[email protected] The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 Inquiring Photographer,(850) 678-1080 TThhee BBaayy BBeeaaccoonn page A-7 8 Pages, 1 Section, 3 Inserts Wednesday, January 3, 2018 50¢ [email protected] The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 (850) 678-1080 Police Blotter The , page BBaayy BBeeaaccoonn A-7 8 Pages, 1 Section, 4 Inserts Wednesday, January 4, 2017 50¢ Coming up roses Having marched in the 128th annual Tournament of Roses parade Monday in Pasadena, Calif., the 293- member Niceville High School Eagle Pride band and entourage flew home Tuesday on a chartered Boeing 747. The five-mile march down Colorado Boulevard is considered a capstone achievement for a high school band. More photos, page A-3. Eagle Pride Photography Sign out- side a Hearings set on pot-sale moratorium marijuana store in By Mike Griffith commission time to revise its posed moratorium be heard at the county's 10 cities, which which is not currently Oregon, Beacon p oddetSonf enr property-zoning law in the a county planning commis- govern land uses within their addressed by the Land which The Okaloosa County wake of the Nov. 8 approval sion meeting at Niceville City own limits. Development Code or Code legalized Commission has scheduled by Florida voters of a measure Hall on Jan. 12 at 5 p.m., and According to a letter to of Ordinances. Additionally, pot in public hearings on a proposed aimed at allowing the during a county commission commissioners from County the voters have recently 2015. six-month moratorium on the statewide sale of pot to any- meeting at the county building Administrator John Hofstad approved a constitutional Joshua opening of "medical" marijua- one who gets a doctor's per- in Shalimar on Jan. 17 at 9 and his executive assistant amendment that expands use Rainey na stores in unincorporated mission. a.m. Roland Sims Jr., “Medical of medical marijuana. It is Photography areas of the county. The county commission on The county moratorium, if marijuana dispensary facili- anticipated that the Legislature The delay would give the Dec. 20 agreed for the pro- imposed, would not apply in ties are a new and unique use Please see POT, page A-3 Ringing out the old, bringing in the new BWB launches wildlife project Beacon Crass The National Wildlife Federation announced that the community of Bluewater Bay has put out the welcome mat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, by registering its Community Wildlife Habitat project with the federation. "Bluewater Bay is sending a clear and powerful message to communi- ties all over America that caring people, working together, can help wildlife, wild places and the health of the environment," said a NWF spokesman. Steve Duresky, of Bluewater Bay's Southwind neighborhood, who was a spearhead of the reg- istration project, said it is a step toward earning a hoped-for full The Bay Beacon this week is pleased recognition of Bluewater Bay as Certified Wildlife Habitat. The full designation, he said, may be reached by a further effort of volunteers earning points through various projects mak- ing Bluewater Bay even more wildlife friendly. "It's a long process to full to present a look back at the top certification, but registration is the first step," said Duresky. "This is good news A soggy New Year's weekend nevertheless proved a promising start to 2017 as Twin Cities residents celebrated and went about their daily business. Clockwise, for our property values, and from upper left: A sign of the time from the Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. The Waffle House in Niceville was hopping with hungry diners on New shows a commitment for our Year's Day. Niki McCullar and her daughter Lilly shop at the Palm Plaza farmer's market. New Year's Eve at a sushi house in Niceville. A lone runner trots the Niceville High School track on New Year's Day. Rain kept people away from Lincoln Park, Valparaiso. Customers browse at a fireworks tent in Niceville, prepar- community to be good stewards stories and photos of 2017, as ing to see the old year out with a bang. Beacon photos by Paula Mims Please see BWB, page A-2 Working in a land without Christmas Editor's note: The names in recent Christmas season is an parts of the world, where 2006, while the family lived cross-cultural education pro- this story, and that of the Afghan inherent part of American cul- Christmas and Christianity in Iskandar, a city in grams in that predominantly The city where the Collins family ture. The lights, the Christmas are either unknown or forbid- Afghanistan. Muslim country. Collins lived and worked, have been trees, the music, the parades, den. Matthew and his wife were Observing Christmas in family changed at the request of the in and of course, the