Feb 21, 2023
For God’s Sake: Grace is God’s unearned favor
I follow a Florida-based jazz guitarist on Facebook. I learned about him through my online search for other guitarists who play an archtop guitar made by a little-known luthier.
This guitarist has one, and we corresponded briefly about our love for these guitars. Since then, I have enjoyed the video postings of his solo performances in small clubs.
Feb 14, 2023
Milton creating vision, mission statements is a good idea
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
Historians attribute these words, or something very like them, to several prominent thinkers, most notable Benjamin Franklin and Sir Winston Churchill. We’re proud to add Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay to that company.
Feb 14, 2023
Driving me crazy
It’s hard to believe I’ve been back overseeing the Crestview News Bulletin and Santa Rosa’s Press Gazette for more than two months now.
There have been some minor hiccups along the way, more on that later, but overall the job has gone better than I could have hoped.
Feb 14, 2023
Brian Out Loud
MaxPreps has a much bigger role now in high school athletics than it once did.
That status update is the result of the FHSAA partnering up with it when it comes to calculating rankings that determines who goes and who stays home when it comes to the postseason in all sports.
Feb 7, 2023
Why moving public notices to government websites Is a bad idea
Last year, the Legislature passed a public notice bill (HB 7049) that went into effect Jan. 1.
The new law gives counties the option to place public notices solely on their own government website and dispense with any such notice in the traditional format — newspapers and newspaper websites.
Feb 7, 2023
It’s not the years, it’s the mileage
In a lot of ways, I haven’t minded getting older.
Despite a couple of back surgeries (in fact, I am writing this column on the 10th anniversary of my first), I am a rather healthy guy in my mid-40s.
Feb 7, 2023
Brian Out Loud
Haason Reddick leads the NFL in sacks. He’s having a postseason to remember.
And on Sunday he’ll play in the Super Bowl with the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Jan 31, 2023
For God’s Sake: The “water” Jesus offers is eternal life
The little girl’s face wrinkled up with incredulity and mild horror. “You drink sink water?!” she gasped.
My wife was drawing water from the tap at the kitchen sink, “Yes, don’t you?” “No!” the girl replied as if being asked if she drank from a toilet bowl.
Jan 31, 2023
Dusting Off
In the 20-plus years I have been a journalist, I have covered hundreds of events, written thousands of stories. However, the story that had probably the biggest impact on my life wasn’t even a story that I wrote.
In October 2016, I was the editor of two different weekly newspapers, one that sadly isn’t around any longer and the other is not the paper that it used to be because of budget cuts, which is just as sad. That was when we found out that Alaqua Animal Refuge had rescued dozens of Great Danes.
Jan 31, 2023
Let’s rethink Black History Month
It’s time for the United States to rethink Black History Month. And not just Black History Month.
We need to reconsider every “set-aside” day, week and month. Why? Notice, we didn’t say “abolish” Black History Month. Instead, we should ask whether such set-asides accomplish what they could, or should? We’re not so sure.