CRESTVIEW — Pvt. Dylan Winans completed Army basic combat training Nov. 2 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

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

He is now attending Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, to become an information technology specialist.

Winans graduated from Crestview High School in 2017. His parents are Lisa and Wayne Winans of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHS alum completes basic military training

CRESTVIEW — Upcoming North Okaloosa County events and surrounding area activities are as follows.

HOLIDAY VICTORIAN TEA: 2 p.m. Dec. 16, Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Experience a history program about Victorian tea etiquette, costume, and holiday traditions while enjoying a variety of teas and light refreshments. Cost is $18 per person, or $16 for museum members.  Recommended for ages 8 and up.  Reservations are required due to limited space. RSVP: 678-2615.

EMERALD COAST CHRISTMAS MIRACLE CHILDREN’S FIESTA: 1-7 p.m. Dec. 17, Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Free giveway for needy families. New toys for all who attend.  The 1-2 p.m. hour is only for families with kids with disabilities. The public will be allowed to enter at 2 p.m. Food, games, DJs, singers, church choirs, clowns, magicians, dance contests for bikes and more. Free coats courtesy of the United Way’s Coats for Kids program will also be given out. Business sponsorship opportunities, volunteers and monetary or in-kind donations welcome. Visit www.unitedforagoodcause.org for details, or see the group's Facebook page. David, 368-3505, or Estela, 305-3686 or e-mail united4agoodcause@gmail.com.

PUBLIC MEETINGS 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETING: 3 p.m. Dec. 14, training room of the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. Meeting schedule and location are subject to change. For updates and agendas, visit www.wfrpc.org or email tiffany.bates@wfrpc.org, or 332-7976, extension 217.

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays in the Baker Area Public Safety Building, 1375 19th St.

REP. JAYER WILLIAMSON OFFICE HOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. first and third Thursdays, Okaloosa County Extension office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. Call 995-3698 for an appointment.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall. 

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

OKALOOSA-WALTON NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS: for chamber members and their employees. Details: 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com. http://www.crestviewchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's happening in North Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — When then-police officer, now investigator, Christie London responded to a call for service at a local store’s parking lot, she found a distraught woman who had just bought what she thought was a bargain: gold jewelry for only $50.

Except the metal was cheap gold-tone plate, and the seller, who had advertised the jewelry on social media, was long gone, taking with her the woman’s $50 in cash.

As residents become innovative with their Christmas shopping, turning to social media such as Craigslist, Freecycle and Swap.com, mixed among the bargains and rarities are occasional pieces of worthless junk.

While the Crestview Police Department can’t always track down the hoaxers — who usually operate under fake names and use temporary accounts they often abandon right after sales — the agency can offer a safer place to bring sellers and buyers together.

Under 24-hour daily video surveillance, the CPD "safe swap zone" is in a well-lit west section of the parking lot right in front of the Whitehurst Municipal Building, 201 Stillwell Blvd.

Activity in the zone is covered by the same security system that protects police headquarters, with digital video back-up on a two-week loop, so any questionable exchanges can be immediately reviewed.

"We can’t completely stop fraudulent swaps from occurring," Police Chief Tony Taylor said. "But our safe swap zone will certainly discourage most con artists, none of whom like the idea of being clearly captured on security cameras."

Taylor said the safe swap zone also has other benefits, such as providing a safe place for estranged parents to exchange children from one former spouse’s custody to the other’s care.

If necessary, a police officer can also be called to supervise the custody exchange by simply requesting one at the Police Department’s Dispatch Center window inside the Whitehurst Building or calling 682-2055.

London was unable to find the con artist who stiffed the unfortunate jewelry purchaser. But with the implementation this summer of the Police Department’s safe swap zone, residents will have a secure location where such transactions are recorded on security video and potential hoaxers can possibly be identified.

"We can’t completely stop fraudulent swaps from occurring. But our safe swap zone will certainly discourage most con-artists, none of whom like the idea of being clearly captured on security cameras."

—Police Chief Tony Taylor

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘Safe swap zone’ available at Crestview PD

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department may have its own shooting range come summertime. 

That is, if a 30-acre parcel set aside for the project is approved for annexation out of Okaloosa County and into the city of Crestview.

Brian Hughes, Crestview PD spokesman, said it is all up to government officials to approve the plan.

"The city already owns the property, so we're just waiting for it to be annexed," Hughes said. "Everybody is excited about the project. It's a beautiful piece of property and it's in a nice, rural area. They have so much potential out there."

The property is located on Retta Lane in Crestview. 

