New murals turn heads in downtown Crestview

The newly completed mural on the north exterior brick wall of the Main Street Crestview Association/Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency office building is “just gorgeous,” MSCA Executive Director Deb Gething said. Featuring an image of a waving American flag and the words, “Thank you for choosing downtown Crestview,” the new mural was created by 2D artist Christina Donahoe, a Pittsburg native who currently lives in Fort Walton Beach.

Twin Hills Park gym could receive major upgrades

Crestview officials plan to have the leaky roof on the 46-year-old gymnasium at Twin Hills Park sealed and restored by this fall.

1. Housing boom, bypass work continue

As of late July, there were within Crestview’s city limits more than 5,300 single-family or multifamily units under construction, under review or in the pre-application stage.

Hayden named Crestview High School principal

Victoria Hayden has been named the new principal at Crestview High School. Hayden comes to Crestview High from Bob Sikes Elementary in Crestview where she currently serves as principal. She replaces Jay Sanders, who has served as the CHS principal for two years. Sanders announced his retirement earlier this month. He will step down at the end of June at which time Hayden will take the reins at CHS.

Crestview weightlifters claim district championship

For the first time in more than 20 years the Crestview Bulldogs boys weightlifting team is the district champion.

Car crashes into church

A suspected drunk driver has been arrested after crashing into the First Presbyterian Church of Crestview in the early morning hours of Feb. 18. The driver failed to negotiate the turn on southbound State Road 85 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 90. Paul B. Carroll, 38, of Crestview, was arrested on the scene and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in an accident with serious bodily injury, according to a Crestview Police Department media release.

A hero’s farewell

On Saturday, Renee Hamilton should have been celebrating her eighth wedding anniversary to Corporal Ray Hamilton of the Okaloosa County Sheriff ’s Office.

Crestview primary care physician Dr. Abdul Mir, whose practice is known for its family-like atmosphere, is retiring after serving patients in the Hub City for 44 years. Today is his last day of work at the East Redstone Avenue office he’s had since 1979. Mir, who was the 11th doctor to ever start at the North Okaloosa Medical Center, has been telling his patients in recent months about his plans to retire.

The city of Crestview’s New Year’s Eve Bash is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, on Main Street. The overall celebration, which will usher in 2024 with live music, food, adult beverages, and fireworks, is free and open to people of all ages.

In 2020, an F-22 Raptor crashed deep within the Eglin range.  In the barren location with nothing but trees, snakes, fires, and jet plane wreckage, emergency responders endured sweltering 100-degree May heat for hours without access to restrooms or just a cool place to sit down and recharge.