A W A R D ● W I N TODAY! N I FRIDAY!11BB N G SATURDAY! 50¢ July 13, 2006 Insurance crisis continues in the State! Gallagher says lack of Gulf Breeze News coverage is an ‘economy Florida Press Association “Best Overall Graphic Design” killer,’yet offers no solution BY B.J. DAVIS Breeze and Navarre Area Gulf Breeze News Chambers of Commerce. His [email protected] 90-minute talk included discus- Inside in PAGE sion of the inability of many 1B Although State of Florida Hwy. 98 businesses to receive Chief Financial Officer and windstorm insurance through 2006 gubernatorial candidate the Florida-run insurance Tom Gallagher expressed opti- provider, Citizens Property mism about the state’s economy Insurance, Inc. As a result, and family values, he was not many businesses remain unin- ■ Blues fly over able to offer any finite solution sured. Gulf to business owners seeking After being asked what busi- windstorm insurance. ness owners can do, Gallagher “We are now facing a major gave no specific solution. ■ Navarre group problem on commercial insur- According to Gallagher, state plans beautification ance,” said Gallagher in an officials understand there is a address to around a dozen south problem. “I can say that [legis- Santa Rosa County small busi- ■ Bubba’s Beach lators] totally recognize the B.J. Davis/Gulf Breeze News ness owners. problem. We know that it’s State of Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher addresses the dozen business owners The July 5 meeting included during his July 5 visit to Santa Rosa County to discuss the issue of windstorm insurance not representatives from the Gulf See GALLAGHER, Page 2A6 being offered to businesses along Hwy. 98. WEEKEND Weather Agencies respond to busy, deadly 4th GBHS gains THURSDAY 7/13 BY B.J. DAVIS new asst. Scat.T-Storms Gulf Breeze News [email protected] high 90O principal O low 77 Fourth of July weekend proved to be as eventful for area BY JASON THOMPSON FRIDAY 7/14 rescue agencies as it was for Gulf Breeze News [email protected] Scat.T-Storms fireworks spectators. Over the O four-day holiday weekend, high 89 Saturday through Tuesday, Angie Donlan, who’s spent O low 78 there were three boating fatali- the last two years as dean at ties in the state of Florida, two Sims of which were in Santa Rosa Middle SATURDAY 7/15 County, according to Florida School in Scat.T-Storms Fish and Wildlife Conservation Pace, was recently O Commission (FWCC) high 91 named the O spokesperson Stan Kirkland. A low 78 man also fell to his death from newest the Three-Mile Bridge, requir- assistant SUNDAY 7/16 ing activation of rescue ser- principal at vices. GBHS. Iso. T-Storms “I'm very O On Tuesday, July 4, investi- Donlan high 90 gators recovered the body of excited to be O low 78 44-year-old Johnny Johnson of here,” she said. “Everyone I've Fort Walton Beach. An eyewit- meet has been great. This is a nice Paul Stefon/Gulf Breeze News community and of course, they've ness account of Johnson falling Several law enforcement agencies, such as Gulf Breeze Fire Rescue (pictured above) got a great school district.” responded to a 9-1-1 call on July 4 about a capsized boat. Two men died in the accident bring- Donlan has 10 years of See FOURTH, Page 2A6 ing the state total of boat fatalities for the holiday weekend to three. INSIDE experience in special educa- tion. She’s a lifelong resident D Classifieds 4-5 of Milton and recently moved Community 4,5,7A Navarre to Pace. Crossword/Movies 5B True love waits ... Editorial 6A Beach Burglars Entertainment 4,5B BY FRANKLIN HAYES Island News 1,2B restoration Gulf Breeze News strike GB School News 6, 7 C [email protected] Sports 1-5C given vehicles Talk of the Town 5A Love is undoubtedly one of the strongest emotions people 53 years BY B.J. DAVIS TV LISTINGS 3B green light 53 years can experience in life. This Gulf Breeze News “Mailing Statement is BY FRANKLIN HAYES overwhelming sentiment has [email protected] on Editorial Page” Gulf Breeze News been known to overcome all [email protected] obstacles, tangible and intangi- The Gulf Breeze Police FOUR SECTIONS ble. It has even been known to Department is asking area res- VOL. 5, NO. 25 The Navarre Beach transcend time, reaching across idents for information regard- Restoration Project was given a JULY 13, 2006 life spans to tug at a person’s ing a rash of vehicle burglar- 10-day extension beginning heartstrings. After more than ies in Gulf Breeze Proper. Monday July 10 after being half a century, love brought two According to police offi- shut down for the fourth turtle people from opposite ends of cials, unlocked vehicles have death since dredging began in the continent together to be been targeted in the break-ins. March. The $17 million