CRESTVIEW — A local service member’s overseas airbase spent the holidays much like residents in town, with a Christmas feast, toys and entertainment.

For Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s uniformed men and women broke bread with comrades, collected toys for Kyrgyzstan children in orphanages and schools, and listened to Nashville-based rock band Hip Kitty during a two-day performance for deployed troops, among other activities.

Chief Master Sgt. Leonard Thibodeaux, of Crestview, welcomed 2013 at the Manas Transit Center in the Kyrgyz Republic of Central Asia. Base members transport military personnel and supplies to and from Afghanistan. 

The transit center, which functions like a small town, includes a mayor who ensures “all service members transiting through are safe and comfortable,” the group’s website, manas.afcent.af.mil, states.

Leonard, as deputy mayor, regularly monitors safety conditions and helps ensure comrades’ quality of life. 

"The conditions have been a concern for us," he said. "We have had to deal with frozen water pipes and down power lines. We have had several nights when the temperature was below freezing. These conditions can make transporting personnel difficult.”

He also promotes morale.

"There are several here that are spending time away from families for the first time," said Leonard, who helps prevent comrades’ homesickness or helps them cope with it.

"We are a family and we always take care of each other," he said.

Missing home

"Being a military wife is a very challenging role," Leonard’s wife, Shelia, 47, said. "If our relationship isn't the way that it is, it wouldn't have lasted this long.”

Sheila, a Hurlburt Field civilian who served four years in the Air Force, met Leonard at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

Her husband — who has toured Afghanistan and Germany in his 29-year military career — has missed wedding anniversaries, birthdays and high school and college graduations.

Holiday absences particularly are tough. 

"It never gets any easier," Leonard said. "This (was) my fourth Christmas away from them."

However, distance does little to keep the couple apart. Leonard and Sheila communicate daily through Skype, a web-based video call service.

Family and friends also help. For instance, service members from nearby families taught both their children how to drive since their dad was unavailable. 

"The military is such an awesome support system," Shelia said.

One way or another, they make it work, the couple said.

After service

Leonard plans to retire from the Air Force in January of 2014 and the couple plans to stay in Crestview.

"Crestview is where I lay my hat," Leonard said. "I plan to spend the rest of my life there."

The couple’s eldest son, also named Leonard, 24, recently joined the Air Force and works at Hurlburt Field. His brother, Billy Thibodeaux, 23, works for the county clerk’s office.

Shelia looks forward to her and her husband spending more time with their grandson, Wyatt, whom Leonard and his wife welcomed in August.

"We have a lot of catching up to do," Shelia said. "We’re going to have to get used to being around each other again."

That shouldn't be a problem.

After all, "God made him for me and vice versa," Shelia said.     

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Soldier raises comrades’ spirits while serving overseas

2013 means many Okaloosa County residents will set New Year’s resolutions.

Your library has shelves and shelves of books with expert advice on how to ensure you meet your goals.

See our display featuring books on hobbies, finance, health and diet.

Reflections

2012 was a memorable year for us as we introduced new programs and events.

Exciting events included the Poetry Jam sessions that we hosted every third Tuesday of the month. Poets and musicians enjoyed the free-form open-mic poetry reading and jam session.

Also, our music in the library performed 6-8 pm by local artists every Monday and Tuesday allowed patrons to relax and enjoy the library as an entertainment venue.

The Northwest Florida Astronomy Association donated a telescope for those interested in stargazing. Tom Haugh, an association member, hosted a question-and-answer program to help novices get started. Haugh’s program continues 6:30 to 8 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month.

 We continued our Zumba classes on Friday mornings and knitting on Wednesday mornings.

We hosted several lecturers, with topics from aerodynamics to Tai Chi, the first Tuesday of each month. 

Our art gallery and showcase allowed local painters and three-dimensional artists to present their works.

Our Read to a Dog program was a big success. Dozer and Jada visited the library, ready to hear kids read.  

The library had many opportunities for patrons to come see, hear and participate in events throughout the year.  

So many events happened at the library this past year and all were fun, educational and entertaining. I’m looking forward to welcoming you to the many programs and events we have planned for 2013.

See www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php for a full listing of library happenings.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library’s director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Looking forward and reflecting on development

I have suggestions for some great New Year’s resolutions that are achievable. 

For example, instead of setting a goal to lose 50 or more pounds by summertime, start small. Cut out sweets and see where you get with that. Then cut half your soda intake.

