A W A R D ● W I N N I Blues are back! N Catch the air show G Friday and Saturday! details page1B 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER July 19, 2007 County considers Debris finally gone ATV ban G Ivan remnant removed from local home BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze News Minimize your [email protected] mosquito risk this page Depending on what a pub- summer! 4B lic hearing shows, All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) may soon get the thumbs down for use any PAGE 1B where in Santa Rosa County. Last week County Commission Chairman Tom Stewart asked that the ATV ■ issue be placed on the Board's More ways to agenda for review and public have fun this hearing. "About a year ago the summer state passed a law allowing ATV's to be used in the state ■ Islander of the on any unpaved roads. I asked Week for this issue to be placed on the agenda, because I do not ■ Bubba’s see this as a safe situation for Beach our county. The law also says a county can opt out of the law allowing ATV use, but there Picture courtesy of Glen Ward/Sea Tow must be a public hearing first. The 50 foot “Young Lady” (above left) was removed from Steve Moncreiff’s Santa Rosa Shores home during the week of July In my opinion right now, WEEKEND 9. The boat sat in Moncreiff’s back yard for nearly three years after Hurricane washed it ashore in September of 2004. unless the public hearing Weather shows something different, I many Gulf Breeze residents, but Ga., had been lodged in Steven wall as of press time, but you BY FRANKLIN HAYES THURSDAY 7/19 See ATV, Page 2A6 Gulf Breeze News one Santa Rosa Shores resident Moncreiff's yard since won't hear the property owner Scat.T-Storms [email protected] has dealt with his white ele- Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004 complain any time soon. Sea O phant, or white boat in this case, and was finally removed during Tow representative John ward high 91 longer than most. the week of July 9. said his company would rebuild Spa rape low 76O Hurricane Ivan was certainly full of unwanted surprises for The 50-foot "Young Lady," The four-day process had left the damaged portion of the sea- suspect gets owned by Relief Inc. of Atlanta a gaping hole in Moncreiff's sea See BOAT, Page 2A6 FRIDAY 7/20 Scat. T-Storms court date O high 91 Gulf O Midway calculates budget trouble low 76 Breeze nail "If we don't make some been called for Tuesday, July showed commissioners the run- BY PAM BRANNON salon owner changes in the next year, the 24, to discuss options of differ- down for the last 12 years of Tanh Van SATURDAY 7/21 Gulf Breeze News [email protected] decisions we have to make ent funding possibilities, even property appraisals for the "Victor" Ho, Scat.T-Storms won't be ones anyone wants," going to a flat tax instead of Midway district. The average arrested on O Midway Fire District Treasurer depending on property value for the past 12 years of property high 90 Midway Fire District has a charges of O Clyde Broome told his board increases each year. value increase has been a 9.3 sexual bat- low 75 balanced budget -- all the way through September 2008. But last week. The problem has developed percent increase per year -- with tery in Ho after that, if all things stay the Options outlined to commis- because of two main factors -- years like 1994 and 1998 regis- November of SUNDAY 7/22 same as they are today, the dis- sioners included cutting fire- the decrease in construction in tering a 10.9 percent increase, as 2006, will stand trial Aug. 6. Iso. T-Storms trict will start going further and fighters in 2008, or even a gen- the area leading to decreased well as 2004 showing an 11per- Ho is accused of forcing eral across the board 5 percent impact fees, and the drastic sud- cent property value increase. O further into the red and will not himself on female patrons of high 89 decrease in salaries, with no den decrease in property value But this year, July 1, the O be able to pay all the commit- Nail Spa Company, located at low 75 'built-in' raises on top of that. appraisals by the county proper- 3088 Gulf Breeze Parkway. ments already on the books. See MIDWAY A special public meeting has ty appraiser's office. Broome , Page 2A6 At least three female vic- tims came forward as a result of the media coverage stem- ming from the first incident. INSIDE GB man meets Pope Benedict XVI One female victim stated that she came to Ho's salon for a Classifieds 3D BY FRANKLIN HAYES manicure and a pedicure. Ho Community 3-5A Gulf Breeze News recommended that the victim Crossword 3B [email protected] also have her eyebrows Editorial 6A waxed. He then took