Editor's Note: These featured comments are the most thoughtful or eloquently stated comments from our Facebook page and crestviewbulletin.com and do not necessarily reflect the newspaper management's views.

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Let service dogs do their job

I think many around here need an education about service dogs and the fact that they are the only dogs that have public rights according to the (Americans with Disabilities Act.)  

… The dogs you see in a shopping cart or designer purse are not service dogs. The dogs you see in Walmart on an 8-foot leash rounding corners ahead of their handler and running up to greet customers are not service dogs! Every time one these dogs goes into a store and nobody says anything, they do it again and again.

Every time a handler allows a dog they present as a service dog to be petted, education takes a giant step backward.

… It's not that hard to turn around and avoid all contact and let them do their job.

Angie Stevenson Nousiainen

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Don’t let feelings overcome logic

It's not discrimination. It's a choice, just like the veteran here made the choice for a service dog instead of a care giver.

You also don't have to feed and bathe a caregiver; that doesn't mean the caregiver can claim discrimination because the dog gets those things. Heck, even (Family and Medical Leave Act) guidelines don't apply to businesses with fewer than 50 or so employees. If you want those things, then work for the right companies.

Next, are we going to call it discrimination to require shirts and shoes in certain businesses?

What about concealed weapon license holders — is it discriminating to not allow them to carry their legal weapon in certain businesses at the proprietor’s direction?

Don't let feelings get in the way of logic, folks.

I feel bad for the lady, but no one said "she" couldn't come in, they said her dog couldn't.

Matt Gates

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Need service dog to function

I had this same problem when I came down to vacation, Feb. 11 or 18, with my service dog. Ended up getting the (Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office) involved. Glad to see the news is finally getting out.

I need my dog to function in public. Without him, I can become disoriented, anxious to the point of flashback, and then only the "fight or flight" instincts kick in. This on top of the medications.

If not for my service dog, Luke, I wouldn't even be able to step foot into a crowded public place, or any public in general … I'll get panic attacks, nausea, all kinds of bad stuff.

John Gustafson

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Arena-Rasberry connector unnecessary

I'm still dumbfounded as to how this will relieve traffic on (State Road) 85. The traffic isn't caused by people off of PJ (Adams Parkway) wanting to go to Lowes or Publix during rush hour, but people driving in from Eglin and Duke. We need another 85-(Highway) 90 connector. Having one way into town is creating the traffic problems.

Michelle Snavely

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Dropping the ball

Too bad (Okaloosa County’s) music programs in elementary and middle schools are so poorly funded. (The) only way to get money is to have a large band program that marches for football games.

Escambia County Schools begin offering orchestral instruments in the fourth grade and, by the time they are in high school, they are performing renowned works.

To be No. 2 in the state for ability to pass standardized tests, we sure do drop the ball on performing arts education.

Ryan Mabry

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Supporting downtown festivals

It’s always good to see positive and wholesome community events. It’s important to support those businesses that offer goods, services and support to our city and citizens; both those south and north of the railroad tracks.

Will Cantrell

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Triple B a ‘refreshing’ change

I'm not from Crestview but I have been a vendor at the Triple B for five years in a row.

We have had nothing but a positive experience.

We always request a specific spot and Mrs. (Valerie) Lott always makes sure we get close to where we ask. She has always been friendly and pleasant to deal with; always checks on us that day, too.

Actually, this year Mr. (Derek) and Mrs. Lott both stopped by one of my booths to make sure everything was going good and thanked me for coming again — even bought something from me. We had a few people from the chamber stop and thank us.

We don't always get that kind of welcome at other festivals, and this one is a refreshing change.

JkBrad

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Readers' thoughts on service dog discrimination, music education

Many who live in Crestview want more culture and entertainment here; we don't want to drive to another city to see a play.

Crestview is Okaloosa County’s  seat, and we have fewer cultural activities than other towns in our county. But did you know we have a live theatre group called View from the Stage? A dedicated group of volunteers run it.

