Santa Rosa County a great place to live Thank you, citizens of Santa Rosa County. For eight years I have lived, worked, and shopped here. Health concerns require a move nearer to family. Friendliness, helpfulness and generally good, decent behavior to one’s fellow man is the norm here. Only once in eight years have I heard a car horn honk in frustration or impatience. Many times I have seen a customer in a checkout line step aside for a person with only one or two items. And, wow! Stopping for funerals. My job brought me into every — yes, every — public school classroom in Santa Rosa County. Problems with public education, real or imagined, are not prevalent in Santa Rosa County Public Schools. If you don’t believe that, then call a local school principal and arrange to visit one — any one, on any day. And visit your public library branch, too. You won’t be disappointed in any of them, either. I have patronized numerous local businesses. Without hesitation, I recommend ones from whom I have consistently received competent, quality service and/or products. Among them are Hall’s Hardware, Majors Home Improvement, Pollock’s Air Conditioning, Pinckard Garage Doors, Phil and Dena (barber and stylist on Stewart Street a couple blocks north of the high school), Joshua Durst (CPA), Michael Utke of Edward Jones Investments (office on Chumuckla Highway), Debbie Cooper of PenAir Credit Union (Pace branch office) and the service department of McKenzie Motors. I also commend the Pace Wal-Mart. While it is a national company, I believe it employs many local people. I have found the management and staff to be courteous, the shelves well stocked and the store well maintained. I’ve been to Wal-Mart in many cities. None match yours. A disappointment has been people who exhibit bad behavior behind the wheel while sporting “In God We Trust” on their license plates. I cringe every time I see one speed, tailgate, run a red light, park in a handicapped spot without the required placard or plate, or toss trash out a window. Having the “In God We Trust” plate seems a perfect opportunity to lead by example. Conduct that shows consideration for fellow man and for the environment entrusted their care by their God should be automatic. I believe them to be good people, but not all seem conscious of what that license plate denotes. They are the one group with no excuse for not practicing their “Sunday behavior” every day, in every way. And some additional comments: 1) Bite the tax bullet and build a new courthouse. The issue has been beat to death — too much talk over too many years. One is needed. 2) Fund the inter-county bus service again. And expand it to include more stops. It is a relatively small amount of money to help the less fortunate, the ill or injured, and the elderly get to work, keep medical appointments, and go shopping. It would be an example of collective civil, charitable behavior toward one’s fellow man that well complements the individual politeness and respect that is already ingrained in this community. Frank Jackson Pace
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Letters to the Editor – Jan. 16, 2013