View a slideshow of the damage.

View a video of the crash.

Investigators will review every aspect of the accident, from the winds on Santa Rosa Sound to the background and health of the tugboat operators who were guiding the barges that hit the bridge at 3:15 p.m.

“It’s a causality analysis,” said Lt. Mike Clausen, an investigator with the Coast Guard sector in Mobile, Ala. “They’re asking specific questions: the who, what, when, where, why and how.”

He said the Coast Guard will not release the names of the companies that own the tugs or their operators until the investigation was complete. He estimated that would take two to three months.

The bridge was fully reopened Thursday morning after it was shut down completely for several hours after the accident. The Coast Guard also allowed boat traffic to resume along the Intracoastal Waterway late Thursday afternoon.   

But residents and businesses on Okaloosa Island remained under a boil water notice Thursday night after a water line that was ruptured in the accident was repaired. The advisory will be lifted after tests show no bacteria is in the water, said Jeff Littrell, director of Okaloosa County's Water and Sewer Department.

The tugs Miss Lizzy and Helene Maria were guiding four barges east in the sound when the crane on one of the barges hit the concrete barrier wall on the west side of the bridge and broke the water line running under the sidewalk. Chunks of concrete fell from the bridge and water from the pipe gushed into the sound.

View a photo gallery of the Miss Lizzy and the barges leaving the area.

 No one was hurt and no vehicles crossing the bridge at the time were damaged, said Randy McDaniel, Okaloosa County’s emergency management director.

The bridge was closed immediately after the crash and tolls on the Mid-Bay Bridge were suspended to help relieve traffic congestion.

Two lanes on the bridge were reopened Wednesday night and all four lanes were opened about 6 a.m. Thursday, according to Ian Satter, district spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation. Tolls were reinstated on the Mid-Bay Bridge about the same time, Satter said.

“We opened up as quickly as we could. We had people needing to get to work, school, and we have the spring break crowd,” he said.

Inspectors from the DOT found no structural damage to the bridge, and crews with Okaloosa County’s Water and Sewer Department worked overnight to repair the water pipe.

Clausen with the Coast Guard in Mobile said officials with the Panama City Coast Guard station will investigate the crash.

“They’re looking for what caused the accident,” Clausen said. “Looking at work-rest periods of the operator, the vessel log, the machinery, maintenance. And if it’s human-factor error we’ll look at his license, where he obtained it, how long he’s had it. We’re looking for any evidence that it was human fault.”

If found at fault, the tug operator could lose his license.Clausen said the tugboat’s company also could be found at fault.

Satter said a damage estimate for the bridge wasn’t available Thursday, but added that repair costs will not come from the DOT.

“Somebody will be held liable for the damages,” he said.

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: Coast Guard investigating barge accident (GALLERIES, VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — The Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run is 9 a.m. in Crestview and 11:15 a.m. in Fort Walton Beach March 27.

Crestview participants meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Publix parking lot on South Ferdon Boulevard and Redstone Avenue. The run will continue up to the War Memorial on Main Street.

The Fort Walton Beach participants meet at 11 a.m. at the Publix on Racetrack Road and Eglin Parkway. Their route goes to Brooks Landing, a city park at Brooks Street and U.S. Highway 98.

Drivers are urged to use caution when driving near torch run participants.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Special Olympics torch run is Wednesday in two locations

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Brooks Bridge is now open after a barge carrying a crane crashed into the west side of the bridge Wednesday afternoon, according to Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Ian Satter.

Satter said all lanes are open to vehicles and temporary repairs have been made to the sidewalk and barrier wall on the bridge. The eastbound side of the bridge remains closed to pedestrians.

U.S. Coast Guard Seaman John Moon said boats are currently not being allowed under the bridge. He did not know how long that would be in effect.

A water line for Okaloosa Island that ruptured in the accident had also been repaired by Thursday morning, but residents on the island are under a precautionary boil water notice for now, according to Okaloosa County spokeswoman Kathy Newby.

All affected customers should boil water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing dishes, bathing and brushing teeth until further notice.

The notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.

The bridge was closed to all motorists and pedestrians for several hours after the crash due to the damage caused by the crane. It remained closed to eastbound traffic until about 9 p.m. when officials were able to open one lane in each direction.

To try to ease traffic snarls, tolls on the Mid-Bay Bridge were temporarily suspended Wednesday and early Thursday but had resumed at 6 a.m. Thursday, according to Satter.

View a slideshow of the damage.

View a reader slideshow of the damage.

View a video from the crash site.

View a reader submitted video of the crash.

Crews from the FDOT and the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department worked throughout the night making repairs to the bridge and the water pipe.

The crash that caused all the damage occurred at 3:15 p.m. as the tugboat Miss Lizzy was pushing four barges two-by-two east in Santa Rosa Sound, according to officials at Coast Guard Station Destin. The crane on one of the barges hit the bridge.

