Speak Out August 22

August 15

Hi, this is Tony in East Milton. I just saw the article in the paper about the $4 million dollars to add historic elements to that bridge on Highway 90. Did anybody else notice that the advice to do this came from the historical society in Milton? You take $4 million extra for this. This is only the beginning of what it’s going to cost and the taxpayers are going to pay every penny. Thank you, bye.

August 16

This is Bruce. Four million to decorate the bridge? Double the cost? Ridiculous. At the every least, this idea should be put up for a referendum. I don’t think it would find much support. If you want to develop downtown commerce, use the money to provide incentives for retail to fill the vacant buildings on Willing St. Want a front rescue bargain center, bookstore, barbershop, try another bakery, candy store, antique shops, galleries? Drill holes in the sidewalk. Build planters. Plant trees. Offer loans or grants for awnings. Give the place some shade. More benches. Bring the ambiance of riverfront park to Willing Street. Spend the money on more historically correct buildings behind the courthouse. Give folks a reason to stop. Thank you.

August 16

This is Tony the Critic. There seems to be some reading and comprehension issues. I did not trash leaving tracts in restrooms but I did state a fact. These tracts do get trashed with every flush of an open toilet. Thanks.

August 16

Name is Harold from Milton. I was wondering since Commissioner Cole was the initiative in adding that $4 million to the bridge, now they want to raise gas taxes. I would like to know where the gas taxes that are intended for roads have been spent for the last four years. Commissioner Cole should be able to come up with this information and put it in the paper. Thank you.

August 17

Hi this is Romi White of Navarre. I was disheartened at the volume of trash I observed while leaving Milton High stadium after a recent football event. It reflects poorly on our community to  leave so much in the stand. As for a solution, perhaps the announcers could offer spectators a gentle reminder to please take their trash with them as they leave. Thank you.

August 19

Hello, I’m calling about the article I read in the newspaper of August 15 about the bridge that is the gateway to historical downtown. Why is the city allowing the historical society to run this town and tell us how much money should be spent? The cost went from $3.5 million to $7.2 million because they, the historical society, would not allow the new bridge to go in as FDOT had planned. Let the historical society fork over the extra millions needed now. And what good is it anyway to make a four-lane running into a two-lane going through downtown? Thank you.

August 19

This is Bobby. Just wanted to mention a few places and jog some memories. There are some of the taverns we used to have. They didn’t have nothing but beer and moonshine back then. There was the Blue Goose, the Top Hat Club, the Chinese Grill, Uncle Joe’s, and the Brass Rail, and numerous others I can’t remember, but I just thought some of the people might remember some of those. Thank you.

This is AP. I’m responding to the Wednesday, August 19 Speak Out column that I originally put in. It states that the decision to discontinue the Walter Williams column was made by the Santa Rosa Press Gazette publisher. You would think the publisher would want to publish what its readers wanted to see. I suggest the publisher take some kind of vote to see who wants the Walter Williams column to return. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Speak Out August 22