While we don't have a proper theatre stage with a curtain system and high lighting, terrific acoustics and comfortable seating, we can work with what is available.

In Crestview, that means Warriors Hall, which is large enough to stage a play. 

View from the Stage presents family-friendly plays, and its next performance will be a winter show, with the possibility of a summer review.

In any organization, volunteers are needed, and View from the Stage is no exception.

The group needs:

•A fundraising specialist

•Business sponsors

•Costume design and people who sew

•Set building

•Prop manager

•Stage hands

•Lighting crew

•Director’s assistants

•Strike crew

•Actors

•Ushers and ticket sellers

•Donations for radio headsets for the technical crew

•Rehearsal space — a church hall, or a large flat indoor space

Contact Berit Faust, viewfromthestagecct@gmail.com, if you’d like to help.

We need to pull together as a community and make this group a success.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

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See http://www.viewfromthestage.com for more information on Crestview’s theatre troupe

Want more information?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: We must make Crestview's theatre troupe a success

The Atlantic calls law enforcement officers fatally shooting dogs an epidemic.

Reddit’s website has a section on “Puppycide,” or “an incident in which a law enforcement officer kills a pet dog.”

Dogs Shot by Police, a Facebook fan page with 15,902 likes, has countless stories of LEO-related dog deaths.

And The Daily Dot’s online Politics section shows it's become a cliché: “It's the classic Internet-rage story: A family dog is shot by a police officer. The dog posed no threat, the owners say, and the officer was simply responding to a noise complaint,” a Nov. 19, 2015 story states.

This exact scenario played out March 13 in Crestview.

NOT ‘PRUDENT’?

An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy responding to a 3 a.m. noise complaint on Farmer Street exited his car, locked it, and found the concrete plant he came to investigate silent.

Then a dog barked and a man said, “Whoa, whoa!” according to an OCSO offense report. Cyrus, a medium-sized pit bull, ran from a yard across the street toward the deputy. The owner tried to call him back, but Cyrus approached the deputy, who pulled his gun from a holster, yelled for the dog to stop, and shot twice as the dog approached the deputy’s feet, according to the report.

The Phelan family filed a complaint, and the OCSO released this statement: “After reviewing all reports and body camera videos, a prudent person would believe (the deputy) was in a position of being attacked by the aggressive dog.”

But is this really the case?

I read every comment the story received on the News Bulletin’s Facebook page. Many of our readers believe the shooting was justified; they saw a dog ready to attack. But just as many readers saw a dog wagging its tail and happily greeting a stranger.

I’d like to think I’m prudent, yet I saw a dog wagging his tail, and the poor thing continued wagging his tail as he lay dying.

Owner James Phelan said he didn’t believe the officer was in danger.  “What he did to that officer he did to the mailman twice,” Phelan told WEAR 3 this week. “The mailman didn’t need a 9-mm. (gun).” 

So, respectfully, are Phelan, many of our readers and the hometown newspaper of record’s editor not “prudent?”

A body camera is game-changing technology that helps everyone see an officer or deputy’s point of view and determine whether the official description matches their own perception.

So what happens when a significant number of people see a friendly or excited dog, and perhaps as many people see an aggressive one? When the court of public opinion renders verdicts far from a landslide?

This issue requires further examination.

TRAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT

Law enforcement officers are trained to show no emotion, to be tactical and to shoot to kill if necessary. But does every situation warrant this mentality?

A number of reputable organizations say no.

Canine Encounters Law Enforcement Training, an Arlington, Texas, organization that provides police-designed training, stresses less lethal approaches when possible.

Community Oriented Policing Services, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice, released a training video on the topic. The 10 minutes boil down to these tactics: anticipate a dog will be present; contain the dog, or have the owner do so; request assistance from animal control; assess a dog’s body language; and communicate non-threatening body language.

