CRESTVIEW — This story began with one wounded warrior and his wife's desire to help another wounded warrior by donating their puppy to become a service dog.

On Friday, David McCaulla, a veteran from Mississippi, met Crestview residents Jennifer and Benjamin Garcia, who donated a Dogo Argentinian puppy that will be McCaulla's service dog.

After joining Operation Heal Our Patriots (OHOP), a religious organization centered around healing for wounded veterans and their spouses, Benjamin, a 14-year Army veteran, said he wanted to do something for other wounded warriors like himself.

"One thing I learned about being at OHOP is there's actually a lot of people out there that care about you, and a lot more people like us that are dealing with the same issues," Benjamin said. "I just want to pay it forward."

Jennifer began researching different organizations, and they decided to donate one of their puppies to become a service dog.

Benjamin said he knows from personal experience the positive effect these dogs can have on wounded veterans.

"These dogs are real special to me because they can touch your soul," Benjamin said. "…I think these dogs have a way of detecting when you have a flashback or go into a deep depression, and then they try to give you extra love."

Although it wasn't an immediate result, Jennifer was finally able to make contact through Facebook and found a veteran in need of a service dog.

McCaulla served in the Army Infantry for nine years and currently suffers from post traumatic stress disorder as well as back and leg issues.

The donation from the Garcia family comes after McCaulla had been searching for a service dog, and he said he was "very grateful" for the donation and company.

"The biggest thing with the service dogs is somebody's there with you all the time," McCaulla said.

Although McCaulla received the puppy Friday, the dog will go through training with Britnee Kinard, founder of the non-profit organization The SD Gunner Fund in Claxton, Georgia.

Kinard said she trains about 12 to 15 service dogs a year for wounded warriors and special-needs children.

The puppy donated by the Garcia family will go through 8 to 18 months worth of training, depending on the dog's capabilities.

Kinard said she was glad that Jennifer reached out to her about donating this rare breed to become a service dog.

"We're excited to take on this challenge of learning and training this breed, and really helping try to make her wish come true because she really wants this dog to be a service dog," Kinard said.

McCaulla will be present for part of the training and plans to move closer to the training location.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Pay it forward'

CRESTVIEW — In a span of three to four weeks, Michael King, his wife Ruth, and their daughter Monnie Villanea transformed a former church building into a colorful play arena for children from crawlers to 12-year-olds.

Jumpin Beans Playzone has a variety of options for kids at reasonable prices. Children younger than 4 years old with the ability to walk or crawl can spend all day at the play zone for $8 and the all-day price for children 4 to 12 years old is $10.

King, an Army veteran, said they chose these prices knowing the military presence in Crestview.

“I’m retired military, and I want to keep it reasonable for the military families,” King said.

Inside the main area, the room is filled with bouncy castles and inflatable slides. Children can also meander their way through the inflatable obstacle course.

For those not interested in the inflatable options, the main area also has games like foosball and “Connect Four” and a giant projector screen where kids can watch movies. The day of the grand opening, the 2016 Dreamworks animated film “Trolls" was playing.

Outside the main area, the play zone features a toddler room, and a room for teenagers who are looking to play air hockey or videogames.

King said they felt something like this was needed in the Crestview community because the closest play zone was at least a 30 minute drive.

“We did some research, and there’s nothing like this in Crestview,” King said. “We have four grandkids located here, and we always had to take them down to Niceville, Fort Walton, Panama, or Pensacola for something like this.”

It was a quick turn around from the moment they found the building to the grand opening. Villanea said they spent all hours of the day painting and setting up the play areas. The inflatable slides and bouncy houses came from California.

“It was very stressful,” Villanea said. “I’m hoping after today the stress calms down, but the most stressful part about opening a business like this is finding a building big enough.”

The play zone offers birthday party packages for up to 30 kids.

Villanea said they provide whatever party theme is requested on the package form. The party rooms are upstairs with one toddler room downstairs.

The King family hopes to eventually expand their business if the community reaction is good.

“We anticipate doing really, really well. If we do, maybe we can go into a bigger building,” Villanea said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: This one's for the kids

CRESTVIEW — After being denied twice for a VA mortgage loan before moving 500 miles away, Anthony, Meghan and their son Caiden Simme have finally moved into their home in Crestview.

Anthony is an active duty special operations soldier at 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

The Simme family, previously stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, found a home in Baker. They put in an offer for the home and decided to apply for a VA mortgage loan.

The same day they were closing on the house, the bank lender denied the approval because their debt to income ratio was too high.

“He had the loan for two months. It was ridiculous,” Meghan said. “We got a call last minute after we had paid for the inspection and put our deposit down. It was just a mess.”

Meghan then put an extension on the Baker home and went to another lender — same result.

“I was like, ‘Okay, I give up’,” Meghan said.

Although renting was an option, the Simmes prefer buying instead of renting. Meghan said she likes to make the home her own.

"I feel like we’re putting our roots down," she said.

With less than a week before their move, Meghan was browsing Facebook and noticed the BBMC Mortgage “We’ve got your six” sweepstakes, in which the winner could receive one year of mortgage paid by BBMC Mortgage.

Meghan entered the contest on Sep. 1 and said a few minutes later, she got a phone call from Patton Gade, a West Point graduate and veteran who runs the BBMC Mortgage office in Phoenix.

At first, Meghan said she thought the whole thing was a scam.

