CRESTVIEW — Among fans in the bleachers for the big Friday night football game against Niceville were visitors from Noirmoutier, Crestview’s French sister city, including 21 students attending with their local host families. Before the kickoff and to the roar of appreciation from the crowd, René Relandeau, president of the Noirmoutier Sister City Committee, and Crestview High Principal Bob Jones took a moment to exchange gifts of appreciation.

Relandeau presented a plaque bearing the people of Noirmoutier’s “grateful appreciation for many years of friendship, hospitality and support for our young people,” while Jones presented the French guests with a bronze Bulldog sculpture.

“I thank the people of Crestview, particularly the host families and everyone who’s taking care of us,” Relandeau said through Crestview High French teacher Chris Lanoue, who interpreted his remarks.

“Without all these people helping us, we couldn’t do what we’re doing now: to bring 21 young people from France to be immersed in American family life, language and culture,” Relandeau said. “It is a discovery and a dream come true. It is not a superficial trip like a tourist. It is living like an American. We hope our American friends from Crestview have the same experience in Noirmoutier.

“We give this plaque to Crestview High School in the hopes that the students here will think of their friends across the Atlantic. Since the days of Lafayette and through two world wars, Franco-American friendship continues through our young people of both nations.”

In addition to the host families sharing in their French guests’ experience, it was a special evening for members of the Crestview High Junior ROTC color guard. Jessica Falls proudly held aloft the Tricolor, the blue, white and red French flag, during the playing of both countries’ national anthems.

“I think holding the French flag is sharing the culture of the United States with our visitors, because we’re a big melting pot,” Jessica said. “We are all from different backgrounds.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High receives accolades from French sister city

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Master Gardeners President Marge Stewart suggested increased professionalism and workplace pride are just some benefits of the University of Florida/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension service’s new $1 million office building.

“There’s room for everybody to do their stuff. We’re not embarrassed to have people visit anymore. We’re not climbing over people who are trying to answer the phones. This is amazing!” she said.

With the snip of a red ribbon, the extension service’s days of operating from a cramped, outdated former fairgrounds shed are officially over. Extension staff and equipment completed the move from Old Bethel Road in time for the new facility’s official opening Monday morning.

“In that short period of time, it’s about killed us,” Family and Consumer Sciences agent Elaine Courtney said. “But we did it.”

After Gerald Edmondson, previous extension director and the building’s namesake, snipped the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon, the crowd toured the building. Bob Bayer greeted guests in the testing lab, a facility he no longer must share with Master Gardeners operating phones to answer resident questions.

Marine Sciences agent Brooke Saari proudly showed her new office and storeroom to guests.

“When I first met her, her office was a hallway,” County Commissioner Wayne Harris said. “That’s what prompted much of this.”

Moving to the new building was a collaborative effort.

Master Gardeners provided landscaping. Donations of time, money and plants, including foliage from the Niceville and Destin garden clubs, enhance the building.

AVCON Engineers and Planners, donated engineering services. Airports Director Greg Donovan donated airport-owned land. Mike Moulton and Linc Grant, whose construction companies built the building, also received thanks.

“This was a community effort,” state Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, said. “It started out as an idea by Gerald Edmondson but it became a community effort. Enough can’t be said about a community that works together.”

Development

The new building rose on Airport Road in just seven months, though the journey to Monday’s ribbon cutting and dedication began in the 1990s under Edmondson’s guidance.

Edmondson said much of the credit should go to area legislators, including former state senator, Dr. Durrell Peaden, and his successor, Evers. Evers, a local farmer, was on a late-1990s advisory committee researching construction of the new facility prior to his election to office.

“He’s been a strong advocate for us, he and Sen. Peaden,” Edmondson said.

The new facility cost nearly $1 million, most of which a $750,000 Florida Department of Agriculture Consumer Services grant paid for by matching county funds, donated land and in-kind services. Larry Williams, Edmondson’s successor, served as project manager.

During the dedication ceremony, Evers read a state proclamation formally naming the Gerald Edmondson Okaloosa County Extension Office.

“This is something I never in my wildest dreams ever expected,” Edmondson said.

“Even though Gerald is retired … he keeps a close touch with the farmers in our area seeking advice on farming issues, and just to keep in touch with an old, dear friend,” the proclamation stated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New county extension office dedicated

BAKER — When the chips are down, it means Bill Alford or Carl Commander are making another cypress shingle.

The men returned to the Baker Heritage Day festival and, as in years past, their artisanship and skill were top attractions during a day in which traditional local culture was front and center.

Using traditional tools and methods, the men sent wood chips flying through the spicy-scented air, the fragrant aroma of freshly hewn wood rising as they shaved each shingle precisely to size.

Nearby, an old-fashioned John Deere motor sputtered along, churning the dasher inside a large wooden ice cream bucket. The warm, sunny day made the cold treats especially welcome to Rebecca Smith, 7, who smiled as she sampled a dish and pronounced it “good!”

Organizers from the North Okaloosa Heritage Association, which produces the annual event at the Heritage Park adjacent to their Baker Block Museum, were pleased with the turnout; a News Bulletin reporter observed an estimated 200 patrons while attending. But museum and association Director Ann Spann said attendance didn’t reach past levels.

“We’ve had more people before but there were so many events that day,” she said. “But we were happy and I think everybody enjoyed it.”

While wood chips flew around Alford and Commander, on the other side of the park, sparks flew as smithies hammered glowing metal heated in a small forge with a hand-cranked blower. Inside the cabins, costumed re-enactors demonstrated domestic tasks, including churning fresh butter from cream, making applesauce and toffee, quilting and spinning yarn.

From the music tent came the sounds of area musicians, including the Convalescent Crooners, a group that frequently performs in nursing homes. Crestview personality and long-time Main Street barber Mack Brooks and his band closed the festival with fiddling and songs he’s sung on the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville.

Colonial frontiersman re-enactor John Butler took a break to sway on the dogtrot house’s porch swing until Danny Turner and his pals, Hunter Polhlopek and Wyatt Shumway, came along and asked to look at Butler’s muzzle-loading rifle.

Danny, a member of Baker School’s Junior ROTC battalion, confidently hoisted the heavy weapon to his shoulder and drew a bead on a distant target.

“This gun stays where you aim it,” he said.

The number of vintage automobiles on display increased this year, with a collection of Ford Model A’s and at least one Model T parked under the shade trees across the side driveway. A petting zoo, including owls from the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, and a duo of rare Staffordshire pigs, was nearby.

Attendees browsed crafts and homemade jams, jellies, honey, produce and scented molded soaps — the latter was a byproduct of the pigs’ predecessors from the same farm. Brothers from Munson Red Rock Masonic Lodge fried crisp pork cracklin’s.

The heritage association noted brisk sales of its new “Lost North Okaloosa” calendar, a fund-raiser for the non-profit organization that features historic north county photos. 

The calendars are still on sale at the museum.

VIDEO: See "Related Media" at top left of this article.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Heritage Day in Baker (VIDEO)

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 — 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

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 — 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

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