Bob Sikes Elementary School celebrated the opening of its new cafetorium and music classroom last Tuesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by school officials “We proudly celebrated the ribbon cutting at Bob Sikes Elementary School marking the official opening of their new state-of-the-art cafetorium and modern music classroom,” Chambers said “These impressive additions reflect our continued commitment to providing students with facilities that inspire learning Principal Laurren Seegars welcomed attendees emphasizing how the new space addresses growth needs at the school The event included a Pledge of Allegiance led by student Scarlet Hawkins and a tribute to military families delivered by student Allison Weaver in recognition of the Month of the Military Child Chambers highlighted how the district has transformed its facilities over the past six years Additional improvements at Bob Sikes include plans to convert the old cafeteria into classrooms and a new nurse’s facility The school also received a new teacher’s lounge through a donation from Destiny Worship Center with School Board member Tim Bryant supporting the future purchase of digital TV displays The district’s facility improvement plan includes upcoming projects such as a 10-classroom addition at Baker School a 30-classroom addition at Destin Elementary the district’s first new school in nearly 15 years Join the best local newsletter read by thousands of locals each weekday morning Richard Zach Wagner was taken into custody at a home on Antioch Road near Crestview after law enforcement tracked him down Wagner initially barricaded himself inside and refused to exit Wagner had fled into woods and disappeared in early April after deputies attempted to take him into custody during a traffic stop He’s accused of later battering a woman and taking her car by force Wagner’s numerous charges include obstructing police serving/executing a search warrant possession of a controlled substance without a prescription possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon Copyright © document.currentScript.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', '' + new Intl.DateTimeFormat(document.documentElement.lang, {year: 'numeric'}).format() + ''); Crestview News Bulletin. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy CRESTVIEW, Fla. -- A Gulf War Army veteran convicted of a quadruple murder in Okaloosa County was executed on Thursday Jeffrey Hutchinson was convicted in 2001 for the murder of his girlfriend and her three children in Crestview in 1998 He was the third person executed in Florida this year Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for Hutchinson last month On Wednesday the Florida Supreme Court rejected arguments that Hutchinson should be spared from lethal injection DeSantis said earlier this week there's no reason to believe this execution won't go through Thursday as Hutchinson has sat on death row for almost 24 years but we'll never forget them," DeSantis said Hutchinson left home for a bar in Okaloosa County after a fight with his girlfriend He later returned home with a 12-guage shotgun and murdered Flaherty and her three kids Hutchinson confessed to killing them in a 911 call but later said it was a set-up Prosecutors say Hutchinson made countless attempts to stall the trial "I did not kill Renee and the kids and I believe I was framed," Hutchinson said "The evidence is overwhelming of his guilt," said the prosecutor The medical examiner revealed during the trial that it's likely two of the children witnessed their mother being killed before their lives were taken It's believed older brother Geoffrey saw the horror before he was killed Flaherty's mother Elva Elmore and her brother Wesley spoke to WEAR News in 1998 at the funerals for the family he was just a bundle of energy," said Elmore "I don't understand either how he could take their lives Hutchinson's family and friends say he suffered from Gulf War syndrome and bipolar disorder His son Geoffrey Hutchinson told WEAR News shortly after the murder that his behavior was unpredictable "He just had sudden mood swings," Geoffrey said One minute your calm the next minute your mad." "I'm kinda sad because my dad's in jail," he said "But he should be in jail so he could get some psychiatric help." Others say there was never reason to believe Hutchinson would hurt Flaherty or her kids just like I do with my kids," said Creighton Adams "You would've thought they were his kids It's the way he treated them and it's the way they all acted." "I haven't slept much," said Lee Taylor "I think about a three-letter question I'm gonna take to my grave: Why?" "He knew exactly what he did," DeSantis said "He murdered children and he murdered a woman in cold blood." DeSantis says Hutchinson's criminal history leaves no doubt he is where he belongs "We think he's murdered other people beyond this but obviously he got sentenced for this," DeSantis said "So the death sentence is appropriate for someone whose committed crimes this heinous." Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart The executioner is a private citizen paid $150 per execution They're chosen by the warden and can remain anonymous under state law There are now 273 inmates on Florida's death row Fairfax County transportation staff are developing plans to fill in sidewalk gaps along a neighborhood road just outside the Town of Herndon Details of the Crestview Drive Walkway project will be shared with the public for the first time at a community meeting next Wednesday (May 7) at 6 p.m in the Clearview Elementary School cafeteria (12635 Builders Road) Hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman “The project also includes new curb and gutter on the western side of Crestview Drive an 8′ wide pedestrian refuge island and ADA ramps.” Staff are currently just over halfway through the process of designing the planned walkway and other pedestrian improvements according to a schedule on FCDOT’s project page The county anticipates commencing any land acquisitions and utility relocations