After four years of loyal service, my laptop keyboard seems to be failing. Certain, high-volume letters now require more persuasion. Often, I must double back to coax their participation. One frequently used letter that now requires extra attention is the letter ‘G.’ Based on a video about regional accents produced by a linguistics expert, it seems that my laptop has embraced life here in the south and has developed a drawl. The first pass at typing this column yielded words like “failin’” and “typin’,’’ and in certain contexts I could get away with leaving them as is. It is a different matter with the reluctant keys for “A” and “T.” They have decided to renegotiate their contract since without their participation, many words are not words at all.
Navarre is 100 years old this year, 2025, and Navarre Press turns 25 years old in May of this year. We wish we had been here to record the entire 100 years or more of history. However, we have the next best thing. When we purchased the Santa Rosa Press Gazette, we also acquired the archives of the Milton Gazette which has been around since 1910. That is a lot of history. A huge part of our job is to preserve local history. Each issue is a snapshot into the life of our community. Today’s news is tomorrow’s history. We record celebrations, challenges, and the everyday events that shape our collective identity.
The Navarre Press recently reported on efforts by Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association (NBLRA) leaders Gary Buroker and Drew Ruthrauff to pursue fee simple title for beach properties. While resolving issues such as double taxation is an understandable goal, we, as concerned residents, believe it is essential to carefully consider the potential long-term impacts of such a fundamental shift in land ownership on our community.
Commissioner Kerry Smith said he went out of town over the weekend and came back to read our editorial in the Feb. 20 issue. At first, he said he was angry, but he read it a second time and said we were right. We are not celebrating over being right – we are celebrating because change has been made. And one commissioner had the guts to direct the change.
Take a look at the results of the girls state weightlifting meet from Valentine’s Day weekend in Lakeland and it’s clear this area still dominates in the sport.
I was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family and have fond memories of the tactile “smells and bells” of the mass, the priest lifting the censer, rocking it back and forth, the pungent scent of incense, the jangle of bells. But there was one tactile experience I dreaded every year – the application of ashes on Ash Wednesday.
I think it is awesome that DOGE is looking into waste, fraud and abuse of our federal dollars. It is way past time that someone is doing this. Technically, it should have been the media looking into waste, fraud or abuse. If they had, that is the kind of work that should win Pulitzers, not writing fake stories about fake hoaxes. The IRS has always had the ability to look into our bank accounts and had no issue whatsoever asking for receipts. I think it is about time that there is someone looking into how our federal government is spending our hard-earned money we have to pay as “income tax.” As one newscaster said the other evening, “It is about time the government is having a cavity check.” With all the spending that has been going on, especially since COVID, there is no way it would be sustainable. And I’m sure our president is looking for every way possible to not have to raise our taxes – as much as it is probably needed. I really don’t think there is any way around it – but at least if we can save a few billion dollars here or there, we won’t have as much of a tax increase. Every time the federal government came up with a new program during COVID – I always said out loud to the TV, “Who is going to pay for that?” And every time we gave billions of dollars to Ukraine, I would say the same and add, “Who is making sure they are spending the money on what they said they would spend it on?”
In the past, when impact fees came before the Santa Rosa County commissioners, the board room was filled with builders wearing their colorful company shirts sitting in the audience to make a statement to commissioners of their opposition on impact fees. The presidents of the builders’ associations would stand at the podium and talk about how the fees will impact buyers and make homes unaffordable for middle class citizens. The commissioners always hear their complaints and opposition and bow to them refusing to pass impact fees.
You know how people will search for a YouTube video to help them finish a project or fix a problem?
Well, this column is the print version of a video, only the problem we are hoping to fix has nothing to do with getting a lawnmower to start or how to get a door to close properly.
It was the end of a workday and, as is our custom, my wife and I were “debriefing” one another. I initiated, “How was your day?” My wife’s workdays of late have been exceedingly busy but today was less so. “It was okay,” she answered, “I only had about 40 phone calls.” Yes, that is a less busy day for her. She reciprocated, “And how was your day?” As I answered, I began to do something that I have done for my entire life. Leaning on my right elbow, my head cradled in my right hand, the fingers of my right hand were tugging on the flesh under my right eye. Yeah, it’s weird, but I do it unconsciously.