The idea for a shooting range was sparked by Florida law that requires law enforcement officers to qualify with their handguns at least every two years. A Crestview Police officer must qualify every six months.

Currently, Crestview officers must drive up to the Walton County Sheriff's Office shooting range for their three hours of pistol, rifle and shotgun qualifications.

The new facility would be a multi-purpose range that would allow officers to shoot and train K9 dogs near the Crestview PD office. There would also be a running track surrounding the perimeter of the property. 

Hughes said the Crestview Fire Department has also asked for a fire tower to be built so firefighters can train on the property.

Theresa Gaillard, the city's growth management director, said she expects the annexation to be approved by late spring or early summer.

Hughes said shooting range construction will begin right after it's approved.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'So much potential'

CRESTVIEW — Florida’s endless summer will soon be replaced by uncharacteristically cold nights that could send beach-seeking tourists to the hills.

But for the homeless — who can’t simply leave the state on a dime — there are cold weather shelters in place for when the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

"I firmly believe we have kept people from dying and when the weather is below 40 it is very dangerous. I know I wouldn’t want to be out on the streets," said Ann Sprague, president of the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless, which organizes cold weather shelters every year.

Judy Christopher, who volunteers at Woodlawn Baptist Church’s cold weather shelter, says that not only do cold weather shelters help keep down death rates of the area’s homeless, but they also decrease the rate of burglaries and arrests on cold nights.

"If we didn’t have them, we would have dead people on the streets, we would have more buildings broken into because they have no place to go," Christopher said.

Christopher added that when the weather is too cold for the homeless to remain on the streets, they will often break into defunct buildings and stay the night.

She said that a number of years ago on Highway 90 West, at the red light by the Burger King in Crestview, homeless people in the area used to break into a much-maligned store that once sold items for adult entertainment.

"When it closed down, these guys figured out how to break in the back door and make it look like it wasn’t broken into and it was the summertime and, man, they had the electric running and they had AC and everything," Christopher said.

"Then what do they do? They go to jail and they eat up our tax dollars," she said.

"It’s a vicious circle."

—

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Woodlawn Baptist Church has a homeless shelter. The revision also corrects a misquote in the second to last paragraph. 

These Crestview-area churches are participating in the cold weather shelter program this year:

• Helping Hands – Mondays
• Community of Christ – Tuesdays
• Community of Christ – Wednesdays
• Helping Hands – Thursdays
• Helping Hands – Fridays
• Helping Hands – Saturdays
• Lifepoint Church – Sundays

For more information, contact Ann Sprague, with Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless, at 826-1770.

FYI

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cold weather shelters serve the homeless

The West Florida Regional Planning Council has made available the Draft 2018-2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for public comment.

The CEDS is a five-year strategy to guide activity and investment to support economic growth in the WFRPC region (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties). The region is designated as an Economic Development District by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

The CEDS is the result of a data-driven and participatory planning process that invites stakeholders to bring forward project ideas and identify economic development ventures underway that merit ongoing community support.

The CEDS is monitored annually to track implementation of the action plan and its outcomes. 

You can direct comments or questions regarding the CEDS to caitlin.cerame@wfrpc.org by Dec. 29.

See the West Florida Regional Planning Council’s Draft 2018-2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy at http://www.wfrpc.org/programs/comprehensive-economic-development-strategy

ONLINE

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy available

CRESTVIEW — The Hub City made national headlines nearly five years ago when a woman filmed herself at Twin Hills Park kicking geese in the head as a child chortled in the background. She was later arrested for animal cruelty, but today, the goose-human tension remains.

At least, so it seems based on recent conversations with local residents.

"I think they [geese] are somewhat of a problem because they are so aggressive, much more aggressive than the ducks are," said Bob Kochel, a Crestview resident who took a break from his walk in the park to interview.

"My wife and I come down here often — maybe five times a week — and feed the ducks and I try to stay away from the geese because they hog everything and chase the poor little ducks away."

Jacqueline Jackson, who was playing T-ball with her daughter and grandchildren at Twin Hills Park the day after Thanksgiving, was unfazed by geese at the park.

"As far as geese being able to roam freely in this park area, I don’t see anything wrong with it. If they are not hurting anything, they are not hurting the environment or hurting anybody — why shouldn’t they," said Jackson.

"We have come out here since my girls were little, and they are 10, and we have never had any aggressive incidents with the geese," said Jackson’s daughter, Fonta High. "So I believe that isolated incidents can happen. There are always outliers and I don’t know how many of those there are, but in my experience over the past 10 plus years, we have never had any aggressive incidents."

