INSIDE: Santa Rosa south end school-bus schedules A W A R D ● W I N N I N G jmillers.com Consign 934-6200 Gulf Breeze ● Pensacola ● Destin Today! 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER August 7, 2008 Gulf Breeze 2008 Visioning report Inside today’s paper City to raise tax rate for 2009 ■ Residents to receive Monday to raise the millage rate Council spent weeks leading ment also included a clause for tomorrow (Tuesday),” Gilchrist from 1.552 mills to 1.8 mills. up to Monday’s announcement millage rate increases if the tax- told the council. “This can be PAGE TRIM notice with 2009 1D “There is no question we are with staff and department heads ing entity could not afford the looked at as the maximum -- we tax estimates Aug. 16 raising taxes,” Mayor Lane cutting line items from the 2008- losses from the increased exemp- set that (1.8 mills) as the top fig- Gilchrist said after the meeting. 2009 budget to accommodate the tions. In Santa Rosa County, ure.” BY VICI PAPAJOHN “We have to do so this year to decreased revenues resulting property assessments declined A budget hearing for adopt- ■ Bushwacker Gulf Breeze News [email protected] balance the budget. We are rais- from Amendment One, which for the second year in a row, fur- ing the resolution for the tenta- Weekend ing taxes the most balanced way doubled the homestead exemp- ther decreasing potential proper- tive ad valorem rate will be held keeps law officers busy After weeks of budget hear- we can. Assessments are down, tion and created other cuts to ty tax collectibles. Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. ings and deliberations, the Gulf and the homestead exemption counties and municipalities “We are required by law to At that meeting, the final ■ Bubba’s Breeze City Council voted has been doubled.” throughout Florida. The amend- notify the Property Appraiser See MILLAGE Beach , Page 2A6 “Just when you thought WWeatherEEKEND it was safe to go back in the water” THURSDAY 8/7 Scattered Storms high 88O 30 years later, low 78O FRIDAY 8/8 Scattered Storms Gulf Breeze still high 87O low 78O recalls ‘Jaws 2’ SATURDAY 8/9 Scattered Storms high 86O excitement low 77O BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN FIRST IN A SERIES SUNDAY 8/10 Gulf Breeze News Scattered Storms [email protected] Three decades O high 86 The making of ‘Jaws2,’ the movie ago, Universal low 77O sequel to the mega-hit ‘Jaws,’ might have been old-hat movie making to Studios chose the the professionals involved, but for the Emerald Coast as residents of Gulf Breeze and Navarre, a filming location it was a real happening. INSIDE The movie came out in theaters in for the movie the summer of 1978. The excitement sequel ‘Jaws 2.’ Allen for the Gulf Breeze area, however, In the coming Classifieds 3D was experienced during fall and win- weeks, longtime staff writer Community 4-7A ter of 1977-1978 when Hollywood Crossword 3B filmmakers and movie stars descended Betty Archer Allen will report Editorial 6A on the Emerald Coast to film the sus- exclusively about how the Entertainment 2B pense thriller. movie affected Gulf Breeze Island News 1D So many local lives were affected. residents’ lives. Area residents, including students Lifestyles 1B from Gulf Breeze High School, were Politics 3A hired as extras. It was exciting as Darryl Lapointe, now President of Santa Rosa County 4B locals anticipated being seen world- the Highpoint Hotel Corporation, was Seniors 7A wide on the silver screen. general manager of the Holiday Inn at Sports 1-6C Universal Studios scouted the that time. Universal rented 100 of the Talk of the Town 1B Emerald Coast to determine which area hotel’s 200 rooms. The ground floor “Mailing Statement is was best suited for filming. It found was converted to offices, and some of Universal Pictures Navarre Beach to be ideal, and the the Gulf-front suites were remodeled on Editorial Page” The promotional poster for ‘Jaws 2’ piqued moviegoers’ interest during the Holiday Inn “Holidome” was more than for stars David Brown and Roy summer of 1978 when the highly anticipated sequel to ‘Jaws’ was released in suitable for film headquarters because Scheider. FOUR SECTIONS theaters around the country. Much of the film was shot near Gulf Breeze. of its relatively remote location. See JAWS 2, Page 4A6 VOL. 7, NO. 32 AUGUST 7, 2008 It’s official: Gulf Power rates going up 11.3 percent ■ Electric company by sharp rises in the cost of the September bills. costs,” said John Hutchinson, on the fuel portion of the bill. says it will not profit fuels — mostly coal and natural The FPSC did grant Gulf Gulf Power general manager of The cost of fuels has risen dra- gas — used to make electricity. Power’s request to spread out Public Affairs. “We hope our matically in the past eight years from this cost increase Facing an estimated shortfall the collection of the shortfall plan will help mitigate the and