The Costa Leadership Institute at Northwest Florida State College, in partnership with the Crestview, Destin, Niceville Valparaiso and the Greater Fort Walton Beach chambers of commerce, honored 36 Okaloosa County business professionals during a May 21 graduation ceremony to celebrate their completion of the 2012-2013 Leadership Okaloosa program.

The graduates include:
Paula Andrews - Community Volunteer
Ashley Bailey - Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Stacia Berryman - Emerald Coast Autism Center
Marilyn Bilby - Rocky Bayou Christian School
Wendy Borcyk - Twin Cities Hospital
Loren Boyer - Spence Brothers Properties
Kyle Bremer - North Okaloosa Medical Center
Beverly Britton - Contracts and Procurement Manager, InDyne, Inc.
Mark Chambers - CCB Community Bank
Jessica Davenport - Raymond James/Morgan Keegan
Bree Durham - Northwest Florida State College
Katerina Eckert - Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Tara Hagan - Chesser & Barr, P.A.
Lauren Haggett - White-Wilson Medical Center
Eric Halter - Raymond James Financial Services
Jim Harkins - Okaloosa County Tax Collector
Billy Hemphill - InDyne, Inc.
Robert Hruby, MD - Surgeon
Erin Igram - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
Armand Izzo - TASC, Inc.
Leo King - Gulf Power Company
Bill Kuhn - Edible Arrangements
Richard Lamar - Southern Vacation Rentals
Brooke Lord - Choctawhatchee High School
Rose Marie Martin - Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
Grant Meyer - Niceville High School
Joan O'Dowd - Staff Accountant, Laura Roesch, CPA, PLLC
Steven Pepper - Advanced Concepts Enterprises, Inc.
Dee Reynolds - Rocky Bayou Christian School
Missy Rogers - Horizons of Okaloosa County, Inc.
Andrea Rymer - University of West Florida Emerald Coast
Jon David Simpson - Attorney
Karyn Soltis-Habeck - University of West Florida
Luke Tatum - Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Kristin Taylor - Cox Communications
Matt Turpin - Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC

The Costa Leadership Institute is now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Leadership Okaloosa program. The nine-month program aims to enhance the participants’ leadership skills, offering 25 hours of leadership development training and tours of key sectors of Okaloosa County communities, military and other areas. The class meets once each month from September to May, and participants receive classroom training by a certified instructor, interacting with various key community leaders along the way.
A highlight of the program is a two-day trip to Tallahassee for the Legislative Day meetings. Additionally, each participant takes part in a group project focused on city and county government, while honing the participants’ public speaking, presentation, time management and team building skills. Another important aspect of Leadership Okaloosa is the networking opportunities with other current and emerging community leaders. Tuition for the Leadership Okaloosa program is $900 and applications are due by July 26. Applications are available online at www.nwfsc.edu/LI, by calling (850) 729-6880 or emailing Leadership@NWFSC.edu.
 

Northwest Florida State College recognized the superior scholastic achievement of students completing the Spring 2013 term by naming them to the President's List and Dean's List. The President's List names those students with nine or more credits in the term who earned a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 during the semester. The Dean's List names students with nine or more credits in the term who earned a GPA of 3.5 to 3.79. Some 1090 NWFSC students were named as honors students for the Spring term.

President’s List:

Baker: Teresa Dotson, Jordan Linzy, Amber L. Meeks, Gabriella Reber, Alex Roy, Adrian Smith, James E. Smith, Haley Wagner, Lydia Williamson.

Crestview: Denise M. Adams, Tammy A. Albers, Robin Andrews, Alexis Beard, Ishshah Bell, Teresa F. Benthal, Audrey Berberena, Nicole R. Bielenin, Terrin Bond, Mary Y. Brown, John Bullard, Timothy W. Butler, Wauneka K. Cameron, Naomi Campagne, Elijah Cassell, Kimberly J. Champion, Eleanor F. Chatman, Stephen Chiu, Lilah Cisneros, Jordan Cline, Paige Cromer, Sondra M. Cuayo, Savannah Czarnecki, Randi L. Dash, Cassandra L. Davis, Joshua E. Deason, Sonya M. Demoulin, Jason A. Dennis, David T. Dobson, Celeste S. Dorsey, Christina K. Edens, Autum M. Edgerton, Amanda Eidem, Justin Eldridge, Kristen Forehand, Jesus R. Fuentes, Mei L .Fuszner, Robin D. Garcia, Gabriella Geier-Dureitz, Kayleigh S. George, Carrie L. Griffith, Elizabeth A. Groves, Tiffany M. Hall, Catherine Hanna, Ryan M. Harris, Jonathan L. Hart, Nicole M. Hart, Andrew D. Helt, Toni M. Hodson, Keith Holland, Katerina P. Huff, Aaron Jacobs, Elise Jenkins, Herman H. Jenkins, Matthew Kimm, Johnathan D. King, Kenneth King, Marlena J. Korber ,Bettye J. Krasch, Amanda M. Lane, Tolly R. Lawhern, Kenneth J. Lewis, Michael Long, Courtney L. Luke, Foster P. Lux, Kyra Mccallister-Schwartz, Jennifer L. Mccranie, Emily Mckinion, Adam Mooers, Ashleigh Moore, Cody Moser, Maria Olsavsky, Angela O'neill, Abigail S. Ott, Jessica L. Paig, Tracy L. Palmer, Dustin S. Parker, Emily P. Parker, Jenna M. Paylor, Jose L. Pereira, Jennifer L. Pope, Joseph Printy, Miriam Rebosio, Daniel Rivera, Casie Rose, David E. Rose, Elizabeth A. Rowan, Tomi W. Salo, Rosa L. Sanchez, Stefan Sanguyo, Desiree F. Sevilla, Veronica L. Smith, Vishnu L. Sriram, Andrew R. Stanley, Sadie Stokes, Cassandra J. Sullivan, Charles Taylor, Cydney Terryn, Jeffrey S. Thompson, Steven E. Turner, Cassandra M. Twist, Mario Valle, Eric G. Vincent, Ronald L. Weinstein, Robert G. Wells, Jennah White, Michelle C. Wilson.

DeFuniak Springs: Brittany T. Adams , William C. Adkinson, Brittany Baynard, Pamela L. Baynard, John T. Carnley, Jason Cook, Amy L. Davis, Kaylyn Douglass, Jamie G. Ellis, Mary E. Emerson, Joshua R. Ervin, Ashley Estes, Pedro Flores, Holley Hester, Alexandra Infinger, Angela K. Jeffery, Maryse Leigh, Marian P. Lindsey, Robert A. Meyers, Blaze C. Mitchem, Jefferie A. Moore, Shaun A. Myers, Richard T. Pinkham, Shannon C. Rachels, Rita Ramsey, Edward W. Scanlan, William S. Tatman, Shelby W. Truett, Joseph A. Wheeler, Nyssa L. Williams.

Destin: Calli R. Bruner, Alexandra Carrier, Lea Guillory, Elizabeth A. Hart, Katie E. Holbrook, Christian B. Holland, Bethany J. Keller, Angela C. Kelley, Nathan Kight, Anna Leavenworth, Kristina N. Lorrain, Maribeth Magtanong, Oxana Oculova, Zachary J. Oeser, Jay D. Patel, Brenda M. Petersen, Mckenna Reed, Sterling P. Schaefer, Hannah D. Shepherd, Jeff G. Tratt, Sonata Valaitis, Stephanie Zwarg.

Eglin Air Force Base: Amelia M. Cantu, Marissa E. Connolly, Orla B. Ericksen, Alexander Farmer, Katherine M. Houghton, Korrina K. Staunton.

