CRESTVIEW — Shawna Marie Beitler and Kenneth Tyrone Grant Jr. will wed Nov. 6 at the Twin Hills Park gazebo in Crestview.
Do you have a wedding, engagement or anniversary announcement? Email it to news@crestviewbulletin.com.
Publication is free for north Okaloosa County residents.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wedding ceremony for Beitler and Grant Nov. 6 at Twin Hills Park
CRESTVIEW —Okaloosa County Master Gardener Bill Buckellew won the Personal Communications Award at the 32nd Annual Florida Master Gardener Continued Training Conference on Oct. 3. Okaloosa County residential horticulture agent and UF/IFAS County Extension Director Larry Williams presented the plaque.
Buckellew is the sixth Master Gardener in the county to win this award, annually presented for knowledgeably answering residents’ landscape questions pertinent to Northwest Florida. Candidates are tested with a telephone call from the University of Florida State Master Gardener Coordinator Tom Wichman.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Master Gardener recognized for landscape knowledge
CRESTVIEW — An SUV caught fire about 6:30p.m. in the northbound lanes of State Road 85 near the intersection of P.J. Adams Parkway Friday night.
The driver stepped out of the vehicle when it caught fire. There were no injuries. Northbound traffic was stopped until the fire was extinguished by the Crestview Fire Department.
View a slideshow of the car fire.
View a video from the fire.
Contact Daily News Staff Photographer Nick Tomecek at 850-315-1426 or ntomecek@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickTnwfdn.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Car catches fire Friday night in Crestview (slideshow, video)
CRESTVIEW — The 6th annual Community Health Fair is 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Crestview Community Center.
Some 50 vendors will offer free health screenings ranging from hearing to skin cancer tests and health insurance information. The event will feature live music from local artists Carl Woodall and Three Floors Down, kids’ face paintings, Okaloosa Sheriff's Mounted Posse horse ridings, a hula-hoop contest and taekwondo demonstrations.
Admission is free except for breakfast and lunch items that will be available.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nov. 3 health fair offers family entertainment, awareness
BAKER — Country-cooking aroma mingles with freshly shaved cypress wood scent and boiling lye soap tang as the annual Baker Heritage Day festival unfolds at Baker Block Museum and Heritage Park, 1307 Georgia Ave., Saturday. Music including folk, gospel and country tunes will fill the air.
The annual event is a celebration of Northwest Florida heritage and culture featuring folkways demonstrations — including quilting, butter churning and blacksmithing — and folk arts and music. Historical displays will feature information about Laurel Hill School, one of north Okaloosa County’s oldest educational institutions, and neighboring communities.
The Baker Block Museum will be open during the festival. Admission to the museum and festival is free. New this year, the North Okaloosa Historical Association will sell its first “Lost North Okaloosa” 2013 calendar, featuring photos of regional landmarks from private collections. The calendar costs $10; proceeds benefit the museum and association.
Call 537-5714 or see www.bakerblockmuseum.org for details. The museum and heritage park are at 1307 Georgia Ave. (State Road 4).
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nov. 3 Baker Heritage Day Festival celebrates north county culture
CRESTVIEW — After a year hiatus, the Loomis Bros. Circuswill return to Crestview Nov. 9-11 at Old Spanish Trail Park. Performances are 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Nov. 10; and 3 p.m. Nov. 11.
Advance tickets cost $10 at several locations including Cooney Island restaurant and Mickey's Grocery and Grill in Baker. Tickets cost $15 at the gate. Military members get a 10 percent discount. Proceeds go to the Main Street Crestview Association, event sponsor.
Attractions
“It’s a more traditional family circus … there is going to be something for all ages,” owner and ringmaster Justin Loomis said. “We have elephants, tigers and horses that will perform tricks during each performance.”
One elephant particularly should garner some attention.
“Okha is the only elephant in North America that can walk on a ball,” Loomis said.
Specialty acts include an Argentinean family who can juggle with their feet and a comedy act from Melvino the clown.
Kids can ride on elephants one hour before each show, Loomis said. Food and drinks will also be available.
Additionally, three elephants and clowns from the show will appear at the Veterans Day parade 10 a.m. Nov. 10 on Main Street.
Background
Loomis has continued a family tradition handed down from his father, Arnold. Since he was 7, Justin has been involved in the circus business. His father also helped start the Loomis Bros. Circus in 1997.
Out of 10 siblings, three have stayed with the business.