The impact took down several feet of the concrete guardrail and broke a water pipe that runs underneath the eastbound sidewalk on the bridge. Concrete and water from the pipe poured into Santa Rosa Sound.

No one was hurt and no vehicles crossing the bridge were damaged, said Randy McDaniel, Okaloosa County’s emergency management director.

Satter said the next step for FDOT is to again assess the bridge's structure for safety purposes.

"We wanted to get it open as quickly as we could," Satter said. "Especially because we have people trying to get to work, school and with spring break season. Everything is safe and secure at this point."

Satter said a damage estimate wasn't available yet, but did say the repair costs will not come from Okaloosa County's state transportation budget.

"Somebody will be held liable for the damages," he said.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Cory Walters said a chief warrant officer with the Coast Guard's Panama City station has already interviewed the barge operator. No other details on the investigation were immediately available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Brooks Bridge now open

CRESTVIEW —Jamicha Ewing’s life is about to be changed thanks to the kindness of a community.

In a few short weeks, the 8-year-old and her mother Tremaritus will be at Miami Children’s Hospital for a week-long evaluation that could change both of their ways of living.

“I did not expect it to be this fast,” Tremaritus Ewing said hours after learning a local couple had purchased round-trip tickets for her and Jamicha on April 22. “I can’t wait to tell (Jamicha). She’s going to be jumping for joy.”

Tremaritus received the welcome infusion of kindness following a story in the Daily News on Wednesday about the family’s struggle. Jamicha, a second-grader at Bob Sikes Elementary School, was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 4 and her condition has worsened through the years.

Read the previous story about Jamicha.

Doctors have tried several methods to control her seizures, but three seizures in two days last week made it clear none of them was working. Rather than wait, doctors urged Tremaritus to get her daughter to Miami for surgery to remove the part of her brain causing the seizures.

Unfortunately, the single mother of three didn’t have a reliable vehicle to make the trip, so she humbled herself and reached out for help.

The family’s story caught the eye of Ethel and Lonnie Woods of Fort Walton Beach. Before noon Thursday, the couple had purchased airline tickets for the mother and daughter and promised to take them to Pensacola International Airport the day of the flight.

“God has blessed us tremendously, so I said, ‘We can do that,’ ” Ethel said. “If you can afford to do it, do it.”

The retired first-grade teacher said the idea of Jamicha not being able to get the surgery “broke my heart,” so they didn’t hesitate to step in.

“It takes a community to raise a child, and this is a giving community,” she said.

In addition to purchasing the plane tickets, Ethel said she will ask her church to see if it can help the family.

Larry and Barbara Fine of Destin also want to help.

“I don’t know them, but I’m sure they’re really suffering, so some happiness and joy will be really good for them,” said Larry, who worked for a program in Alabama called Magic Moments that granted wishes to chronically ill children.

The Fines said they were willing to help however they can while the family was in Miami, but especially wanted to arrange something fun for Jamicha after she recovers.

“I’ve seen the impact that putting a little bit of pleasure (in life) can bring,” Larry said.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: UPDATE: Help comes for Jamicha

CRESTVIEW — The American Legion Riders of Oscar E. Wilson Post 75 benefit poker run begins at 8:30 a.m. April 6 at 898 E. James Lee Boulevard.

Participation costs $10 per hand, and cash prizes will be presented to winners. Breakfast is free with registration.

The first bike out will leave the post at 10:30 a.m., with the last bike coming in at 2:45 p.m.

Lunch is $6; purchase tickets at registration or legion post. Fish or chicken fingers, hush puppies, coleslaw and cheese grits will be served.

For more information contact TK Johnson, 682-3134 or 865-9879.

This American Legion Riders Chapter 75 event benefits Fisher House at Eglin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach. Fisher Houses are for military families to stay while their soldier received treatment at a nearby base hospital. They are normally located within walking distance of the treatment facility or have transportation available.

There are 60 Fisher Houses in the U.S., on 23 military installations and 22 VA medical centers. For more information visit www.fisherhouse.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: American Legion hosts Fisher House poker run benefit

CRESTVIEW — Tremaritus Ewing is cautiously hopeful her 8-year-old daughter’s life is about to change.

Next month, the single mother and second-grader will travel to Miami Children’s Hospital to determine whether Jamicha is a candidate for brain surgery to correct her epilepsy.

If the week-long evaluation determines she is, Tremaritus anticipates the doctors will perform surgery immediately because Jamicha’s seizures are becoming more frequent and local doctors are out of options.

“Hopefully, she’ll be able to live a little bit more normally,” Tremaritus said. “Hopefully.”

The trouble is, Tremaritus is not sure how she and her daughter will get to South Florida.

Her vehicle, which doesn’t have air-conditioning or working windows, barely makes it to doctor’s appointments in Gulf Breeze.