In the Crestview incident, time didn’t allow for some of these tactics. However, body camera video, along with the deputy’s account, raise concerns.

For instance, dog training expert Brian Kilcommons says in the COPS training video that simply “blading” the body — turning sideways — and using a soft, reassuring voice, could instantly calm an aggressive dog. 

This contradicts typical officer demeanor, which is to face a person head on using a commanding stance, Cmdr. James Roussell, of the Chicago Police Dept., says in the video.

And it contrasts with what happened March 13. The OCSO deputy yelled at Cyrus and faced him head on, which could only have antagonized a dog protecting his space, according to Kilcommons.

But what if there wasn’t enough time to change demeanor? Well, the deputy could have used any number of non-lethal, tested options. These include positioning a baton to not hit the dog, but deflect a bite; using pepper spray, which the Baltimore Police Department found successful “nearly 100 percent of the time”; or even using a Taser, Kilcommons told Police Magazine.

And, since there was no immediate danger associated with criminal mischief reported at the concrete plant (the LEO's safety, of course, comes first), the deputy could have run back to his car, and even jumped on it if there were no time to unlock it, to keep the animal at bay.

Look, I appreciate and support our law enforcement officers, and have been in the media long enough to know that the slightest criticism invites emotional responses about their bravery and sacrifices. But placing one case under scrutiny doesn’t reflect poorly on the entire organization, nor does it negate their heroism. We can have these conversations, respect our deputies, and stay on topic.

In this case, that means Cyrus did not have to die.

The OCSO may have issued its verdict, but animal and even law enforcement experts say this sort of thing could have been prevented.   

I hope, in the future, it will be.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BONI: Cyrus was a pit bull who didn't have to die

Editor's Note: The News Bulletin’s Facebook fans shared their thoughts on an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy fatally shooting a Crestview dog while investigating a report of criminal mischief.

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Don’t pull a gun

A gun should be a last means by an officer. When you have enough time to turn on a light and track a dog you then have enough time to get back in the vehicle, pull a taser or even try something else physically. Assess the situation, listen to the man yelling for the dog, make an intelligent decision. Don't pull a gun because you have one.

Cody Long

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Can’t blame the officer

I love my dog and she is my family, but if one the size of most pits were to lunge at me, I hope I'd have my gun! Their size is what makes them so dangerous.

I'm sorry the family lost their baby, but I can't blame the officer.

Ann Ganey Walden

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No aggressive posture

I just saw the video and the dog did not have an aggressive posture at all! It looked like she was running out to greet him! No one will convince me otherwise. I work with rescue dogs and I am very much an expert on this!

That cop was scared and shot that poor dog for no reason! I stand behind the police and I always have until right now!

Mindy Roberts Dwyer

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Dogs and cats are like children

The heartbreak of having someone shoot your pet mercilessly is practically unbearable, especially when dogs/cats become like children.

It's gonna take a really long time to heal, and may cause PTS for awhile. Praying for comfort for the victims.

Jennifer Fetty Hopwood

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Why the dog is dead

Sorry, a strange dog comes running at me, I'm not going to wait until after it bites me to do something.

And I'm not going to wait to see what it's going to do.

I own four large dogs; when I take them out of the house, they are leashed. I have never had a dog "escape" in my entire life.

The dog is dead because the owners were irresponsible. It's sad and unfortunate, but that's the reality.

Michael Johansen

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This was uncalled for

My pets are my family. The officer could have used his night stick or taser — a gun shouldn't always be the first option.

I love our officers, but this was uncalled for.

The county should pay restitution for the loss of life, even though money could never replace this baby.

Marisa Quick Unless

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Taser would have worked

My dog is just like this one was. He is just welcoming you when he sees someone new. The dog wasn't being aggressive at all. A taser would have worked and saved a dog's life.

Teresa Huntley

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Further training needed

Life is important. Yes, the officer’s life is important. But further training for law enforcement on how to handle these types of situations in a non-lethal manner is absolutely crucial.

