As I go to meetings and listen to meetings in Santa Rosa County and now Okaloosa County, I realize how valuable it is to know what is going on in two counties, not just one.

I had the opportunity to sit down with our U.S. House Representative, Matt Gaetz, at his district office in Pensacola last week. He was preparing for a hearing with Alejandro Mayorkas last Thursday and took an hour out of his day to chat about his district that covers all the areas where we have news organizations.

I have a lot to learn about Crestview. I have been listening to your meetings online and I know that you are a vibrant and growing community that has a lot of the same issues as other cities, but you also have a personality that uniquely your own.

The good news is that we have an outstanding editor here, Wendy Victora Rudman, who is very familiar with you and her face lights up every time I say Crestview.