A W A R D ● W I N N I 11BB N G 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER September 28, 2006 Teen sex crimes up 30% Assaults up 13 percent; other crimes decline Page A3 BY FRANKLIN HAYES offenders could not be released to the media, representatives Inside in Gulf Breeze News [email protected] from the Escambia and Santa Aggravated Assault and Rosa Sheriff’s Offices con- source - Florida Battery involving juveniles increased Statistics show that while firmed that state law allows Department of by 13%, from 9,075 during FY 1994-95 to many juvenile crimes are hap- their disclosure. In 1994 the Juvenile Justice 10,298 during FY 2004-05. PAGE pening less frequently in Florida Legislature changed the Armed Robbery referrals involving juve- 1B Florida, some violent crimes law that previously protected niles declined by 56%, from 1,651 during FY 1994-95 to 728 committed by minors are on the the identity of felony offenders during FY 2004-05. ■ under the age of 16. Blues on the rise. Felony Sex Offense referrals involving juveniles Beach extends According to the Florida Representatives from both increased by 30%, from 1,493 during through October Department of Juvenile Justice county law enforcement agen- Juvenile FY 1994-95 to 1,947 during FY 2004-05. (DJJ), criminal offenses like cies said that all juvenile felony Murder/Manslaughter referrals involving juve- ■ SRIA limits armed robbery, auto theft, arrest records are now provided niles declined by 42%, from 158 enclosure size manslaughter and murder to local media outlets. during FY 1994-95 to 92 during FY 2004-05. involving juvenile offenders are “If people read that juveniles ■ Bubba’s Beach less frequent than they were 11 are committing these crimes, it Attempted Murder/Attempted Manslaughter referrals involving years ago. However, aggravated gets it out to the public that we juveniles declined by 81%, from 235 during assault and battery referrals to will arrest and prosecute them,” FY 1994-95 to 45 during FY 2004-05. DJJ increased by 13 percent said Sgt. Mike Ward with the Escambia County Sheriffs Auto Theft referrals involving juveniles declined by from fiscal year 1994-1995 to 55%, from 6,843 during FY 1994-95 to 3,077 in FY 2004-05. fiscal year 2004-2005, and Office. WEEKEND felony sex offense referrals Sgt. Scott Haines with the arrest Burglary is the felony offense committed most Weather increased by 30 percent in the Santa Rosa Sheriffs Office said often by juveniles. There were 9,340 burglary referrals THURSDAY the intent is not to embarrass the involving juvenile offenders during FY 2004-05, an aver- 9/28 same 10-year period. age of 26 per day. This is true for boys, but the most Mostly Sunny Contrary to popular belief accused, but to serve as a warn stats common referral offense for girls (felony) is aggravated O that names of felony juvenile See ARRESTS 6 assault/battery (2,658 last year). high 87 , Page 2A6 low 62O FRIDAY 9/29 Kids urged to program emergency numbers County Mostly Sunny retains O BY PAM BRANNON high 80 O Gulf Breeze News low 57 [email protected] property tax rate SATURDAY 9/30 Elizabeth Perdue of Gulf Party Cloudy Breeze wants every parent to go BY FRANKLIN HAYES O find his or her child’s cell phone Gulf Breeze News high 81 and place a home phone number [email protected] O low 64 in the phone under I.C.E., which means “In Case of Emergency.” Residents shouldn’t expect a SUNDAY 10/1 “When my son had this horri- property tax break this year, as Partly Cloudy ble crash in front of Wal-mart, the board of county commis- no emergency person could find sioners voted to retain the cur- O high 85 my number in his phone for rent property tax rate. low 67O quite a while. They couldn’t fig- Because the rocky hurricane ure out who to call until after he seasons of 2004/05 forced was cut from the car with Jaws property values throughout the of Life and already on his way county to increase, county gov- for ten minutes in the Life Flight ernment is set to gain an addi- helicopter.” tional $10.5 million in revenue. INSIDE Perdue and her husband Commissioners say the addi- Edward brought their 17-year- Pam Brannon/Gulf Breeze News tional money is sorely needed Classifieds 7 D old son Josh to the Midway Fire FF Jason Castrodad, FF/Paramedic Brian Voelker, Edward Perdue, Josh Perdue, Elizabeth to replenish the county reserves Community 4,5A District’s Board meeting on Perdue, FF Josh Ward, Lt/EMT Christina Perkins, Acting Lt./EMT Jamie Chandler at the Sept. and do not expect the same Sept. 12 to say thank you to the 12 Midway Fire District meeting. Josh and his parents came