If First Denied, Try, Try Again Initial Oil Spill Claims Refusals Give Many Wrong Impression
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KREWE OF JESTERS ROYALTY AUBURN DELIVERS CROWN Navarre’s quarter-century-old Mardi Gras krewe Staff writer and Auburn Tigers fanatic Scott introduces this year’s high court, COMMUNITY, 3A Page revels in team’s NCAA title, OPINION, 6A January 13, 2011 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ If first denied, try, try again Initial oil spill claims refusals give many wrong impression BY PAM BRANNON damages. Many of the 300- again’,” Broxson said. office, from the University Florida, but no final pay- plus in attendance had been Broxson said the main of West Florida (UWF) ments to anyone had been Gulf Breeze News [email protected] denied claims. message he wanted to get Small Business paid yet. He said payments Broxson told Gulf Breeze through to people was that if Development Center, as well will continue through 2013, The newest state News that he had been told you have been denied, do not as representatives from the and of the $20 billion origi- Representative for the area, by the main British give up. Gulf Coast Claims Facility nally set aside for claims, Doug Broxson of Gulf Petroleum claims office last “People need to really, to offer hands-on help at there is still $17 billion left. Breeze, hosted a standing- week that a denial letter really regroup if they are tables outside the meeting Broxson explained there room-only meeting at Oriole should not be discouraging. denied, maybe talk to one of room for application prob- are two kinds of quick pay- Beach School last Thursday. “I told them I could not the people here we brought lems. ments – $5,000 for individu- The meeting drew a lot of believe what I was hearing. to help with applications, Broxson said he had als and $25,000 for a busi- Pam Brannon/Gulf Breeze News frustrated people waiting for Don’t you understand what and re-apply,” Broxson said. learned from the Gulf Coast ness. State Rep. Doug Broxson reminded a payments from the Gulf denial means to people? It Broxson had representa- Claims Facility that, so far, Russell Kent of the standing-room-only crowd that BP oil spill Coast Claims facility for means denied – the end – to tives at the meeting from the about 15,000 of the quick Florida Attorney General’s payments will continue through 2013. Deepwater Horizon oil spill many. It does not say, ‘try Florida Attorney General’s claims have been paid in •See CLAIMS, Page 2A Hospital Sweet victory: GBHS 57, Navarre 54 Garcon expansion Bridge toll nearing increases completion to $3.75 ■ New wing should start taking in patients ■ Several board members in mid-February resign as problems BY SCOTT PAGE continue to manifest Gulf Breeze News [email protected] Hail BY PAM BRANNON Baptist Healthcare officials Gulf Breeze News say the Gulf Breeze Hospital [email protected] Two Annex East expansion project is still on schedule and The toll went up last week on nearing completion. Garcon Point Bridge to $3.75 per “We have completed all of to the trip, coinciding with the January the substantial construction,” bond payment being made on the said hospital administrator bridge. Bob Harriman. “The annex is But how long the Santa Rosa fully connected to the main Bay Bridge Authority – or what’s building, and all that is left is Chief! left of it – can keep the structure some interior finishing and site out of default is anyone’s guess. cleanup.” There is one more payment due The $5 million expansion mid-year of 2011. Morgan Lamb project began in April 2010 of Navarre, Secretary/Treasurer of Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge and includes two phases: the Gulf Breeze High’s Jake Baker (left) hoists teammate Don President off his feet after the visiting Dolphins stormed Authority, says that payment prob- outfitting of two shelled rooms back from a 15-point deficit to defeat arch-rival Navarre High 57-54 in overtime last Friday night. President, a jun- in the current Intensive Care ior, scored 18 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to propel the resilient Dolphins. It was the second ably will be made “by the skin of our teeth.” That means the bridge •See HOSPITAL, Page 2A road overtime victory in two nights for the Dolphins, who won 59-56 at West Florida on Thursday. Story, 1C would avoid defaulting on its debt obligations this year. “But it is only extending the inevitable,” Lamb said. “We are Volunteer bell ringers collect more than $12,000 locally into our reserves to back up the amount we are bringing in from BY NIKKI TRELEAVEN ing but has taken the meaning day between Nov. 17 through help those in need. That’s $448 past