Slow and steady wins the race. 

If you set your standards too high to begin with, you will never achieve them, so set a smaller goal you know you can achieve — then up the ante.

This way, you guarantee yourself you will see success.

Another resolution many people make is exercising.

If you’re no marathon runner, don’t set a goal to run a 5K in a month. Start small and begin with a run around the block twice a week.

After a few weeks, and you still have some breath from your run, up the ante. 

Run four times around the block, but try four to five times a week. Not only will your stamina improve, but you will notice a difference in weight as well. You will feel a lot more energetic — a plus particularly if you have children.

Another top resolution is to get organized — now this is a hefty feat!

It can be overwhelming when trying to organize your life, family and household items, but fear not: you can do it.

I would begin with my finances. Spend 30 minutes on Saturdays going through that huge pile of papers that has been building up and put the bills where they belong.

Don’t spend more than 30 minutes; you may begin to feel overwhelmed. Once the half-hour is up, you will feel some success — probably when you put that pile away and see a clean, non-cluttered spot.

I bet you will feel like a million bucks!

Remember: this is a process, not a one-day job. Time is precious, so use it wisely. Once you have accomplished one section, move onto another.

Finally, take the pressure off “New Year’s” resolutions. Resolutions can be made daily, not just on Jan. 1.

When you realize you can make changes in your life any day of the year, New Year’s resolutions will be easier to make, stick to, and follow through with.

In 4-H, youth learn life skills they need to make resolutions and follow through with them daily. 

As adults, role models and parents, it is our job to set the example. We need to show them that year round, we have the opportunities to make a difference and Jan. 1 is a great reminder of that!

 Every child should experience what 4-H offers. Have the experience of a lifetime! 

If you have any questions about the 4-H program, call the Okaloosa County Extension office at 689-5850.

Haley Worley is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Start New Year’s resolutions small

CRESTVIEW — Families First has $3,000 and some 250 toys that can make needy Hub City children’s Christmases more cheerful after the 14th annual Run for the Toys.

More than 200 bikers rode into the Crestview Walmart parking lot just before 9:30 a.m., paid a $10 registration fee, and included at least one toy to donate toward Families First, a foster care network.

A couple of Crestview Police Department units escorted the long trail of bikers to their location at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5450 building on James Lee Boulevard. The VFW provided lunch for the bikers, who participated in raffles with proceeds benefiting the purchase of more toys.

Carrie Lawson, of Families First Network, said the event collected some $3,000 that will help purchase more toys.

“We honestly couldn’t do this without the support of local businesses,” event organizer Ken Payne said, referring to donated gift certificates, gift cards and other raffle items that netted considerable amounts.

The charitable event also aimed to remove a perceived stigma from bikers, Ken Henniger, a former event organizer and participant, said.

“Bikers participate in more charitable runs than anything,” he said. “They should actually be looked up to, not down at.”

Crestview police Chief Tony Taylor, a long-time biker, agreed.

“Bikers are not what people envision them to be,” Taylor said. “We’re doctors, lawyers, cops and a lot of the people, especially out here, are veterans. We all love riding and we love giving back to the community.”

Ray Doyle, a retired Air Force veteran and American Legion Riders member, said he supports many local charitable causes.

“I enjoy coming to these events; we get to support veterans and (needy) kids,” Doyle said, adding that he spends much of his free time volunteering at area VA clinics. “It’s one of the nice things about being retired — you can find more time to ride.”

Bobby Pruette, an AmVets Post 35 member, brought his grandson, Lucas Reeves, 8, along for the ride. Like his grandfather, Lucas said he enjoys riding and giving to a worthy cause.

“I think it’s great to give because some kids don’t have any toys,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Motorcyclists gather for a cause

CRESTVIEW — An estimated 280 spectators attended the 2012 Northwest Florida Fall Martial Arts Championships at Davidson Middle School on Saturday. Competitors from across the panhandle competed in 74 divisions within six events including sparring, forms and self-defense.

 “This tournament is good fellowship with students and instructors,” Bob Ferguson said. “The kids just keep coming back.” Ferguson and instructor Anthony Whitmer, from the YMCA Martial Arts Club in Navarre, assisted Thomas Gordon from event sponsor Gordon Martial Arts. Ferguson and Whitmer served as the three-hour event’s judges.

The competition allowed students to learn new fighting styles and disciplines of how the "other guys teach," Whitmer said.

