CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Fire Department responded to a structure fire at approximately 6:21 p.m. on Tuesday located on Riverchase Boulevard, according to CFD Senior Captain Corey Winkler. The American Red Cross assisted the displaced family of three.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke and flames showing from the master bathroom at the rear of the home. They extinguished the fire with minimal fire damage to the home, according to Winkler.

The apparent cause of the fire, Winkler said, was an electrical short in a master bedroom power outlet.

There were no injuries but the family and their pets are displaced until the home can be repaired, Winkler said.

The American Red Cross is helping the family, according to a press release from Red Cross Executive Director Jerry Kindle.

A family of two adults and a child received financial assistance to help with temporary lodging and to replace necessities lost in the fire like food, clothing and medications, according to Kindle.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Red Cross helps Crestview family of 3 after fire

The crack of the bat sent a tall popup skyward behind home plate. I was the catcher and staggered beneath that mile-high ball as it rushed earthward. I thrust my mitt up and made a lucky catch, the ball wedging itself between my mitt and my bare hand.

That catch wrapped up the city title in a game played at a major league park, an incredible field of dreams for a rag-tag bunch of 15-year-old boys in Ohio in the year 1954. But we were boys evolving into young men — under the guidance of our coach, Tom Evans, a WWII veteran and executive at a local steel company.

Tom was one of many role models I had in my life — a father, a big brother, a minister, several key coaches, and even actors such as Gary Cooper as Sgt. York and Audie Murphy playing himself as a WWII hero.

As I look back, I see that these male mentors kept me on a path toward a successful and productive life. This appears to be less so the case today, many boys lacking strong fathers and father-figures to help mold them into young men. The void is often filled with temptations and rotten role models leading boys astray — if not to jail.

My father liked hunting, fishing, and things mechanical — he ran a small motor-repair shop and had a Harley. None of those things appealed to me, my life being one of books and ballgames. But Dad was always there — there at Crosley Field, home of the Reds, when we won the city title, and on through high school football and basketball games galore. The important words are “He was there.”

Tom Evans was a role model for the male volunteer who steps into a young boy’s life as his coach, his scout leader, Sunday School teacher, or advisor at school or elsewhere. He’s the one you looked up to, listened to, and who injected rules, regulations, and discipline into your life.

I realize that the world has moved on since the 1950s of my coming of age. Dusty ball fields replaced by digital devices. Apple pie by fast food, uppers and downers. Watching a game in person by Play Station and movies on demand. But boys are still led, they follow examples and role models wherever they find them.

Tom Evans died a few weeks ago at age 91. My father went at age 90 years ago, and my basketball coach — a huge influence on my life — is also no longer with us. This is a clarion call for men to step up and replace such father figures in the lives of young boys who may be lost in life or soon will be if not helped.

Besides a few thousand Tom Evans, I’d also like to see a score or more of new Billy Grahams, other strong moral leaders, and more admirable political leaders. America and manhood are both very fragile at present. It’s time to fill the void.

James F. Burns is a retired professor at the University of Florida.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Filling the void of male role models

LAWNCARE

4 steps to wake your lawn up for spring

Before your lawn can return to the lush, green state of the previous summer, it’s crucial to wake it up in the spring. To do this properly, the lawn experts at Lowe’s have provided these four steps.

1. Tune up your equipment: Make sure your mower has a fresh tank of oil, no loose bolts, fresh spark plugs and a sharp blade.
2. Evaluate your lawn: Once the snow has melted, walk your lawn and note any dead spots and bring a rake to break up any thatched areas.
3. Reseed where needed: Overseed the bald spots by spreading seed over the affected area, adding fertilizer and about a half inch of topsoil, gently raking the mixture together and watering every day.
4. Plant while it’s still cool: The cooler temperatures in spring are ideal for roots to take hold before hot summer weather arrives.

