I know I drank too many soft drinks as a kid and even as s young adult. My grandpa's store was just across the road and I drank too many Pepsi Colas, Dr Peppers and various other soft drinks. As a young adult I drank plenty of diet drinks for a long time. I'm not totally soda pop free but I doubt that I drink one a month now. Summer is here with outings and picnics so I'll probably have a couple but I'm trying to stay with water and even cut back on coffee. 

Soda pop is a tough one to overcome. I've seen people in recent years hang to diet pop right until they were almost dead. Even with failing kidneys and dialysis some people just cannot bring themselves to drink water. This is a serious mistake. Today's adults must wake up to the dangers of drinking too much soda pop. You don't need one every day. You would be better off to limit your soda to one or two a week. Unfortunately people almost live with a diet drink or even a sugary drink in their hands. 

Drinking water every day is very important. My doctor told me to drink 50 to 64 ounces every day. This seems like a lot of water but a 20 ounce bottle doesn't really take long to consume. The actual amount of water intake for everybody is a bit different depending on how much coffee, fruit and vegetables you are already taking in daily. 

From everydayhealth.com I read that our bodies use water in all cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because our bodies lose water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. And then from webmd.com, "Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature." 

Water is the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks. This is a scary stat, since sugary soda is a huge health hazard, upping the risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems. However, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water. Consider today putting the sugary stuff to the side and make water the number one drink of choice. The benefits really are endless.

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: America's Second Most Favorite Drink

CRESTVIEW — The city council heard a positive report on the area’s economic outlook this week.

Nathan Sparks, executive director of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, spoke to the council at its May 14 meeting about opportunities for economic growth in the north end of the county.

Sparks talked about the pace of economic progress in the county, mentioning the recent agreement between state and local officials on working to alleviate traffic problems in Crestview, as well as securing Triumph Gulf Coast funds for that and other projects.

“We’re moving now at a pace we haven’t been able to move at,” Sparks said.

The EDC is a non-profit organization that promotes business development specifically in the engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors. They offer assistance to existing businesses in these sectors and provide information for those looking to start a new business.

Sparks touted the EDC’s Jan. 28 Educate the Educator event at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Crestview, as one of the organization’s successes. The program targets teachers and guidance counselors to educate them on the needs of area employers.

“Connecting our young people to career pathways is a very important function of what we all need to be doing,” Sparks said. “Certainly our school district and our college partners … they all understand that today’s student is tomorrow’s employee.”

With the unemployment rate in Okaloosa County below 3 percent, Sparks said it was important not only to prepare current high school and college students for jobs in those industries, but to keep them in the area as well.

“Preparing those young people for careers that are in demand in Okaloosa County, frankly, is something that we put front and center in our overall objectives at the EDC,” he said.

Keeping the general public informed on innovation happening at local businesses is another thing Sparks emphasized to the council.

“So many people drive past a business and have no idea what happens inside those four walls,” he said. “I can tell you some pretty innovative things that are happening right down the street in Crestview.”

Sparks also spoke about the recent decision by Okaloosa County to build water and sewer infrastructure at the Shoal River Ranch property located on Highway 90 east of Crestview. The county is receiving $1.5 million in Triumph funding for that project, which will cover an estimated 35.7 percent of the costs.

The property sits on a total of more than 10,000 acres, spanning both sides of Interstate 10. The two sides are connected by an overpass spanning the interstate. Okaloosa County approved an option to purchase 1,665 acres of the property for potential economic development late last year.

“Ten thousand acres can accommodate a lot,” Sparks said, citing the county’s hope to secure a large industrial tenant for the property.

Previous potential developers chose not to develop on the property because the appropriate infrastructure was not yet in place, according to Sparks.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Economic report emphasizes training, keeping workers

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Police Department hosted the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business After Hours Event May 9 at the George Whitehurst Municipal Building.

The event doubled as an open house for members of the public to stop by and learn more about the department.

Officers from various divisions set up displays in the Warrior’s Hall auditorium, which included SWAT equipment, criminal investigation tools and information on programs like community services and the citizens’ police academy.

