Law and order: Centennial Celebration is coming- Last Call

A different type of law enforcement officer walked through the front door as I stood up to greet him at the dining table.

I sat down with Lt. Eddie Farris of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Eddie was my guest at the Santa Rosa Beach Club, and he was so different from the police officers I knew in Memphis. He had a personality!

Coming from one of the highest crime-rated cities in the U.S. and its overwhelmed police officers, it felt good to meet a totally different officer. In the Memphis Police Department, we never had a moment’s rest in precinct cars as the dispatcher was always wanting to know if we were available for the next call. You barely had time to write a report when the dispatcher was hounding you.

But here was a new breed of officer for me. He was part of the “Citizen Services” as created by Sheriff Mike Adkinson.

At this time, the 100-year celebration of the founding of Santa Rosa Beach community is in full swing for September.  Farris is in charge of showing the public the history of the sheriff’s office and believe me it will be fascinating. The display will include Walton deputies who have been gunned down in the line of duty and chart the career of the first female sheriff. He will also demonstrate how techniques in catching criminals have evolved.

Eddie was at ease as he showed me his ideas for the department’s display during the two-day event.

“We can put together something that our community has never seen before, even starting with sheriff’s new posse concept, but the emphasis will be in the history of the department,” he said.

The planning of the Centennial Celebration to mark the founding of the Santa Rosa community is now in its final stages. Various historical organizations are making plans for the event, which will be held at Gulf Place coming Sept. 11 and 12. This anniversary festivity is different from the art festivals as the main focus is showing how life was in 1910. All the Santa Rosa Beach coastal and bay communities will be represented by various folk vendors, country foot-stomping music, and historical displays.

The directors of the event are Johndra Culp and Jack Abbit, who are coordinating everything. Should you wish to be a part of the historic 100 year event, give Johndra a call at 622-5815. They are seeking those with the folk art flare, pickling and natural food vendors, artisans whose works represent days gone-by, re-enactors, and historic associations. Space is free for display activities only and $35 for vendors who sell items. Of course, there will also be the good-old-day sack races and other country events to win prizes — not to mention a map exhibit of how we used to look in “olden” days.

I’ll be at the Coastal Heritage tent. So stop by, sit on a cheese barrel , and chat a spell !

Fair winds to ye matey.

Chick Huettel is a long-time Walton County resident, writer and artist. He is a member of a number of local organizations including the Emerald Coast Archeological Society.

Last call for vendors:

Vendors and demonstrators interested in participating in Walton County’s Santa Rosa Beach Centennial Celebration should apply before the Saturday, July 31, deadline.

Waste Management is the event's Presenting Sponsor, with additional sponsor support from Bud & Alley’s, Gulf Place, 30A.com, The Walton Sun, Beach 95.1 FM, Beaches of South Walton, ResortQuest, Artworks of Florida and Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club.

Festival organizers seek vendors, demonstrators, sponsors and volunteers to join a two-day birthday bash and historic tribute that will be held at Gulf Place (located at the intersection of Scenic Highway 30A and Country Road 393) on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 12 from noon until 6 p.m. The civic celebration commemorates the founding of the old Town of Santa Rosa in 1910.

“The festival at Gulf Place will be free and open to the public, and will feature live performances by Emmy-winner Greg Barnhill, Cadillac Willy, Duke Bardwell, Washboard Jackson, The Steenos, Sonya Cunningham, Tennessee Firearms, The Nashville A-Team, Blackwater and Grit & Grace, Walton County's Official Folk Life Production, among other headliners to be announced,” said event spokesperson Johndra Culp. “We only have a few vendor spaces left, and we’d love to hear from artisans who offer products or demonstrations with a local or historic flavor.”

Culp said that there is no fee for demonstrators or exhibitors, although there is a $35 fee for anyone selling products during the two-day festival. Culp said that vendor applications will be accepted until July 31, and an online form for vendors is available on the Centennial Celebration’s official website, www.srb100.com. All applications will be reviewed and final vendors will be notified no later than August 13th.