CRESTVIEW — Numerous crestviewbulletin.com and Facebook readers shared their thoughts on local issues. 

Here are some of their comments. 

CONFUSION AT JOHN KING LIGHT

I agree, there's a lot of distracted driving. However, at the John King light, people turn LEFT on RED from the southbound lane frequently. There is also a lack of understanding the right of way in the east and westbound lanes.

Teresa White

U-TURNS ALSO A FACTOR

Yes, texting is a major factor in the wrecks. At the intersection of John King, people making U-TURNS is also a factor. I see many near misses every day there.

William Fortwengler 

TOO MANY HAZARDOUS VEHICLES

I have been wondering for some time if Crestview is a sanctuary city not necessarily for illegals but for vehicles without proper lights. I see 10 to 15 cars every time I leave the house that have headlights out, tail lights (and) brake lights out. We need to do something about this, folks.

Jimmy DuBose 

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Readers' thoughts on Calandra Stallworth, Crestview crime and traffic

CRESTVIEW — Numerous crestviewbulletin.com and Facebook readers shared their thoughts on local issues. 

Here are some of their comments. 

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Readers' thoughts on school hours, billboard

CRESTVIEW — Numerous crestviewbulletin.com and Facebook readers shared their thoughts on local issues. 

Here are some of their comments. 

CITY MANAGER NEEDED  

As a resident that lives two blocks from the city limits while being affected by the city and unable to participate in city elections, this is the best-case scenario and might move us out of Mayberry status.

Nice, thoughtful article, and mail-in ballots should be mandatory considering the elderly and disabled that aren't able to schedule trips to the voting station.  

Robert Damon Bradley

BYPASS A TOP PRIORITY

A bypass for (State Road) 85 should be priority No. 1. There is no way it should take longer to get from (the) Shoal River bridge north through Crestview than it does to get from Fort Walton to (the) Shoal River bridge.

Chris King

MORE FAMILY TIME

Please, please widen PJ Adams (Parkway) and give our military drivers more time at home instead of sitting in traffic after their long day.

This has been discussed since I moved here in 2004 and still (is) a huge mess.

If everyone affected by this traffic gives a heads-up to those that control these funds, maybe it will be funded.

Joan Bencheck

NEW TAX PLAN DOESN’T ADD UP

In this glorious new tax plan, there is a lot of room for manipulation by the wealthy elite. They aren't paying as much for the badly needed roads and other infrastructure as the individual on all other tax brackets.

So, simplify all you want. It still won't add up in the end.

We as a people keep getting jerked around by the pocket book by those with more wealth than empathy.

Salem Smith Vaught

WANT A TAX BREAK? DONATE

If (Glenn Mollette) is worried about how to live on that kind of budget, maybe, just maybe, he should try it on less than $70,000 a year.

I have no problem paying my fair share. If he wants a bigger tax break, donate some of that money to help people that are down on their luck and might need a hand getting basic needs meet.

Paul Guenther

POTHOLES ‘LIKE MAGIC’

Laurel Hill has used enough asphalt filling potholes over the last few years that they could have repaved Steel Mill Creek Road.

They fill one (pothole) and two more appear. It’s like magic.

Gary Jacobs

STEEL MILL CREEK NEEDED FUNDING

The funding that resurfaced New Ebenezer should have been used on Steel Mill (Creek) in the first place. It's in far worse condition than New Ebenezer ever was.

Andrew Twitty

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Readers' thoughts on Crestview government and traffic; tax plan and potholes

CRESTVIEW — Numerous crestviewbulletin.com and Facebook readers shared their thoughts on local issues. 

Here are some of their comments. 

CRESTVIEW IS DANGEROUS FOR WALKERS

People who are walking need to pay more attention, but this town is incredibly dangerous for walkers anyway. It's almost impossible to be really safe. When I lived in Laredo, a city five times the size of Crestview but laid out along the same "there is one road and you're on it" design schemes, I could at least go out walking because there were well-maintained, well-lit sidewalks everywhere, especially in residential neighborhoods. This town has nowhere near enough sidewalks, especially near the edges of town, and nowhere near enough crosswalks. Since there's no public transportation, walkability is extra-important and needs to be addressed before more people get hurt!