AIR

Simple things you can do to improve indoor air quality

• Improve your home’s indoor air quality with these tips from Tom Tasker, product manager at Luxaire.
• Vacuum and mop at least weekly to remove dust that settles on floors. Remember to clean under and behind furniture regularly.
• Dust furniture and vacuum upholstery with the brush attachment.
• Before vacuuming, turn on the HVAC fan, so the filter can catch stirred up dust particles.
• Check the HVAC filter regularly. When replacing, check its MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). The higher the value, the better it is at catching smaller particles.
• Make sure fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are properly vented outside, away from windows and HVAC intakes.
• Keep outdoor particles out. Remove shoes at the door and close windows on windy days.
• Maintain a healthy humidity level, between 30-50 percent. Too much creates an ideal environment for mold and other allergens.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Don’t re-roof until you do these things

Consider the following before you re-roof, according to TAMKO Building Products Inc.:

• Check contractor qualifications. Choose a local, reputable contractor.
• Determine layover or tear off. Although tearing off existing shingles is more expensive due to increased labor costs, there could be advantages.
• Research the warranty. It is important to understand the warranty.
• Assess ventilation needs. It is generally recommended to incorporate proper ventilation into the re-roof.
• Check the weather. Avoid starting a project with wet plywood or underlayment, or when the forecast indicates a strong chance of rain.

OUTDOORS

Ways hardscapes can add value to your home

Outdoor hardscape projects add resale value to a home as well as bring extra enjoyment to homeowners while they are living in the home, according to a National Association of Realtors and National Association of Landscape Professionals report. Here are some ways they help, according to Versa-Lok:

Curb appeal – Simple updates, such as adding retaining wall units or paving stone edging, and more ambitious projects, like a patio, add value and curb appeal.

Making unusable space usable – Retaining wall systems can help retain the soil excavated to create an outdoor living space.

Prevent erosion – Retaining wall systems are essential in preventing erosion, controlling grade changes in a yard, and preventing damage to the landscape, and, in certain environments, even damage to your home.

Safety and privacy – Seat walls can add privacy and protection against the elements, and energy-efficient landscape lighting can be installed for nighttime ambiance and functionality.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 4 steps to wake your lawn up for spring

Toxic plants are a common concern of many livestock owners.

Most times, livestock will avoid eating toxic plants, but sometimes conditions are right for consumption to occur. Conditions when animals may consume toxic plants include:

•toxic plants that are cut and baled in hay

•hungry animals with limited planted forage

•curious animals

•palatable plants like red maple leaves

Toxic plants can cause a variety of problems in livestock.

In this article, I’m going to focus on Northwest Florida plants that cause kidney failure.

Plants that contain oxalates and tannins are the usual suspects when kidney failure occurs. Plants that contain oxalates in our area include Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta), Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), and Curly Dock (Rumex crispus).

The principal suspect in tannin toxicity is oak trees, with all parts (leaves, bark and acorns) being toxic.

After consumption and absorption into the bloodstream, oxalates combine with calcium and magnesium. This leads to a decrease in available calcium and impairs normal cell membrane functions.

Animals develop muscle tremors and weakness, then collapse and eventually die. If animals survive this acute poisoning stage, death results from kidney failure due to severe damage caused by insoluble calcium oxalates being filtered by the kidneys.

Tannins in oak trees cause severe lesions in the digestive tract and kidneys. Some ruminants can tolerate tannins better than others due to rumen flora (microorganisms) detoxifying the tannins. Some goats and wild ruminants also have a compound in their saliva that neutralizes tannins. New growth and green acorns are more toxic than older growth and ripe acorns. Affected animals first stop eating and display signs of abdominal pain. They drink excessively and their feces turns black and tarry. They eventually develop jaundice and have red-colored urine and usually die within 5-7 days of symptom onset.

If you suspect oxalate or tannin toxicity in your animals, your first step is to call your vet. They can diagnose the problem and give the correct supportive care. Next, you may want to contact your local extension agent to help you identify toxic weeds in your pasture and recommend control measures to remove them.

To identify common poisonous pasture plants, go to http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-510-poisonous-pasture-plants-of-florida.aspx to purchase a University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Science publication.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 4 ways livestock encounter toxic plants

Did you know that there is an array of musical resources available to you at your library?

Whether you are a novice wanting to learn how to play the piano, or you would just like to listen to local musicians perform, there is a bit of everything for all music lovers.

We have CDs available for checkout as well as musician biographies in traditional and audio formats. There are DVDs of live musical concerts and books to instruct you as you learn to play piano, guitar, drums, or even the banjo. On our website’s online resources, you can access the Fine Arts & Music Collection with a valid library card.

