A fire that kept crews busy until 4 a.m. Wednesday morning appears to have been caused by an "accidental electrical" problem in the attic, according to a press release from the Crestview Fire Department.

The call for 154 Cabana Way in Crestview came in just before midnight Tuesday, according to Crestview Fire Department Battalion Chief Marquis Johnson.

Engines arrived to find flames coming through the roof of the home and the residents safely evacuated, Johnson said.

Firefighters were on scene for four hours, Johnson said.

The fire caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to the structure, with an additional $25,000 in damage to the contents of the home.

The fire was investigated by the State Fire Marshal's office.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fire burns through Crestview home

CRESTVIEW —  Units from three fire departments responded to house fire just before midnight, on Tuesday. No injuries were reported

 In a press release from the department, crews from the Crestview FD, North Okaloosa Fire District and the Dorcas Volunteer Fire Department, responded to a fire call at 154 Cabana Way.

A fire official from the Crestview FD, said the residents were home at the time of the inicident nad were able to exit the home safely until emergency crews arrived.

After the fire was extinguished, fire officials estimated a total of $100,000 in property damages.

The cause of the fire was determined to have resulted from an "accidental electrical (fire) in the attic," by the Florida State Fire Marshal's office, the release stated.

Brown said American Red Cross was on scene to provide assistance to the residents.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Electrical fire damages home

The holly genus, Ilex, offers a variety of plants from which to choose.

There are about 700 species worldwide, some horticulturists estimate. And there is a great number of cultivated varieties. 

Not all hollies have spiny leaves. Many of the Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata) have spineless leaves. They are often mistaken for boxwoods with their small, shiny leaves. But boxwoods (Buxus) leaves are attached directly opposite one another on the stem, while holly leaves have an alternate leaf arrangement along the stem.

Holly plants range from 2 to more than 60 feet tall. Some dwarf types are great choices for foundation plantings. These include Helleri holly, Carissa holly, Dwarf yaupon holly and Stokes dwarf, thought to be the same cultivar as Shilling dwarf.

Don’t let the word dwarf fool you. Many hollies in this category may reach 3 to 5 feet tall. And Dwarf Burford may grow 8 feet or taller.

Some “tree form” hollies can reach heights approaching 60 feet. These can stand alone as specimen plants or may provide a tall hedge. A few hollies that form large shrubs or small trees include many of the American holly cultivars such as Miss Helen, Hedgeholly and Savannah.

Hollies respond well to pruning if needed, but it’s best to know the mature height before planting to avoid future problems of overgrown plants and unnecessary pruning.

Other tree-form holly hybrids develop by crossing two or more plant species within a given genus. A few include Foster, East Palatka, Nellie R. Stevens and Mary Nell.

Hollies with multicolored leaves include variegated English holly. And there are a few hollies that shed annually such as Ambiguous winterberry and Possumhaw holly. There are hollies that produce bright red berries. But berry color varies from red, orange and yellow to even black or white, depending on variety.

Only female plants produce berries. Hollies are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are located on separate plants. Male flowers produce pollen required, in most cases, to pollinate female flowers.

Many dwarf types of holly don’t produce berries because they come from male plants. To ensure that your plants produce berries, ask for female plants when purchasing. If the plant already has berries on it, you know it is a female.

You should consider other characteristics when selecting hollies. There are weeping forms available such as the weeping yaupon holly. There are those that have a very narrow, upright habit such as the cultivar ‘Will Fleming.’

Hollies are not foolproof. They may attract pests and must be planted and cared for properly.

However, for the most part, this group of plants has much to offer. Once established, they require little care and have very good drought tolerance.

Upcoming events:

Free online class: Small Steps to Health & Wealth, Jan. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Practical steps to improve health and finances and tools to help participants reach their goals. Register at http://bit.ly/SmallSteps2013.

Small Steps to Health and Wealth Challenge. Jan. 13 through Feb. 23, open to anyone who enrolls at http://rutgers.ancc.net.

Larry Williams is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Holly plants in the Florida landscape

LAUREL HILL — The City Council on Tuesday voted in favor of pursuing a state grant that could give the city up to $600,000 for road repairs.

