Opinion Archive

I’d like to think that I am an encourager, perhaps not the best, certainly not the worst. If someone does well, I will give a sincere, “Well done!” Even if someone does not do well, I look for something praiseworthy. As a pastor, I am often asked to give references and recommendations for others, and I lean toward graciousness in my assessments and remarks. But lately, my desire to encourage is being challenged by a browser I have used for years that is asking for my recommendation.

We want to wish Dora Zuses, who brought us Foxy Boutique, a very happy retirement! We will certainly miss her and the store, but we are proud to have had her as part of our small business community for 13 years. The store is moving to its new location in Fort Walton Beach with new owner Stephany Case. You can read more about Dora and Stephany on our Business page (A4).

Not that many years ago, the best way you could find out about businesses in town would be through your local newspaper. Your local newspaper is still a great source of advertising information, but if you’re looking for something, chances are you’re going to start by “Googling it.” Have you ever wondered why that’s become our go-to move? Well, a recent court ruling has shed some light on this, and it’s not a pretty picture.

The future of junior college athletics is on the brink of change after a court ruled in favor of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia last month.
Pavia filed a lawsuit stating his NCAA eligibility time should not be impacted by his years at the junior college level. He’s now set to get an extra year of eligibility.

The words “new year” will take on greater significance for the congregation I serve as pastor. Though now a “church start-up,” this congregation anticipates gaining full-church status with the Evangelical Free Church early in the first quarter of the new year. Also, in January of 2025, we will be gathering for worship on Sundays in the chapel at Gulf Pointe Latin School on East Bay Blvd. The school’s chapel and campus are beautiful, and we thank God for the privilege of gathering there. Further, we have just inducted our first group of members. We are eager for this new year of faithful ministry.

Decades of time and millions of dollars lost, Milton is finally getting the wastewater treatment plant away from the Blackwater River and out of the wellfield protection area. It is worth it to secure the future of our drinking water and the river. The citizens of Milton owe a huge thank you to the Save our Blackwater River organization that has fought tooth and nail to get this accomplished.

Happy New Year!

Personally, I don’t make resolutions because if I’m resolved to do something – I am going to start making changes right away and not wait for the new year. True confessions: I weighed myself for the first time in a long time today, and my suspicions were confirmed. I’m up about eight pounds. I was avoiding the truth or the facts because I didn’t want to deal with them until after the holiday.

With the start of a new year, perhaps it’s time for the FHSAA to try something new with weightlifting.
Nothing wrong with the sport overall, but the structure of the regions could use a makeover.

We are a week away from Christmas and are sitting at two weeks until 2025, and me, I’m here trying to wrap my mind around the fact that time has flown by like a sprinter.
Fall sports are history, winter sports still have a couple of months to go and spring sports teams have already started conditioning.

We are less than a week away from Christmas and under two weeks until 2025, and me, I’m here trying to wrap my mind around the fact that time has flown by like a sprinter.