CRESTVIEW — Lake Silver Road neighborhood trick-or-treaters will have some swashbuckling entertainment to go along with their treats.

"You can't miss it; I’m going to have lights pointing at it," Ron Medlock, 80, said, referring to his pirate ship display, the "Carib Witch" and its crew. The setup has been a Halloween fixture at his house for three years. Medlock will reprise his role as Capt. Gray Beard while entertaining visitors on Oct. 31. The show should run 5-8:30 p.m., or until his candy runs out.

"I have a lot of fun with it, especially when the kids come around," Medlock said.

The captain also will introduce a familiar jolly elf, making an earlier-than-usual appearance. 

"Santa pirate is the ship's navigator and he is the best there is," Medlock said, referencing the elf’s ability to deliver presents to every child in the world all in one night.

Medlock also has gags for adult audience members; among them is an introduction to the captain's girlfriend and her son, Hagga Lee and Ug Lee, respectively, who will be stationed near the ship.

"If you drink enough rum, you'll think she (Hagga Lee) is Miss America," Medlock said in his deep pirate voice. "If you think she's pretty, then you've had too much rum."

Medlock said he has had 60 people stop by to see his show, and expects to see more this year.

"People (who) have seen it last year said that they plan to bring their friends to the show next year," he said.

Medlock’s experience with sea vessels extends well beyond his Halloween tradition — he served in the U.S. Navy as an electrician on submarines. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1971. Medlock and Donna, his wife of 41 years, moved to Crestview three years ago from Illinois.

"You can take a sailor out of the water, but you can never take water out of a sailor," Medlock said.

He drew from his military experience to create a homemade cannon that fires off ping-pong balls and baby powder, an addition to this year’s festivities. He used cardboard and a washing machine water valve for the project.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man’s neighborhood Halloween pirate show returns

LAUREL HILL — Clifton Hall during Tuesday night's regular meeting was voted to fill the council's seat that has been vacant for the past 18 months.

"He is a smart man," Mayor Joan Smith said after the meeting. "He will definitely be an asset." Hall wasn't present at the meeting, but he is expected to be sworn in as a council member at the next meeting.

Hall has been listed as a potential candidate to fill the seat for the past several months. His candidacy joined that of former council member Johnny James, Charles Lennard and Mike Blizzard.

Members couldn't fill the seat due to a lack in majority votes.

All of the council members were present, except for Willie Mae Tolles. Her absence allowed council members Betty Williamson and Larry Hendren to vote in Hall 2-1 against councilman Robby Adams, who was looking forward to meeting Hall.

"I would just like to welcome him aboard," Adams said. "I'm glad we can put this behind us so we can move forward."

Also that night, the council voted in favor of lowering the transaction fees for water bill payments to $2.75. Customers were paying a $3.50 fee to use a credit or debit card to make payments.

During the meeting, city water clerk Cindy Oloughlin announced her resignation from her position. Oloughlin, who served at the position for more than a year, said her last day would be on Oct. 10.

"I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you have done for me and giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Laurel Hill," Oloughlin told city officials.

Oloughlin stated that she had found another job opportunity closer to where she lives.

The council voted to hold the next meeting on the second Tuesday of next month so that it wouldn't coincide with Election Day on Nov. 6.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council appoints new member

CRESTVIEW — Past met the present Friday at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Rural Diversity Healthcare Center, when the Crestview Chamber of Commerce welcomed the pharmacy school with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. That afternoon, the school’s 21 students met women who worked in the same building when it was a sewing factory.

The Alatex building — on the corner of Woodruff Avenue and Wilson street — opened in 1937 as a sewing factory, Baker Block Museum historian Ann Spann said. Briefly, the structure housed city hall, Spann said. "There was a lot of growth in the community after it opened. People would make the commute from surrounding cities just to work there."

“I worked here for 30 years,” said June Busbee, who began sewing men’s undergarments at the factory in 1956, during a time of much different social attitudes. “Back then, we all had to wear dresses; we couldn’t wear slacks” she said.

Like factory workers before them, many students, like Brittani Ricks, 24, moved here for opportunity. "(Crestview) is quite a bit smaller than Jacksonville, but the people here are friendly," Ricks said, contrasting Crestview with her hometown. She added that she enjoys FAMU, too. "It's working well here. It's a really nice facility. Our online professors have been teaching us a lot."

Busbee and several of her former co-workers toured the facility following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. They visited study rooms, computer labs and interactive classrooms, where students can communicate with virtual professors teaching them from other FAMU campuses.

Several chamber members and Mayor David Cadle, City Clerk Betsy Roy and police Chief Tony Taylor were among attendees. Taylor and his wife, Lilia, greeted students before the tour.

