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Opinion, Out and About

Out and About

| Sandi Kemp
Saint Patrick’s Day is this Sunday and the Shamrock Stroll 5K Fun Run/Walk and Pet Parade and Costume Contest is this Saturday on Navarre Beach from 8-10 a.m. There is a registration fee, but you can get there as early as 7 a.m. the day of the event and register. The next holiday is Easter. Easter Sunday is the last day of March on the 31st.   Santa Rosa County Schools (and UWF) are out for Spring Break the week before Easter. There is a large concert, Spring Jam, going on at Juana’s on March 24, the Sunday before Easter. Okaloosa Schools have Spring Break March 15-22.  

If you have been thinking of adding to your family and helping empty the shelter in Santa Rosa County, this Saturday is your day. Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) is having an adoption event including puppies, adult dogs and cats, and the adoption fees will be waived. The event will be from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the shelter located at 4451 Pine Forest Road.

I was sad to hear that Navarre High’s head coach, Jay Walls, is leaving us for Bainbridge, Georgia. We have been fortunate to have him coach the football team for 12 seasons. The news broke over the weekend and we were happy to see that other news outlets picked it up and credited us, Navarre Press, and our Sportswriter, Brian Lester, for breaking the story. As the screen shots were being sent to me with the words, “They credited us!” It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is rare to see proper attribution in stories. And, proper journalism. There was recently a story aired on WEAR Channel 3 News and it just reeked of amateur hour and sensationalism. The young reporter acted like it had found a “bone” and wasn’t going to let go of it. I wondered who his editors and producers were that would let him get away with destroying reputations and making huge assumptions without any factual evidence to back it up. He may be trying to make a name for himself, but he doesn’t have the maturity to understand how much damage he can do if he doesn’t do it right. There is nothing wrong with telling the truth, but to draw conclusions based on limited information is very irresponsible. We plan to have the entire story in next week’s issue – if the attorney lets us.

There are a lot of Easter goodies at the British Pedlar located in the Harvest Village Office park. They are imported from Ireland, and England. There is a big difference with the Cadbury chocolate you find in Europe versus what is sold here. The British Pedlar has other grocery items that may look familiar but are slightly different.

In Europe, their food safety division requires additives to be proven safe before approval and has banned the use of growth hormones and several chemical additives.

What food additives are banned in Europe but not in the US? Titanium Dioxide, also known as E171, is banned in European food but remains a common whitening agent in American candies, including Skittles, Starbursts, Sour Patch Kids, Jell-O and more… Also, Azodicarbonamide, Propylparaben, rBST/rBGH, and Brominated Vegetable Oil.

Quote of the Week: “I have told the kids if there is anything I can ever do for them, and that’s not just right now or next year, I’m talking for the rest of my life, their lives, I’m here. I’m always going to be a Raider.” Coach Jay Walls, Head Coach, Navarre High School.

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