LOCAL | A8 SILVERCREST RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY CARE MIDWEEK EDITION COMMUNITY | A7 NOTED SONGWRITER SETS CONCERT Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Vol. 42 Issue 107 crestviewbulletin.com @cnbulletin facebook.com/crestviewbulletin 50¢ ‘We drag our feet’ Cadle criticizes local governance during meeting By Aaron Jacobs [email protected] CRESTVIEW — The City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to hold a joint public meeting with the Okaloosa County Com- mission to discuss the Community Redevelopment Agency Comprehensive Master Plan. The commission objected to portions of the updated Community Redevelopment Agency Director Alisa Burleson plan, which the CRA sub- discusses her ideas for new gateway signs with the CRA Board. mitted on Nov. 27 of last “Now please forgive me if I’m hurting your feelings, but I’ve [AARON JACOBS | NEWS BULLETIN] year, prompting the county watched this for 11 years now and it just drags and drags and to request a special meeting drags,” Crestview Mayor David Cadle said, addressing council to discuss those concerns. members. “Nothing gets done very quickly.” [AARON JACOBS | NEWS After a lengthy discussion BULLETIN] CRA board of whether to agree to the public forum involving the money has been put aside signs. full city council and county for the downtown area of the “That is one of the reasons commission or hold a smaller CRA district,” Cadle said. that we’re having to go into considers new mediation involving rep- “The criticism is that we’re this negotiation is that we resentatives and attorneys not spending the money, and drag our feet,” Cadle said, from each governing body, we can’t come to an agree- admonishing members of the gateway signs the council voted to approve ment on much of anything, council. “Now please forgive the full meeting. just like tonight.” me if I’m hurting your feel- Mayor David Cadle Cadle was referencing the ings, but I’ve watched this for By Aaron Jacobs The board agreed that expressed his frustration with earlier CRA board meeting 11 years now and it just drags [email protected] there should be an extended the process. where the council members, and drags and drags. Nothing meeting or a special work- “Some of the criticisms who also serve on the board, gets done very quickly.” CRESTVIEW — New city shop to discuss the issue that we’re getting from some delayed further discussions gateway signs could be in further. commissioners is that that on a plan for new gateway See COUNCIL, A4 Crestview’s near future. A proposed partnership The Community Redevel- with ePropertyPlus was opment Agency discussed also on the CRA agenda. the idea of replacing the ePropertyPlus is a northern signs located around the Virginia-based company downtown area. that works with govern- ‘It greatly benefi ted CRA Director Alisa Bur- ments and land bank trusts leson’s idea for three new to store and manage prop- signs includes a monu- erty data. ment-style sign located “It’s a larger scale of all of our kids’ at South Main Street and what Zillow does,” Burle- Highway 85, an archway son said. “The best way I at North Main Street and can kind of describe it is like Highway 90, and a stone you’ve got several file cabi- column design in the small nets, and each file cabinet triangle at the intersection has different information of Highways 85 and 90. on a property. This puts “Gateway entrances are all that information in one very beneficial to a dis- compiled area that can be trict,” Burleson said. “If on the city’s website.” you all will think about Many board mem- when you build a subdivi- bers were skeptical of the sion, one thing that attracts need for the program, and buyers to the subdivision is expressed concern that the pretty entrance.” they had not seen enough Burleson estimates the evidence that it would be cost of the new signs will beneficial. They requested be at least $100,000, or half more information on the The Kids for Toys motorcycle run provided $11,000 in toys and gifts for the Lakeview Foster Families the available funds in the project, specifically cases program. [SPECIAL TO THE NEWS BULLETIN] CRA Master Plan budget from other localities that for parking, land, signage, have used the program. American Legion, veterans groups boost foster care program buildings and security. She Burleson promised to get also noted that the current more data for the board. By Renee Bell quality of life. signs are beginning to show She also stated that she 682-6524 | @cnbRenee CRESTVIEW — Ameri- their age, prompting the believes the issue encom- [email protected] can Legion Post 75’s push need for an upgrade. passes more than just to increase awareness of “I’d like to say we should the CRA, and asked for Editor’s Note: This contin- the Kids for Toys program move pretty quick on this,” approval to present the ues our Celebrate Community this past fall resulted in over board member Ron Gaut- proposed partnership to series on nonprofit organi- $15,000 in toys, cash and gifts ney said. “We’ve delayed the city council. zations that improve North this for so long now; at least Okaloosa County residents’ See TOYS, A9 we’ll get started on it.” See CRA, A4 A GateHouse Media Bulletin Board ............ B5 Military .................... A5 A8 B1 newspaper read by Community .......... A7-A8 Opinion .................... A6 3 things to do this week in Crestview wrestlers place 10,450 people every week. Faith ........................ B4 Sports........................ B1 Northwest Florida in area tournaments * ** A2 Wednesday, January 10, 2018 | Crestview News Bulletin OBITUARIES WARREN ‘MIKE’ BARFIELD JOHN STEPHENS CANNON JANICE VAN TASSEL FRAZIER 1954 - 2017 1925 - 2017 John Stephens Can- Warren Mitchell non, a native of Mobile, Janice Van Tassel “Mike” Barfield, 63, Alabama and resident Frazier, 92, a 54-year son of the late Warren of Fort Walton Beach, resident of Ft. Walton L. Barfield and Mary I. Florida passed away Beach, passed away Twiford, passed away Monday, January 1, on Dec. 26, 2017. in Gulf Breeze, FL 2018 at Fort Walton She was born to Avery on December 5, 2017 Beach Medical Center. Tracey and Amelia Smith after a brief illness. He was 80 years old. Van Tassel on June 22, Mike was born on He was the son of the 1925 in Ashtabula, Ohio. June 28, 1954 in Sac- late Julius M. Cannon, Janice was a loving mili- ramento, CA. He was Sr. and Velma E. Can- tary wife, mother, and a longtime resident of non. John served in the grandmother. She is pre- Niceville and resided United States Army deceased by her husband in Navarre. He served Reserve, United States Dennis White, Amanda Henry Frazier, USAF, Lt. in the U.S. Army and Wallace “Tweety” Army and Air Force. and Brian Cannon and Col. (RET), and brother Cemetery in the spring. spent most of his career Twiford and younger John retired from Dianna Cannon. John Dale Van Tassel of Ohio. A celebration of life will as an electrical contrac- brother, Robert “Bob” Unisys Corporation as was blessed with many Janice is survived by be held at that time. tor. Mike loved hunting Barfield. Mike is sur- Engineering Lead. John grandchildren and her children Patricia The family would like and spending time with vived by his sisters, Lora was an educator at great grandchildren, Belote and Hal Frazier; to express thanks to his extended family and Glass (Glen) of Niceville, heart, loved designing and loved his sister and two grandchildren, the Ft. Walton Beach friends at his camp in FL and Susie Padgett and problem solving. her husband, Joann and Patrick Bailey and Jenna Medical Center and Alabama. Anyone who (David) of Williamsburg, John was a Citronelle James Fagan, and his Frazier; sister, Joyce Westwood Nursing and knew Mike also knew VA as well as his neph- High football hero in brother and his wife, Page, sister-in-law, Rehabilitation Center. about his love of sports, ews, Ryan Barfield of his teen and loved to Steve and Carrell Can- Jean Van Tassel, and Expressions of love and especially football Sweden, Jordan Barfield visit friends and family non, Jeanne Cannon niece, Tracey Truman. sympathy may be placed and he was extremely of Elizabeth City, NC, in his hometown. John and many nieces and Her ashes will be placed and viewed online at passionate about his Justin Padgett of Wil- was a member of Dis- nephews. The fam- alongside her husband’s www.emeraldcoast Georgia Bulldogs. His liamsburg, VA and niece, abled American Veter- ily received friends at at Barrancas National funeralhome.com. memory of statistics Parrish Padgett of Wil- ans, American Legion, Saint Cecilia Catholic was remarkable and liamsburg, VA. He Fort Walton Elks Lodge Church in Mount Ver- he was always will- also leaves behind his for more than 20 years, non, Alabama, Friday, RUTH WYLIE MCCRACKEN ing to share his pas- best buddy, Champ. and a member of Krewe January 5, 2018. A Mass 1923 - 2017 sion with enthusiasts. The family held a of Columbus. He loved of Resurrection was Although Mike was as Celebration of Mike’s these organizations held with Rev. John Mrs. Ruth Wylie in swimming, gardening, stubborn as they come, Life on Saturday, and leaves fond memo- Coghlan, celebrant. McCracken, 94, passed and the family’s heritage he had a huge heart January 13, 2018 at the ries with many dear Burial will be in Saint away peacefully in the photo collections. She and loved his family Niceville Community friends. Those left to Cecilia Catholic Cem- presence of family on was a member of Delta and friends.