Opinion Archive

We at Sandpaper Publishing have much to be thankful for, beginning with our members and readers. You fuel the passion we have for publishing three newspapers each week for three communities. We work hard to report and write the stories the matter most to you. We are your voice and are privileged to be in that role. Thank you for choosing us as your news and information source. We hope you stay tuned because we have so much more work to do for you.

Sometimes we focus on what we don’t have, or situations we aren’t in, and we lose sight of what we do have and where we are. I know I have a lot to be thankful for – at all times – even when I’m wrapped up in the day-to-day busy-ness of life. I gathered these versus to remind me of what true thanksgiving is and what my gratitude should be focused on. I hope you enjoy them during this time that we take a break from our routines and focus on being thankful for all of our many blessings – or as we set out to purposefully be a blessing to others.

Despite the Christmas decorations in department stores, it is Thanksgiving Day, the day which, in theory, we give thanks. The question that sits before us like the proverbial, giant turkey in the room into which no one dares slice, is: “To whom are we giving thanks?” If you gather on this holiday with family and friends to enjoy an abundant table laden with the traditional fare and someone asks that question, how would you answer?

I don’t think anyone needs to be told the NFL is a tough, often cruel business. And sometimes it’s a crazy business.
In the span of not even 24 hours last week, Navarre alum Michael Carter went from the New York Jets to the Arizona Cardinals.

Pace got a raw deal when it comes to the FHSAA football playoffs.
At 8-2 and clearly one of the better teams in the area, I figured on selection Sunday I’d be writing about the Patriots punching a ticket to the playoffs once again.

It was a statement we heard at a national business conference and that wasn’t the only remark we heard about our industry. “Journalists go to journalism school to learn how to ask stupid questions.” This particular speaker had been the subject of “gotcha” journalism in the past. Every time an employee left his company it made the front page of the local newspaper. They referred to him as a cult leader and worse.

My wife and I are not “beach people.” We could be living in Nebraska for the few times we have been to the beach in the last five years. It takes having out of town company to get us there. Our attitude was the same when we lived in Naples, Fl, for twelve years, and before that when we lived in Jupiter, Fl. In fact, we have lived in Florida for most of our adult lives. The question going through your mind right now is, “Why?” Two words – God’s call.

It has happened again despite our best efforts to stave off such travesties. We purchased bags of candy anticipating a steady stream of costumed neighborhood kids and only a handful of them showed up. Now we are “stuck with” a large bowl of some of my favorite candy. Oh, the horror!

Here is a cheat sheet of the newest – and maybe not officially announced developments and/or businesses planned for Navarre and Navarre Beach. I don’t know if you have heard, but 1. There is going to be a “luxury” high end, million-dollar RV Park on Navarre Beach….according to a few of our county commissioners. Actually, it is a regular ole’ RV park, but some think that RVs are luxury items and cost a million dollars or more.

Florida Sen. Doug Broxson’s proposal for a North Santa Rosa County Utilities Authority might be the best hope for the future of Milton’s controversial wastewater treatment plant.

Almost 20 years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection ordered the city to stop discharging treated wastewater – called effluent – into the Blackwater River by the end of 2025.