without donating,” volun- the tolls. I don’t see us making Gulf Breeze News of the holidays to a new level. Christmas Eve in hopes of more than last year, which teer Teresa Helms said. more than one more payment if [email protected] Volunteers of the Salvation raising money for those less reached $11,742. In previous years, the something doesn’t change.” Salvation Army has had to pay Army stood for hundreds of fortunate. “I really think it makes a •See BRIDGE, Page 2A The holidays are a time for hours outside Publix in Gulf Thanks to the kindness and difference when your neigh- people to ring the bell. This giving and helping others. The Breeze, ringing the bell every generosity of Gulf Breeze res- bors are out there, rather than year, 100 percent of the bell Related inside Gulf Breeze community not Wednesday, Thursday, Friday idents, the Salvation Army strangers, because people ringers were all volunteers and ■ Cartoon: Things you can buy only has shown it is very car- and Saturday for eight hours a was able to raise $12,191 to would be more likely to walk •See RINGERS, Page 2A for price of round-trip toll, 6A INSIDE ON NEWSSTANDS NOW WEEKEND Weather-plus Calendar . .2A Legals . .6C Classifieds . .7C Obituaries . .7A Community . .2-8A Opinion . .6A Crossword . .3B Police Report . .2A home! FRI 1/14 SAT 1/15 SUN 1/16 MON 1/17 Entertainment . .2-3B Senior Scene . .7A SUNNY SUNNY PARTLY SHOWERS Fire Reports . .2A Sports . .1-6C CLOUDY Home and Garden .7-8C Talk of the Town . .5A your hi 49/ lo 31 hi 55/ lo 38 hi 60/ lo 47 hi 64/ lo 47 “Mailing Statement on Opinion Page” rain: 40 % rain: 0 % rain: 0 % rain: 20 % THREE SECTIONS, 20 PAGES | VOL. 10, NO. 2 | JANUARY 13, 2011 913 Gulf BreezePkwy. #18 Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 (850) 982-77128 Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly [email protected] GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A January 13, 2011 GULF BREEZE NEWS CLAIMS: Meeting marked by anger, frustration Continued from page 1A have been paid. “The Coast counties do not need any of that documentation. I cannot give Guard has a fund of a billion money, and as much of the fund any legal advice, but I can help Thursday, Jan. 13 Wednesday, Special Counsel for Litigation dollars in a trust fund to pay as possible needs to go back into you re-apply with the right doc- office said their office has attor- local claims that have been the Northwest Florida economy. umentation.” SRC Commission 9 a.m., Jan. 19 County Administrative Center, neys available at no cost to help denied, but it is first-come first- “Our office at UWF can help When the speakers were Gulf Breeze 6495 Caroline Street, Milton people look at their denied serve,” Kent said. at no cost to reconstruct your done, the meeting broke up into Toastmasters noon, claim and see if there is a way to Kent said his office has also records, which seems to be the smaller groups with representa- Santa Rosa County School Fellowship Hall, First re-apply. helped people who have a hard- main reason the denial letters tives available to help with Board 9 a.m., County School Baptist Church, 555 Board Building, 5086 Canal “But we are not the attorneys ship because their claim was not are being sent. You need good applications and answer ques- Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Street, Milton Breeze you need to hire if you want to dealt with during a 90-day period. past records and documentation tions. Some representatives sue for damages,” he stressed. Larry Strange of the UWF to apply successfully.” were cornered by frustrated, Gulf Breeze Chamber Gulf Breeze Chamber Kent also explained that if a Small Business Development Kelly Johnson of Northwest angry individuals asking what Business Development Executive Board Committee 4-5 p.m., Chamber noon, Chamber claim has been denied through said, “When (former Gov. Florida Consulting worked with they could do now since they Conference Room, 409 Gulf Conference Room, 409 the Gulf Coast Claims facility in Charlie Crist) first authorized the Gulf Coast Claims Facility the were having homes foreclosed Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze Gulf Breeze Parkway, whole or part, a person or busi- bridge-loan payments for the oil first four months after the oil spill. on and businesses shut down. Gulf Breeze ness can take that claim to the spill, he included 16 counties – “I will talk to anyone and At one point, a security guard Tuesday, Jan. 18 SRC Emergency including counties as far south help for free,” he said. “I know stepped in to break up one small Coast Guard and that group will TEAM Santa Rosa 11:30 Services Advisory Board take another look at the claim as Miami-Dade,” he said.