Opinion Archive

We were left with a season-opening college football matchup two weeks ago on a Saturday night at Pen Air Field in Pensacola that wasn’t exactly one you’d call even or fair.

No disrespect to Warner, but the NAIA program from South Florida isn’t on the same level as the University of West Florida, an NCAA Division II national power.

Early last Sunday morning, a relative sent me a text with a photo of a page from a book he was reading.

Enlarging the photo, I saw that the topic of discussion on the page was God’s grace, and it defined grace as, “God rewards me for letting him reward me.”

“He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.”

Those were the words of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, referring to the depredation of King George III.

We will be experiencing a little louder “Sound of Freedom” this coming Monday – through Thursday, Sept. 12 – 15, when the 58th Fighter Squadron of Eglin conducts night flying operations in the area when F-35 fighter aircraft will conduct missions between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Night flying is required for 58th FS training operations and we are glad they are receiving the training they need.

One Sunday morning before a worship service, a young girl in the congregation, her face alight with a bright smile, handed me a piece of scratch-pad paper.

“Pastor, I made this for you,” she said. I am grateful anytime anyone is thoughtful enough to make something for me, so I thanked her.

Moving traffic through or around Milton isn’t a new concern. The city considered building a second bridge over the Blackwater River to connect Berryhill Street to U.S. Highway 90 and create a bypass at least 20 years ago.

But now that the Florida Department of Transportation is moving ahead with a plan to widen Caroline Street (U.S. 90) from two to four lanes between Stewart Street and Ward Basin Road, the debate over downtown’s future has taken on a new urgency.

We are excited for the fun of the Beaches to Woodlands tour to begin as they celebrate their 19th anniversary of connecting north and south Santa Rosa County with events.

We hope you will take part in the fun and venture up to the north end of the county for some adventure there as well. There is an outline of events with dates in this issue.

Some of you feel as if college athletes owe you something. Or that they aren’t entitled to an opinion.

I see this sense of entitlement all the time on social media. I’m baffled by it. Usually, I shake my head. You typically see it in football more than any other sport.

My wife will occasionally ask me to read to her because she says that my voice is soothing and puts her to sleep.

She asks at bedtime, and I confess, I don’t often comply because I am tired. I like the fact that my wife finds my voice that soothing; it’s kind of like a superpower.