SPORTS COMMUNITY FATHER’S DAY Brunty, Southern Miss ‘Bike Lady’ remembered Take a little time go 2-aand-oout in CWS for independence, courage to honor ol’ Dad Gulf Breeze High product and Elizabeth Dawn Allmon perished Sunday is freshman All-American Kameron doing the one thing that made Dad’s big Brunty can’t push USM past her a well-known local figure – day. Texas, North Carolina. Page 1C riding her bicycle. Page 4B Page 1B Graphic illustration A W Current high-end designer apparel A R 20-75% OFF RETAIL PRICES! D ● Men's - Women's - Children's Clothing W Shoes - Sunglasses - Accessories - Fragrance I N N Open Thursday thru Sunday I 911-C Gulf Breeze Pkwy. * 934-6764 N G 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER June 18, 2009 MORE NEWS INSIDE Mayor Lane Gilchrist ■ Tiger Point Starbucks to close Friday. 1936-2009 Story on page 2A ■ The Gulf Breeze High Averette Mull/Special to Gulf Breeze News School Class of 1977 A bear climbs into an live oak tree on the grounds of St. Francis of Assisi plans a big birthday party with a purpose. ‘A True Gentleman’ Story on page 3C Bear’s visit BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News WEEKEND [email protected] amuses kids Weather arge crowds gathered for the visi- L tation and memorial services held at St. Francis THURSDAY 6/18 this week to honor Mayor Lane Sunny Gilchrist, the man who served his com- O munity for over 27 years. high 93 Bible School Gilchrist, 72, died early Friday O low 80 morning after battling cancer for more ■ Wildlife officials capture than a decade. He was elected in 1982 critter, which was the second FRIDAY 6/19 to the Gulf Breeze City Council, where bear spotted in area during week Sunny he served 10 years as Councilman and then as Mayor for 17. The impact of his O BY JOE CULPEPPER high 93 political service went well beyond city Gulf Breeze News O low 79 limits. [email protected] “Folks as far away as Okaloosa County and cities throughout Florida SATURDAY 6/20 Last week it was coyotes. This week are all talking about the loss of this it’s bears. Iso. T-Storms •See GILCHRIST, Page 4A Several Gulf Breeze residents spotted high 89O a black bear wandering in the area of Related inside low 78O Plantation Hill on Monday, June 15, and ■ Publisher’s pen: Longtime a bear was videotaped snooping around a Mayor was a gem of a man, 6A home in the Paradise Bay neighborhood ■ SUNDAY 6/21 Letter to editor: “Late burst of Submitted photo on Thursday, June 11. Sunny energy” fitting. 6A Besides spending time with his family, Mayor Lane Gilchrist was Parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi high 91O arguably happiest when on the open water, landing trophy catches. Episcopal Church photographed a bear low 78O •See BEAR, Page 2A INSIDE No more yellow buses for these two Calendar 2A ■ Powell, Stringfellow were August, I will load up and move to Iowa. Classifieds 3D instrumental in transporting Big change after all these years. I have Crossword puzzle 3B Powell drove school buses for 32 spent my whole career driving kids on a students for many years school bus in the south end of Santa Community 3-8A years, all for the Santa Rosa County Rosa County.” Entertainment/TV 2B BY PAM BRANNON School District. For the past seven years, She previously drove what she termed Gulf Breeze News she drove for Oriole Beach Elementary. Felonies 2A a ‘big bus’ back when there was only Gas Watch 8A [email protected] She finally hung up her bus keys two weeks ago. one school in Navarre. Island News 1D Bucky Stringfellow of Gulf Breeze “And it is killing me,” she laughed. “I “At that time we had six or seven Lifestyles 1B spent much of recent day behind the have such mixed feelings. I love my drivers out of the Holley-Navarre ele- Obituaries 7A south end Santa Rosa County School babies on that bus, and their parents, and mentary school,” she recalled. “I drove Opinion 6A bus garage frying fish that he had caught all the dear friends I have made with that school bus for 14-15 years. Then I Sports/Schools 1-8C the weekend before. other drivers. It is tough to leave.” went to driving a smaller, special needs Talk of the Town 5A He was preparing for a big retirement She has closed one chapter of her life bus. Some years, I had wheelchair stu- party later that day for special needs bus to open another. Powell is busy packing dents, and some years, like this year, I “Mailing Statement driver Caroline Powell, who drives for and making plans to move closer to her had some 3- and 4-year-olds. Parents on Editorial Page” Oriole Beach