Bay Bridge Proposals Unveiled
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April 17, 2014 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ Bay bridge proposals unveiled BY MAT PELLEGRINO Gulf Breeze News [email protected] he secret is out, and the T Florida Highway Admin- istration wants a west-central landfall in Gulf Breeze for the new bay bridge. The preferred alignment was announced at last Wednesday’s Florida-Alabama Trans- portation Planning Organization meeting in Milton. RS&H, Inc., the company that conducted the Project De- velopment and Environment Study for the new bay bridge, had a representative at the meeting to discuss what FHWA foresaw as the plan for the new bridge landing. “DOT is spending a lot of money on maintenance and repair (on the bay bridge), and there is little return on that value,” said Dan Kristoff, the project manager for RS&H that took on the PD and E Study. “As we look into the future, any replacement bridge is going to have to last 75 to 100 years so we’ve got to take care of the additional traffic that’s going to have to cross that bridge.” Previously, it was discussed that FDOT was eyeing the west-central landfall that would potentially affect businesses to west of the bridge including the Bridge Bar and La Brisa. Kristoff said that back in October 2012 FDOT hinted at a public meeting that they were interested in a central west- See New Page 4A » CITY OF GULF BREEZE FLASH FLOOD Energy Center GBPD’s new ride to be ‘learning laboratory’ BY MELANIE KORMONDY Gulf Breeze News [email protected] About a year ago, Gulf Breeze resident Dave Robau, ex- ecutive director of Gulf Coast Energy Network (GCEN), approached the city with a proposal to allow an Energy Conservation Center to be built on city property next to the Gulf Breeze City Hall, located at 1070 Shoreline Dr. “I presented it to the city as a way to educate homeown- ers about how to conserve natural resources, energy and Photo by Mat Pellegrino | Gulf Breeze News water and how to incorporate building technologies to save money,” said Robau. Photo by Melanie Kormondy | Gulf Breeze News Residents on Rancho Villa Drive had to dodge quite a puddle Tuesday morning after the area saw nearly 5 inches of rain drop overnight. Other According to Robau’s presentation to the city last spring, Gulf Breeze Police get a new ride, a golf car decked out with all neighborhoods in the area reported major flooding after the rain. Tem- the purpose of the of the bells and whistles. See page 2A. peratures were expected to drop to near freezing temperatures after the Energy Center will See Center Page 3A » storm. Mailing Statement Calendar ..........2A Lifestyles ..........1B FRI 04/18 SAT 04/19 SUN 04/20 C B on Opinion Page END T-STORMS PARLTY CLOUDY PARTLY CLOUDY Classiieds . 7 Movie Listings .....2 WEEK Crime Report ......2A Obituaries .........7A THREE SECTIONS, 20 PAGES hi 73/lo 59 hi 78/lo 61 hi 76/lo 61 Crossword Puzzle...3B Sports ..........1-7C Weather-plus VOL. 13, NO. 16 rain: 40% rain: 10% rain: 10% Arrests and DUIs ...2A Talk of the Town....5A APRIL 17, 2014 Separate areas for preschool & elementary home! your directly to Call 850-932-8986 today Enjoy your community paper mailed GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A April 17, 2014 GULF BREEZE NEWS GB Police get new golf cart Westmoreland said the dona- BY MELANIE KORMONDY Gulf Breeze News tion, valued at approximately Calendar of Meetings [email protected] $8,000 to $10,000, was a result of a sense of obligation he felt It has bright, lashing lights, to the community after being THURSDAY, APRIL a siren that can be heard miles named the Gulf Breeze Area GBA Chamber Breakfast, 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., away, and more added details Chamber of Commerce Busi- Andrews Research & Education Institute that would impress any enthu- ness of the Year last year. siast with modiications on their “This is where we live, our MONDAY, APRIL 21 vehicle. kids go to school, go to church, Commissioner Committee, 9 a.m., SRC Ad- Through the combined efforts and are able to have our busi- ministrative Center, Board Room of Bayside Collision and Kool ness,” he said. “This made me Judicial Facility Workshop, 6 p.m., SRC Ad- Karts, the Gulf Breeze Police want to give back even more.” ministrative Center, Board Room Department was the proud re- The golf cart was donated City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Gulf Breeze cipient of a golf cart enhanced to complete with black enviro- City Hall, Council Chambers meet street-legal requirements based waterborn paint, a PA and and equipped with extra bells siren system, LED lashing front TUESDAY, APRIL 22 and whistles that rivals the most and rear lights, stainless mount Board of Adjustments, 6:30 