OKALOOSA ISLAND — Brig. Gen. Arnold Bunch told members of the Florida Defense Support Task Force on Wednesday he is striving to keep RDT&E at Eglin Air Force Base “flyable and viable.”

The words resonate because Bunch, as head of the Air Force Flight Test Center at California’s Edwards Air Force Base, has the muscle to greatly influence decisions regarding the fate of Eglin’s 96th Test Wing.

Members of the task force, local leaders and military-reliant businesses have worried greatly since early this year that the test wing and its valuable research, development, testing and evaluation functions would be moved to Edwards.

That’s when the Air Force Materiel Command announced its intention to cut its command centers from 12 to five and to put what was then the 46th Test Wing under the command of a two-star at Edwards.

The consolidation was accomplished in July. Bunch said he has visited Eglin twice since then.

“I know we made people a little uptight about how that was done,” he said of the consolidation. “But my focus is not Edwards. I’m equally focused on Eglin and Arnold and bases across the Air Force Materiel Command.”

Jim Breitenfeld, a member of the Okaloosa County’s Defense Support Initiative that works with the task force, said Bunch’s words offered him some degree of relief about the test wing’s future.

“Gen. Bunch is an admirable man. I think those of us who know him are comfortable taking him at his word,” Breitenfeld said. “His sensitivity to our concerns is an important thing, and I believe to the degree he can support the mission at Eglin he will do that. I am encouraged by what he said.”

The Florida Defense Support Task Force, which met Wednesday morning for the first time in Okaloosa County, was established in January shortly after the Air Force announced its consolidation plans.

Its goal is to protect the state’s 20 military installations as fears of severe budget cuts and more expansive base realignment and consolidation efforts loom.

Task force members closed their meeting to the public about halfway through so that they could discuss a report prepared for them on the strengths and weaknesses of Florida’s military installations.

The report will be used for guidance as efforts are made to protect those bases from downsizing and to sell them as destinations for missions displaced by realignment pressure elsewhere, task force member and state Rep. Matt Gaetz said.

Gaetz could not speak specifically about the report, but said Florida bases appeared to score well in comparison to others, and Northwest Florida’s bases scored particularly well.

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, reported that the task force’s mission has been accepted and embraced across Florida and is being eyed with some envy.

“In my discussion with Gen. Bunch, he indicates that other states want to emulate what we are doing,” she said at the meeting.

Carroll said discussions of the task force’s efforts “are resonating in hallways in Washington, D.C.”

But she warned that “our installations and national defense can be very poisoned by sequestration.”

Sequestration, which calls for more that $50 billion in annual cuts to the military budget, would be imposed Jan. 15 if Congress and the president cannot agree to get out from under it.

John Walsh, who represents Gov. Rick Scott’s office in Washington, said the Defense Authorization Bill lying dormant in the Senate is “probably the biggest bargaining chip in sequestration discussions.”

Walsh said any movement toward preventing sequestration is likely to be postponed until after the Nov. 6 election. It’s also possible that Congress and president will figure out a way to “kick the can down the road.”

That’s not going to prevent severe cuts to military spending, Walsh added.

“It seems defense is the only cow left to slaughter,” he said.

In other business Wednesday, the task force approved an application form for businesses or individuals to apply for grants.

Grants from the task force’s $5 million budget would be given to those able to prove an ability to enhance Florida’s military mission.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Defense group hears soothing words

FORT WALTON BEACH — Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida is preparing to provide Thanksgiving meals to nearly 200 local families in need.

The charity, whose Fort Walton Beach office serves residents of both Okaloosa and Walton counties, is in great need of traditional Thanksgiving foods and other staples  to meet the demand.

All donations are welcome. There is a particular need for stuffing mix, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, potato mixes (mashed, scalloped, etc.), gravy (canned or mix) pie filling, soup, other canned vegetables, pork and beans and other canned or dry beans, corn muffin mix and macaroni and cheese.

Cash donations are also welcome.

Donations may be dropped off at the Catholic Charities food pantry, 11 First St., Fort Walton Beach, or arrangements can be made for pick-up. Monday through Thursday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for donations; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for people seeking assistance with groceries.

Call Kelly Humphrey at 737-2825 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Catholic Charities seeks Thanksgiving donations

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CRESTVIEW — The city’s skating fraternity could be Ollying, tail sliding and grinding in a $70,000, city-run skateboard park if Public Works Director Wayne Steele’s preliminary research bears fruit.

Steele presented the concept of a Twin Hills skate park to the Community Redevelopment Agency board during its Monday evening meeting. The board unanimously approved directing Steele to pursue more information so he could prepare requests for proposals for the city to issue.

