Opinion Archive

I would really like to know why the leadership of the Navarre High School NJROTC unit disregarded the EMS advice to put all the children under shade after approximately 20 of them were affected by the hot temperatures during the  May 30, 2016 Memorial Day activities. This really concerns me as a father of one of the children that was affected by this, especially when I heard that the captain told the EMS, “No, only one at a time can go in the shade.”

Santa Rosa County commissioners are trying to sell the public on tax increases for the courthouse hoping for a low turnout in August (their words, not mine). This meaning Milton voters say “yes” to a building in a flood zone (presumably on pontoons) and voters in the southern part of the county will stay home. The May 26, 2016 issue of Navarre Press said 65 percent of voters in 2014 said “No” to that site. Suddenly, the cost has dropped from $50 million to $35 million. Don’t worry ‘cost overruns’ will get it to $50 million.

I am writing to publicly thank Lieutenant Chris Phelps of the Midway Fire Department along with firemen Alverter, Moore and Ward.  They answered a call for my father, Harry Adams, 97, who had fallen.  They were especially kind and helpful to both of my parents and spoke to my dad regarding his service in the Army during WWII, even taking a picture with him and his medals.  But there’s more.  A few days later, my parents received a note from Lt. Phelps (also signed by the others) not only saying they hoped he was well, but also wishing him happy birthday and thanking him for his service!  How sweet, compassionate and thoughtful.  So, thank you Lt. Phelps and your crew.  Your service is also appreciated.

We have a new addition to our staff that you will be seeing around town. Journalist Jamie Gentry makes her debut with this issue. She is a recent graduate from UWF and we are very fortunate to have her as part of the NP Team.

Memorial Day is widely heralded as the unofficial start of summer.  Here on the Emerald Coast it signals the beginning of our busy tourist season, with condos booked, hotel rooms rented, beach supplies at the ready, and the mouth-watering aroma of food being cooked on a grill.  This time of year is unmistakable and really puts us in the celebratory mood.  But before you celebrate, and there will be time for that on this Memorial Day, before the cookouts, beach parties and other events you have planned, take a moment to reflect on the many lives that have been sacrificed so willingly by our selfless men and women in uniform.  This day is about remembrance and honor for those who have died.  It certainly doesn’t mean you can’t have fun on Memorial Day or enjoy your three- or four-day weekend.   Just take a moment to pause and remember the reason for the occasion.

This Saturday is the graduation of the class of 2016 and Navarre Press is officially 16. We just pulled out our first issue and it is two sections for a total of 16 pages and includes a large picture of the Navarre High School Class of 2000.

Has our education system failed us? How can a Socialist acquire such a youthful following as Sen. Bernie Sanders?  Could it be explained as revulsion to a candidate that is unaccomplished and deceitful? I am afraid the blame is with the education system. A system that does not teach civics, economics, world history and the U.S. Constitution are the blame. The Founders studied all prior types of governments and developed a governmental system of checks and balances which protected the system from emotional responses to problems. Historically, all democracies have failed when the citizenry discovers they can receive an unending list of benefits.

Thursdays in the Park starts tonight with our favorite band – Not Quite Fab. This one-of-a-kind Beatles Tribute Band features one of our own, Dickie Williams, aka Paul McCartney.  Not Quite Fab is in high demand and we are fortunate that they are playing tomorrow.

It is a complex issue.  The departments of Justice and Education have issued a directive to schools that basically says a transgendered student can use the restroom of the gender they internally identify with, regardless of what their birth gender is.  They also have a right to use the changing room of that gender and if they go on an overnight trip that is school-sanctioned, they have a right to stay in rooms with the same gender they identify with.  Essentially this confuses and blurs the lines of genders.   

Navarre Beach renourishment has gotten quite a bit of good press lately. People have said how it can be educational and a tourist draw because of the shells that get pumped up with the sand. But it can also be educational for the harm it does.