Many competitors were from area martial arts schools. Fifteen students from CD Williamson’s martial arts school in Niceville were present. Williamson, who has been involved with martial arts for 37 years, was the event’s rules arbitrator. Although nearly 80 percent of his students are in the 17-and-younger age range, Williamson said that martial arts aren’t just for kids.

“Its for everybody … nobody gets to sit on the bench,” he said.

One parent said he has seen the training’s positive influence.

“It’s been great as far as his discipline, and his grades have also improved,” Bart Begley said about Brock, his 8-year-old son. This was the fourth competition that Brock competed in. 

Some of the young students have picked up the techniques quickly. Baker resident Cariann Diaz, 13, said she only trained in martial arts for less than a year when she won second place in the 11- to 13-year-old sparring competition.

“I was actually really nervous at first,” said Diaz, who attends Morgan’s Martial Arts. However, through hard work and focus, she has picked up the skills and learned some life lessons along the way.

“It has definitely showed me how to better protect myself … and make me more aware of my surroundings,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Martial Arts students display their skills at fall championship

CRESTVIEW — As 2013 gets underway, north Okaloosa County farmers are preparing to file required Census of Agriculture reports.

Area farmers should receive their census forms in the mail in early January, and must submit them to the USDA by Feb. 4. Federal law protects the confidentiality of each farmer’s information gathered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The USDA uses the census, which is due every five years, to assess the state of America’s farms and form farm policy.

“I’m sure the census is going to play a huge part of a new agriculture farm bill,” local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service district conservationist Darryl Williams said. “In that bill is moneys tied all over the place. It goes from domestic programs through the farm system, from food stamps up to crops.”

With the north county being a large farming region, Williams said, “the food bill plays a major role in our area.”

A USDA news release called the Census of Agriculture “the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation.”

“The census provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture,” the release stated. “It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers do business and succeed in the 21st century.”

By federal law, the census is mandatory for all American farmers, including the approximately 250 forestry and cropland farmers in north Okaloosa County, Williams said.

“It’s a real valuable tool for formulating policy,” Williams said. “It’s to the local farmer’s advantage to fill out the census.”

Data collected “also influences community growth and development,” the USDA release stated.

“Many companies review census data when determining where to establish or expand their businesses, as well as where they can go for supplies of locally produced food and agricultural products, which further emphasizes the importance of supplying accurate information.

“Information from the census also is valuable to explain the many ways farming is important to urban or non-farming residents and decision-makers.”

Farming in Okaloosa County

The 2007 Census of Agriculture provides a snapshot of farming in Okaloosa County. Among its findings:

Number of farms: 567 (up 22 percent from 2002)

Farmland: 65,874 acres (up 20 percent from 2002)

Net farm income: $2 million

Total farm production expenses: $11 million

Government payments: $1.6 million

Average payment (for eligible farms):$8,000

Top crops: Cotton (fifth in the state, 286th in the U.S.), forage, peanuts, corn and pecans

Top livestock: Cattle, goats, horses/ponies and chickens

Average principal farmer’s age: 60.2

Online

See www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828) for more information about the U.S.D.A. Census of Agriculture.

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: Farmers face Feb. 4 deadline for agriculture census

CRESTVIEW — A whirl of lights from the disco ball, dancing lasers and the beat of Michael Jackson heralded an Old School Night at SkateTopia. The community’s newest family-friendly venue opened Dec. 15 in Hot Wheels’ former location.

The business had closed for nearly 10 months before Dave and Nancy Brown purchased it in December.

“Kids in Crestview don’t have much to do here,” Dave, a Crestview Fire Department battalion chief, said. “We’re thrilled when the kids are smiling and skating and having fun — and they’re getting exercise instead of sitting in front of the TV.”

Everybody in the Brown family skates, so buying the skating rink was an easy decision, Dave said.

It took an intensive couple of weeks of scrubbing, cleaning and painting to get to opening day. A pair of retired firefighter friends from New York came to Crestview to help the Browns prepare.

“We worked 16-hour days to get this place up to standards, cleaning and painting,” Dave said.

“We still have work to do,” Nancy said. “We have to redo the floor and replace the carpet.”

Dave wants to refinish the floor — which has some paint peeling in a couple of sections — so the rink can host skating events such as competitions.

“I dance-skate,” Dave said. “I want to get the floor really good and then we can hold events.”

