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