Cori Davis

REGARDING LETTER ON FIRE TRUCK HAZARDS

Oh, pooh! I see a lot of red cars and pickups, even some big rigs, and they don't seem to be all crashed up. Mighty lot of black vehicles too. Fact is "murdered out" is 'in' right now; (those are) totally blacked out vehicles. I don't have a problem seeing them except at night or poor weather conditions when they don't have lights on. The only problem I see is inattentive drivers … Now I do agree that lime green is a more visible color, but to put burden on the chief's shoulder because of a red truck is just wrong!

Daniel Crawley   

DON’T CALL POLICE FOR NON-EMERGENCIES

There are other resources available to the struggling parents when children are defiant. The Crestview Hope House and Pensacola Currie House are wonderful resources. They are non-profit shelters for teens that offer both non-residential (free counseling for families and individual counseling for kids) and residential services (a timeout for the family where the teen stays at shelter, receives individual counseling and family counseling services free of charge). Please don't hesitate to call to see what services your family qualifies for before a real need for law enforcement arises. 1-850-682-2374 (Hope House), 1-850-453-2772 (Currie House). Both are open 24 hours a day.

Alyssa Pritchard

REGARDING THE CITY’S MASTER PLAN

This is what happens when you have old small-town mentality voted into office. If we want to see change in Crestview, we need to vote new blood into office that are motivated and will want to see change for the better. Until that happens, this is what we can expect from our government.

Mariusz Mitera    

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Readers' thoughts on Crestview streets, fire trucks

NEED DIFFERENT BUSINESSES

We need to put money into expanding Ferdon Boulevard to a four-lane highway and put a light at Cracker Barrel Road. It's bad enough that we have had four accidents there in the past month.

And we need another Walmart and Publix like we need a hole in our heads.

How about a Kmart, Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s and maybe a Home Depot. A mall would be nice too!

Just a few things off the top of my head.

Buckeye Barbie

ANTICIPATING PIZZA PLACE

As a native New Yorker, I couldn't be more ecstatic! Hope they ship NYC water down here for their dough to get that authentic NY pizza pie flavor/crust and make real calzone with ricotta.

Madonna mi, my mouth is watering! I have to go back home for real pizza!

Debs McGrath Lyon

EXPERIENCING CRESTVIEW’S GROWTH

I remember when there were no fast food restaurants in Crestview!

Tonight, as I was driving home on South 85, the 5:30 p.m. traffic headed north to Crestview was backed up 2 or 3 miles south of the bridge. Amazing how much the Hub City has grown in 40 years!

Mary Margaret

REGARDING WINTERFEST

People always complain about not having anything to do around here but then don't patronize events when they do happen. Support your local businesses!

KB Finney

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Thoughts on Crestview businesses, growth

COURTHOUSE NOT THE ONLY PRIORITY

If you read (Crestview Councilman Joe) Blocker's recent re-election answers to three questions, it should be clear change isn't on the agenda.

While one question specifically asked Blocker what he would do to relieve Crestucky's traffic issues, he not only failed to even hit a foul ball trying to answer it while he cited his experience in building commercially and his seat on a board that supposedly studies the subject of the very question he avoids answering.

Meanwhile, high school kids in Crestucky are still forced to attend a school designed for maybe 1,000 students while upwards of 2,000 students attend daily. This has been an issue since 1990 and before, which oddly resembles the exact same traffic issue. The bell rings at school and the hallways are barely passable due to shoulder-to-shoulder contact with other students due to lack of hallway space throughout.

Same issue with evening traffic; thousands of vehicles forced onto one two-lane north passage.

I've heard there will never be another north county high school because of the dropout rate; regardless, the evidence clearly shows, time after time, year after year, nothing gets even remotely done.

But guess what? You can spot mold in the courthouse and (in) less then two years it's being replaced with money they found somewhere, despite the lack of parking for said courthouse.

Millions were found immediately, and no additional parking planned; amusing that the people that run the show, city and county-wise, are inept at doing their jobs.

Doesn't matter which decade or which lineup of elected personnel; all failed to serve we the people of the North County properly.

Robert Damon Bradley

CRESTVIEW: GROWING OR STAGNATING?

