CRESTVIEW — Special Olympics USA Games athlete and gold medalist Harrison Mauldin was awarded a "key to the city" by Mayor David Cadle at the city council's regular meeting Monday night.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: (Video) Harrison Mauldin awarded 'key to the city' in Crestview

I started out thumping on a mandolin and then a guitar when I was child. My brother had a mandolin and so I learned a few chords and then eventually learned a few chords on a guitar. My first cousin James Webb across the road where I was raised in Stidham, Kentucky taught me G, C and D, E and A and I was on my way. I played music and basketball as a kid and not always in that order. Music was something I could do regardless of the weather and basketball was just great exercise and fun. I only had one television channel and watched plenty of TV but my hobbies of music and ball were clean and entertaining.  My father found things for me to do to like mowing lots of grass with a push mower and cutting bushes on hillsides. Life was good. 

I had some friends I played music with growing up. We weren't that great but we played music together for hours and had a lot of fun. Music or playing ball never got us in trouble. Our energy was focused on being creative and having good fun. 

I put my guitar down when I was about sixteen. I had played for about eight years and was getting better. I had a cheap electric guitar that came from G.C. Murphy's and James; an instrument craftsman today, eventually made me one. By the time I was eighteen I had given up music and traded that guitar to my brother Clyde for an eight-track tape player. Yes, really stupid. 

I started speaking in church when I was sixteen. Yes, I was too young but youth always excels and is greatly sought after. Churches and organizations are starved for youth who stand up and demonstrate leadership. By the time I was seventeen I had an old car and was driving everywhere preaching sermons and speaking to church groups. Several small churches called me to serve as their pastor and they all came back to life. I enjoyed it. I still enjoy it today. After 40 years I still am thrilled to talk about God's grace and love in most any pulpit in America. I have not found any place today that is not starved for grace and love. For fifteen years I have been privileged to work with men and women around the planet who are training for Christian service and ministry. I have a great privilege. 

However, as I said many years ago I had laid down my guitar. Most of the church people were glad about that because I didn't play traditional church songs. Over the years I totally lost my ability to sing in front of people. I actually tried a few times and I was a nervous wreck.  I had lost it.  The old saying is true if you don't use it you will lose it. 

The way to get better is to keep trying. Over the last five years or so I've sung in front of several groups and messed up plenty. However, in the process of trying I've regained my confidence, which is the coolest part of it all. It's been like climbing a mountain in a way. 

I may never sing in front of a group again and we never know. However, I don't worry that much about messing up.  I just have fun.  Doing something we enjoy is what it's all about. 

Find something to do that inspires and motivates you. It may be writing, golf or gardening. You need a meaningful hobby and an outlet of your energy. Have some fun; it's good for you.

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author.

What’s your view? Write a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Do what you enjoy

CRESTVIEW — Christie Austin serves as Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer in Community Bank’s Crestview Office, which serves all of North Okaloosa County and its surrounding areas. A Crestview native, Christie is heavily involved in the local community. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA, Healthy Woman, and Kiwanis. She has also volunteered locally with Covenant Hospice and United Way. Christie actively serves the Crestview Chamber of Commerce as a past Chairman of the Board, and currently as Treasurer. Christie, along with her husband and 9-year-old son, are members of First United Methodist Church of Crestview. 

When you combine Christie’s 12 years of banking experience, her extensive knowledge of the banking industry and her understanding of the Crestview community, she is equipped to help you not only reach, but exceed your financial goals. Whether you are looking at your personal finances or your business, Community Bank’s cutting-edge product suite has a solution that will fit your needs. Christie and our entire Crestview staff are eager to make sure you have the best banking experience possible. 

Community Bank is one of the South’s fastest-growing financial institutions. By employing a unique approach to one of America’s most routine industries, today Community Bank is now $3.1 billion in assets with 47 offices and over 750 staff members stretching across the Southeast in four states: Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. Conveniently located at 345 E James Lee Boulevard, Christie and the Community Bank team are ready to walk with you through your financial journey, whether that be consumer or business needs. You can reach out to Christie at 850-683-8822 or drop in the Crestview office 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Community Bank – Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community Bank has local roots

CRESTVIEW — The Emerald Coast Zoo recently added alligators to their zoo family. Zoo owner, Rick de Ridder, and John Decker allowed zoo-comers to hold the alligators for a photo. Diane Murphy, in the video, participated in the gator encounter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: (Video) Emerald Coast Zoo welcomes new alligators

CRESTVIEW — One area club goes beyond its members participating in a shared hobby and assists local authorities in real life emergencies and public events. That is the North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club.

