Debby's Damage
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XXXXX XXXXXX THEYOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1937 Osprey rescued during Debby, B1 YEAR 74, NUMBER 38 TAR Thursday, JULY 5, 2012 ForS breaking news, visit www.starfl.com 50¢ Gulf Pines project moves forward By VALERIE GARMAN ment and the tax rolls. not a lot of value there.” address those liens, a huge but the hope is to apply to deal that there were two and TIM CROFT A private appraisal as- Commisisoners voted lien from the Internal Rev- the IRS to discharge the en- outstanding tax certifi cates 229-7843 | @valeriegarman sessed the worth of the to take the title to the prop- enue Service and several tire debt. that would have to be paid,” vgarman@starfl .com building, decaying steadily erty last November at no county tax certifi cates, has However, the IRS has told said Gibson, who noted the since the 2005 closure of the cost in hopes of creating a been tweaked by the IRS. city offi cials that the county certifi cates are held by two Appraisal in hand, Port hospital by the state, and residential area and putting The city has long been tax certifi cates should be separate private compa- St. Joe offi cials moved ahead grounds at $60,000. the property back on the tax in discussions with the IRS addressed fi rst before the nies. “We were hoping that recently with the next step Given its potential uses roll. concerning bringing down agency would consider dis- we could make a deal with in bringing the property on and the condition of the Now, removing tax liens what was originally a tax charging the federal tax the IRS and deal with the which the former Gulf Pines building, city attorney Tom becomes the priority and the debt of $1.2 million. The IRS lien. Hospital stands to develop- Gibson said, “There is just order in which the city will had come down to $75,000, “We knew going into this See GULF PINES A8 Rish seeks property appraiser DEBBY’S offi ce Special to The Star James Rish, a local prop- quote erty developer, beekeeper, quote id and a native of Gulf county is the Democratic candi- quote name DAMAGE date for Gulf County Property Appraiser. Politically he is a con- servative to moderate. JAMES RISH Ecclesiasti- cally he is a mild-mannered Presby- terian and part time Epis- copalian, Methodist, and a Baptist by night. As to military service he served as an infantry offi cer in the U.S. Marines and later as a chaplain in a National Guard combat engineers unit. He is a 40 percent disabled vet- County seeks Presidential declaration after tropical storm eran (knee injury), a mem- JUMP —— From Page 6A ber of the DAV, and VFW Gulf County Commission Meet- Coastal Barrier Resources Area Magidson reported in the By VALERIE GARMAN post 8285 in Wewahitchka. ing June 26 that he will seek a (CBRA) designation, a Presi- midst of the storm that 6-10 feet 229-7843 | @valeriegarman Like other candidates he Presidential declaration for the dential declaration alone won’t of beach in front of the lighthouse vgarman@starfl .com has completed college, has damage done on the Cape. harness money from FEMA. had already been whisked away a family, is kind to critters Tropical Storm Debby may “That’s where the money “If they deny our second ap- by Debby. and talks about fairness. Un- have washed another $10 million comes from,” Nelson said. “You peal, all the money goes away— While the beaches farther like other candidates he has in sand back into the Gulf. don’t have any federal money the Gustav money and this mon- north on Cape San Blas may a bona fi de burden to see to Gulf County Emergency fl owing until the president de- ey,” Nelson said. “We’re just roll- have fared better than the south- it that each and every citizen Management Director Marshall clares it.” ing the dice right now. We’ve got ernmost lighthouse area, a 3-5 has a fair chance of making Nelson said Monday that the Offi cials from the Federal to keep the pressure on them.” foot drop was observed at most it here. For that to happen, preliminary damage estimate Emergency Management Agen- Nelson said the Gulf waters of the peninsula’s beach ramps we seriously need fair ap- for erosion on Cape San Blas is cy (FEMA) visited Cape San are getting extremely close to last week, showing where the praisals so that in turn our more than $10 million, nearing Blas last Tuesday to asses the the Cape San Blas Lighthouse, waves carved out sand from the property taxes will be fair. the $15 million in damage that damage. and despite efforts made by Port beach. He seriously believes that all