The department also gave K-9 demonstrations, flew a police drone above the event and gave rides in the department’s armored, mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: K-9s and drones at police open house

We all know that you can check out popular books on a variety of subjects and genres, but did you also know that with your library card you can…

•Check out or place a hold on brand new movies.

•Take a proctored exam. Whether it’s for a distance learning course or for certification, you can make an appointment to take a proctored exam here at the library.

•Experience virtual reality through our Oculus Rift + Touch (see a list of experiences available on our website).

•Have full access to all six member libraries within the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative (Crestview, Mary Esther, Valparaiso, Niceville, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach).

•The OCPLC also offers free courier service, which means you can have items sent to your library for pick up.

•Download free eBooks, audiobooks, or magazines which is a great if you find that you can’t make it to the library.

•Get free one-on-one tutoring for basic computer skills or help with your tablet or other mobile device.

We also have many ongoing and special programs and classes for people of all ages and interests, from Story Class and Lap Sit to Open-mic Poetry Jams and Chess Club. Our electronic resources offer a wealth of information from free legal forms to resume help and job searches.

Check out our website at www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php, visit us at 1445 Commerce Drive (behind the post office), or call at 850-682-4432.

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Just a few things you can do with your library card

Here are upcoming Crestview Public Library-related events. The library's address is 1445 Commerce Drive. 

AGES 0-2 LIBRARY CLASS: 9:15 a.m. Fridays in the Story Room, with sign-in at 9 a.m. It is limited to 30 children per class and their caregivers. Older children are welcome if they want to attend. A story, songs and finger plays are part of the event. The May 18 topic is Praiseworthy Parents.

CRESTVIEW WRITERS GROUP: 6-7:30 p.m. every fourth Monday, Crestview Public Library. Online: http://www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php.

BEGINNER'S CHESS CLUB: 3-4 p.m. every first and third Thursday at the library. For ages 6 and up. Learn to play the game.

CHESS CLUB: 3:15 p.m. first and third Thursdays, at the library. For ages 6 and up. Bring a snack or drink to share.

TEEN TIME: 2-4 p.m. Fridays at the library for students in grades six through 12.

READ TO DOZER: 10 to 11 a.m. on the first Saturdays of each month (as long as it's not raining).

COFFEE & CRAFT: 10 a.m. second Saturdays, Crestview library. Call 682-4432 to reserve your spot.

BRIGHT FUTURES VOLUNTEER HOURS: for students in grades nine through 12 to use toward Bright Futures scholarships. Contact Youth Librarian Heather Nitzel, 682-4432, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Public Library events

CRESTVIEW — A new historic and cultural center could be in Crestview’s future.

The Community Redevelopment Agency unanimously agreed at its May 14 meeting to move forward with a grant application to restore the Bush House at the corner of South Wilson Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in downtown Crestview. The historical $50,000-grant requires the CRA match the funds.

CRA Director Alisa Burleson brought the grant proposal before the board with the idea that the site could be used as a historic museum and cultural center in the future. The building currently houses Elder Services of Okaloosa County, which would share the building under the proposed plan.

Burleson envisions “a place where Crestview history is actually seen instead of just talked about.”

According to Burleson, the museum would display items from Crestview’s history, many of which are currently housed at the Baker Block Museum. Burleson is working with the museum’s director, Ann Spann, on ideas for the Crestview museum.

The site would also serve as a cultural center that could host travelling art and history displays. Burleson said it could also put on special cultural exhibits for things like Black History Month and Crestview’s sister city program.

The grant would be for funding the planning phases of the project. If successful, the board could then apply for a larger grant next year to cover the cost of repairing and refurbishing the building.

Burleson said there are a number of issues with the building, which is currently maintained by the city’s public works department, including foundation problems and leaks. An estimate received by the CRA put the total cost of repair at between $100,000 and $300,000.

The CRA will now draw up a proposal for the grant, which will be awarded June 30.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Redevelopment board mulls history museum

LAUREL HILL — The Laurel Hill city council, at its May 3 meeting, voted to look for a planner to rewrite the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code. The council also voted to move forward on contracting a planning official on a temporary basis.

The need for a planning official arose during the April 5 council meeting, when a resident came to the council to start the process of developing a plot of land for affordable housing.