Fort Walton Beach: Michael J. Balius, Roger Ballard, Lauren N. Beal, Carr M. Blair, Lyndsey B. Blanchard, Melynda K. Bradley, Terra Brister, Brittany N. Bryson, Trisha N. Buckley, Simone N. Campbell, Chelsea E. Cason, Crystal R. Cheeseman, Ross W. Cole, Jacqueline Crabtree, Mary Crabtree, Matthew Crabtree, Lauren M. Craig, Samuel Z. Craig, Mary E. Davidson, Nitosha D. Dawson, Misty D. Dean, Taegan L. Dennis, Nathan M. Diercks, William J. Dunn, Sarah M. Durlauf, Kenny A. Edwards, Matthew H. Ergle, Susan D. Ferguson, Dayana F. Forte, Anthony M. Fuller, Jeniffer Fuller, Lytha M. Gall, Brandon K. Garner, Stacey J. Gills, Shannon N. Guthrie, Bailey Harkins,Crystal L. Harrison, Sarah Hawn, Jennifer Jensen, Barbara J. Jernigan, Viola Kaiser, Lauren J. Kirby, Howard Kitter, Andrea Kurth, Matthew S. Lambrecht, Sasha Larson, Gabrielle E. Lindley, Kelsey Little, Courtney N. Loesser, Brooke Lowe, Cody Martin, Paige Mcardle, Christina M. Mcbride, Nicole Mcgee, Timothy J. Mcgovern, Stevie M. Mcgrady, Tyler W. Mcinturff, Krista Mcnabb, Brooke Mcsheehy, Loren J. Mikulski, Heather L. Mims, Lauren Moore, Patrick N. Moore, Nachaat Mounla, Xaviera Murdock, Yasmine B. Nabulsi, Michael D. Neau, Angela K. Negron, Karolann Nelson, Ramon F. Quiray, Sarah A. Reeves, Chris Reilly, Kristi M. Santiago, Rik Sargent, Eric L. Scott, Lisa M. Spikes, Anastasia S. Swayne, Alecia M. Szafranski, Helena Tavarez, Lafayette Thomas, Karli Thompson, Kirsten Thompson, Catherine M. Thurman, Ronald B. Toole, Cecilia A. Tracy, Bruno A. Trillo, Kristi D. Varner, Coral M. Warren, Ralitsa Wells, Samantha G. Westfall, Charles Whatley, Caroline E. Willis, Katelyn E. Winthurst.

Freeport: Rachel L. Anderson, Katelyn Beaty, Jennifer C. Christensen, Linda M. Fortin, Morgan Goodwin, Kara Griffith, Michelle N. Hebert, Pamela J. Hill, Mark Magestro, Kristin Meredith, Morgan Mondragon, Elizabeth A. Scruggs, Brian Seymour, Dalton Shost, Anthony L. Tognaci, Grace Wells.

Gulf Breeze: Justin D. Britt, Stephen L. Rogers.

Holt: Joshua Griffitts, Jessica J. Quattlebaum, Mai Anne D. Quizon.

Hurlburt Field: Lauren Quinones.

Laurel Hill: Christie G. Dixon, Elizabeth English, Katherine O. Hamilton, Steven W. Lewis.

Lynn Haven: Deborah J. Owens. -more-

NWFSC Honor’s List – Spring Term 2013

Mary Esther: Jeffrey M. Appling, Courtney L. Boggess, Joshua Brillon, Hanah Chaudhry, Brittany L. Chojnacki, Drew R. Coggin, Adam Cool, Jessica D. Craig, Caitlin A. Duffey, Charles Edwards, Theresa K. Elscott, Rebekah Glover, Randi L. Irby, Angel Jordan, Dino Julian, Dawnlee K. Kennedy, William L. Kessinger, Umid Khikmatov, Madalina Kohan, Andrew A. Mack, Marelle Martin, Toiya G. Moffatt, Shawn T. Moore, Yeidy S. Mundo Perez, Maria F. Olshefski, Tony Olson, Lisa M. Parker, Emily E. Radomski, Sean P. Renshaw, Russell J. Richardson, Veronica Scott, Kelly K. Stanley, Angela R. Sternke, Shirley A. Taylor, Susan J. Torres.

Milton: Sara B. Goff, Leticia S. Matsuoka, Ann M. Ruryk.

Miramar Beach: Susan H. Breed, Roy Lynn Craft, Maxim R. Hoehn, Greta A. Niemela, Amy N. Owen, Brittney D. Rann, Lina Scurtu, Maiia Stegnii, Tanya E. Vardazhieva.

Navarre: Marlene R. Acevedo, Nicole E. Banister, Debra A. Belo, Carl E. Bennett, Michael L. Buckley, Amber N. Calhoun, Dean F. Carmichael, Amber Lynn Devenney, Ligen N. Dominguez, Jodi Edwards-Boyd, Vini J. Febus, Quintin D. Johnson, Ashley M. Keaton, Tabitha A. Keesey, Robin Lynn Kuldas, Christina M. Lewis, Sean Mcguirk, Melanie A. Morgan, Addison V. Owsley, Charles Tey H. Sessor, Katlin D. Sweeney, Caroline S. Thayer, Frederick L. Tincher, Danielle M. Valdez, Madison Walker, Brian K. Wellman, Kimberly D. Winckler, Wendora D. Witaszek.

Niceville: Evan Adler, Cassandra E. Ali, Esther E. Alldredge, Gloryanne C. Allen, Jonathan D. Allen, Lori A. Anderson, Loretta E. Aubert, Shera D. Aziz, Cody Bahler, Michaela Bass, Brandon Beauchamp, Nakara Beliveau, Christopher M. Bennett, Paige L. Bennett, Elizabeth Berry, Joshua C. Berry, Victoria M. Bishop, Kala E. Blackmon, Steven M. Bowman, Todd J. Brigman, Julie K. Brooks, Katie E. Brown, Angela L. Buchanan, Kayla M. Buchanan, Rebecca Cathey, Brandon J. Cherveny, Bethany Chestnut, Jonathan D. Delgado, Mary N. Dickerson, William Easley, Mary P. Eichler, Kimberly A. Fisher, Rachel Fuller, Zachary J. Gadzinski, Ciarra Garza, James B. George, Katherine Gillette, Cathleen C. Hoffman, Jorden Holland, Katrina M. Jammer, Mariah Jammer, Emmett L Jesse, Abigail Johnson, Mark A. Jordan, Matthew J. Jordan, Jessica M. Keel, Ashley L. Kempton, Kristi Kinchen, C. H. Knight, Brennen M. Leon, Justyn M. Lewis-Washington, Felicia J. Martin, Tessa Mayhew, Gabriel E. Mcdonald, Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Hannah B. Merrell, Hayden Meyer, Haleigh Mooney, Andrew S. Moore, Stirling B. Naber, Jami B. Nespoli, Hannah Nowers, Amie M. Parker, Elizabeth Pearson, Amber Phillips, Sherry L. Rickman, Sierra D. Riddle, Quinn Ritter, Arden M. Robertson, Danielle R. Rominger, Alexander Russ, Amanda Rutherford, Amber Sanders, Melanie C. Schultz, Aubrey A. Schwartz, Caitlin Simpson, Haley Smith, Joshua D. Spradlin, Alec Stanton, Jesse Taylor, Sarianna Thomas, Sandra L. Tierney, Emily Triplett, Amy Tromba, Tyler A. Underwood, Alexander Wagner, Kori A. Wagner, Andrew J. Washburn, Lisa M. Werenskjold, Rebecca A. Wheeler, Caitlyn Williams, Kathryn J. Williams, Kyle A. Witt, Nicholas J. Zins.

Pace: Heaver C. Reaves.

Panama City: Amanda S. Creal.

Panama City Beach: Eva A. Gerlecz.

Pensacola: Brandon S. Cullum, Thomas R. Thibault.

Ponce de Leon: Megan Salzlein.

