CRESTVIEW — Six gopher tortoises have relocated from the city's waste water treatment plant on Arena Road to Nokuse Plantation in Freeport following a $6 million water system overhaul.

Three females, two males and one juvenile gopher tortoise were relocated to the 51,000-acre plantation to make room for an ongoing expansion at the plant.

"We are adding five rapid infiltration basins” to keep up with the city’s growth, Jayne Swift, the plant’s project manager, said.

The basins will help the plant manage treated water as it is released back into the soil and into Florida's aquifer, which further purifies it.

Morgan Contracting in Baker is adding the basins as part of the renovations to the CH2MHILL-operated facility. Other additions include new pumps and a new chlorine basin that also treats the water. The project should be finished by summer 2014.

"We signed a contract with the city in February (of this year)," said Mike Tucker, the contractor’s project manager. "Part of that contract was bringing on a biologist for the relocation of the tortoises."

"They originally thought there was only three nesting burrows, but there were 10," Tucker said.

 Morgan Contracting contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which suggested Nokuse Plantation in Freeport.  

The plantation specializes in preserving, restoring and conserving Florida's eco-system by maintaining natural woodlands. 

 A team from the plantation found the tortoise burrows while surveying the land. Members brought a backhoe loader and shovels to retrieve the reptiles.

"We are going to keep them in an enclosed space for about a year," plantation director Matt Aresco said.

Later, the enclosure will be removed, allowing the gophers to roam freely within the plantation.

In Florida, gopher tortoises are "threatened" on the state's endangered species list.

State law protects gopher tortoises and their burrows, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife website, myfwc.com.

Property owners must receive the FWC’s permission to capture and relocate the fragile reptiles.  

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: Gopher tortoises leave water plant amid $6 million project

CRESTVIEW — A couple who disciplined their 13-year-old daughter by having her stand at a busy intersection with a sign suggested that critics “walk a mile in someone’s shoes” before rushing to judge them.

Gentry and Renee Nickell were shocked to learn that motorists’ photos of their daughter had gone viral on Facebook.

The girl held the sign for 90 minutes Saturday at the intersection of Ferdon Boulevard and U.S. Highway 90 in Crestview. It read: “I’m a Self-entitled teenager w/no Respect for authority. I’m also super smart, yet I have 3 ‘D’s’ because I DON’T CARE.”

“We got to the point where we just didn’t know what else to do,” said her mother, who got the idea from a Christian counselor several years ago.

Read a statement from the family.

The Nickells, who have two younger children, said they have had a difficult year since Renee’s brother was killed in Afghanistan in December 2011. The two families were very close and vacationed together every year.

While everyone has struggled with his death, their daughter reacted by becoming increasingly disrespectful at home and at school. By fall, her lack of respect was affecting her grades as well as her home life.

“We just felt like she just kind of gave up,” Renee said.

They tried grounding her, which didn’t work, but didn’t want to restrict her numerous church activities, which reinforced the values they want her to have.

They don’t give their children expensive electronic items, so there was nothing to take away. They finally decided holding a sign would be a way to get her attention.

Gentry was not shown in the photo that went viral, but he said he stood with her the entire time.

Crestview police were called to the corner by a motorist who thought the punishment was too much. The officer left after confirming that the girl was “aware of her punishment and she was not in any harm,” according to the call history record from the Police Department.

The Nickells said their daughter’s behavior has improved since the incident.

“I wasn’t even thinking about what the public was going to think,” her mom said. “I was thinking about our daughter. It was for her to be in the public and recognize what she had done wrong.

“I asked her, ‘Were you scarred? Traumatized?’ She said, ‘No mom, I knew it was coming.’ ”

Gentry said as the time passed, he could see moments in which his daughter was thinking about the actions that had led her to that corner. He had set 90 minutes as the minimum time, depending on how she handled herself.

“I told her, ‘It depends on how well you take it. If you take it like a champ, we’ll wrap it up and be done with it,’” he said.

“At the end, she gave me a hug in front of the police officer and told me she was sorry,” Gentry added.