Although the council will create an ordinance that could dissolve the city with a March 2014 referendum, city leaders took steps to ensure other opportunities to repair roads — other than relying on the county, if the city becomes unincorporated — are used.

The grant the council is seeking is the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant. This will be the third straight year the council has applied for the grant.

Last year's attempt fell just one permit short, when the city lost its consideration.

"Last time we needed a storm water permit," Mayor Joan Smith said. "By not having it, we lost 100 points (in the process).

The engineer and grant writer, who worked on the grant application failed to include the permit with the necessary paperwork, Smith said.

The council learned about the city's removal of consideration last month, Council Chair Larry Hendren said.

"We got things going the right way and it would be foolish in my opinion to turn that down," Councilman Clifton Hall said, before motioning for the council to proceed in applying for the grant. The remaining council members agreed and voted in favor.

A checklist during this attempt will help ensure everything required is submitted for consideration, Smith said. The application process will begin this July.

Many council members agreed the grant would provide a timelier solution than asking Okaloosa County for assistance.

"$600,000 is a lot more than the county gets every year (for road repairs)," Hendren said.

"We are going forward with the dissolution process, we're just not rushing into it," Hendren said after the meeting.

In a December town hall, both Hendren and Co-chair Robby Adams publicly stated they are in favor of dissolving the city.

"We have rushed into things in the past and we want to make sure we do this right the first time," Hendren said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council to seek $600,000 grant for road repair

CRESTVIEW — Jimmy James, visiting from Arizona, praised Crestview’s hospitality, friendliness and local cooks’ culinary skills.

Unlike most visitors, however, James wasn’t browsing Main Street shops or sampling the city’s diverse eateries. He is homeless and visited local soup kitchens and cold weather shelters to get through the recent spate of chilly nights.

“That was a good meal,” James said, settling down for a nap on First Presbyterian Church’s sunny east side after eating at its Friday soup kitchen. A few hours later, he was a guest of the church’s cold weather shelter, where he had a hot dinner, a movie and breakfast the next morning.

“You have a pretty nice town here,” James said. “I took the cure for alcohol, so I feel a lot better. I can do it with God’s help; you have to ask him for strength. And your people here really help.”

James, who has no family, said caring people such as those he encountered in Crestview are helping him recover.

“We had 50 people for the soup kitchen today,” Rev. Mark Broadhead, the church’s pastor, said. For the evening’s cold weather shelter, the church hosted six homeless people, including James.

Ann Sprague, a Community of Christ church member, coordinates local soup kitchens and cold weather shelters through Hope Network, a group of volunteers representing several area congregations.

“We have good people in Crestview,” Sprague said. “They take care of them (the homeless). They keep an eye on them.”

Fewer people have been staying in Crestview’s shelters this year than last, she said. Typically, Crestview shelters daily serve five to eight people.

“It’s been probably down a little bit because a number of people have got places to stay and they’re no longer homeless,” Sprague said. “That’s always good.”

The range of people served is wide, and sometimes includes couples and families, she said.

“It’s not just drunks who show up,” Sprague said. “It’s people who are just down on their luck. Their husband beat them or whatever. We do have far more men than woman, but we do get women and women with children sometimes.”

Through monetary donations, Hope Network sometimes can remove a family from the streets.

“We had a mother with a 16-year-old daughter who was pregnant, a middle school boy and a 2-year-old child. They were living in her car and driving to Destin to work every day.

“She had saved money but the only thing that was keeping them from getting into an apartment was $60 for a water bill, so Hope Network paid for their water bill. That was kind of scary. A girl who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant: She could’ve had that baby at any time.”

Most local churches that host cold weather shelters also operate daily soup kitchens. Until October 2012, Sunday was the only day left unserved by a Hope Network soup kitchen. The Salvation Army stepped up and began operating its mobile soup kitchen downtown. Originally planned for the City Hall parking lot, organizers said a lack of attendance necessitated a move.

“Nobody showed up so we drove around a bit,” Lt. Jessica Welch said. “Now we park at the convenience store (Thrifty Foods) and we serve from 40 to 50 people each Sunday.”

“The churches have been just outstanding in their cooperation and coming together to take care of this problem,” Sprague said. “We do the best we can. We can always use more volunteers.”

Want to help?

