County Extends Impact Fee Suspension
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SCHOLAR ATHLETE TALK OF TOWN IN MEMORIAM McDonald earns weekly honor Mortgage goes ‘GBN’ remembers those Gulf Breeze High up in flames who passed away in 2009 sophomore Megan Pensacola Little Theatre Gulf Breeze said goodbye to McDonald caps 2009 will enter 2010 without numerous family members, as Publix Super the burden of making its friends this year. In their memo- Market’s Scholar mortgage payments. 3A ry, we list every person whose Athlete of Week. 5B obituary was published. 7A A W A R D ● W I N N I N G 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER December 31, 2009 Ohio State recognizes Quint Studer TOP 10 STORIES Quint Studer, founder and CEO of health care coaching company Studer Group, recent- ly received the Distinguished Bonus keepsake Service Award from Ohio State University’s Health Services Year in Review, Management and Policy (HSMP) Alumni Society. The award recognizes individ- OF 2009 pages 4-5A uals who have made unique and See STUDER, Page 2A Stories that had Breezers buzzing this year: 1. Gulf Breeze residents Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. 6. Local mother arrested for carrying firearms WEEKEND and Pamela Long Wiggins charged in Billings murder onto Gulf Breeze High School campus Weather case in Escambia County 7. Water/sewer rates increased 8.5 percent in 32563 zip THURSDAY 12/31 2. The Zoo Northwest Florida closes; months later, new 8. H1N1 flu outbreak contributes to soaring school Showers owner announces plans to reopen facility in 2010 absenteeism O high 64 3. AppRiver Internet security firm plans $20 million 9. Parking, property storage and beautification issues O low 44 expansion in city continue to spur debate at City Hall 4. Beloved Mayor Lane Gilchrist dies of cancer; Beverly 10. State Farm Florida says it no longer will write property FRIDAY 1/01 Partly Cloudy Zimmern appointed first female mayor in city’s history insurance in area, state; months later, SFF says it will O 5. School district slashes teaching, administrative staff continue writing such policies high 54 low 35O positions SATURDAY 1/02 Sunny Kessler Foundation scholarship recipients O County high 53 low 38O extends SUNDAY 1/03 Partly Cloudy high 56O O impact fee low 38 Elizabeth Drewey Central High suspension INSIDE ■ Leaders hope move will spark development during sour economy Crossword puzzle 2A B Classifieds 7 There will be BY PAM BRANNON Community 3-8A no transportation Gulf Breeze News Island News 8B impact fees [email protected] Obituaries 7A charged to new Opinion 6A Megan developments or building projects in Santa Rosa Scholar Athlete 5B Thompson County at least until after December 2010. That was the unanimous decision of the Santa Rosa Senior Scene 7A GBHS County Commission recently. Sports 1-5B Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News Commissioners voted earlier this year to sus- Talk of the Town 3A Two of four recipients of the 2009 Alec Kessler Foundation scholarships were recognized Monday in Gulf pend all transportation impact fees for new busi- “Mailing Statement Breeze during a banquet associated with the second annual Kessler Memorial Invitational basketball ness through the end of this year. But commission- tournament. Swimmer Courtney Huffman (second from left) of Washington High and basketball player ers decided to renew that suspension through next on Editorial Page” Joey Bodovetz (center) of Gulf Breeze High were selected to receive $2,500 scholarships for college. year, with the condition that there be a complete TWO SECTIONS, 16 PAGES Huffman plans to attend Central Florida, while Bodovetz will choose between Alabama or UCF. Joining review and workshop on the issue in January. VOL. 8, NO. 53 the pair was Jay Kessler (left), former Georgia coach Hugh Durham, and Rhea Kessler. Other picks were See IMPACT FEE, Page 2A DECEMBER 31, 2009 track athlete Elizabeth Drewey of Central High and varsity dancer Megan Thompson of Gulf Breeze High. 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 2 A December 31, 2009 GULF BREEZE NEWS Freeman on verge of soaring like an Eagle ■ Gulf Breeze student oversees construction Friday, January 1 1:30 p.m., Conference of raptor hawk cage Room, 6051 Old New Year’s Day All federal, Bagdad Highway, county, state and municipal BY PAM BRANNON Milton offices closed; Gulf Breeze Santa Rosa County Gulf Breeze News News office closed [email protected] Zoning Board of Adjustments 5:30 Lee Freeman of Gulf Breeze Monday, January 4 p.m., County recently celebrated two impor- Administrative Center, Gulf Breeze City Council tant landmarks in his life — his 6495 Caroline Street, 6:30 p.m., Gulf Breeze City 18th birthday and filing his final Milton application for Eagle Scout, Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive, along with his final report port- Gulf Breeze Monday, folio on his Eagle Scout project. January 11 He hopes his Tuesday, January 5 Santa Rosa County Eagle Scout cere- Santa Rosa County Marine Commission Committee mony will be Advisory Committee 5 p.m., 9 a.m., County Administrative sometime early in County Administrative Center, Center, 6495 Caroline Street, 2010. 