CRESTVIEW — A squad of Crestview police officers and investigators recently took part in a November monthly training exercise for nighttime shooting proficiency.

Their performances on the shooting range led to renewed state law enforcement qualification and certification.

“Bad guys don’t work 9 to 5,” Investigator Shawn Temple, the range safety and training officer during the exercise, said. “We train at night because over half our time is going to be in the evening and at night, and even in daytime, we might be going into dark buildings.”

So, besides the obvious lack of light at night, what’s the difference between night and day shooting?

“Targets look different at night than they do during the day,” Officer Corey Newcomb said.

“We have to be used to the difference in sight perceptions. Targets may look bigger or smaller at night, and distance perception changes at night.”

In succession the officers practiced with handguns, rifles and shotguns at various distances from their targets. After each round at each distance, range training and safety officers, including two investigators and a SWAT team and patrol sergeant, assessed the officers’ accuracy, offering advice and instruction where needed.

Toward the end of the exercise, lights that previously offered a dim glow over the range were completely extinguished and testing resumed in complete darkness, with officers having to provide their own illumination using either flashlights or lights clamped to their weapons.

Patrol and Investigations personnel weren’t the only officers being tested at night. K9 Officer Sonic and his partner, Officer Jay Seals, were tested on another evening.

It is critical that K9s respond to their partners' commands, even with the potential distraction of gunfire.

“When I first got him, he wanted to run in the direction of gunshots,” Seals said. “He was ready to go to work! But being in the thick of it all isn’t always where I need him to be.”

Diligent training paid off. As Investigator Temple ordered, “Fire,” Seals successfully led Sonic through a series of commands behind the line of shooters as the crackle of gunfire sounded nearby. The K9 responded immediately each time, though once or twice he offered an encouraging “woof” just to let his human buddies know he had their backs.

By the end of both evenings, all Crestview officers—two- and four-legged—had qualified for certification.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CPD officers take nighttime shooting 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

CRESTVIEW — A man who was hit by a car while riding in his electric wheelchair down Stillwell Boulevard last month is attempting to raise money to get a new wheelchair.

David Newcomb, 32, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 18 and has used a wheelchair ever since. His special wheelchair, worth about $60,000, has hydraulics that allow him to stand up and lie down, as well as lights that allow him to drive the wheelchair at night.

But, on the night of Oct. 20, Newcomb was traveling in his chair from Pizza Hut, where he works as a manager, to his home off Stillwell Boulevard when he was hit from behind by a driver who fled the scene. Newcomb wasn’t seriously injured, but his wheelchair was heavily damaged.

“It moves back and forth, but the hydraulics don’t work anymore,” he said. “The lights are busted; one wheel came off. It’s in pretty bad shape.”

Newcomb said he talked to the maker of the chair, Permobil, as well as the company that gave him the chair several years ago, Numotion, about replacing or repairing the chair. He said both of those companies told him they wouldn’t do anything until the driver of the vehicle that hit him was caught, saying his insurance should pay for the new chair.

“They want the person who hit me, their insurance, to pay for the chair because it’s $60,000,” Newcomb said.

Crestview Police Department spokesman Brian Hughes said police have not identified the driver of the car, but welcomed “any credible information” from residents.

In the meantime, a friend of Newcomb’s started a GoFundMe page to help him raise money for his wheelchair. So far, it has raised $190 of its $60,000 goal.

A coworker gave Newcomb an electric wheelchair to help him until he can get a new one, but he said it doesn’t have hydraulics and lights like his old one, and getting around and doing day-to-day things is very difficult for him.

“It makes work quite a bit harder, and it’s hard to get out of bed sometimes and do things at the house,” he said. “And it’s just a safety issue in general. In Crestview, they don’t have sidewalks on busy roads, so it’s very dangerous to travel.

"My old wheelchair had lights and caution lights on it, but this one doesn’t.”

Residents who want to contribute to David Newcomb’s recovery fund can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/new-wheelchair-for-david

WANT TO HELP?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'It's very dangerous to travel'

CRESTVIEW — Need help or want to volunteer for a worthy cause? Here are some local services and organizations for consideration.

STUFFED ANIMAL DONATIONS WANTED: Crestview’s Haylee Turnage is working to collect 800 stuffed animals for children through Dec. 1. The toys will be donated to kids at the hospital who can't celebrate Christmas. The toys can be new or used, as long as they're in good condition. To donate, contact her at Haylee Turnage on Facebook, or email hayleet962@gmail.com.