A transition from a rural community to an urban one is always difficult. It's doubly so if it's in or near a tourist area.

People who've lived in the community for years, or even decades, want things to stay the way that makes them comfortable. New people want the things that they've had in other areas.

But at the end of the day, any community needs to decide if it wants to grow or stagnate.

If it wants growth, then it has to do the things that will encourage the sort of growth needed. Crestview needs industry. It needs manufacturing. It needs the sort of growth that provides high-paying jobs; jobs that will allow Crestview residents to stay in Crestview without the crushing commutes so many have.

To attract the kind of industry needed, then zoning, schools, health and community standards must be enacted and enforced.

It matters not the form of government. What matters is if the government does the job it needs to do.

Morris Devereaux

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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Crestview has other priorities; are we growing?

Progress is exciting. Have you looked around when driving up and down Ferdon Boulevard? There are all sorts of buildings and clearings of land. Crestview is growing with new businesses.

While I remain excited about all of the new opportunities we will have for eating and shopping, I do mourn the loss of so many trees.

It is sad that trees have to be destroyed in order for us to have shopping centers. Trees are important, as they absorb carbon dioxide and then release oxygen for us to breathe — a rather large benefit for those of us who enjoy breathing.

They also help clean our air; their leaves and bark absorb impurities; and trees moderate the temperature. In the summer, I always look for a tree to park beneath so my car stays cooler.

I have mixed emotions about losing trees for commercial gain.

It is interesting to watch the progress on the new shopping center being built on South Ferdon Boulevard next to Publix.

And, at the north end of town, construction has started at the corner of Airport Road and North Ferdon Boulevard for, from what I understand, a new Publix.

I would still like to see a store such as Kohl's or Dillard's come into town, but it doesn't seem as though we have the population they need to build.

I think a department store would do well in Crestview, but am not sure how we would handle the traffic problems that would come with a larger shopping outlet.

It would be nice to keep the sales taxes that would come with such a store here in town, and I would prefer to spend my money here rather than in Destin or Fort Walton Beach.

We seem to have lots of talk and studies about traffic and how to relieve it, and nothing is accomplished. We need some real traffic relief now, not after hundreds more houses and businesses are built.

While I look forward to the progress, I don't look forward to more traffic jams.

Please work on the traffic flow in Crestview!

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.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: With Crestview's growth come tradeoffs

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

This is a very good article and should be shared with as many citizens as possible. It gives clear examples of how our current structure leaves the city vulnerable.

The comparison of the three options I found to be helpful, as it allows the readers to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each option.

I do not believe there is any doubt that this city would benefit from a city manager. I believe our greatest issue is engaging our citizens and educating them on the benefits of the charter change. The true challenge is not “do we change,” but rather “what system do we employ to get the education to our citizens.”

I attended the city council meeting and feel that we missed an opportunity to have the best in the nation assist us in that specific area. Based upon the information gathered, a plan was developed by the Mason-Dixon Group, who has repeatedly been able to develop reliable and consistent results with proven success.

My one personal question is: What purpose does it serve to have the city council "research" when the "best practice" is to establish an Administrative Board to advise and facilitate city structure, procedures and operations management in anticipation of a new city charter.

That and that alone should be the city council’s next decision. The establishment of an Administrative Board to advise the city on next steps in order to present and pass a new city charter.

Melissa Simpson

GIVE UP ON ‘SMALL TOWN’ LABEL

I don't know why these old-school Crestview people don't understand that we're already not a small town! We haven't been a small town in years!

We are a bigger town with nothing available to its residents. Insufficient infrastructure, entertainment, dining, etc.

It's time to give up on the "small town" mentality

Shauna Preston

IS THIS PROPOSED POSITION A…

City manager or “let's hire someone with a huge salary that we can blame and fire if things go wrong so that we can get re-elected?”

David Hall

GET WITH THE TIMES

Are you serious? It is a military town; you got people coming and going all the time. I've only lived here a little under two years but this town outgrew its diaper a long time …

We are now in big boy, big girl underwear. This town flew way past the Pull-Ups.

If you can't get with the times, then get out of office.