Amateur radio is described as a hobby that brings people, electronics and communications together, according to a club brochure.

"People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space all without the Internet or cell phones," the brochure states.

Club members Alex Barthe and Richard Girardin took a few minutes to explain some of the club's activities during the Crestview Public Library's Aug. 4 Library on the Air event. Group members spoke via radio with people across the country during the event.

The club provides communication services during community events like the Crestview Christmas and Veteran's Day parades, and even provides emergency communication services during weather watches.

The local club also participates in city parades and community events.

Barthe said members station themselves along the routes and remain in contact with the event organizers and participants to ensure a smooth event.

The group also becomes a vital part of communications during more serious situations, like hurricane watches or evacuations.

"The North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club members man part of the emergency operations center at Northwest Florida State College," Barthe said.

"We also have an operation cell with the City of Crestview, and then people like Richard and myself can also man shelters when they're activated, if there's hurricanes, if there's other kinds of situations," Barthe said.

The middle schools, which sometimes function as shelters during those times, are all outfitted with antennas and radios at the members' expense to facilitate ham radio help.

Rodney Ryals, an NOARC member from DeFuniak Springs, was manning a radio that afternoon.

He had talked to at least 12 people so far, but said that fewer people are on at the point.

"With it being midday, from about 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock … with the sun out heavy, it interferes with some of the signals, but you can get some people here and there," Ryals said.

He spoke to about 12 people from areas including Idaho, New Jersey and Texas.

The club meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Live Oak Baptist Church, Crestview, for club business, and 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursdays at the church for its "tech nights," a great time to learn about the hobby.

Visit the group's website, www.w4aaz.org, or email activities@w4aaz.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Service, camaraderie part of radio club's efforts

CRESTVIEW — The addition of a city manager is in one of the three questions to appear on the primary election ballot. The city of Crestview has approximately $300,000 allocated in next year’s budget proposal for the tentative city manager’s office, according to city officials.

"This would not be just for salary but all aspects of establishing a new position," city clerk Elizabeth Roy said in an email.

The money budgeted for the city manager's office would go back into the general fund if citizens vote against the amendment, council president J.B. Whitten said.

According to Whitten, the number in the budget proposal is higher than the anticipated costs.

Although this will be an additional cost, Whitten said he thinks it's a good investment for the city because the position could potentially pay for itself.

"I would never sit here and guarantee somebody that if we pay someone $100,000 that it will save the city $100,000. I think it will, but I can't guarantee that," Whitten said.

The city manager would be a full-time position and would receive benefits that part-time employees like the mayor and council members don't receive, Whitten said.

“Typically, a city manager for a city our size is going to cost north of $100,000, which right now, we don’t even pay that for the mayor. We have a part-time council and part-time mayor,” he said.

For comparison, Destin and Fort Walton Beach pay their city managers over $120,000. Both cities are smaller than Crestview.

Qualifications would also affect the city manager’s salary, Whitten said.

“If you hire someone that’s got a master’s degree and 20 years experience as a city manager in a large city, then you would pay that individual more than someone that just came out of public administration school and no experience,” Whitten said.

This charter is the city council’s second effort to replace the current mayor-council government with a council-manager government.

Primary election day is Aug. 28. Early voting begins Aug. 18.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Next year's budget proposal includes tentatve city manager office

CRESTVIEW — A historic building in downtown Crestview is being converted into a new, multi-functional facility with office and retail space.

Demolition on parts of the new Courthouse Suites, which was previously Seaside Engineering and Surveying Inc., has already taken place.

Although the front section of the building will remain, property owner, Alex Barthe', said the garage attached to the building had to be removed because they found asbestos.

The back of the building was also torn down due to spacing issues, and Barthe' said they are putting in a two story addition that will be about 3,000 square feet. With the addition, the Courthouse Suites will total about 9,000 square feet.

Although the front section of the building will be used for office space, Barthe' said he hopes to use the additional section for retail.

“We’re trying to make the most of the square footage and bring some nice things to downtown,” Barthe' said.

The property will bring a more modern feel to the downtown Crestview area, Barthe' said. The main building will have two floors with a couple conference rooms and about 20 office suites. The retail and office buildings will be adjoined by a shared area.

