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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Laurel Hill, FL

Home Care Laurel Hill, FL

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic James Houston Jones Historic Park gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Laurel Hill, FL is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Laurel Hill, FL

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Laurel Hill, FL?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Laurel Hill, FL

Types of Elderly Care in Laurel Hill, FL

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Laurel Hill, FL
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Laurel Hill, FL
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Gene Clary Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Laurel Hill, FL
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Laurel Hill Grill or visit Florida's Highest Point, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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In-Home Care Laurel Hill, FL

Benefits of Home Care in Laurel Hill, FL

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Laurel Hill, FL, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Laurel Hill, FL

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your FL's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Laurel Hill, FL

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Laurel Hill, FL understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Laurel Hill, FL

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Laurel Hill, FL

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Northview Care Center
  • The Palms Assisted Living
  • Laurelwood Assisted Living
  • Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living
  • Laurelwood Community Living Center
  • Lynnwood Senior Care Inc
Home Care Laurel Hill, FL

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Laurel Hill, FL

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Laurel Hill, FL 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Latest News in Laurel Hill, FL

Destin Sharks softball team rallies for last-inning victory over Laurel Hill

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Destin Sharks scored two runs off the bat of Vianni Silvestre to pull off a 4-3 softball victory over the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes.The key to the Sharks' win? “Clutch hitting,” Destin Coach Rob DeGennaro said.The Sharks had two runners on base and two outs when Silvestre stepped into the batter's box. She then smacked a double to right center to score Anna Carroll and Olivia “Ya Ya” McClain for the win.“I’m very proud of this...

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Destin Sharks scored two runs off the bat of Vianni Silvestre to pull off a 4-3 softball victory over the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes.

The key to the Sharks' win? “Clutch hitting,” Destin Coach Rob DeGennaro said.

The Sharks had two runners on base and two outs when Silvestre stepped into the batter's box. She then smacked a double to right center to score Anna Carroll and Olivia “Ya Ya” McClain for the win.

“I’m very proud of this group,” DeGennaro said.

“They genuinely care about each other, and I think they are starting to make that step now where we are winning the close ones,” he said.

Thursday’s win over the Hoboes was the second victory in two days.

On Wednesday, the Sharks beat Presentation of Kentucky 13-1.

“This was the first back-to-back victory in the school's softball history,” DeGennaro said.

Destin High freshman Shay Kitchens went 3-for-3 against the Kentucky team.

“She's just been phenomenal all season,” DeGennaro said.

On Thursday against Laurel Hill, Kitchens connected for one of the Sharks' seven hits.

Silvestre and Holly Schmidt each hit a double and a single, while Carroll and Ava Towery each hit singles.

With the win over the Hoboes, the Sharks move to 4-12 on the season.

The Sharks got in the books first with Towery hitting a single and scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the first.

Laurel Hill evened the score in the top of the second. Kaelin Martin walked and scored on a hit from Kailey Tayler.

In the top of the fourth, Laurel Hill took the lead with two runs on a pair of hits and a couple of errors. Martin and Nevaeh Langford had the hits for the Hoboes.

In the bottom of the fifth, Destin got one run back. Schmidt doubled down the left field line and scored on a single up the middle by Carroll.

Destin sat Laurel Hill down quickly in the top of the sixth on three ground outs.

Destin managed to load the bases in the bottom half but couldn’t get a runner home.

In the top of the seventh with two outs, the Hoboes loaded the bases with Hannah Twitty hitting a double followed by a single from Martin and a walk to Ava Steele. The next batter popped up to second baseman Kitchens for no runs scored.

In the bottom half, Destin’s Carroll and McClain both drew walks and then scored on the double from Silvestre for the 4-3 walk-off victory.

Destin pitcher Sydney Davis went the distance, striking out two, walking five and giving up six hits.

“Our seniors are picking up the load, and the freshman are anchoring it up,” DeGennaro said.

Up next for Destin is a 5 p.m. game on April 12 against South Walton.

Laurel Hill church marks 120th birthday

By BRIAN HUGHESLAUREL HILL — In 1814, so the Johnny Horton song goes, then-Col. Andrew Jackson “took a little trip,” not down the “mighty Mississip’” but almost certainly, historians say, through the area of present-day Laurel Hill while en route to kick the British out of Pensacola.The Battle of New Orleans — “New Or-leenz,” as Johnny sang it — was to come a bit later.But 83 years after Col. Jackson’s little trip, the Rev. Luther Wilson ...

