Opinion Archive

You’ve heard the adage, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure?” That may be the case in some circumstances, but unfortunately, when folks literally fail to use trash receptacles and end up littering, then their trash becomes our trash.

First of all, my apologies to anyone who thinks that I am ignoring them; I am really not. I just left the office and magically received 27 new voicemails all at once. I called Sprint and learned that they are having some problems locally. They apologized too. So, if you left me a message, please be patient.

Does anyone care in Santa Rosa County? Why isn’t there anyone swimming or fishing in the sound around Navarre? Why are there more frequently than not –  posted signs behind our Chamber of Commerce in Navarre stating, “swim at your own risk” because detected high levels of fecal counts in the water. The water is consistently not safe, so why don’t we do something about it? Why can’t the county officials see that the only answer is to re-open the Navarre Pass!  All we want is our water to be cleaner, so we can enjoy our area like others enjoy theirs. The beautiful artificial reefs that have been installed in the sound are hardly visible underwater because of the water clarity. Not to mention the ones installed in the Gulf are very hard to get to unless you take a chance on swimming or kayaking to them. What about the treatment facility on the beach dumping partially treated sewage in the sound because they don’t have anywhere else to put it? Maybe that is the reason why there are no fish other than mullet, red fish and trout.  Where have the clams, the oysters, the shrimp and the crabs gone? Are we being held hostage by the county because we are just a zip code and not an incorporated area? Does not being incorporated and having money for stormwater projects hurt our area compared to other areas such as Escambia, Okaloosa and Walton counties? Why is Navarre left out when it comes to funding needed projects? (Senator Gaetz just announced a $10 million grant from the BP oil spill for coastal counties of which $5 million will be designated for seven projects in Santa Rosa, Bay and Okaloosa counties.)  Gulf Breeze was the first project mentioned to start.

There will be fireworks in Navarre on July 4. The tourism development council is paying for the fireworks and the Navarre Beach Area Chamber Foundation is managing the execution of the fireworks. Anywhere on the island is a good spot to watch them – including Juana’s Pagoda’s or Lagerheads on the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. Also, there will be crowds at Navarre Park but there will not be any planned entertainment July 4. Hopefully we will have good weather.

We have all heard the phrase, “Out of sight, out of mind,” right?

Just a quick note to thank you for the recent article in the Navarre Press that featured my wife and me. What a pleasant surprise. Yes, we were interviewed in our home by Bobby and Nancy, but we did not expect the final product to be so well written and polished. What great tallent. Bobby said it would be quick and painless. We have received many, many nice comments from our friends. You made us celebrities for a day.

Wil Pergande from the Gulf Breeze Sertoma Club stopped by the office to tell us about the 24th Annual Family Fishing Rodeo that is being held Saturday and Sunday at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze. Proceeds from the tournament benefit a host of community organizations that help children and their families. There is a really impressive list of recipients on their website, familyfishingrodeo.com. To get the details of the event, look for their ad in this week’s issue on Page 8C.    

Navarre Beach lifeguards and Navarre Beach firefighters conducted their first, official joint training exercise of the season June 21. Training between the two groups is conducted several times annually but this was the first official training since the drowning of a tourist from Louisiana in late May. The 19-year-old entered the water on a red flag day west of the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, where lifeguards are not stationed, and unfortunately was caught up in a rip tide.

Some might consider this a “slow news” week, but I’m OK with that. We have already had our share of unexpected news in the past few months. There is a chance that by the time you read this Jayer Williamson will be appointed by Governor Rick Scott to sit where his father once sat as a Santa Rosa County Commissioner. It will be great to have our fifth county commissioner back. Jayer has big shoes to fill but the good news is – he knows that. He will faithfully and dutifully serve his seat to the benefit of the citizens of Santa Rosa County. He will be there for us, not for his own personal agenda.

After seven years, Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council Director Kate Wilkes announced last week her retirement effective Aug. 1, 2014. TDC board members and other community and business leaders recognized and thanked her for leading the county’s tourism development efforts through some challenging times. We only have to look back four years to the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill to understand that it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Wilkes.