Southwest Crestview Bypass to open May 1 with ribbon-cutting
The event will take place on the newly completed bridge on the north side of the bypass near the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Enzor Road.
The bypass project is a joint effort involving Okaloosa County, the Florida Department of Transportation, Triumph Gulf Coast and the city of Crestview. Officials say the project is intended to improve traffic flow and provide additional travel options in the Crestview area.
The Southwest Crestview Bypass includes new roadway designed to improve access to homes, businesses and Pineview School.
Following the ceremony, the roadway is expected to open to traffic at noon. Motorists will be able to access the bypass from Antioch Road on the west, State Road 85 on the east and U.S. Highway 90 from the north.
The project also aligns with an ongoing Florida Department of Transportation interchange project at Interstate 10 and P.J. Adams Parkway, which is expected to connect to the bypass once completed.
The Southwest Crestview Bypass was constructed in phases at a total cost of about $212 million. Funding sources include state transportation grants, the Capital Improvement Program, P.J. Adams Tax Increment Financing, City of Crestview and Okaloosa County infrastructure surtax funds, Florida Department of Transportation work program funds and funding from Triumph Gulf Coast.
Big moment! UWF Argos officially move to Division I
The Argos are moving to Division I across the board in athletics. Football is now part of the United Athletic Conference, a Football Championship Subdivision league. The other sports are headed to the Atlantic Sun.
The announcement was made at a press conference in front of a large crowd and cheers erupted when UWF President Manny Diaz made the announcement.
“What a big day,” Diaz said. “This decision reflects the momentum of our university that has been built for many years and positions us for continued growth in the years ahead.”
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott called the move a memorable moment.
“Today is an exciting day for the Argonauts,” Scott said. “It’s a day we will remember when we made the transition and started a new era.”
He reflected on the success of the Argos’ D-II era, which included the football team starting from the ground level more than a decade ago and winning a national title four years into its history.
UWF has won 136 conference championships and 11 national titles as an athletic program.
“This moment was not given. It was earned,” Scott said. “In Division II, we had one of the most successful athletic programs. Our teams have delivered national championships, conference championships and All-Americans.
“We have competed at the highest level (in D-II), and every championship, every milestone, and every athlete who has helped our program remains part of UWF history. Division I is the next chapter of our story,” Scott added.
The Argos paid a $2 million entry fee to become a D-I member and must go through a three-year transition period before earning full D-I status starting in the fall of 2029.
While UWF cannot compete in the postseason over the next three years, it can still play for conference championships.
“It places our athletes on a bigger athletic stage while continuing the academic success that defines this university,” Scott said. “We’re excited about the opportunity ahead and ready to get to work.”
Jeff Bacon, the commissioner of the ASUN, spoke at the press conference and shared his excitement about the addition of the Argos to not only his conference, but the UAC as well.
“I’m very confident West Florida is well positioned to succeed as a member of the UAC and ASUN. And I am sure there are many more championships in your future. Welcome to the destination.”
There were several factors that went into UWF’s decision. Among them was the changing landscape of the Gulf South Conference in football. The GSC only had four teams last season.
In joining the UAC, the Argos reunite with two former GSC members in North Alabama and West Georgia.
“You have to look at the viability of the institution as a whole and what is best for the institution long term,” Diaz said. “We looked at all possible options, and looked at what was best for us, and that is why we landed here today.”
With more than 15,000 students, UWF is the third largest institution in both conferences.
Did Scott ever think UWF would be Division I 10 years after the football program played its inaugural season? Probably not.
But the goal was to always get here once football became part of the college’s landscape.
“It was always on the radar, and eventually we always knew we would land in this space. It makes sense at this time to be in this space,” Scott said.
UWF assistant football coach Steve Saulnier has been with the football program since day one. He remembers the early days when there was no stadium on campus or a football facility.
He’s excited to see UWF head into a new era.
“In this lifetime, you expect anything. Anything is possible,” Saulnier said. “With great leadership this was able to happen. It’s very exciting. It’s believable but also unbelievable.”
City council approves legal fee payments tied to 2021 Wilks case
The council authorized payments at their March 9 meeting of $100,000 each to Tallahassee-based attorney Nathan Prince, who represented Officer Brandon Hardaway, and Tallahassee-based attorney Stephen Webster, who represented Cpl. Evan Reynolds. William Johns was represented by a city-appointed attorney, Timothy Shaw, whose fees were paid directly by the city and are not part of the reimbursement request. The reimbursement for Shaw is unknown as of press time.
Reimbursements of up to $100,000 are required under Florida law, and funding was set aside in the city’s contingency budget.
“These expenses were anticipated by City staff and planned for over the last few years as the cases progressed toward a conclusion,” the agenda item states.
