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Both West teams win in 2018 Subway High School All-Star Basketball Games

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

PENSACOLA — This was the fourth game of the 2017-18 Subway High School All-Star Series.

The West Girls defeated the East Girls 79 to 67. The East Girls MVP was forward Amber Leggett of Choctaw High School with 13 points. The West Girls MVP was guard Lauren Walker of Washington High School with 10 points.

The West Boys defeated the East Boys 109 to 87. The East Boys MVP was guard Marquis Jackson of Choctaw High School with 10 points. The West Boys MVP was guard Blake Lewis of Pine Forest High School with 17 points.

The East won the All-Star Volleyball Game Nov. 16 on four sets to two. The East defeated the West Dec. 16 in football 34-28 in overtime. On March 1, the East Girls defeated the West 9 to 1, and the East Boys Defeated the West 1 to 0.

The remaining game of the 2017-18 Subway HSAS is baseball and softball June 7 at the University of West Florida.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Both West teams win in 2018 Subway High School All-Star Basketball Games

John Skipper, Blackmail in America – Who needs that?

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

There is no such thing as buying someone's silence. Silence really doesn't exist. If people want to tell the world it's easy to do. Tell one other person in the world and if the information is grimy enough it will be retold a thousand or a million times. Bad news travels fast. Sordid news for some reason always rises to the top. Regardless of how hard you try to cover it, you can't. Blogs, news media, social media and the massive ability to communicate around the globe sends bad news out faster than a Texas tornado.

Bad news was hushed a bit back in the day. We've heard rumors and stories for years about President John F. Kennedy. Many years later they have been retold and written about so many times. Of course is there any real proof that any of the rumors were true? Did anybody actually see with their own eyes Kennedy doing things he wasn't supposed to be doing? There are those out there in media/gossip land who will rise to say yes while others will attest either the stories were fabricated or not accurate. Of course you have the famous stripper Blaze Starr who said her encounters with Kennedy before he was President were more than about social issues.

Of course Kennedy was assassinated at such as young age he never had to face buying somebody's silence on a major publicized scale that we know about. Who knows what kind of little back room deals or power moves were made to keep Kennedy's mistakes submerged? In the day in which Kennedy lived the question must also be asked did anyone else care about what he was doing with Marilyn Monroe, Blaze Starr or the many other names who are out there? Obviously, yes, people always raise an inquiring eyebrow but it didn't hit the fan like it does today.

Today we have our current President who is being alleged to have a past involvement with a porn star. Allegedly his attorney paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair with President Trump before he began his actual campaign for office. Has Stormy Daniels kept quiet? Apparently $130,000 doesn't buy silence. With all the media attention surrounding President Trump and Daniels she knows there is much, much bigger money to be made. A hardback book deal can easily make her a million dollars and probably several million.

Someone will want to make it into a movie thus more mega dollars. Someone might offer her a cable television show that would run for a few weeks or some kind of crazy radio deal where she might talk about her allegedly nasty details with Trump. Possibly another way to look at Daniels being quiet is that $130,000 buys silence until one learns they can get more money. My question though is who really wants to hear the details? If there is truth to it I don't want to hear about it. I got so tired of hearing about Clinton, Monica and a cigar. Who wants to hear this stuff?

Just recently the sad news about ESPN President John Skipper broke. He met with the executives of the Disney Corporation that owns ESPN and sadly disclosed that he had a problem with cocaine. Someone he had bought cocaine from was threatening Skipper about breaking the news pertaining to his problem. Thus what Skipper thought was something the drug world people would keep under wraps and protect their own was a mistake on his part. He is just too big a fish for some dope head to keep confidential about. After all, there might have been big money to be made from blackmailing Skipper. He did the right thing by coming out with his problem with corporate executives. His loss is personally crushing to him and the sports world. After all, who wins from any of this? The answer is nobody. However, the extortion jerk has not profited any more with his tidbit of information that he has about Skipper that we know about.

In short – there is no such thing as buying silence. People tell what they want to tell. Usually it's to protect themselves, build themselves up, make someone look bad or to gain attention or cash. Sometimes it's ugly blackmail or extortion that is taking place and who needs that?

