Opinion Archive

Monday’s county commission meeting was interesting to say the least. Two chambers on the agenda presented applications to host the same event in different years. It is the same event that the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (NBACOC) has hosted for 10 years with a new venue. They built the event, grew it and made it a great success. And now the Greater Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce (GNACOC) wants to ride on their coattails by snatching the event out from under the NBACOC in 2018. But let’s be honest, the divide goes much deeper than one event.

You may have noticed driving down 98 in Navarre – and west of Navarre, there is a lot of building going on which means that people are investing in our area. Across from The Sound at Navarre – the 250-unit luxury apartment homes, you can see the excavators getting ready for the new Walmart Neighborhood store. This will also have an outparcel for a fast food location which is yet to be determined. On the corner of Lowe Road, there is an assisted living facility that we reported on in July. Farther west towards Gulf Breeze, you will see The Reserve completing their additional apartment homes.  Sacred Heart is working on the reported-on clinic at Tiger Point and then there is a Sacred Heart Pediatric facility going in just west of Panera.  You can read about several of the projects mentioned above on page 1B.

The comic character Pogo once said “who are the enemy and they are us”. History repeats itself for those whom do not know the past. Our schools have failed us by not teaching civics and American history. The loyal opposition has become radicalized without regard for the common good.

The county has published their proposed spending plan for an estimated $39 million in local option sales tax funds, and not surprisingly folks aren’t happy with the distribution.

We have a busy two weeks ahead of us. There is the Mardi Gras Ball Saturday night and the parade Saturday, Feb. 18. I don’t want to jinx it – but the parade has never been rained on. I believe there have been sprinkles – but not an all and out down pour.

Ron Ward and Victor Deal now say the CONDO in Navarre Beach Marine Park was in a PRISTINE area….so why did they ask in the first place? I think Ward and Deal should build the CONDO on a barge in the sound. We hope Robbie Williamson doesn’t get involved because with his past decisions the CONDO will be on the PIER. The commissioners have been listening to the sales pitch of Ward and Deal and if the commissioners think the CONDO is a good idea then they should build the CONDO next to their homes.

All over the country we see demonstrations, walks, protests and childish political maneuvering because Donald Trump was elected president. Social media posts are even worse with name calling and other juvenile tactics. We see college students crying and in some cases rioting over the election. Celebrities refused to perform at his inauguration, some even promised to move to Canada. Sports stars are kneeling in protest to our national anthem, people are burning flags.

We are in full support of giving deputies much needed raises. How can we employ the best when we don’t offer much in the way of pay? When our surrounding counties offer more than we do? When deputies who are loyal to our county and our citizens don’t receive the raises they deserve?

The Pensacola Ice Flyers have a home game both Friday and Saturday nights this week. Friday is Military Appreciation Night where Active Duty and retired military receive 25 percent off. Saturday is Mardi Gras Night and will include a parade and bead toss. If you are an All-Access Navarre Press subscriber, we have tickets for you. You can also upgrade your subscription and receive tickets for this weekend.

    I was making a quick Whataburger run down to Holley be the Sea. Sitting in the drive-thru, I turned off my truck while the car ahead waited for a large order. As they finished I turned the key and got silence – dead truck blocking the line for four or five hungry carloads of people.