Melissa Willcut Woollums

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Readers' thoughts on dog shooting fatality in Crestview

Editor's Note: Our website and Facebook fans shared their thoughts on Crestview development and a textbook the Okaloosa County School District removed from fifth-grade classrooms. 

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Sort out traffic problems, then develop

The developer is only concerned with the amount of traffic that passes by the location. They do not care about the traffic problems that a development there will present.

I will embrace this change when they have the traffic problems sorted out.

You try to keep an open mind when you're stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, going from Duke Field all the way through Crestview, during rush hour traffic.

Derek

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North Crestview residents need relief

They need to figure out a way for all of the people on the north side of town to get in and out of Crestview easier without all the traffic. Having just one street in and out of town is ridiculous.

Tammy LB

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Why use Islam in textbook?

The intent works — "pray vs. prey.” But naturally, the question has to be asked: Why are they using Islam as the example in a predominately Christian community?

If they want to start familiarizing our kids with other cultures, that's fine. But don't slide it in and not get upset when people object to it.

Justin Lindsey 

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Readers' thoughts on Crestview traffic, Islam in textbooks

Editor's Note: Our website and Facebook fans shared their thoughts on Crestview development and a textbook the Okaloosa County School District removed from fifth-grade classrooms.

What about North Crestview?

How about a decent restaurant (I am thinking a 24-hour place like IHOP, Denny’s, etc.) on the north end of Crestview and some more places to shop up here?

Wal-Mart never has enough cashiers, and is a pain to get to/from during most of the day, and Staples is a pain to get in and out of due to traffic.

Plenty of places to build in North Crestview, but we seem to be forgotten.

Mike Sharp

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Adequate recreational facilities needed

It is great to look at the things we do have; I am a fan of The Wild Olive, Happy Lark Art Studio, (the) walking trail and the movie theater (among other places such as my church, and my kids love Chill).

I do not, however, believe we have adequate recreational facilities for our children in Crestview. It is tough getting time in for kids to play basketball, and it would be great if our town could update the facility to meet the needs of the amount of people in the Crestview area.

The kids here need more things to do to stay active, and a bigger facility could provide that.

Amanda Converse

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Next up: world religions

If a statement of fact like that (“Muslims pray to Allah”) bothers you this much in fifth grade, then you probably need to pull your kid out of public school now. Your head is going to spin later, when your kid gets an appropriate and accurate education in world history, which includes world religions.

Krystal Wilber

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Other cultures exist

Christianity isn't the only religion in the world. Parents are only depriving their kids of diversity. Get off your high horses. I'm so thankful to have grown up in Philadelphia and learned that other races and cultures exist.

Mandy Gonzalez

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Readers' thoughts on adequate Crestview recreational facilities, restaurants

See Editor's Note, at left or bottom, for more information on the news gathering process for the previously published story referenced in this letter.

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Dear editor,

This is in response to "Consolidating North Okaloosa fire districts would have numerous benefits, officials say,” an article published in the Feb. 13-16, 2016 edition of the Crestview News Bulletin.

Unfortunately, many statements were made that did not represent our district’s position.

Our first issue is with Okaloosa County Commissioner Wayne Harris' published statement, "you cross-utilize resources. You can buy in bulk and get a better deal.”

We already have this system in place, using the North Okaloosa Fire Chiefs Association, which was chartered in April 2007. Each fire district in the county’s north end, including Blackman, Holt, Almarante, Baker and Crestview, have regular representation in this group. Florida Forest Service members, as well as the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, are also regular attendees at this monthly forum.

During this forum, coordination occurs for group equipment purchases and training opportunities, and ideas to share resources for the represented fire districts.

Unfortunately, the North Okaloosa, Dorcas and Laurel Hill fire districts do not attend these monthly meetings. We have encouraged their chiefs to participate in this forum.