Hope Network volunteers meet the third Monday of the month, except summer, 6 p.m. at Community of Christ church, 398 W. First Ave.

Donations sought include thermal underwear, cots, tents, blankets, coats, heavy socks and sleeping bags.

Call Ann Sprague, 826-1770, for information about donating supplies, money or volunteering.

Cold weather shelters

Cold night shelters open at 6 p.m. when forecasters predict weather below 40 degrees.

•Mondays: Emmanuel Baptist at First Presbyterian Church, 492 N. Ferdon Blvd.

•Tuesdays: Joy Fellowship at Community of Christ, 398 W. First Ave.

•Wednesdays: Community of Christ, 398 W. First Ave.

•Thursdays: New Beginnings Baptist Church, 412 W. James Lee Blvd.

•Fridays: First Presbyterian Church, 492 N. Ferdon Blvd.

•Saturdays: First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave.

•Sundays: LifePoint (First Assembly of God), 400 S. Ferdon Blvd.

Soup Kitchens

Baker:

11 a.m. Wednesdays, Shady Grove Assembly of God, and 6 p.m. Tuesdays at First Methodist Church of Baker.

Crestview:

11a.m. to noon, except as noted.

•Mondays: Central Baptist Church, 951 S. Ferdon Blvd.

•Tuesdays: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 178 N. Avenue W

•Wednesdays: LifePoint (First Assembly of God), 400 S. Ferdon Blvd.; and Macedonian Missionary Baptist Church, 603 Martin Luther King Ave. (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

•Thursdays: Community of Christ, 398 W. First Ave.

•Fridays: First Presbyterian Church, 492 N. Ferdon Blvd.

•Saturdays: First United Methodist, 599 Eighth Ave.

•Sundays: Salvation Army mobile soup kitchen, Thrifty Foods parking lot, 498 S. Wilson St. (4-5 p.m.)

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Volunteer network operates local shelters and soup kitchens

CRESTVIEW — There were laughs, hugs, balloons and cake aplenty at the First Presbyterian Church Jan. 3, when longtime member Bertha Mae Corkins celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, church family and friends. Unable to find a 100th birthday balloon, friends presented her with two 50-year balloons.

Corkins was born to Martha and Alton Smith in Mossy Head in 1913, before Crestview was a city and before Okaloosa County existed. Her father worked at the Louisville and Nashville Railroad managing a stretch of track in the Mossy Head area.

After the city’s incorporation, Alton Smith became a city council member and was roads commissioner. His daughter shared his concern and affection for Crestview, and over the years was instrumental in spearheading multiple civic improvements, including beautifying the triangular median that once graced the State Road 85-U.S. Highway 90 intersection. She and her husband, Charles Wesley Corkins, helped organize the Auburn Water System.

Bertha Mae married Charles on June 6, 1933, and with her only son, Charles Jr., followed her husband around the country during his 30 years in the Navy. During World War II, she worked in the defense industry in Pensacola.

Originally an enlisted seaman, Charles Corkins Sr.’s wartime service allowed him to advance to a warrant officer, finishing the war as a lieutenant. He ultimately retired as a commander. For about a year in 1956, both Bertha Mae’s son and her husband were on active duty at the same time at the same post.

While her husband was stationed in Pensacola, Bertha Mae helped establish an enlisted wives’ club. Among other civic contributions, club members were hospital volunteers.

“She had, believe it or not, a bout with cancer in the 1940s,” Charles Corkins Jr. said. “It was surgically removed and she’s never had a problem since. She’s always been pretty healthy. I think we were healthier back then, living in the country. And she never went sunbathing. She always wore sun bonnets.”

After settling in Crestview and joining the Presbyterian Church in 1963, she helped start the Crestview Garden Club, the city’s now-defunct Music Club, was an early member of the Women’s Club, and was a founder of one of her church’s service circles.

Bertha Mae worked as a dental assistant after moving to Crestview, and was also a teacher at Bob Sikes Elementary School when it was still a wooden schoolhouse. In addition, she taught a millinery course at Okaloosa-Walton Community College, present-day Northwest Florida State College.

Today, she lives with Charles Jr. and Madelyn, her daughter-in-law, in the home he designed and built in the Garden City community north of Crestview. Bertha Mae’s seven great-grandchildren live nearby.