this December though construction isn’t scheduled to begin until March 2027 According to FCDOT, the walkway project is being locally funded with revenue from the county’s commercial and industrial property taxes “The total estimated cost for the project is $1.55 million,” FCDOT said to FFXnow To the south, the Town of Herndon has been studying whether to add a signal at Crestview Drive’s intersection with Sterling Road as part of a substantial reconfiguration of that street from Elden Street to Herndon Parkway The Sterling Road multi-modal project was put on hold in late 2023 due to pandemic-related delays and a need to find additional funding, prompting the town to add a road diet as an interim safety measure The project is still included in the town’s proposed capital improvement program for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 which estimates a total cost of $7.8 million Design and engineering work aren’t expected to begin until fiscal year 2027 Buckeye State Credit Union joined Crestview Elementary School first graders to help them shop at the Crestview Budget Barn created by first-grade staff students earned CR money for completing tasks students created wish lists based on their money earned They then designed a debit card and took it shopping The executive team members from BSCU helped students pick out items in their budget and practice addition and subtraction to determine remaining funds students learned about the roles of the executive team members within the credit union structure and had a Q & A session with CEO Mike Abernathy about money and banking This project was the economics piece teachers incorporated into the Chick Quest project completed during the month of March where each class hatched chicks and donated them to local families students learned about the life cycle of the chicks constructed art projects and read about many types of animals during the project LISBON — Columbiana County Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco said she’s not expecting much voter turnout .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Ohio | https://www.morningjournalnews.com | 308 Maple Street WINONA – The Winona Ruritan Club held its annual Father-Daughter-Granddaughter-Great-Granddaughter dinner meeting .. Crestview High School will celebrate Prom 2025 on Friday with the Grand March at 5:30 pm in the Performing Arts .. Inc.: | https://www.salemnews.net | 161 North Lincoln MONO COUNTY — Caltrans reopened the Crestview Safety Roadside Rest Area on U.S located between Mammoth Lakes and June Lake in Mono County had been in a winter closure since December 16 maintenance crews made the necessary repairs to the rest area to facilitate its reopening Drivers should prepare themselves for changes at the facility The Crestview Rest Area no longer has dumpsters or trash receptacles on the premises This is due to the excessive amounts of dumping and household trash that has been left at the rest area over the past few years drivers are encouraged to hold on to their trash until they reach an appropriate place to dispose of it Leaving trash at the Crestview Rest Area is prohibited and Caltrans is placing signs to warn drivers of $1,000 fines for littering Incoming weather may affect the rest area and Mono County highways this weekend State Route 89/Monitor Pass is in a storm closure until the weather event passes and the road can be assessed for reopening The remaining winter closures for Caltrans District 9 are still in effect Before you hit the road, plan your trip with the Caltrans QuickMap app or website at quickmap.dot.ca.gov You can also call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623) Thank you for supporting journalism at your local newspaper This article is available exclusively for our subscribers who help fund our work at Crestview News Bulletin Crestview Elementary kindergartners partnered with Baker’s Golden Dairy again this year to create a new flavor of ice cream Students were given the opportunity to tour the farm in April where they saw the cows the milking and bottling process and learned about how the farm makes the ice cream Students got to taste samples of ice cream and see what the farm store has to offer they spent time at CES with thea OSU extension office learning about the process of getting items from the farm to the final products in stores Each kindergarten class then determined what it felt would be the best flavor and mix in for ice cream Names were created by each class and the school voted on “Crestview Cookie Craze,”a combination of vanilla ice cream with Oreos and chocolate chip cookie dough pieces created by Mrs Kasey Swope of Baker’s Golden Dairy brought the first batch of the ice cream for all kindergarten students and staff to taste test did a project in art and wrote about ice cream to accompany the project LISBON — Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin recently reflected on his first term in office -- The Crestview Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying two women suspected of stealing approximately $4,500 worth of merchandise from a local retail store on Sunday It happened at the Ulta Beauty store in Crestview Commons Surveillance video shows the suspects walking through the store wearing what appears to be pink and green nursing scrubs Officers are urging anyone with information to come forward Tips can be submitted to Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers by calling 863-TIPS, visiting their website A cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest “A lot of times when when you live and work near an interstate these people are opportunistic," Crestview Police Chief Stephen McCosker said go ahead and commit crime at one of the local stores and get back on the interstate because they know they’re gonna be out of the area.” once the women get behind one of the store's displays But then you see them grab several items and throw it in their bags Ulta employees said they were after the high-end fragrances "They loaded up with $4,500 worth of stuff," McCosker said “When