This collection will provide you with resources to support research in areas such as drama, music, art history, and filmmaking with hundreds of full-text magazines and journals covered in databases such as the Wilson Art Index and the Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale, which documents and disseminates music research worldwide.

Performance slots

We are looking for local musicians to play in the main area of the library every Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m.

Contact Esther Hurwitz, 682- 4432, to book an appointment if you are ready to show off your musical abilities in front a small audience.

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Music options available locally

It may take a while before the implications of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted in December 2017, are entirely clear, but it will affect the real estate market.

"Given the increase in the standard deduction and the decrease in the amount of debt covered by the mortgage interest deduction, there will be fewer home buyers moving forward. Expect the housing market to be soft for the next few years as a result," said Gabriel Mathy, assistant professor in the Department of Economics at American University, Washington, D.C. 

The lower mortgage interest deduction may keep some buyers from purchasing a new home.

"Anyone borrowing a large amount to buy a home will pay more in taxes and this will discourage some buyers, who will rent instead," Mathy said.

High-end market hit

The new tax bill lowers the amount of interest on mortgage debt, and that will affect home buyers in more-expensive markets, said Joshua Zimmelman, president of Westwood Tax & Consulting, Rockville Center, New York. 

"In the past, taxpayers could deduct interest on mortgage loans up to $1 million. In the new tax plan, current homeowners can keep deducting up to $1 million, but new homeowners can only deduct up to $750,000 on homes," Zimmelman said. 

In particular buyers will take a hit in certain luxury markets like Manhattan and San Francisco, where the median home price is well over $750,000, said Meisa Bonelli, senior tax professional with Millennial Tax, a provider of preparation and education for solopreneurs, freelancers and microbusinesses in New York City. 

"Forty percent of American homeowners, if they had to sell their homes tomorrow, would have to consider how their prospective buyers would be affected by the new mortgage interest deduction cap," Bonelli said. "The best thing may be for sellers to require larger down payments up front to weed out buyers that may be factoring in the mortgage interest deduction per a home’s sale price." 

SALT cap of $10,000 

The new tax plan caps state and local tax deductions at $10,000, plus the income or sales tax. 

"The state and local property tax cap may stop people from moving to higher-tax areas. It’s possible this could make the value of homes in those areas go down, while increasing the prices of homes in more-affordable areas," Zimmelman said. 

Additionally, in areas with local and state taxes that are higher than average, "home values could start to decline as a result of the new tax plan. … After some time, the prices of homes in more-affordable areas could actually increase as a result," Zimmelman said. 

Sellers may hold off

The new tax bill also affects sellers because it eliminates the moving expenses deduction for most taxpayers. 

"After 2018, only members of the armed forces on active duty can deduct moving expenses," Zimmelman said. 

It will also affect people who are planning to sell a property as retirement income. 

"For people that have factored in selling their homes as part of their retirement portfolio, they should give themselves more time to sell their homes if the value of their home is 5 to 10 percent above $750,000. Why? Because most buyers today don’t put down the traditional 20 percent down payment to obtain their mortgage," Bonelli said. 

Equity loans more expensive 

Another change is that home equity loans are no longer deductible. 

"In the past, taxpayers could deduct up to $100,000 in interest paid on home equity debt. The new tax law eliminates this deduction unless the home equity line was used to purchase another home or for home renovations," Zimmelman said. 

"That may turn buyers off to fixer-upper properties," Bonelli said. "Home equity loans had more advantage than 203k (FHA) loans in the past because they were cheaper to originate. Now, it may make sense for buyers to look for rehabilitation properties if they can get 203k financing because if the mortgage is under $750,000, the interest will be tax-deductible."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tax reform bill effects on real estate

Tip of the Week

Soybean farmers in Minnesota wear many different hats: small-business owner, agronomist, equipment expert, accountant and environmentalist. Yes, they are the original stewards of the land, continually evolving their practices to keep natural resources healthy for the next generation.

But it doesn’t end there. Soybean farmers have been at the forefront of developing a homegrown renewable fuel that has resulted in a dramatic improvement of the air quality in the Gopher state.

Biodiesel has become an important part of the energy landscape not only in Minnesota, but across the country, too. In just over 15 years, the biodiesel market in the U.S. has increased from about 25 million gallons to more than 2.8 billion gallons. Made from domestic, renewable resources such as soybean oil, biodiesel is a value-added by-product containing sources that would normally go to waste.