Regarding Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles' comments about our "struggle with compliance costs mandated by state legislature," referencing the annual audit cost, this expense is part of our operational budget. In fact, consolidation of fire resources in the north end may escalate costs to community members if the Insurance Services Office ratings change, resulting in an increase in homeowners insurance rates. Unfortunately, this information was not reported and conveyed to the citizens of our district.

Of particular concern is your section regarding fire chiefs' position on consolidating fire districts.

Unfortunately, Baker Fire District Chief Dusty Talbert was never contacted regarding his position. We are also aware that another north-end fire district chief was never contacted, and a third chief was contacted but his statements opposing this proposition were not published.

It is very disappointing that you created a position from only a select few chiefs without discussing these issues through the established North Okaloosa Fire Chiefs Association.

By not contacting the NOFCA, you also neglected to correctly report on the consolidated training taking place throughout the county’s north end. Baker Fire District is listed by the state of Florida as an official training facility. At this time, Baker Fire District is conducting its third Firefighter I training class to certify more local area members through State of Florida Fire Standards. This class is training members from a collection of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County Fire Districts.

Baker Fire District has also recently provided ATV instructor training to members of South Walton Fire Rescue, Okaloosa County fire departments, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Forest Service.

Additionally, we provide basic life support training to fire district and citizens throughout Okaloosa County. Baker Fire District also offers instruction in emergency vehicle operations and traffic incident management, which first-responder personnel throughout Northwest Florida attend.

Finally, the Baker Fire District is the only north-end department certified by the State of Florida in child safety seat installation.

Clearly, a consolidated effort to provide training throughout the north end of Okaloosa County fire districts is already in place and is a marked success!

In the future, we would hope that issues with such great implications impacting our community would be appropriately researched by your staff, and that our fire chief would be contacted before publishing such an article in our community newspaper.

Read the full letter>>

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EDITOR'S NOTE: 

The News Bulletin stands by the story referenced in this letter, as published, in the Feb. 13-16 edition.

Despite assertions otherwise, the newspaper contacted all North Okaloosa County fire districts’ main phone numbers, twice, and published all fire chiefs’ responses that arrived by press deadline.

We take seriously our responsibility to provide a fair account, to the best of our knowledge, of all events. The story met that expectation, repeatedly stating “some officials” — not all — say consolidating North Okaloosa fire districts’ resources has its benefits, and noting some opposition exists.

We are not aware of all unions, special interest or other organized groups associated with any profession. In full disclosure, we had never heard of the North Okaloosa Fire Chiefs Association’s existence before receiving this letter. Outside its membership and stakeholders, the organization — respectfully — is not well known. A Google search for the group’s name posts zero results, and no firefighting personnel we interviewed mentioned the association; if they had, we would have contacted the organization.

With that said, we are happy to provide readers more perspective on the consolidation issue by sharing this letter, which is abridged due to the print edition’s space constraints.

And we appreciate hearing about the Baker Fire District’s great strides to better serve our communities, along with its ongoing, commendable teamwork that extends outside Okaloosa’s boundaries.

The News Bulletin stands by the story referenced in this letter, as published, in the Feb. 13-16 edition.

Despite assertions otherwise, the newspaper contacted all North Okaloosa County fire districts’ main phone numbers, twice, and published all fire chiefs’ responses that arrived by press deadline.

We take seriously our responsibility to provide a fair account, to the best of our knowledge, of all events. The story met that expectation, repeatedly stating “some officials” — not all — say consolidating North Okaloosa fire districts’ resources has its benefits, and noting some opposition exists.

We are not aware of all unions, special interest or other organized groups associated with any profession. In full disclosure, we had never heard of the North Okaloosa Fire Chiefs Association’s existence before receiving this letter. Outside its membership and stakeholders, the organization — respectfully — is not well known. A Google search for the group’s name posts zero results, and no firefighting personnel we interviewed mentioned the association; if they had, we would have contacted the organization.