Rachel Harris

WRONG TO USE PEOPLE AS PROPS

I wish Trump had the respect and basic decency to not use a recent widow as a political prop. I don't care who did what in the past; bring up Obama or Clinton or whatever, they were wrong too.

David Jenkins

OWENS WOULD RATHER BE LIVING

She was used to make people forget that he was responsible for the Seal’s death. The stupidity of saying he is in Heaven, amazed over breaking a record for longest ovation, is unreal.

I am sure he would much rather be alive than have an ovation for being dead.

Trump blamed everyone but the man at the top, who made this decision while having dinner. I would not have stood for that mockery, either.

Gwen Kimbro

GOD BLESS THE OWENS FAMILY

Trump was paying more respects towards the widow then any B.S. liberal … for not standing.

This is the respect that our military should receive present day, past and to all our veterans … respect which has been lost in the past 30 or more years due to the government in the past saying we have to kiss the parents’ fanny of children and the children while teaching them in all aspects of preschool to college (now).

We have raised a pampered society the last 30 years. It is time for these children to learn and prosper within society, and they do not know how to do it because of parents, education system and because they all know how to lie and manipulate anyone and everyone.

My respects to Mrs. Owens and her family! God Bless them!

Michelle Cook

GLOBAL WARMING FITS LIBERAL AGENDA

Good for Ron Hart having the courage to publicly stand up and eloquently shine light on the hysteria that is the climate change/global warming liberal agenda, that is more about power grabbing and population enslavement than it is about real conservation of natural resources.

Will Cantrell

WHY WE NEED REGULATIONS

Yes, we do have something to gain. A planet we can actually live on. Breathable air and water we don't have to filter.

You know, the things we need to survive.

How dumb can one person be? Also, the money spent is not so a caribou doesn't have to look at a pipeline; it’s so the caribou doesn't die from an oil spill … !

I’d like you to look at the people in Flint and tell them regulations aren't needed. Honestly, look them right in the face and say that, because I know they will spit on you.

We need regulations, so (stuff) like that doesn't happen.

Stephanie Wahner

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT POLITICAL

The climate has always changed and has gone through periods of temperature changes and other shifts — fact.

Science has shown us that although these changes are considered normal, it's the rate that they are taking place. The climate is currently at an accelerated rate of change that is beyond the normal spectrum.

The need for change, for a look into cleaner energies or the rate of deforestation, for example, is not a liberal agenda but should be the agenda of every single person living on this planet who hopes to see it flourish for future generations to come.

More importantly, for our children.

Sadly, people have this idea that it's political. The planet has no time for politics.

Kasey McCoy

CONTRACT BRINGS EXTRA COST

Thank you, commissioners, for the new (Waste Management) contract that now increases my cost. I did not get that big of a raise in my monthly SSA check so I will remember you at the polls.

Gisela Harper

NOT SAD ABOUT SECTION 8

After what HUD has done to my neighborhood (drug dealing, break-ins, trash dumped whereever) I can’t say I’d be sad to see it go away, but more like throwing a BBQ and invite friends over on the weekend since they all work!

Becky Reeves

PREDICTION ABOUT LANDLORDS

At CPAC, Trump's guru, Steve Bannon, said, "We are dismantling the administrative state.” That means they are gutting funding for all government agencies, and HUD is at the top of their list. There won't be a Section 8 program four years from now. So I would not be sitting around waiting for a voucher; plus, even if you have one, no landlord is going to take them now that they know HUD is going to gutted.

Jeff Barnes                

THOUGHTS ABOUT GUN CRIMES

I have no opinion regarding the policy change. However, the following statement does bother me: "more law-abiding people should receive firearms training to help fight crime."

NO.

This will not reduce either crime or violence, and until someone can produce convincing evidence otherwise, people in positions of authority should not misinform the public this way.

Civilians "fight" (i.e., help reduce) crime by being alert, observing details and contacting authorities sworn to "fight" crime when appropriate.

I've lived in or worked in 18 different countries, and overwhelmingly, lower numbers of guns and higher barriers to gun ownership correlate strongly to lower violent crime.

It isn't even close.

See South Korea, Japan, England or any other developed country with stronger gun laws.

