CRESTVIEW — When the next generation of military weaponry sensors come online in a few years, Bob Sikes Airport aviation experts can know they had a hand in the equipment’s perfection.

Even if they can’t talk much about it, or even reference all of the participants.

For two weeks in May, the skies above and the tarmac below Crestview’s airport were abuzz as pilots, technicians and engineers from defense industry leaders joined local contractors for Eglin Air Force Base’s annual Sensor Week.

That’s the one time of year Eglin opens its ranges to defense contractors for free equipment tests, provided the contractors share their data with the Air Force.

The local general aviation airport was “an ideal place (for the test flights) with this beautiful 8,000-foot runway,” Sunshine Aero Flight Testing owner and pilot Bob Keller said during a recent Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Airport Committee at Emerald Coast Aviation.

Keller’s company, the charter Crestview Technology Air Park tenant and partner, provided two of its aircraft to test contractors’ sensors, and hosted three other companies’ planes during the test weeks.

“During Sensor Week, we have the facilities to handle confidential equipment,” Keller said.

Because of the program’s popularity in the defense industry, this year’s “week” expanded into two weeks, Keller said. Test flights flew almost constantly, but due to Okaloosa County Airports’ prudent buffer zone management, few residents were aware of the increased activity, he said.

“It was a very busy place,” Keller said. “We flew 24 hours a day. Some flew at night because they had sensors designed for night use.”

Testing had military and civilian aviation applications, Keller said. For example, during one mission, Sunshine Aero’s two-engine King Air plane carried an infrared missile detector pod under its belly.

The equipment could detect terrorist missile launches aimed at commercial airliners, such as the Russian missile investigators determined brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in July 2014.

Testing companies included some of the industry’s biggest names, including Lockheed Martin, Dynetics, KEYW Corp., and some that, for security reasons, couldn’t be divulged, Keller said during his presentation.

Keller has been a Bob Sikes Airport tenant since 1980, when, fresh from a career as an Air Force pilot, he started the airport’s fixed-base operator service, a job he held until 2012.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bob Sikes Airport prime base for equipment test week

LAUREL HILL — The City Council will meet at 6:05 p.m. Oct. 6 at city hall, 8209 U.S. Highway 85 N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

1. Public Comments

2. New Business

a. Approval of Consent Agenda: Sept. 1, 15 and 22 minutes, and update on internal audit: General and Water Funds(September)

b. Bob Mearns (Florida Rural Water Association)

c. Ordinance 325 (Fire Public Safety Facilities Fee)

d. Elect chairman and vice-chairman

4. Adjourn

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Council agenda: Oct. 6

CRESTVIEW — A group of downtown business owners that first met July 19 has adopted an official name and set tentative goals, including loosening the city’s alcohol sales rules.

Meeting Tuesday evening at Casbah Coffee Company, the Downtown Crestview Merchants and Owners Association said that is one key to revitalizing downtown.

Members understood the Community Redevelopment Agency board’s concerns about downtown venues serving alcohol, particularly at outdoor events where people might carry a beer with them.

Some members, including Main Street attorney Nathan Boyles and business owner April Meier, said one solution might be to consider the restrictions on an event-by-event basis.

But the near-blanket ban not only stifles business and restaurant development, such as craft brewery one potential downtown business owner would like to start, it also virtually assures Main Street looks like a Wild West ghost town after 5 p.m., some merchants said. 

CRA Director Brenda Smith said the merchants’ concerns were noticed by an investors group that in August assessed downtown potential.

When the topic of loosening alcohol regulations for downtown was brought up at a Sept. 20 CRA meeting, Smith said questions arose. Finding solutions requires expert advice.

“The CRA board has some legitimate concerns about alcohol, so we bring the professionals in who can assess the district and say, ‘This will work’ and ‘This will not work,’” Smith said.

Working with marketing consultants from The Petermann Group, Smith said a thorough assessment of downtown’s potential will include surveying businesses, city leaders and customers on multiple issues, including alcohol sales. Fortunately, she said, “This board right now has been the most receptive and progressive board ever.”

Megan Bowersox, one of the association’s organizers, listed some other projects the group could consider, including:

●Implementing a downtown Little Free Library

●Collaborating with the Common Ground Community Garden on an expanded farmers market

●Working with the Main Street Crestview Association on monthly evening street festivals or other events.

“I don’t see anything but good coming from this,” Main Street President Paul Lowrey said. “This is a great time to be a business downtown. I really see a lot of great things happening downtown.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Merchants: loosen alcohol sales restrictions

At a Thursday morning ceremony in Garden Park, the refurbished marker was unveiled, designating State Road 85 as one of the program’s more than 3,000 highways nationwide.