By BRIAN HUGHES

LAUREL HILL — In 1814, so the Johnny Horton song goes, then-Col. Andrew Jackson “took a little trip,” not down the “mighty Mississip’” but almost certainly, historians say, through the area of present-day Laurel Hill while en route to kick the British out of Pensacola.

The Battle of New Orleans — “New Or-leenz,” as Johnny sang it — was to come a bit later.

But 83 years after Col. Jackson’s little trip, the Rev. Luther Wilson of Chipley, a Florida Presbytery evangelist, took a little trip of his own and preached during the summer of 1897 in Laurel Hill, laying the groundwork for the establishment of a Presbyterian Church that would ultimately predate the town’s incorporation by seven years. (Laurel Hill was the new county’s first incorporated municipality.)

On April 24, 1898, the wonderfully-named Rev. Erasmus Ellerbe Ervin, then pastor of First Presbyterian in DeFuniak Springs, organized the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church with 11 charter members. It was the flourishing railroad town’s second church, a Baptist congregation having been organized the year before Rev. Wilson’s visit.

For the past 120 years, congregations big and small have gathered at Laurel Hill Presbyterian to worship, mourn, celebrate, sing, study and serve their community. At a special 11 a.m. worship service on April 29, the church will celebrate its first century-and-a-fifth.

The church, with their Baptist brethren in Christ, first met in the Masonic Hall. Members soon began constructing a sanctuary on Fourth Street land donated by the Yellow River Railroad, which founded Laurel Hill as its headquarters.

“The Laurel Hill Church owns a good lot, and has about $300.00 in sight for building purposes, not counting $100.00 promised by the Presbytery,” reported the Presbytery’s Home Mission Committee in April 1900.

The new church building opened for worship in 1901, even as the $1,000 construction project was wrapping up, and remains Okaloosa County’s oldest continuously used place of worship.

Sunday services are still held beneath the same high cathedral ceiling in the simple 30-foot by 40-foot sanctuary. Around 1925, a two-room Sunday school addition was added to the rear of the church. One of the rooms was divided into two rooms during renovations in 1956.

A small portable pump organ was purchased in the 1920s for use both at Sunday worship and at the church’s mission in Clear Springs. During a 1960s housecleaning, the little wooden organ was going to be tossed out, but was saved by a member who kept it until 2016, when she returned it to the church. After an extensive refurbishment by Florala, Alabama, organ repairman David Finch, the little organ once again fills the church with its surprisingly rich tones and will be featured during the April 28 120th anniversary worship celebration.

Laurel Hill debates stretch council meeting for hours

LAUREL HILL — Tensions arose regarding water rates, communication, resident concerns and a local scholarship during a Thursday evening City Council meeting that lasted several hours.WATER FEE QUESTIONEDCity Councilman Scott Moneypenny expressed concern that households outside Laurel Hill city limits are charged a 33 percent fee to use city water. Individuals outside municipal boundaries are not to be charged more than 25 percent, according to the Florida Statutes. Those outside city limits ...

LAUREL HILL — Tensions arose regarding water rates, communication, resident concerns and a local scholarship during a Thursday evening City Council meeting that lasted several hours.

WATER FEE QUESTIONED

City Councilman Scott Moneypenny expressed concern that households outside Laurel Hill city limits are charged a 33 percent fee to use city water. Individuals outside municipal boundaries are not to be charged more than 25 percent, according to the Florida Statutes. Those outside city limits should be charged an amount comparable to those within Laurel Hill’s boundary or be reduced to a legally acceptable maximum fee, Moneypenny said.

“I don’t believe outside our city limits should be different than inside our city limits,” Moneypenny said. “We have to take action on this.”

Councilman Travis Dewrell countered by arguing those households pay no city taxes and therefore an additional charge should remain. However, if the fees exceeded legal limits, immediate changes needed to be made, Dewrell said.

Within the same Florida Statute section, a provision allows municipalities to levy a fee up to 50 percent on non-resident households who use city water or sewage systems. Affected residents must be notified of a public hearing regarding the fee and be offered the opportunity to discuss it.

City Attorney Dan Campbell confirmed such a hearing took place in 2008 when the current fee was set. Therefore, the 33 percent fee was within legal limits.

City water fees for both residents and non-residents haven’t been adjusted since that time, according to Moneypenny. A comprehensive increase might be necessary to maintain adequate functionality of the utility, he added.

The council agreed to look further into the matter and address a possible rate hike once more data was available.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Contacting Laurel Hill City Hall after normal business directs callers to a voicemail and an emergency number. However, at times that number goes unanswered as well, according to Moneypenny.

