Based on the budget, the July 4 fireworks display on Navarre Beach should have lasted about 12 minutes, but fireworks company representatives had planned to stage the show in such a way that spectators would get at least 20 minutes of “oohs and aahs.” But due to a firing mishap during the show, crews continued to send shells skyward nearly 90 minutes after the show began at 9 p.m.
Despite the fact that most fireworks are illegal in Florida, local residents and visitors supplemented professional public displays with their own shows, and that meant a few busy nights for local firefighters.
Local companies and those from throughout Florida have the opportunity to apply for grant funds to train employees that have been with their companies for at least a year. According to the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program was created to provide grant funding continuing education and customized training for full-time employees at existing Florida businesses.
When the founders of Southern Pipe and Supply left Russia in 1901, they thought their ship was headed to New York City, but its final destination was Mobile, Alabama. If the ship would have actually been heading to New York City, then the history one of the Southeast’s most admired privately-held companies would have been much different.
Statistics show that more dogs run away and are lost on July 4 than any other day of the year. In many cases, the loud noise that accompanies fireworks is too much for pets that suffer from noise phobia. They get frantic, run and get separated from their owners.
Two popular seasons for northwest Florida anglers and sportsmen started this past week. Gag grouper opened for recreational harvest in most Gulf of Mexico state waters and all federal waters July 1. The Bay scallop season opened June 28 in a limited area stretching from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.
Boaters will be taking to the waters around Florida for the busy July 4 holiday weekend, and a conservation group is urging boat operators to be on the lookout for manatees and other wildlife. A Save the Manatee Club spokeswoman said slowing down in wildlife habitat areas and observing all posted boat speed regulations can make a huge difference.
“You will touch the soil of many lands” is a fortune 2nd Lt. Eric Fiel opened 33 years ago from a Chinese fortune cookie. Today, Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel still keeps that fortune in his wallet as he reflects back on his career as an Air Commando and his ultimate job as the head of Air Force Special Operations Command.
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.
