Opinion Archive

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.

Jordan Jefferson stopped by a youth football camp held after the Navarre Raiders’ Saturday spring practice the other week.
He had the attention of every young player there, especially since it was only a few weeks ago that Jefferson was taken in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After I finish one of my weekly columns, I have two women read it for comprehension, spelling and grammar. The first woman is my wife. The second “woman” is the voice in my software’s review function. My wife works during the day, this other “woman” is available to read whenever I call.

I was traveling again last week, and I was able to read the paper from my e-edition and the app on the go. As I write this, I’m on a mother-daughter weekend in Charleston, SC – a week before Mother’s Day. I have two unsolicited tips for those coming to Charleston; don’t wear high heels and bring mosquito repellant. Charleston is a very popular place for bachelorette parties and weddings, and there are a lot of ladies wearing high heels and the sidewalks are very uneven. And the mosquito is apparently the state bird in SC. There are a lot of marshes on either side of historic Charleston and the mosquitos are stealthy and apparently, relentless. I didn’t see them or feel them, but I have itchy welts on my neck, arms, feet and ankles. I have plenty of items to ward off mosquitos in Navarre including a natural spray and arm bands. Mosquitos love me…I check all of their boxes for a tasty treat. Next to OneBlood, mosquitos consider my blood to be a high value target. If I get out of this place without a mosquito borne disease, it will be a miracle. I just Googled, Charleston, SC mosquito activity and the result was, “The risk for mosquito activity is extremely high.” I didn’t see any “Mosquito Joe” signs around – maybe there is no hope for protection.

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.

I wish Santa Rosa County would get out of its own way and figure out how to make an aquatics center happen.
Before the Dallas Cowboys win their next Super Bowl would be ideal. Well, on that note, you’ve got some time to get it done.

I did the “seminary thing” backward, serving in full time ministry at one church for 12 years – 8 as an ordained pastor – with no formal Bible education; then I went to seminary. Colleagues insisted that I would have an advantage over my classmates who would have just graduated from Bible college. After a few classes, I understood. What the fresh Bible college grads knew was yet untested theory. What I knew came from personal study, from experience, and from making a lot of mistakes.

A moon tree? Never heard of it – but Gail was intrigued enough to read Hansen Hasenberg’s story on it and tell me about it. I will be reading the story with you when it comes out in print. Apparently, in 2022, Artemis 1 (a NASA uncrewed spaceflight) took some seedlings into space on a 25-day trip orbiting the moon. West Navarre Intermediate School obtained one of the seedlings – and we were there as they planted the sweetgum seedling. You will have to read the story to find out the history of moon trees and how one of the seedlings came to WNIS.

What in the world is happening with HWY 98 reconstruction. These people dig out everything created chaos and left. There is almost no progress in last two years. This is unbelievable sloppiness and chaos. Completely unprofessional and unacceptable. I lost three windshields due to stones on HWY98. Whoever is in charge should bring company from China to finish job in two weeks.

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.