If the city operates and advertises an emergency line (separate from 911) for after-hours incidents, such as a city water leak, then city officials must be accountable for answering that line, Moneypenny said.

Concerned citizens can contact officials directly if the emergency line is unavailable, Councilwoman Debra Adams said. Moneypenny gave consent to publicly list his contact information through City Hall and its website during an earlier discussion.

Direct contact during such a scenario renders the emergency line redundant, Moneypenny claimed.

While calls might go immediately unanswered, they are responded to in a timely manner during non-business hours due to the city’s small size, according to Dewrell. Having a 24-hour emergency line for city matters wouldn’t be cost effective as an employee would have to be paid for time spent on-call, officials said.

RESIDENT CONCERNS

Damage occurred to a resident's property after a private work truck drove through the owner’s yard in December. The truck was carrying limestone that had been purchased by the city, according to Moneypenny.

The homeowner filed a damage report with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, seeking repairs.

The stone has been stored on an adjacent property owned by the city. Although it is not on the complainant's land, the location has affected the proper flow of garbage trucks and school buses and required them to drive through her property, Moneypenny said.

Mayor Robby Adams said his office was aware of the situation and the responsibility fell to the stone company, not the city.

Recent holidays and rainy weather conditions should be considered when questioning why an immediate repair didn’t take place, Debra Adams said.

Dewrell disagreed and claimed the city shared in responsibility. The city could move the stones to a more suitable location within a matter of hours and explore repairs of the damaged property, he claimed.

Deteriorating road conditions on Skyline Drive were also addressed.

The city has promised solutions to the road’s drainage, flooding and paving problems for years with no results, multiple citizens said. Severe potholes are observed by city workers driving through the area, but met with no action, Moneypenny said.

Issues can’t be addressed if they are not made known to his office, Robby Adams said. Such matters have been addressed by Moneypenny at several council meetings, Dewrell countered.

The debate was closed by Council Chairman Larry Hendren, who requested an assessment of the road be completed to determine the best approach to resolution.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Several votes to appoint a scholarship committee failed due to a range of concerns. Debate over multiple council members serving, mayoral participation and the ability of those outside city limits to be on the committee stalled an agreement.

Further tension came when Dewrell questioned the success of the previous year’s committee, who saw only two students apply for the awards. This sparked a discussion between Dewrell and Debra Adams — a member of the previous committee and a local school teacher.

Ultimately, a committee of three non-officials was nominated.

NW Florida's all-time state girls basketball champs and runners-up

NORTHWEST FLORIDA GIRLS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOKALL-TIME STATE CHAMPS19762A: Pensacola Catholic19772A: Pensacola Catholic19783A: Pensacola Catholic19814A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)A: Laurel Hill1982A: Laurel Hill...

NORTHWEST FLORIDA GIRLS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK

ALL-TIME STATE CHAMPS

1976

2A: Pensacola Catholic

1977

2A: Pensacola Catholic

1978

3A: Pensacola Catholic

1981

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

A: Laurel Hill

1982

A: Laurel Hill

1983

A: Laurel Hill

1984

2A: Marianna

A: Laurel Hill

1985

2A: Marianna

1986

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

A: Paxton

1987

A: Laurel Hill

1988

A: Laurel Hill

1989

2A: Marianna

A: Ponce de Leon

1992

A: Graceville

1993

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

1994

4A: Fort Walton Beach

B: Paxton

1995

2A: Jay

A: Laurel Hill

1996

2A: Jay

A: Paxton

1997

6A: Pensacola

A: Paxton

1998

3A: Pensacola Catholic

1999

6A: Fort Walton Beach

2000

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

2A: Vernon

A: Ponce de Leon

2001

A: Malone

2012

1A: Ponce de Leon

2013

1A: South Walton

2014

A: Paxton

2015

6A: Pine Forest

1A: Freeport

All-time state champions (37)

7. Laurel Hill — 1981 (A), 1982 (A), 1983 (A), 1984 (A), 1987 (A), 1988 (A), 1995 (A).

5. Paxton — 1986 (A), 1994 (B), 1996 (A), 1997 (A), 2014 (1A).

4. Pensacola Catholic — 1976 (2A), 1977 (2A), 1978 (3A), 1998 (3A).

4. Booker T. Washington (Pensacola) — 1981 (4A), 1986 (4A), 1993 (4A), 2000 (4A).

3. Marianna — 1984 (2A), 1985 (2A), 1989 (2A); Ponce de Leon — 1989 (A), 2000 (A), 2012 (1A).

2. Fort Walton Beach — 1994 (5A), 1999 (6A); Jay — 1995 (2A), 1996 (2A).

1. Freeport — 2015 (1A); Graceville — 1992 (A); Malone — 2001 (A); Pensacola — 1997 (6A); Pine Forest — 2015 (6A); South Walton — 2013 (1A); Vernon — 2000 (2A).