project married, 53 years after their Items stolen include high- has been halted three other families pulled them apart. ticket items such as CD play- times because of incidental tur- 1953 was the year Dwight D. ers and other audio equip- tle deaths, and was thought be Eisenhower became president, Photo illustration by Katie Killen/Gulf Breeze News ment, tools and garage door home! suspended until Oct. 1 county the polio vaccine became avail- Jim Short and Doreen George met in 1953 but circum- openers. Currently, the depart- engineering consultant Peter able and the Korean War ended. stances kept them apart. This year, they celebrated their ment has no leads as to the Ravella and county engineer It was also the year 22-year- recent marriage with a reception at a Gulf Breeze restau- individuals involved and are rant. your Roger Blaylock said. The Army old Jim Short met 17-year-old urging residents to keep their Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Doreen George in a quaint café I’d see her and we’d go out to married by a Baptist minister. personal possessions secure allow seven endangered logger- in Corner Brook, the movies or pick blueberries,” That didn’t go over too well by locking their vehicle doors. head turtles to be killed by Newfoundland. Jim was a U.S. Jim said. with my family,” Doreen said, “Citizens need to take care dredging projects per fiscal year serviceman stationed at nearby Before much time passed, noting her family’s strong of their property as far as in its Jacksonville District, Harmon Air Force Base in the couple contemplated mar- Roman Catholic faith. locking their vehicles,” said which includes the Navarre Stephenville, Newfoundland riage, and planned to wed in the The romance faded in light Lt. Rick Hawthorne. Restoration Project. As of July and Doreen was a local school- spring of 1954. Not long after of the religious disparity and One example of the bur- 10, the tally stands at five. girl who’d spent most of her life they met, Jim was transferred increasing physical distance glaries includes an instance on Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today The dredging project is to in Canada. back to the U.S., and the couple between them. The two moved York Street at around 4 a.m. replace over 4.1 miles of dimin- The duo enjoyed each other’s continued to communicate. on with their lives separately, on Thursday. A neighbor ished beachfront, damaged by company and soon began dat- “His father wrote me a letter dissolving the relationship and noticed a maroon car pull Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly several hurricanes over the last ing. saying they would do anything alongside a vehicle parked in “Every time I had a day off to get me in the U.S. if we were See LOVE, Page 2A6 See BEACH , Page 2A6 See BURGLARY Page 2A6 GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A July 13, 2006 GULF BREEZE NEWS GALLAGHER: No solution for crisis Continued from page 1A speak to those who have turn. expressed their frustrations at “Some want to blame the going to be an economy killer,” the “Windstorm Insurance Crisis” insurance industry or Citizen’s City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., said Gallagher. Forum ,” said Peltier. “Business Today, July 13 Property Insurance; others blame Gulf Breeze City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Gallagher stressed that tradi- Santa Rosa County Commission Regular Meeting, owners’ confidence in their local the State legislature and still oth- Drive, Gulf Breeze tionally, insurance faces two and state governments has been ers want to turn this into a politi- 9 a.m., Commissioner's Board Room, 6495 Caroline Street, Milton problems: availability and afford- shaken and they don’t sense that cal hotbed for the upcoming elec- Tuesday, July 18 ability. help is coming any time soon.” tion. And I’ve heard from both “Affordability is extremely Citizens was created on May Executive Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Gulf Breeze American Business Women's sides, Republican and Association will hold its next monthly important, but when the choice 2002 when Gov. Jeb Bush signed Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Conference Room, 409 Democrat,” said Peltier. “In real- Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze meeting on Pensacola Beach, Gulf Side comes, availability is number into law a bill that combined the ity, perhaps no one is to blame Pavilion. one,” said Gallagher. Florida Windstorm Underwriting except Mother Nature.” The Santa Rosa Quilt Guild will meet on Thursday, ABWA's CELEBRATION will begin Business owners that are able Association (FWUA) and the In response to the chamber’s July 13 at 9:30 a.m.