However, others, like Crestview resident Phillip Estrem, feel that geese can be a threat to humans when they feel "slighted" if they don’t get all the food they want as humans feed a gaggle by the shoreline.

"I don’t know that the geese are a problem; they don’t chase us and stuff like that, but I do know that if people start feeding them or they see people feeding them, then they will come after them and they might get a little aggressive at that point," Estrem said.

"I do know that farm geese will be aggressive. I have been chased by a goose when I was a kid and grew up on my grandfather’s farm and we learned how to respect them and say, ‘okay, stay away from the geese.’"

In response to the question of ‘how to respect a goose,’ Estrem said, "You stay away from them. If you see one of them out there, just let them alone.

"If you want to feed it, you take the chance of having a goose come after you."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Should they stay or should they go?

CRESTVIEW — A festive evening with fun displays, a themed parade, lots of music and free candy is the basis of Crestview's annual Christmas celebration.

Sandra Wilson, Main Street Crestview Association program manager, said, "At 5 p.m. Dec. 2 we will have our Christmas tree lighting in downtown Crestview at the courthouse terrace. The parade will start at 5:30 p.m. by Hub City Smokehouse and will go north on Main Street towards the courthouse.

"There will be pictures with Santa after the parade in the pavilion right next to the courthouse," she said.

The theme for the parade and the business window display contest is "Your Favorite Christmas Movie or Story."

All downtown Crestview businesses may compete in the free display competition. Sign-up ends Dec. 18 and decorations must be completed by that afternoon, as judging will occur that evening.

Wilson said residents can expect stiff competition between area businesses like Remax Agency One, Hall's Motorsports of Crestview, Okaloosa Animal Clinic, ERA Burgan Learning Center, Childcare Network, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, North Okaloosa Medical Center, Progressive Chiropractic, Northwood Elementary School, Freedom Tax, Adams Party Bouncers, AA Tactical and The Vintage Attic.

Girl Scout Troop 2035, Knights of Columbus, Hall's Motorsports of Crestview, Okaloosa Animal Clinic, Zeb Watts Septic, Rocky Bayou Christian School and Ballet & Barre are also among competitors.

"We are extremely grateful for this year's sponsors, Okaloosa Gas, Tom Thumb, Community Redevelopment Agency, and, of course, the city of Crestview," Wilson said.

The parade and window contest winners will be presented at a City Council meeting in January, according to Wilson.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Christmas parade, window decorating contest set

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

CRESTVIEW — Upcoming North Okaloosa County events and surrounding area activities are as follows.

HOLIDAY VICTORIAN TEA: 2 p.m. Dec. 16, Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Experience a history program about Victorian tea etiquette, costume, and holiday traditions while enjoying a variety of teas and light refreshments. Cost is $18 per person, or $16 for museum members.  Recommended for ages 8 and up. Reservations are required due to limited space. RSVP: 678-2615.

EMERALD COAST CHRISTMAS MIRACLE CHILDREN’S FIESTA: 1-7 p.m. Dec. 17, Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Free giveway for needy families. New toys for all who attend.  The 1-2 p.m. hour is only for families with kids with disabilities. The public will be allowed to enter at 2 p.m. Food, games, DJs, singers, church choirs, clowns, magicians, dance contests for bikes and more. Free coats courtesy of the United Way’s Coats for Kids program will also be given out. Business sponsorship opportunities, volunteers and monetary or in-kind donations welcome. Visit www.unitedforagoodcause.org for details, or see the group's Facebook page. David, 368-3505, or Estela, 305-3686 or e-mail united4agoodcause@gmail.com.

PUBLIC MEETINGS 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETING: 3 p.m. Dec. 14, training room of the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. Meeting schedule and location are subject to change. For updates and agendas, visit www.wfrpc.org or email tiffany.bates@wfrpc.org, or 332-7976, extension 217.

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays in the Baker Area Public Safety Building, 1375 19th St.

REP. JAYER WILLIAMSON OFFICE HOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. first and third Thursdays, Okaloosa County Extension office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. Call 995-3698 for an appointment.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall. 

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

OKALOOSA-WALTON NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS: for chamber members and their employees. Details: 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com. http://www.crestviewchamber.com.

AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE MEETING: 8:30 a.m. Nov. 29, Crestview chamber office, 107 Commerce Blvd. Become more involved in the Crestview chamber of commerce, network and grow your business. Amber Ellis or Karen Donaldson, ambassadors@crestviewchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's happening in North Okaloosa County