“At one point, they were all involved in the circus,” Loomis said, adding that the circus tours Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
“We feel more at home in smaller communities,” Loomis said. “That’s why I always look forward coming to Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Circus days are here again: Loomis Bros. event runs Nov. 9-11
CRESTVIEW — Cold weather Monday didn't deter visitors from the Full Moon Indian Hunting Camp near the Crestview Community Center.
Kids bundled in jackets and blankets listened to Farris "Blue Herron" Powell give a brief history of American Indians who settled across the southeastern United States.
Powell spoke on Creek Indian culture — namely the tribe’s hunting techniques and trading deerskins with European settlers — and on traditional clothing and games. He displayed authentic tools, hunting spears and a musket and explained the weapons’ evolution.
He also aimed to dispel cultural myths.
"You didn't throw your (tomahawk) at your enemy (during battle),” Powell said, referring to misrepresentations on TV and film. "If you threw it and missed, then your enemy had the chance to pick it up and use against you."
Visitors — treated to soffkee, a traditional, grits-like food, and pumpkin donut holes — said they enjoyed the exhibition.
"I really liked the weapons part (of the program); my favorite was the tomahawk," Ethan Howard, 9, said.
Others liked Niceville musician Dale Palmer’s American Indian-inspired flute music.
"I thought it was the best," said Johnny Humphrey, 8, whose parents, Cathy and John Sr., took him and his three siblings to the event. "I liked the entire thing, especially the music.”
"We try to come out here when they have something going on,” Cathy said, referring to library-supported events.
Powell, who educates Floridians and Alabamians on southeastern American Indians, said the program will return more frequently.
"I usually only do this program about every other year, but (the library) has invited me to come back next year."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents learn about American Indian culture
GAINESVILLE— Crestview area landowners, farmers and producers can visit their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office to apply for conservation technical assistance and possible cost-share opportunities. Get more information on the Natural Resources Conservation Service and conservation assistance at the Crestview Service Center, 934 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview or call 682-2416.
Applicants who apply early have more time to resolve any program or land eligibility issues. The cutoff date for consideration is Nov. 16.
NRCS works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance designed to benefit soil, water, air, plants and animals.
Cost-share funding may be available to eligible applicants for the following Farm Bill programs:
• The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers facing threats to soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land.
• The voluntary Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations of national, state, tribal and local significance.
The NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to eligible private and tribal landowners for developing upland, wetland, aquatic and other types of wildlife habitat.
• The Conservation Stewardship Program, which encourages producers to address resource concerns. Producers would helm additional conservation activities and improve, maintain and manage existing conservation activities.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Conservation assistance and funding deadline is Nov. 16
CRESTVIEW — First United Methodist Church's Action Outreach Group is creating handmade, one-of-a-kind sock monkeys and creatures for purchase at the church's fall bazaar.
The bazaar — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview — will feature arts and crafts, a 12 p.m. luncheon and more.
Call Frankie Burgess, 586-5577, or Bobbi Burton, 758-8085, for details.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Methodist church plans Nov. 10 bazaar
In September, Jack Payne, University of Florida senior vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources, announced the UF Oyster Recovery Task Force’s formation.
This group, now called the UF Oyster Recovery Team, includes scientists, industries and public health representatives whose initial task was to study oysters’ decline. They would look at the issue from all aspects to find cause for the oyster die-off.
It became clear that a catastrophic event didn’t cause the decline. Rather, it seems multiple environmental factors are at play.
Eastern oysters are a staple to our bay’s health and wellness. These hearty organisms tolerate a range of salinity conditions, from fresh to full-strength seawater. However, they are most “happy” when living in brackish water (a mixture of fresh and salt water). Considered biofilters, oysters can filter up to 24 gallons of water per day. They help to control algal blooms, lower suspended sediment, silt and nutrients and improve water quality and clarity.
Oysters also provide critical food and habitats where they grow, creating reefs that are homes to many fish and invertebrate species in the estuary.
Historically, oysters harvested from Apalachicola Bay represent 10 percent of the U.S. oyster harvest and about 90 percent of Florida’s harvest. This oyster fishery is a Florida icon and many jobs depend on this industry.
The future is uncertain.
However, team members hope that by working together, oyster resources will rebound and a sustainable oyster management plan will help prevent future fishery collapses like the one that has just occurred.
See http://franklin.ifas.ufl.edu/ for updates on the University of Florida Oyster Recovery Team’s efforts. Email bsaari@ufl.edu or call 689-5850 for more information on marine science and natural resources information.
Brooke Saari is a Sea Grant Marine Science and Natural Resources agent at UF/IFAS Extension-Okaloosa County in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Task force studies oyster decline