MEDICARE HELP FOR SENIORS: Florida Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, or SHINE, provides free, unbiased, confidential counseling to help elderly residents with their yearly Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance plan reviews. Medicare open enrollment takes place through Dec. 7. Call 1-866-531-8011 or visit www.FloridaSHINE.org to make an appointment with a counselor, or to volunteer. It is a Florida Department of Elder Affairs and Area Agency on Aging program.

ART & CRAFT VENDORS WANTED: Heritage Museum's Yule of Yesteryear annual Christmas festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 in Valparaiso. Vendors who produce quality, handcrafted, original items are wanted. Visit www.heritage-museum.org, email info@heritage-museum.org, or call 678-2615 to register or for details.

EMPLOY FLORIDA WORKSHOPS: 9-11 a.m. fourth Thursdays of the month at CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, 409 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach. Learn to conduct job searches on the state system, create a resume, access labor market data for wage, job experience and education requirements for a specific occupation. Learn about Training Grant opportunities, online training courses, and the organization's virtual recruiter.

EMERALD COAST HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS WANTED: ECH provides compassionate care through a team of professional staff members and volunteers. Volunteers are thoroughly trained and provided ongoing education. They can serve in a variety of areas from administrative help to offering support to a hospice patient through visits or weekly phone calls. Just a few hours a month makes an impact. Details: Ann O'Connor, 689- 0300.

SENIORS VS. CRIME VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Seniors vs. Crime's Crestview office, which assists senior citizens whom someone scammed or took advantage of, needs help. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays at 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8. To volunteer, contact Office Manager Joe Loria, 306-3176, or Region 5 Deputy Director JB Whitten, 813-489-5657. Contact 306-3176 or 800-203-3099, or see　www.seniorsvscrime.com　for more information.　

REPORT ELDERS ABUSE: Call the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873) if you suspect elderly friends and neighbors are being abused. Many elders may suffer from financial exploitation, neglect or physical or emotional abuse, often caused by family members. The NFAAA is a private, non-profit agency supported by the federal Older Americans Act and the State of Florida General Revenue Fund through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Gwen Rhodes, 494-7100 or rhodesg@nwflaaa.org

UWF ACADEMIC ADVISING: The University of West Florida offers assistance with admissions, academic and degree advising and registration in Crestview. Contact Deborah Cluff, 863-6550, to schedule an appointment for first Thursdays at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1446 Commerce Drive.

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE: Need help? Contact the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care, 409-3070, www.okaloosawaltonhomeless.org; Opportunity Inc., 659-3190; or Helping Hands of Crestview, 428 McLaughlin St., behind First United Methodist Church. Helping Hands is open 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Tri-County Community Council, 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview. 306-1134.

CRESTVIEW SOUP KITCHEN NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: Serves Mondays through Saturdays. To volunteer at Central Baptist Church, call 682-5525; Our Savior Lutheran Church, 682-3154; LifePoint Church, 682-3518; Community of Christ, 682-7474; First Presbyterian Church, 682-2835; or First United Methodist Church, 682-2018.

FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 1-3:30 p.m. Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 247 S. Booker St., Crestview. Free items include shoes and other accessories. Presented by Concerned Citizens of Crestview. Details: 689-1582 or 428-6997.

FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR NEEDY RESIDENTS: 9 a.m. second Saturdays, 383 Texas Parkway, Crestview. Dry goods and fresh produce available while supplies last. Hosted by House of Restoration, a partner agency of Feeding the Gulf Coast. Details: Ruby Chatman, 398-0577.

WOMEN AND FAMILY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND EDUCATION: a Crestview-based Community Drug and Alcohol Council program that helps pregnant women with substance abuse. 689-4024.

CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE: Eligible low-income families can receive financial assistance through the Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Apply at www.elc-ow.org. Hover over "Services" and click "School Readiness" to register.

FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING: By appointment, Crestview Public Library and Elder Services of Okaloosa County, in Crestview, 494-7101 or 1-866-531-8011.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Nonprofit seeks Crestview area lots for families needing housing. 758-0779 or 315-0025.

VA VETERANS CRISIS LINE: Veterans in crisis, their families and friends can call 800-273-TALK (8255), and press 1 to talk with qualified, caring VA responders. Confidential. www.veteranscrisisline.net.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEEDS MENTORS: Adult volunteers spend two hours weekly mentoring children. Pairs go to the library, museum, park or beach, hike, roller-skate or play sports. 664-5437.

