LIVELY REJECTS PROS LOCALSLOCALS SEESEE BUFFETTBUFFETT SHOWSHOW Standout pitcher will attend Central Florida Concert shown on Landshark Landing SPORTS, 1C big screen ISLAND NEWS, 1D See Page B1 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER July 15, 2010 CRUDE Midway man dies AWAKENING Up, Up & Away! trying Week 12 / Day 87 to assist BP tests swimmers Randall Toney, a Midway resident who drowned last cap; FBOs Thursday attempting to assist two teenage swimmers in dis- tress in the Gulf waters off Navarre Beach, was hailed a act on calls hero for sacrificing his life to The Team RV aerobatics help others. team cruises high above Responding to calls for help, for comfort Gulf Breeze and the Toney, 46, and two other Fairpoint peninsula on its men raced into the water near Parking Lot 7 British Petro- way to Pensacola Beach BY SCOTT PAGE at approximately 5 p.m. on leum on Monday for the Red, White & Blues July 8. About halfway to the secured a new Gulf Breeze News [email protected] Air Show. Photo: Scott Page / GBN swimmers in distress, Toney cap on top of the went under the water, according leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico – good to a Santa Rosa County news for Gulf Coast residents that have endured Sheriff’s Office report. Toney an endless torrent of bad news over the past few did not immediately surface. months. His colleagues were able to The new cap, on which testing began Tuesday, assist the swimmers. is not, however, a comprehensive answer to the Toney was located about 10 prayers of those most affected by the disaster. minutes later, but efforts to Officials’ first concern is the overall effective- revive him onshore were unsuc- ness of the cap. cessful. “The sealing cap system never before has been Weather conditions last week deployed at these depths or under these condi- The world-famous Blue Angels streak created dangerous surf condi- tions,” BP said in a release, “and its efficiency and past Pensacola Beach in formation as tions and rip currents. ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be they dazzle thousands of observers assured.” July 10. Photo: David Schulz/GBN See HERO, Page 2A Engineers tested the cap by closing off three Related inside sub-sea level valves, stopping the flow of oil into ■ Viewpoint: Drowning See OIL , Page 4A doesn’t always ‘look’ like drowning, 6A Man charged with PSC set to assaulting GBPD Skies over Gulf Breeze, break ground officer after air show Pensacola Beach buzz for campus As Pensacola Skip Stewart pilots his BY LISA NEWELL with action during air shows Beach Air Show custom-built muscle biplane Ground will be broken on attendees made Gulf Breeze News in a semi-stalled configuration [email protected] During one of the most formed and helped local Tuesday, July 20 on the site of their way home anticipated weekends of residents get their minds perilously close to the the planned Pensacola State Saturday afternoon, traffic slowed to a crawl the year, airplanes of all off the Gulf oil spill at Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier. College South Santa Rosa because of several traffic accidents. types and sizes took to least for a short time. The demonstration was a Center in Midway. “It was bam-bam-bam-bam-bam,” Gulf Breeze the skies to perform grav- Thousands of people precursor to the Blue Angels’ Dignitaries including PSC Police Deputy Chief Robert Randle said. “This ity-defying acts and crowded onto Casino Air Show. President Ed Meadows and the Blue Angels (weekend) was the worst one we’ve maneuvers – highlighted beach, others boated into District Board of Trustees will worked in many years.” by the renowned U.S. Quietwater Beach and Photo: David Schulz/GBN participate in the historic occa- After the show, skies darkened and lightning Navy precision flight Little Sabine Bay, while sion at 9:30 a.m. at 5075 Gulf prompted officials to clear the beaches. The influx team, the Blue Angels. some residents staged Breeze Parkway. The ground- of traffic through Gulf Breeze and onto the The drone of gas- and elaborate yard parties that breaking ceremony actually Pensacola Bay Bridge resulted in several acci- jet-powered engines was have become tradition. will be held near the entrance to dents and one incident in which a Gulf Breeze easily heard on the days of The ‘News’ commends the campus off Nantahala Police officer was assaulted. July 8-10 as fearless pilots all who made the Blues Beach Road, approximately a Randle observed a teenager yelling obscenities and their aircraft per- Weekend possible. half-mile south of U.S. 98. The at a GBPD officer who was directing traffic, so he campus is approximately 10 See ASSAULT, Page 2A GBN keepsake poster, page 4B miles east of Gulf Breeze. INSIDE ON NEWSSTANDS NOW WEEKEND Weather-plus Calendar . .2A Home and Garden . .3D Classifieds . .3D Island News . .1D Community . .2-8A Lifestyles . .1B Crossword . .3B Obituaries . .7A home! FRI 