With that said, we are happy to provide readers more perspective on the consolidation issue by sharing this letter, which is abridged due to the print edition’s space constraints. 

And we appreciate hearing about the Baker Fire District’s great strides to better serve our communities, along with its ongoing, commendable teamwork that extends outside Okaloosa’s boundaries.

EDITORS NOTE

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER: Consolidated North Okaloosa fire district training is in place — and successful

Editor's Note: This originally appeared in the Destin Log in 2001 and the News Bulletin in 2010.

The writer, the News Bulletin's circulation manager, has since updated it.

I arrived in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in the middle of the night in early January 1991, carrying my baggage and chemical warfare gear. We were herded onto a bus and driven into the dark night, deep into the desert.

 The Air Commando compound was a collection of tents and pre-fab buildings. It was virtually pitch black. I was directed to tent D-4 and stumbled inside. A single un-shaded light bulb lit the interior, which was divided by makeshift walls of mosquito netting and ponchos and blankets. Muffled snoring came from behind those cubicles. I found an empty cot and dropped my gear by it. I had found my new home for the better part of the next six months.

The Gulf War, Desert Storm, was still a week or so away then. President George H.W. Bush had given the Iraqis a deadline to withdraw from Kuwait, but no one was certain what they would do. Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein could decide to launch his Scud missiles against coalition forces massing on the Saudi border at any time. We were in a heightened state of alert — our chem warfare gear was never far away, but we weren't carrying it on our persons.

I was on the flight line, working on one of the huge MH-53J Pave Low helicopters that my squadron, the Green Hornets, flew. It was hot and sunny, and I had just clambered down from the top of the chopper when the siren went off. A voice boomed over the loudspeaker system: "CONDITION RED, CONDITION RED!"

That meant that a missile launch had been detected!

I was more scared then than I had ever been before or ever have been since. My chem warfare gear was across the flight line in the terminal facility we were working out of. I ran for my gear as fast as my short, chubby legs would move, and ducked into the terminal as the doors closed. I pulled out my gas mask and slipped it on, clearing and sealing the mask and positioning the hood to protect my head. Sweat poured into my eyes and pooled in the mask. My heart was racing as I waited for whatever might happen next.

Would it be the explosion of a Scud warhead filled with chemical or biological agents?

Instead of explosions, the "ALL CLEAR" sounded. The alert had been a false alarm, a software glitch somewhere. It took a while for my heart rate to subside, but I was never too far from my chem gear after that.

That had put the fear of God in me.

There was one other time I was really frightened. The war had been going for several weeks, and it was a night like most had been. The siren went off and the loudspeaker announced "CONDITION RED, CONDITION RED!" — we could nearly set our clocks by it. We called it our nightly wake up call, since we had to get up for our duty shift anyway. The “ALL CLEAR” usually would come before we finished getting into our gear; the missiles were never aimed at us. Dhahran and Riyadh were the usual targets.

But this night wasn't like the others. As we finished getting into our chem gear and started to saunter out of our tents to the bunkers, instead of getting the "ALL CLEAR" signal, there was a loud explosion and the ground shook.

A Scud had landed about 5 miles from our compound. It took a long time for the "ALL CLEAR" to come that night, since the bomb disposal and disaster preparedness folks had to check it out to ensure that there was no danger from chemical or biological agents.

The Gulf War was unlike any before and probably unlike any in the future. We were lucky that American casualties were light, but I was on duty the night that Spirit 03, an AC-130 gunship, went down with 13 fellow Air Commandos aboard.

It was a sobering time. Our own Pave Low helicopters roamed deep behind Iraqi lines, as close as 60 miles from Baghdad, inserting and resupplying Special Forces troops, and performing search and rescue missions.

Aboard those choppers were people I knew and worked with. The loss of Spirit 03 really brought the realities of war home to us — it could have been someone we knew or even one of us but for the grace of God.