“(Gade) called me, and by the time we ended our conversation, he told me that he had been stationed at Fort Campbell,” Meghan said. “…He kind of gave me enough facts to make me realize it’s real.”

Meghan told Gade about the issues she had faced with various lenders denying the VA mortgage loan.

After hearing Meghan's story, Gade contacted his underwriter and had them underwritten by Tuesday.

Meghan said her realtor, Jamie Vargas, was able to show her a home in Crestview on short notice. They found one they liked and closed on the home Friday, Sep. 7.

Having been a military spouse since she was 17, Meghan, 22, had been through the process of moving locations a few times before. However, this time, she learned a few lessons.

“You don’t have to use a local lender. I didn’t know that,” Meghan said. “… You need to make sure you find a realtor who has enough time for you. I would say just find a good support team…find people that are educated to help you.”

Meghan hopes other military families will see her story and know that they have many options when buying a home.

“As military families, we are so lucky that we have all these perks, and we don’t even take advantage of them,” Meghan said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Military family overcomes hardship when moving to Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Long-time Crestview resident and valued member of the community Claudis Dale received the Mae Reatha Coleman Citizen of the Year award, which is given to dedicated residents of Crestview.

City Hall was standing room only filled with Dale's family, church family and close friends.

Mayor David Cadle began the presentation of the award by reading Dale's bio.

Dale was born in Alabama along with her eight siblings and began working at the age of 15 to help her parents financially.

Dale moved to Crestview at the age of 24 where she and her late husband raised four sons and one daughter.

At the age of 26, Dale became a member of Macedonia Baptist Church, and has been faithful to ever since. She has also took on many roles in the church.

"She is truly a Godly women who loves to lift up the name of Jesus in prayers and songs," Cadle read from her bio.

Along with her church activity, Cadle listed the many organizations Dale is involved with including the Okaloosa County Minority HIV/Aids Task Force, the Carver Hill Memorial and Historic Society, Velma K Conyers Chapter 7 Order of the Eastern Star, and many more.

Dale also has visited the sick and homeless, usually with food.

"You need to get busier," Cadle joked.

Many in attendance stood with Dale and spoke about her love for helping the community.

"A lot of people don't know how to love, but truly, she knows how to love everybody," a fellow church member said.

Along with the friends that spoke highly of Dale's willingness to serve others, her children and granddaughter stood to testify of Dale's hard work and sacrifices.

"I didn't realize how hard she worked on the regular thinking back to when I was a kid reaping all of the benefits and not realizing actually how hard she worked," Grear Dale, one of Dale's four sons, said. "I remember those times. I remember those jobs. I'm a young man, and I didn't want to do those jobs."

After being presented the award, Dale took time to say a few words, and thank those in the crowd that supplied her with a job that she loves.

"I love everybody, black, green, purple … I ain't got no such thing as colors…I'm with everybody. Let's do things together and love one another," Dale said with a roaring applause from the crowd.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'She knows how to love everybody'

CRESTVIEW — Two Okaloosa County residents await the day they are reunited with their cat. They're offering a $600 reward to anyone that can help them find their missing pet.

For over two years, Mark Chaffins and his girlfriend, Kim Stanley, have searched for their cat, Binx.

Chaffins and Stanley found Binx’s mother a few years ago at an abandoned home in Baker. Soon after they found her, they realized she was pregnant, and they decided to take care of the kittens, including Binx.

In May 2016, Binx went outside for his nightly stroll around the yard. Chaffins whistled as he normally does, but the cat never returned.

Since then, Chaffins has had multiple ads on Craigslist offering a $600 reward to anyone that finds his cat.

Chaffins said Binx has unique qualities that eliminate any possibilities of someone trying to get the reward. He said someone once called saying they had spotted Binx near a McDonalds, but after viewing the picture, he knew it wasn’t Binx.

Binx is black and white with long legs and two black dots on each side of his nose.

Chaffins said he got a call in 2016 about Binx being in someone’s yard, but they never saw the cat again.

Chaffins isn’t quite sure of Binx’s whereabouts, though he does have a few suspicions.

“He’s a really super friendly cat…hopefully somebody just took it. Hopefully nobody killed it,” Chaffins said.

Although they haven’t received many calls about Binx, Chaffins said he will continue updating the Craigslist ad and posting on Facebook. He remains hopeful that someday someone will find him.

“I might keep it going until I feel…like six or seven years,” Chaffins said.

Until then, Chaffins enjoys the company of his two other cats.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pet owner offers $600 reward for missing cat

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview city council unanimously voted to approve the tentative millage rate and budget for the fiscal year, which is from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sep. 30, 2019.

The millage rate is expected to continue at the current rate of 6.9 mills, equivalent to $6.90 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. According to the resolution approved by the council, this rate is more than the rolled-back rate by over 5 percent.

Millage rates are used to calculate local property taxes, and Crestview's rate will allow the city to collect around $7 million in property taxes.

Crestview currently has the highest millage rate in Okaloosa County.

The city council also unanimously approved the tentative budget but it can make changes before the next regular council meeting, which is less than a week away.

However, according to the resolution, the "the city council during fiscal year 2019 may, by resolution, make any amendments to the budget adopted by this resolution, as it may deem necessary and proper."

Although the goal of the meeting on Thursday was to hold a public hearing, no one from the public came before the council.

The final hearing for the millage rate and budget is expected to be held on Sep. 24 at City Hall.

For information about upcoming city council meetings, visit www.cityofcrestview.org/AgendaCenter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City council approves tentative millage rate, budget for 2019

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