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS: Group needs people to work in the Emergency Operations Center assisting county personnel. Contact: Yvonne Earle, 863-1530, extension 230.

FREE HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD WASTE DROPOFF: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, Okaloosa County Recycling Office, 80 Ready Ave., Fort Walton Beach. Okaloosa residents may drop off paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, used oil, gas, antifreeze, computers, televisions, fluorescent lamps, car batteries, rechargeable batteries, cleaners, solvents, aerosols and printers.

MUSEUM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida seeks friendly, reliable volunteers to greet guests and answer phones in its gift shop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Details: 678-2615, stop by 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, or email info@heritage-museum.org.

CARS NEEDED: Opportunity Inc. accepts donations of cars, boats and other vehicles to support Opportunity Place, an emergency shelter for families. Shelley Poirrier, 409-3070 or shelley@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org.

SHELTER HOUSE FINANCIAL SUPPORT: It costs just more than $100 a day to shelter a domestic violence victim. Every little bit helps. 683-0845.

DRIVE VETERANS: Help veterans attend appointments at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Pensacola two days a month. Veterans Service Office, 689-5922.

VEHICLES NEEDED: Covenant Hospice accepts cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats and RVs. Qualified professionals pick up vehicles from Pensacola to Tallahassee at convenience. Rachel Mayew, 428-0605.

LAKEVIEW CENTER'S FAMILIES FIRST NETWORK NEEDS BEDS: Donations wanted for local children in protective services. Cribs and beds for children must be in good condition. 833-3840.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa County services calendar

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County clubs and organizations

CRESTVIEW — Eleven years ago, Capt. David Turnage of the Crestview Fire Department was doing some routine training at a defunct daycare in a building soon to be demolished.

The trainees were breaching walls, practicing ventilation and weaving through search and rescue scenarios. And, since smoke rises, Turnage and his coworkers often had to crawl to stay under the smoke. They did all of this in a pair of denim jeans underneath their bunker gear. By lunchtime, Turnage’s knees were chafed.

"During that lunchtime I had rug burns — friction burn — from my denim jeans under my gear and I wasn’t the only one; a couple of the other guys had burns, and I’ve had rug burns all my life because I played baseball, so I was used to having those," he said.

That night, Turnage returned home from work and bandaged his knees. Throughout the week, his leg scabbed over and everything was moving along swimmingly, just in time for a long-awaited trip he planned to take with his wife to Las Vegas.

It wasn’t until he was on the plane to Sin City that he noticed something was amiss.

"I got up on the plane to go to the restroom and my knee felt funny," he said.

But he let it slide because he has a high tolerance for pain and he had no desire to ruin his much anticipated vacation.

So he arrived with his wife, Lisa, and began to see the sights, which included a lot of necessary walking.

"It’s Las Vegas, you just walk everywhere; and as the day progressed, my knee just kept getting worse and worse," he said. "The aching wouldn’t stop."

Turnage did a closed-door self-examination back at the hotel and noticed a pimple-sized bump next to his right knee. He thought it was an ingrown hair.

Then it popped and metastasized; by Wednesday, he said, he "couldn’t hide it anymore," and began limping everywhere. And that’s when his wife began to notice.

Then his leg began to swell until all dimensionality left and it became "one size."

But he toughed it out.

When the couple were at the airport that Friday preparing for their red eye flight, air personnel asked him to take off his shoes. And when he took of his right shoe, his foot became so swollen that he couldn’t put it back on again.

"Then I had a cross-country flight back home and it is taking everything for me not to cry," he said.

When he finally arrived at his Milton home he found himself on the bathroom floor unable to move and that’s when he called his mother to take him to his primary care physician. 

"My primary care physician looked at me and said ‘what did you do,’" he said.

Within no time, Turnage’s primary care physician sent him off to an infectious disease specialist at Baptist Hospital in Gulf Breeze who began by testing him for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.

"At first they were going to do a test to see if I had MRSA and I asked my doctor, ‘how will I know if [I] have MRSA,’ and he said, ‘Well if you see nurses come in with suits on, you will know you have MRSA."

About an hour later the nurses came in and determined that he didn’t have MRSA. Doctors discovered he had a staph infection (Staphylococcus Aureus). Or as his doctor quipped, "everything staph."

"I remember my doctor telling me that I had everything but MRSA," Turnage said. "He joked by calling it the ‘everything staph.’"