you’re talking about $4,500 or $2,000 dollars I hate to even refer to it as shoplifting," said Scott Shalley the president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation "It’s really a grand theft organized retail crime." The latest data from the National Retail Federation shows retailers reported a 93% increase in shoplifting incidents in 2023 versus 2019 “Whether it’s a pharmacy or hardware store you’re finding more items that are locked up and inaccessible to the consumer -- and retailers don’t like doing that," Shalley said Florida retailers lost $5.24 billion in revenue to theft in 2022 Shalley says shoplifting can have a domino effect on pricing and the retailers overhead goes up," Shalley said Chief McCoskar has a message for the suspects or anyone considering doing something similar "I want to remind them that camera systems have become so sophisticated," he said "It’s not as easy as people think to go ahead and get away with it.” a Crestview native and prominent figure in the local building industry His leadership extended to the state level when he served as president of the Florida Home Builders Association in 2017 Stewart also contributed to local governance through his service on both the Planning Commission and Construction Board for Okaloosa County Fellow builder and BIAOW board member Jeri Toolan of Toolan Development remembered serving alongside Stewart since the early 2000s I don’t know of any position where he was compensated He did it out of the goodness of his heart,” Toolan said also remembered Stewart as “a close friend and mentor” whose absence “will be deeply felt.” Carducci credited Stewart with opening his eyes “to the industry’s significance and the unwavering commitment required to safeguard its interests.” The BIAOW described Stewart as “a passionate advocate for growth and education” who consistently championed the next generation of builders A Celebration of Life will take place after the graveside service at Gum Creek Lodge in Baker LISBON — Columbiana County Commissioner Tim Ginter praised efforts by the non-profit agency Flying High to help .. A man suffered a gunshot wound to the lower torso during an altercation with four armed males behind a local gas station Sunday night Officers provided emergency first aid to the victim before he was transported to an area hospital Police described his injuries as non-life-threatening the shooting occurred during a confrontation at the rear of the business where four males approached the victim with firearms and shot at him The department’s Criminal Investigations Division is currently interviewing witnesses reviewing evidence and working to identify the subjects involved in the incident Police are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Crestview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (850)-682-3544 Tuesday's storm has caused the cancellation of classes in the Crestview Local School District According to the district's Facebook page there will be no classes in the district on Wednesday School officials earlier announced a two-hour delay but later shut down the school for the rest of the day The injuries occurred during an altercation at the rear of the business where four males confronted the victim with firearms and shot at the victim emergency first aid was rendered to the victim who was promptly transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries The Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is in the process of interviewing witnesses reviewing evidence and identifying the subjects in this case The investigation remains active and ongoing Police are asking people who may have additional information in this case to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (850)-682-3544 – Crestview Plans to Allocate Additional Equity to Support Smyth's Organic Investments and M&A to Drive Enhanced Capabilities – Smyth Actively Pursuing Tuck-In and Transformational Acquisitions – 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Crestview Partners ("Crestview") announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Smyth Companies ("Smyth" or the "Company") full-service provider of pressure sensitive labels Crestview is investing alongside members of the Company's founding family and the existing management team led by President & CEO Scott Fisher Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed Crestview is allocating additional equity to support organic investments and M&A to drive enhanced capabilities scale and diversification; and Smyth is actively pursuing both tuck-in and transformational acquisitions across the pressure sensitive labels in-mold labels and flexible packaging markets Smyth is a leader in the prime labels industry providing customized solutions for a diverse array of high-value consumer product applications across the household health & beauty and automotive aftermarket segments Smyth's broad range of printing capabilities highly-regarded product quality and reputation for exceptional customer service have resulted in strong long-tenured partnerships with numerous blue-chip consumer packaged goods customers many of which have trusted Smyth to serve their most iconic brands for decades Partner and Co-Head of Industrials at Crestview "We believe Smyth holds a uniquely strong position within the broader prime labels market driven by its innovative and reputation for exceptional product quality which enable the Company to flexibly serve leading consumer packaged goods customers at scale Smyth's strong presence in attractive end-markets has allowed the Company to experience a high degree of stability across economic cycles and positioned it well to capitalize on numerous secular tailwinds These characteristics make our investment in Smyth highly consistent with Crestview's strategy of investing in market-leading businesses at exciting inflection points and we are excited to partner with the Smyth management team to drive the Company's next phase of growth." "We are excited to welcome Crestview as our partner for this next phase of Smyth's evolution