Santa Rosa Beach: Jeannine E. Abadie, Skyler Coetzee, Cody A. Ficarra, Michelle Hooker, Taylor Moberly, Jessica Nguyen, Ashley C. Redmond, Natapong Sappermpun, Christopher H. Savoie, Michael Swiercz, Zsuzsanna M. Thomas, Melissa I. Ward, Nikki Willmott.

Shalimar: Cassidy Beaulieu, Rhianna Bergquist, Chris Bogdanski, Irina M. Brooks, Brandon D. Burrows, Sara Carrillo, Ryan Casburn, William Curtis, Olivia M. Dempcy, Rachel Dovin, Larissa M. Gough, Justin Grinsted, William Harden, Amanda Hubbard, Brandon A. Jennings, Allyson K. Johnson, Hillary Macdonald, Janie M. Mcvay, Jessica B. Means, Ashley A. Meyer, Cindy L. Moody, Samantha J. Newman, Lonelle M. Ordway, Megan E. Petresky, Julien R. Pugh, Ashley Quackenbush, Michelle L Riggs, Jenise Russell, Hayden L. Veech, Ashley Watts.

Valparaiso: Joy B. Armbrester, Christopher A. Barnes, Stephanie J. Fitzgerald, Tara A. Lord, Charnita Storr, Laura L. Vitullo, Joshua M. Woeckener.

Westville: Melissa Cook, Kristy L. Eldridge, Justin K. Ellis, Makala D. Hicks.

Sao Paulo, Brazil: Gabriela M. Kuroda.

Bunnlevel, NC: Vanessa Pedersen.

Pickerington, OH: Allen K. Woolridge.

Dean’s List:

Baker: Niketa M. Aaron, Briana Allen, Samantha Arvin, Autumn M. Ball, Alexandria L. Barrow, David A. Cain, Megan J. Davis, Malcolm Griffith, Meghan E. Johnson, Ronald W. Westerfield.

Cantonment: Latasha M. Seals.

Coral Springs: Kevin J. Knapp

Crestview: Russell L. Adams, James F. Anderson, Jared F. Armstrong, Gabriele Austin, Rachel Babine, Samantha D. Barrow, Melonie R. Beach, Samantha L. Beavers, Matthew A. Bonner, Janna L. Brittain, Elysia I. Butler, Shelly Campbell, Tiffany D. Carter-Nubern, Won Hee Chong, Katelyn A. Collazo, Kristina Copeland, Anna Cortez, Jonathan Crespo, Mikel M. Currie, Lisa Daboll, Ricardo A. Dardon, Amanda J. Davis, Jamie L. Delacerda, Sean Drummer, Tara Dunkle, Taylor M. Durisek, Steven Dyson John R. Ethridge, Xin Fang, Timothy D. Farrell, Mark A. Forbes, Shae L. Fountain, Sandra M. Galbraith, Valeria Gamboa, Alisha F. Gennaro, Elpidtha M. Gibson, Shontel M. Grant, Jonathan A. Guy, Michelle R. Hamilton, Kelly L. Hansel, Robert R. Harms, Eugene W. Harris, Ashleigh N. Harsch, Alexis Hawthrone, Angelle Heid, Rebecca S. Henry, Meghan Hohman, Jessica W. Holland, Sheila Hollyday, Stanton J. Honour, Jace M. Howard, Holly Hoyt, Solene Hurd, Robert Jenks, Kayla Jines, Elona N. Johnson, Celeste Jones, Tyler Jones, Jessica I. Karlesky, Bettye D. Keefer, Thomas M. Keefer, Melanie A. Kennedy, Cassie King, Kyle A. Knaust, Hillary P. Lamountain, Howard H. Le, Michael J. Leatherwood, Samantha Leatherwood, Sarah Lehotay, Kevin C. Lewis, Kersten S. Lindberg, Eric Litton, Jonathan S. Lorch, Katie L. Lowrey, Kayla C. Lowrey, Sharie Lucas, Elizabeth Lukas, Emma D. Mason Jason Masters, Susan Mayberry, John P. Mccullough, Franklin M. Mccurley, Gena M. Medley, Alexis Miller, Debra Minor, Larry A. Mobley, Nicole Mojica, Katiana Morales, Kurtis Odom, Bradley J. Paskell, Matthew R. Phelan, Oliver J. Pikcilingis, Thatsanee H. Polzin Jennah Portillo, Casey L. Posada, Catherine J. Ramos, Michael P. Reckoff, Ekeitha T. Redd, Alice Reyna, Donald E. Robison Breanna Rucker, Bobbie L. Schneider, Jessica K. Schwartz, Heather R. Scruggs, Heather N. Secondine, Sarah R. Shaffer, Mark M. Shelton, Jessica M. Silvia, Haley C. Simmons, Jody R. Smallwood, Joseph Sporer, John K. Tyler, Sophie Von Dem Bach, Steven S. Wagner, Lauren Warnick, Gregory K. Waterhouse, Heather N. White, Robin L. Whiteted, Seth D. Williams, Chelsey K. Wingate, Andrew C. Wirth, Kasey M. York.

DeFuniak Springs: Melissa M. Allen, Marie Allison, David Amason, Devero Bogart, Cory L. Brown, Angela C. Coleman, Stephen W. Constable, Nichole A. Gavin, Daniel J. Grgurich, Michelle L. Jackson, Matthew D. Maikowski, Jeffrey D. Mason, Bryanna Muscella, Amanda L. Paulk, Malachi J. Perkins, Brittany Picon, Ashley M. Rennert, Doug A. Simons, Jeremy G. Spear, Elizabeth D. Trotman, Sara Wilkins, Angela J. Yount.

Destin: Kevan Adams, Trista N. Barton, Delia M. Brazzell, Annie Carroll, Lilly C. Cheney, William D. Fleet, Ashley Fletcher, Veronica Grozav, Ashley J. Gulledge, Juliette M. Gustave, Amanda L. Haselden, Ian M. Hok, Phanwadee Ieojaroenlarp, Ruslan Josan, Roland Loynaz, Melody D. Mathews, Justin F. Moore, Katie Moore, Taylor A. Murphy, Anthony R. Nelson, Brian C. Pinnell, Czarina Delilah S. Porcalla, Maria Psikogios, Elizabeth S. Steele, Amber Wall.

Eglin Air Force Base: Quinn T. Bartee, Yong C. Chen, Christin M. Cothran, Nicole E. Dunn, Samantha Glendenning, Richard C. King, Samantha A. Sanchez, Rafael I. Siguenza-Galdamez, Jessica L. Soles.