Steele reported that a glade in the park’s southwest corner, also considered for a dog park, excited Sanford-based CHP Engineering firm representatives and raised potential for a skate park.

“They thought it was a great location because of the topography and the retention pond already there, there would be very little site work needed,” Steele said.

The firm said construction would cost approximately $30-35 per square foot.

“We could make a real nice park of 2,000 square feet,” Steele said. “That’s $70,000.”

The notion of having a skate park as an alternative to kids practicing on public streets or shopping center parking lots has been raised on several occasions. The Main Street Crestview Association has advocated a downtown skate park to attract residents to the city’s historic heart after hours.

Steele said that after Crestview City Council members attended the recent Florida League of Cities conference, several engineering firms contacted him.

“Some of them were one-time callers and some very, very persistent,” Steele said. “One of the persistent firms was CPH.” CPH has offices throughout the state, including one in Panama City. The company built a well-received 8,000-square-foot skate park in Milton, Steele said.

Twin Hills Park is in the CRA district and the project could be funded through CRA funds, Steele said. After receiving assurances from board member Tim Grandberry — who had discussed the matter with skate park operators at the Florida League of Cities conference — that the city’s liability insurance costs would not rise, the board expressed support for the project.

“I’ve seen children on the streets with their skateboards, and with their parents,” board member Charles Baugh Jr. said. “I asked them, ‘If there was a city skate park, would you bring your children over to it?’ and they all said, ‘yes.’ I’d rather have them in a skate park than on our streets.”

Board member Robyn Helt also assured dog lovers that the dog park proposal was not being abandoned.

“We have not given up the idea of a dog park, but we have discussed other locations,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Skaters could get a Crestview park

CRESTVIEW — Local organizations are invited to Florida’s 500th birthday bash next year. Viva Florida 500 commemorates the settling of America’s first European communities five centuries ago.

“Viva Florida 500 is a statewide celebration,” Okaloosa Library Cooperative coordinator Vicky Stever said. “This is an event nobody else in the United States can claim.” she added, noting both Pensacola and St. Augustine claim to be the country’s oldest cities.

How each county chooses to participate in Viva Florida 500 is up to local organizers, Stever said. Opportunities include sharing local history and cultural events at www.vivaflorida.org, putting locally significant artifacts in the Okaloosa County time capsule and starting a local “500 Garden” to honor astate historic figure.

“The end result should be to bring a greater awareness of the history and culture of Okaloosa County,” Stever said while addressing the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce community calendar workshop on Oct. 15.

“We need to brand the events we’re already going to do in 2013 as Viva Florida events,” she said, suggesting adding a cultural or historical component to activities to qualify them for the calendar. “That’s pretty easy to do because just about anything you do could fit under that banner — except maybe a church bake sale.”

Stever said the north county region could be a prime area for participating in the “Next Exit History” program, which puts points of historic interest on a mobile phone app for motorists. The site already includes Florida state parks and historic marker locations.

Though the north county isn’t as big a tourist draw as the south end, families wanting historic tourism on a road trip have a lot to discover in the area, workshop organizer Rae Schwartz said.

“Somebody driving their family down I-10 might use the app to make their road trip more interesting,” Schwartz said. “As they come to Crestview’s exit, the app could direct them to the Carver-Hill Museum or the Baker Block Museum.”

Area schools, museums and libraries can apply to host a 500 Garden of native wildflowers as part of the Viva Florida project, Stever said. The garden must be dedicated to a historic Florida figure — “Such as (former Congressman) Bob Sikes,” reference librarian Sandra Dreaden said — and applications must be received by Dec. 1 at www.xaviercortada.com/?page=FLOR500_gardens.

Another available resource is Florida Memory, a State Library and Archives of Florida photographic collection of more than 160,000 historic images. The Crestview library already participates in Florida Memory, Dreaden said. Visit www.floridamemory.com to access the collection.

Email archives@dos.state.fl.us to learn how to donate photos to the collection.

Stever said the possibilities for local participation in Viva Florida 500 are almost unlimited.

“It’s wide open and we’d like to do as many things as we can,” she said, encouraging interested residents to attend a planning meeting at the Fort Walton Beach Library at 10 a.m. Oct. 25.

To get creative juices flowing, Stevers said, “Rewrite the lyrics to ‘Viva Las Vegas,’ because that’s what I think of every time I hear Viva Florida.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local groups invited to Florida's 500th birthday

CRESTVIEW — Covenant Hospice has $28,000 extra that can cover various end-of-life care services after its Blue Jean Ball surpassed fundraising expectations, Lill Jennings, development specialist, said.