to the meeting to thank the fire- Crossword/Movies 6B type of tax dollar windfall next firefighters that saved Josh’s fighters/EMTs for saving his life. year as property values are Editorial 6A life. firefighters and paramedic who breathing, and the paramedic ing and were at the station, expected to normalize. Entertainment 5,6 B “We were told by several showed up from Station #2 that had to put a breathing tube in ready to go when the call “Santa Rosa County does people that Josh would not be night. While they were cutting him on the spot, and start an IV. not have a surplus. What Santa Island News 1,2B here today if it weren’t for those him from the car, Josh stopped Thanks God they had that train- See SURVIVOR , Page 2A6 Rosa County has is a list of School News 3-5 D needs,” said Commissioner Sports 1-8 C Tom Stewart at the final budget See COUNTY , Page 2A6 Talk of the Town 5A FEMA extends trailer deadline to Oct. 31 TV Listings 3 B BY FRANKLIN HAYES Management Agency (FEMA) live,” said Scott R. Morris, and were pleased with the Gulf Breeze News announced. FEMA originally director of FEMA’s Florida extension. Midway “Mailing Statement is [email protected] extended the housing deadline Long-Term Recovery. “It gives us a little leeway,” on Editorial Page” from March 16 to Sept. 26, and Local FEMA officials say Leslie said. “The extension is Fire People who remain in tempo- again to Oct. 31. there are a little more than 120 greatly appreciated because it FOUR SECTIONS rary disaster housing two years “We wanted to give individu- people living in FEMA trailers relieved a lot of headache and defends VOL. 5, NO. 36 after Hurricane Ivan ravaged the als, counties and voluntary in Santa Rosa County as of heartache.” SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 Gulf Coast in 2004 now have agencies a final chance to take Sept. 22. After providing 18 months of budget until Oct. 31 to fulfill their per- advantage of recent solutions Midway resident Leslie free accommodation and granti- manent housing plan, the developed to help disaster vic- Archer and his wife Lorraine ng six additional months of low- BY BRADLEY “B.J.” DAVIS, JR. Federal Emergency tims find a permanent place to were facing eviction Sept. 26 See DEADLINE , Page 8A6 Gulf Breeze News [email protected] Abatement letter sent to Tiger Point clubhouse Sometimes the most diffi- cult fires to put out are in the the damage sustained during County officials point out BOCC. Although officials have boardroom. Though the BY BRADLEY “B.J.” DAVIS, JR. two active hurricane seasons, that the delay in the abatement deemed the process arduous, Midway Fire District tax rate home! Gulf Breeze News but did say it would be soon. process is a direct result of the safety proves to be the name of [email protected] will remain at 1.4 mils, resi- “We are slated to begin the high volume of properties that the game. dents protested an overall tax “The entire process has been Tiger Point Country clubhouse project early remain unsafe throughout the increase due to increased prop- your a balancing act of trying not to Clubhouse, also known as Gulf November,” said Williams. The county. erty assessment values. be too heavy handed, but at the Breeze LLC, is on the latest clubhouse, which before “This is one of the cases we Midway Fire District same time making certain the abatement list recently Hurricane Ivan contained a full- did not address right after Ivan, Commissioners’ main line of public’s health and welfare has approved by the Santa Rosa service restaurant and banquet but the lists are just so long and defense for the increased dis- been protected,” said County Board of County facilities, has been closed for unmanageable, we have to trict’s tax levy was maintain- Commissioner and Chairman of Commissioners (BOCC) at its two years. The tattered rem- break it down to a more man- ing adequate service. September 11 meeting. This is nants of a blue roof are a con- ageable grouping,” said County the Public Services Committee “The need for fire protec- the eighth abatement list issued stant reminder that the structure Compliance Department Gordon Goodin. tion doesn’t go away. It is our remains unsafe from hurricane Superintendent Skip According to Thompkins, responsibility to provide that Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today by the BOCC identifying unsafe properties. damage. Thompkins. Thompkins said abatement on a commercial service,” said Chairman Buck Tiger Point general manager The Tiger Point Country individual lists of the 500-600 property is no different than for Thackeray at a Sept.