Fort Walton Beach: Christina Adkins, Elizabeth J. Agerton, Cara Ahlsen-Girard, Lorena A. Anderson, Savannah Appling, Lisa A. Arnett, Charity A. Barger, Joshua P. Bauman, Jennifer L. Bell, John S. Bitler, Thomas H. Black, Bridgette N. Bradley, Angela M. Bright, Malcolm T. Brodie, Michael B. Broner, Steven Anthony P. Brown, Shawn R. Bryant, Jeremiah Butcher, Quinisha L. Cawthon, John Chapman, Myrna L. Chenault, Shaquaine R. Claybrone, Crystal E. Coffman, Ariel M. Collazo, Melissa L. Craigo, Margaret J. Cyrus, Lana R. Dahl, Tyriana Davis, Jeanna M. Dollente, Kristian R. Dollente, Laura D. Duncan, Amador R. Escatel, Tyler D. Fendlason, Steve G. Forakis, Taylor M. Ford, Michael J. Gambert, Candice M. Gartman, Cameron Gibbs, Theodor A. Gonzalez, Nicole L. Gorrell, Brian L. Greer, Sean Grosvenor, Cody A. Guthrie, Lauren A. Hart, Tracy E. Hedtkamp, Debora S. Henley, Jake D. Herold, Melinea G. Hinchey, Trinity V. Horton, Rebecca M. Howell, Heather L. Hughes, Sarah R. Hurley, Gwendolyn M. Jefferson, Jenna Johnson, Christy E. Jones, Jan L. Juarez-Jimenez, Alexa Labit, Corry A. Lassiter, Amanda K. Lewis, Molly Little, Sophia Luong, Alexandra Makarova, Lyubov Makarova, Meganne E. Mannon, Marilyn P. Mason, Elease D. McDonald, Allison M. McKinney, Brent L. Mcnamara, Carly Miller, Preston Miller, Sandra E. Miller, Connor Mills, Emily Mills, Lori L. Mills, Jennifer L. Montgomery, Andrea Moore, Sara B. Nordheim, Jordan R. Patton, Terri L. Phillips, Andrea R. Price, Jenna D. Reeder, Kenneth W. Rhodes, Kenneth C. Rigsby, Hailey T. Roach, Brandon J. Rokis, Damon L. Rudish, Dubner Saintilus, Caely S. Sandstrom, John G. Seagle, Ashley R. Slee, Harris Smith, Katelyn S. Smith, Felicia N. Tapp, Charles R. Thirsk, Haley M. Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Scottie A. Thurwanger, Martha S. Townsend, Francisca Unger, Tina M. Valentine, Keith D. Vaughan, Audra L. Walbert, Edward C. Williams, Ryanne K. Woodin, Dana L. Wright, Jamie L. Wyrick. –more-

Freeport: Samuel Blizzard, Elizabeth Haney, Anna Lennon, Susannah R. Lennon, Wahyu D. Lestari, Cheryl L. Maxwell, Jesse Moon, Mikaela Norton, Jessica Parsons, Jessica R. Stabile, Ryan J. Stabile, Brianna S. Thames, Rebekah Thorgaard, Candace B. Tousignant, Brittany Umble, Joshua D. Whitaker.

Gulf Breeze: Nobuko Landers.

Holt: Jillian A. Barton, Logan Conner, Hannah Derrick, Jessica M. Henry, Nickolas H. Nicoll, Tracy D. Palmateer, Maryjel Quizon, Dakota Woodward.

Hurlburt Field: Kayla Deatherage, Jennifer L. Dejesus, Travis L. Lemaster, Richard A. Strong, Beth A. Tyler.

Laurel Hill: Thomas M. Andrews, Chloe Collinsworth, Hannah E. Day, Loren N. Fowler, Steven K. Strickland, Colton T. Vann, Logan J. Williams.

Marianna: Christopher C. Garling.

Mary Esther: Kelsey M. Baldwin, Kathryn Brennan, Virginia Burns, Michelle E. Capik, Debbie A. Carrier, Ronald W. Davenport, Chelsea N. Farland, Danielle Flynn, Brandon R. Funk, Johnnie R. Gery, Sara K. Higgs, Robert J. Hildebrand, Leslie G. Lilly, Alexandria G. Llewellyn, Veronica D. Luvert, Lorie A. Marlar, Johnica L. Mcdaniel, Megan L. Milliner, Yolanda S. Morris, Bevin Newton, Sarah F. O'gallagher, Christopher Palacios, Timothy M. Procita, Inday F. Ragar, Mark Reeves, Sarah L. Sendy, Kayla Smith, Allison L. Story, Kyle A. Taylor, Jocelyn C. Turzak, Caisson M. Vickery, Candice E. Winn, Tracy Wujciak.

Miami: John C. Molkentin

Milton: Crystal L. Mclean, Thomas M. Van Pelt.

Miramar Beach: Yasmin Chauhan, Brandon Crowther, Mary Etheridge, William E. Merritt, Alysha S. Neidert, Antonio Sandevski, Emily M. Seeling, Kathryn E. Swoboda, Nicole S. Walters.

Navarre: Eddie Beasley, Gregory L. Blackburn, Ashley N. Carter, Vernon W. Diedrich, Kayla Dubois, Nicholas J. Feltman, Olivia Gagnon, Cameron E. Gourley, Christina Haltom, Darrell L. Hardin, Steven P. Hersom, Megan Johnson, Neil H. Light, Chelsey A. Lingad, Sean R. Martin, Corey M. Mayhew, Tamika S. Mccray, Kevin F. Miller, Anna Morey, Juan C. Newman, Houston A. Perry, Miranda Poynter, Sriyah H. Ramdatt, Chris A. Robinson, Christine M. Rowe, Thomas M. Rutherford, Denise M. Smith, Amandea L. Tincher, Mark A. Wilson, Deneb Wright, Brenda M. Zelada.

Niceville: Corrine E. Akins, Jenny L. Armstrong, Santana M. Barlow, Jennifer M. Barsky Alexandria Bikker, Alexa K. Birmingham, Brittany N. Boothe, Agustin T. Borrero, Mark Boutwell, Jarret W. Bristol, Aaron C. Cain, Christine M. Campbell, Fletcher Cary, David T. Collins, Meghan Connelly, Kristen M. Cook, David J. De Vos, Hector J. Delgado, Sebastian G. Duckworth, Brandon E. Farlough, Kathryn Ferris, Trystan Flegal, Dennis A. Fleming , Ginger L. Foster, Salina N. Fountas, Jensen B. Francis, Codey R. Friesen, Susan L. Galati, Cristina E. Garcia, Rachel Godfrey, Gaynell E. Graff, Anne Griffin, Allison Harris, Thomas Hiltl, Stephen Huntley, Madisan B. Johnson, Ana R. Johnston, Rebecca L. Jones, Mitchell A. Kuhn, Morgan Lewellen, Danee N. Martin, Joel McDuffie, Kyle Mcdorman, William Mcnair, Shane E. Melancon, Anne M. Melia, Brandon Mosley, Janeal Musser, Tammy L. Ogletree, Zach P. O'hara, Kelley J. Paz, Zachary A. Phillips, Tibor Pollak, Savannah M. Powell, Jacob L. Racer, Vikhana Rao, Grant D. Ratcliff, Wayne L. Reed, Olivia M. Rivera, T. Roni L. Roberson, Meredith Roberts, Zach L. Rodgers, David J. Russell, Stacey L. Sanders, Paul K. Santiago, Janet Santner, Gabrielle R. Schlink, Cullen J. Schmitz, Tavarsha Z. Scott, Joseph H. Settle, Anastasia M. Shipman, Brittany M. Smith, Raymond J. Steffens, Taylor D. Stein, Tiffany E. Sulse, Brent W. Thurman, Linda K. Tierney, Travis L. Tucker, Savannah R. Wamsley, Kurtis J. Watson, Ronald A. Whitman, Olivia Wilder, Jany M. Youngs, Daniel A. Zappulla, Brianna M. Zitoli.

Pace: Robert R. Way.

Paxton: Kristyn S. Geiselman, Dustin Geoghagan, Abby Hamilton.

Pensacola: Melissa K. Brown, Elizabeth M. Cartwright, Alexis L. Leach, Brandon J. Nagem.

Ponce de Leon: Brianna M. Freeman, Gerald D. Gladney , Jeralynn Voigt.

Santa Rosa Beach: Alexandra M. Bakane, Taylor R. Buuck, Brandon A. Connellan , Brianna Cryar, Shelbe M. Disler, Kristine A. Faulk, Sonia A. Fenik, Kaela M. Hargis, Rachel E. Holland, Davis Jenkins, Chase Lee, Alexandra Mcduffie, Gianina Paval Betts , Melanie E. Pietenpol, Jacob Scheler, Samantha L. Snider, Tiffany J. Snider , Wendy S. Swain, Samuel J. Vernon, Carter Weinstein, Jessica L. Yates.