Elementary – and for him- children and grandchildren. depend on you to take care of their little FOUR SECTIONS self. The transportation department gath- “I have a daughter and her family in ones. You get very attached to the stu- VOL. 8, NO. 25 ered in Navarre with many bringing their dents, too – and their families.” Iowa, and a son and his family in Pam Brannon/Gulf Breeze News JUNE 18 Powell will miss driving and all her , 2009 families to enjoy fish and wish Powell Louisiana, and other family in Bucky Stringfellow and Caroline and Stringfellow happy retirements. Missouri,” she explained. “By end of •See DRIVERS, Page 2A Powell were honored by colleagues. home! your Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A June 18, 2009 GULF BREEZE NEWS BEAR: Paradise Bay surveillance camera catches images Continued from page 1A House near Shoreline Drive and climbing a tree and searching McAbee Court. That bear scam- for berries in the church’s wood- pered into the woods south of Thursday, June 18 Wednesday, McAbee Court before officials ed garden area Monday morn- Senior Officials Training June 24 ing. Rev. Albert Pruitt said the could take any action. Workshop at Emergency City of Gulf Breeze critter showed no signs of In the Paradise Bay surveil- Operations Center 9 a.m., IDR Meeting 11:30 aggressiveness, and teachers lance video, a black bear is seen EOC Headquarters, 4499 Pine a.m., City Hall, 1070 and children attending Vacation walking somewhat aimlessly on Forest Road, Milton Bible School were more amused Submitted photos a driveway, possibly looking to Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze than alarmed. These admittedly small surveillance camera images gain access to a trash container. Monday, June 22 Santa Rosa County He said every precaution was show a black bear roaming in the driveway of a Paradise Last week, residents reported Bay residence during the night of June 11. at least two instances of wild Santa Rosa County Utility Affordable Housing taken to ensure the children’s Advisory Committee 3 coyotes allegedly attacking pet Board 5 p.m., County safety, which was never threat- kind of like a dog taking a nap. occurs in October. p.m., 6051 Old Bagdad cats in Villa Venyce and on Administrative Center, 6495 ened “The bear was really very The bear’s presence also cre- Highway, Milton Ramblewood Drive near The Caroline Street, Milton “I was standing in the atrium, comfortable being at St. Francis. ated something of a buzz for Santa Rosa Island and the bear just came walking The kids were thrilled because people attending a Monday Club. Authority Committee 5 down the sidewalk, looking in the they are having kind of a camp- afternoon visitation for the fam- The FWC urges residents to Tuesday, June 23 p.m., SRIA Headquarters, stay clear of wild animals, glass door,” Pruitt said. “He was ing theme to the Vacation Bible ily of late Gulf Breeze Mayor City of Gulf Breeze Board 1 Via DeLuna Drive, including bears and coyotes. very peaceful, not at all agitated. School and they felt like they and parishioner Lane Gilchrist, of Adjustments 6:30 p.m., Pensacola Beach He saw the door was closed and had a real, live bear who came who passed away last Friday. Such animals typically won’t City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive, Santa Rosa County Parks just ambled on back away. and was part of the props.” Later Monday, officials from attack humans unless they are Gulf Breeze and Recreation 5:30 p.m., “The children and their teach- St. Francis Church is named the Florida Fish and Wildlife provoked. County Administrative Center, ers were able to observe the bear in honor of Saint Francis of Conservation Commission To report a bear sighting, call 6495 Caroline Street, Milton through the Parish Hall win- Assisi, patron saint of animals (FWC) captured the bear and the Gulf Breeze Police dows, so we all just had a good and the environment. Someone relocated him to the Eglin Department at 934-5121, the time watching the bear stroll jokingly suggested that perhaps Preserve. Florida Fish and Wildlife about. He reappeared from time the bear simply had shown up Late last summer, a black Conservation at (850) 265- Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Report to time, climbed into a tree and early for the church’s annual bear was spotted in the area of 3676, or Gulf Breeze News at Information provided by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. relaxed – his legs hanging down blessing of the animals, which what is now the Fuji Steak 932-8986.