Editorial Archive

There are moments in your life where you know you’re crossing a significant milestone off of life’s journey.

Graduating high school is definitely one of those moments.

Some of you probably woke up last Friday, very surprised to learn that a tornado came right through Santa Rosa County and into Okaloosa County.

Many were left to pick up trees from their homes, out of roadways and to repair property damage following the EF-2 twister. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado through its preliminary survey, estimating its peak winds at 115 miles per hour.

The year 2024 is a big election year, not only nationally, but also in Santa Rosa County.

We’re guessing everyone is aware of that, unless you sleep under a rock or somehow drive around town with your eyes closed. At this point, we’re not sure you could throw a rock on most major thoroughfares in Santa Rosa County and not hit an election sign.

Incorporation will not bring back what’s gone, nor will it produce more land to be “preserved.”  Incorporation WILL place another layer of government over privately owned land and residents’ lives.  It adds another layer to become corrupt, to control, and to levy more taxes.  It is not the answer to the problems perceived by those whose bumper stickers say, “It’s time.”  (What does that mean?)  Protect Navarre is one hundred percent against incorporation.  But actually, we are more for individual liberty, individual self-rule, and less government and regulations.  We are emphatically against increased taxes.

The April 25 Santa Rosa County Board of Commission meeting was an example of what an informed public can accomplish when it’s paying attention.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are summer days spent running around my grandmother’s yard in DeFuniak Springs. Back then, a “vacation” for our family meant a four-hour drive to Florida to see family for a few days.

Ten years ago, a group of local citizens considered what it would mean for Navarre to become its own town. This group raised over $38,000 and held meetings that led to a vote. They very nearly succeeded, earning 44% of the vote in 2014.

On April 11, award-winning investigative journalist for CBS News and Fox News prior to that, gave strong and compelling testimony on Capitol Hill regarding the Press Act, and the importance – no, the necessity – in journalists protecting the name and identity of sources.

We listen to the residents who speak at the county commission meetings. Growth is an issue. Maybe growth is THE issue. We want the residents to be informed about development and how it works.

We recently published a story about a situation at Lighthouse Private Christian Academy. Most people are familiar, but if you are not, the school came under scrutiny from the Midway fire marshal and fire chief after an inspection. The inspector determined two campus houses needed a sprinkler system and he shut down the houses immediately, displacing 24 students. Things got a little out of hand in how the chief responded.