The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation has placed downtown Milton on a special list. Milton is now one of the state's 11 most endangered places.

Why is it endangered?

Those who run transportation planning in Tallahassee want to widen Highway 90 to four lanes through the downtown area.

In late 2008 and early 2009 there were discussions about a southern route, a northern route, which would be better and to widen or not to widen. Things quickly got mired.

Ultimately, there wasva vote and, overwhelmingly, the vote was to use the proposed "southern bypass" route.

But for some reason the wishes of the residents in Milton are being ignored. Why?

Well, one reason could be we do not live in south Florida.

Many of the dollars used to preserve Florida areas have gone to the Everglades and places south of Gainesville, which seems to be the most important area to those running things.

So if Tallahassee gets it wishes, what could be lost?

Several buildings like the Exchange Hotel, the Imogene Theater, the Old Post Office, the Milton Masonic Lodge, the Fisher-Hamilton Building and others including the front lawn to the First Baptist Church.

If there is one positive about this threat from the state, it is the fact that it will force the Santa Rosa County Commission to build a new courthouse and destroy the portables the Commission placed downtown.

But that is of minor consequence when you look at taking the heart of a community and ripping it apart when you could ease traffic flow with the bypass residents have voted in favor of.

Either way, the state is going to have to build a bridge to go over the Blackwater River.

Why not build the bridge to accommodate a bypass of Milton instead of destroying history??

THings like the Riverwalk Arts Festival, Scratch Ankle, and other events we have grown accustomed to in downtown Milton would have to be moved or cease to exist.

Another loss would be the July 4 fireworks.

City council members, commissioners, and other leaders need to make a concerted effort to push the southern bypass and do whatever is necessary to make a blind Florida government see