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author.

What’s your view?

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: John Skipper, Blackmail in America – Who needs that?

Local job fair features Lowe's, Tom Thumb, other employers

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa Walton Career Source continues its series of mini job fairs locally 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

Positions available include store associates, machinists, cooks, servers and runners; equipment operators, engineering technicians, police deputy, laborers, production technicians and customer care agents.

Participating companies include Lowe's, Tom Thumb, Reliance Test & Technology, BAE Systems, Fudpuckers, iQor, the Crestview Police Department and Jerry's Concrete & Site Contractors.

Job seekers can:

•Meet prospective employers.

•Complete online applications and provide resumes.

•Put a face with their applications.

•Complete any required assessments on the spot.

•Request follow-up interviews.

Internet access, copy machine and assessment tools will be available to facilitate on-the-spot hiring.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local job fair features Lowe's, Tom Thumb, other employers

Family Time: Simple ways to save on your pet’s medical costs

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

Tip of the Week

Pet parents know that there’s nothing like the love of furry family members. Keeping your pets healthy is a priority because you want them to live as long as possible. However, health care costs for pets are expensive, and if you are dealing with additional expenses such as prescriptions for chronic conditions, it can become a burden to your budget.

Fortunately, there are several things pet owners can do proactively to keep pets healthy and save money on health care costs.

Invest in preventative care

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is just as applicable to pets as it is to their human caregivers. One of the most important things a pet parent can do to ensure the ongoing health of any animal is to bring them in for annual checkups whether they are experiencing health issues or not.

During wellness checkups, veterinarians can screen for a variety of health conditions. They provide insight on diseases, age-related concerns, dental health, nutritional considerations and so much more. Plus you’re able to provide your pet with important vaccinations. Regular checkups help vets identify problems sooner rather than later, and this can translate to more affordable health care costs to pet parents in the long run.

Get an Inside Rx Pets prescription card

Costs for managing your pet’s health can be a bear with pet owners spending more than $8 billion on prescription and over-the-counter medications annually. The Inside Rx Pets program offers savings on commonly prescribed medications such as insulin and antibiotics, as well as seizure, glaucoma and anti-inflammatory drugs. The Inside Rx Pets savings card is not insurance; it is a savings card you can use for certain human medications that may be prescribed for your pet. A complete list of the medications with which you can use the Inside Rx Pet card, as well as pricing information and other details, can be found at https://InsideRx.com/Pets.

Exercise and focus on nutrition

Obesity is a growing concern for many pets. Poor nutrition paired with limited exercise causes pets to put on additional weight. This weight can put them at higher risk for health concerns like diabetes, osteoarthritis and ligament injuries. These health concerns not only risk the quality of life for Fluffy or Fido, but also can deeply impact your pocketbook.

Pets, just like humans, require exercise and proper nutrition to stay healthy and feel their best. Whether that’s letting your rabbit out of the cage to run or going on a walk with your dog, be sure to make regular exercise a part of your fur family’s routine. If you’re unsure what is appropriate for your pet, call your veterinarian or bring it up at a wellness visit. They’ll be delighted you reached out for more information to keep your pet healthy.

Start an emergency fund

Choosing between a pet and an unexpected health expense is something no one wants to experience. Being prepared can make a big difference when facing difficult decisions, so it’s wise to have savings set aside in case of a rainy day.

Some people are starting pet health savings accounts that are similar to the accounts that people hold for themselves to pay for medical expenses. Whether you choose that path or a traditional savings account, when you have an emergency fund you won’t have to worry about any unexpected expenses, so you can simply focus on getting your pet well again.

Being proactive is important for keeping your pets healthy for many years. From scheduling annual wellness visits to taking advantage of the Inside Rx Pets discount card, there are many easy actions pet parents can take today to reduce costs so furry family members stay well.

— Brandpoint

Family Movie Night

“Isle of Dogs”

Rated: PG-13

Length: 101 mins

Synopsis: Set in Japan, this stop-motion animated film follows a boy’s odyssey in search of his dog.

