CRESTVIEW — City Government Week is Oct. 18-23 and the city of Crestview is going all out for the event. 

Below is a look at some of the programs scheduled:

COMMUNITY CLUBS

The city’s many clubs and organizations are invited to strut their stuff at an upcoming special meeting of the Crestview City Council.

Held during City Government Week, the meeting will specifically recognize the contributions social, fraternal, cultural, service and professional clubs and organizations make to the city, enhancing the quality of life through a myriad of services, events and activities.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Whitehurst Municipal Building in Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

Each group will have two minutes to succinctly describe its mission, and before and after the meeting, can staff a table to answer questions, distribute literature, or recruit members.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page. To register your club or organization, call Crestview Mayor JB Whitten’s office at 850-682-3812 by Oct. 15.

PAST ELECTED OFFICIALS

Acknowledging the often-heavy burden of elected office, the present city government will recognize and salute its living predecessors at a special meeting of the City Council during City Government Week.

“We have almost 20 former elected officials who have served Crestview well still living among us,” Crestview Mayor JB Whitten said. “We’d like to recognize and thank them for their selflessness while they were in and after they were in office.”

The meeting is 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at Warriors Hall, 211 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

Elected city officials perform a myriad of tasks, Whitten said, and even though their jobs are considered part-time and the token remuneration is small, the work equates to a full-time professional job. But the benefits of serving their community are their reward.

Many past officials continue to serve and advise current officials, as witnessed by the weekly mayors’ breakfast at which Whitten sought the counsel of former Crestview Mayors Jerry Milligan (in office 1981-86) and David Cadle (2007-19).

The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page. Former elected Crestview officials are asked to call Whitten’s office at 850-682-3812 by Oct. 15 to let him know if they will attend.

FAITH COMMUNITY

With more than 35 active houses of worship in the city limits alone, it’s easy to say that Crestview’s faith community is an important part of the city’s life. Often, it's local church members and pastors who spearhead social and cultural events and programs.

During City Government Week (Oct. 18-23), Mayor JB Whitten and elected officials will meet for roundtable discussions with local religious leaders to discuss ways the faith community can partner with the city. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Spanish Trail Park amphitheatre on Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. 

Called Partnering with the Pastors, the program is being organized by the mayor’s office and local churches. The pastor of any active Crestview church is welcome to participate.

Interested leaders of Crestview’s faith community are asked to please call Crestview Mayor JB Whitten’s office, 850-682-3812, by Oct. 19 to let him know if they will attend.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview has full schedule for City Government Week

CRESTVIEW — City Government Week is Oct. 18-23 and the city of Crestview is going all out for the event. 

Below is a look at some of the programs scheduled:

PAST ELECTED OFFICIALS

Acknowledging the often-heavy burden of elected office, the present city government will recognize and salute its living predecessors at a special meeting of the City Council during City Government Week.

“We have almost 20 former elected officials who have served Crestview well still living among us,” Crestview Mayor JB Whitten said. “We’d like to recognize and thank them for their selflessness while they were in and after they were in office.”

The meeting is 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at Warriors Hall, 211 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

Elected city officials perform a myriad of tasks, Whitten said, and even though their jobs are considered part-time and the token remuneration is small, the work equates to a full-time professional job. But the benefits of serving their community are their reward.

Many past officials continue to serve and advise current officials, as witnessed by the weekly mayors’ breakfast at which Whitten sought the counsel of former Crestview Mayors Jerry Milligan (in office 1981-86) and David Cadle (2007-19).

The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page. Former elected Crestview officials are asked to call Whitten’s office at 850-682-3812 by Oct. 15 to let him know if they will attend.

FAITH COMMUNITY

With more than 35 active houses of worship in the city limits alone, it’s easy to say that Crestview’s faith community is an important part of the city’s life. Often, its local church members and pastors who spearhead social and cultural events and programs.

During City Government Week (Oct. 18-23), Mayor JB Whitten and elected officials will meet for roundtable discussions with local religious leaders to discuss ways the faith community can partner with the city. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Spanish Trail Park amphitheatre on Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. 

Called Partnering with the Pastors, the program is being organized by the mayor’s office and local churches. The pastor of any active Crestview church is welcome to participate.

Interested leaders of Crestview’s faith community are asked to please call Crestview Mayor JB Whitten’s office, 850-682-3812, by Oct. 19 to let him know if they will attend.