especially the past year: nat- home! Gulf Breeze News of more than $76 million in fuel over a longer period of time — impact by spreading out the ural gas increased 550 percent The Florida Public Service bills, Gulf Power asked for the 16 months instead of four increase over the next 16 since 2000 — 82 percent in the Commission last week increase that raises residential months — to lessen the month- months.” last 12 months; coal has your approved an increase in electric- bills for 1,000 kilowatt-hours by ly impact on customer bills. Fuel costs make up almost increased 184 percent since ity prices for Gulf Power 11.3 percent — from $102.22 to “We share our customers’ half of a typical electricity bill, 2000 — 165 percent of that just Company customers brought on $113.76, beginning with frustration with rising fuel and Gulf Power earns no profit See POWER, Page 2A6 Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly COUNTY COMMISSIONER SANTA ROSA COUNTY DISTRICT 5 POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY LANE LYNCHARD, REPUBLICAN, FOR SANTA ROSA COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5 GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A August 7, 2008 GULF BREEZE NEWS DEP issues Deadman’s Island permit But restoration manager says construction months away Thursday, August 7 District 5 Recreational Santa Rosa County Advisory Committee BY JOE CULPEPPER Electrical Code Board of 3 p.m., South End Adjustments and Appeals 3 Gulf Breeze News Service Center, 5841 p.m., 6051 Old Bagdad [email protected] Gulf Breeze Parkway Highway, Milton Gulf Coast Santa Rosa County Board The Florida Department of Aerospace and of Adjustments 5:30 p.m., Defense Coalition Environmental Protection on County Administrative Center, Workshop 6 p.m., Friday issued a highly anticipat- 6495 Caroline Street, Milton County Administrative ed permit to allow the place- Navarre Beach Area Center, 6495 Caroline ment of breakwater structure Chamber of Commerce Street, Milton Political Forum 6:30 p.m., Midway Fire District around part of eroding Holley-Navarre Intermediate Deadman’s Island. Board of School, 1936 Navarre School Commissioners 7 p.m., But two other agencies - the Road Commission Board U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Room, 1322 College and the U.S. Coast Guard - also Saturday, August 9 Parkway, Gulf Breeze must grant their approval, a Bagdad Volunteer Fire process sure to delay until next Department Political Forum 4 Wednesday, May significant restoration of p.m., Bagdad Volunteer Fire August 13 the small, historic barrier island Department, 7043 Oak Street, Bagdad Gulf Breeze Area in Pensacola Bay northwest of Chamber of Commerce Gulf Breeze. Small Business Committee Because of the approaching Monday, August 11 8:30 a.m., Chamber headquar- Gulf Sturgeon migrating season, Santa Rosa County ters, 409 Gulf Breeze Parkway Commission Committee 9 Florida-Alabama the restoration project’s dead- Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News a.m., County Administrative Supporters of the Deadman’s Island Restoration Project debate the pros and cons of the Transportation Planning line is Sept. 1. Center, 6495 Caroline Street, Organization 9 a.m., County “We can only put our break- issue with city of Gulf Breeze representative Heather Reed (right). Milton Administrative Center, 6495 water structures down between Florida-Alabama TPO Caroline Street, Milton property. bay.” May 1 and Sept. 1,” said Technical Coordinating Tourist Development After weeks of quarreling, Hurricane Dennis in 2005 Committee 1 p.m., West Heather Reed, project manager South End Committee 9 a.m., the Copes and the city reached unearthed several coffins from Florida Regional Planning Visitors Center, 8543 Navarre for the city of Gulf Breeze’s an agreement July 24. the site, which served as a ship Council, 4081 East Olive Road, Parkway Deadman’s Island Restoration The delay threatened to pre- careening area, a yellow fever Suite A, Pensacola Santa Rosa County Florida-Alabama TPO Project. vent construction this year, but quarantining area, a glue factory Building Code of Citizens’ Advisory Adjustments 2:30 p.m., 6051 “I don’t see the Corps of there was a bright side to the and a fish fertilizing manufac- Engineers issuing their permit Committee 3:30 p.m., West Old Bagdad Highway, Milton controversy, Reed said. turing plant. Remains studied by Florida Regional Planning Santa Rosa Island with a week’s time. The con- “Now that we have this per- the University of West Florida Council, 4081 East Olive Road, Authority Board 5 p.m., SRIA tractor needs about three weeks mit,” she said Sunday, “we can indicated the bodies were buried Suite A, Pensacola headquarters, 1 Via de Luna of preparation, and it takes apply for further granting in Deadman’s Island more than Drive, Pensacola Beach another three weeks to place the opportunities, which we might 300 years ago.