Travis Dewerell asked that the council clarify the process he had to go through in order to begin developing the land. After some confusion, Dewerell was directed back to the city clerk’s office and the city determined a planning official was necessary for staff to review development proposals.

City Attorney Jeff Burns said the city council could hire Jack Dorman, a planning official who has worked in that capacity for Laurel Hill more than a decade ago and currently serves as the town planner for Cinco Bayou.

The council agreed to have Burns reach out to Dorman to fill the position until the city could draw up an interlocal agreement with Okaloosa County for the county to handle those duties. The council unanimously agreed to start the process on the interlocal agreement as well.

The planning official is a separate position from the planner that the council expects to hire at its June 7 meeting. A request for proposal for a planner was sent out after the council agreed unanimously to begin the search.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill addresses planning needs

CRESTVIEW — Area first responders enjoyed a free lunch Wednesday, courtesy of a local business.

Crestview Rehabilitation Center held a cookout May 9 to show their appreciation for first responders from around Crestview and Okaloosa County.

Members of the Crestview Police Department, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Crestview Fire Department and Okaloosa EMS all showed up to enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by CRC staff.

“What we’re hoping to do is to offer this as a thank you to our first responders in Okaloosa County,” Tammi Dingess, the center’s director of admissions, said. “We are constantly utilizing their services, so we just want to say thank you to them for all that they do in our community.”

Dingess said that the Crestview Fire Department had RSVP’d for 45 firefighters, and that they planned for around 150 people to attend.

The center is planning to hold cookouts for first responders twice a year, one in spring and one in fall. They also plan to have more community outreach events in the future.

“Having it right here in May, it’s a little warm out here today, but at least there’s a nice breeze,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local business feeds first responders

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Elks Lodge No. 2624 will have its annual Exceptional Children's Day this weekend.

The free event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12 at 5500 Elks Lane, Crestview. It is open to all children with special needs, their families and the public.

Captain Davey and his crew, and Reid Soria of Autism Sings LLC return to to provide entertainment for attendees.

Food and drinks (hamburgers, chicken nuggets etc.) will be served, and activities such as bouncy houses, face painting and water slideds will be available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Exceptional Children's Day offers food, fun to area residents

CRESTVIEW —Okaloosa County residents who want to get involved in bringing transportation projects to their community have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

The Citizens’ Advisory Committee of the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (OWTPO) currently has only 10 out of 30 seats filled. The 20 open seats can be filled by any resident of Okaloosa or Walton County.

Transportation Planning Organizations are made up of elected officials from the areas they cover, and are tasked with identifying transportation needs and recommending new projects to the Florida Department of Transportation.

"The TPO is kind of the filter organization that gives DOT direction on how DOT will spend its money," Nathan Boyles, current vice chair of the TPO, said. Boyles is one of four Okaloosa County Commissioners that sit on the board. The rest are elected officials from throughout both counties, including three Crestview city council members.

The organization makes long-range planning decisions on transportation projects and prioritizes them before sending them off to FDOT.

Projects that are approved by the TPO are added to a needs list, and then a shorter list of cost-feasible projects if they are determined to have a reasonable probability of being funded.

One place those projects can get their start is the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. Citizens who sit on the committee are tasked with making recommendations that are then reviewed by the elected officials on the main body of the TPO.

"The folks who sit on the CAC have the ability to make recommendations on things that the TPO should be looking at," Boyles said.

Major transportation projects aren’t the only things that come out of the TPO. Smaller projects like bicycle and pedestrian paths, intersection improvements and other safety projects originate with the TPO as well.

The advisory committee is looking for people who are interested in helping find constructive solutions to transportation issues in the area.

"From my perspective, I want the Citizens’ Advisory Committee to be made up of citizens who are interested in the traffic challenges that face Northwest Florida and have an eye towards improving the system to provide for the likely future growth of our community," Boyles said.

The committee meets six times a year at 9:30 am, typically on Thursdays. This year, the meetings rotate between DeFuniak Springs and Shalimar. The next meeting will be held June 21 at the Walton County Courthouse in Defuniak Springs.

Anyone interested in joining the Citizens’ Advisory Committee can contact Annie Walthall, public involvement officer for the TPO at 850-332-7976, extension 281, or by email at annie.walthall@wfrpc.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Citizens can impact local transit needs