CRESTVIEW — Although the rain may have slightly changed their plan, Crestview police still distributed toys to children during this morning’s Cops for Kids toy drive.

"Weather-wise, it was a challenge, but other than that it went great," event organizer Lt. Eddie Lehneis said. "We got rid of everything, which is what we wanted to do."

Crestview police handed out stuffed animals, coloring books and toy cars, among other items, to children from lower-income households.

This year's donations came from local businesses like Walmart and Dollar General and local organizations including Sharing and Caring, Lehneis said.

 Lehneis also enlisted the help of officers’ children and Explorer members, children interested in a law enforcement career who help with several community events. Currently, the program has eight local members, he said. 

One of his three children, Haillee Lehneis, 15, was present to help hand out toys.

"It's really fulfilling when you help people," she said. 

With the toys loaded on the back of a trailer, officers waited for early morning rain to stop before they headed to neighborhood areas in northwest Crestview.

When they arrived, officers sounded sirens to grab people’s attention.

Some residents were not quite sure what to think of the commotion.

"Normally, when you hear sirens, it’s something bad," James Lafata said. "But in this case, it was good."

Lafata’s six children received a box full of toys from Community Service officer Wanda Hulion.

Lafta expressed gratitude for the program.

"It’s unusual to see this time of year, with the economy like it is," Lafata said. "It is really appreciated."

Terri McQueen got a few items for her grandchildren who occasionally stay with her. 

"Everything we can get is a blessing," she said.

Nearly 70 children received gifts this morning, Eddie Lehneis said.

"To see their faces is the best part," Lehneis said. "This is my favorite time of year."

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: Nearly 70 children receive Christmas gifts from Cops for Kids

If your New Year’s resolution involves health and wealth improvement, you’re  in luck. The Cooperative Extension system is launching an online Small Steps to Health and Wealth challenge. This free six-week program, Jan. 13 through Feb. 23, is open to anyone who enrolls online.

The challenge is part of a national Cooperative Extension program developed to motivate Americans to improve their health and personal finances. It is based on the daily performance of 10 recommended practices.

Five of these behaviors  involve health and nutrition; five involve financial management. 

The five daily health and nutrition practices are:

•Eat four cups of fruits and vegetables

•Get 30 minutes of physical activity

•Drink water or unsweetened beverages instead of sugar-sweetened beverages

•Eat two servings of whole grain foods

•Learn something new about health and nutrition

The five daily financial management practices are:

•Save $1 or more and pocket change

•Invest $5 or more per day

•Track money spent throughout the day

•Eat lunch prepared at home

•Learn something new about personal finance

You get 10 points for performing each practice, for a maximum of 700 points per week and 4,200 points for the entire challenge.

Prizes will be awarded for participants who report the highest total points.

Doing even one of the 10 recommended daily practices is a start on the path to better health and improved financial security.

Elaine Courtney is a Family & Consumer Sciences Extension agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Start the year focusing on health, wealth

CRESTVIEW — Waste Management will not collect household waste, recycling, yard waste or bulk on Christmas or New Year’s Day. Pick-up resumes on the next regularly scheduled collection day.  

Okaloosa County will close its facilities at the Wright Landfill and the Baker Landfill at noon on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 and all day on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. 

The Wright and Baker landfills also will close on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2013.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: No garbage collection Dec. 25; other closures announced

CRESTVIEW — The Duke it Out American Cancer Society Relay for Life team will present a Boston butt fundraiser later this month.

The fully cooked butts are available 4-5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 24, and Monday, Dec. 31 in the Crestview Publix parking lot. The cost is a $25 donation.

Contact Loney Whitley at 603-3500 or 537-4654 to place your order.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Boston butts fundraiser Dec. 24, 31

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa County schools coordinated efforts to ensure lower income residents have happy holidays.

Crestview High School's leadership program members raised more than $2,000 to buy food and gifts for three families.

"Last year, we had so much stuff that we had to take more than one truck to each house," senior Gabrielle Thomas, 17, said. "This year, I’m hoping that we have that much, if not more."

