Opinion Archive

While classrooms might not have yet been filled with students, school was most definitely in session last week. Shots rang out, smoke filled the air and fire alarms pierced the quiet that usually fills the halls of schools this time of year. First responders busted through the doors to find they had left the world of what they know and entered into a world where they have to rely on each other just as much as rely upon their training. The shots were, of course, blanks and the smoke from a machine rather than a fire. The “injured” were covered in makeup rather than blood, but don’t tell that to the first responders…they had those injured out of the building quicker than this reporter could snap more than a handful of photos.

Colonel Bud Day passed away Saturday, and I’m going to borrow from Senator Don Gaetz’s release that he sent out on Tuesday because Gaetz said it perfectly. “Col. Day was a modern day war hero and was the nation’s most highly decorated veteran since General Douglas MacArthur, earning more than 70 medals during his service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, including the Medal of Honor.   After escaping his captors in Korea and again being held captive in Vietnam for more than five years as a cell mate to and lifeline for U.S. Senator John McCain, Colonel Day returned home, retiring in Fort Walton Beach where he continued to fight for his soldiers as a tireless advocate for Veterans’ benefits to ensure all those who served to protect our precious freedom receive the care and compensation they deserve.”

When a black was elected President, I was thrilled, thinking: “Only In America!”

What is a community center? Ask ten different residents that question, and you are likely to get ten different answers. It’s a subjective idea, and can be a very fluid topic.

We like to support our local sports teams and the Blue Wahoos have added a lot of excitement to the baseball fans in the Panhandle of Florida. If you haven’t had the chance to go to a game, you should definitely try to attend a game, because after that – you will be hooked. A fun way to go to a game is with a group of people and it just so happens that the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has a trip planned for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27. I think they made it a Tuesday night on purpose so that I couldn’t go. They know that is our production night. Anyway, it would be great if you could go. They are taking a shuttle to and from the game and/or you can meet them on the special party deck.  The tickets include entry to the game and the deck, with all you can eat food and non-alcoholic beverages for 90 minutes (1.5 hours) after the chamber groups arrival.  Please call the Chamber at 939-3267 if you are interested. Of course, it would be great if you were a chamber member regardless – but if you say “I’m a prospective chamber member” then I’m sure they wouldn’t bat and eye and take your money on the spot. This would be a great way to meet new friends and catch up with some old ones.

The word “boo” has been causing quite a stir lately, and it has nothing to do with Halloween, which is still more than three months away.

I’m not a medical doctor and I do not advise more salt or less salt, but I do feel vindicated after a recent report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academes and the findings. In one study of 232 Italian patients who were being treated for moderate to severe congestive heart failure, the group that was consuming lower levels of sodium had more than three times the number of hospital readmissions and more than twice as many deaths. And, that as sodium levels plunge, triglyceride levels increase, insulin resistance increases and the activity of the nervous system increases which equals an increased risk of heart disease.

Former Navarre Press reporter, Christine O’Connor was recently named the editor of a Rhode Island newspaper, the Bristol Phoenix. She said working at Navarre Press is making things very easy for her at the Phoenix. I’m not sure how to take that, but I’m glad that she is working where her passion is. She did a good job here and a good job for Navarre as a community when she worked for Navarre Press. Rhode Island might not be big enough for her.

Apparently, the IRS needs some lessons on ethical behavior. It also appears that they are in need of a budget. Obviously, there was no leadership at a recent IRS funded convention, resulting in an incredible amount of money spent on prostitution, entertainment, food and liquor. Not only were these funds spent inappropriately, but no receipts were kept to justify these expenses. Apparently, unlike the common man, the IRS is not required to produce receipts to prove legitimate expenses.

Drug arrests. Deadly shootings. Sex crimes. Armed burglaries. Car burglaries. Prostitution. Animal cruelty charges. Readers checking out the headlines of the Navarre Press and other media outlets lately might get the impression that the south end of Santa Rosa County is outlaw territory.