Vince Ryder

KUDOS FOR HEALTH-CARE MEMBERSHIP PLANS

Blessings on your new business. Excited to see someone values human life more than money.

Patricia Christian

DESIGNATED GRAFFITI-LEGAL AREAS

Traffic is still the big issue! Who cares about spray paint! If you give these kids/artists a landmark to legally spray, like The Graffiti Bridge in Pensacola, we might have less of a problem. Very simple fix.

Chris Richards

GRAFFITI NEEDS TO STOP

There has been very limited graffiti activity in Crestview until recently. As someone stated, it's showing up in several places.

This is not artists showcasing talent. It is the work of vandals and it needs to stop.

It truly makes our town look trashy. I hope they are caught and prosecuted.

Shorty Mohon

OBAMACARE SHOULDN’T TAKE ALL THE BLAME

Um, how about we dial back the corporate cuts and congress raises. Let's not insult people's intelligence by claiming that this single program has built up all this debt.

Krista Gray Ladner

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUBBUB: Thoughts on climate change, Crestview's city manager proposal

With all the turmoil that is going on in the world, it is refreshing to take a step back and reflect on things of the Lord.

In the Christian tradition, we have specific times of reflection, Advent, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, and Lent, the 40 days prior to Easter.

This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, March 1. Many churches will have an Ash Wednesday service in which the pastor will place ashes in the shape of the cross upon one's forehead or hand as a reminder of what Christ did for us upon the cross. Generally, the words from Genesis 3:19 are said at this time: "For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Ash Wednesday can be a day of fasting as well as repentance.

In some traditions, the words "Alleluia" and "Gloria" are omitted during worship services to emphasize the solemnity of the Lenten season. Lent is meant to be a time for repentance and spiritual reflection as well as a time to draw closer to the Lord before Easter. One of the ways we can observe Lent is to spend more time reading the Scripture and in prayer.

Prayer for others, as well as ourselves, is always a good practice. Here are some prayer suggestions:

•That the Lord will meet our spiritual and physical needs

•That we will obey the Lord's commandments

•Wisdom, discernment and peace for our pastors, priests and church staff

•Peace and unity in our country and community

•Wisdom and godly discernment for our elected leaders — federal, state and local

•Safety and wisdom for our police, sheriff and fire departments

•Safety for our military members — both deployed and at home

•Forgiving hearts toward those with whom we may disagree

•That the Lord will meet the needs of those in war-torn countries

•That we will have compassion for those less fortunate and help them

•Honesty in our dealings and the dealings of our leaders

•Gratitude for all that the Lord has given to us

We can also show support and love for our spiritual leaders by sending them an encouraging card or note.

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.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 12 prayer tips for Lent

I went to the eye doctor about three and a half years ago for my yearly exam. The doctor said I had early onset cataracts, but they take years to develop.

The next year I saw a different optometrist and she told me that the cataracts were developing, but not yet ready for surgery.

On one of my visits to a retinal specialist, I found I couldn't read the eye chart with my right eye, which meant new glasses and time to think about cataract surgery.

I began talking with everyone I knew about which doctor to use, what lens to have implanted, what to expect, what types of complications there are, the cost, and so forth. I did my research since I was so much younger than most cataract patients, and I would have to live with my decision for a long time.

My right eye had the thickest cataract and got to the point where I could no longer read with it. I had to save the money for this surgery since we have such a ridiculous deductible for our medical insurance. I had some complications due to swelling because of the thickness of the cataract, but I see so clearly now, I am thrilled.

I just had surgery on my left eye and am still recovering, but it was much easier and I knew what to expect this time. My vision is getting clearer each day and I can drive confidently at night again. I look forward to seeing as clearly in my left eye as in my right eye.

I have a great deal of respect for my eye surgeon, Dr. Andrew Kortz of Mullis Eye Institute here in Crestview, as well as the office staff. I had a wonderful experience.

I am so happy that I chose to stay near-sighted, as it fits my lifestyle. Even though this is not the usual decision for cataract surgery, it was the right decision for me. I don't mind wearing glasses to drive and I do mind wearing glasses to read.

So, if the time comes for you to have cataract surgery, don't be afraid to ask questions and get it done. You will be glad you did.

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.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The benefits of cataract surgery