Students said the program reminds them of their blessings.

"It definitely makes me feel that I appreciate everything I have been able to receive," Jess Fisher, 17, said. "This is my first year ever doing this and it makes me want to do this after I graduate."

"You can take pride in yourself for helping someone else in need and hopefully making an impact on their life," Ashley Guthrie, 16, said.

Additionally, the high school collected shampoo, body lotion, body wash, deodorant and socks for Emerald Coast Hospice.

 “This turned out to be an awesome event. The high school went over the top and collected a lot more than I had hoped for,” Kathryn Ann O'Connor, Emerald Coast’s volunteer coordinator, said.

Toys filled Jennifer Richards' fourth-grade classroom this week at Riverside Elementary School, which presented a “Giving Instead of Receiving” toy drive.

“We’re running out of room, we might not be able to walk comfortably around here … it is great problem to have,” Richards said before students left for Christmas break.

Students performed chores around the house to earn money for needy children’s gifts. Each student received the age and sex of the student to buy toys for. 

 “I cleaned my room and made my bed … I got around $10 to $15.” Linsey Bumgardner, 9, said. She bought clothes and building blocks for the child she selected.

Toys benefited the school’s students who come from lower-income families — a number that recently has grown, Richards said.

 “I have never sponsored more than 15 kids,” Richards said. “Right now, we have over 35 kids.”

Riverside Principal Marline Van Dyke has noticed the swelling need.

"We have probably added 400 students this year," Van Dyke said. "Our school nearly has 1,000 students and 60 percent of them are in poverty."

Students and teachers collected 350 gifts for 37 students, as of press time, Richards said in an email. Each student will receive 10 Christmas gifts.

In addition, students collected 2,500 canned goods, following the lead of Shoal River Middle School student Trevor Bryant, 14.

Trevor introduced the idea to Riverside faculty and staff as part of his Mustang Learning Community project. The MLC encourages students to participate in community service projects. His church, Victorious Life Worship Center, also participated.

Most important to Trevor was the result.

“There won't be as many hungry people in this community,” he said.

 Robin Marston, president of Sharing and Caring in Crestview, expressed her gratitude.

“It helps tremendously with the needy families in the community,” Marston said. “We appreciate this very much.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Students, teachers donate items for holidays

CRESTVIEW — The National Weather Service reports a strong weather cell is approaching the area from the west, including tornado watches. At 9:46, the tornado watch area had passed over northern Okaloosa County into Walton County and southern Alabama, but further tornado watches were approaching from the west.

After the band of squalls passed through, local weather spotter Chayne Sparagowski reported the storm activity has "weakened some." Sparagowski operates a Crestview-based weather station that contributes to the National Weather Service.

Sparagowski reported "lots of rotation but nothing strong," indicating that while the storm system had the possibility of forming tornadoes, conditions were not suitable to generate a twister.

Both the National Weather Service and Sparagowski said further wind and rain can be expected throughout the morning.

"There's more to come, but things overall are tending to weaken," Sparagowski said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Strong' weather cell passing through

Update: The fire reportedly cost about $14,000 in damage.

CRESTVIEW — Traffic has stabilized after a house fire near Twin Hills Park required altered routes.

The house, at 556 N. Hathaway St., received severe damage but no injuries have been reported.

"No one was home at the time," Crestview Fire Deparmtent Battalion Chief David Brown said. The fire's cause has yet to be determined.

"The state fire marshal's office has been contacted to investigate," Brown said.

Authorities closed off a portion of East Pine Avenue while North Okaloosa Fire District and the Crestview Fire Department's crews extinguished the fire this afternoon.

Crews reportedly were dispatched to the scene around 2 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Traffic flowing after house fire

CRESTVIEW — 7th Special Forces members may attend a Christmas meal at 11 a.m. today at the 7SF dining facility. Meal card holders may eat free.

Holiday rate of $7.50 applies to officers and enlisted soldiers; spouses and dependents of enlisted soldiers, E-5 and above; and retirees, guests and civilians.