COMMUNITY CLUBS

The city’s many clubs and organizations are invited to strut their stuff at an upcoming special meeting of the Crestview City Council.

Held during City Government Week, the meeting will specifically recognize the contributions social, fraternal, cultural, service and professional clubs and organizations make to the city, enhancing the quality of life through a myriad of services, events and activities.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Whitehurst Municipal Building in Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

Each group will have two minutes to succinctly describe its mission, and before and after the meeting, can staff a table to answer questions, distribute literature, or recruit members.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page. To register your club or organization, call Crestview Mayor JB Whitten’s office at 850-682-3812 by Oct. 15.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview has full schedule for City Government Week

CRESTVIEW — The city’s many clubs and organizations are invited to strut their stuff at an upcoming special meeting of the Crestview City Council.

Held during City Government Week, the meeting will specifically recognize the contributions social, fraternal, cultural, service and professional clubs and organizations make to the city, enhancing the quality of life through a myriad of services, events and activities.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Whitehurst Municipal Building in Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

Each group will have two minutes to succinctly describe its mission, and before and after the meeting, can staff a table to answer questions, distribute literature, or recruit members.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page. To register your club or organization, call Crestview Mayor JB Whitten’s office at 850-682-3812 by Oct. 15.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council to recognize Crestview clubs at special meeting

CRESTVIEW — From a myriad of social, cultural and recreational activities to its family-friendly facilities, Okaloosa's county seat offers residents and visitors a wide range of services and events.

The public is invited to take a glimpse inside Crestview’s many services and activities during City Government Week, Oct. 18-24.

“It’s hard to tell everything we have to offer in one sitting, so we’re offering a whole week of opportunities to help citizens learn what your city has to offer,” Crestview Mayor JB Whitten said.

Here’s what’s on the lineup:

Activities Showcase – 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at Warriors Hall, 211 Stillwell Blvd. During this special meeting of the City Council, find out what’s available to fit your interests! Clubs and organizations may sign up with the mayor’s office to get an information table for the meeting. Call the mayor's office, 850-682-3812, to register.

Recognition Ceremony – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at Warriors Hall. All living former elected Crestview city officials will be recognized. Former officials are asked to contact the mayor's office.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting – 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 198 North Wilson St. The meeting is with elected officials. Watch live online and ask questions on the city’s Facebook page, @Cityofcrestview.

Crestview High School Football Game – 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22 at CHS, 1250 N. Ferdon Blvd. Join city officials as they cheer for the Bulldogs and the Big Red Machine at the game versus Pace.

Partnering with the Pastors – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, Old Spanish Trail Park Amphitheatre on Stillwell Boulevard. Elected officials meet for roundtable discussions with leaders of Crestview’s faith community to find ways to form partnerships. Crestview pastors, contact the mayor’s office to register.

McMahon Environmental Center ribbon-cutting – 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at the center, 135 Butler Circle. Discover Crestview’s hidden gem, newly refurbished and enhanced by the Crestview Kiwanis Club. Kids’ activities, refreshments and tours will be part of the event.

Church Drop-Ins – On Sunday, Oct. 24, as scheduled, elected officials will attend services at a church they’ve not visited before.

“We encourage all of our residents to participate in any or all of these events and take a inside look at how their city functions and what it has to offer,” Whitten said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Discover Crestview during City Government Week

CRESTVIEW — Officer Kimberley D. Beasley was sworn in Sept. 16 as Crestview’s newest police officer, with Mayor JB Whitten administering her oath of office and Police Chief Stephen McCosker pinning on her patrolwoman’s badge.

Originally from Pensacola, Officer Beasley holds dual Florida certification in both corrections and law enforcement, serving previously as a corrections officer at the Escambia County Jail and the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution.

She is a 2018 graduate of the George Stone Technical Institution in Pensacola who said she “wanted somewhere to go where I can make a difference. I was looking for a smaller agency,” and found it at CPD.

“You’re going to love working for this city,” Whitten told her following her swearing in.

Before administering the oath of office, the mayor noted, “There are certain jobs I hold in very, very high esteem, and politicians are not one of them. But our police officers and firefighters definitely are at the top of the list.”

The mayor assured Beasley — and the other officers gathered in her support as she joined their agency — that the city supports its police department.

“We have your backs like you have our backs every day,” Whitten said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Newest Crestview Police Department officer sworn in

CRESTVIEW — Two themes were common in shaping Crestview’s newest police officers’ decisions to join the agency. They are same two reasons frequently cited by new officers when they join the Crestview Police Department.