Book Report

“The Rabbit Listened”

Ages: 3 – 5 years

Pages: 40

Synopsis: When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs.

Whether read in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes.

— Dial Books

Did You Know

If you’re a parent, a big part of your job is making sure your children feel well. No matter how many times you wash their hands, sterilize their toys or keep a sparkling clean house, inevitably the germs will win. All parents know that taking care of a sick child can be a stressful experience that can leave you feeling helpless — especially when they have a cough that is keeping them up at night.

On top of that, if you’re trying to juggle a job, keep the house in order and get enough sleep yourself, the experience can feel overwhelming.

Parents know that a sleepy child is a crabby child. Just as sleep is vital for a child’s mood, it is also a crucial step in combating coughs and colds. Naps and early bedtimes should be a priority. To help your sick child sleep better and longer, you might have to give them more cuddles than usual!

— Brandpoint

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family Time: Simple ways to save on your pet’s medical costs

Health department addresses county health rankings

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

FORT WALTON BEACH — Health Rankings published by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which study community factors that are influencing health, ranks Okaloosa County number 18 of 67 counties in Florida. The opportunity exists for Okaloosa to move up in the rankings by decreasing the number of premature deaths in our communities.

"In 2011, Okaloosa ranked 9th and now we are a mid-ranking county at 18, which isn’t bad – but we can do so much better," exclaimed Dr. Karen Chapman, Director, DOH-Okaloosa. This study, along with the five-year Community Health Assessment, is what motivates members of the communities of Okaloosa to focus on decreasing infant mortality, smoking, injury deaths and teen births, as well as decreasing alcohol and drug abuse.

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) recognizes the value in measuring health outcomes and acknowledges the 2018 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps tool released by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. These rankings use data related to physical environments, social and economic factors, health behaviors and clinical care, much of which is available from the department at www.FLHealthCHARTS.com.

DOH-Okaloosa works in collaboration with local governments, non-profit organizations, health care facilities, business groups, schools, faith-based organizations and many other stakeholders to improve the health of all people in Okaloosa County. In Okaloosa County, the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is designed to address specific opportunities for improved health that have been identified by the community. Six new CHIP groups plan to tackle a variety of public health concerns over the next five years including preventing injuries, decreasing drug use, improving infant mortality, strengthening families, promoting healthy lifestyles and developing mental health and substance abuse solutions.

Ardelle Bush, Executive Director, Healthy Start Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties said, "We began working together with our community partners in 2016 and developed a ‘Recipe for a Healthy Baby.’" The recipe included four ingredients: breastfeed your baby, safe sleep for baby, never shake a baby and quit nicotine for the baby.

Members of this group are as committed today as they were in 2016, and now have presentations, print materials and most importantly, they have a Safe Sleep Nursery modeling a safe sleep environment that travels throughout the county to promote safe sleep and prevent suffocation, the primary cause for an infant’s death. The Safe Sleep recipe uses the memorization device ABC: Alone, baby on its Back and in a Crib, never sleep with your baby.

"We are getting the message out and this group continues to work tirelessly to have an impact, as it is truly a labor of love," Bush said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Health department addresses county health rankings

Triple B festival coming this weekend

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

CRESTVIEW — Triple B is coming up fast, and the smell of barbeque will soon fill the air over Old Spanish Trail.

The 14th annual Blackwater, Bands and Barbeque Cookoff will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 24 at Spanish Trail Park.

There are currently five barbeque competitors signed up to participate in the event: Ranch House Kitchen, Pigstickers, Smokin’ Hot Wheels, Cook’s Portable Smokehouse and Two Brothers BBQ. Dino Sinopoli, president of the Triple B Committee, says he expects to have about eight competitors signed up in time for the festival.

The People’s Choice award will be returning this year with specially designated lines at participating barbeque vendors. The new line format will ensure people don’t have to wait in the full service lines to get the $1 samples.

“We’re going to have two lines so you’re not spending forever in a line to get a sample,” Sinopoli said. “We should have helium balloons that identify which ones are in the People’s Choice.”

