215 June 7, 2012 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ Photo by Joe Culpepper/Graphic illustration by Nancy Fish/Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze High School graduates toss their caps into the air to mark the culmination of 12 years of hard work that resulted in 360 students earning their diplomas. But getting there was not half the fun! BY JOE CULPEPPER GBHS officials delayed the several hundred yards from the High graduates who accepted Gulf Breeze News Inside start of the scheduled 5 p.m. cer- Civic Center halted southbound their diplomas from first-year [email protected] emony at the Pensacola Civic traffic on Ninth Avenue and Principal Jason Weeks. THE MAGICAL MOMENT: Center for 15 minutes to allow Alcaniz Street for another 20 The GBHS Air Force Junior The road to graduation for Photos of graduation late arrivers the opportunity to minutes, further delaying their ROTC Color Guard presented the Gulf Breeze High School candidates receiving their join their graduating peers and arrival. the nation’s flag, and drama Class of 2012 began in autumn diplomas, 4A for supporters to be seated. Some Saturday’s traffic nightmare teacher Margie Simmons sang of 2000 and included numerous PROJECT GRADUATION: graduates arrived even later. marked the second year for ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ hills, thrills, chills, bumps and Jason Thompson’s photos, 5C A few motorists headed to problems marring GBHS’ grad- Opening remarks were challenges along the way. Pensacola from the Midway, uation. In 2011, the public- delivered by senior Neal It’s just too bad the final four to Pensacola. Santa Rosa Shores and Tiger address system in the Civic Lacey, who was selected for miles included the always Multiple late-afternoon acci- Point areas were notified of the Center failed just as the ceremo- the honor by his classmates. treacherous three-mile stretch of dents on the northbound side of traffic quagmire by the Gulf ny was starting, and much of Salutatorian Justine Grace and the Pensacola Bay Bridge, the bridge on Graduation Day Breeze Police’s text-messaging that program was unintelligible valedictorian Alex Meade, which was made even more so created a traffic nightmare for alert system and took an alter- for the audience. respectively, addressed the Saturday by amped-up graduates, their families and nate route via the Garcon Point Once this year’s program Joe Culpepper/GBN crowd with words of gratitude motorists leaving Pensacola friends who sat stuck in their Bridge, Interstate 10 and Scenic began, however, frustration over Dylan Ferraro accepts his Beach at the same time hun- vehicles as response crews Highway to the Civic Center. the traffic soon turned to admi- and inspiration. Listening on diploma from Principal dreds of Breezers were headed worked to untangle the mess. Their reward? A passing train ration for the 360 Gulf Breeze •See GRADUATION, Page 4A Jason Weeks on Saturday. City moves forward Accident claims NHS with path expansion graduate’s grandma ■ ■ Additional sidewalk Rebol Battle services will Underage driver Mass., died at include creating complete con- causes 3-car wreck Gulf Breeze would create one-mile Hospital shortly struction documents outlining that killed visitor loop near Rec Center details, geometry and grading after the 6:30 p.m. accident on plans compliant with ADA reg- BY JOE CULPEPPER BY KEELY MCKISSACK ulations, completing design Gulf Breeze News May 31. She was Gulf Breeze News drawings and specifications for [email protected] a front-seat pas- [email protected] the proposed sidewalk as well senger in a west- M. Catyb The Gulf Breeze City as surveying additional areas A 77-year-old Massachu- bound 2012 Council on Monday voted in along the route, and creating setts woman visiting Navarre Nissan Altima driven by her favor of using the civil engi- crosswalk design. to see her grandson graduate son, Alley Catyb, 50, of neering and surveying services The proposed sidewalk lay- from high school was killed •See FATALITY, Page 2A Nancy Fish/Gulf Breeze News of Rebol Battle Engineering, out presented by the council last Thursday in a three-car Related story will run approximately one mile City Hall and through Shoreline exists within the proposed loop, costing no more than $16,000, traffic accident on U.S. ■ Broxson asks FDOT to Park South. In the graphic and the red lines depict areas in a decision to move forward around the Gulf Breeze Highway 98 at Edgewood study intersections, 2A above, yellow lines depict areas where a 6-foot concrete side- with the Gulf Breeze sidewalk Recreational Center, Gulf Drive. ■ On The Spot: What would project. Breeze Library, Gulf Breeze where the sidewalk already •See PATHS, Page 5A Margaret Catyb of Billerica, make U.S. 98 safer? 