Dressed for the Holidays
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DECEMBER FISHING IN THE PANHANDLE, A6 WEDDING MEMORIES SAVED, B1 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1937 Thursday, December 6, 2018 For breaking news, visit starfl .com @PSJ_Star facebook.com/psjstar 50¢ Skyborne Technology expands county footprint Purchases Skyborne Technology, Inc., a geographic expansion, but has been resilient in their of negotiations as the county Costin Airport a designer, developer and also facility and operational response to Hurricane sought to secure a stable manufacturer of manned, expansion. Michael and this news adds company to occupy the By Tim Croft unmanned and drone avia- “This is exhilarating news an exclamation point to county-owned complex. The Port St. Joe Star | 850-227-7827 tion systems, announced for our storm-devastated our intent to rebuild Gulf And where the Industrial @PSJ_Star | [email protected] last week that it will expand community and the timing County.” Park provided a manufac- its footprint in Gulf County. could not be better,” said Jim Skyborne Technology turing base, the acquisition We now turn to the portion The company has exe- McKnight, Executive Direc- established its first U.S. of Costin Airport will provide of our program that includes, cuted a contract to purchase tor of the county Economic manufacturing facility at the a home for assembly, flight wait for it, positive economic Costin Airport in Port St. Development Coalition. Dalkeith Industrial Park in news. Joe, translating into not only “Our business community September, capping months See SKYBORNE, A5 ‘We need to get back to some kind of normal’ Michael fails to Yes, golf carts took douse Christmas something of a hit from celebrations Michael, especially in Mexico Beach. Gaddis’ golf cart is cur- By Tim Croft rently not working. The Port St. Joe Star But whether it is one or 850-227-7827 10 or 20 carts, the Christ- @PSJ_Star | [email protected] mas parade is going to happen. One of Traci Gaddis’ “We are going to do it,” grandsons was crying. Gaddis said. “We need to With all the destruction get back to some kind of that Hurricane Michael normal.” brought to Mexico Beach, The folks in Port St. Joe the boy was beside himself pretty much bore a similar about the coming holidays. sentiment. “My grandson was The annual Christ- crying and asking, ‘Are we mas on the Coast parade cancelling Christmas,’” and festivities were gen- Gaddis said. “I almost cried erating considerable myself. I said no we are not interest before Michael; cancelling Christmas.” post Michael the goal is And, so, Gaddis, who just to gather for some each year organizes the spirit. Golf Cart Christmas Parade organizer Char- Parade in Mexico Beach, lotte Pierce said the names set to work ensuring that celebration will go on. See PARADES, A5 School enrollment strong six weeks post Michael [COURTESY OF RONI COPPOCK] By Tim Croft “They are not all the The Port St. Joe Star same kids we had before,” hey assembled in Septem- 850-227-7827 noted Martha Weimorts, @PSJ_Star | [email protected] Assistant Superinten- ber as the "Let their be dent for Special Services. Dressed The costs of Hurricane “Some have come from lights" committee, aiming Michael are just beginning Bay County and we lost to be understood by local some students who were to ensure Port St. Joe was governing bodies. displaced.” T One positive number, The first of two state for the properly lit for the holiday season. at least for Gulf District mandated enrollment Schools, turns out to be counts was due to be Tuesday, they completed their work enrollment. taken the week of Hurri- Despite a “soft” open- cane Michael; the next will at the Cape San Blas Lighthouse in ing to start last month, come in February. enrollment in the four By that time, school holidays George Core Park, spending the day public schools is currently officials hope, they will at roughly 93 percent of also have a clearer view of dressing the lighthouse up with 60 state projections of just what state lawmakers may over 1,900 students for the provide in the way of relief strands of light. current school year. for counties, and school Given that each full- districts, heavily impacted Committee members were Bill Ken- time equivalent student by Michael. carries with them roughly “We know our ad nedy, Sandie Kennedy, Mark Haddock, $4,000 in state fund- valorem is going to drop ing, strong enrollment and we will be in trouble Scott Warren. Alexander Neville, numbers are a positive to if the Legislature does not mitigate other hurricane- Paula Pickett and Roni Coppock. related losses. See SCHOOLS, A5 Volume 81 Number 8 Opinion .................... A4 Society ...................... B2 A2 B5 Subscribe to The Star Outdoors .................. A6 School News .............. B3 