“I think it’s gonna be more than that. We don’t have all the expenses in and we have more checks (to account for),” she said.

The Oct. 13 event, which brought fire juggling, mermaid waving, wench dueling and dancer-ogling fun to the Crestview Community Center netted $2,000 more than expectations, she said.

Proceeds for the “Magic on the High Seas” themed event will cover non-funded or under-funded services, Odin Berg, Covenant’s chief financial officer, said. These include coverage for uninsured patients — those who “fall between the cracks” and lack Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance, Jennings said — along with bereavement, children’s support and chaplain services.

Funds came from ticket sales, a silent auction and event sponsors, namely supporters of four “Crestview stars” who worked with Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Crestview instructors for weeks to perfect their moves before appearing on stage. Dancer sponsorships were as follows: Michael Hamby, $3,151; Maryann McBride, $3,058; Sarah Fordyce, $1,637; and Bob Jones, $677.

Crestview’s “stars” —Hamby, of Chesser & Barr, P.A.; McBryde, of Okaloosa Title and Abstract; Fordyce of North Florida Financial; and Jones, Crestview High School principal —paired with instructors Aaron Stowell and Erika Moreno.

“They spend a lot of time and effort to train these people for weeks,” Jennings said of the dance studio.

Audience members howled to a dancing exhibition of The Village People’s “In the Navy” and “YMCA” and cheered for fast footwork during spicy Latin beats. The event featured lighthearted theatrical performances by a pirate and the wenches fighting for his affections, and was punctuated by décor and atmosphere that included aquarium centerpieces, a pirate juggling sticks of fire and a friendly mermaid greeting guests at the door.

Silent auction items included various vacation packages, jewelry and artwork, along with items like an autographed Lady Antebellum CD and an autographed Tim Allen photograph.

The Northwest Florida State College Soundsations performed a Broadway medley and later a crowd-pleasing rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The event’s financial success guarantees it will return next year, organizers said.

“We appreciate the support from the Crestview community, and the volunteers. Without them, it couldn’t happen. It just couldn’t happen.”

Contact News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni at 850-682-6524 or tboni@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbeditor.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Blue Jean Ball nets $28k for Covenant Hospice (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — People notice when Jaime McPhilomy wheels his vehicle into town. As a volunteer with the Jacksonville chapter of the nationwide Guardians of the Ribbon, the firefighter brought “Chase,” a mammoth pink firetruck, to Crestview Thursday night for the October Business After Hours.

Hosted by the North Okaloosa Medical Center’s Healthy Woman program, the monthly social event of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and pink was the color du jour. Even chocolate chip cookies on the refreshments table sported pink M&Ms.

Held at Physicians Medical Plaza, the event included a presentation by Dr. Loretta Brestan, tours of the facility’s Imaging and Mammo Department, and recognition of cancer survivors and those battling the disease.

Crestview City Councilwoman Robyn Helt and council President Ben Iannucci III read a proclamation by Mayor David Cadle proclaiming Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the city.

However, Chase, named for a Jacksonville child who survived cancer, drew the most attention. Attendees wrote messages of love, honor and support for loved ones wherever they could find a blank spot on the pink firetruck.

“Miss you, Mama and Pawpaw,” wrote Crestview resident Linda Parker in memory of her parents, Charlie and Clyde Powell. Virginia Kemp added an inscription to honor her daughter, Delma Welch, a breast cancer survivor.

Like other trucks in the Pink Heals tour, Chase, a retired fire engine no longer equipped to battle fires, will travel around the country bringing awareness to breast cancer, its survivors and those battling the disease.

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

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: Guardians of the Ribbon bring pink fire truck to town (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Sasquatch Zoo’s animals are among beneficiaries of a wine and cheese reception Sunday afternoon on Main Street. The reception, complete with wildlife refuge “animal ambassadors,” is 2-4 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person or $25 per couple.

The event benefiting the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, to be held at Yellow River Winery and Wine Bar, was the brainchild of Jerry Melvin, a former state senator and former Destin city council member, said Yellow River Winery vintner Nathan Boyles, who will host the event with his wife Crystal.

“He is a great supporter of the wildlife refuge,” Nathan Boyles, a county commissioner-elect, said.

The refuge acquired the local Sasquatch Zoo earlier this year. The zoo, situated east of Crestview near Dorcas, is a top field trip destination for schoolchildren and church groups. Its rare white Bengal tigers, Keela and Kota, are favorite attractions.

