Editorial Archive

Nothing says “peaceful transition of power” like barbed wire, barricades, and troops standing by. With no threats indicated, that is what the feds are doing with your tax dollars.

The fourth anniversary of “January Sixth” falls on January 6 this year. Who can forget the Biden Inauguration in 2021? Chief Justice John Roberts took the Bible to swear in Joe Biden and started the oath by raising his hand and saying, “I, Joe Biden.” Biden said, “No, I am Joe Biden!”

Not that many years ago, the best way you could find out about businesses in town would be through your local newspaper. Your local newspaper is still a great source of advertising information, but if you’re looking for something, chances are you’re going to start by “Googling it.” Have you ever wondered why that’s become our go-to move? Well, a recent court ruling has shed some light on this, and it’s not a pretty picture.

Decades of time and millions of dollars lost, Milton is finally getting the wastewater treatment plant away from the Blackwater River and out of the wellfield protection area. It is worth it to secure the future of our drinking water and the river. The citizens of Milton owe a huge thank you to the Save our Blackwater River organization that has fought tooth and nail to get this accomplished.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except (what) they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

We are in the midst of the Christmas season and the allure of online shopping and big-box retailers can be tempting. The convenience of online shopping is hard to beat. However, there’s a compelling case to be made for turning our attention to local businesses. Shopping locally isn’t just a trend; it’s a powerful way to support our community, economy, and environment. Here are some reasons to consider supporting your community’s small businesses.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the nation will pause to remember the 83rd anniversary of the devastating surprise attack by the Japanese against the U.S. Navy’s facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i. Most Americans know it as Pearl Harbor Day, that the attack precipitated the United States’ entry into World War II and that President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in condemning Japan’s aggression, called Dec. 7, 1941, “a date that shall live in infamy.”

We at Sandpaper Publishing have much to be thankful for, beginning with our members and readers. You fuel the passion we have for publishing three newspapers each week for three communities. We work hard to report and write the stories the matter most to you. We are your voice and are privileged to be in that role. Thank you for choosing us as your news and information source. We hope you stay tuned because we have so much more work to do for you.

Yes, it’s campaign season – and all the ugly that comes with it. What you may not know is if you contribute money to Rob Williamson’s opponent he will shut you out. And apparently he has a long memory.

Last Thursday we said goodbye to two county commissioners whose bid for re-election failed…and failed miserably. Sam Parker and James Calkins are moving on down the road, one is literally moving. Calkins sold his house in Milton and has moved out of Santa Rosa County. Not a bad idea, one we can all get behind. There probably would have been a line of volunteers to pack the moving truck if he had asked for help.

Hey Santa Rosa County – we want better roads. We want a way to get some traffic off Highway 98. We want you to do something about flooding. We want our infrastructure to match our growth!