Phone: 800-345-8688 Sports....................... A7 Obituaries ................. B4 Toy Drive Bread pudding recipes Scene Around ............. A8 Classifieds ........... B7-B8 * ** A2 Thursday, December 6, 2018 | The Star Teaching how to give Star Staff Report School Student Council and let them select bikes. Lorey Pipkorn, a Bay According to Pipkorn, County teacher, recently the students loved the held a personal fund- experience. raiser for Christmas toys, “What a great teach- splitting her donations ing opportunity in giving between Gulf and Bay Lorey has provided the counties. students, while provid- Pipkorn said she ing Christmas toys for thought experiencing those who will appreciate donating would be good having that special gift for her students. under the tree Christ- In Bay County, she mas morning,” said Dr. had the students in her Pat Hardman, President class choose one thing on of the Coastal Commu- Amazon that was on their nity Association of Gulf own Christmas list. They County, which accepted ordered the toys and they the donations on behalf will be distributed in Bay. of the Gulf County Sher- Students from the Arbor School of Central Florida. [SPECIAL TO THE STAR] In Gulf County, Pip- iff’s Office Toy Drive. korn took some of the “What a win for every- members of Patronis one. Thanks, Lorey.” Toy drive receives a boost from around the state By Dr. Pat Hardman The presents have 40 years and had oper- Special to The Star begun pouring in. ated Woodland Hall Last Friday the South Academy, a school for Santa’s elves come in Gulf County Volunteer dyslexic/ADHD stu- all ages and sizes and Fire Department helped to dents, and has run the they have not forgot- move a trailer full of bikes, PSJHS High School High ten the Forgotten Coast. toys, games, sports balls Tech Program for the past Sheriff Mike’s Toy Drive and more to the St. Joseph 12 years. DRI also is the has always been a special Bay Golf Club where they The call went out to 1,400 Association Manager for project for many groups, will be organized for the schools. [SPECIAL TO THE The Coalition of McKay such as the Coastal Com- Sheriff’s Toy Drive. STAR] Scholarship Schools munity Association, This past weekend Tim which serves 1,400 pri- and this year Dyslexia Vanderveer of Ruskin from outside of our com- vate schools throughout Research Institute joined Christian School drove munity willing to be those Florida. DRI moved their in the project. from Ruskin, Florida, (684 elves. We don’t always base of operations to Port Last month, DRI put a mile round trip) to deliver know who has sent the St. Joe in August. Dr. Pat call out to 1,400 private tons of presents from his presents but thanks go Hardman is the founder schools that accept the students and staff. Arbor out to Ethan, B, C and and CEO of Dyslexia McKay Scholarship, a School of Central Florida Tarzan the dog, Shirley, Research Institute. state sponsored schol- is getting ready to ship the New Leaf School for We deeply appreciate arship for students with boxes and boxes of pres- Change, and Madison all the work and effort [SPECIAL TO THE STAR] disabilities. Knowing ents. And the boxes from County HS High School these schools have done our local elves are over- UPS keep coming in from High Tech Club and so to have toys for all the whelmed by the events other McKay schools. many more whose name kids in Gulf County. of the past two months, It takes many hands, Santa knows. We hope they all have Robyn Rennick, Program and many elves, to make Dyslexia Research the Merriest Christmas Director of DRI, chal- this Toy Drive a suc- Institute is a not-for because they have made lenged the schools to send cess and Port St. Joe is profit that had been Christmas for our Gulf presents for the toy drive. blessed to have so many based in Tallahassee for County kids. * ** The Star | Thursday, December 6, 2018 A3 * ** A4 Thursday, December 6, 2018 | The Star OPINION Do we have HUNKER DOWN a retirement savings crisis? Christmas comes early And marveled at how well folks back home…… they looked. It’s interesting And Hollis brought the with folks that you’ve known latest edition of the McKenzie and loved since birth. It’s as if Banner; the one with Kenny time rolls backwards when we Butler’s obituary. We all went gather. silent. It was that respectful, Margaret McDowell Kesley Colbert Larry Ridinger brought deep silence reserved only for up a football game played at family members. And we were “Gwaltney Field.” He said it reminded why there can’t be “You work, you save, you worry so...” mention Slick Tosh and like most folks would refer to too many of these reunions. people roll their eyes LIKE Yankee Stadium or Fenway Donna Leatherwood hugged “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” as performed by I I’m making that name up Park.