I came home from Saudi Arabia in July of 1991, safe and mostly sound — a welcome anniversary present for my wife.

It had been a long six months in the desert, a lot of hard times; a few good times. I was proud that I had done my part for freedom, proud of the men and women I worked with.

It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since then.  The Pave Low has been retired to museums and the Boneyard. It was an amazing aircraft, some with more than 40 years of service and flying combat missions until the day they retired. 

My squadron, the 20th Special Operations Squadron, moved to Cannon AFB, NM and now flies the CV-22 Osprey.

Most troops I served with have retired. I got to see some of them and swap war stories with fellow Green Hornets during a reunion a few years ago. Facebook has helped me reconnect with many of them as well.

The war stories get better every year! Once a Hornet, always a Hornet!

Dale Robinson is the News Bulletin's circulation manager and a Crestview resident.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ROBINSON: Remembering the Gulf War

Throughout our lives, we make decisions.

For many people, critical decisions — our friends, what college to attend, what major and career to choose, our study habits — come in the teenage years. 

Later on, we also make choices that have life-altering effects.               Robert Frost wrote a poem, "The Road Not Taken," about these kinds of choices.                 

I thought about my life choices after recently reading this poem. Do I have regrets? Would I change some of my choices? Do I wish I had taken a different road than the one I traveled?

Do you, upon reflection, wish you had taken a different direction? Do you regret the road not taken, or as Mr. Frost concluded, did the road you chose "make all the difference?"

We may wish our lives had been easier, with fewer obstacles, but consider the fact that obstacles make us grow; they sharpen our critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

When we chisel obstacles out of our way, we become stronger; those obstacles help shape our character and the experience gives us wisdom. 

No one — no matter how famous, talented or rich — gets through life without obstacles. We all face burdens; we just choose how we will handle them.

Will we embrace them, avoid them, or resolutely face them head on and chisel them out of the way?

Will we tackle them on our own, or will we pray and ask the Lord for guidance and friends to help us?

Learn from obstacles and allow them to shape your character, increase your knowledge, stamina, patience and attitude. 

Janice Lynn Crose, a retired accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: Considering the road not taken

We are now in the season of Lent, the 40 days beginning with Ash Wednesday leading up to Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

This period has traditionally been a time for reflection and repentance; a time of gratitude for our savior's sacrifice when He died on the cross for our sins. 

Many of us observed and participated in an Ash Wednesday service.

Do you have changes in your regular routine during Lent?

Are you abstaining from a particular food or television program you enjoy?

Did you add more time to your prayer and Bible reading on a daily basis?

Are you consciously visiting shut-ins, sending cards to the homebound, or working at a soup kitchen helping to feed the less fortunate?

The Lord's Prayer is our guide for intercessory prayer, but here are some specific ideas for our community.

Pray for:

●Our police, sheriff's office and fire departments, for wisdom and safety

●Our EMTs and Emergency Room staff, for smart, timely decisions

●Our city and county officials and county judges

●Our state and federal leaders, elected, non-elected and judicial

●Our pastors, ministers, church staff, church council and deacons

●Your children's teachers and our school administration

●Your children and their friends

●Your neighbors and their needs

●Residents in war-torn countries, that they will have safety, food, shelter and clean drinking water

●Orphans in all countries, that loving families will adopt them

●Your employer and your spouse's employer, for prosperity and wise management decisions

●Christians being persecuted around the world, that the Lord would shield them from harm and that they would remain faithful

●Missionaries sharing the gospel

●For the homeless, that solutions will be found for them, along with shelter, food and jobs

●For those addicted to unhealthy lifestyles, that they would be delivered from their addiction

There are many more prayers that can be offered on behalf of others, and we need to be mindful about others' needs.

We should be grateful at all times, but our gratitude should abound especially during the Lenten season.

Janice Lynn Crose, a retired accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: 15 Lenten praying suggestions