“I want to give back to the community I grew up in,” said Officer Timothy “TJ” White Jr., noting he is a 2008 graduate of Crestview High School.

“I just like working for a smaller town’s police department, not being a number,” added Officer Nicholas Spry. “Here, everybody knows your name.”

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Spry’s dad, Larry Graham, said his son, who has already been working at the police department for more than a week, comes home and speaks glowingly of the congenial atmosphere at the Whitehurst Municipal Building headquarters.

“Everybody’s so super friendly, he tells us,” Graham said. “He could see right away it is a family atmosphere. He’s really been welcomed with open arms.”

Tuesday morning, Crestview Mayor JB Whitten swore in the county seat’s two newest officers, assuring them and their families that Crestview supports its police department.

“All over the country, police officers are under attack,” Whitten said. “But I grew up in a time when police officers were respected. That’s the way it is in Crestview. In Crestview, we have the backs of our police officers. I want to assure our officers that here, we take care of our police.”

“This is a very important step in their journey on a career in law enforcement,” CPD Chief Stephen McCosker told assembled friends, family and fellow officers. “We’re very proud to have them joining our law enforcement family.”

Both new officers have expressed interest in joining the Police Department’s SWAT team and Investigations Division. Spry is also interested in the Community Services division and narcotics investigations.

After being sworn in and signing their oaths of office, the new officers’ wives, Catherine Spry and April White, pinned on their husbands’ badges. For April White, it was a taste of things to come. She will enter the police academy next session. Next year, she hopes Officer White will be pinning her badge on her uniform.

Brian Hughes is the City of Crestview’s public information officer.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Crestview Police Department welcomes potential inquiries about police officer positions in the agency. Cadet positions, in which the CPD pays a future officer while he or she is in the police academy, are also available. Visit www.crestviewpd.org or call 850-682-3544.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview gains two new police officers

CRESTVIEW — What’s blue and white, plays “Turkey in the Straw” and is coming soon to a neighborhood near you? It’s the Crestview Police Department’s Pop-Up Popsicles community outreach ice cream truck.

“We’re going to turn our crime scene vehicle into an ice cream truck,” said CPD Chief Stephen McCosker. “Instead of sirens, we’re going to have ice cream truck music.”

The pop-ups are impromptu community outreaches that suddenly show up in various locations around the city.

PHOTOS: Crestview Police Department open house

Pop-ups, including the upcoming Pop-Up Popsicles, are announced on the CPD’s social media anytime from the day before to the morning of the events.

Residents “will have to monitor our Facebook page to see where we’ll show up,” CPD Major Andrew Schneider said as he prepared the mobile crime scene unit vehicle for its service as an ice cream truck. “That’s the fun of a pop-up. It could be anywhere in the city.”

McCosker said the Pop-Up Popsicles will occur over the course of four days during the week of June 29, with ice cream giveaways happening in a different section of the city each day.

Unlike the CPD’s hotdog pop-ups, “we’ll start at one location, and move on to others inside the day’s zone,” he said.

“Moving around allows us to keep the crowd down at any one location,” Chief McCosker said. “We’ll be able to help the crowds maintain their social distancing.”

The pop-ups are funded by donations from residents, businesses and community organization as a way for police officers to mingle with residents.

“The more donations we have, the more ice cream we can give away,” the chief said.

To add variety, Mike Carroll, Hub City Smokehouse and Grill owner, is lending his snow-cone machine for Pop-Up Popsicles.

“The thing I’ve been really big on is, to be an effective police department, we have to interact with the community. Pop-ups are one way we can get out in the neighborhoods and parks and still observe social distancing,” McCosker said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Police Department plans ice cream pop-ups

CRESTVIEW — Residents are invited to break out the folding chairs and blankets as the Community Recreation and Enrichment Services department’s Family Movie Night resumes family-friendly film presentations.

The next movie event starts 6 p.m. June 20 at the Spanish Trail Park amphitheatre, Stilwell Boulevard in Crestview. Food vendor services begin at 6 p.m. The film, a 2019 animated Pixar feature, is rated G and follows at 8 p.m.

While exhibition licensing precludes advertising the name of the film beyond city social media pages, “we’re not toying around with this one. It’s going to be lots of fun!” said Rebecca Colvin, special events coordinator for the city’s Community Recreation and Enrichment Services division.