Hurricane Gustav brought in But with the county in its sec- St. Joe Mayor Mel Magidson to “By far our biggest concern of us (to include our schools) 2008. ond appeal with the U.S. Fish and relocate the structure, it may not Nelson announced at the Wildlife Service to remove the come to fruition soon enough. See DAMAGE A5 From page 6A See RISH A3 Halifax Media Group City/County relations questioned RESTORE Act legislation By VALERIE GARMAN payment to the Gulf County awaits Obama’s signature closes purchase 229-7843 | @valeriegarman Chamber of Commerce vgarman@starfl .com and Economic Develop- Staff Report * The News Herald, ment Council. “They have By TOM McLAUGHLIN Sen. Bill Nelson said in a Panama City Gulf County Commis- a dollar amount they need statement. DAYTONA BEACH – Halifax The RESTORE Act * Northwest Florida sioner Bill Williams said at to put in.” As expected, the RE- Media Group last week states that 80 percent of all Daily News, Fort Walton the June 26 meeting that The county has put off STORE Act passed the closed a deal with Free- fi nes paid by BP in future Beach the Gulf County is hurting sending their payment to U.S. House and Senate last dom Communications to settlements with the gov- * The Destin Log, fi nancially just as bad as the chamber due to ques- Friday as part of a major purchase eight daily and 11 ernment will go to Florida, Destin the City of Port St. Joe. tions about the city’s contri- transportation appropria- weekly publications located bution. Through an annex- Louisiana, Alabama, Mis- * The Santa Rosa Press Williams motioned to tions bill. in Florida and North Caroli- ation agreement the county If President Barack sissippi and Texas. Gazette and the Santa Rosa schedule a workshop with na. The acquisition further and city both budgeted a Obama signs the bill into And thanks to legisla- Free Press, Milton the Port St. Joe City Com- expands Halifax Media’s mission as soon as possible specifi c dollar amount to law, as also expected, tion sponsored by state * The Crestview News reach in these states, fol- to look at a series of county/ contribute. Florida and four other Gulf Sen. Don Gaetz, 75 percent Bulletin, Crestview lowing the Jan. 6 purchase city collaborations to which “There are things in that Coast states affected by the of Florida’s share will go * The Holmes Coun- of the New York Times Re- he feels the city is not hold- agreement they haven’t fol- 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil to eight Northwest Florida gional Newspaper Group. ty Times-Advertiser in ing up their end of the deal. lowed through on,” said spill can rest assured that counties directly affected With the Freedom pur- Bonifay After the city refused Commissioner Warren billions of BP dollars will be by the spill. chase, total circulation for * The Washington Coun- to help fund the July 4 Yeager, who motioned to funneled their way. “This legislation is a the Halifax Media Group ty News, Chipley fi reworks show, further fi - send the budgeted amount “This is going to send critical step forward in en- will grow to 635,000 daily * The Walton Sun, Santa nancial partnerships were to the chamber. The motion billions of dollars in fi nes suring that coastal fami- and 752,000 Sunday. Rosa Beach brought into question. passed 4-1, with Williams in against BP directly to Flori- lies and small businesses Florida newspapers in- * The Times, “They’re not honoring opposition. da and the other Gulf Coast receive the support they volved in the transaction their obligation,” Williams states that were harmed A Freedom Newspaper include: See HALIFAX A5 said of the city’s quarterlyINDEX See RELATIONS A2 by the oil spill,”Subscribe Florida See RESTORE A2 xxxx Opinions 4A Obituaries 4B Legals 11B to The Star Real Estate Advertising Deadline Thursday 11:00 am ET xxxxxxx Letters to the Editor 5A Church News 5B Classifieds 12-13B Subscribe to The Star TABLE OF CONTENTS Display Advertising Deadline Real Estate Ad deadline is Thursday 11 Fridaya.m. ET11:00 am ET 1B Sports 10A Law Enforcement 8B Trades & Services 14B Call 227-1278 800-345-8688 Opinion ....................................... 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B7-B8 VISIT THE STAR ONLINE AT WWW.STARFL.COM delivered to your home! 747-5020 A2 | The Star Local Thursday, July 5, 2012 District fi nalizes budget, plans for PSJ school renovations By TIM CROFT are linked to any increase in ment those with local capital elementary school, where bring abatement issues such as fl ooring, electrical 227-7827 |@PSJ_Star property tax collections.