Our focus remains on delivering excellent product quality and reliable service to our customers and we believe Crestview's highly complementary experience and enthusiastic support of Smyth's acquisition expansion strategy will help us become an even stronger value-added partner to our customers and achieve our full growth potential." "Our partnership with Smyth exemplifies Novacap's ability to drive long-term value creation through operational improvements and strategic initiatives," said Domenic Mancini "We are incredibly proud of the progress achieved by the Smyth team and confident that the company is well-positioned for continued success in the evolving labeling and packaging industry." Baird served as financial advisor while Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP and Fox Rothschild LLP provided legal counsel to Novacap Evercore served as financial advisor while Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP provided legal counsel to Crestview Partners For more information, please contact:Jeffrey Taufield Kekst CNC(212) 521-4800[email protected]  Crestview Partners ("Crestview") a leading private equity firm founded in 2004 announced the successful close of a continuation fund that includes.. Banking & Financial Services Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers Do not sell or share my personal information: -- One person was shot in an altercation at a Crestview gas station Sunday night at the FLA Convenience Gas Station located on N Ferdon Boulevard Police arrived and found a victim with a gunshot wound to the lower torso area "The injuries occurred during an altercation at the rear of the business where four males confronted the victim with firearms and shot at the victim," police say in a release The victim was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries The Crestview Police Department is asking people with additional information to contact the Crestview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at: (850)-682-3544 Crestview Carnival comes to Spanish Trail Park to support local historyNorthwest Florida Daily NewsCRESTVIEW — Families in North Okaloosa County can enjoy carnival rides while supporting local history during a traveling carnival at Spanish Trail Park from March 20 to 29 a portion of the event's proceeds will benefit the Crestview Historic Preservation Board and the Bush House and Crestview History Museum “It’s a fun way to earn money for the board’s various projects,” board President Ann Spann said we started a program recognizing the city’s various historic properties with metal historic markers Thanks to people’s support of the carnivals we will soon be recognizing more historic places we’ve been operating the Bush House history museum Families having a fun time at the carnival help fund these projects,” she said operated by James Gang Amusements of Andalusia will be set up in the field next to Stillwell Boulevard Entry will be through the Stillwell entrance Unlimited ride wristbands will be available for $20 on March 20 and March 24-27 “Come have fun and help preserve and recognize Crestview’s history and heritage at the same time,” Spann said Fla.-- A 27-year-old Crestview man died in an accident on Thursday night in Walton County Troopers say the incident occurred around 6:45 p.m traveling northbound on US 331 State Road 83 at a high speed The Crestview man attempted to correct the SUV's path causing it to rotate clockwise and leave the roadway Authorities are seeking the public’s assistance to identify two individuals who vandalized the baseball field at Shoal River Middle School Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the individuals is encouraged to contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 850-863-TIPS (8477) or visiting the Crime Stoppers website at EmeraldCoastCrimeStoppers.com had been spotted on a utility task vehicle but fled into a wooded area when a deputy tried to make contact A perimeter was quickly set up and multiple S.O was able to avoid capture by reportedly getting into a vehicle in the Northwood Road area “The OCSO got word last night that Wagner had battered the woman who picked him up and then forcefully taken her car from her in Baker,” S.O “A deputy spotted Wagner in the car on Highway 85 in Laurel Hill this morning and tried to stop him but Wagner sped off before hitting an embankment He later bailed out of the car in Alabama and ran into the woods.” Anyone with information on Wagner’s current whereabouts is asked to call the OCSO at (850) 651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 863-TIPS (8477) officials gave thanks to the Florida Highway Patrol Okaloosa and Walton Correctional Institutions and Crestview Police Department for their help in trying to capture Wagner Drivers in downtown Crestview will soon find orange warning citations on their windshields if they park facing against the flow of traffic on Main Street “We noticed that there was an increase of complaints about this and through further observation we realized that there’s a lot of people who aren’t aware of that fact,” McCosker said in a video posted to social media The police chief emphasized that vehicles must be parked with the flow of traffic meaning the passenger side door should face the curb Civilian employees will issue orange warning citations to incorrectly parked vehicles as part of the campaign These warnings will explain why the parking method violates proper procedure “We appreciate your cooperation and stay safe,” McCosker said OLIVESBURG — Crestview senior Chesnie Patton can count on one hand the number of times she has received the bunt sign from head softball coach Scott Durbin they were both asked to come through in the clutch with one of the most selfless plays in softball COUGARS CRUISING: Richland County Softball Power Poll: New No. 1 team riding seven-game winning streak With the game knotted at 0-0 through four and a half innings the Cougars finally got a runner in scoring position with one out in the fifth Patton stepped up having struck out her first two at-bats and