Discount rate of $6.40 applies to spouses and dependents of enlisted  soldiers, E-4 and below.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 7th Special Forces Christmas meal today

CRESTVIEW — Several area residents’ Decembers will be greener after a coordinated effort to provide Christmas trees for lower income residents.

David Fitzpatrick is continuing a family tradition of donating Christmas trees to families unable to purchase their own during the holidays.

Tuesday, Fitzpatrick rented a truck to collect 23 Frasier firs from Lowe's Home Improvement Store in Crestview. The store donated unsold Christmas trees to Fitzpatrick, who delivered them to Sharing and Caring in Crestview.

Families who can’t afford Christmas trees can receive a tree while they’re available.

 Fitzpatrick — who has collected unsold Christmas trees for 23 years — usually enlists his three children to help him load the trees.

"They have been helping me for the past 12 years," Fitzpatrick said. Reba, 16, was on hand to assist her father this year, while the other two had to work, Fitzpatrick said.

Reba said she enjoys people’s reactions when they get the trees.

"I like to see the smile on their faces," Reba said.

Her father agreed.

"I love to give to people that need something," David said, adding he believes his children will continue the tradition.

"My kids said that when I couldn't do it anymore than they would take over," he said. "It's going to be an ongoing thing for the family."

Robin Marston, Sharing and Caring’s president, expressed gratitude for the Fitzpatricks’ effort.

"Our clients really appreciate it," Marston said. "For a lot of them, this is how they get their Christmas trees every year." 

Christmas trees are usually left outside the organization’s building for pick-up.

"We usually don't have any left over," Marston said.

Want a tree? Sharing and Caring is at 298 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Trees are in limited supply. 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 family collects Christmas trees for lower income residents

CRESTVIEW — Longtime local business, church and community leader Billy Teel died Monday at age 81.

Born in Opp, Ala., in 1931, he moved with his parents, Dewey and Pauline Teel, and younger brother, Bob, to Crestview in 1944, played football, baseball and basketball at Crestview High School and performed in the school band.

“I started playing football the year after Billy,” fellow Crestview High graduate Joe Curenton said. “We were good friends. He was a well-liked person.”

After graduating from Crestview High, Teel played baseball for Florida State University, from which he graduated with a business degree before entering the U.S. Air Force. He served close to home as an air traffic controller at Eglin Air Force Base.

Gaining professional certifications in real estate, he founded Teel and Waters Real Estate and the Crestview State Farm insurance office, at which he served 54 years.

Teel’s real estate and property expertise, and his designation as a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers made him an expert court witness in real estate valuation cases. For the respect he earned within the industry, his friend and colleague Mike Chesser referred to Teel as “the dean of real estate in Okaloosa County.”

Teel’s influential role behind Crestview’s 1950s business renaissance earned him the area business community’s affection and respect. He helped found the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, for which he served as president from 1959 to 1960.

“He is one of the few icons of our community who built Crestview for what it is now,” chamber executive director Wayne Harris said. “We call them The ’56ers. They were a core group of leaders, of which Billy was one of them. They were the number of people who were the leading business folks who started building our community.”

People admired Teel for his work ethic and dedication to his community, area historian Betty Curenton said.

“Billy was a self-made man,” she said. “He didn’t just have his money handed to him. He got it the hard way. He worked for it.”

“He was a quiet leader,” Harris said. “He was involved in a lot of things but he wasn’t one who made a lot of noise. He worked hard to succeed and he helped build our community.”

Teel was involved at the First Baptist Church, of which he was a lifelong member, Joe Curenton said. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher over the years.

Teel was a private pilot and supporter of local fine and performing arts. He served on the First National Bank of Crestview’s board of directors, was active in the local Kiwanis Club and was a mentor to many area business owners. In addition to his brother Bob, Clara Jo Teel, his wife of 60 years, their grown children Ann Teel Hatcher and Bruce Teel and their families, survive him.

Funeral services were Thursday at Whitehurst-Powell Funeral Home in Crestview. Billy Teel was laid to rest at Liveoak Park Memorial Cemetery.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Business, community leader Billy Teel dies