Shalimar: Charles L. Alexander, Kristina M. Bowes, Angelina N. Brown, Elizabeth Cassity, Brianna Checkley, Dedra A. Cosner, Shanley S. Foster, Cailee S. Frongner, David M. Green, Kelley G. Hall, Angela R. Horton, Matthew Hovatter, Keith P. Hubbard, Jason Huffine, Mikko T. Kononen, Cheyne N. Postlewate, Joshua Revere, Alyna Segura-Sanchez, Stefan Wheeless, Zachary F. Yount .

Tampa: Ashley N. Hardy.

Valparaiso: Aaron J. Broaddus, Joshua L. Estep, Ryan D. Frandi, Brendan J. Mcbeth, Marissa D. Milligan, Aidan Polk, Stacy M. Walters, Carrie L. Wicker, Stephanie J. Wilbur.

Vernon: Donald Downer.

Youngstown: Joshua K. Larsen.

Altoona, AL: Josh Ellison.

Ariton, AL: Haley N. Goodson.

Arnaudville, LA: Jessica S. Colliver.

Rapid City, SD: Tracee E. Ankoviak.

Fort Worth, TX: Laura M. Perry.

CRESTVIEW – An 18-year-old was arrested for violating a restraining order after he was seen “hanging out” with the woman being protected by the order.

The alleged violation occurred May 25 when the two were seen arguing by neighbors at a Woodruff Avenue residence.

The 18-year-old said he never became physical with the woman. She admitted to an officer she’d been “hanging out” with the fellow, but wouldn’t say anything else about the disturbance.

The 18-year-old was charged with violation of pretrial release. His plea date is June 11.
 

NICEVILLE — The chamber of commerce is offering trips to a country the United States has embargoed for more than 50 years.

The Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Chamber Explorations to offer trips to Cuba. Vacation travel to Cuba is prohibited, but the U.S. government allows registered residents to visit for a “cultural and educational” experience through its People-to-People Program.

“We have gotten a lot of calls,” said Tricia Brunson, the chamber’s president and CEO. “I understand their tours book up pretty quickly because it’s new to be able to go to Cuba. I’ve heard it’s a great, wonderful trip. I’ve heard that everybody that’s gone has raved about it.”

The trip includes tours of Old Havana, Ernest Hemingway’s home, the Bocoy Rum Factory and a tobacco farm.

The eight-day tour costs $3,599 per person from Miami and $4,299 from Northwest Florida Regional Airport. The price includes airfare, seven nights in a first-class hotel, 16 meals, admission for all tours and programs and other amenities.

Chamber Explorations, which specializes in offering trips through chambers of commerce nationwide, offers the Cuba trip to chambers throughout the country.

The trips available through the Niceville chamber start July 19 and leave weekly through November. They are available to anyone, not just chamber members. Each trip will be limited to 30 to 40 people nationwide.

The trip can be booked through chamber member Travel Professionals International, but owner Tom Kerr said he is being very cautious about promoting it.

Kerr said he is directing people who want more information to contact Brunson at the chamber rather than his office.

“We would be happy to help any way we can, but we’re not marketing it,” Kerr said. “It’s not tourism, it’s a People-to-People Program, and I would be very cautious of who I would recommend the trip to. I wouldn’t turn them down, but I would explain it to them that this is not intended to be a sightseeing tour.”

The People-to-People Program came under fire earlier this year after hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce went to Cuba in April to celebrate their wedding anniversary. After their trip, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio called the trip “hypocritical” and propaganda for the Cuban government.

“We are allowing people to travel to Cuba as tourists,” Rubio told CNN. “They’re delivering hard currency to a tyrannical regime who then turns around and uses that to oppress its people.”

Brunson said the chamber is considering offering similar trips to Tuscany in Italy, Ireland, China and Germany, among other destinations.

“We wanted to start with this one since it was so unique,” she said.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

DESTIN — Tennessee Titans cheerleader Whitney looked straight at the camera with the Gulf of Mexico behind her as she finished her photo shoot Tuesday morning.

Whitney is one of 21 women who traveled to the Emerald Coast for the squad’s annual calendar shoot for 2014.

“I’m a whole lot more confident this year,” said Whitney, who is in her second year as a cheerleader. “Last year it was very intimidating, but I knew what to expect this time. You have to have that confidence to shoot. You can’t be scared or you will see that in the photo.”

See photos of the shoot. >>

Watch a short video of the photo shoot. >>

The Titans’ cheerleaders have come to Destin for the past six years to shoot their calendar. Stacie Kinder, director of cheerleading for the Titans, said the team sells about 5,000 calendars, and the photos will get more than 1 million hits online.

“Our pictures rival anything you will see out there,” Kinder said. “The hardest thing for us is shooting 21 women in a three-day window, but these are arguably some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, so we make it work.”

Kinder said the team plans the trip around the shoulder season with Emerald Grande in Destin. On Tuesday morning, the women woke up about 3 a.m. to get hair and makeup ready for their 5:30 a.m. shoot on the west jetty.

Brittni, a first-year cheerleader, said she learned she made the team in mid-May and had to be ready to become a model just a few weeks later.

“It was a little overwhelming,” Brittni said. “I feel so blessed to have this opportunity, though. I just made sure to work out and eat right beforehand. I’m honored to have the opportunity to be in the calendar. I would have never dreamed this would happen.”

The cheerleaders use only their first names to protect their identity.

The theme for next year’s calendar is all about the Titans. Cheerleaders wore bathing suits with the team’s red, white and Titan blue colors.

“This is a wonderful place to do this and we are making it a tradition to come here every year for the calendar,” Kinder said. “There’s great white sand and beautiful emerald green water. It’s ideal for what we do.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.

Civilian employees at local military bases began receiving furlough notices last week.

Read a copy of one of the notices. >>

Most of the more than 5,300 civilians employed at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field will be subject to up to 11 days of unpaid leave between July 8 and the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30.

The 11 furlough days are fewer than the 22 days originally proposed in March. It will save the Department of Defense about $1.8 billion.

The furloughs come in response to sequestration, a measure passed by Congress that requires the department to make steep budget cuts by the end of the fiscal year.

Bob and Brenda Koenigkramer, 56 and 46, respectively, work as civil servants at Eglin. They received furlough notices last week.

Each of their paychecks will be cut by about 20 percent over the three-month period.

Bob Koenigkramersaid they have started to look at exactly how they will budget their finances to get through the furlough and how it will affect their annual leave, government savings plans and federal benefits.

“Now we need to get down to scratching it out on paper and making sure we budget for the actual cuts,” he said.

In past years they have taken a destination vacation over the summer, but this year they plan to visit family to save on hotel and other costs.

They have a 15-year-old daughter and would have likely purchased back-to-school clothes for her during the furlough, but are now going to forgo that expense. They also would have planned to add her to the family’s car insurance and purchase a vehicle for her for when she turns 16.

“We’re going to hold off and wait until we are back on full pay again,” Bob Koenigkramer said.

He is an executive assistant for the Commanders Action Group. Brenda Koenigkramer works as a secretary for the 96th Test Wing.

They said they are at a point in their careers where they actually are able to save money, so they will be able to accommodate the furlough with cutbacks. However, they are concerned for younger employees who live paycheck to paycheck and can’t afford the reduced pay.

“Our adjustments are going to be painful, but a lot less painful than for a lot of people, especially our young people whose entire paychecks are committed to just surviving,” Bob Koenigkramer said.

About 85 percent of the Department of Defense’s 767,000 civilian employees will be subject to the furlough.

Employees who are exempt include people working in combat zones, wounded warrior caregivers, full-time sexual assault prevention and response coordinators, and those working as sexual assault victim advocates, according to the department.

Notices of the furlough began to go out May 28 and will continue through Wednesday.

When employees receive their notice, they have seven days to respond or appeal, according to letters sent to Eglin workers.