7/16 SAT 7/17 SUN 7/18 MON 7/19 Entertainment . .2B Opinion . .6A SCATTERED ISOLATED SCATTERED ISOLATED Faith . .7A Police Report . .2A your STORMS STORMS STORMS STORMS Fire Reports . .2A Schools/Sports . .1-8C hi 88/lo 78 hi 89/lo 78 hi 89/lo 79 hi 89/lo 79 rain: 30% rain: 30% rain: 40% rain: 40% “Mailing Statement on Opinion Page” FOUR SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 9, NO. 28 | JULY 15, 2010 TALK OF THE TOWN, Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today GBHS CLASS OF ’80 RETURNS TO ALMA MATER – Page 2B Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A July 15, 2010 GULF BREEZE NEWS Henderson relents, Council OKs loan then the utility had to borrow At last Wednesday’s general BY VICI PAPAJOHN Thursday, July 15 Chamber of Gulf Breeze News CITY HALL from the City. We are going to meeting, council also voted Commerce, 5247 [email protected] have to be honest with every- unanimously to approve hiring Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Stewart Street, Milton body to get the utility back to Ken Griffin Landscaping to of Commerce Monthly Assured that the State Funds left over would estab- where it should be. We are not design Phase II of the beautifi- Breakfast 7 a.m., Andrews Thursday, Revolving Fund Loan for nearly lish a positive cash position for going to be making the money cation project along Highway Performance and Research Pavilion/Andrews Institute July 22 $1 million would cover the debt SSRUS for the first time in on tap fees that we did before. I 98, and to then bid out the proj- owed the City of Gulf Breeze years, allowing the fund to oper- have now been assured that we ects simultaneously. City of Gulf Breeze SRC Commission Regular, 9 a.m., utility funds and then set aside ate from collections without are not going to use the loan for Phase I will be paid for with a Architectual Review Board 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 1070 County Administration reserves for the South Santa continuous support from City operating expenses, but to build $350,000 Florida Department of Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze Center, Commissioners Rosa Utilities (SSRUS), transfers. reserves. That’s why I changed Transportation grant, and Phase Board Room, 6495 South Santa Rosa Utilities Councilman Joe Henderson my vote.” II will be funded by the city’s Caroline Street, Milton During the June 30 executive Budget Workshop 7 p.m., City voted with the council in unani- council meeting, Henderson Henderson said he had dis- beautification monies. New Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive, SRC School Board mous support. spoke against the idea. cussions City Manager Edwin brick and metal fencing along Gulf Breeze Budget Presentation 9 Nearly $600,000 in capital “I voted against the proposal “Buz” Eddy, and Vernon the school properties, landscap- a.m., District expenses was borrowed by the at first because I understood that Prather, Director of Public ing and irrigation will change the Monday, July 19 Headquarters, 5086 utility from City reserves over the money was going to be used Services, director of SSRUS. appearance of the corridor area. SRC Commission Canal Street, Milton the past two years. The loan for operating, and I don’t “Even with the loan, we are “We’ll have a much better- Committee 9 a.m., County SRC Local Mitigation would also fund early payoff of believe you borrow money to still going to need rate increases looking approach to our City,” Administrative Center, Strategy Meeting 1:30 p.m., over $360,000 on an “A” loan cover operating expenses,” for the next few years,” he said. Councilman J.B. Schluter said Commissioners Board Room, Conference Room, 6051 Old 6495 Caroline Street, Milton Bagdad Highway, Milton taken out by the SSRUS, saving Henderson said. “It’s probably going to need to about the improvements. the utility $360,166 in savings “Boards previously neglected be 3- to 4-percent increases for “Residents have been asking for Gulf Breeze City Council SRC Commission Special from the 2011 budget. to raise rates in the past, and the next few years.” this for a long, long time.” 6:30 p.m., City hall, 1070 Rezoning 6 p.m.,. County Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze Administration Center, 6495 Wednesday, July 21 Caroline Street, Milton Gulf Breeze Chamber GBPD gets SRC Public Safety Business After Hours 5:30 City’s electronic sign demolished Advisory Council 11:30 a.m., p.m., Outback Steakhouse, SRC Sheriff’s Department 601 Gregory Street, Pensacola prestigious Training Room, 5755 East Santa Rosa Young Milton Road, Milton Professionals 6 p.m., call honor for SRC Tourist Development Jayer Williamson for location: Council Board 3 p.m., SRC 7th time 850-418-3376 Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Report In what has almost become an annual ritual, the Gulf Information provided by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.