6495 Caroline Street, Milton Submitted photo Milton As a communi- Gulf Breeze Development ty service to the Lee Freeman (front, right) and his scouting peers and some friends stand in front of the completed raptor hawk cage. Review Board 6:30 p.m., Gulf Freeman Roy Hyatt Envir- Breeze City Hall, 1070 Tuesday, January 12 onmental Center The center needed a cage for jumping in and doing it your- 375 hours of effort. Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze Midway Fire District in Cantonment, Freemen over- raptor hawks that predator ani- self,” he laughed. Freeman has been a member Commission 7 p.m., Station 1, saw the construction of a cage mals could not penetrate. Once Freeman’s Raptor cage ended of Troop 106 out of St. 1322 College Parkway, Gulf for vulnerable raptor hawks, Wednesday, January 6 Freeman decided to try to help up being 20 feet by 20 feet, and Augustine Episcopal Church Breeze which need protection from and make this an Eagle Scout 8 feet tall. since he was 11. He is a senior at Santa Rosa County predators. project, he had to put together “It was as big as a room,” he Gulf Breeze High and a member Housing Coalition 1:30 p.m., Freeman said he was looking Wednesday, January 13 the proposal and sell it to the said. “And we had to lay a floor- of the SoundWave band. Conference Room, 6051 Old for something connected with Boy Scout Council Board in type foundation to make sure The Freemans agree one of Bagdad Highway, Milton Santa Rosa County Tourist owls, since he has always been Pensacola. the predator animals – mostly the biggest challenges was the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Development South End fascinated with them. Committee 9 a.m., Navarre “They have a workbook you raccoons – could not dig under- Eagle Scout project. of Commerce Governmental “That led me to the Audubon Visitors Center, 8543 Navarre must follow and complete to pres- neath and get to the birds.” “You cannot just plant a few Affairs Committee 4 p.m., Society online, and that led me Parkway, Navarre ent your idea to the board. You Freeman and some of his flowers and call it an Eagle proj- Chamber Headquarters, 409 to the Roy Hyatt Environmental City of Gulf Breeze must include the cost, how you scout troop joined his family in ect,” Lee explained. “It is sup- Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Center. My final project really Executive Committee 6:30 will raise the money, the number a car wash as a fundraiser. He posed to be something that will Breeze didn’t have much to do with p.m., Gulf Breeze City Hall, of people involved to complete the also found donations at Swift make a lasting impact on your Santa Rosa County Fire owls, although they do help 1070 Shoreline Drive, Gulf project and who those people will Lumber in Pensacola, and did community, in a positive way. Department Executive Group owls there, too,” he chuckled. Breeze be, as well as specifications for the some family and friend And it has to be approved by 6:30 p.m., 4499 Pine Forest The center cares for animals project,” he said. fundraising over the Internet. Council in Pensacola before- Road, Milton that are injured and cannot live “The Eagle Scout candidate “The original actual cost was hand. Some Scouts have to go Thursday, January 14 on their own or take care of is not allowed to do any of the set to be $447, but that was back two or three times to get Thursday, January 7 Gulf Breeze Area Chamber themselves anymore. It is an actual work on the project the before discounts and dona- their projects approved. It is that of Commerce Business educational center, also. day it is being completed. Eagle tions,” he said. serious.” Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Development Committee 8 “It educates thousands of Scout is all about leadership Eighteen people showed up In his Eagle Scout applica- of Commerce Gala a.m., Chamber Headquarters, school kids in the area every skills. I could do all the leg to help build the cage on project tion, Freeman was asked about Committee 8:30 a.m., 409 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf year,” Freeman said. “Their work ahead, and work to raise day. They finished the cage, in his goals, life ambitions, and Chamber headquarters, 409 Breeze funding comes from donations. money, but the day of the proj- the rain, within nine hours.