“My granddaughters love to have tea parties and put on Grandmother’s hats,” Madelyn Corkins said.

Madelyn said she always enjoys Bertha Mae’s stories.

“‘Some of my stories are true, and some I’ve made up, but they’re all very interesting,’” Madelyn said her mother-in-law once told her.

“She had very strong opinions about some of the presidents, not because of their politics, but because of the way they treated their wives,” Madelyn said. “She’s always been a fighter if she believed in a cause. She would come well armed. She had her facts in a row to back her up. She is gifted in so many ways.”

Although active in many community affairs and busy with her careers, “her main job was to take care of me,” Charles Jr. said with a chuckle. “She gave me a lot of freedom growing up, but she didn’t mind stokin’ my rear end if I broke the rules.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Reflections over a century: Crestview woman celebrates 100th birthday

CRESTVIEW — The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is seeking volunteers to assist at their newly acquired facility in Crestview.

Workdays start at 9 a.m. Jan. 12, 19 and 26 at the refuge's Zoological Park (formerly the Sasquatch Zoo).

To volunteer or for details, call the refuge at 650-1880.

As weather permits, volunteers will assist with general cleanup, landscaping, fencing and facility repairs, painting, etc.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wildlife refuge needs volunteers

 NICEVILLE — On Sunday a 50-year-old man from Kentucky and his dog had the world on a string and were rolling it down State Road 85.

Erik Bendl and Nice the Dog pushed their world – an inflatable ball about six feet in diameter – down the shoulder of the highway as they have done for over 6,000 miles across 39 states since 2007 in order to raise awareness about diabetes.

Bendl’s mother and brother-in-law both died in their 50s after suffering from the disease. His uncle, now in his 80s, was also diagnosed with the disease, but is managing it and has lived to meet his grandchildren, unlike Bendl’s own mother.

“That’s a good reason for anybody to be inspired,” he said.

View a slideshow from the road.

Watch an interview with Bendl.

Bendl started this trek in Florida – his ninth trip with the world – on Wednesday in Pensacola. He thought he might walk about 13 miles south down SR 85 on Sunday and then hitch a ride back to his van, which was parked at a gas station.

He, Nice the Dog and the ball average about one mile in 30 to 40 minutes, but it’s not about speed, he said.

“After 6,000 of those, who cares?” he said.

His time depends greatly on how often he’s stopped to talk.

“One day I’ll talk to five people all day and have meaningful, great, memorable meetings with people,” he said. “Other days dozens and dozens stop. It’ll take five hours to go two miles.”

The world is painted blue and green and emblazoned with Bendl’s website – worldguy.org. He’s recently started a foundation to raise money for diabetes research and people can read about his travels at the website.

The prop is an eye-catcher.

Doug Wilson, 32 of Crestview, had seen Bendl and the world going down U.S. Highway 90 days before and visited his website. He spotted him again on his way to work Sunday and on the way home he pulled over to stop and talk.

“I think this is great,” Wilson said.

He said his mother had been diagnosed with diabetes but was able to manage her condition with diet and exercise, and he knew a child who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

Bendl’s cheeks were rosy in the brisk wind Sunday as he stood next to the world with his walking stick to chat with Wilson. His face is lightly lined from weathering the elements over the years.

He described one particularly harrowing day in Nebraska with 40-mile-per hour winds blowing hard in his face making it difficult to push the world forward.

Ice is another obstacle. It quickly tatters the canvas wrapped around the ball.

Bendl inherited the ball from a friend who worked at a school in the late 1990s and he estimates that it’s over 30 years old.

“It had been retired from the school system long before I met it,” he said.

Bendl tries not to deflate the world during his treks unless absolutely necessary. Nice the Dog has taken to protecting it from people who might mistake it for a toy.

These days, now that Bendl has a van, his walks require he carry only the day’s essentials: dog food, patchwork and glue, a battery-powered air pump, cell phone and radio.

He said walking with the world was a natural fit for him. His mother was a state representative and public servant and both his parents were in the theater.

“I sort of have it in my bones,” he said.

Visit Bendl’s website to donate and receive updates from his travels at www.worldguy.org.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'World guy' walks for diabetes awareness (VIDEO, SLIDESHOW)