Opinion Archive

The 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star game was played Tuesday evening in Minneapolis. And while “real” baseball fans like a good pitchers’ duel, many fans who occasionally watch baseball get excited by the offense. What’s better than seeing one the big league stars step up to the plate and belt a fast ball over the wall, right?

What is the biggest thing “our country” needs? “Honest people in ‘charge.’”

I had the opportunity to drive to Miami and back last week for a two-day Florida Press Association conference in Miami. I enjoy driving by myself – but I’m not sure my office does. I’m usually listening to an educational podcast which makes me think of everything I should be doing in the office. I call the office and ask them questions conduct brainstorming sessions over the phone. I’ve actually been told that they really have work to d0 – if I don’t mind. I was also listening to 100 things great bosses know – which made me wonder if employees ever listen to 100 things great employees know. I don’t think that there is such an animal. However, there must be – because my staff must have already read that book or listened to that podcast. Whew. Oh, I also learned that Miami is the pits to drive in. However, I did get to eat at a famous Cuban restaurant and stay at a “haunted” hotel. The Biltmore Hotel was built in the early 1900s and spent some time being a VA hospital during and after WWII. There is also a mobster that was killed there. I slept great the first night – however, after reading about the hauntings … didn’t sleep so well the second night.

Navarre Press won nine awards, including two first place awards, in Division C of the Florida Press Association’s Better Weekly Newspaper contest. More than 60 newspapers submitted about 1,600 entries for consideration by out-of-state judges.

Heretofore, my opinion on the new Santa Rosa County Courthouse was not expressed in writing, although I frequently voiced, for many years, that it should remain downtown Milton, as many agree!

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?