BY MILT THOMAS
A general announcement about InsideVero just went out, so I wanted to reflect a little on how it could add a new dimension to news reporting in our community.
I wrote my first opinion column back in April, 1993. It appeared in the Treasure Coast Business Journal, then owned by Mark Schumann. I wrote about the need for a diversified economy here in Indian River County. My last column for the Treasure Coast Business Journal appeared in May of 2008. It was about the need for a diversified economy here in Indian River County. The columns in between covered many other topics, occasionally about the need to revitalize downtown Vero Beach and do something about the Twin Pairs.
In May of 2011, Mark Schumann started the Vero Beach Newsweekly for Scripps and asked me to write for it. My first column was about the need to do something about the Twin Pairs.
It would seem I don’t have much to say about Vero Beach in the past 20, but anyone reading this knows that is not the case. Right now our community is faced with probably some of the most important decisions we have faced since 1993, not the least of which is the future of Vero Electric, water and sewer as well as the future of Vero Beach itself.
The public needs to be totally informed about the issues that affect all of us. We can no longer afford to limit reporting to “news holes,” the size of which depends on ad sales and then dividing that space up among three counties. Nor should an opinion piece be disguised as a legitimate news story. Opinions are for the opinion page, not the front page.
That is why Mark Schumann has launched InsideVero and why I am pleased to once again team up with Mark to help make this the “go-to” source of news and opinion in Indian River County.
Most folks who live in Indian River County came from someplace else and it takes a while before they take ownership. I have a neighbor who lives here 11 months of the year and “goes back home” to Indiana the 12th month. I pointed out to her once that living here all but one month of the year qualifies Vero Beach as her home. She had not thought of it that way and never called Indiana home again, at least to my face.
Mark Schumann was born here so he is a native of Vero Beach. I came here before he was born so I must be at least a quasi-native. Either way, what happens in Indian River County is much more interesting when you view it from an historical perspective. We will be striving to provide that long term view so readers can appreciate how we came to where we are now.
Just 100 years ago, R.D. Carter came here and said if you stood over by the Indian River and looked west, you would see nothing but marshlands. If today’s developmental regulations were in place back then, there would be no Vero Beach or Indian River County – it would be government-protected wetlands. Just for kicks, go over to the power plant and try to imagine what R.D. Carter saw. Better hurry though because who knows how long the power plant will be there.
I recently traveled to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, sending back regular reports on what I found there. No, it wasn’t local news, but relevant for two reasons – the reporter was local and has special insight on what happens in that historic part of the world.
I would like to hear from you – your comments on our stories, questions you would like answered or topics we should cover that sometimes fall under the radar of public consciousness. So, let me add my welcome to InsideVero and hope you enjoy the ride!
Indian River Guardian 
Your articles are always of interest, Milt. I’d be fibbing if I said we agreed on everything, but one thing is for sure–we both want Vero Beach and Indian River County to thrive and be the special place for all of us. After our “twin” hurricanes, the Power Plant and the VB power maintenance people were up there in the top 10 things I like about this city. They still have a special place in my heart. Same with our PD and grounds maintenance. Love our parks. In truth, Vero Beach IS home–not Southern Indiana where I was born and raised. Keep those articles coming!
Welcome aboard Milt. When this catches on Inside Veo will be the only game in town. I have never questioned anything you or Mark have said. I know it is always carefully researched and accurate. What a pleasent, refreshing surprise. In England they say God save the Queen. In Vero Beach we say God save the power plant. I would like to thank both you and Mark for your efforts. I now have something to look forward to.
Milt, I just want to say how glad I am to be able to read you without having to “borrow” a copy of 32963 from the doctors office or local coffee house. What a good thing this is for us mainland folks. “Inside Vero” has been a wonderful site and now it is even better.
What I am most looking forward to is the historical perspective that both Milt Thomas and Mark Schumann can bring to today’s issues without allowing nostaglia for the “good old days” to be an impediment to 21st century progress. Back in the 1960’s I worked at the Kennedy Space Center and my husband at the time and I enjoyed our weekends exploring Florida. However, we never had heard of Vero Beach. So it was a pleasant surprise to find it in the 1980;s when my second husband and I were searching for our retirement mecca. Even after 16 years I still learn more about the community and hope that Inside Vero will aid in that process.