CRESTVIEW — Florida International University remains committed to its physician assistant program’s Crestview component, despite the death of its most ardent local proponent.

Peter Gutierrez, dean of FIU's new Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine PA program, visited Mayor David Cadle on Thursday to assure him the program will proceed as former state senator and Crestview physician Durrell Peaden envisioned.

After several years of planning and receiving accreditation, the program’s first 45 students started classes Aug. 3 at FIU’s Miami campus.

“They (had) their first test this week,” Gutierrez said. “We’re excited. We have our white coat ceremony Oct. 22. It’s for real. It’s no longer in planning. It’s happening.” White coat ceremonies mark medical students' transition from the study of preclinical to clinical health sciences.

“We’re looking to send the students here (to Crestview) in 15 months for hospital rotations and rural clinical rotations,” Gutierrez said. “It will be a great experience they can’t get in the Miami area.”

Several Crestview rotation sites, including North Okaloosa Medical Center, are being considered. In addition, “We’re talking with the armed forces to see if we can get some rotations inside the (Eglin) air base, too,” Gutierrez said.

Five to 10 students will be in the first group to study in Crestview, Gutierrez said. Local clinical rotations will last nine to 10 months, he said.

Peaden — who died June 23 of illness related to a heart attack — worked tirelessly to bring healthcare and health education programs to North Okaloosa and Walton counties.

His initiatives included the Florida A&M University Rural Diversity Healthcare Center in downtown Crestview, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine DeFuniak Springs Dental Offices, and the FIU physician assistant program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: First students to begin Crestview clinical rotations in 2016

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Police Chief Tony Taylor says he has the solution for replacing the department's outdated computer system.

But first, he will need some tax dollars to pay for it.

Taylor said he and Officer Len Steinmeier, the CPD's systems administrator, evaluated several systems used by area and regional law enforcement agencies before settling on the one he is requesting from the 2015-16 budget.

"SunGard Public Sector is the only company we met with that exceeded our expectations," Taylor said. "They are the only company sitting on the technological edge."

Taylor described the $880,000 system as being" built by law enforcement for law enforcement," and noted the Fort Walton Beach Police Department uses it "and they like it."

Steinmeier said the current failing system — bought in 2002 "with no thought to upgrades" — is incompatible with the rigorous reporting now required by state and federal mandate.

The current system's limitations were revealed during the 2015 mayoral campaign, when the city's reported crime statistics became an issue but turned out to be erroneously reported to state and federal agencies.

"When we started looking closer at the data, we realized the system was not updating properly," Steinmeier said.

Council President Shannon Hayes said he looked into the concern and agreed. "I looked at some of the crime reports and saw the same address had the same crime reported seven or eight times," Hayes said. "The system reflects bad on us as a city."

Taylor said correcting system-generated errors required "hundreds of man-hours" of officer time.

SunGard representatives Joe Beasley and Al Battles, a former police officer in North Carolina, demonstrated their company's software — which integrates a police headquarters' central server with dispatch and patrol computers — during an Aug. 20 City Council budget workshop.

Battles said the proposed system allows officers to simply speak commands to the computer; this means they don't have to take their eyes off the road or from a crime scene to manually enter data or information requests.

The system's cost, which would be spread over six years, includes loading Crestview and Florida-specific data, including city and regional maps, and can accommodate Google Maps and weather radar.

Crestview police can upload floor plans of buildings such as schools and commercial properties, as well as residences that are repeat crime scenes, such as meth labs.

When an officer files an incident report, the proposed system complies with Florida Uniform Crime Reports requirements to assure the report is accurate, Battles said. It alerts the officer to errors, incomplete or inaccurate data.

"All the Florida charges are dropped in," Battles said, noting the system can also generate and print traffic citations. "All you have to add is the city ordinances."

Vehicle identification numbers are automatically imported from the state motor vehicle database, and click-and-drag technology facilitates preparing accident report diagrams previously done by hand.

While the demonstration impressed councilmen, departmental budgets are still being reviewed and adjusted; there is no guarantee that Taylor's request will be approved.

The City Council will further discuss the budget during a workshop on Tuesday. The new budget will be implemented by Oct. 1.

The Crestview City Council's next budget workshop is 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview police: Outdated computer system needs $800K replacement

FORT WALTON BEACH — The National Association of Social Workers has selected Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel as Florida's Social Worker of the Year.

The award — presented by Jim Aiken, executive director of NASW's Florida Chapter — praised Ketchel for more than 40 years' contributions to the field of social work.

She participated in President Jimmy Carter’s White House Conference on Families, was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for her work on the Social Security Commission, and worked as a technical adviser to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.

After moving to Florida in 1987, Ketchel was active in many aspects of the social work field, including as director of Catholic Charities and as a private counselor. Ketchel also was appointed as the senior legislative director for Sen. Don Gaetz, during which time Ketchel worked to pass legislation creating the Masters-level Social Work program at the University of West Florida.

Ketchel — the Okaloosa County Commission's only current female — is the first licensed clinical social worker to hold office in Northwest Florida. She serves as a member of the Gubernatorial Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Board.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Carolyn Ketchel, Okaloosa commissioner, named Florida's Social Worker of the Year

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will meet 3 p.m. Aug. 20 for a budget workshop at city hall, 198 Wilson St., N.

Here is the meeting's agenda.

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Public Opportunity on Council propositions

4. New equipment demo: Chief Taylor

5. Budget discussion

6. Comments from the audience.

7. Adjourn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what the Crestview City Council will meet about Aug. 20

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Republican Club's monthly meeting is Thursday Aug. 27 at American Legion Post 235, 105 S.W. Hollywood Blvd. 

