William “B.J.” Price III is the new principal at West Navarre Primary School (WNPS). However, serving as a leader in the local school district is nothing new to his family. His dad, Bill Price, also rose through the ranks, retiring as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Instruction.
Monday night I told my daughters they had to go vote the next day. At first, they said they were too busy, they had to work, and they didn’t know who they would vote for. “I’m not just going to vote for who you tell me to vote for,” proclaimed both of them in separate conversations. Wow. I was super proud they said that. I pointed them to the voter’s guide that we produced and gave them a synopsis of each candidate and my perceived strengths and weaknesses with the condition that it was just my opinion – a very educated opinion nonetheless. I even told one of my daughters that she might consider a candidate and she flatly said, “Sounds to me like they don’t have enough experience,” totally discounting me. Both of them voted and I know this because my oldest daughter texted me that she saw her sister’s signature and said the following, “So, I went to vote and I asked them if they’ve had a lot of youngsters and they said that they’ve actually had hardly anyone.” When I shared her text with Shana in the newsroom she said, “Well, we know she is not a “youngster” if she actually said, ‘youngster.’” It will be a late night tonight as we await the results and we have already decided what kind of pizza to order.
If voter turnout had a voice it would cry “wah, wah, wah” …to be read as a diminuendo, which is the opposite of crescendo. Endless road signs, a steady stream of smiling faces in the mailbox and many energetic handshakes have filled (or cluttered, depending on your viewpoint) our lives in the last several weeks. And for what?
It’s been a banner year for tourism, both locally and statewide. An additional one-cent county bed tax, levied for Navarre Beach renourishment, also started in June. That added kick has boosted local tourism revenues, which have gradually recovered following the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
Navarre Beach leaseholders should see annual lease fees reduced to $1 soon. Commissioners plans to discuss the reduction Sept. 8. Additionally, federal legislation aimed to give Santa Rosa Island leaseholders fee simple ownership is gaining momentum.
The big yellow bus. It transports precious cargo. It battles aggravating traffic. It makes wide turns. Back to school season brought the school bus back into our lives and prompted many questions at the same time. Local parents have been concerned of heat and delays. They have also expressed thankfulness for the job the drivers do.
Football is starting tonight – Thursday – with the Raiders playing in Milton for the Kick-off Classic. The JV teams play in the first quarter, the reserve players from the varsity teams play in the second quarter, and the first-string varsity players take the field for the entire second half. Milton has won the kick-off classic the past two years. Of course we hope the Raiders start their year off with a win, but regardless it doesn’t count – officially. The game begins at 7 p.m.
All area counties saw increases in their unemployment rates from June to July 2014. For Santa Rosa, Escambia and Okaloosa counties, July marked the third consecutive month that their unemployment rates had increased. Unemployment rates in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties are above the state and national averages, while Okaloosa and Walton counties remain below.