What Florida law requires
Under Section 111.065 of Florida Statutes, a government employer is required to provide or pay for legal representation for officers facing criminal charges arising from their official duties, provided the actions occurred within the course and scope of their duties, were not a material departure from written policies, and arose in circumstances such as self-defense or emergency response. If all three conditions are met and the case ends without a guilty plea or finding, the employer must reimburse reasonable attorney fees.
The city determined that all three conditions were satisfied for Hardaway and Reynolds. Although the attorneys’ total billings exceeded the $100,000-per-officer statutory cap, both Prince and Webster agreed to waive any additional fees beyond that amount, according to the agenda item.
Charges dismissed in August 2025
All three manslaughter charges were dismissed in August 2025 by First Judicial Circuit State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden’s office, which cited new evidence that raised “serious questions” about the cause and manner of Wilks’ death. The office said the evidence, as it stood at the time of dismissal, was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers should be held criminally responsible.
“While the Grand Jury acted on the information before it, this decision reflects the evidence as it now stands,” Bowden Madden said in a news release at the time. “I offer my condolences to the Wilks family for their loss, recognizing the impact this tragedy has had on all parties involved.”
All three officers returned to duty following the dismissal. They were initially placed on administrative duty pending completion of an internal review by the Crestview Police Department.
Background: the 2021 incident
The charges stemmed from the death of 40-year-old Calvin Wilks Jr. on Oct. 15, 2021, the day after officers responded to a 911 call in the 300 block of Hospital Drive. A resident had reported hearing a disturbance and someone screaming “stop, please stop.”
When officers arrived, Wilks was initially cooperative but later became agitated and combative, according to police. After attempts to de-escalate, officers used a Taser to detain him.
Emergency medical crews were called to the scene, and Wilks became unresponsive before being transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center, where he died.
An autopsy conducted by the District One Medical Examiner’s Office found the cause of death was “cardiac dysrhythmia following physical exertion, prone restraint and deployment of electroshock neuromuscular incapacitation device.” The report indicates Wilks died of an irregular heartbeat after being tased.
The medical examiner also found cocaine, amphetamines, THC and ecstasy in Wilks’ system, which were noted as contributing factors.
An Okaloosa County grand jury indicted the three officers on manslaughter charges in June 2022 following a state investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Crestview Police Chief Stephen McCosker said at the time of the dismissal that “the court’s decision affirms our continued confidence in the department and the dedicated officers who serve our community with integrity and respect.”
5/4 – 4th Annual Drive for Hope
Project Hope Florida will be hosting our 4th Annual Drive for Hope golf outing at the Blackwater Country Club in Crestview. We would love for you to come be a part of our wonderful day as we celebrate the lives being changed at Project Hope! Lunch and Dinner will be provided, so come with an appetite and be ready to have a great time!
Local book clubs support businesses and create friendships
Amber Collins, a leader with Crestview Book Club, said the group’s meetings give her a reason to con-nect with others and try local businesses she might not otherwise visit. “It helps me get out and do things I would probably not do on my own,” Collins said. She cited an upcoming book club meeting at Helen Back Pizza in Crestview as an example. Although the restaurant is well known locally, Collins said it will be her first visit and that she is looking forward to ex-periencing it with fellow book club members.
Mandi Kelly., a local resident who participates in three different book clubs, said joining book clubs helped her form meaningful friendships after moving to the area. “Yes,” Kelly said when asked whether she had made friends through book clubs. “In fact, I’ve met some of my best friends in book club.” She said those friendships have grown into a support system that has carried her through important moments in her life. Kelly said she recommends Overbooked Book Club, Crestview Book Club and Temple Beth Shalom’s Nice Jewish Book Club, citing their welcoming environments and community focus.
Book club members interviewed by the Crestview News Bulletin described book clubs as inclusive spac-es where shared interest in reading helps remove barriers that often make adult friendships difficult. “Book clubs don’t care about age, race, jobs, etc. We just all love to read,” one member said. Organizers said book clubs often serve as an entry point for newcomers to the community or residents looking to meet people with similar interests. While not all local book clubs were interviewed for this article, the Crestview News Bulletin recognizes several active groups in the Okaloosa area, including Crestview Book Club, Overbooked Book Club, Geek Girls Book Club, My Wine Club Has a Book Problem, Eglin Spouses Book Club, Silent Book Club Fort Walton Beach, Spicy Shelf Society of Crestview, and Temple Beth Shalom’s Nice Jewish Book Club.
Crestview begins tennis season at Niceville
Crestview split their doubles matches on the boys’ side. Tristan Cooley paired with fellow senior, Roman Prien, winning their match 5-3, 4-0. Sophomore, Lliam Cooley, paired with freshman, Kai Kellogg. The two would lose their match in a tiebreaker 4-2, 2-4, 1-0 (10-6).
T. Cooley went on to win his singles match sweeping both sets 6-2, 6-1. T. Cooley has swept Niceville in all four years of his high school career.