The evening’s presentation is sponsored by Kimberlie Birr of Coldwell Bankers Realty in Crestview and is part of the Mayor’s Cultural Series.

Social distancing is still in effect, Colvin said, “so please leave at least six feet between your group and the groups around you” when setting up in the amphitheatre and when queuing up for food.

For more details about, and any last-minute adjustments to the next Family Movie Night, visit www.facebook.com/cityofcrestviewparksandrecreation/.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview to host next Family Movie Night

CRESTVIEW — A gathering of community and city leaders in Warriors Hall on Monday afternoon found common ground that transcended demographics, while exploring questions that called for frank discussion and candid answers.

Called by City Manager Tim Bolduc in light of unrest in communities across the country, the discussion was carried live on Crestview Community Television and the city’s Facebook page.

It may be viewed at bit.ly/36VCGM5.

Joining Bolduc in the “open conversation” were Mayor JB Whitten and Crestview Police Department Chief Stephen McCosker; the Rev. Sanford Hayes of New Life Missionary Baptist Church and the Rev. Edward Parker of the First Church of God in Christ; David Wheeler of the Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society; and concerned citizens Darius Jackson and Marcia Thompson.

“It’s an opportunity to sit and listen and share our experiences,” said Wheeler, who moderated the discussion. “I hope when we walk out of this room, we’ll come out as changed people.”

“It’s easy to sit back and say, ‘Oh, this is Crestview. We’re not Minneapolis or Washington, D.C.,’” Whitten said. “The key is to be proactive. What can we do right now to take care of all our people equally?”

During the discussion, the participants responded to each other’s comments and took questions submitted on Facebook. Many of the questions and comments were directed toward Chief McCosker. Some of the questions were blunt.

“Is putting a foot on someone’s neck acceptable behavior?” one viewer asked.

“It’s never acceptable behavior,” McCosker immediately replied, explaining that sensitivity training is an integral part of his officers’ regular instruction programs.

Other questions sought to explore ways to strengthen the relationship between residents and the police department.

“You have to be out in the community and we try to do that in many ways,” McCosker said.

Wheeler questioned whether CPD officers were being “over-resourced,” to which Bolduc said, “It’s important for our officers to be properly equipped to do their jobs.”

Responding to a question by Jackson, Chief McCosker said his agency is increasing officer training “and we have a lot more transparency,” particularly through new body cameras worn by all officers.

“Statistics show that having body cameras reduces the possibility of violence,” the chief said, with the cameras being an impartial witness to both officer and citizen behavior.

Hayes asked, “What’s the best way to hold a march or a rally or a demonstration?”

Bolduc emphasized the city’s support for “the constitution and the freedom of speech and the freedom to peacefully assemble.”

The city would be glad to work with any citizens’ group seeking to hold a gathering to facilitate a safe, successful event, he said.

“The city is committed to supporting your rights to assemble,” he said.

As he wrapped up the discussion nearly an hour and a half after it began, Wheeler expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to share thoughts, address concerns and understand one another’s points of view.

“I think it was important to do this,” he said. “I appreciate our police officers and understand the job they have to do. We can see the difference — with the city manager, the mayor and the chief. We can see a positive difference.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community roundtable explores viewpoints

CRESTVIEW — The city’s Small Business Recovery Grant Program received another $5,000 boost Thursday when Christie Austin, assistant vice president of Community Bank’s Crestview branch, presented its donation to Mayor JB Whitten and City Manager Tim Bolduc.

“It’s just such a joy to be able to help,” Austin said.

“What a great community partner you are,” Whitten said. “We really appreciate your help.”

Told that her bank’s gift brought the total donations to $18,000, Austin said, “That speaks highly of our community as a whole.”

“We have had applicants that clearly qualify for the entire $1,500 grant, but only ask for $400 or $700 or whatever, because that’s what they need,” Bolduc said. “That leaves more money in the pot for more applicants. That, to me, just makes me proud because it speaks to the culture of this community.”

The program was initially funded by $75,000 from the city’s business tax receipts account.

After an overwhelming response quickly exhausted the fund, larger businesses came forward with donations so the program could help more smaller businesses.

Community Bank’s gift joins $5,000 donations each from Cox Communications and Eglin Federal Credit Union, and $1,500 each from AA Tactical and CCB Bank.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community Bank donates to Crestview business recovery fund