p.m., Gulf Breeze modern police cruiser. brackets for overhead lights, a City Hall, Council Chambers “There is not another golf cart custom rear storage box with Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, 3 with this much detail being used lid and mounted lights, irst re- p.m., Public Services Media Room by any other law enforcement sponder accessories, custom de- agency,” said Bayside Collision signed graphics by Kool Graph- Photo by Melanie Kormondy | Gulf Breeze News WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 owner Ron Westmoreland of the ics, and custom seats by Kool The new golf cart, pictured here, can reach speeds of about 30 Bagdad Architectural Advisory Board, 8:30 2012 Easy-go RXV, 48 volt. Karts. It drives about 28 mph. mph, and is fully street legal. a.m., Public Services Conference Room Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting, 5 p.m., SRIA Meeting Room Parks and Recreation, 5:30 p.m., SRC Admin- County to hold courthouse workshop istrative Center, Board Room The Santa Rosa County view of potential sites in East or yet to be selected East Mil- costs and quality standards will Board of Commissioners will Milton, followed by an oppor- ton location. be set, the image of the judicial hold a workshop on an East tunity for public comment. Once an East Milton site is center will be selected and ba- Milton location for the pro- In March, the board agreed selected, the next step in the sic loor plans and design will posed new judicial center Mon- to add a location preference process is the primary design be approved. day, April 21 at 6 p.m. in the option to the proposed judicial phase. In this phase, design Information on the proposed commission meeting room lo- center ballot. In addition to plans and cost estimates will be new judicial center is also cated at 6495 Caroline Street, selecting if they support a lo- developed for the two potential available online at www.santa- Milton. The meeting will in- cal option sales tax to fund a locations – the previously se- rosa.l.gov or by clicking here. clude a brief presentation on new judicial center, voters will lected U.S. Hwy. 90 property The webpage includes a time- the process to construct a new have the option of voicing their and the yet to be selected East line and answers to frequently judicial center to date, over- preference for a U.S. Hwy. 90 Milton site. During this phase, asked questions. Minn. man injured FLASHBACKS Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Report in accident Information provided by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. B M P Highway Patrol report, the mo- 30 Years Ago 10 Years Ago FELONIES DUIS Y AT ELLEGRINO April 19, 1984 April 15, 2004 4/10/2014 4/11/2014 Gulf Breeze News torcyclist, 59-year-old Dale [email protected] Worth, was eastbound on High- Fourteen-year-old Ben The Zaxby’s franchise Albin, Christopher Wood, Allison Anne, W/F, way 98 when he failed to observe Gunnis rescued John expanded, making their Glenn, W/M, 42, 8000 Brown 49, 5000 block of Gulf Breeze A Minnesota man was seri- a car stopped in front of him. Hoque after Hoque was newest location in Gulf Pelican Cir., Navarre, probation Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, DUI ously injured in an auto accident The motorcyclist collided thrown into the sound Breeze. violation near Oriole Beach Road back on into the vehicle, driven by So- after a boating accident Blair, Mitchell Elton, W/M, 4/29/2014 March 11 after he collided with phie Sprague of Gulf Breeze. at the Oriole Beach Pub- Also, The City of Gulf 25, 1000 block of Kell Rd., Gulf Rayford, Gander Cheriff, the rear end of a vehicle on his He was later transported to Sa- lic Pier. Both boys were Breeze awarded a $1.2 Breeze, battery B/M, 29, 2000 block N F Street, motorcycle. cred Heart Hospital in Pensacola GBHS freshman. million construction Dove, Brandi Nicole, W/ Pensacola Beach, DUI According to the Florida for his injuries. contract to Gulf Atlantic F, 20, 3000 block George Ln., for the much anticipated Navarre, probation violation Note: All arrest and police reports 20 Years Ago Daniel Drive connect- Silver, Steven Ellis, W/M, published in Gulf Breeze News are Resident says brakes April 14, 1994 ing US 98 to Shoreline 23, 5000 block Charter Cir., public record and do not imply guilt. A hearing was set for Drive. Gulf Breeze, drug equipment All suspects are presumed innocent the building of the Bo possession, evidence destroying until proven and/or adjudicated guilty in a court of law. were disabled Johnson Bridge, and $1 Monday, March 31 Gulf million was set aside 4/14/2014 for a permit to build Darrell Combee, 55 of Pana- Chambless, Travis Blake, Breeze the bridge from Garcon ma City was charged with driv- W/M, 23, 1000 block St.