Regarding the "Bramble man", that's not him. I've lived a 3 iron from the Bramble walkover for 8+ years, before the old walkover was knocked down by one of the hurricanes and was replaced with the nice one we have now. My wife takes our 3 year old and 11 month old out to that beach about 3 times per week, and we typically walk down for sunset once a week. Other than a few quick words sometimes, heys and War Eagles, we aren't regular friends or acquaintances with JT. We've always noticed that he not only cleans up after himself, he'll clean up after the tourists who leave their stuff on the beach. A lot of the toys he picks up, he'll put out for kids to freely use. Most of the times when we head down for sunset, he's getting on his bike heading out. Maybe he's going to the Angelina's bar. I don't know, and I'm hoping my time at local bars isn't a topic of conversation on an internet message board. Never once has he asked any of us for money, and never have we given him money.
For an area that sanctimoniously prides itself in open-mindedness, it is unfortunate to see the "call the cops and round up the Bramble hobo" posts. What happened to that child is incredibly tragic, and our prayers go out to her family, but the murder was committed by a criminally disturbed individual who appears to have been homeless for a few days, maybe a few weeks. I understand that looking the other way on someone sleeping on the beach can lead to many more sleeping on the beach, potentially other disturbed individuals with whom we are not familiar. However, as of now, we don't have a problem like Hawaii beaches, or anything close to it.
I realize that people go on vacation want to get away from things that might not fit their idealistic south Walton vacation. On the other hand, I wish the tourists would focus more on getting their own houses in order rather than worrying about a non-problem in a place they vacation. I know that might be offensive, but it is not an opinion that I alone share. I'm not here to argue or debate this, but I wanted to give the side of a family who deals with the issue on a daily basis before the torches and pitchforks are passed. I may head down to the beach a little early tonight and drop off a paintbrush and easel and tell him to sell "authentic, local art" until this blows over.
Have a nice day.
Philip