the vic- Exactly what do you get the Faith 8A tim to a back room and had pope for his birthday? Fun & Games 3B her lie on a table. Once the That's the question Gulf Health 4B, alleged assault began, the vic- Breeze resident Patrick Welch tim found the door had been Island News 1B had to answer before traveling to locked. Movie Review 2B Vatican City to participate in Schools 8C Pope Benedict XVI's birthday Seniors 1, 2 & 4D mass on April 15. Young hippo Sports 1-7C Welch, 58, said he was invited Talk of the Town 5A to the religious leader's 80th dies at Zoo TV Listings 2B birthday celebration by a nun he met in a Vatican coffee shop. BY FRANKLIN HAYES “Mailing Statement is Welch took part in the offertory Gulf Breeze News on Editorial Page” along with eight others in St. [email protected] Peter's Square during the mass. FOUR SECTIONS Niles, a young hippo born Welch said the eight people each on Christmas Day 2005, was VOL. 6, NO. 29 represented different countries found dead in his pen at The JULY 19, 2007 and he was the only American. Zoo of Northwest Florida The event was broadcast live all July 7. over the world. A full medical report and Along with coming face to lab results were completed face with one of the most power- July 11. The animal suffered ful men in the world before a a fatal injury zoo officials crowd of thousands, Welch said home! described as “a massive and he was given private tours of Picture courtesy of Patrick Welch severe puncture wound which Vatican City and areas not nor- Gulf Breeze resident Patrick Welch, left, kneels before Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square in April. Welch was invited to participate in the Pope’s 80th birthday celebration and crushed a rib and penetrated a See POPE, Page 2A6 mass in Vatican City, Italy. The mass was attended by thousands and broadcast worldwide. lung.” Officials believe the your wound was inflicted by the animal’s father, a large adult hippo named Kiboko. Zoo staff said the animals seemed City OKs $11.5 million bond issue to get along previously. BY VICI PAPAJOHN budget stability for the coming smoothing out cash flow and Mayor Lane Gilchrist. "but this “All of us in the Northwest Gulf Breeze News year, the Gulf Breeze City offer financial security during time we will sell the old one. Florida community that fol- [email protected] Council approved an $11.5 mil- these rather uncertain times," Customers will repay many of low our ZOO know there are lion bond issuance. explained Mayor Lane the items funded, like the Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today moments of great joy as well In a move designed to con- "In light of tax reform loom- Gilchrist. SSRUS Fire Hydrant replace- as moments of great sadness solidate debt, float improve- ing large, we are being able to "Included in the $11.5 mil- ment project, over time. FEMA in the day-to-day operations grab a hold of this very good lion is the half million fire truck still owes around one million of a zoological park,” said Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy ments and repairs and provide mailed directly to mailed directly rate. This will accommodate to replace the old pumper," said See BOND, Page 2A6 Natalie Akin with The Zoo. GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A July 12, 2007 GULF BREEZE NEWS BOAT: $18,400 paid to county Continued from page 1A the county government for its approve a contract with another Moncreiff said of the vessel, expenditure. marine towing company which had been moored near his Street, Milton wall and fill the void left by the "The boat was not insured at because they couldn't provide home on Sunset Lane. "I needed Thursday, July 19 boat. Ward also said the boat the time of the storm because adequate insurance for his prop- to rebuild my house so the boat School Board Budget Tuesday, July was taken to Brown Marine in the engines were removed for erty. The homeowner said the was not a big concern [at the Presentation, 10 a.m., repairs," said Necie Elizabeth original company couldn't pro- time]." School District Pensacola. Administrative Offices, 24 "It should have been Young, president of Relief Inc. vide an insurance binder nam- Ward said his company had 5086 Canal Street, Milton City of Gulf removed two and a half years "As such, while the company ing his property as additionally seen its share of large boat Breeze Board of Adjustments, 6:30 ago… Sea Tow did it the way it attempted to insure the boat, we insured, which Sea Tow was removals in the aftermath of Transit Feasibility Study Workshop, 10 a.m., p.m., Gulf Breeze was supposed to have been were told that the boat was un- able to do.