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

After a summer full of vacations, swimming, and camps, our children have begun school again in Okaloosa County. To keep you and your family stress-free this busy back-to-school season, we’ve created a list of helpful tips.

ORGANIZE: Print out the school schedule for specific holidays and deadlines that apply for your family. Incorporate the school schedule with your appointments, meetings, etc. to create a one-stop shop for all of your family’s important dates, times, and deadlines. With a little bit of time you can create a simple, but efficient family command center.

ROUTINE: Children stayed up late and slept in throughout the summer. Now that school, homework, and sports are back in session, a proper sleep schedule will be imperative for you and your family’s health.

A child’s sleep needs vary depending on their age. School-aged children are recommended approximately nine to eleven hours and teenagers need eight to ten hours per night. To begin the new sleep schedule, begin with setting bedtimes and wake-up times that would be similar to their school sleep and awake schedules. The sooner that your children adjust to their altered sleep schedule, the sooner they aren’t in a bad mood or falling asleep in their classes.

PREPARE: It is important to be ready for the day ahead and the easiest way to accomplish this is to arrange the child’s clothes and figure out their lunches the night before. The lunches do not have to be gourmet, but having an idea if the child will have a packed or paid for lunch will ease you and your family’s stress.

CREATE BALANCE: Homework and grades are important, but their extra-curricular activities allow your children to learn important life skills. Their activities should incorporate leadership skills, communication, teamwork, and patience all while your child is having fun. Throughout the school year our school, community, and the 4-H program provide events and activities for your child to learn, succeed, and have fun.

Our 4-H year is full of events, day camps, and after-school programs.

This fall we are encouraging our Okaloosa County schools to participate in the state-wide public speaking contest, Tropicana. This event teaches and encourages youth in fourth through sixth grade to participate in public speaking and communication.

In the spring, 4-H will once again be providing the embryology program in the Okaloosa County schools and military bases. Students will observe and learn about the life cycle of chickens of multiple breeds while learning the responsibility of taking care of animals. For more information about of school enrichment programs, in-school/out of school clubs, community clubs, or becoming a volunteer please contact us at the information below.

Katie Oakes and Taylor Wilken are agents at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: OAKES & WILKEN: 4 ways to eliminate back-to-school stress

YOKOSUKA, Japan — A Crestview resident is among Americans serving in Japan.

Airman Paris Alexander was recently pictured aboard the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as it pulled into Yokosuka in July after a patrol.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview airman serves in Japan