executed a perfect squeeze to get the Cougars on the board Endicott followed with a squeeze of her own on the best next pitch and the 2-0 lead ballooned to 9-0 after costly errors by the Eagles "I wasn't hitting off of this girl because she is a great pitcher," Patton said I just focused on getting the bunt down and I knew it was what was best for the team 6-0 FC) to a sweep of Monroeville for the first time since 2022 and a comfortable lead in the Firelands Conference standings "Sweeping them means the entire world to me," Crestview senior Kalee Hamman who earned the win in the circle with five shutout innings "It is the biggest game we have had so far and it can really tell the story of our season That was the defending conference champs and the state runner-up we just beat twice Durbin approached Hamman and asked her if she wanted to have her shot at the Eagles and she didn't hesitate She wanted the ball after Patton shut down the two-time defending FC champs the night before Monroeville has been the reason we finish second or third in the conference," Hamman said I stepped in today with a completely clear mindset and just went after it right away." Hamman cruised her way through five innings before the Eagles put a few runners on in the sixth inning Patton came in and closed the door with minimal damage done and preserved the victory Hamman had a plethora of pitches working well but her changeup was other worldly "The one that hit the batter in the first inning I thought it was perfect right out of my hand," Hamman said My screwball was a major focus because of the number of left-handed batters they have in their lineup and I wanted my pitches to move away from them My drop ball was working nice so it was one of those days where everything clicked." "Monroeville is an amazing team," Patton said "They are outstanding and they make you focus every second of the game because they can take advantage of mistakes in a hurry I am very proud of my teammates because they all did amazing tonight But it was all set up by the unselfish play of two of the best power hitters to come through the Crestview softball program Durbin reflected on the job he did in 2024 and saw plenty of mistakes he made as a coach he didn't try to manufacture runs instead left it to his hitters to come up with the big hit to score It cost the Cougars some games when those timely hits didn't come through he changed his mindset in 2025 and that means more squeeze bunts by anyone at the plate "I dedicated myself to making sure everyone in our lineup could lay down a bunt "The big hit wasn't coming tonight because that Monroeville pitcher was throwing a gem We got an opportunity with a runner on third and decided it was time even with Chesnie at the plate It worked so we went with it again with PJ." And it worked to perfection in more ways than one but it sent a message to the rest of the team If Patton and Endicott were willing to take the bat out of their hands and lay down a bunt for the betterment of the team then everyone else shouldn't have a problem doing it either It started in preseason scrimmages and carried over into a potential Firelands Conference championship clinching game "An important part of the other girls buying in was seeing those two square up and lay one down," Durbin said they saw them lay one down in the biggest game of the year for the betterment of the team I think it is going to make a huge difference the rest of the way." the Cougars turn their focus to a two-game series with New London to close out the week but they have a huge upper hand in getting back to their FC championship ways "We have to treat every game like it is Monroeville We have to lock in if we want to get back on top of the Firelands Conference We can't take a breath with New London coming up." COLUMBIANA — Amid heavy wind and some rain Champion softball superstar Gabby Gradishar threw a perfect game Monday as the Golden Flashes defeated Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference foe Crestview 11-0 in six innings in Columbiana to comment that Monday’s performance was just ‘Gabby being Gabby.’ the Flashes did need Gradishar’s greatness in the circle early on The two teams remained in a scoreless tie after the first two innings Besides a hard-hit Jonna Strock RBI single in the top of the third neither of the teams’ pitchers – Gradishar and Emma Snyder – gave the opposing batters much to work with is rely on [Gradishar],” Weaver said “That’s very important when you run into that where you’re just not hitting.” While the Flashes’ bats did eventually heat up the Rebels’ defense proved to also be an unfortunate difference-maker after Snyder surrendered a single and walked Gradishar an errant throw to third base resulted in the Flashes scoring their second run of the game Champion scored a pair of runs on a dropped flyball in right field which would have been the third out of the inning Ava Sylvester sent a pitch over the center-field fence for a two-run home run The Flashes widened the gap in the top of the sixth inning as the Rebels who replaced Snyder with Lilly Beaver in the circle continued to commit errors and allow untimely hits Following a leadoff single and subsequent infield error Two more dropped fly balls in the Crestview outfield then scored the eighth and ninth runs of the game drove in another two runs with a single to right field “You can’t make mistakes against a good team,” Crestview head coach Melvin Miller said “A six-out inning goes from a 4-0 game to an 11-0 game real quick.” Gradishar then took the field for the final time Monday amid rain which lightened up just enough for the pitcher to strike out the side and complete the six-inning perfect game Trying to get it in quick before the rain came,” Gradishar said of her performance While the senior pitcher admitted that she does not keep track of how many perfect games she has thrown which was wholly evident when the Rebels attempted on multiple occasions to lay a bunt down rather than take swings at her pitches Miller said that the bunt attempts were not only to get