Cumulus Media and Logan’s Roadhouse are serving up free steak lunches, in conjunction with Lee Automotive Group and Eglin Federal Credit Union, for local military members. 

The free feast takes place 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 22 at Liza Jackson Park in honor of “Military Appreciation Month.”

On-air personalities from NASH FM 105.5, 99ROCK, Z96, Coast 93.3 and News Talk 1260 will serve the free sirloin steaks, tossed salad, over-loaded mashed potatoes and rolls to the first 500 current or past military service members.  

Buffalo Rock Pepsi and Blue Bell Ice Cream will round out the menu, and military members can register to win $100 VISA gift cards and other prizes

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free steak lunch available for military May 22

Jon Livingston, a U.S. Marine and the son of Ed and Vicki Livingston of Crestview, has been promoted to lieutenant colonel by Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy.

He is a Crestview High School graduate.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Marine, CHS alumnus, receives promotion at the Pentagon

Air Force Airman 1st Class Alisha A. Prendergast and Tyler M. Tarpley graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airmen 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 earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Prendergast, whose parents are Audrey and Philip Prendergast of Crestview, is a 2011 Collegiate High School graduate of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. She graduated from the University of West Florida in 20-13 with a bachelor's degree.

Tarpley, the son of Tim and Robin Tarpley of Crestview, is a 2013 graduate of Crestview High School.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Prendergast, Tarpley complete U.S. Air Force basic training

Military parents will soon have extra help when it comes to raising healthy children.

Operation Kid Fit, a new parenting program beginning May 28 at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, teaches parents strategies to promote child development and encourage healthy eating and physical activity. 

Parents will learn how to make gradual changes in their family’s lifestyle, and how to maintain those changes.

The program focuses on:

•Improving children’s nutritional intake

•Increasing children’s physical activity

•Improving parents' communication about health and nutrition

•Reducing parenting stress associated with raising healthy children

The 12-week program includes 10 90-minute interactive small-group sessions and two personalized telephone sessions.

The overall goal is improve the whole family's health, a spokesperson said.

Space is limited; contact Kimberly Harris, 883-8021 or kimberly.harris.18.ctr@us.af.mil, to sign up for classes.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New program at Eglin, Hurlburt to promote family health

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview News Bulletin now holds a title that no other news organization in the country can claim.

It is the first Purple Heart Newspaper.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart's Special Recognition Award reflects the newsroom's commitment to covering active and retired service members, Region IV Cmdr. Bill Everett said.

Everett honored the News Bulletin "mainly because of all the support you do for the military personnel, retired and active duty, in the surrounding area; mainly because of the high visibility of all military people in the Crestview area — Crestview is the highest populated area in Okaloosa County," he said. "You reach out and touch everybody with your newspaper, which is good. "

The honor is rare, Everett said.

"We don't go out of the way to do this for everybody; we are very, very selective," he said. "(Award) recipients have to be true patriots and honor their military personnel and support them as much as the Crestview News Bulletin does."

The news provider's print edition, which publishes Wednesdays and Saturdays, and its website, crestviewbulletin.com, include regularly updated Military pages.

The recognition is appreciated, News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni said.

"Not just the first Purple Heart Newspaper in Florida, but first in all of the United States of America … we are so humbled and honored," he said in a statement. "We thank Okaloosa's heroic military service members and the Purple Heart recipients who made this possible. We are forever indebted to them for serving our country."

The Military Order of the Purple Heart, formed in 1932, is a veterans service organization that advocates on behalf of veterans who earn the Purple Heart. The decoration recognizes enemy-wounded United States armed forces members.

It has recognized Northwest Florida on a number of occasions. Okaloosa is Florida's first Purple Heart County and Crestview is the county's first Purple Heart City. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: News Bulletin among 'true patriots' to earn national Purple Heart recognition

Crestview High School student Tiffany Berkely is preparing for the U.S. Air Force. 

Latanya Bryant, the 96th Test Wing's chief of financial management, Tiffany's mentor, has shared her experience of managing a team of budget analysts. The job entails calculating costs of meeting a mission need for a new air traffic control system from the initial concept, through construction, upgrading technology and current operation.

Tiffany is one of six local teens receiving such monthly lessons.

“The 96th Test Wing Academy is an Affirmative Employment Program initiative that recruits high-achieving students for the Air Force, while simultaneously allowing them to experience various science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine work areas,” said Cecil Williams, Eglin’s Equal Opportunity office director.

The Okaloosa County School District suggested that schools choose someone with at least a 3.5 GPA interested in STEMM.

Academy participants will return to the program, which began this past school year, two more years until graduation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eglin academy gives students dream job preview