A W The A 2007 R D ● W I N N go I N head G to head page 2C 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER September 6, 2007 PAG E 1B Police ■ Tourism seek rebounds on Pensacola Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Beach Lights illuminate Tiger wallet Point Park Aug. 30. ■ Bubba’s Santa Rosa County officials are considering thieves Beach budget cuts that may reduce funding for FROM STAFF REPORTS parks. Tiger Point Gulf Breeze News Sports Association [email protected] WEEKEND board members are Weather saying the county has The Santa Rosa County asked them to pay their Sheriffs Department is look- THURSDAY 9/6 electricity bill for the first ing for two people suspected Scat.T-Storms time. From August 2006 of snatching a woman’s wallet County may turn off to July 2007, the county high 89O as she perused the isles of paid over $15,000 to Winn Dixie in Navarre on O cover the park’s low 75 Aug. 19. electricity bill. funding for lights Investigators believe the FRIDAY 9/7 suspects used stolen credit cards to purchase items Iso. T-Storms BY FRANKLIN HAYES their own electric bills. County officials recently “Every once and a while it O On Sept. 18, Santa Rosa announced their plan to improve becomes essential to have pro- including gift cards and other high 89 Gulf Breeze News O County officials will conduct a recreation facilities in District 5, fessional guidance,” said See WALLET low 75 [email protected] , Page 2A6 meeting to collect public com- which includes much of the County Commissioner John The future of Tiger Point ments in order to develop the Gulf Breeze peninsula. The Broxson, who represents SATURDAY 9/8 Park is at a crossroads. Santa District 5 Recreation Master design of the plan, which District 5 on the Board of Rosa County officials are look- Plan. The county is also consid- includes a recreational needs County Commissioners. Tax relief Scat.T-Storms ering a budgetary consolidation survey, was contracted out to At the same time, the county O ing to improve recreational high 89 amenities in the south end but that could request all local park engineering and consultant firm is looking for ways to reduce its could bleed O low 75 may also ask sports associations boards pay for they electricity PBS&J and will cost the county budget. Cutbacks at the state they use. $42,000. throughout the county to pay See PARKS, Page 2A6 county funds SUNDAY 9/10 Sunny BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze News O Sting nabs three felons in south Santa Rosa high 89 [email protected] low 75O G Operation FALCON ropes in 20 throughout county Santa Rosa County FROM STAFF REPORTS The six day sting netted a Okaloosa Counties combined. Allen Barbeau, Jr., 26, was Administrator Hunter Walker INSIDE Gulf Breeze News total of 210 fugitives from Twenty of those arrests were arrested for battery, Kenneth says if "The Big One" hits the [email protected] Pensacola to Gainesville. from Santa Rosa County and Michael M. Purdom, 18, was county next year, the budget Similar efforts snagged over three were from the Gulf Breeze arrested for burglary, larceny, cuts made this year will look Business 7A Law enforcement officials 10,000 fugitives in 2006, over Peninsula. All three of those destroying evidence and one very minor. He isn't talking Classifieds 3D from federal, state and local 1,600 of whom were sex offend- suspects hail from Navarre, misdemeanor charge of con- about hurricanes. He is talk- Community 3-5A agencies recently completed ers. according to records provided tributing to the delinquency of a ing about the referendum vote Crossword 3B Operation FALCON, a nation- This year’s operation ended by the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s minor and Patrick Lee Toney, scheduled for Jan. 29 Editorial 6A wide effort to bring in fugitives with nearly 70 arrests in Office. 20, was arrested for violating statewide for what legislators Faith 7A and other alleged law breakers. Escambia, Santa Rosa and Those records showed Robert his probation. call Super Homestead. Island News 1B It is the legislators' latest Lifestyles 1D attempt at tax relief, but most Schools 7C Better bus route planning pays dividends county and city leaders across Seniors 2&4D the state are saying it was Sports 1-8C hastily done and not real relief Talk of the Town 5A BY PAM BRANNON for anyone - especially the Gulf Breeze News budgets of taxing units. “Mailing Statement is [email protected] "I don't know where the on Editorial Page” sheriff will find another $6 The first week of school is over and the million or so to cut, if the ref- FOUR SECTIONS results are in: the school bus system is erendum vote happens and is VOL. 6, NO. 36 more efficient and punctual than last year. approved by voters. This year SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 Last year’s shaky start prompted exten- will definitely look like a cake sive