“It really warms my heart to see these people are interested in what is going on here,” said Margarth Larose-Pierre, the school’s associate dean of academic affairs. "I wanted the people that worked in this building in the (19)30s and ’40s to see what the building looks like now."

County Commissioner Wayne Harris, chamber executive director, said he estimates the school will bring millions to the local economy within the next five years.

 In addition, Harris asked students to take care of the facility on behalf of those who once worked there.

"This place means a lot to these ladies, so they ask that you show it the same love and respect they did,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Past meets present at FAMU ribbon cutting ceremony

CRESTVIEW — Some 50 healthcare vendors filled the Crestview Community Center on Saturday, offering helpful information and health screenings.

The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s Health and Wellness Committee hosted the awareness event, which gave residents no reason to ignore their health, as several tests were free.

Crestview resident Nikki Priest — who got a free flu shot and a skin cancer screening — said the day’s events were quick, painless and provided assurance.

"Getting both of those done has really put my mind at ease," she said.

Lynn Weldon, a registered dental hygienist and tobacco treatment specialist, gave free oral cancer screenings with ultraviolet lighting. She also passed out information for local free quit-smoking programs.

A couple of students from Crestview’s Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity and Excellence program, or SSTRIDE, assisted. SSTRIDE, an outreach program sponsored by the Florida State University College of Medicine, ensures students who want a career in medicine have the curriculum and lab work experience available to complete their goal.

"We've been out here taking vitals and giving information on nutrition," said Katelyn Ramirez, 16, a prospective pediatrician.

Some of parents, like Crestview resident Miguel Booker, used the fair to have their children vaccinated. Booker brought his daughter, Amber Washington, 11, to get her first flu shot at the Crestview Urgent Care table. Amber said she was hesitant at first, but eventually came around.

"It doesn't hurt and you need it," she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Health fair gives residents information, assurance

BAKER — The Gators had plenty to celebrate this week, as the school smashed Sneads 28-14 in its Homecoming game Friday night.

However, it all started with a series of school-spirit events Friday, as the Gator Growl at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium led to the Homecoming Parade, which revved the school up for the big game.

“I’m here to see my cousins in the parade and to get some free candy,” Miracle Adkinson, 14, said. Her cousins, Charity Barber and Bubba Ellis, are members of the varsity cheerleading squad and JV football team, respectively.

Students from the Baker football team and cheerleading squads, along with the ROTC and school marching band, rolled down Highway 4 for the procession. Homecoming Court members followed in convertibles while waving and throwing candy to those in the crowd.

For some, the event was a rite of passage.

Preston Taylor, 6, could participate in this year’s parade, unlike years past. Taylor rode on a float with fellow Baker Area Youth Association players.

“I liked being on the float better than being in the crowd,” he said.  

Earlier, the entire school gathered at the Baker football stadium for the Gator Growl, during which Principal Thomas Shipp introduced the homecoming parade’s grand marshal, Elaine Cawthon, who had spent her 38-year teaching career at the school. 

Cawthon said she still volunteers at the school, from which she graduated in 1968.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker residents show Gator spirit (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — The third annual Emerald Coast Aviation Fly-In took place Saturday at Bob Sikes Airport. Area residents visited open hangars to have lunch, listen to live music and see vendors. Visitors also saw planes that flew in.

 Nearly 30 small passenger planes flew in for food, entertainment and a chance to win prizes.

Pilots who flew in represented a range of flight experience. Some were military members; others just developed a passion for flying.

Daniel Nowling, 39, of Harold, always wanted to fly and just recently started the process of getting his pilot's license.

"This year, I am flying in as a student and hopefully next year, I will be flying in as a private pilot," he said.

Being a pilot may be costly, but it’s an attainable goal, he said.

"The average person can afford to do this; they just don't realize it," Nowling said.

Obtaining a private pilot's license can cost nearly $6,000 for 40 to 50 hours of training, according to First Landings Aviation School. 

One plane that particularly caught much of the public's attention was a personally made aircraft by Jerry Dotson. The North Okaloosa County resident built the single engine plane from blueprints and flew it to the airport.

"I started working on the plane in June of 2009," he said. " I flew it (for the first time) in June of this year."

Dotson used his own personal touches in designing the plane, which included motorcycle tires for landing gear.

Dotson must have 40 hours in the air before he can take anyone for a ride, according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The event served to raise awareness of the airport, some said.

 “A lot of people in Crestview don’t know that Bob Sikes (airport) is here,” Jonathan Dunn, Emerald Coast Aviation president and owner, said. “A lot of people that come to this event want to see airplanes and their kids want to see them as well.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents, pilots gather for Fly-In (gallery)