You may be scratching your head and saying, “I don’t drive a diesel vehicle. Why should I care?” Well, you’re not alone. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, diesel-powered cars accounted for only about 3 percent of total U.S. auto sales in 2014.

But, unless your family continues to rely heavily on the moped for travel and commerce, here’s why biodiesel matters.

Diesel engines are all around you

According to the Diesel Technology Forum, more than 95 percent of all large, heavy-duty trucks are diesel-powered, as are a majority of medium-duty trucks. Together, they move more than 90 percent of the nation’s freight. And don’t forget public transit, school buses and construction equipment. Things we all come in contact with every day.

Waving the green flag

And while you may think these trucks’ massive diesel engines are an unfortunate but necessary aspect of commerce and expansion, think again.

According to the American Lung Association of Minnesota during the 10-year period with biodiesel as a fuel standard for Minnesota, a reduction of more than 7.4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide has already been realized. ALAMN estimates that is comparable to removing the emissions from 706,649 passenger vehicles or 17,998 railcars of coal.

That’s not a typo. Removing emissions. Breathing easier. Biodiesel’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent is why the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes it as the only advanced biofuel.

Revitalizing rural communities

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the biodiesel industry contributes $1.7 billion annually in the state, while supporting 5,397 jobs. Nationwide, there are approximately 200 biodiesel plants, which provide nearly 48,000 jobs. These are often hard-hit areas where employment options are few. Leaving for “greener pastures” is no longer the only option.

“Biodiesel is another step in increasing the diversity of our energy needs,” says Tom Slunecka, CEO, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. “Minnesota soybean farmers are proud to be leaders in growing that diversity.”

In 2002, Minnesota became the first state to require that all diesel fuel sold here contain at least 2 percent blend of biodiesel. In the summer of 2018, Minnesota will be the first to move to B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.

The benefits of biodiesel are considerable, not just for Minnesota, but for the country as a whole.

— Brandpoint

Car stats

According to a new survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the proportion of drivers who self-report talking on a cell phone regularly or fairly often when behind the wheel has increased by 46 percent since 2013. Nearly half (49 percent) of drivers admit they have recently talked on a hand-held phone while driving and nearly 35 percent say they have sent a text or email while driving.

— More Content Now

Did you know?

Just like your tires, you should check your windshield washer fluid level once a month. To do so, first turn off the engine, then pop your hood before locating the washer fluid reservoir. In most vehicles, it’s on the very left, front corner of the engine compartment.

Check the level on the side of the reservoir. It should be between the full and low marks, if not, then refill it.

— More Content Now

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Auto Bits: 3 ways soybean farmers’ biodiesel helps clear the air

CRESTVIEW — Three North Okaloosa residents have completed Army basic training in recent weeks.

Pvt. Daniel Aguire, Pvt. Zartavious Crawford. and Pvt. Tiara Payne completed Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina earlier this year.

Over the course of 10 weeks, these soldiers learned basic tactical and survival skills along with how to shoot, rappel, and march. They also learned the basics of Army life and military customs, including the Seven Core Army Values

Aguire is currently attending Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sam Houston, Texas to become a biomedical equipment specialist. He graduated from Crestview High School in 2010. His parents are Voni and Alan Aguire of Crestview.

Crawford graduated AIT in Fort Lee, Virginia as a supply specialist. He will now be stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated from Crestview High School in 2017.

Payne graduated AIT in Fort Lee, Virginia as an ammunition stock control and accounting specialist. She will be now stationed in Hawaii. She graduated from Baker High School in 2017.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Aguire, Crawford and Payne graduate from basic military training

CRESTVIEW — U.S. Air Force Airman Desiree A. Grant graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Grant earned distinction as an honor graduate.

She is the daughter of Stephanie Altom of Crestview, Fla., and Todd Striplin of Schertz, Texas, granddaughter of Mel and Marsha Altom of Flushing, Mich., Robert Gonzales of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Donna Gonzales of Lowell, Mich., and daughter-in-law of Richard and Christine Grant of Lowell, Mich. She is also the wife of Brayton Grant.

Grant is a 2015 graduate of Lowell High School, Lowell, Mich.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Grant graduates from basic military training

CRESTVIEW — If you have an event you would like to submit, send your first and last name and information about the event to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida