and behind the blue line" as The Ladies of Law Enforcement held their first event under their new name.

The Ladies of Law Enforcement luncheon was catered towards women who work for law enforcement in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, or Walton county, and women who are married, engaged or dating an officer.

Hannah Fortune, the director of Ladies of Law Enforcement, said she spent several months planning the luncheon that was much more than just lunch. The event featured massage therapists, nail technicians, makeovers, a photo booth, lunch, and giveaways.

Fortune did most of the planning herself, which started at the beginning of April. She spent time calling and visiting with various sponsors and collected over time items like drinks and snacks while they were on sale.

Although planning an event this size comes with stress, Fortune's hard work is not without cause.

Fortune said she came up with the idea of a group centered around women of law enforcement a few years ago to say "thank you" to these women.

"My passion for them … it really just hit me. They don't have a support group," Fortune said with tears in her eyes. "… When it comes to law enforcement here on the home front, it seems like you're just law enforcement. You're just a cop. All you do is pull over good people just trying to get to work when the reality is they really have no idea what they're walking up to when they do a traffic stop."

Laurie Ward, wife of a law enforcement officer, attended the luncheon. She said having a support system is important to her.

"Law enforcement doesn't get a whole lot of respect, and we back the blue," Ward said.

Another law enforcement spouse, Amanda Odom, also said having a support system is helpful.

"There's a lot of sleepless nights we don't know if our spouses or loved ones are coming home," Odom said. "The support and friendships we make is wonderful with the community."

Ladies of Law Enforcement underwent a name change recently after being called Blue Wives Matter the last two years.

"There's so much stigma around the Blue Lives Matter movement that we were losing interest from businesses," Fortune said. "Another thing that was a huge factor in going with the name Ladies of Law Enforcement was we had so many women that were in law enforcement themselves … saying 'blue wives' they felt like it didn't apply to them."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: "We back the blue"

CRESTVIEW — Residents continue to plead for something to be done about Colt Drive — the only road from Stallion Drive to U.S. Hwy 90.

About 500 feet of the dirt road has large, deep potholes.

For resident Sabrina Gregg, Colt Drive's disrepair has complicated school mornings. The school bus that once traveled to Stallion Drive now stops at the corner of Colt Drive and Hibiscus Avenue, which means Gregg must maneuver her way around the holes on Colt Drive to drop her son off at the bus, adding about 20 minutes to their mornings.

Colt Drive has become increasingly worse, according to some long-term residents.

Cherish Weeks has lived on Colt Drive since 2009 and says the road is in the worst shape she's seen in four years. She said the road has damaged her car, and her truck is unusable after repeatedly driving the road.

“I understand we get the rain, but this is a little bit ridiculous," Weeks said. "This is making it so that if an ambulance needs to come in, they can’t.”

Residents also worry the problem could potentially be a life-or-death issue.

“Heaven forbid a young infant or a toddler gets out here and falls into one of these puddles,” Stallion Drive resident Scott Beal said. “I’m just telling you, they’d drown, and who’s going to be responsible for it? The county? They said they’re not responsible.”

According to a parcel search on the Okaloosa County website, the county owns land on the east side of Colt Drive. Okaloosa County Public Works Director Jason Autrey said the county does not own the road but the right-of-way.

“It was never an opened or county-maintained road,” Autrey said.

Residents of Eagle and Falcon Way — less than 1,000 feet from the front of Colt Drive — were in a similar situation and set up a Municipal Service Benefit Units fund, which allows residents to have a county-maintained road by requiring them to pay for road improvements. The charge would be similar to an HOA fee.

Autrey said there are specific requirements that have to be met before the county would accept responsibility for maintaining the road. The road would have to be brought to "county standards." Autrey said a paved roadway is the preferred option.

Mare Creek Farms Homeowners Association President Mike Banks said he presented the option of a MSBU to residents at a meeting two years ago, but no one wanted to pay the extra money at the time.

“I don’t know if I have a solution other than money,” Banks said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Colt Drive problem worsens for residents

CRESTVIEW — The City of Crestview's Pee Wee cheerleading squads will have a rummage sale fundraiser.

The sale is  8 a.m. to noon Aug. 25 at the Old Spanish Trail Park Pavilion, 205 Stillwell Ave., Crestview.

The proceeds will be used to purchase shoes, ribbons, megaphones and other equipment and accessories for the season.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cheer team fundraiser is scheduled

CRESTVIEW — Overcast skies weren't a deterrent Aug. 18 for families to get outside.

The Main Street Crestview Association's block party schedule started with a 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. flea market.

A few side streets were blocked off to through traffic near the Hub City Smokehouse on Main Street and four vendors braved rainy, windy weather during the occasion.

Rebecka Philmon, 2, of Crestview, didn't seem to mind. She made the most of toy cars, trucks and rain puddles near the table her family had set up. They sold clothes, DVDs, games and other items to attendees.

Lori Moser of Southern Charmed Wood made several statements without saying a word. Some of the wooden signs she creates carried such sayings as "Sweet tea goes with anything & nobody eats until we say amen." A red one with a Disney theme began with the words, "In this house, we let it go and just keep swimming…" Others were placards with submitted photos from customers: a softball player, a bride-and-groom photo of a relative's wedding day, and like items.

Marie Forsman, a certified herbalist, and her husband Gregory brought essential oils, food seasonings and other all-natural products they'd grown themselves for their company, Valley of Field Herbals. They also sell Celtic-themed accessories and hangings.

The Forsmans, who had a farm by Buffalo, New York, recently moved to Holt when one of their children had to have major surgery, and the cold affected their health.

"Both of them are thriving here. The heat is much better for them," Marie said.

Why Holt? "We wanted to be in Florida but we wanted to be more in a farming and small town community and we moved to this area," she said. "My husband was also able to transfer here." He is a team lead at Tractor Supply in Crestview.

Also among the vendors was Melissa Hanks, owner of the Ruck Up Cup military-themed mobile coffee stand based in south Crestview. She also sells smoothies, frozen hot chocolate and other drinks, as well as snacks.

The association's block party included a Let's Vote Okaloosa Meet-and-Greet from 4-8 p.m. All candidates and those who had rented a booth to provide political information showed up for the event, but few residents took advantage of the opportunity, according to MSCA Program Manager Sandra Wilson.

She said the organization will have a car show in September and an Oktoberfest the following month.

"(They're) more fun so they should draw more people," she said.

Note: This article was updated to correct the location of Ruck Up Cups. The mobile coffee stand is actually located at 4110 Ferdon Blvd. S, between the Chevy and Ford dealerships.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Main Street Crestview flea market, meet and greet opened despite weather