Tickets include Yellow River’s fruit table wines and other selections, and an assortment of fine cheeses. Finger foods will feature Chef Chris Odom’s tender Peach Albóndigas meatballs in a sauce made of a reduction of Just Peachy, one of Yellow River Winery’s wines, Boyles said. Local guitarist and vocalist Aaron Overton volunteered to perform during the event.

Boyles said he and his wife were glad to host the event.

“We like being involved in the community and this (the refuge) is certainly a good organization and they do a lot of good in the community,” he said. “Their acquisition of the local zoo is going to be good for the refuge and good for Okaloosa County.”

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge acquired the zoo from owner Debbie Mattox in September. Mattox will continue to run the zoo until the end of the year. It will close for a month of renovations, which will include building animal habitats and a botanical garden and will reopen as part of the refuge. Mattox, who founded the zoo in 1987, will remain with the zoo for several more years as a partner.

Want to go?

A wine and cheese reception benefiting the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, owner of Sasquatch Zoo, runs 2-4 p.m. Oct. 24, at Yellow River Winery and Wine Bar, 212 N. Main St. Tickets cost $15 each; two cost $25. Call 689-8505 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wildlife refuge benefit will also aid local zoo

CRESTVIEW —  On Monday, Oct. 22, the City of Crestview Utility Maintenance Department will perform work at the intersection of Texas Parkway and Eighth Avenue with partial lane closure.

Alternative routes are recommended. For details, call Public Works at 682-6132.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Oct. 22 lane closure at Texas and Eighth in Crestview

FORT WALTON BEACH — An Eglin airman killed Oct. 11 during a four-day water survival course will be buried Saturday in his hometown of Jackson, Mo. Maj. Garrett Knowlan’s death is under investigation, according to a 96th Test Wing press release. Though he died last week, the news was not released by the Air Force until Wednesday morning. His family declined to be interviewed. Knowlan lived in Shalimar with his wife, Megan Knowlan, and their two sons, Beckett and Levi, according to an obituary published in the Southeast Missourian. His parents, Jack and Bonnie Knowlan, still live in Missouri. Knowlan, who was assigned to the 96th Test Wing, was participating in Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The four-day course includes instruction on signaling rescue aircraft and procuring food and water, as well as training on hazardous water life and medical aspects of water survival and life raft procedures. Students also parasail to simulate in-flight emergencies over water, according to a fact sheet for U.S. Air Force Survival School. No information has been released concerning his death. The 32-year-old was the executive officer for Brig. Gen. David Harris, commander of the 96th Test Wing. During his years in the Air Force, he received numerous commendations and had been assigned to McChord Air Force Base, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Eglin. He was a 2002 graduate of the Air Force Academy and a 2010 graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School. In his obituary, Knowlan is described as a hard-working, outstanding young Christian man, who was a “life force” for his wife and young sons. “Garrett’s death is an unfathomable loss to his family, his friends and his country,” the obituary reads. “His death raises many difficult questions that seem impossible to answer.” The obituary then cites two verses Knowlan had outlined in his Bible. One was Philippians 1:10-21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” reads a portion of this verse. The second, believed to be a message to his wife and sons, was 1 Peter 4:12. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you,” the verse begins. “But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Contact Daily News Staff Writer Wendy Victora at 850-315-4478 or wvictora@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @WendyVnwfdn

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eglin airman killed during survival training

CRESTVIEW — Duck production at Twin Hills Park may improve due to a teenager’s efforts.

Friends and family of Austin Boyd, 17, joined the Boy Scout at Twin Hills Park on Monday to watch city employees implement his Eagle Scout project, spreading six fabricated, over-water nesting structures on the ponds. Such human-made structures can improve nest success and species production, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"It's really pleasing to see this," Boyd said as he watched city employees pull his floatable duck nests into the park ponds by boat. Boyd, a Crestview High School senior, worked with the city to build the nesting docks.

"I just noticed that (ducks) kept getting in people's way (at the park)," Boyd, a Boy Scout Troop 731 member, said.  

He remembered that when the time came to select a project that would qualify him for Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor: Eagle. Austin has been a member of the organization since he was 8 years old.

The project is several months in the making. The Scout Council required plenty of paperwork just to approve the project, and Austin met with Wayne Steele, the city’s Public Services director, in March to talk seriously about moving forward.

Many volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which Austin’s family attends, helped build the nests with fellow troop members.

"There were about 30 people involved with putting these nests together," Austin said. Wooden boards and hollowed-out piping make the structures float. Cement blocks and chains anchor each structure. The city donated materials for the project, Austin said.

Now, Austin must write a report on what effect the nests have on the duck and the entire park.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eagle Scout project gives Twin Hills Park ducks a nesting place