The couple’s daughters, Summer, 10, and Alyssa, 16, both skate and give their parents a hand. As Dave spins music from his iPod in the control booth, Nancy works the ticket and skate rental window. Summer helps pass rental skates to customers, and performs “quality control” on the rink.

During a recent Wednesday Old School Night — “That’s when it’s disco music, funk and ’80s music,” Dave said. Thursdays are Country Music Nights — families, children and teens whizzed in traditional counter-clockwise travel.

“We thought it would be a fun thing to do tonight,” Mary Weighknecht said before joining her husband, Herb, and children, Autumn, 13, and Wyatt, 9, on the floor. “It’s great because it’s local. We didn’t have to go to Milton or Fort Walton Beach like we used to do.”

Mary, a competitive skater with the area Okaloosa Rollers roller derby club, known on skates as “Petty Officer Panic,” soon gave Wyatt some helpful hints.

“Bend your knees a little!” she called. “There you go!”

Crestview’s Michael Long and his pal, Connor Watkins, both 15, liked having something to do in town.

“It’s great,” Michael said. “I used to have to skate in Pensacola.”

Connor said his parents were comfortable knowing an emergency responder ran the business.

“We never skated here before,” Connor said. “I don’t really skate a lot but I like doing it.”

Parents and kids aren’t the only ones glad to see SkateTopia opened.

“It is one of the few places in town where kids can go,” Crestview Police Department spokesperson Lt. Andrew Schneider said. “I’m glad it’s open. It’s better than having kids wandering town doing nothing. It’s better than having them out causing trouble.”

“When I can please the kids, when they’re smiling and laughing, that’s what it’s all about,” Dave said, cueing up a tune by K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

Want to go?

SkateTopia roller rink, 383 Coleman St., is open 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 6-11 p.m. Fridays; 1-3, 5-7 and 9-11 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

Standard and inline or speed skate rentals are available. Military and emergency responders receive a discount. Private parties are available.

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: Crestview roller rink receives facelift

CRESTVIEW — An increasing number of Okaloosa County residents are overweight or obese, according to the county health department.

"A significant percentage of residents of Okaloosa County are overweight or obese, with the percentage of obese residents on the rise,” states Okaloosa County Health Department’s 2011 status report.

Nearly two-thirds of Okaloosa adults are overweight or obese, 35.2 percent and 28.8 percent, respectively, according to the report.

Overweight means having a body mass index, or BMI, of 25 or more, according to the World Health Organization. Obesity means having BMI of 30 or more. Obesity is linked to diabetes, coronary heart disease, breathing problems, sleeping disorders and some cancers.

Holiday feasts make it difficult to stay fit, but local health experts have advice for those seeking healthier options.

Eat small, eat healthy

"The main thing it comes down to is portion control,” says Blake Miley, a Crestview personal trainer. 

People should eat the food they love during the holidays, but don’t overdo it, he said.

"I'm a firm believer of eating healthy, but I’m also a believer in enjoying life,” he said.

For many people, that means participating in a spate of seasonal potluck dinners and Christmas and New Year’s parties.

However, indulging is a different story, nutrition experts say.

"When you go to a party, look over the spread before grabbing a plate and digging in," said Lemoine Loll, a registered dietician at North Okaloosa Medical Center. "Stick to lean meats, which include turkey, ham and roast beef.

"Avoid eating fried foods like chicken nuggets” and eat fruits and vegetables as healthy side items, she said.

"The basic thing to do is resist temptation," Loll said.

Drinking water instead of sugar-based refreshments particularly is beneficial.

"Water really helps cleanse the toxins out of your body,” Miley said.

Exercise

"People should always try to exercise three to five times a week throughout the year," Miley said.

However, take it easy. Beginners shouldn’t dive into rigorous workout routines seen on TV; doing too much too soon gets old — fast.

"They start (an advanced routine) and then, all of the sudden, they quit after being burned out from it," Miley said.

Instead, start slow; walk with a significant other or pet dog, for instance.

"It’s important to just get out and start moving, which a lot of people don't do," Miley said. "It is important to make exercise a part of their lifestyle and not a burden."

Loll agreed.

"People tend to forget that there are plenty of activities for them to enjoy," she said. "Just because it is the holidays doesn't mean you have to stay inside the kitchen and bake cookies."

Walk around shopping malls or attend holiday events for a change of pace and scenery, she said.

"They could also dance if there is dancing at a (New Year’s) party — that can be considered exercise.”

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: Experts offer tips to keep weight down for the holidays