Not all of the barbeque competitors will be participating in the People’s Choice competition, but Sinopoli says at least three competitors are already signed up. People’s Choice sample tickets will be sold for $1 each but will be more limited in supply this year to avoid overselling. In previous years, too many tickets were sold and competitors ran out of supplies.

Competitors can still sign up for the full competition until Wednesday, March 21. After that, they will be charged an extra $25 fee.

This year, a beer garden will be part of the festival for the first time. It will be in a separate area from the rest of the festival, and no alcohol will be allowed to leave the beer garden area.

“There are wristbands, and [attendees] are going to be carded whenever they buy beer or anything like that,” Sinopoli said.

Bands registered so far include New Earth Army, Schatzi & the String Boffin and Still Standing, an Elton John tribute band.

As in previous years, there will be plenty of vendors attending the event, including non-barbeque food vendors, local businesses and political organizations. Crestview Fire Department and Crestview Police Department will also be there to offer family-friendly activities.

Weather was a big concern for last year’s festival. Forecasters predicted rain for the day of the event, but it ultimately held off. This year, the forecast is looking brighter.

“The weather is going to be perfect,” Sinopoli said. “It’s going to be 76 degrees … mostly sunny forecast, so it couldn’t be any better than that.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B festival coming this weekend

New food truck offers Thai, Laotian cuisine

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

CRESTVIEW — Another food truck is set to open in downtown Crestview this week.

Lao-Thai Xpress will hold a soft opening 11 a.m. March 22 in the Main Street Eats food court. It will add to the diverse range of options along Main Street, joining Megan’s Sunshine Café and Café Rico in the food court.

The owners, Hatsady Siriphokha and Phonpheth Navong had been catering for friends and family and decided to start the business after they got rave reviews.

“They liked the food so much that they asked us to cater it,” Navong said. “Our neighbors and friends enjoy the food, so we are taking the chance to see how many more would like and enjoy the food as well.”

Lao-Thai Xpress will offer a range of dishes including Pad Thai noodles, stuffed chicken wings and homemade Lao sausages. The eatery will also offer Vietnamese Pho on Fridays.

“We wanted to bring more food choice into our city of Crestview,” Navong said. “We moved here a year and a half ago due to the Army, and we have been to places that have many different types of food from all cultures.”

Editors’ Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Tony and Manolo's was one of the food trucks at Main Street Eats.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New food truck offers Thai, Laotian cuisine

Crestview business to help pit bulls find homes

Written by archive on March 20, 2018. Posted in local, News.

CRESTVIEW — A local business is offering to match the fees for adopting pit bulls.

Flex Fitness is running a promotion starting this week that will send a matching amount to a shelter for those who bring in proof of a pit bull adoption. The promotion also offers a free six-month gym membership for those who adopt a pit bull.

“If you come in and you adopt a pit bull, we’ll basically refund it back to the shelter so they can help the next dog that comes in line,” owner Daniel Foster said. “So basically if you’re adopting a dog, you’re helping to save two.”

Foster opened the gym in August 2017 in Northview Plaza in Crestview. Aside from running the gym, he has been working with multiple rescues and shelters in the area to help pit bulls find the right homes.

“The gym itself, we named it Flex Fitness after our pitbull, Flex,” Foster said.

Foster’s goal is to encourage people to adopt pit bulls and help educate them on how to raise the dogs responsibly. He said he is concerned about how the breed is portrayed and that the negative public perception is due to the way some owners treat pit bulls.

“They’re so over-bred. They’re so over-neglected, fought, misunderstood,” Foster said. “We want to help their image a little bit in any way possible.”

Flex Fitness will also be holding an adoption event on 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 24 at the Crestview location. This adoption event is not specifically for pit bulls but will be open to all breeds of dogs.

H.E.A.R.T Animal Rescue of DeFuniak Springs will bring in dogs from their shelter for adoption. Kids will also have an opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny and have their picture taken at the event.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview business to help pit bulls find homes

Space-themed playground part of McDonalds remodel

Written by archive on March 16, 2018. Posted in local, News.

CRESTVIEW — The latest McDonalds remodel features a new place for kids to play in Crestview.