It will be up to each employee’s supervisor to determine how the furloughs will be implemented, but they cannot be taken continuously, according to the letters.

At Hurlburt Field, 1,600 employees will be required to take one unpaid day off a week during the furlough period, according to the 1st Special Operations Wing’s public affairs office.

Without those workers, some of Hurlburt’s units and programs will be disrupted, including family programs, research and development projects and military construction, the office said.

Commissaries at Hurlburt and Eglin will be closed an additional day a week to accommodate for the furlough.

The Koenigkramers said they are working with their supervisors and other civilian employees in their departments to determine how best to take their time off while maintaining the base’s mission.

They still hope the furlough period could be reduced further.

They have seen command staff working to save money. Thermostats have been set at 78 degrees and commanders have given up their military-issued vehicles.

“It’s obvious to us that leadership not only locally, but at the Air Force and DoD level are working to try to find ways to save money,” Bob Koenigkramer said. “We’re hoping that our officials will continue to find cost-cutting measures that will allow them to consider reducing this even more.”

Defense officials are more cautious.

Uncertainty over whether sequestration will continue has made it difficult to know whether furloughs will continue into fiscal 2014, Jessica Wright, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a news release last week.

Pentagon officials will do “everything in our power” not to have to furlough employees, she said.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.

NICEVILLE — Incumbent Daniel Henkel will face opposition July 16 for his Group 4 seat on the City Council from Armand Izzo, a fellow military contractor.

It will be the only contested race this year in Niceville’s election cycle. Sal Nodjomian, the only candidate to qualify for a special election Jan. 22, faces no opposition for the second time this year.

City Clerk Dan Doucet said he expects about 1,000 of city’s 9,300 registered voters to cast ballots this year. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Henkel, an Air Force retiree who the city website says works as a “program manager for a foreign military sales program” was elected in 2008 with 303 votes. He was re-elected the following year, the website says.

Izzo also is retired military and is a program manager for a defense-related firm.

His LinkedIn Internet page says he works for defense threat education agency TASC Inc. in systems engineering and software test engineering.

Qualifying for the election ended Friday, but Doucet said he hasn’t seen any sign of active campaigning yet.

“Some go door to door, others send out fliers,” said Doucet, who added that Henkel did not put out signs during his last election campaign.

“We don’t give them a lot of advice,” Doucet said. “Whatever the candidate wants to do, it’s up to them.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

More than a year after discovering former tourism head Mark Bellinger illegally purchased a house in Destin with a BP oil spill grant, Okaloosa County still is waiting to recoup its losses.

Attorney Greg Stewart, who serves as the county’s special counsel, briefed county commissioners on the house and other recovery efforts at their meeting in Crestview on Tuesday.

He said the county is making progress on recovering bed tax money and BP grant money that was “inappropriately spent in the past.”

Bellinger’s four-bedroom house in Kelly Plantation sold for $620,000 in March. The federal government seized it soon after Bellinger’s theft was discovered in May 2012.

The county has petitioned to receive 100 percent of the sale proceeds.

“I talked to the Justice Department in Washington on Friday, and they have everything they need to rule on the petition,” Stewart said. “ … Everything is moving forward positively, and it looks like there’s a good likelihood that we will get our petition granted.”

BP has agreed to allow the county to use the money for its original purpose to promote tourism in the wake of the oil spill.

Stewart also updated the board on the status of more than $6,500 in furniture Bellinger purchased illegally with bed tax money. Most of the items are in storage while some are being used at the Tourist Development Council’s welcome center on Okaloosa Island.

See some of Bellinger's furniture choices. >>

The upscale pieces, which were purchased from Terri’s Interiors in Destin in the fall of 2011, were found in Bellinger’s home.

“It was in his office that he furnished in his house in Destin,” Richard Brannon, the county’s purchasing director, said after Tuesday’s presentation.

Brannon and Stewart are working to determine which pieces to keep for county use and which ones to sell on consignment or at auction.

One high-dollar item that remains in county storage is a $4,800 glass marlin sculpture.

“That’s a very hard item to dispose of,” Brannon said.

The sculpture is one of two purchased by Bellinger — without authorization but not illegally — for a total of $8,600 from Fine Line Studio Glass in Tallahassee. The second sculpture, which cost $3,800, stands about 6 feet tall and depicts jumping dolphins. It sits in a corner of the TDC’s welcome center.  

Also in storage is one of the two customized Bourget motorcycles — a his-and-her set — that Bellinger purchased for $118,000 with bed tax money. The second motorcycle is expected to arrive in the next week.

Stewart said the county has recovered a $10,800 overpayment that was made to the spokesman of the TDC’s “Boast the Coast” promotion under Bellinger’s tenure.

The county also has made progress in recouping $25,000 Bellinger paid to the Pennsylvania-based American Wind Symphony for a concert that never took place.

“We have gotten a default judgment against the symphony orchestra and we are filing the necessary paperwork to get an actual money judgment … to go after them for actual payment,” Stewart said.

The county also has recovered more than half of an unauthorized $82,000 advance payment Bellinger made to Aramark, the county’s food vendor at the Emerald Coast Convention Center.

Stewart said Bellinger was using the money for a variety of events, including cruises, office parties and charitable contributions.

“Most of these are expenditures I would deem inappropriate for tourist development tax dollars,” he told the board.

Aramark has paid back $45,328 but discussion has now “shut down,” Stewart said.

To recoup the remaining $36,671, he recommended the county pull that amount from a “joint activities” account put in place and fully funded by Aramark under its contract with the county. Commissioners voted unanimously to withdraw the money.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.

FORT WALTON BEACH — Just over a year ago Sam George took a chance.

Rather than staying on the traditional high school course, she set off to complete her senior year and begin her freshman year at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, N.C., simultaneously.

“It was terrifying at first because I only knew a few people and I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into,” the 18-year-old said. “After about three days, I was like, ‘OK, I can do this.’ ”

Sam was one of about 20 high school juniors admitted to Johnson & Wales’ Culinary Arts and Food Service Management bachelor’s program in the spring of 2012.

A year later, she doesn’t regret the decision or the “rites of passage” such as homecoming or prom that she missed.

“I feel more mature,” Sam said. “I feel ahead of the game.”

Sam decided to apply so she could jump-start her career path. She’d fallen in love with cooking as a child and her enthusiasm only increased when she got to high school.

That passion set her apart from classmates.

“I remember her sitting in class the first week saying she wanted to be a chef,” said Jill Newell, who oversees the culinary arts program at Choctawhatchee High School. “It’s rare to see one at the beginning continue with that interest all the way through.”

When many of the students didn’t return the second year, Sam was there and as enthusiastic as ever.

“It was exciting to watch her,” Newell said.

By her junior year, Sam already was spending less time at Choctaw. Instead, she was at Choice High School and Technical Center, which had more advanced culinary classes.

 She went on to become the first student from the school to enroll at Johnson & Wales as a high school junior.

Since then, Sam said she’s learned a lot about herself and knows now she made a wise decision.

“The hardest part was the winter term when I had to take government and lab,” Sam said laughing.

She returned home for the summer in April. After some urging from family, friends and a few of her former teachers, she decided to walk the stage at Choctaw’s graduation Friday.

“I’m legitimately a college sophomore … and a graduating high school senior,” Sam said. “I’m excited to walk.”

Sam will not spend her summer relaxing. Instead, she’ll be doing an internship at Cuvee Bistro.

 The internship will continue through the first semester of her sophomore year to fulfill a graduation requirement. 

When she wraps up college, she plans to work at restaurants until she’s ready to make it on her own.  When and where she opens her own place are the only real questions left, Sam said.

Sam and those who care about her are certain she’ll reach the goal sooner rather than later, and said they can’t wait to see what happens next.  

