In a place where powdery beaches meet vibrant community aspirations, the Navarre Beach Boardwalk proposal was supposed to be a rallying point for growth, tourism and smart public investment. Instead, it’s stirred up an uncomfortable debate: Who exactly should be enjoying the county’s most coveted waterfront real estate?
The following was originally published July 12, 2025, at editorandpublisher.com and is a transcript of a vodcast series hosted by Mike Blinder. This perfectly encompasses how our newspapers and reporters feel about the role of newspapers.
It seems to be a tradition now for me to write about the comments made from people about a newspaper pay wall.
I get the frustration. People love free. And there seems to be this mindset that you shouldn’t have to pay for the news.
I have found that few people object to hearing me say, “I will pray for you.” Most thank me, even those I know who do not believe in God. They understand from my words that I care about them.
The governor’s veto pen hit Santa Rosa County hard this year, striking down more than $2 million in requested funding for local projects. Among the casualties were the wetlands conservation of a 27.57-acre parcel, the expansion of the Whiting Field taxiway, and continued support for our Veterans Treatment Court. These aren’t frivolous expenses; they’re strategic investments in environmental protection, infrastructure, and justice for those who’ve served our country. The impact of these cuts is not just fiscal — it’s deeply personal for the communities depending on them.
We have officially reached the point of the year where we are stuck between the continuation of summer and the start of high school sports season.
But it’s not as if the local sports world has completely hit a wall.
My wife and I just spent a week in Canada visiting my family. Gasoline in Canada is sold by the litre (that is how Canadians spell it), and it is expensive – north of $1.30 per litre, over $5 per gallon. The gas prices turned out not to be an issue for us because, following my sister’s advice, we did not drive our vehicle while in Canada. With the increased tariffs and our president’s talk of annexing Canada, there has been a surge in national pride and an increased dislike of the United States expressed in the vandalizing of cars bearing American license plates.
It was a glorious morning. The sun was shining and the wind was from the Southeast. Up especially early, a tall bony, redheaded young Virginian found time to buy a new thermometer, for which he paid three pounds, fifteen shillings. He also bought gloves for Martha, his wife, who was ill at home.