Contact Daily News Assignment Editor Wendy Victora at 850-315-4478 or wvictora@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @WendyVnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview couple defends daughter’s punishment (LETTER)

FORT WALTON BEACH — A barge crashed into the Brooks Bridge about 3:15 p.m.

The bridge is being closed to all traffic. There were cars on the bridge when the crash occured.

Some pipes that run under the bridge were struck and were leaking large amounts of water and possibly gas.

Damage is reported is reported on the west side of the bridge.

View a slideshow of the damage.

A crane on top a barge hit the west side of the bridge about 3:15 p.m.

It is unknown if there were any injuries. Firefighters and paramedics are on the scene to look for any possible injuries on the boats that were underneath the bridge.

A couple who witnessed the barge hitting the bridge said the barge kept going forward as the equipment went backwards and hit the barges behind it.

They said it took about 15 seconds for the barge to stop and reverse, but by that time concrete, rails and water had started coming down.

About two feet of the guard railing along the bridge appears to be destroyed. There is minor damage to the road, according to people at the scene.

Department of Transportation engeineers are en route to the bridge to assess the damage.

"We'll have a better idea what is going on with the bridge after we get an assessment," said Ian Satter, a spokesman for the DOT.

The Okaloosa Sheriff's Office is directing motorists to use the Mid-Bay Bridge as an alternate route.

Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Director Jeff Littrell said he and his staff are trying to reach the bridge but have been delayed by traffic congestion. Onlookers have reported water shooting from the pipes that run over the bridge.

"We don't know how bad the leaks are in the pipes," Littrell said. "We have a 16-inch water main that runs across the bridge. That is the water supply to Okaloosa Island."

Littrell said he is monitoring the water levels in the island's three water tanks and the system has not lost pressure.

"We've got 900,000 gallons of storage we can rely on. … We may need to close valves on the other side of the bridge," Littrell said, adding that he's sent workers through Niceville to reach Okaloosa Island because Brooks Bridge is closed.

All Okaloosa County School buses were across the bridge before the barge struck, according to Okaloosa County Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson.

Transportation officials are currently working on different routes for tomorrow morning, so delays are possible, she said.

Students in the county only have one more day of school before they go on spring break, so Jackson hopes they can keep inconvenience at a minimum for families.

"We'll just take it one day at a time," she said. "We'll have time over spring break to really figure it out."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Barge crashes into Brooks Bridge (slideshow)

BAKER — They say good things come to those who wait, but for Baker residents who value literature and other library materials, the wait is over.

The Library Spot, a lending machine that offers books and DVDs to Okaloosa County library members, made its Baker Block Museum location official on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the service that opened Feb. 28.   

The machine, the first of its kind in the county, offers a variety of books — from children's to young adult and adult bestsellers — and some of the latest family movies.

Ultimately, it offers Baker residents a local library service.

"It can take you 25 minutes just to drive to Crestview from here," cooperative coordinator Vicky Stever said. "We wanted to find a way to serve people without them having to drive so many miles and spending so much time."

The machine looks similar to a snack vending machine, but there is no charge to use the contents inside. You just need a library card. Nearby is a drop-off box for returning items.

"It’s a lot cheaper than buying books," Baker resident Christina Pilkington said.

Pilkington regularly takes her sons ─Gabriel, 6, and Jacob, 5 ─to the lending machine, which is on their way to school from where they live.

"I read every night with my mom," Gabriel said.

Want to go?

The Library Spot is in front of Baker Block Museum on the corner of U.S Highway 189 and State Road 4 in Baker.

Contact the Okaloosa County Library Cooperative, 609-5101 or LibrarySpot@okaloosa.lib.fl.us, for more details.

Need a library card?

Application forms are available at Baker Block Museum, which is open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The museum is also open on the third Saturday of every month at the same time.

Word about the machine has been spreading, museum coordinator Ann Spann said.

"We have had a lot of curiosity and excitement by it and the novelty of it is catching people's attention,” she said.

"It has also been driving in traffic into the museum."

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: Library access comes to Baker residents

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County reported the latest water quality results.