Social hour will begin at 6:30 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7 p.m. State Rep. Matt Gaetz, guest speaker, will discuss matters of importance to Okaloosa County residents as well as issues at the state level.

Dinner costs $15 and includes drinks and gratuity. Menu choices are  crab cakes, asparagus, squash and a side salad or grilled chicken salad.  

Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend. 

Call President Eric Aden, 850-259-7593, or Vice President Nate Lepper, 850-376-2287, for more information about the Republican Club or to make a dinner reservation. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Republican dinner to feature Florida Rep. Gaetz

CRESTVIEW — Within a year, if not sooner, residents over 55 years old will have a new place they can call home as the result of a city- and state-backed $1 million complex under construction on Brookmeade Extension.

Katie Manor, a 6-acre development, will provide 102 one-and two-bedroom apartments and will offer amenities including fitness and leisure facilities. Developers with Vestcor Companies plan to open the complex in 13 months.

“That’s the public goal,” company Chairman John Rood said. “We have a lot tighter internal goal.”

“That’s 10 months!” Chief Financial Officer Steve Moore said.

The complex was facilitated by a $750,000 state Department of Economic Development grant with $250,000 in security provided by the city. The city’s share was refunded earlier this year.

“Immediately after closing, that money was reimbursed, so the city is out nothing,” City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

STATE SUPPORT

To put the coalition together, Vestcor officials met with then-Senate President Don Gaetz. “He really embraced the idea that we need to do all we can to provide quality housing for seniors in the smaller and medium counties in our state,” Rood said.

“When we took the concept to the governor (Rick Scott), what really resonated was that seniors these days are really struggling. Not only were they hurt in the downturn, but things haven’t gotten any better.”

Rood said many seniors’ savings will not provide the return on investment they had hoped for, limiting how much income they will have to live off of. “They’re fighting to find the resources to live the kind of life they expected in their retirement,” Rood said.

AFFORDABILITY

Anticipation among curious residents has been building for several months as city officials approved the development's plans.

"I wonder what will be considered affordable," Denna Carfagna Lantz said on Facebook. "Great location though!"

"Is this going to be low income or for anyone?" Shirl Griffin Long said.

Katie Manor must charge rent "equal to or less than 30 percent of annual incomes for households at or below 60 percent of area median income … minus tenant-paid utilities," the agreement states.

With monthly one-bedroom apartment rents planned for “the mid-600s,” Moore said Katie Manor will provide units for less than many Crestview apartment communities with comparable facilities. That's beneficial for retirees, who often have to move far from home since “small and medium-sized counties have a hard time obtaining low-income housing funding," Rood said. “One-hundred-and-two families won’t have to travel to a large county for affordable retirement housing.”

Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce chairman-elect Dawn Mann praised the city and Vestcor for locating Katie Manor on Brookmeade Extension.

“They’re providing residents with everything they’d need within half a mile,” she said, referring to shopping at Wal-Mart and Publix, health care at North Okaloosa Medical Center and restaurants.

“It’s just so exciting,” Mayor David Cadle said. “This is filling a void in this community and I can’t tell you how many calls I have received from people wanting to sign up.”

What: Katie Manor

What is it: Affordable senior housing

Opening: Summer 2016

Size: 102 one- and two-bedroom units

Rent: approximately $675-$770

Local impact: 6-8 local employees, local vendors and sub-contractors

Construction cost: $1 million

Amenities: Pool, recreation center, hair salon, game room, library/internet café with WiFi, activity programming, field trips

Information, waiting list sign-up: Holly Hepler, Vestcor Companies, hhepler@vestcor.com

MONTHLY RENTAL COMPARISONS*

Complex     1 bedroom   2 bedrooms

Addison Place $640  $725

Bel Aire Terrace  $849  $899

Katie Manor  approximately $675  $770

Pinnacle Pointe $759  $929

Riverwood  $795  $895

Spring Creek  $799  $1,049

Monthly rents are lowest for each category. Some complexes offer larger apartments at higher rents.

Source: Apartments.com and property management's websites

KATIE MANOR AT A GLANCE

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Affordable senior housing complex under construction in Crestview

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s branch office in Uptown Station on Eglin Parkway is moving to the new Okaloosa County administrative building in Shalimar.  

The Fort Walton Beach branch closes Aug. 24 and reopens Sept. 1 at  1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 101 in Shalimar.

“Our other branches throughout the county (including Crestview's, open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 302 N. Wilson St., Suite 101) will be fully staffed and open for business as usual to accommodate those who would typically conduct business at the Fort Walton Beach branch," Tax Collector Ben Anderson said.

Call 651-7300 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview tax office available as Fort Walton Beach branch relocates

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections office will hold Candidate University on Sept. 1 and 3.

The class is for anyone interested in running for public office or wanting to learn about the candidate process. Two sessions are available:

●6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, Buddy Brackin Building, 302 Wilson St. N. Suite 102, Crestview

●9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 3, Water and Sewer Building, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach

Contact Bridget Richard Krebs, 689-5600 or brichard@co.okaloosa.fl.us, to register by Aug. 24. More information is available at www.GoVote-Okaloosa.com under the ‘Programs’ menu.

Candidate University is a three-hour curriculum focused on the fundamentals of becoming and being a candidate. Participants will be introduced to each step involved in the process including pre-filing, collecting petitions and qualifying. Campaign pitfalls will also be discussed as well as audits, recounts and contest of elections.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Candidate University begins next month in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach