Completion of the $30 million SpringHill Suites on Navarre Beach has been delayed until sometime in the first quarter, perhaps as late as March, because of occasional rain and high winds that have slowed construction.
Zika virus, a viral relative of yellow fever, West Nile and dengue fever, was first classified in 1947 within rhesus monkeys in Uganda. Named after the forest in which it was first discovered, in 1952, this virus was first observed in humans. According to a 2015 article in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases by researchers from the University of Bahia (Brazil), outbreaks of Zika are not a new scenario for many parts of the world. In fact, over the course of 2007-2014, multiple outbreaks were known to have occurred in countries across the Asian-Pacific and Western Hemisphere. In February of 2016 however, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international public health emergency. According to a statement by the WHO, Zika is spreading “explosively.” In the same statement, the WHO expressed that the level of concern over this public health emergency is “extremely high.” Since 2007, a total of 61 countries have reported transmission of the virus. During the next 12 months, the World Health Organization estimates that millions more cases will arise within the Americas.
Let me start by saying I am in favor of building a new courthouse. The current courthouse is obsolete and must be replaced. But that doesn’t mean I support the plan to build a $47 million courthouse in Downtown Milton. And no matter how many times Mr. Rob Williamson calls me a knucklehead on his Facebook page, I won’t be deterred.
As the apartment complexes are constructed on the side of Highway 98 and rooftops begin to multiply in the area, citizens of Navarre have high hopes for the future of the area. New neighbors and businesses are almost always a welcome facet to any community. In fact, according to the recent retail market power analysis for Navarre, supplied by the Nielsen Company, Navarre has one of the most favorable markets in the county for business opportunities. According to the data, there are many industry gaps whereby the supply in Navarre does not meet the demand, which means Navarre money is being spent out of the area. These gaps represent opportunities for businesses wishing to set up shop in the area.
Gov. Rick Scott has announced that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in February, down from 10.7 percent in December 2010. This milestone marks the state’s lowest unemployment rate in eight years. Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate of 3.4 percent has consistently exceeded the nation’s for 47-consecutive months. Over the year in February, Florida businesses created 235,200 new private-sector jobs. Since December 2010, 1,056,000 private-sector jobs have been created in Florida.
In recent years, with budget cuts in federal and state education programs, music and art are subjects which have experienced financial downsizing. In fact, during times with slim funds, many elementary and secondary schools cease to teach these subjects altogether in their classrooms. According to a study conducted and released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2012, more than 1.3 million elementary school students did not receive musical education in schools. In addition, nearly 4 million did not receive visual art classes within their school curriculums.
March marks the return of the spring breakers along with the only thing that keeps them from hurting themselves: Navarre Beach Lifeguards. “We have hired eight guards this season and expect to hire another six,” Sonja Lusk of the Navarre Beach Water Department said. “The guards will be on duty seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. We will have a minimum of two guards in each tower. Many of our guards are still in school and as they complete the school year, we will fill more positions.”
A 13 year old is said to be responsible for starting what turned into a brush fire on Flintwood Street behind one of the homes. Holley-Navarre Fire Department was dispatched to the 50-foot-by-80-foot fire, and once on scene Battalion Chief Howie Rounsaville realized that because of windy conditions, the fire was spreading quickly. Other units were called to the scene and the Squad 41 brush truck pulled in between two homes and quickly attacked the fire and kept it from spreading.
In a tribute and memorial ceremony that has been planned for months, Navarre united with family members of the lost four Louisiana Air National Guard soldiers and the seven Marine Special Operations Command members who died March 10, 2015, in a training accident over the waters of Navarre Sound.
On March 10,2015, Leadership Santa Rosa Class 29 was preparing to embark on a trip to our State Capitol. I was nominated as the class spokesman because of what I do with the Sheriff’s Office. Little did I know, I was about to speak to the entire nation about a tragedy which was taking place here within our relatively small quiet community.
