Opinion Archive

Commissioners Don Salter, Bob Cole and new to this game Rob Williamson, have recently spoken against “We the People’s” vote for a courthouse location. Why do they continually waste the citizen’s time and taxpayer money when obviously they don’t want to follow “We the People’s” vote?  Evidently, the only time “We the People” show signs of intelligence, is when we vote them into office!

Last weekend was full of fun things to do as you can see by reading this issue.  I’m not sure they could have crammed one more thing into the weekend. Thankfully – it was a beautiful weekend and the weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits or hinder attendance.  

I thought the county commissioners were public servants for the people that elected them. Commissioner Rob Williamson always says, “At your service.” The majority of people voted NO concerning the sales tax for a new court house which indicates the court house is not a top priority. But now the commissioners want to raise the valorem taxes for the court house regardless of the voters’ wishes. Leadership failure is not having the skill sets to use management, judgment, experience and creativity to eliminate waste for efficiency so the easiest thing for the commissioners to do is raise taxes. Anyone with or without an education can say raise taxes for any situation.

We have a serious disconnect from our county commissioners in Santa Rosa and our local senators and representatives in Tallahassee.

Navarre residents never shy away from a sincere call for help.  So many recent events come to mind.

October is a busy month in Navarre and basically everywhere. It was mentioned at our Monday morning meeting that there seems to be more going on in October than there is during the summer. This weekend seems to be the busiest one of the month.

ROLLING FORK, Miss.—The chosen theme for this year’s National Newspaper Week is “Power of the Press,” and that power, it seems to me, is a very relative thing.

A cancer diagnosis at any stage is devastating news.  The questions, concerns and even panic that can set in can throw any life off of a sure path.  In the case of breast cancer, it can affect the sheer essence of who a woman thinks she is.  We have been taught in life that our female body parts are what make us who we are.  And that couldn’t be further from the truth.  Breast cancer survivors will tell you that.

The “Run for the Reef” is at 8 a.m. this Saturday. There is a 5K and a 10K route as well as a 1-mile fun run. The T-shirts are worth the price of admission alone. This event benefits the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary – Snorkeling and Diving Reefs. There is also a raffle for SCUBA lessons and artwork by various local artists and photographers. Show up early the day of the race to register on the spot. This is a great event with a fun after party at Lagerheads on the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier.  Go to: navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com, for more information. Also this Saturday – the Holley Navarre Senior Center is holding a Rummage & Bake Food Sale. The Senior Center is located across from the library which is at 8484 James M. Harvell Road. The Zoo is gearing up for its Boo at the Zoo.  You will have two weekends to take your children trick-or-treating with the animals beginning Oct. 17. Check out the new baby hippo while you are there.

The Tenth “Sunshine Week” ended about six months ago, on March 21.  This annual celebration of open government was created by the American Society of News Editors with a grant from the John L. and James S. Knight Foundation.  Now co-sponsored by ASNE and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Sunshine Week is intended to highlight the importance of open government around the country.  All indications pointed to the fact that this year’s Sunshine Week was one of the best yet.  In Washington, DC and throughout the country, people found new and innovative ways to make people think about transparency (my personal favorite was the brewing of “Sunshine Wheat” beer – the first beer of Sunshine Week).