“She’s been a special student, I’ll tell you,” Newell said. “I’m happy for her and I’m proud of her.”

EGLIN AFB — An airman with the 33rd Fighter Wing was awarded the Bronze Star on Tuesday for his service during his nearly year-long deployment in Southwest Asia.

See pictures of the ceremony. >>

Senior Master Sgt. Jamie Jordan oversaw maintenance for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates from March 10, 2012, to Feb. 28.

He and his squadron of 1,400 maintenance personnel prepared aircraft for aerial refueling and collecting images for reconnaissance and surveillance, had fighter aircraft on hand if needed and deployed command and control aircraft to the battlefield.

“This is very humbling. A lot of people have sacrificed a lot more than I was ever asked to,” Jordan said after receiving the award. “It’s a real privilege, but obviously it’s due to the accomplishments of a lot of people, not just what I did.”

About three months after Jordan arrived, the wing grew in size about 250 percent, he said. That included personnel and aircraft, but not support equipment, facilities or even ground space.

“Normally you operate as a unit, but that wasn’t going to happen. We didn’t have the support equipment or facilities to do that,” he said. “Everybody came together and supported everyone else.”

F-15 crews shared equipment with KC-10 crews, for example. Maintainers helped with whatever aircraft needed support, not just their own frame.

“That’s something different you don’t see at a normal base, even a deployed base,” Jordan said. “That was the biggest challenge, but it wasn’t a hard sell. People who are deployed understand what’s at stake, so everybody gets onboard with it.”

His squadron worked with eight types of aircraft, none of which Jordan had experience with.

He said wing leaders were extremely supportive.

“I wasn’t anxious to walk into the position with eight different models I had never worked before, but they encouraged me and guided me in the right directions and helped when I needed it,” he said.

Lt. Col. Maurice Lee, commander of the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Eglin where Jordan is a maintenance superintendent, said people don’t get awarded the Bronze Star easily; it’s a very stringent process. He said it is the third-highest combat medal.

“Being in the right place at the right time is not enough. You have to go above and beyond,” he said after he pinned the medal on Jordan.

Jordan was hand-picked as one of the first maintainers to arrive at Eglin to work in the F-35 program, Lee said. He was instrumental in setting up the maintenance program for the military’s newest fighter jet before his deployment, and will return to that work now that he is home.

He previously was deployed during Desert Storm, when he worked to provide food and materials to people in Turkey who had fled from Iraq.

Jordan said his parents, who attended Tuesday’s ceremony, provided the direction he needed to get to where he is today.

“They deserve the most credit,” he said. “They gave me the foundation and strength to press on and not give up.”

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.

The Florida Highway Patrol did not issue a citation to a Walton County sheriff's deputy who ran over a woman sunbathing on the beach last week.

Although the FHP investigated the crash, troopers do not have jurisdiction on the beach, said Sheriff’s Office Maj. A.J. Smith. They can only write citations for infractions on designated roads or highways, he said.

However the FHP did find Deputy Chad Biernacki at fault. That will be taken into account when the Sheriff's Office’s accident review board meets.

Read the final crash report. >>

Biernacki, 30, had given written notices to appear in court to several underage drinkers just west of Pom-pano Joe’s restaurant about 6:30 p.m. May 28. He got back into his pickup truck and drove about 10 feet when the right front tire rolled over the right half of 21-year-old Jessica Nystrom of Destin, the FHP reported.

Nystrom was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast with serious injuries. She was released the following day.

Alcohol was not a factor for either Biernacki or Nystrom, the FHP reported.

Evidence and witnesses indicate that Biernacki was not driving the pickup recklessly, according to the FHP.

“The crash was the direct result of (Biernacki’s) failure to observe (Nystrom) or ensure that the path in front of his vehicle was clear prior to moving forward,” the report said.

After consulting with the state attorney’s office, it was decided that Biernacki was not criminally culpable, the FHP reported.

"The beach is closed to regular vehicular traffic. (The public does not) have the right to travel there (so it) is not a designated roadway," said Sgt. Steven Preston with FHP. "We cannot proffer traffic charges.

"After consultation with the State Attorney’s Office there will be no traffic or criminal charges. It will have to be handled administratively through the Sheriff’s office."
Biernacki is still on active duty, Smith said.

The FHP report will be forwarded to the accident review board, Smith said. In the next week, the board will review the case and determine whether any disciplinary action will be taken against Biernacki.

“There will probably be discipline because he should have been more careful,” Smith said. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

Like the rest of his senior classmates at Choctawhatchee High School, Bryan Baker will throw on his Sunday-best Friday night, slip on his cap and gown and walk into Joe Etheredge Stadium to accept his high school diploma.
It will be a symbolic moment for the 2013 graduating class, each of whom will wait with bated breath for their named to be called.

But for Baker, the call he anticipates most hopefully will have come hours before what many consider to be a right of passage into adulthood.

It will come over the phone at his Shalimar home, where he, his mom Cathy and his dad Scott will wait in anticipation for a representative from one of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs to tell Baker he’s been selected in the annual first-year player draft.

“It’s going to be a busy day,” the 6-foot-6-inch, 215-pound right-hander said with a laugh.

Baker, who racked up first-team Daily News honors on the hardwood and the diamond, is listed as the 241st best prospect according to Baseball America, his draft stock bolstered by a senior campaign where he went 4-2, struck out 66 in 37 1/3 innings, sported a .75 ERA and .72 WHIP, and held opposing batters to a .109 average. That would put him in line to be selected on Friday, where the rounds three through 10 will fall.

“Friday would be the day, most likely,” Baker said.

In preparation for Friday, the All Sports Association Scholastic Male sat down with the Daily News to discuss exactly what makes him a highly-touted prospect and how he’s preparing for what figures to be that life-changing call.

What’s been your reaction to the draft noise/chatter/hype?
Baker: I don’t really pay that much attention to all of it. I pay attention to some of it to know where I stand. But I’m just taking it easy and not worrying too much about it.
 

What have you heard from the baseball community (scouts, media, organizations) about your draft stock?
Baker: Recently I’ve been projected to be a top-10 round kind of guy. But after last week’s state all-star game, they’ve said I can sneak into the top five rounds.
(Baker struck out the side in the last of his two innings and didn’t allow an earned run in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star showcase, an event that is the self proclaimed top all-star baseball game in the country.)
 

What makes you so attractive, so projectable to MLB organizations?
Baker: For starters, MLB organizations like a pitcher with height. And for a 6-foot-6 frame, they have a lot to work with. I’m pretty athletic in that I play two sports, so they also like that. I’m more athletic than most guys my height. And I can already throw relatively hard, which they like to see.
 

Speaking of tools, describe your repertoire of pitches.
Baker: I can throw 96 … and I feel comfortable from 92-95 with my fastball. My changeup is my go-to secondary pitch. I’ve been throwing that since I can remember, probably since middle school. That’s my solid, go-to. I threw a curveball this year in high school that’s not consistent enough yet. For looking ahead, I’m probably not going to be throwing the curveball and I’ll be developing a slider and a split-finger fast-ball.
 

Do you feel you’ve done everything you can during your senior year to get your name out there?
Baker: Yeah, I do, and a lot of that goes to coach (L.C.) Smith at the high school. He’s really good about having several scouts at every game. After having all the scouts at the games, I had a couple of good outings and that kind of got my name shot up a little bit in the draft boards.
(Those good outings included a 19-strikeout, one-hit shutout against Fort Walton Beach, a perfect game against Godby where he struck out 10, and a two-hitter against District 2-6A champ Crestview where he K’d eight.)
 

What are your plans for the draft?
Baker: We’ll just sit around the house and wait around for some calls, and then we’ll go to graduation that night.
 