The McDonalds on James Lee Boulevard had its grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony March 15. Some of the new features include automated ordering kiosks, mobile ordering, and an almost entirely new staff. But the centerpiece of the remodel is a new space-themed PlayPlace, complete with interactive games and a two-story play area.

Costa Enterprises owns all three McDonalds restaurants in Crestview, along with 17 other locations around Northwest Florida. The James Lee location was the last of the Crestview McDonalds to be upgraded.

The company has used underwater themes in PlayPlaces at some of its other locations, but chose to go with an entirely new theme for this location.

“We just wanted to do something totally different than what we’ve done before,” Vice President of Operations David Costa Jr. said. “So we thought it would be kind of cool to make something that was animated and fun and enjoyable for the kids.”

The new area for kids features a more traditional play area with a slide and other features, but also includes interactive games. There is a row of touch screen stations, a touch screen tabletop with various multi-player games to choose from, and an interactive table that lights up in response to touch.

“The interactive table is a brand new element that we’re just trying out,” Costa said. “It allows the kids just to be able to play right on the table and play games against each other. It’s been pretty cool so far. The other games are really just touch-screen games that allow for kids to be able to play actively and also play digitally. So it kind of gives a nice mix in there.”

In addition to the ribbon-cutting on Thursday, the restaurant is hosting an event for families on Saturday, March 17.

“Saturday from 10 to 2, we’re doing what we call McFamily day,” Costa said. “We’ll have the McDonalds characters here. We’ll have face painting. We’ll be giving away bikes, baskets and goodies. We’ll just be having a great time.”

The remodel also features other upgrades that are in-line with the other area McDonalds restaurants. The interior and exterior were completely made over, kiosk and table services added, and the drive-thru was upgraded to digital menu boards.

Costa said adjustments were made to staff as well, bringing in 30 new employees to maximize the customer experience.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Space-themed playground part of McDonalds remodel

'People just stopped playing golf'

Written by archive on March 16, 2018. Posted in local, News.

CRESTVIEW — Residents of Foxwood Estates have mixed feelings about the recent closure of Foxwood Country Club.

The club closed its doors in October 2017 when the owners allowed the property to go into foreclosure.

Shane Wilks owns a home in Foxwood Estates adjacent to the golf course. After the course closed, Wilks took a job in Orlando and eventually moved his family there. He decided to keep the home as a rental property but found it hard to attract renters to a house that sits on an abandoned golf course.

Wilks, who has worked in the golf industry before, said he was disappointed when the club closed.

“We went to take our daughters down to the pool, after we had already paid our membership,” Wilks said. “When we got there, the pool was closed and was not being maintained.”

April O’Daniels lives near the 18th hole. She says the course closing has not been a bad thing for her family.

“The closure of the golf course hasn’t affected my family and I as we weren’t part of the membership,” O’Daniels said. “We like it being closed as we no longer have to worry with our girls being pelted with potential fly-away balls.”

Both Wilks and O’Daniels confirmed that the property was being maintained and was not overgrown.

The club had been struggling financially for years, according to Terry Thomas, one of the former owners. Thomas said the owners struggled to make a profit in the face of falling demand.

“It’s very expensive to keep (golf courses) in top shape,” Thomas said. “We just didn’t have the money to keep it up. For a long time, we just tried to cut expenses so we could pay the mortgage.

“People just stopped playing golf. It was sort of a snowball effect.”

Thomas said tourists had previously been a large source of revenue but when courses in Destin lowered their rates, people stopped coming to the north end of the county for cheaper course fees.

Golf courses across the country have been closing for more than a decade. As of 2016, more than 1,400 golf courses had closed in Florida since 2000. In Crestview, Adara Golf Course, formerly Shoal River Country Club, closed its doors in 2009. Heritage Plantation Golf and Country Club in Laurel Hill shut down the same year. The Frank W. Dahlinger Golf Course aboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field closed June of 2015.

The Foxwood property is currently held by First City Bank of Florida. A representative from First City confirmed that they took possession of the property and are currently looking for interested buyers.

Thomas said he hopes that either another ownership group or the city is able to purchase the golf course and eventually reopen it.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'People just stopped playing golf'

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