Several years ago, while working in LaGrange, Georgia, the newspaper covered a horrific story.

A cooler was found on the side of road, and a dead newborn was inside, leading to a 14-month investigation. A 19-year-old woman was eventually arrested and charged with murder.

A few nights ago, I was up late, sitting on the couch, watching TV.

I was trying to take my mind off the stresses of the world at a too-late hour, well beyond the time I should’ve been in bed.

In the Lion King, there’s a memorable scene where Mufasa, king of the Pride Lands, stands with his son, Simba, overlooking Pride Rock. Speaking of the future, Mufasa explains that at some point, his time in the circle of life will end, and it will be Simba’s time to rule.

Development in Santa Rosa County is certainly a hot-button issue, and I understand why.

Once a quaint county where you could take Highway 90 for miles without running into a stop light – or so I’ve been told – there are now new homes, restaurants and stores popping up all over the place.

I think for the next several months, this column space could be full of takes on the primary and general elections that will dominate headlines in our newspaper and in other media outlets.

On June 11, the first item for discussion on the Milton City Council’s 5:30 p.m. work session agenda was about a boat the council feels has been illegally parked in the Blackwater River, a topic that has been discussed several times before.

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn about working in the media is that for some reason the general public groups all news agencies together, almost like we have one big brain.

People who watch and read the news often look at a local journalist in the same way they see someone who works for CNN, MSNBC or Fox News.

During election season, no matter where you go, there are certain things you come to expect as a journalist.

Ribbon cuttings are twice as popular before. All of a sudden, even the smallest of shops opening is extremely important, as every politician on this side of the Mississippi River tries to squeeze their way into the photo. Free publicity baby. That’s what it’s all about.

Covering a breaking news story, especially a tragic one, is one of the hardest parts about being a journalist.

Everyone has heard the phrase, “If it bleeds, it leads,” but the truth is 99.9% of the journalism community would rather go their entire career without covering a tragic event. Probably 100%. And that old saying really applies to readership, because unfortunately, in general the public would rather read about something horrible that happened than someone uplifting someone else.

With no offense to any of the local candidates in this election, I’ve always thought school superintendents should be appointed by an elected school board instead of being elected by the public.

Some counties in Alabama and Florida (not all) elect a superintendent of schools, but the rest of the country allows the school board to make the hire. Santa Rosa County is one of 41 counties in Florida where the superintendent of schools is elected.