She knows Miami is out of the question, but she needs to get there for her daughter.

Jamicha suffered her first seizure when she was 4 at her voluntary pre-kindergarten program.

When school officials called Tremaritus and said Jamicha was in an ambulance, she couldn’t process it.

“I was, ‘No, you’ve got the wrong child,’ ” Tremaritus recalled recently as she sat out in her front yard with Jamicha and her other two daughters.

At the hospital, doctors said it was probably a one-time occurrence and that it wouldn’t happen again. The family made it through Christmas break without incident, but Jamicha suffered a second seizure after she returned to school.

At that point, doctors diagnosed her with epilepsy.

The diagnosis was terrifying to Tremaritus, but she said she knew she had to be strong for her daughter.

“She’ll be looking at you one minute and the next minute, she’s gone,” Tremaritus said. “You really can’t sleep ever, trying to listen at night to see if she’s having one.”

Most days Jamicha can dress herself without a problem, but every once in awhile she’ll come out with her clothes on backwards. Doctors told Tremaritus that means she likely had suffered another seizure.

When medication alone didn’t work, Tremaritus accepted a doctor’s recommendation to implant a Vagus Nerve Stimulator underneath Jamicha’s skin near her collarbone.

The device is used to send electrical signals to Jamicha’s brain. The doctors said it would lessen, if not eliminate, her seizures, Tremaritus said.

But despite the magnet on her wrist that can be used to jump-start the device if a seizure begins, multiple trips to the hospital last week following seizures at school have brought the family to the last option: brain surgery.

For her part, Jamicha is excited about going to the hospital. They’ve been there once before and dogs visited her there.

“I like the hospital,” she said with a smile.

Tremaritus is determined to find a way to get there for their April 22 appointment, but she’s not certain how.

They have the lodging situation handled and Tremaritus’ two sisters will watch her other daughters. The only issue left is how they get there.

Jamicha hopes they can fly on a plane because she’s never been on one. Tremaritus doesn’t have the money for a plane ticket or even a bus ticket, but she’s not backing down; it’s her daughter she’s fighting for.

Until a travel solution can be found, she’s going to keep giving her daughter her medication and constantly keep her phone on hand in case Jamicha has another seizure.

Above all, she will stay positive.

“I try to let her see me smile a lot of the time,” Tremaritus said.

WANT TO HELP?

Contact Tremaritus Ewing at 612-2233.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A long road ahead for the Ewings

CRESTVIEW — Yvonne Wood wants to give needy children abroad something many people take for granted: shoes on their feet.

The military spouse and mother of two seeks votes so she and others may provide footwear on behalf of TOMS Shoes, a charitable retailer.

The contest

The company, which donates a pair of shoes for each pair it sells, will send its top 50 “Ticket to Give” candidates to deliver new shoes to children abroad. The company — which has sent volunteers to Honduras, Argentina and Peru — reportedly has donated more than 2 million pairs of new shoes.

Wood hopes she’s among this year’s volunteers and humanitarian organizations aiding the effort.

"This is something I really want to be a part of," she said. "It would be an honor to work with them." 

Voting is underway and will end at midnight April 11, Wood said. You can vote for Wood’s entry at bit.ly/YmtpRu.

So far, 298 voters have supported Wood’s entry, and the top candidate has 2,348 votes, as of press deadline.

"Right now, I am not in the top 50, but there is still time left," she said.

This will be no vacation getaway, the contest’s website, toms.com/ticket-to-give, states. Winners will take long bus rides on curvy roads and must kneel on concrete surfaces while placing shoes on needy children’s feet.

The trips will take place between July and December. Five groups of 10 will visit one of the countries for a week. An official announcement regarding winners and locations will be made in late April, according to the company’s website.

A giving habit

Regardless of the election’s outcome, Wood wants to continue spreading the word about the charitable shoe company, which has stores in Fort Walton Beach, Destin and at toms.com.

"They don't advertise; they really go by word of mouth,” she said.

Supporting charitable causes is nothing new for Wood.

"I have been involved with fundraising from the American Cancer Society; I have also worked for the Fisher House (Foundation)," Wood said. The foundation provides housing so families can be near a military member receiving hospital care.

While working with the organization, Wood recognized her calling to work with non-profit organizations.

"It has opened my eyes," she said. "In the future I want to continue to work with non-profit organizations."

“I know, without a doubt, that non-profit work is my destiny,” her “Ticket to Give” profile reads. “I have never had the opportunity to participate in something so amazing.

“Please help make it my first!”

Want to participate?

See bit.ly/YmtpRu to vote for Crestview resident Yvonne Wood’s entry to deliver footwear to needy children in the TOMS Shoes “Ticket to Give” contest.

Facebook users can follow Wood's "Ticket to Destiny" group at http://on.fb.me/ZE8J9k.

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 woman seeks votes to provide footwear for poor children

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)

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)