NICEVILLE — Three officers have joined the Okaloosa County Republican Party Executive Committee, the group’s spokesperson announced.

New officers for the 2013-2014 term are Gaye Ellis, chairwoman; Al Kauses, vice chairman; and Sandra Atkinson, state committeewoman.

Their installation followed the organization’s Dec. 3 election.

The committee governs Okaloosa County’s Republican Party; its members are their county precinct’s representatives.

All registered Republicans may join.

The next meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 21, 2013 at the Niceville City Council chambers, 208 N. Partin Drive, Niceville.

Call 609-4401 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Republican executive committee announces 3 officers

CRESTVIEW — Eleven new manuals and handbooks recently donated to the Crestview Public Library will be a valuable resource for amateur radio enthusiasts — also called “hams” — Library Director Jean Lewis said.

Among the North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club’s donations were training manuals, for new amateur radio buffs seeking operator’s licenses, and guides for more advanced hams. The donation will benefit the Crestview area and serve radio buffs throughout the county, Lewis said.

“These are very good, excellent books on ham radio,” she said. “Until this donation, we only had one book, which was ‘Ham Radio for Dummies.’”

The donation comes when the Crestview City Council has eliminated the library’s book acquisition budget.

“We’re helping the library get books they can’t afford to buy,” NOARC activities director Cal Zethmayr, W4GMH, said. “Anybody who wants to study ham radio or learn more about it can check these out.”

The books are available to any Okaloosa County resident within the county library system, Lewis said.

“We knew the library was under pressure for money to get new books,” Zethmayr said. “These are brand new books the (American Radio Relay League) requires. If we can reach more people and get more operators, the better for the community.”

The league — of which NOARC is a member — in 2014 will celebrate its 100th year of American amateur radio.

In addition to connecting with fellow hams all over the world, amateur radio club members advise local Boy Scout troops during the worldwide Jamboree on the Air, Zethmayr said. They also provide communications during regional emergency operations.

NOARC also serves as a training resource for many area responders including county Emergency Operations Center employees, he said.

“We, over the last couple years, have trained employees of Okaloosa Gas, Auburn Water, the Okaloosa County Health Department, and (Community Emergency Response) teams,” Zethmayr said. “We’ve added more than 100 licensed amateurs. Okaloosa County now has more than 800 licensed hams.”

Through regional radio networks, Crestview area hams provide communications linking and guiding emergency responders using satellite positioning and related technology. Local hams helped set up the emergency center’s amateur radio communications equipment, Zethmayr said.

“If other equipment fails, amateur radio will keep working,” he said. “A lot of the guys have solar power now, and many have generators in case the power goes out.

“For example, if Crestview has a situation where you can’t get into Crestview when water comes up over the roads — and it’s happened before — we’re geared up to provide additional communications to the network.”

Want to go?

The North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of each month at the old Dorcas Fire Station 42, 5232 Deer Springs Drive. The location is 8 miles east of Crestview off U.S. Highway 90. Contact club President Bob Walker at n4cu@AMSAT.org.

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: Library receives set of amateur radio operating books amid budget crisis

CRESTVIEW — As 2013 approaches, millions of Americans will contemplate what changes they’ll make.

Many people call it “turning over a new leaf.”

It usually amounts to more or less. More exercise, more time with family or more saving hard-earned dollars. Alternatively, it may be less spending, less smoking or eating fewer calories.

The News Bulletin is collecting data on local residents’ New Year’s resolutions.

What are your resolutions? We want to hear from you. Please see the poll on the right column of our homepage, crestviewbulletin.com, to weigh in.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: TELL US: Lose weight? Save more? What's your 2013 resolution?

CRESTVIEW — One injury was reported from a house fire that occurred on December 24, according to a press release from the Crestview Fire Department.

Fire and rescue crews from the Crestview Fire Department, North Okaloosa Fire District and both Holt and Dorcas volunteer fire departments responded to a fire call at a residence located at 105 Camellia Place at 1:15 p.m.

After the fire was extinguished, fire officials estimated the total amount of property damage and contents at $150,000.

The cause of the fire could not be determined at the scene and is currently under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal's office.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: One injury reported in Dec. 24 structure fire

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Built in 1981, OASIS may close its doors without new funding

CRESTVIEW — A collection of timetables, artifacts and a G-scale model train comprise a Crestview Public Library exhibit that recalls when the railway was king.

Crestview and Laurel Hill began as railroad towns, with regular daily train service hauling forest and field to distant markets. Towns including Campton, Svea and Baker grew up along the rail routes.  

Timber, turpentine, peanuts and cotton regularly departed local communities on the Yellow River and Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. railroads. Dry goods and groceries arrived on return trips.

Local passengers enjoyed the convenience of regularly scheduled runs on smooth rails —versus rutted, bumpy and washed out dirt roads —for shopping and commuting throughout the area.

Folks could hop the Yellow River Rail Road in Florala, Ala., or Laurel Hill — at 7:10 a.m. or 7:42 a.m., respectively — and be in Crestview at 8:35 a.m. Ten minutes later, the L&N train would whisk them off to Pensacola, where they’d arrive at 10.

The library display was assembled from collectibles belonging to the West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton, the Emerald Coast Garden Railroad Club and the Shalimar Model Railroad Club.

Laurel Hill resident Paul Weston curated the exhibit, which will remain through the first week of January.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Library exhibit celebrates local railroad heritage

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 — 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

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 — 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