6A WEEKEND Weather-plus Commissioner asks state to consider paths, sidewalks your If Lane BY PAM BRANNON letter to FDOT requesting the side- FRI 6/8 SAT 6/9 SUN 6/10 MON 6/11 Lynchard, Gulf Breeze News walks be added. He also wants to MOSTLY POSSIBLE POSSIBLE POSSIBLE Gulf [email protected] have FDOT consider sidewalks or SUNNY STORMS STORMS STORMS Breeze’s multi-purpose paths be built between representative on the Board of County Holley by the Sea in Navarre and the hi 88/ lo 75 hi 86/ lo 75 hi 85/ lo 75 hi 85/ lo 75 Commissioners, gets his way there Navarre Beach Causeway. rain: 40 % rain: 10 % rain: 30 % rain: 40 % will be sidewalks or perhaps even Lynchard said there are too many multi-purpose lanes added into the pedestrian and cycling deaths happen- INSIDE package of repaving of U. S. ing on U.S. 98 to ignore the issue any home! Betty Allen . .7A Fire Reports . .2A On The Spot . .6A Highway 98 that Florida Department longer. Calendar . .2A Gas Watch . .6A Opinion . .6A of Transportation (FDOT) is engi- “The DOT is getting ready to start Classifieds . .7C Island News . .4B Police Report . .8A neering for next year between Naval its second phase of work on U.S. 98 Crossword Puzzle . .3B Lifestyles . .1B Sports . .1-4C Live Oaks and Soundside Drive in next year, but they do not have the Call 932-8986 today Tiger Point, in the Walmart area. engineering design phase complete “Mailing Statement on Opinion Page” Lynchard asked fellow commis- yet. I spoke to the government liaison FOUR SECTIONS, 20 PAGES | VOL. 11, NO. 23 | JUNE 7, 2012 sioners to have the county staff send a •See SIDEWALKS, Page 5A Enjoy your community paper mailed directly to GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A June 7, 2012 GULF BREEZE NEWS Broxson wants Edgewood Drive, East Bay Blvd. intersections scrutinized State Rep. Doug Broxson (R- Breezer charged with Chevrolet pickup driven by Gulf Breeze) expresses grief DUI after TP area crash John Ellis, 54, of Navarre. Ellis CALENDAR OF EVENTS over yet another death that TRAFFIC was seriously injured after his occurred on U.S. Highway 98 in A Gulf Breeze man was vehicle was knocked off the the Navarre/Holley by the Sea Thursday, June 7 Navarre last charged with driving under the roadway into a utility pole. area to see what their most Gulf Breeze Master Plan Public Meeting 6 p.m., Thursday. influence and cited for other A passenger riding with Ellis, pressing concerns are,” Broxson Gulf Breeze Recreation Center, 800 Shoreline Drive, Broxson asked the offenses after a overnight traffic Robert Smith, 46, of Navarre, Gulf Breeze said. “Overwhelmingly, folks Florida accident on Wednesday, May 30 also was seriously injured. Both expressed grave concern for the Monday, June 11 Department of on U.S. Highway 98 and men were transported to Sacred safety of their family and Gulf Breeze SSRUS Board Meeting 5 p.m., Gulf Transportation to Portside Drive in the Tiger Point Heart Hospital for care. friends when they enter traffic Breeze City Hall, Council Chambers, 1070 Shoreline look closely at the area. Lapointe, in addition to the on Highway 98. I am hopeful Drive, Gulf Breeze Broxson intersections of Michael Lapointe, 54, was DUI charge, was cited for care- the intersection where this most Commissioner Committee 9 a.m., Santa Rosa U.S. 98 at driving a 2001 Dodge pickup at less driving, an open container County Administration Building, Board Room, 6495 recent death occurred will be Edgewood Drive and County 2:45 a.m. when he rear-ended and no proof of insurance. He Caroline Street, Milton one along U.S. 98 where FDOT Road 399 in the Navarre area as another vehicle stopped for a was booked into the Santa Rosa Budget Workshop - Constitutional Officers 1:30 will determine a traffic light is they conduct their Highway 98 red light. According to the County Jail. p.m., Santa Rosa County Administration Building, needed as a result of their Safety Commission Boardroom, 6495 Caroline Street, Milton Safety Study. The study is Florida Highway Patrol, Study. I’ll continue to work being conducted in response to Lapointe was intoxicated when 14-year-old driver, Fire Department Executive Group 6:30 p.m., closely with the FDOT regard- Emergency Operations Center, 4499 Pine Forest other recent deaths on U.S. 98. he failed to bring his truck to a adult cited in crash ing local safety concerns along Road, Milton “Over the last several weeks, stop before hitting a 1972 I have spoken with citizens in Highway 98.” Investigators Monday still Tuesday, June 12 were reviewing the circum- SRC School Board 9 a.m., School Board Building, stances of a June 1 two-vehicle 5086 Canal Street, Milton 2012 election candidates accident involving an under-age Wednesday, June 13 driver in the 1900 block of Gulf Breeze Toastmasters noon, Fellowship Hall, This is a list of candidates pre-filed for the 2012 election cycle in Santa Rosa Edgewood Drive that left one First Baptist Church of Gulf Breeze, 555 Fairpoint County as of June 5.