The marker, which previously stood near the west border on U.S. Highway 90 in Crestview, was originally dedicated on April 29, 1968, and was sponsored by the Dogwood and Crestview Garden Clubs.

Over the years it had fallen into disrepair, so members of the Dogwood Garden Club had the marker refurbished, which ultimately cost more than $1,000, club member Janice Crose said.

By the Florida Department of Transportation designating S.R. 85 from Interstate 10 to U.S. 90 as a Blue Star Memorial Highway, the club was able to relocate the marker upon refurbishment to Garden Park.

But club members couldn’t do it alone.

“Our small club could not attempt to launch this project without the support of the Eglin Federal Credit Union,” club project chairman and first vice president Pam Callahan said. “They did not hesitate to act.”

Credit union President and CEO Jerry Williams said his institution was proud to partner in the effort with the club and the Crestview Department of Public Services.

“This area is rich in military history,” credit union President and CEO Jerry Williams said. “We’re greatly appreciative of the military folks who make up our membership.”

Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Blue Star chairman Rosita Aristoff said the state’s first Blue Star Memorial Highway was Route 1, with its marker dedicated on May 30, 1949 in Key West.

“The program was named after the blue star in the service banner which hung in windows of homes and businesses during World War II in order to honor the men and women serving in our armed forces,” she said.

Here are interesting facts about National Garden Clubs’ Blue Star Memorial Highway Program:

●5,000: Garden clubs across America

●175,000: garden club members

●8,000: Flowering dogwood trees planted along New Jersey Route 22, the first Blue Star highway

●5 miles: length of the first Blue Star highway in New Jersey

●3,000: Blue Star memorial markers erected nationwide on highways, parks and cemeteries

●70,000 miles: Length of total nationwide Blue Star Memorial Highways

BY THE NUMBERS

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview regains a Blue Star highway (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Voter registration books close Oct. 11 for the Nov. 8 General Election. All new registrations must be submitted to the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections office by Oct. 11. Address changes and other updates may be submitted at any time.

Both the Crestview headquarters and the Shalimar branch office will remain open until 10 p.m. to accept registration forms.

Call the Supervisor of Elections office, 689-5600 or 651-7272, or visit www.GoVote-Okaloosa.com for questions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Final day for voter registration set

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 5:45 p.m. in Council Chambers at city hall.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open meeting

4. Public Opportunity on Council Items

5. Workshop items

a. Discussion of Police/Fire 175-185 plan.

b. Presentation of FLC conference items.

c. Discussion of Sister Cities Luncheon.

6. Comments from the Audience

7. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council Sept. 26 workshop agenda

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 5:30 p.m. Sept. 26 in Council Chambers at city hall.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

Special Meeting

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open meeting

4. Public Opportunity on Council Items

5. Resolutions:

a. Resolution 16-26 — Out of City Water – 3153 Aplin Road

b. Resolution 16-27 — Out of City Water – 1216 Chestnut Ave East

6. Staff Reports and Recommendations

a. Ordinance 1609 – 2016 Local Mitigation Strategy

b. Approval of funds for Sister City Luncheon

c. Approval of invoices from Ard, Shirley and Rudolph in the amount of $1,260.

7. Comments from the Audience

8. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council special meeting agenda

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council will meet 5:15 p.m. Sept. 26 in Council Chambers at city hall.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

Public Hearing

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Open meeting

4. Public Hearing

a. Adoption of Final Millage Rate for Fiscal 2017 – Resolution 16-24

b. Adoption of Final Budget for Fiscal 2017 – Resolution 16-25

5. Comments from the Audience

6. Adjournment

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council agenda: Sept. 26

CRESTVIEW — Councilman JB Whitten has scheduled his next town hall meeting.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Samuel's Roadhouse restaurant, 114 John King Road, Crestview.

The topic will be Crestview and its relationship to businesses. Members of the city Growth Management department will answer questions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Town Hall meeting set about Crestview business

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Paul Lux is the guest speaker for the Okaloosa County Republican Club's next meeting.

The meeting starts with social hour at 6:30 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at American Legion Post 235, 105 Hollywood Blvd. SW.

Dinner costs $15 and includes drinks and gratuity. Menu choices will be grilled barbecue pork chops with garlic mashed potatoes or grilled chicken salad.

To make a dinner reservation by the evening deadline on Sept. 19, call OCRC Vice President Nate Lepper at 376-2287.

For information about the club, call President Mark Franks at 240-1279.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Republicans meeting to feature elections supervisor