A W A R D ● W I N N I N G jmillers.com 934-6200 Gulf Breeze ● Pensacola ● Destin 50 ¢ April 17, 2008 Publix to open May 7 page3A BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News [email protected] GB Middle School band ● July opening for swims in success Marble Slab Creamery PAG E 1D The sign is up, the shopping center is near- ly painted and ready to go and Publix Supermarket's Gulf Breeze store is due to ■ SRIA OK’s open May 7. "I am excited that I am moving to the Gulf Palace Breeze store, and I am bringing some of the hotel Navarre staff with me," Ed Betts, former ■ Bubba’s Navarre store manager says. "Tuesday was my last day at the Navarre store." Beach Betts confirmed that he will be the manag- er of the Sea Shell Collections Publix and 6 Rodd Smith, currently the Navarre grocery manager, will be the assistant store manager. WEEKEND See PUBLIX, Page 2A6 Weather THURSDAY 4/17 Committee Illustration by Jessica Bowie/Gulf Breeze News Sunny Men of Honor high 72O At least five local veterans will be participating in the upcoming Honor Flights to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D. C. seeks U.S. O low 60 Left to Right: Bretz Linger, Pete Sutherland, Dick Robb, Frank Dutko, Jodie Butler and Jack Ferguson met last month to share memo- ries and discuss the upcoming trips. Linger, Robb, Dutko and Ferguson will be on the first or second flight. See story page 4A FRIDAY 4/18 98 funding Partly Cloudy BY FRANKLIN HAYES high 75O Gulf Breeze News low 63O Midway eyes budget cuts as [email protected] Transportation officials don't want to SATURDAY 4/19 Broome schedules retirement break the bank when it comes to upgrading Scattered Storms the oft-congested corridor that is U.S. 98. O BY SCOTT PAGE The first was a proposed mitted a list of three scenar- three battalion chiefs and Since local Transportation Planning high 77 addition to the District's ios that could come out of two lieutenants to be rolled Organization (TPO) officials voted to O Gulf Breeze News low 64 [email protected] Personnel Policy and the June 1 report. The docu- back to their previous posi- remove U.S. 98 from their list of projects to Procedure Manual. The pro- ment states its purpose is to tions and take a five percent receive funding, Santa Rosa County TPO delegates are working to see if 98 could be SUNDAY 4/20 Due to the passing of posal provides clear instruc- inform Midway employees decrease in pay and staff to Amendment One, Midway tions for the administration that could be affected by the put togeth- eligible for a different and more abundant Sunny Fire District is facing a to follow in the event of budget reduction plan. er a fee source of state funding. However, require- high 78O reduction in revenue, but the workforce reductions. Scenario one would be schedule ment changes may have to come down from low 65O exact extent of the reduction "This addition is designed that the staff receives a pre- for inspec- the state legislature in order for the Gulf will not be known until to protect the district as far liminary notice indicating tions in Breeze/Navarre corridor to qualify. Santa Rosa County Property as the positions that we must that there is no significant order to Additionally, if the changes do come, local INSIDE Appraiser Greg Brown files have filled," Demeter said at change in revenue and the offset the his report on June 1. To com- the meeting. staff will take no action. costs of the See 98, Page 2A6 plicate matters, Midway Prior to the meeting the Scenario two would see inspector Demeter Business 8A Commissioner Clyde manual didn't provide any the notice showing that the positions. Classifieds 3D Broome resigned from his guidelines for reductions. taxable value of property in Scenario Two would leave a Fake $50 turns Community 3-5A long tenure as treasurer. "When we wrote it, we the district has decreased, remaining staff of 20 person- Crossword 3B At the last Midway meet- didn't really anticipate that but is still more than $1.675 nel on shift, one fire inspec- ing on April 8, Fire Chief we would make any signifi- billion. This scenario would tor, an administrative clerk up at Waffle Editorial 6A Stephen Demeter submitted cant reductions," Jacque cause the elimination of the and the chief. Faith 7A two agenda items that Gorris, Chairman of the administrative lieutenant Scenario three would con- House Home & Garden 2D addressed the future of this Board of Commissioners. position, the elimination of sist of a notice showing that STAFF REPORTS Island News 1D issue. Chief Demeter also sub- one firefighter position, See MIDWAY, Page 2A6 Gulf Breeze News B Lifestyles 1 [email protected] Schools 6&7C Seniors 7A South End parks committee ready to work Gulf Breeze Police investigators want Sports 1-7C BY SCOTT PAGE Commissioner John local business owners to be on the lookout Talk of the Town 5&7A Gulf Breeze News Broxson said, "We have a for counterfeit bills. On Friday, April 11, an “Mailing Statement is [email protected] great opportunity for South unknown patron paid for his or her meal at on Editorial Page” Santa Rosa County to set an Waffle House in Gulf Breeze proper with a The foundation has been example for the rest of the fake $50 bill. Restaurant management did- county." n’t notice the fake currency until April 13. FOUR SECTIONS laid for work to begin on the The committee members By that time, police were unable to process VOL. 7, NO. 16 District Five Parks and APRIL 17, 2008 Recreation Master Plan to are also displaying a gung- it for finger prints because it had been han- build new recreation facili- ho attitude. dled too many times. When compared to an ties and improve the existing "I am excited that authentic bill of the same value, officers ones. Commissioner Broxson has said the fake note was almost one quarter of The District Five created a committee of local an inch shorter. No arrests have been made. Recreation Plan Advisory residents whose sole pur- Gulf Breeze Police investigator Lt. Rick Committee held its first pose is to work directly with Hawthorne said these types of crimes are meeting on Tuesday, April 8 the county staff to improve more prevalent during the spring and sum- home! at the South Santa Rosa the District 5 recreational mer seasons. Service Center at which the facilities," said Mike “This time of year with different people committee members intro- Werner, committee member coming through, you never know what you your duced themselves, learned from the Tiger Point Sports will find,” Hawthorne said. about the purpose and role of Association. Hawthorne added that fake currency and the committee and the back- Committee member a scam he referred to as “flim flam” are ground of the master plan Margaret Cunningham more common as tourists, vacationers and and its focus points. added this, "While we all con artists alike flock to the area’s pristine The four key priority have certain interests, we beaches. areas of the plan are bike need to work together on all Hawthorne described flim flam as a Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today paths and sidewalks, play- the needs of our area in the slight of hand trick commonly used to dupe Scott Page/Gulf Breeze News grounds and picnic areas, recreation realm. We can store clerks into giving scammers more truly be a viable force that Keith and Adria Sawyer enjoy the swings at Swenson change than the transaction called for, usu- Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy ball fields and community mailed directly to mailed directly can help make things happen Park. Changes to county parks may be on the way as ally by showing a large bill and then switch- center. the District Five Parks committee begins planning. District Five See PARKS, Page 2A6 ing it for a smaller one. Dining Rooms Highway 98 Living Rooms We Have Across from Barnhills Bedrooms Mattresses It All! 934-9911 GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A April 17, 2008 GULF BREEZE NEWS PUBLIX: Doors to finally open May 7 Continued from page 1A Laurie DiBaco will also join the Gulf Thursday, April 17 of Adjustments, Breeze team as the assistant bakery man- 6:30 p.m., Gulf No meetings scheduled as Breeze City Hall, ager. of press time 1070 Shoreline "The store will open May 7 at 8 a.m.," Drive, Gulf Breeze confirmed Duwaine Stevens, Publix Friday, April 18 Supermarkets spokesperson. "Both the No meetings scheduled as Wednesday, grocery store and the liquor store will of press time April 23 open.” Santa Rosa Moulton Properties President Mary Saturday, April 19 Island Authority, 5 Moulton confirms that the Publix will No meetings scheduled as p.m., SRIA of press time lead the opening of the Sea Shell Administrative Office, Collections Shopping Center, and the 1 Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach other stores and restaurants will follow Sunday, April 20 No meetings scheduled as including Catch of the Day, Life is Good of press time Thursday, April Neighborhood Store, and Marble Slab Creamery. The surrounding retail area Monday, April 21 24 will open in the early summer. Gulf Breeze Area Gulf Breeze City Council Chamber of "The site was staged to occur in phas- Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Gulf Commerce Education es,” Moulton confirms.