on base but also so his players could “pick up that speed.” Monday’s win came just two days after Champion (10-1 8-0 in MVAC) suffered its first loss of the season; the Flashes fell to Boardman 2-1 in eight innings on Saturday Weaver praised her team’s performance in the loss and said that she did not sense that it had been affecting the players coming into Monday’s game but Gradishar said that it did serve a purpose “We feel that fire under us [to keep] pushing throughout the season and is really keeping us motivated and we don’t want to feel like that again,” Gradishar said Crestview is now 10-4-1 on the season and 6-2-1 in league play The Rebels will get a chance to split the season series immediately as they will travel to Warren today for the second leg of a back-to-back with Champion Copyright © 2025 Eastern Ohio Newspapers, Inc. | https://www.vindy.com | 240 Franklin Street SE, Warren, OH 44482 | 330-841-1600 | Terms of Service the Crestview Spring Fling Carnival will bring all the family fun of a traveling carnival — games A portion of the gate take will be presented after the event to the Crestview Historic Preservation Board Families having a fun time at the carnival help fund these projects,” she added will be at Spanish Trail Park in the field adjacent to Stillwell Boulevard Arm bands are $20 for unlimited rides on March 20 and from March 24-27 (Editor’s note: Brian Hughes is the city of Crestview’s cultural services specialist.) ONTARIO - It's not often you can have fun while also preparing yourself for the type of competition you'll see the weeks leading up to That's what makes the Ontario Relays a special midweek invitational and scoring field events as if they were relays by combining heights or distances gives athletes something different to look forward to And with only one competitor from each school allowed to partake in races and you get to fluctuate your lineup a little bit," Crestview coach Tim Kuhn said "This year it's a little bit harder because this is the smallest lineup we've had in a long time But it's like a breath of fresh air because it's something they don't get to see that often Crestview girls were runner-up behind host Ontario — who swept the night — and just three points ahead of Colonel Crawford The Eagles flipped the script for the boys edging out the Cougars by one-and-a-half points for runner-up honors What makes it even more impressive is that Colonel Crawford and Crestview were the only Division III programs at Ontario Thursday night The other six competing schools were either Division I or Division II "I love putting them up against tough competition You're going to rise to your competition." And that very reason is why Colonel Crawford was there and I think he and I both kind of share the same ideas," Colonel Crawford coach Preston Foy said "To get better you gotta run better competition (because) when you get to districts and regionals — especially the regional level — you start seeing some really good teams and some competition We want to put our kids in that kind of situation where they have to compete and see what fast really is and you know what times you have to run in the postseason but the ultimate goal is to get down to Columbus we want to put our kids in some tough competition and get them ready for the postseason." Both smaller programs more than held their own with the Eagles getting first place finishes from Mira Holt (200-meter dash and the distance medley quartet of Braeden Grau and Shawn Auck to go along with a slew of second and third place finishes Crestview had some thrilling wins with Leyna Gerich chasing down Marion Harding's Leah Price in the mile Max Durbin breaking 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles edging out Ontario's Aiden Fox after he clipped the final hurdle Liam Kuhn closing the gap for a photo finish (.07 seconds apart) in the final leg of the shuttle hurdles and Cooper Brockway holding off Ontario's Xander Chitwood down the stretch in the 800 sprint medley faster athletes in bigger schools gives your athletes something to aim for," Kuhn said comes challenges for these smaller schools "There's so many events you have to have a very deep team," Foy said "It's tough for schools like us and Crestview to do that but we wanted to get everybody involved and make everyone on the team a part of the team It also allows you to evaluate some of your athletes Maybe you can find somebody who you think could plug in a spot for conference or something like that It's a little bit of a wake-up call for our athletes Sidelined earlier in the season with patellar tendinitis Colonel Crawford senior Olivia Hardy logged another successful meet placing second in the 400 dash and as part of the 800-sprint medley The biggest challenge she has faced hasn't been the physical aspect of recovery "Looking back at where I was last year and looking at me now it gets to me a lot because I just want to get back to how I was before," Hardy said "That's just the thing right now — the mental state — and I just need to get that right All that's on my mind right now is just to get healthy and get to where I was so I can be ready for postseason." Luckily she was able to use the Ontario Relays as both a barometer for where she's at physically and another chance to further push through the mental barrier "Right now I'm really trying to stay focused on my form," Hardy said especially during the 400 and sprinting events where if you don't have good form In the (4x200) I really focused in on my knee drive but it's good that I had a bad day because I can look back and realize what I need to fix "Today was one of those where my form was OK I just need to get back and get better so I can keep improving." Galion impresses on rival's turfFor the Tigers it was a bit of a MOAC preview with Ontario The boys would place fifth out of the eight-team field just two-and-a-half points off Harding while the girls were sixth a mere one point behind Clear Fork and 10 behind Shelby Makayla Halbisen won the two-mile and joined her sister Makenzie Madisyn Berrios and Alayna