"They had to deplete my entire body of bacteria, even the good bacteria your body needs like yogurts and things like that," said Turnage. "They depleted my whole body of that. It was like I was living in a bubble that made me susceptible to any kind of germs."

Days later, surgeons removed the severely infected bursa sac from Turnage’s knee.

"I never knew what a bursa sac was until they removed it," he said.

The bursa sac is a small fluid-filled sac on the knee that provides padding between the bones tendons, and muscles around the joint.

After surgery, nurses attached a catheter on either side of Turnage’s knee for the abscess to drain. By the end of the week he was released.

However, he stayed at home for two months before returning to work. The first month he was bedridden and being treated by a home health nurse. The second month he went to physical therapy in Pace to prepare for his return to the fire department. 

"I did various different exercises that were firefighter related to get my strength back up and I had to get the release from the doctor to come back to work," he said.

"It was definitely one of the more painful instances I have ever encountered."

Despite this major medical setback, Turnage is still serving at the Crestview Fire Department.

And, now, he is an adoptive father. After Turnage and his wife, Lisa, married in 2005, they tried desperately to have a baby, but it just didn’t happen.

"We went to a fertility specialist and after sitting with one and talking about what was involved in going to one we decided that was not the route that we wanted to take, especially on my wife’s side — everything that’s involved that the woman has to go through…" Turnage said.

"The odds of success were very minimal and because of how invasive it was we discussed that adoption was the best source for us."

And today, Turnage and his wife have a 5-year-old girl, Nayla Jane.

"It was definitely one of the more painful instances I have ever encountered."

— Capt. David Turnage of the Crestview Fire Department

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LIVING IN PAIN

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rocky Bayou boosts Central Food Pantry

CRESTVIEW — Rocky Bayou Christian School’s Crestview campus hosted their first "Western Hoedown" at the ROC, located directly behind the school.

The Nov. 4 event included games, horse rides, hayrides, square dancing and contests.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RBCS Crestview students hold 'Western Hoedown'

CRESTVIEW — The Walker Elementary School student council recently had a visit from someone who’s fast becoming a good friend of the Owls. Sonic, a Crestview Police K9 officer, and his human partner, Ofc. Jay Seals, were special guests at the meeting.

The student council’s major community service project this year is raising funds for a fourth police K9 unit, and the kids were eager to learn as much as they can about police dogs before starting to solicit donations.

During a briefing before Ofc. Seals and Sonic gave a K9 demonstration, they learned that having just three K9 units — a unit being the human officer and his or her dog partner — leaves one of the agency’s four shifts without a K9 and can delay investigations while an off-duty team is summoned.

Ofc. Seals described Sonic’s training, which after a 13-week course at a K9 academy in Alabama, includes weekly lessons, often with other Crestview Police K9 teams.

The students learned about Sonic’s many talents, including his power of scent. While a typical human has about 6 million scent receptors, Sonic has around 350 million, which means he can sniff out a target odor, such as illegal narcotics, even if a suspect tries to camouflage the drugs in an "odor noisy" environment.

Sonic demonstrated his powers by sniffing out simulated Ecstasy that had been hidden in a storage drawer in council adviser Elizabeth Springle’s fifth-grade classroom. As a reward, Sonic received the chance to chew on a favorite play toy.

"That was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the majority of the students," Springle said after the demonstration.

The students then described their fundraiser ideas to the officers. The drive to raise about $15,000 for the new dog begins when the Owls return from Thanksgiving vacation Nov. 27. That’s when schoolwide "change wars" get underway, in which classrooms challenge each other to raise the most money in change.

"Classrooms that raise the most will get a popsicle party or maybe a pizza party," one of the council members said.

The students also plan to fan out around town and canvass local businesses for support.

"We noticed that the police dogs are a good thing," student council member Maureen Neiman, a fifth-grader, said. "When we see we can help out somewhere, we do the best that we can."

If the fundraiser is a success, the Crestview Police Department has promised to name the new K9 officer "Walker."

The campaign got off to a good start even before it officially began. Okaloosa County school board member Tim Bryant, who represents the north end of the county and sat in on the meeting, promptly pledged $50 and praised the students for being involved in their community.

Residents and businesses who want to contribute to Walker Elementary School’s fundraiser for a fourth Crestview Police Department K9 may contact fifth-grade teacher Elizabeth Springle at 689-7220.

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Walker Owls launch ‘change wars’ for police K9