“It brings various amenities to Crestview," Barthe' said, "and it’s an opportunity for some of the things that in Crestview, we would like to see."

Barthe' purchased the historic property in February, he said, after hearing the county considered purchasing the property for courthouse parking.

“It’s a historic building, and that would be a tremendous waste to do that. So, I’m glad that I had the opportunity to get the building,” Barthe' said.

One issue facing Courthouse Suites is parking. According to Growth Management Director Teresa Gaillard, the city will not require them to have additional parking because they are located in the downtown parking district.

“Part of Cedar Avenue was taken up by the courthouse parking, and the planning department's Teresa Gaillard said we can use space just inside of the courthouse fence,” Barthe' said in an email.

McCollough & Sons in Milton is the general contractor on the project, and Presergistics in Baker is the major subcontractor.

The building is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Courthouse Suites construction underway in downtown Crestview

CRESTVIEW — A kidney chain in Alabama surpassed 100 recipients on July 20 making it the longest running kidney chain in the nation. It started when one Crestview woman donated her kidney to a stranger.

That woman is former Bulldog, Paula King. She listened to a friend’s story about his decision to donate a kidney to his father.

“It gave his dad extended life that they could spend together," King said, "and that struck me that it was a very noble and a good thing to do.”

A few years later, King’s husband at the time needed a bone marrow transplant from someone, and finding a match became an issue.

“It was not a good feeling knowing that his livelihood was at somebody else’s mercy, a stranger,” King said.

King decided to call The University of Alabama at Birmingham, an academic medical center, because they did kidney transplant surgeries.

“It was sort of like the Holy Spirit had been telling me for a while, 'You need to do this,'” King said. 

King called UAB in 2013 and offered her kidney for donation. It took a month but they found a recipient: Shalimar resident Lornette Stewart.

At the time, King said she wanted her donation to remain anonymous, afraid she wouldn’t approve of the recipient.

However, King said she decided to allow the recipient to contact her after encouragement from the hospital staff.

When she heard from Stewart, King said she knew the donation was meant to be.

“She sent me an email, and when I opened it up, she started out by saying, ‘God has blessed me by this’,” King said. “That got me teary-eyed because then I knew God had been telling me all along to do this.”

In 1995, Stewart’s battle began with Lupus, which affected her kidneys. She needed a donor, and her daughter, Jovi Williams, was not a match.

Stewart said UAB contacted her daughter and asked if she would be willing to donate a kidney on behalf her mother.

Williams agreed to donate, not realizing she was beginning the longest-running kidney chain—a series of transplants in which family members donate a kidney to someone in need on behalf of a loved one receiving a donation.

“Every time we look at the chain … We just see what God has done, what He orchestrated,” Stewart said. “I look at it now, and all the people have received transplants because the first person said yes.”

Although they attended Navy boot camp in 1986, Stewart and King didn’t know each other personally. King said they have met in person and have visited together a few times.

King, Stewart, and Williams are all currently in good health.

For more information about the kidney chain, visit www.crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview resident's generosity leads to longest-running kidney chain

I had my fourth colonoscopy recently. The best part of the procedure is when it's over. Honestly, it's not that big of a deal but it's always easier to say that when it's over!

When I was in my gown five minutes before the test I thought about the inconvenience of the colonoscopy but then quickly remembered the inconvenience of colon cancer. 

My father was 60 when he was told that the large mass inside his colon was cancer.

Under the instruction of our family doctor Bob Hall in Paintsville, Kentucky he underwent surgery to remove a large section of his colon that also resulted in a colostomy in the right side of his stomach. He would wear a bag on his side for three months. I vividly remember the pain and sickness of that surgery in 1980. Three months later the doctor did another extensive surgery and reconnected his colon. Seemed to me he was sicker after that surgery than the one before. Eventually he regained normalcy once again, never had radiation or chemotherapy and lived 25 more years. He was one of the lucky ones. He had one really bad sick year but he lived. 

My mother in law had colon cancer and had most of her colon removed in her forties. She spent the rest of her life with a stoma.  A stoma is where a section of the bowel is brought out through the stomach area. However, she didn't wear a pouch but irrigated her colon every other day.  It was one awful surgery but she lived forty more plus very active years of life. 