DID YOU KNOW? Laurel Hill's 7 state championships are third-most in Florida girls basketball history, trailing Ribault (Jacksonville) with 10 and Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) with 9. In addition, Laurel Hill's run of four state championships from 1981-84 ties for the second-most in state history with Dillard (2010-2013) and South Broward (2000-2003). The all-time record is five held by Ribault from 1999-2003.

Runners-up

1979

A: Laurel Hill

1982

2A: Walton

1983

3A: Marianna

1985

3A: Crestview

1987

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

1988

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

1990

3A: Milton

A: Ponce de Leon

1991

4A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

3A: Crestview

1994

A: Graceville

1996

3A: Walton

A: Laurel Hill

1997

2A: Graceville

A: Malone

1998

A: Malone

1999

5A: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola)

3A: Pensacola Catholic

A: Malone

2003

A: Malone

2007

1A: Malone

2008

4A: Pensacola

2010

4A: Pensacola

2011

4A: Pensacola

2013

6A: Choctawhatchee

1A: Chipley

2014

6A: Pine Forest

5A: Choctawhatchee

1A: Chipley

2017

1A: South Walton

All-time state runners-up (30)

5. Malone — 1997 (A), 1998 (A), 1999 (A), 2003 (A), 2007 (1A).

4. Booker T. Washington (Pensacola) — 1987 (4A), 1988 (4A), 1991 (4A), 1999 (5A).

3. Pensacola — 2008 (4A), 2010 (4A), 2011 (4A).

2. Laurel Hill — 1979 (A), 1996 (A); Chipley — 2013 (1A), 2014 (1A); Choctawhatchee — 2013 (6A), 2014 (4A); Crestview — 1985 (3A), 1991 (3A); Graceville — 1994 (A), 1997 (2A); Walton — 1982 (2A), 1996 (3A);

1. Marianna — 1983 (3A); Milton — 1990 (3A); Pensacola Catholic — 1999 (3A); Pine Forest — 2014 (6A); Ponce de Leon — 1990 (A); South Walton — 2017 (1A).

Lady Sharks put another mark in the win column

The Destin High Sharks jumped out to a 16-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, putting the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes away 46-35 in girls' varsity basketball Friday night at the Destin United Methodist Family Life Center.“I thought they played great,” said Destin Coach Katie Hodge.“They really had a tough defense, they had confidence,” she said, noting their defense is creating their offense.“They worked the ball around well … we’ve been working on ...

The Destin High Sharks jumped out to a 16-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, putting the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes away 46-35 in girls' varsity basketball Friday night at the Destin United Methodist Family Life Center.

“I thought they played great,” said Destin Coach Katie Hodge.

“They really had a tough defense, they had confidence,” she said, noting their defense is creating their offense.

“They worked the ball around well … we’ve been working on ball movement,” she said

More:Destin High Lady Sharks posts first-ever victory, finish as runners-up in holiday tourney

Destin came out of the gate and put up 16 points in the first quarter with sophomore Avery Emmick scoring seven points and Regan Palmer, a senior, scoring four.

In the second quarter, Laurel Hill outscored the Sharks 16-10, but Destin still held a 26-18 lead at the break.

In the third period, Laurel Hill came out and scored two baskets to close it to a three-point game. At that point, the Sharks went on a 10-point run. Palmer started with two from the free throw line, followed by a steal and a layup from freshman Evie Gherdovich. Emmick made a fast-break layup, then Bailey Gaffney added two points. Emmick finished the run for a 36-23 advantage. At the end of the quarter, Destin led 37-28.

In the fourth, Destin put up nine points to Laurel Hill’s six for the win.

For the game, Emmick led the Sharks with 15 points and Regan Palmer hit for 13. Gherdovich scored seven and Gaffney, a freshman, scored six.

“These girls work so hard. They are here all the time, shooting and shooting,” Hodge said.

With the win the Lady Sharks move to 6-8 on the season.

More:Destin High School is approved as application member to FHSAA

“It’s a very young team. We only have one senior, Regan. They are young, but they do everything I ask of them. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Hodge said.

The Lady Sharks will take on Walton County High at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at home.

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