Opinion Archive

When Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt was kicked out of the Navy for praying “In Jesus’ Name,” the name above all others, little did it know God had bigger plans for him. Satan’s goal, to shut mouths about Jesus, failed because God’s specialty of meaning for good what Satan meant for evil, happened!

I moved to Navarre in 1994.  At that time there were just two schools, one grocery store, one hotel, two hardware stores, a drugstore, a bank, some real estate offices, a handful of fast-food eateries, a doughnut shop and a couple of sit-down restaurants. The tiny post office was in Sand Dollar Plaza and the library shared space with a church in a small community building.  Driving to Fort Walton Beach or Pensacola took only 30 minutes, regardless of the time of day. Aside from the Hidden Creek Golf Course, there were no recreational sports fields, liquor stores or even a sheriff’s office.  Most of our community leaders were (and still are) in the banking, building or real estate business who held fast to their conservative values of low taxes and individual property rights.

The Navarre YMCA wants you to know that spring is a time for renewal and rejuvenation. They want you to take time to spend on you, and the Y will watch your kids during your time at the Y. See their ad for their updated schedule.

Spring has sprung and so have all of the spring colds and stomach bugs. Almost everywhere I visited this past week was shorthanded due to illnesses. We were not the exception. However, we pulled through and put together another stellar issue of Navarre Press. I’m looking forward to reading it at the same time you do. I do get a sneak peek, but I don’t know everything that is in the paper nor have I read every word before it comes out.  I have very talented team members that take care of that for you. On Tuesday evenings if I’m not overly inspired for a topic for my column I grab the proofs of the paper and start looking through them for inspiration.

Growth is a great thing. When our children are growing we measure off every inch marking the same door frame over and over so we can see how tall they are getting. We make plans for the next inch by buying the next size up in clothes and shoes. We replace the crib with a toddler bed and then a real bed. We plan for their growth and know there will be changes coming. We even put money into a savings account to prepare for their future.

Shame on vandals targeting Jewish cemeteries, community centers and day schools. Trump should have/did condemn that hate/evil!

Our school board has a special single issue item scheduled for a vote March 28. You are being asked to continue for 10 years a one/half cent sales tax to be used by the School Board at their discretion.

Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law gives the public the right of access to government meetings and public records. It ensures that government works out in the open for all to see – no backroom conversations between elected officials before a vote. However, as we recently found out, in Santa Rosa County those officials can send texts or even message through Facebook without anyone capturing it or knowing the difference.

Next week is spring break for Santa Rosa County Schools so be careful out there with the additional number of children and families on the road. Thankfully the weather will be a lot warmer than it was this week.

The Navarre YMCA wants to remind you that your membership includes childcare.  You take care of your wellness while the Y takes care of your child.