Sundays @ 9:30a 221 Pensacola Beach Pier ● momentumonline.org July 19, 2012 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ Gulf Breeze schools tops ‘Totally depending on God’ in county, state Lyle family patriarch ■ Despite the tougher FCAT 2.0 faces life-threatening proficiency standards, local schools surgery for cancer rank among best in Florida Doctors and family BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze’s four pre-high schools scored thought David Lyle of Gulf Breeze News coveted A ratings on the 2011-12 Florida Gulf Breeze had beaten [email protected] Comprehensive Assessment Tests that saw many cancer – twice. other schools in the state struggle with attaining When he was first diagnosed with throat cancer in increased proficiency levels. 1992 at age 34, doctors said he had a 50/50 chance of Gulf Breeze Middle and Elementary schools, it recurring in five years. Thankfully, it didn’t – not for Oriole Beach Elementary and Woodlawn Beach eight years. Middle each achieved elite status, helping the Then Lyle had another surgery in 2000 that took his Santa Rosa School District to remain at the top of tongue and put him permanently out of work as an auto the state in performance. technician – but not out of life. This past year marked a point of increased “Cancer is not my life. I have so many other bless- proficiency on the FCAT and a much more diffi- ings,” Lyle courageously said last week. cult scale for maintaining or becoming an A After a tough battle with the disease 12 years ago, school. Students were required to take FCAT 2.0, Lyle and his family finally had found a “new normal” – until last month when he was diagnosed with cancer which is a much more difficult test. See LYLE, Page 2A No Santa Rosa school fell below a C rating. Submitted photo Results for Gulf Breeze and Navarre high David Lyle (left) celebrates the Fourth of July with his family at home in Midway. Related inside schools have yet to be released as an even more Joining him are his wife, DeDe (right), daughter Diana Brunn and grandchildren ■ Lyle family fundraiser planned for Sunday, See GRADES, Page 3A Ryland and Skylar Brunn. David faces more cancer surgery on Aug. 3. July 29 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2A Civility prevails during candidates forum ■ Contentious race Candidates Forum held at plaints, he had claimed points of view on several for Superintendent of Coastline Calvary Chapel in ELECTION GUIDE Wyrosdick used the influence issues, including busing. Gulf Breeze last Thursday of his office to intimidate McCormick said if elected he Schools mellows night. The two men answered Gulf Breeze News school district employees into would want to see the current questions from the Gulf will publish its 2012 helping with his campaign. three-tier bus schedule for the BY PAM BRANNON Breeze Area Chamber of All those complaints were schools changed back to the Gulf Breeze News Election Guide on [email protected] Commerce, along with sever- Thursday, Aug. 9. To dismissed by both the State two-tier schedule. al candidates in several races inquire about advertis- Attorney and the elections “The three-tier system was Gulf Breeze resident and on the Aug. 14 ballot. ing opportunities, call commission. McCormick had put in place to maximize prof- teacher at Gulf Breeze High, But neither during opening said he would raise those its for the transportation com- 932-8986. Dr. George McCormick, and statements nor in answer to issues during the campaign, pany,” McCormick claimed. Joe Culpepper/GBN current Santa Rosa County any of the questions did but none of those complaints Wyrosdick countered that Challenger Dr. George McCormick Superintendent of Schools McCormick raise any of the with the State Attorney’s were raised last Thursday. the three-tier bus schedule speaks as Schools Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick came face-to- issues included in his com- office or with the elections McCormick and was put in place by the school Tim Wyrosdick listens last Thursday. face at the three-hour plaints filed earlier this year commission. In those com- Wyrosdick did show differing See FORUM, Page 2A NOW ON NEWS STANDS WEEKEND Weather-plus FRI 7/20 SAT 7/21 SUN 7/22 MON 7/23 POSSIBLE POSSIBLE POSSIBLE POSSIBLE T-STORMS T-STORMS T-STORMS T-STORMS hi 87/lo 77 hi 86/lo 77 hi 85/lo 77 hi 86/lo 76 rain: 30 % rain: 40 % rain: 30 % rain: 40 % INSIDE Betty Allen . .7A Fire Reports . .2A On The Spot . .6A Calendar . .2A Gas Watch . .6A Opinion . .6A Classifieds . .7C Legal Advertising . .7C Police Report . .2A Crossword Puzzle . .3B Lifestyles . .1B Sports . .1-5C Available at tourist hot Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News spots from Destin to “Mailing Statement on Opinion Page” Blue Angel jet No. 2, piloted by Lt. John Hiltz, performs a high-speed turn during one of last week’s shows. Read GBN reporter Melanie Orange Beach THREE SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 11, NO. 29 | JULY 19, 2012 Kormondy’s firsthand account of riding on C-130 Ernie, page 3A. your home! Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Enjoy your community paper mailed directly to paper mailed directly community your Enjoy GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A July 19, 2012 GULF BREEZE NEWS FORUM: McCormick criticizes 3-tier bus schedule Continued from page 1A to move forward immediately with econom- ic development that will benefit the county.” board to save money for the district. Lynchard had suggested at a county com- “We have saved an average of $1.6 mil- mission meeting last week hiring an eco- lion with the three-tier schedule, and we nomic development director to be part of the have put that money into the classrooms and county staff and oversee a private board of CALENDAR OF EVENTS teachers,” Wyrosdick said. business consultants, which was a model He said that money was saved by leasing used by the county in 1992 and moved away Thursday, July 19 fewer buses from the transportation compa- from by commissioners then. Santa Rosa School Board Budget Presentation ny servicing the district, using less gas and Lynchard spent most of his time at the 9 a.m., 5086 Canal Street, Milton paying fewer drivers. forum talking about the Restore Act, which Santa Rosa Electrical Code Board of Adjustments McCormick said it was time to have will bring monies from the BP oil spill fines 3 p.m., Public Services Conference Room, 6051 Old someone from the south end in the being negotiated by the Justice Department Bagdad Highway, Milton Superintendent’s office since most of the tax directly to the counties and states affected Monday, July 23 dollars come from the south end. He also by the 2010 disaster. Lynchard also outlined said this year’s state grading of schools took GBA Chamber Business After Hours achievements including U.S. 98 beautifica- 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tiger Point Golf Club, 1255 seven of the county’s “A” schools down to a tion and safety projects and contracted trash Country Club Road “B,” and another rated a “C.” Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News collection for the south end. Bagdad Architectural Advisory Board Wyrosdick said the schools’ grades from Santa Rosa Supervisor of Elections candidates Tappie Villane and Buck 3 p.m., Public Services Conference Room, 6051 Old the state this year were based on Florida State representatives Bagdad Highway, Milton Comprehensive Assessment Test results, Lee, both from Gulf Breeze, exchange a handshake after addressing potential Commissioner Committee and Santa Rosa County performed at the top voters at last Thursday’s forum. In the two races for state representative, 9 a.m., Santa Rosa County Administration Building, of the state again this year, even though the for both Districts 2 and District 3, Doug Board Room, 6495 Caroline Street, Milton test and the grading system was much more not running for re-election for that school Broxson of Gulf Breeze was the only candi- Tuesday, July 24 difficult this year than in past years. board seat, so Granse is facing another new- date to show up. He has served as District 3 Budget Workshop - Constitutional Officers comer to the political race, Charles Elliot. Representative for four years and talked 9 a.m., Administrative Center Board Room, 6495 Sheriff Both candidates live in Pace. about some of the legislation he supported, Caroline Street, Milton Granse said she has the experience of including the controversial septic tank legis- Budget Workshop - Board of Commissioners Incumbent Sheriff Wendell Hall, who has working to solve problems between parents lation that almost became law and fighting 1:30 p.m., Administrative Center Board Room, 6495 served 12 years, is being challenged this and teachers and understands administrative for local interests after the BP oil spill. Caroline Street, Milton year by Chuck Sloan, who worked for the issues. Elliot had issues with FCAT, saying, ■ Wednesday, July 25 Sheriff Department from 1977 to 2005. “We need to do away with FCAT.” Candidates from several other races Sloan said he wants to reinstate the traffic Granse said, “FCAT is an excellent answered questions, including the incum- Public Safety Coordination Council division and check points, also pointing out 11:30 a.m., Sheriff’s Dept. Training Room, 5755 assessment tool,” and she does not believe bent Clerk of Court Mary Johnson and her E.Milton Road, Milton that crime in the county rose by 10 percent teachers are “teaching to the test” but rather challenger Don Spencer, District 2 School Gulf Breeze Toastmasters last year according to state records. Hall teaching to the state and national standards, Board candidates Hugh Winkles – an Noon, Fellowship Hall, First Baptist Church of Gulf said the 10 percent crime increase was in and the test assesses to those standards.