A high school friend not long ago went to the doctor and found out he had stage four colon cancer. He couldn't beat it and died recently. A dear minister friend at the peak of his ministry in his early fifties found out he had colon cancer. He fought it hard but it didn't take long and he soon died. 

Something will take us all out. We are all going to die. My dad used to say; "None of us will get out of this world alive." This is a true statement. However, a colonoscopy is not that big of a deal. The routine procedure, two hours at the hospital might prevent you from having your colon cut out. Now, that would be good, right? Or, maybe it might prevent you from dying in your sixties or even fifties or late forties. It happens a lot.  

I had my first colonoscopy at the age of fifty and they cut out three polyps. If I had never had that procedure done I would probably be dead by now from colon cancer. I had another one three years later. Another one five years after that and came out with four large polyps and one looked very precancerous. Thus, recently three years after the last one I had my fourth and for the first time ever the doctor told me I had no polyps in my colon. Hallelujah! I was so glad.  I've been eating daily fruits and vegetables. Going for the broccoli, the asparagus, fruit, peppers, etc. I'm convinced fruit and vegetables are the ticket. I would recommend you make fruit and vegetable a part of your daily life.  If you remember, they told us this stuff in health class in elementary school. It's true.

The day before your procedure you will have to drink some nasty tasting stuff. At least I did. I was allowed to eat a little bit as late as 4:00 in the afternoon. Very little but I didn't starve by any means. Two o'clock in the morning I was drinking more nasty stuff. Plus I drank about a gallon of water to flush the nasty tasting stuff down. From about 2:00 in the morning until 4:30 I was in the bathroom almost constantly. At 6:30 I was at the outpatient center of the hospital. The people were great and explained everything. By 7:45 I was receiving propofol, (Michael Jackson drug) which puts you to sleep almost instantly. By 8:45 I was leaving the hospital with my good news of no polyps. My wife had to drive. You must have a driver with you. By 9:30 I was having a Greek omelet and four large pancakes. I felt like I had earned every bite.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in America. Over 50,000 people die from colon cancer every year. Let's all get routine colonoscopies and at least try to avoid dying from colon cancer. Good luck!

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author. 

What’s your view? Write a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Colonoscopy – Avoid Colon Cancer – Please

Parenting is hard…..right?

I know you have all heard people say, or perhaps you have said it yourself; "children do not come with an instruction manual; there is no rule book for parenting".  If there was, I am sure it would be the wordiest book in the history of mankind.

Every stage of parenting provides it own set of challenges and obstacles.  We cannot wait for our babies to learn to walk and talk, and then we spend years telling them to sit down and be quiet for a little while…seriously, we just need five minutes to ourselves! 

We send them off to school, then cry when we realize they are quite happy to be off with their friends, discovering new and wonderful things, while we watch the clock and arrive at the school early to pick them up because we missed them so much.

As their personalities develop and they start the dreaded ‘puberty blues stage’, eye-rolling and attitude is what greets our attempts at conversation, because even though they do love us, they just want to be able to go and do whatever they want….as long as you can drive them, or provide the funds to do so.

Move on to the High School years, where our kids are both excited at the prospect of being ‘older’ and almost ready to start their journey into adulthood, yet terrified of being held accountable for their actions and being out on their own without the safety net that parents and a home life provides.

Even when they have graduated High School and either gone into the workforce or off to college, we wave them off with one hand, while trying to hold them close with the other. They need the freedom to start their lives and make their own way; we just find it hard as parents to watch them make mistakes or worse, make decisions that have a negative impact on their world…..and ours.

When our children do make mistakes, or make us feel that we have failed, we are often too proud to admit that we find it hard being parents. There is no shame in that, although most of us feel just that; shame and embarrassment, or emotionally drained that we are not doing or saying the right things. Even the strongest people feel that way at times.

A local businesswoman, very bravely posted a Facebook Live video telling all, that the picture perfect scenario she had in her mind, had in fact turned completely around and she felt the need to find a positive in the obstacles she was faced with, when it came to parenting. As I watched her video, my eyes filled with tears, as I realized I was not the only one who was questioning the precarious relationships we have with our offspring.

Whatever it is that gives you comfort, whether it be your faith, spirituality, support groups…whatever, give it up to them. Talk about it, let it be known that none of us have all the answers, let us support each other and hopefully, collectively, we can get through this journey together.

Barbara Dale is the receptionist for the Crestview News Bulletin. Email her at bdale@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Parenting is hard