shopping, Niceville resident Matthew international aid workers, such a place, said Matthew, Afghan family for reasons of personal presented in a week-by-week review surround us during the Collins, his wife Christine, working with a non-govern- was a challenge. -istan. safety. Christmas season and become daughter Ellie, and son Kurt mental organization (NGO) Collins, born in Texas, By Mike Griffith a part of nearly everything we experienced this cultural con- that provided public health, moved to Niceville as a youth Beacon p oddetSonf enr do. This is not so in other trast during 2004 through community development, and Please see WITHOUT, page A-2 To most Americans, the of Page 1. The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 [email protected] The voice of Niceville, Bluewater Bay and Valparaiso since 1992 (850) 678-1080 Thank you, readers, for welcoming ."5 7+".227' The BBaayy BBeeaaccoonn ##"'(# us into your homes in 2017. + ()7/-++37 25.4/-++4/7'2/+ 7&47/&(-+(4('+-+ 87654 3271074/.4- ,0.+ *7)(4+ (/ 1'7/5&742+ .% $.'20,7/2 Thank you, advertisers, for your #".'5&(+ 32(27 +57+'5%%520 Niceville community college, serves. !.""7)7- Stephenson described what he “I believe that collaboration $5 765""7-+ "(/2 Devin Stephenson, who calls the “4L success formula:” and connections lead to good ,77-+ 54+ 05/ .%%5 7+ (2+ ( began his new job as president —Look: Observe connec- things,” Stephenson said. One of of Northwest Florida State 2(*"7+ &7 .'(2 tions, networks, possibilities, his first goals will be to establish 7&+ ,520+ 2,. College last week, is fond of opportunities, issues and con- a Grants Development Office to 527/+ /*." using catchphrases, acronyms, cerns. help the college obtain financial 554)+ 05/ and symbols to express his —Listen: Hear what internal grants from federal and state (11'.( 0+ 2. support in the past year. approach to management and and external constituents say government agencies. “There (4()7742 leadership. It’s an approach about NWFSC. are federal funds available from (4&+ "7(&7' which he describes as “collabo- —Learn: Use environmental the departments of education, /051+ (+ *(/7 rative,” emphasizing communi- scanning to develop a futures labor, health and human servic- *(""+ 07+ %.4& .4+ (1/- cation, connection, and mutual plan that includes outcomes and es, and homeland S=security,” support between various parts of (4&+ (+ )".*7 expectations. he said. The best way for (4&(''., the college itself as well as —Launch: Advance the plan, NWFSC to obtain a share of / "12'7 between the college and other congruent with the college’s such funding is by “building )5674+ 05+ * community institutions. mission and vision, to make partnerships” with such govern- 05/+.207' In a Jan. 6 interview with the immediate positive impact on ment agencies, he said. )('&%$#"!% % Bay Beacon in his office at the the future of the communities it #(# ! "7(/7+/77+$#3!-+1()7+ +57+'5%%520 Dale Grenier, 33, unem- Plew Elementary School: “I “I plan to I hope as Christians that we then added some really impor- We look forward to continuing ployed, of think our local military commu- get my dri- point the way to God’s grace by tant news: “My kittens will grow As the new year began, the Niceville: nity will benefit from the new ver’s demonstrating it in our own up to be real cats.” Bay Beacon approached a num- “Hopefully, (presidential) administration. license– roles in society. I’m hopeful “I hope that Trump will do an ber of area residents, asking the new Locally, I hope we can do more that’s my that fewer babies will be abort- awesome job, and really ‘make them what changes they foresee (U.S.) presi- community activities like my goal,” said ed, but I’m also hopeful that we America great again,’” said in 2017 for themselves, their dent can church’s Christmas outreach Marcus will be the first to reach out to Malachi Baughman, 14, a community and America. bring com- festival here at Plew Prier, 35, a single mothers and struggling Ruckel Middle School student Here are their answers. panies back Elementary.” Niceville families, and help them to over- from Tricia Brunson, president, to serve you in 2018. to America, “I plan to learn more patience landscaper. (' /+ '57' come. We need to be people of Niceville. Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of straighten than I have in my years so far,” Troy grace, who proclaim the gospel “As for me, I 8("7+'7457' Commerce: “I don’t have a crys- out prob- said Brittney Marshall, 26, a Hamilton, 42, pastor of Rocky of Christ in word and deed.” expect to tal ball, but I think we have a lems with the Veterans stay-home Bayou Baptist Church, said, Adley McDonald, 6, a home start as a positive Administration, and not close mom from “On a macro school student from Niceville, freshman at future.