Prien came close to defeating his singles opponent, in a tiebreaker 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-1). Lliam Cooley, Kai Kellogg, and Brendan Barnard would also drop their singles matches.
“As a team, I was impressed with our drive to compete. Most of our matches started off slow, but by the end, progress had been made,” head coach Dan Byerly said. “I was proud of our team as a whole.”
Kaya Wolfgramm and Kaylee Wayer paired together for the first of the girls’ double matches. A tough loss, 0-4, 3-5 that carried over into Tia Parker-Dahlgren and Brooke Copeland’s doubles match, 0-4, 2-4.
Wolfgramm put up a tough battle in her singles match, but dropped both sets 4-6, 4-6.
Crestview didn’t get the win they wanted, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any positives taken away from the loss.
“I think we gained some respect in our lower seeds by proving the strength of our freshman class,” Byerly said. “Kai Kellogg on the boys’ team and Tia Parker-Dahlgren, Brook Copeland, and Mackenzie Craig on the girls’ side, all fought tooth and nail for every point.”
The Bulldogs move on to district play on Tuesday, February 10 where they will host the Tate Aggies starting at 3 p.m.
Looking ahead to next week’s girls state weightlifting meet
Pace comes in as the 3A reigning state champions, winning three consecutive crowns in Traditional and back-to-back titles in Olympic, and is coming off first-place finishes in the district and regional competitions.
Navarre, the runner-up in the district and region, is aiming for another top five finish at state while Baker will be in the mix for a 1A state title after winning district and regional crowns. Crestview, Central and Jay all have state qualifiers as well.
Tickets for state can be purchased online at the RP Funding Center box office. The cost is $11 in advance and $14 the day of the meet. Parking is $10.
3A
Olympic
101: Maddy Sanderson, Pace, 275 (1); McKenzie Thibault, Pace, 250; Sara Brogan, Navarre, 220; Faith Archibald, Navarre, 195
110: Lili Portillo, Pace, 300 (1); Kerrigan Densman, Pace, 270
119: Holleigh Bufkin, Pace, 270; Ava Secor, Crestview, 255; Stella Kroger, Pace, 255
129: Morgan Johnson, Pace, 300; Abigail Butler, Pace, 295; Natalie Gill, Navarre, 280; Addisen Campbell, Crestview, 270
139: Rose Shiel, Pace, 305; Vivian Otts, Pace, 275
154: Layah Slaughter, Pace, 370 (Tie/1st); Amaya DeLeon, Crestview, 320; Laela Schultz, Pace, 320; Nadia Rivera, Navarre, 315; Haleigh Shuping, Navarre, 280
169: Alyssa McMurtrie, Pace, 390 (1); Paisley Presnell, Pace, 325; Maryah Eddy, Navarre, 320; Georgia Downs, Navarre, 295
183: Ireland Grimes, Pace, 400 (1); Daisy Dukes, Crestview, 300; Allison White, Pace, 295; Ava Broxson, Navarre, 280
199: Kamryn Pierce, Pace, 380 (1); Mia Woodall, Pace, 375; Gabby Johnson, Navarre, 360; Saige Schmidt, Crestview, 290
Unlimited: Kendal Salter, Pace, 360; Izzy Voisin, Crestview, 330; Krista Tarbox, Navarre, 300
Traditional
101: McKenzie Thibault, Pace, 295 (1); Maddy Sanderson, Pace, 290; Sara Brogan, Navarre, 245; Faith Archibald, Navarre, 225
110: Lili Portillo, Pace, 340 (1); Kerrigan Densman, Pace, 285; Anna Wagner, Navarre, 250; Morgan Savage, Navarre, 240
119: Holleigh Bufkin, Pace, 315; Jacelyn Masson, Pace, 275; Ava Secor, Crestview, 250
129: Abigail Butler, Pace, 340; Morgan Johnson, Pace, 330; Emma Smith, Navarre, 295
139: Rose Shiel, Pace, 325; Haidyn Hill, Pace, 310
154: Layah Slaughter, Pace, 375 (Tie/1st); Laela Schutlz, Pace, 345; Amaya DeLeon, Crestview, 335; Nadia Rivera, Navarre, 325; Olivia Leslie, Navarre, 305
169: Alyssa McMurtrie, Pace, 465 (1); Maryah Eddy, Navarre, 345; Paisley Presnell, Pace, 345; Georgia Downs, Navarre, 330
183: Ireland Grimes, Pace, 445 (1); Allison White, Pace, 320; Ava Broxson, Navarre, 310
199: Mia Woodall, Pace, 420 (1); Kamryn Pierce, Pace, 410; Gabby Johnson, Navarre, 400; Saige Schmidt, Crestview, 315
Unlimited: Kendal Salter, Pace, 395; Morgan McHenry, Pace, 375; Izzy Voisin, Crestview, 345