CRESTVIEW — Each year, a search committee names a dedicated resident Crestview's Citizen of the Year. This year the honor went to Raymonda “Rae” Schwartz.

“I am overwhelmed,” Schwartz said about winning the Mae Reatha Coleman Citizen of the Year award. “I have seen all the previous awardees, and they are people I have admired for a long time; they are an exceptional group of people. I am humbled to be chosen, and I am just thrilled.”

Schwartz, a New York City native, moved to Crestview in April 1989 and has since made an impact on the community by participating in various organizations.

She has served as a unit commissioner for Boy Scouts of America, a trainer for Okaloosa Volunteer Art Lessons, a member of Friends of the Arts and a member of Friends of the Library. She is a part of the Main Street Crestview Association and has served on the city's centennial committee, chaired the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s Arts and Culture Committee, has volunteered with Okaloosa County schools’ art programs for 13 years, and leads a knitting group at Casbah Coffee Company.

“She may not have been raised here, but she’s a true Crestview-inite,” Councilman Shannon Hayes said.

Mayor David Cadle thanked Schwartz for her dedication to the city and specifically with Military Appreciation Recognition Celebrations, Inc., a nonprofit organization that raises money for an annual Armed Forces Day celebration in Crestview.

“You were in it from the beginning and took on numerous roles.” Cadle said. “Thanks for stepping up."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'She’s a true Crestview-inite'

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview High School graduate has completed U.S. Marine drill instructor training and two Crestview residents have completed U.S. Army basic training.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Jonathon Trent Arnold of Crestview graduated Marine Drill Instructor School Sept. 8 at Parris Island, South Carolina. He will also receive a promotion to staff sergeant.

Currently stationed in Hawaii, he and wife Ashlea will be going to Parris Island for his new assignment as a drill instructor. They are both graduates of Crestview High School.

Pvt. Anthony Bell and Private 2nd Class Dakota Oriento completed Army basic combat training in August at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. They learned basic tactical and survival skills, along with how to shoot, rappel, and march over 10 weeks. They also learned the basics of Army life and military customs, including seven core Army values.

Bell is now attending advanced individual training in Fort Jackson to become a human resource specialist. His parents are Robert and Christine Shaw of Crestview.

Oriento is now attending AIT at Fort Lee, Virginia to become an ammunition specialist. He graduated from Crestview High School in 2017. His parents are Sherry and Robbie Nagy of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 Crestview graduates complete military training

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has issued a missing person report for 48-year-old Kathy Joyce Chamblee Bailey of Huntsville, Alabama.

Bailey, a 5-feet-5-inch white female, weighs about 120 pounds and has green eyes and brown hair with blonde tips. She has a tattoo that says “Bob’ on her right upper arm.

She was last seen wearing dark tank top, jean shorts, and orange hospital socks.

According to an OCSO media release, Bailey was first reported missing Sept. 12 to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. The FWBPD learned Bailey had been taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center Sept. 9, but left the hospital on foot and headed southbound on Mar Walt Drive around 10:45 p.m. that same day.

Anyone with information on Bailey's whereabouts may contact the OCSO at 651-7400 OR or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 863-TIPS.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office seeks missing Alabama woman

CRESTVIEW — Companies and nonprofits in North Okaloosa County that are accepting donations toward hurricane relief are listed below.

•Lewis Diamond Gallery is accepting all kinds of donations through noon Sept. 16 at 2670 Ferdon Blvd. Suite 103, Crestview. Donations will all be shipped south immediately afterward to help Florida residents. Details: https://www.facebook.com/LewisDiamonds/posts/1570449469679866

•Rotary Club of Crestview is accepting donations of items like pet supplies, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and bottled water for Texas and Florida hurricane survivors. Clothes are no longer being accepted. Donation hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hub City Smokehouse, 168 Main St. S, Crestview. Larger items such as multiple water bottle packages should be dropped off behind the restaurant.

Business owners and nonprofits (no individuals, please) that wish to add their names to this list may email the details to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa businesses, nonprofits accepting hurricane relief donations

Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations that improve North Okaloosa County residents’ quality of life.

CRESTVIEW — The Rotary Club of Crestview is working on several concurrent goals through 2018.

The nonprofit's most important goal right now, though, is helping people affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Discussing the matter at the group's Sept. 7 meeting in Crestview, Rotary President Samma Brannon said clothes are no longer needed because people have donated plenty of those. They are accepting other items, such as:

•pet supplies

•hygiene products

•cleaning supplies

•bottled water

Donors may drop off items at the Hub City Smokehouse, which is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at 168 Main St. S, Crestview. They should drop off larger items such as multiple water bottle packages behind the business.

Several donations were sorted and prepared for Texas delivery by Sept. 7. Rotarians were waiting to hear from Texas members about coordinating delivery efforts.

"If we do not hear from a fellow club, then we will coordinate with another organization in the area. Also, if we do not find a way to get the donations sent, then we have several members who are willing to drive them there personally," Rotary Public Relations Officer Holly Willey said.

Group members also helped manage the storm shelter for people affected by Hurricane Irma the weekend of Sept. 10 at Shoal River Middle School in Crestview.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Area residents may not be aware of the club's other activities. That general lack of community knowledge of what the organization does, as well as a lack of younger generation members and quiet community doings are three of the issues the club faces, according to Willey.

"Our club is here to help our community grow and prosper and we want to help make that happen, however we are needed," she said.

The organization's international goal for the 2017-18 year has an environmental focus. Members will embody the year's theme of Making a Difference by planting a tree for each of its 1.2 million members through Earth Day, which is April 22, 2018. The tree planting program is part of its sustainable efforts to protect the environment and curb climate change.

On a local level, the club is continuing its annual events, and even expanding some of them.

•This month they will present area third-graders with a dictionary of their very own, and a copy of the U.S. Constitution to seventh-graders in Okaloosa and Walton schools. They have presented over 20,000 books to children since the program began.

•They will participate in the United Way's 'Day of Caring, a volunteer effort.

•They and Interact, the Crestview High School's Rotary Club, will provide a float for the school's homecoming parade.

•The next Wild Game Feast, wherein members raised more than $120,000 to Northwest Florida State College programs, is undergoing a name and venue change.

•People will be able to buy one ticket for a 30-day drawing in the March Grand Gift Giveaway, where one gift package worth $250 or more will be given to a winner each day of that month. Fundraisers such as these provide support for scholarships, charities and residents in need.

October events include a booth and hay bale contest for the Crestview Fall Festival, set for 1-6 p.m. Oct. 28 on Main Street; and a cooking class for people who use food pantries.

"The Fall Festival is going to take a lot of coordinating since we have so much going on during it, as well as the preparations that need to be made," Willey said.

The group's primary motto is "Service Above Self." It has over 1.2 million members worldwide. Email CrestviewRotary@outlook.com or go to www.crestviewrotary.org for more information. The international website is at www.rotary.org.

ABOUT ROTARY

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rotary Club provides storm, other North Okaloosa assistance

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

A family-owned restaurant in DeFuniak Springs is hosting a wing eating contest to raise money for Healing Tools for Warriors, an organization supporting local veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

The 5th Annual Wing Eating Contest for Charity is set 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at 4C BBQ Family Restaurant, 1045 U.S. Highway 331 S., DeFuniak Springs.

This is the fifth year 4C BBQ Family Restaurant has hosted this event, however, this year’s fundraiser will be different. According to Robin Ford, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife Teresa, the wing eating contest was hosted in support of the Wounded Warrior Project in past years. Although they still support WWP through other means, Ford said he recently learned about Healing Tools for Warriors and grew interested in the cause.

Penny Pinkham, the organization’s founder, approached Ford and asked if their business would be interested in supporting them. Ford said he sat down with Pinkham and learned about her history and the history of the organization. Four of Pinkham’s sons have PTSD, so this is a cause close to her heart.

“We met some guys here, and we didn’t realize that in this area there were so many of them with PTSD and TBI,” Ford said. “Of course there’s other issues with [veterans], cases other than PTSD, but PTSD is the main thing for me when she was talking about it.”

Healing Tools for Warriors hosts an annual retreat in Destin where veterans with PTSD and TBI can go to unwind. The retreat comprises educational speakers, panels, resource facilitation, and daily activities, culminating with a day of relaxation and respite.

“I was thrilled to do it,” Ford said. “We came to find out that [Penny] is a true warrior of God and a patriot like you wouldn’t believe for our men and women in the service.”

Ford said between 40 and 45 groups have already signed up for the contest, so it will likely be an all-day event. 4C BBQ smokes their wings and deep fries them. Before the competition, they weigh the wings. Each contestant in a group, which comprises four people, needs to eat 10 wings. Their times and the end weight of their leftovers will be put into an algorithm that will determine the winners.

According to Ford, all of the money raised during the wing eating contest will go to fund the food at the annual retreat, which will be held Sept. 22-24. There is a cash prize for first place, but Ford said the winners usually donate the money back to the cause.

“That’s where our hearts are,” Ford said. “We’re all about supporting the military and especially those who the government hasn’t taken care of. We want to help those who are trying to take care of [the veterans]; we want to help them get what they need to be able to do that.”

Contact Robin or Teresa Ford at 892-4227, or visit the restaurant at 1045 US-331 South in DeFuniak Springs, for more information on the event.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We’re all about supporting the military'

Because of our visit from your friend and mine, Irma, and the evacuees from Florida, parts of Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, I'm not sure whether some of the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conference games will be played on schedule, rescheduled or canceled all together. (Editor's Note: As of this writing, the following information should be correct, according to Google's college football schedules.)

Most of all, I hope everyone is safe and that we all can eventually get back to normal and enjoy the SEC/ACC games we all love so much.

As for now, I'll write as if both conferences can play all scheduled games on Sept. 16.

Here are your 10 picks for the week plus a tie breaker for Sept. 16.

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus Boston College Eagles: Both teams are 1-1. Notre Dame is really upset in more ways than one and is going to take it out on the Eagles. Notre Dame by 10.

2. Clemson Tigers vs. Louisville Cardinals: The Tigers quarterback showed a bit of weakness last week and the Cardinals are going after him on each play. This could be a very big upset in the making, but again the Tigers pull it out, winning by 1.

3. Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida State Seminoles (rescheduled to Oct. 7): The Seminoles feel they get no respect in the state of Florida. Miami will have a big loss to the Little Brother of Florida State by 7.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Panthers: There is no rodeo at Heinz Field Stadium. Pitt by only 3.

5. California Baylor Bears vs. Duke Blue Devils: The Bears found another buzz saw, with the Devils winning by 26 or more.

6. Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators: The Vols have only two more teams that they will beat. Florida and UMass are the two. After that it’s all downhill from there. This is a close one, but Tennessee will come up with the win by 2.

7. Kentucky Wildcats vs. South Carolina Gamecocks: The teams are alike and are both 2-0. The team that can control the ground game is the winner. Gamecocks by 7.

8. Louisiana State University Tigers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs: This is an upset in the making, with four teams in the SEC/West looking to win. This game will thin it out a bit, with a Bulldogs big win by 10.

9. Ole Miss Rebels vs. California Golden Bears: Ole Miss is having problems feeding the team with all this west coast food. Ole Miss will win a quick 60-minute game by 21, and go back home to ribs, grits, biscuits and gravy.

10. Colorado State Rams vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: How do you stop a train? The Crimson Tide Train by 20.

TIE BREAKER: SMU Mustangs vs. TCU Horned Frogs: A stampede is coming to Fort Worth, Texas, with the Horned Frogs corralling and taming the Mustangs: TCU by 16.

I hope everyone is safe from this horrible Hurricane Irma and the path of destruction it is leaving behind. And no, we have not forgotten all the people over in Houston.

Maybe, just maybe, you can find a bit of enjoyment for just a few minutes this Saturday, Sept. 16, knowing your team is beating its competitor up and down the field.

Bill Everett is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and lives in the Baker area.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: College football picks, week 3

Pvt. Natalie Booker, a Baker School class of 2013 alumna, just completed training at Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Hawaii as a Distinguished Honor Graduate.

From a class of 127 soldiers, Booker carried the highest class score of 98.60, according to a media release. After 22 days of intensive training, Booker's culmination event comprised her management of a squad executing a jungle assault and reaction to an improvised explosive device. Booker will be promoted the rank of sergeant in October.

NCO Academy Hawaii trains current and future U.S. Army Junior Noncommissioned Officers and international military students from countries around the Pacific Ocean.

Trainees develop the Warrior Leader Skills needed at the team and squad level, and they develop professional attributes that promote confidence in their ability to handle modern day leadership challenges.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker alum earns Army Distinguished Honor Graduate honors

CRESTVIEW — The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks organization is organizing a patriotic essay contest.

The theme is "Why Our Veterans Are America's Heroes." The contest is open to students enrolled in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades during the 2017-2018 school calendar year preceding June 30, 2018. Local schools have been contacted and are aware of this essay contest.

Mayor David Cadle of Crestview has joined the Elks in proclaiming Sept. 11-17 National Patriotism Week. Cadle signed this proclamation and gave it to Crestview Lodge 2624 Exalted Ruler Bob Daniel and Esteemed Lecturing Knight and Americanism Chairwoman Jean Daniel.

"The members of Crestview Lodge 2624 want to thank Mayor Cadle for his support," an Elks media release states. "We urge all citizens to join with Mayor Cadle and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in expressing gratitude for the privilege of American citizenship. God bless America!"

The BPOE, founded in 1868, serves local communities through programs such as Adopt a Vet, Exceptional Children's Day, Kids on the Water, Hoop Shoot, Drug Awareness programs in conjunction with local law enforcement organizations, and in-home therapy for thousands of children across Florida.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview mayor proclaims National Patriotism Week