The department conducts weekly saltwater beach water quality monitoring at 13 sites. Water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria that inhabit humans and animals’s intestinal tract and which may cause human disease, infections or rashes.

This bacteria’s presence indicates fecal pollution that may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.

Site ID  –  Location, Result, and Rating

SP-1  –  Liza Jackson Park, Fort Walton Beach, Fail, Poor

SP-2  –  Garniers Park, Fort Walton Beach, Fail, Poor

SP-3  –  Marler Park, Okaloosa Island , Pass, Moderate

SP-4  –  Wayside Park, Okaloosa Island, Pass, Good

SP-5  –  Poquito Park, Shalimar, Pass, Moderate

SP-6  –  Gulf Islands National Seashore, Okaloosa Island, Fail, Poor

SP-7  –  East Pass, Okaloosa Island, Pass, Moderate

SP-8  –  Lincoln Park, Valparaiso, Fail, Poor

SP-9  –  Henderson Beach, Destin, Pass, Good

SP-10  –  Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville, Fail, Poor

SP-11  –  James Lee Park, Destin, Pass, Good

SP-13  –  Emerald Promenade, Okaloosa Island, Pass, Good

SP-14  –  Clement E. Taylor Park, Destin, Pass, Good

Water quality classifications are based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended standard for enterococci of greater than or equal to 104 colony forming units per 100 milliliters of marine water.

Advisories have been issued for Liza Jackson Park and Garniers Park of Fort Walton Beach; Gulf Island National Seashore of Okaloosa Island; Lincoln Park of Valparaiso; and Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville based on the EPA’s recommended enterococci standards.

This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Five parks fail water quality test

FORT WALTON BEACH — Bill Robinson wants people to remember him as a person who did the right thing for the right reason during his 25 years as president and CEO of United Way Okaloosa/Walton.

“That’s what it’s all about. You do what you do because you enjoy it,” Robinson said. “This organization is all about people helping people, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of that.”

Robinson announced his retirement last week first to his eight staff members and then to the board of directors. He said this next week also will be spent letting volunteers with the organization know about the upcoming change.

“I was told once that when it’s time, you’ll know,” Robinson said. “It’s time.”

The Memphis, Tenn., man started his career with the Boy Scouts of America, which brought him to Fort Walton Beach in the late ’70s. A few years later, the opening for United Way’s president opened and the rest, as he says, is history.

Since that time, Robinson says he has seen the nonprofit organization through highs and lows. For him, only the positive memories will remain.

“The good times overwhelm the bad times,” he said. “What I’m most proud of is recruiting a board who saw a vision for United Way in their community.

“There were some concerns over the years with debt and the economy, but it’s always been about the desire to support the community.”

Robinson’s final day will be June 30 — the same month as his 25-year anniversary. He said ideally the board will get a committee together within the next few weeks and Robinson’s successor will be hired by mid-May, giving Robinson time to show his replacement the ropes.

Following his final days with United Way, Robinson said he’s not entirely sure what he will be doing. But he knows staying at home is not an option.

“I’ll drive my wife crazy if I’m at home and she’ll drive me crazy,” he said, laughing. “I’ve always been an advocate for nonprofits, so I’ll be doing some volunteering.

“Exactly what I’ll do remains to be seen, but I’m going to be doing something.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Longtime United Way president announces his retirement

CRESTVIEW — Velma Conyers’ bum leg makes it tough to stand for long periods in her church choir, but it doesn't stop her from getting out and mingling with her family, church members and sisters in the Order of the Eastern Star.

"I used to be going all the time for the Eastern Star and the church," she said. "I used to bake all the bread for communion and dress the church for communion for the pastor. I was a working lady, but times change and I can sit down and rest now."

On Thursday, "Ma Conyers," as folks in the community affectionately call her, became Crestview's newest centenarian. Her kitchen was a beehive of activity as friends and family helped prepare what her daughter, Velma Mary Haynes, called a "simple country supper."

This afternoon is the big party, hosted by Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, of which she's been a member since 1926. To honor Conyers' community involvement, the church's outreach program is named the Velma K. Conyers Missionary Society.