media coverage and an in-depth walk next to the deep, deep school board investigation concerning cuts we will have to make for copious bus route confusion. This year’s next year's budget if that hap- start had its bumps but many agree that pens. I really don't think we things are drastically better. will be able to afford some Richard Cobb, assistant principal of things we have always offered as services, like the parks and home! Gulf Breeze Middle School described the improvements as “fantastic.” rec department," Walker said. “The few things we had to work on the Walker said the county, in first couple of days were minimal,” Cobb planning next year's budget, your said. already made cutbacks in in Before any of the regular agenda began services such as parks because at the Aug. 23 school board meeting, of the millage roll back Santa Rosa District Superintendent John imposed on them by the state. Rogers said he had to give some praise "There are so many services and recognition to one person above all we are mandated by state law others for making the first day of school to keep, so we have to fund such a success. those. That means the non- “It was his first time approaching a first mandated items that we as a Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today day of school experience and he worked county had decided to offer Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News See BUS Gulf Breeze Middle School students prepare to load their busses for the trip home on , Page 4A6 See BUDGET, Page 4A6 Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly Aug. 30. Administrators say the bus system is operating more efficiently this year. Your family can help SAVE... Your $75 family membership can help save their family. The ZOO Join online at www.thezoonorthwestflorida.org of Northwest Florida. or dial 932-2229 to charge your membership today! GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A September 6, 2007 GULF BREEZE NEWS PARKS: Recreation meeting is Sept. 18 Continued from page 1A county maintained parks. body to fill [the recreational tion of public and private funds Representatives from Tiger needs survey] out,” said Tom develop the 100 acres valued at Santa Rosa level are expected to impact Point Park say the only way Dorsey, president of the Tiger nearly $4 million. Thursday, Sept. 6 County Budget local services typically provided they could cover the bill is to Point Sports Association. “We The public meeting for the School Board Meeting, 9 Hearing, 6 p.m., increase their annual member- need [the county] to understand District 5 Master Plan will be a.m., School District Commissioner's by county governments. Administrative Offices, 5086 ship dues. that we need more land out held on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. inside Board Room, 6495 According to Tammy Simmons Canal Street, Milton Caroline Street, with the county’s recreation “It is inequitable for a sports here.” the Oriole Beach Elementary Milton department, the local govern- association to pay the light bill Dorsey went on to say that School cafeteria, located at Friday, Sept. 7 for a public park,” said Shane the fields at Tiger Point Park are 1260 Oriole Beach Road, Gulf ment paid $15,037.38 to cover No meetings as of press Tuesday, Sept. the electric bill at Tiger Point Player, a member of the Tiger nearly filled to capacity with Breeze. Additionally, the survey time Park from August 2006 through Point Sports Association's various sports sometimes com- can be completed online 11 July of this year. Simmons said Growth and Planning peting for the same practice through Sept. 21 at http://san- Saturday, Sept. 8 Blood Mobile, 1 Committee. “They’re asking us space. Dorsey said the sports tarosaparksurvey.org. Residents p.m. - 6 p.m., Gulf that figure included power for Covenant Hospice’s 13th Breeze Hospital, 1110 the concession stands, field to subsidize a public park.” association might have to without Internet access can Annual Evening of Gulf Breeze Parkway, lighting, irrigation pumps and Despite the potential cutback, unwillingly turn kids away as receive a copy of the survey by Comedy, 6 p.m., Hilton Gulf Breeze portable building. Simmons said park and county officials are demand increases. visiting either the south-end ser- Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via De Luna Drive, Sept. 11 Memorial the figure excluded security hoping to take advantage of Commissioner Broxson envi- vice center located at 5819 Gulf Pensacola Beach public private partnerships to sions a joint use facility being Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze or Service, 9:30 a.m., St lighting at the park because she Ann Catholic Church feels the county would still fund expand recreation in the south developed on land currently the Gulf Breeze Library located Fifth Annual Gulf Breeze Sanctuary, 100 Daniel that as a public service.