Griffith in the winning distance medley as well as being part of the 4x100 (Trevor Shifley Camden Kuehlman) that edged out Ontario by .16 seconds The Tigers nabbed gold in a pair of field events as well with Camron Smith clearing 5-foot-9 in the high jump and Parker Tinch leaping 19-9.50 in the long jump zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden -- The Crestview Police Department and Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers are seeking the public's assistance in identifying two people involved in a criminal mischief incident at Shoal River Middle School on April 12 when the suspects "tagged" several areas of both the inside and outside of the school's baseball field Officers are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS AUSTIN, Texas – Campers Inn RV and Mike Regan announce their partnership and successful acquisition of Crestview RV Mike Regan will now serve as the president of Crestview RV at all Texas locations This marks a significant milestone in Campers Inn’s expansion into Austin further strengthening its presence in Texas according to a release from the Jacksonville Crestview RV was founded by Scott Lougheed in Central Texas who was an early pioneer of the RV industry opening his first dealership in 1963 and becoming one of the founders of RVDA Campers Inn has facilitated the financing and support to help Mike Regan achieve his dream of RV dealership ownership ensuring that Crestview’s legacy continues under strong “This partnership is about more than just growth—it’s about recognizing and empowering great leaders like Mike,” said Jeff Hirsch we believe in forging partnerships that retain exceptional management talent while creating a clear succession plan for the future The RV industry is undergoing rapid consolidation and while publicly traded and/or private equity backed companies like Blue Compass and Lazy Days have access to the capital markets By leveraging traditional financing and our extensive resources we help outstanding operators become owners and ensure the continued success of their businesses.” This acquisition also reflects Campers Inn’s long-term vision for growth in Texas The company is actively seeking additional opportunities to expand its footprint and support other aspiring owners who may not have the financial means to acquire a dealership on their own “I am truly proud to be associated with Jeff and Ben Hirsch,” said Mike Regan “Their values align closely with those of Crestview RV and myself I’m excited to see where this collaboration will take us and I look forward to the opportunities and success that lie ahead.” Many longtime RV dealership owners take pride in seeing their dedicated employees take the next step in ownership preserving their legacy while securing the future of their business “Our partnership model offers a pathway for talented individuals who have spent their careers in the industry but may not have the resources to acquire a dealership outright,” added Jeff Hirsch “We want to be the solution for the next generation of RV dealership owners Campers Inn continues its mission to provide industry-leading customer service while expanding its presence in key markets We welcome Mike Regan to the Campers Inn family and look forward to an exciting future in Texas.” For more information about Campers Inn RV, visit www.campersinn.com or find Campers Inn RV on Facebook © 2023 G&G Media Group LLC -- A combat wounded Air Force veteran was gifted a mortgage-free home Wednesday in Okaloosa County Staff Sergeant Justin Day was an Air Force combat controller working with elite special operations teams and things happen sometimes," Crestview Mayor JD Whitten said "Horrible things happened to Sergeant Day." He was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2018 "This life can be really sad," Sergeant Day said "It is only because of your community that makes it less sad and you kind of distribute that load." Seeing the newly-built home for the first time is a glimpse of a whole new future "We don't need to bring a single ounce of baggage into this house," Sergeant Day said "Not all the mixed bag of experiences." Day says the home represents a "thank you" to his wife for all she's poured into him "They don't understand the gravity of this yet because you never know when you will need those resources yourself and your life could be completely altered," Sergeant Day said "You don't have tools on your own to deal with that You have to draw on other people to help you." "Building Homes for Heroes," the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and Ferrin Campbell Construction were just some who provided the keys to a new world of possibility it's going to really set in," Sergeant Day said "This is actually life changing." Tim Bolduc announced his resignation on Tuesday in a letter to Mayor J.B The announcement comes a week after the council appointed Crestview's administrative director "I have made the difficult decision that it is time for me to step aside," wrote Bolduc "I believe that the role of a city manager is one that should not be permanent but should instead be one of stewardship to improve the community and to establish a firm foundation for the next leader to build on as they continue to move the city forward." Bolduc highlighted progress in workplace culture financial stability and the city's overall reputation he emphasized that what stands out most is the dedication and commitment found in the city's staff he outlined a three-point plan that focused on continued he commits to this transition by saying he will work closely with Leavins and city staff to provide continuity for ongoing projects and form an initial budget strategy for the upcoming fiscal year He also reassures Crestview's elected officials by committing himself to working with "external agencies and stakeholders" to continue the city's positive momentum Bolduc expressed his "heartfelt gratitude" toward Mayor Whitten calling him "one of the most remarkable men I have had the pleasure of getting to know," and to the city council Here it