What would it take for you to forego your commitment to play baseball at the University of North Florida?
Baker: It would just have to be a really good offer from an organization. Obviously, getting my education paid for would be something I would negotiate. That’s something really important to me. I plan on finishing college either way.
(Baker ranks eighth in his senior class with a 4.43 weighted Grade Point Average.)
 

Seeing that you’ve signed with North Florida, would you call this a win-win scenario regardless of your decision to go pro?
Baker: That’s the thing that makes me calm about the whole process. Either way I’m going to be completely happy at either place I end up at.
 

NICEVILLE - Though she’s spent most of her life growing up in Florida, Christina Ramirez admits that she loves colder weather.

So when she stepped onto the campus of Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island during a snowstorm in February, it was no sur-prise that she immediately loved it. So much, in fact, that she committed to play college softball at Provide.

“I’ve always wanted to go up north,” said Ramirez. “I have family up there and I just love the cold and the snow. We lived in Ohio for four years and I got used to it then. I went up there and visited the college, and I just fell in love with the place.”

The commitment of Ramirez is the first in the Class of 2014 for the Friars, who turned in a 23-28 mark in the Big East this season. A right-handed pitcher who started at Niceville as a freshman, Ramirez was a key cog for a Lady Eagles’ team that reached the Region 1-6A Semifinal in 2013.

“Providence is getting a kid with a great work ethic,” said Niceville head coach Danny Hensley, who led his team to a 26-2 mark this sea-son. “She is a blue-collar worker, the kind of kid who works hard every single day. She started for me as a freshman and then had knee sur-gery to miss her sophomore year, but she came back and played well for us.

“I think by the time she gets to Providence, she will be one of the top pitchers around and she will have a chance to help them out immediately.”

Ramirez visited Providence during a record snow-storm in February and committed to the Friars earlier this month. For the future Providence pitcher, one look was all she needed.

“I have always heard that when you go on a visit, you should just know if that’s the place for you,” said Ramirez. “That’s what happened. I just knew. I enjoyed the players, I liked the coaches…As soon as I sat down with the coaches, I knew that Providence was where I wanted to be.”

Still a junior, Ramirez still has her senior season in front of her. And now, with the pressures of recruiting out of the way, she says she’s happy to focus on playing softball.

“The recruiting process is stressful,” said Ramirez. “I’ve watched older teammates go through it. You never know what’s going to happen, so I decided to get the decision out of the way. I think it will take the pressure off and allow me to just play.”
 

FREEPORT - A house fire on Laird Drive sent one man to the hospital Tuesday morning, according to the Freeport Fire Department.

Firefighters were called out about 11:40 a.m. after an electrical fire ignited in one of the home’s bedrooms.

Two people and a dog were in the home. The man was flown to Bay Medical Center with burns to his face.

The bedroom was destroyed and there was smoke damage throughout the house.

FORT WALTON BEACH - Police are investigating the death of a 13-month-old child.

Officers and emergency medical crews were called to the Waterfront Rescue Mission Thrift Store on Hollywood Boulevard about 5 p.m. Tuesday. A boy inside the store was unresponsive and had stopped breathing, according to Fort Walton Beach police.

People at the store started CPR before rescuers arrived.

The boy was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Emergency room physicians declared him dead after attempting to revive him.

Florida law requires any unattended death be investigated by law enforcement. 

Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Matt Holt at 833-9537.

Some folks here on the Emerald Coast are fond of saying government can’t do anything right. In their view, government officials — local, state, federal — gobble taxpayers’ dollars and then bungle every task they’re assigned.
They’re wrong. Government CAN do things well, sometimes even better than the private sector. One of those things is promoting beach safety.
In a recent story, the Daily News’ Angel McCurdy looked at beach safety on the Emerald Coast a decade ago, in early June 2003. In those days, few lifeguards patrolled our beaches. Those who were on duty were employed by condos; when they weren’t looking for swimmers in distress, they were renting out beach chairs. The beach flag warning system was chaotic. On one beach, a blue flag meant the water was calm; on another beach, a green flag meant the same thing.
All of that changed after what’s become known as Black Sunday, when eight swimmers drowned on area beaches.
Since then, beach flags have been made uniform across Northwest Florida.
Signs have been posted at beach access points explaining what the warning flags mean.
Law enforcement officers have been authorized to fine people who disobey the warning flags.
And, most important, more lifeguards have been placed on more beaches, paid for with bed tax revenue.
All of this is proper. If government controls beach property and invites the public to use it, government has an obligation to try to ensure the public’s safety.
Plus, it works. “We haven’t had a mass drowning day since I’ve been here,” said Joe D’Agostino, beach safety chief with Destin’s fire department. “And I do know there are some high numbers of drownings on beaches that don’t have lifeguards.”
We still receive occasional letters from readers who don’t think the government should hire lifeguards. Do they really want to return to the way things were done before Black Sunday?
 

A weather disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico could strengthen into a tropical depression or tropical storm, forecasters said Wednesday morning.

The disturbance was located in the south-central gulf and was drifting north.

The National Hurricane Center says the disturbance poses a 50 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours. If it does, it will be named Andrea, the season's first storm.

An Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance this afternoon, if necessary.

Locally, forecasters at the Mobile office of the National Weather Service predict a 60 percent chance of showers, with a possibility of 45 mph wind gusts during thunderstorms, and a moderate risk of rip currents along the Emerald Coast.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.

I have been reading online about Dreamfields pasta and its various health benefits, i.e., same amount of fiber as whole wheat, but a lower glycemic index.
While shopping last week, I found that Publix now carries it, so, of course, I had to try it.

Lasagna

12 pieces lasagna
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup onion, chopped
½ cup carrots, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
8 ounces lean ground beef
8 ounces Italian sausage
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
One 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 cups marinara sauce

Prepare lasagna according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; drain well.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté garlic, onion, carrots, celery and mushrooms until tender, about 5 minutes; remove from pan and set aside.
In the same skillet, brown the ground beef and sausage; season with salt and pepper, stirring and breaking up the ground beef and sausage.
Cook about 10 minutes or until the meats are no longer pink. Drain well and add the vegetable mixture in with the meat mixture.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray a 13x9x3-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread 1 cup marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
Layer 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of ricotta cheese, ½ of the meat mixture, 1 cup marinara sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Layer 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of ricotta cheese, 1½ cups marinara sauce.
Layer remaining lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, meat mixture, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Cover dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes.
Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Serves 12.

Purchased marinara sauce can have quite of bit of sugar, so make sure you check the labels. My favorite is found at Winn Dixie and is Sal & Judy’s Original Recipe Tomato Sauce.
If you would like to read more about Dreamfields, visit their website at www.DreamfieldsFoods.com.

Linda Murchison can be reached at 315-4431 or lmurchison@nwfdailynews.com. Write to Daily News, P.O. Box 2949, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549. 
 

FORT WALTON BEACH — The 2013 Choctawhatchee senior class topped the charts this year with their senior prank by setting up an entire beach scene in the parking lot of the high school.

Mary Gates, class president and an organizer of the prank, said it took the seniors a month of planning and raising money to get the elaborate scene on the coming-senior class’ parking lot.

“This was an opportunity to out do what everyone else has done,” Gates said in her hat and swim suit while others in her class played a game of volleyball.

Click here to see a slideshow of the beach party

The soon-to-be graduates spent Wednesday morning filling tarps with eight buckets full of white sand. For added effect, they added two kiddie pools to the scene and one class member grilled hamburgers.

“We put a lot of money and effort into this,” said Gates, who added that the seniors communicated their plans through a secret Facebook page.

The 18-year-old said four of the seniors blocked off the junior’s parking lot Tuesday evening and many of the students still in school thought that was the prank. But the seniors knew that wasn’t nearly enough.

“They have out done every other senior prank,” said Principal Cindy Gates. “It was all in fun and they left their mark. We love the class of 2013.”