In 2000, the Eastern Star’s local chapter, which she joined when she was 18, was named the Velma K. Conyers Chapter 7A, also in honor of her service. She was its grand matron for 46 years.

Beginnings

The daughter of Charlie and Hattie G. Jones, Conyers was 3 months old when her family moved from Bonifay to Deerland, just east of Crestview. She moved to Crestview when she was 8. On March 31, 1929, she married James Robert Lee Conyers, for whom the Masonic Lodge next the Mt. Zion church is named.

"There's been a lot of changes in Crestview," Conyers said. "There wasn't anything here but sand. You didn't think there would ever be sidewalks or paved streets. And there weren't many stores.

"We had a theater but it was out in the open, like a tent. The sides were open, but it was nice."

Conyers remembers the era of segregation.

"People have changed quite a bit, and it's a blessing," she said. "We do more mixing than we used to. If I had to go to the courthouse and I wanted a drink of water, I had to get my water out of a different sink over here, and you got your water out of sink over there. I had to go in a different door."

Conyers also vividly recalls Sept. 23, 1921, shortly before the family moved to Crestview, when the city had its second and last public hanging. She watched a long stream of cars driving to the event on Old Spanish Trail Highway, now U.S. Highway 90.

"I was small. I climbed up on our wagon and counted all the cars that were going to the hanging," Conyers said. "Mama said she didn't want to go see somebody get hung, so we didn't go."

Preserving historic Crestview

But most of Conyers' memories are happy, filled with the blessings of friends and family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Swimming in the L&N Railroad watering pond — now one of the ponds in Twin Hills Park — was a fun pastime, as was fishing. In winter, when water would slosh out of the railroad water tank and freeze, Conyers and her friends would break off icicles and eat them.

Conyers is glad to see some of the old Crestview that she remembers preserved for future generations. Main Street may no longer have hitching posts, but students attend classes in the Alatex Building that is now a Florida A&M University pharmacy school. Conyers had a hand in preserving the one-time sewing factory.

"Mayor (George) Whitehurst came to my house one day and we sat on the porch and got to talking and he said, 'Velma, I got to thinking, maybe we should tear that old building down,'" Conyers said.

"I said, 'Why do you want to tear things down and be like Fort Walton? Why don't you do something with that old building?' So people came together and now we have a new school for Crestview. I said, 'Leave something for the children to remember how it was.'"

"I feel pretty good," Conyers said. "It's just a blessing to be 100. It is a blessing. I have so much to thank God for."

Then she started softly singing one of her favorite hymns.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, to save a wretch like me," she sang. "I get to thinking about that sometimes. It gives me something to think about."

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

Know a centenarian?

Everyone’s life holds a special story — particularly for centenarians, who have seen local, national and worldwide changes that span a century and have experienced triumphs and tragedies that we can learn from.

The News Bulletin wants to know about Crestview, Laurel Hill or Baker or other area residents turning 100 years old. Email the tip, at least two weeks before the 100th birthday, to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community leader celebrates 100 years of blessings

LAUREL HILL — More than 60 parents and 200 children on Tuesday night welcomed motivational speaker and entertainer Scott Humston to Laurel Hill School’s auditorium.

He shared stories of courage in telling the truth and overcoming personal obstacles. The Grand Island, Fla., native was born with a cleft palate, a deformity in which a split forms in the roof of the mouth. He overcame the obstacle to perform about 300 shows annually for crowds of hundreds.

Tuesday, Humston introduced north county residents to his puppet "Justin Beaver." At one point, the crowd participated in "Scott Says," Humston's version of the game "Simon Says." Additionally, several students from the crowd helped the entertainer perform magic tricks and optical illusions.

"I liked the part where he made the snow (confetti)," Haley Wington, 6, said.

Three fathers volunteered on stage to play with invisible yo-yos and make humorous hand gestures to the crowd’s amusement.

One of them, Martin Triplett, was glad he brought his family to the event.

"I think it was a really great time for the entire family," he said.

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: Magic tricks, motivation take focus at Laurel Hill School (GALLERY)