comes: SS United States set to make one final voyage before becoming largest artifical reef we all have transitioned to a manager form of government One Mission,’ and by doing some have improved the quality of life by providing exceptional municipal services for all we serve," he wrote "I am forever thankful for this opportunity the partnerships formed and the lives we impacted along the way." "Choosing 'The View' — was one of the best decisions of my life and I am humbled and grateful that you chose me as well," Bolduc wrote -- A 36-year-old Crestview man is alleged to have abused a 5-year-old hitting and inappropriately touching them in a classroom while volunteering at a Crestview church The Crestview Police Department says the allegations date back to early February Investigators learned that the child reported the incident to their parents Watson III -- a volunteer teacher at the Cross Point Church North Campus -- "had touched them inappropriately and struck the child while in a church classroom." An investigation into Watson began after that complaint Staff members of Cross Point Church were cooperative with investigators They gave information needed to move the investigation forward Investigators concluded there was probable cause for Watson's arrest He was charged with Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Victim Under 12 Years of Age and Child Abuse A warrant was approved and issued for Watson on March 5 as he was heading to the United Kingdom for work-related travel After investigators coordinated with his attorney and notified them of the warrant Watson made his way back to the United States When Watson landed at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport in Valparaiso Thursday morning the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office took him into custody and later released on a $10,000 signature bond Investigators say more victims could be possible If anyone has additional information to offer the Crestview Police Department you're asked to contact its investigative unit at (850)-682-3544 Crestview to host sixth annual Race to the Rhein World War II living history weekendNorthwest Florida Daily NewsCRESTVIEW — History buffs from across Northwest Florida will descend upon Spanish Trail Park in Crestview from April 4 to 5 for the sixth annual World War II Living History Weekend Known as the "Race to the Rhein," the Living History Weekend will focus on "The Year of Victory," which occurs almost a month before the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day The event's main focus will ultimately show how the Allied powers defeated the Axis powers in Europe and Asia weapons demonstrations and live skirmishes In a news release from the city of Crestview's Cultural Services Department Navy veteran Henry Gonzales noted that the event's main goal is to educate the younger generations about World War II “The Race to the Rhein event is a living history interpretation and experience that uses many presentation forms for a better understanding of history,” said Gonzales in the release “The bottom line goal is to primarily promote greater understanding of World War II history and the cultures that also participated in this great conflict." The event will also feature an Honor Table to honor family members who served in World War II “We do this in honor of our heroes,” said table coordinator Pam Coffield in a news release “It reminds us of the selfless people who did so much to make the Allies victorious.” self-standing photo (8.5” x 11” or smaller) of a loved one to the Bush House/Crestview History Museum or to the temporary museum at the Crestview Senior Center on Thursday guests will complete an identifier tag that will recognize the honoree Photos can be retrieved from the Bush House beginning on Monday April 7 after the Race to the Rhein weekend concludes The two-day event will conclude with a Victory Dance at Warriors Hall on Saturday night The dance will feature music from Hashtag Swing a dessert buffet and a cash wine and beer stand hosted at the Main Street Crestview Association The dance party tickets will cost $30 per person or $50 per couple. The party will go from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets for the event can be purchased at bit.ly/3CJeTDm. For those interested in attending the event parking will be in the southeast Spanish Trail Park field off Stillwell Boulevard Entry to the event will be through a gate behind the Amphitheater (This story has been updated to add new information) feel confident in their parallel parking abilities But Crestview's Police chief says some motorists downtown are not doing it correctly -- and that's causing some safety issues "Not many people at all know how to parallel park," said Ruby Kervin with Tropical Palm Restaurant Once Crestview's Main Street revitalization project was complete it opened the door for more parallel parking downtown "We got a lot of complaints from business owners and citizens people parked in opposed to traffic," said Chief Stephen McCosker they’re actually going head-on into the next lane.” WEAR News cameras captured several vehicles doing just that -- parked the wrong way "It’s chaos some days," Kervin said "Witnessed a couple of wrecks and it’s just not a good situation." McCosker says if you are parked incorrectly you might find a ticket on your windshield “What we’re doing is the education campaign," he said "What we’re doing is we’re issuing warning notices So we find someone that’s parked from our civilian employees will go ahead and put this in the windshield.” McCosker says right now the focus is education -- but repeat offenders wont get away with it “We are still going ahead and tracking your license plate number," he said “Money motivates people to do most anything nowadays," Kervin said "Maybe people getting a ticket will make them start parking in the right direction." Chief McCoskar says there is not a specific number But he does say if you are a repeat offender it will be up to the discretion of the employees that are issuing them if you are fined.