Editorial Archive

The responsibilities of a newspaper go much deeper than simply writing stories that entertain and inform. The words public service and watchdog are often tossed around, and rightfully so.

The selection process of the management of the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier is turning out to be much like a fishing expedition. Lines are cast, but you never know what’s going to come back.

Sometimes less is more. In business, supply and demand is a key factor in making money and paying bills – two issues that seem to a major problem for the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge, aka the Garcon Point Bridge, aka Bo’s Bridge (in reference to former Florida House Speaker Bolley “Bo” Johnson, a Milton politician who spearheaded the effort to build the bridge and then later went to federal prison for tax evasion).

Sinking ships take on water – it’s what they do. The half-sunken boat in the Sound near Juana’s Pagodas has been taking on water for well over a month now, but the boat isn’t the only one going down. The story and details of the owner are seemingly sinking as well.

The world in which we live today is one of instant gratification. Do first, think later. Gotta have it now.

While classrooms might not have yet been filled with students, school was most definitely in session last week. Shots rang out, smoke filled the air and fire alarms pierced the quiet that usually fills the halls of schools this time of year. First responders busted through the doors to find they had left the world of what they know and entered into a world where they have to rely on each other just as much as rely upon their training. The shots were, of course, blanks and the smoke from a machine rather than a fire. The “injured” were covered in makeup rather than blood, but don’t tell that to the first responders…they had those injured out of the building quicker than this reporter could snap more than a handful of photos.

What is a community center? Ask ten different residents that question, and you are likely to get ten different answers. It’s a subjective idea, and can be a very fluid topic.

The word “boo” has been causing quite a stir lately, and it has nothing to do with Halloween, which is still more than three months away.

Drug arrests. Deadly shootings. Sex crimes. Armed burglaries. Car burglaries. Prostitution. Animal cruelty charges. Readers checking out the headlines of the Navarre Press and other media outlets lately might get the impression that the south end of Santa Rosa County is outlaw territory.

Last Friday, the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County issued a water advisory cautioning residents and visitors to stay out of the Sound at Navarre Park and refrain from swimming, boating and other water activities.