A W A R D ● W I N N I 11BB N G 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER September 14, 2006 ‘Sin city’ festers near Pages A3, A6, B1 Hwy. 98 neighborhoods Stanford Road to Redfish Point Inside in BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News Road. The densely wooded area [email protected] is not unlike many other seclud- ed areas in Santa Rosa County, The recent arrests of five complete with winding unpaved PAGE Gulf Breeze teenagers for an service roads and vibrant 1B alleged gang related robbery in unkempt vegetation, except one an area referred to as “sin city,” alarming difference - copious ■ Two years ago, may have residents wondering amounts of trash and vandalized Hurricane Ivan exactly when their quaint water- property. Piles of empty beer shattered lives front town took a turn for the bottles, household trash, rotting ■ worst. Law enforcement offi- furniture, spray-painted appli- Humor can have cials believe the alleged gang is ances, construction debris and a price an isolated case of misguided other random household objects ■ Bubba’s Beach youths, and sin city is more of a pepper the forested landscape negative moniker than a full- and reflect the area’s absolute fledged criminal underworld. absence of civility. The pres- Nonetheless, the phrases “gang ence of the unofficial landfill- related robbery” and “sin city” in-the making does not greatly tend to conjure images of hood- affect the surrounding neighbor- WEEKEND ed thugs lurking in the shadows hoods’ aesthetics negatively, but Weather of morose urban allies. does impact the residents who THURSDAY 9/14 Sin city is an expansive col- live near by. Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News lection of adjacent undeveloped “I have a 15-year-old and I Piles of rubbish are prevalent in the wooded area north of U.S. 98 commonly called “sin city” Mostly Sunny told her she’s not allowed back by local residents. Visible refuse included: furniture, appliances, a portable basketball goal, O properties north of U.S. 98 and high 86 east of College Parkway that there,” said Stanford Road resi- building materials and household garbage. O low 69 stretch more than 50 acres from See GANGS , Page 2A6 FRIDAY 9/15 County shrinks Partly Cloudy O City approves tentative budget budget, keeps high 89 O low 71 BY BRADLEY “B.J.” DAVIS, JR. “As far as increase of four percent with for the city. Due to the defeat of property tax Gulf Breeze News capital appropriations to general gov- the proposed one-cent sales tax, [email protected] improvements ernment, $817,500; internal ser- the city will not gain the esti- rate SATURDAY 9/16 for the year, vices, $419,300; streets and mated $8 million revenue share BY FRANKLIN HAYES Partly Cloudy With an overall budget you see a lot drainage, $303,300; parks and from the tax. Gulf Breeze News [email protected] high 88O increase of eight percent, Gulf of them going recreation, $552,600; law “It has a far reaching impact O Breeze City Council approved on now with enforcement, $1,867,100; fire, on the city’s future budget. Gulf low 71 the adoption of the $17 million the park $302,200; recreation center, Breeze voters resoundingly On Thursday, Sept. 7, Santa Rosa County Commissioners tentative budget for fiscal year improvements Gilchrist $448,300 and community ser- approved the tax, and I think SUNDAY 9/17 2007 at the Sept. 5 regular meet- and some of vices, $122,500. that reflects the attitudes that tentatively approved the pro- Partly Cloudy ing. Along with general depart- the paving has been completed,” Income is expected to come residents want to see capital and posed 2006-2007 budget, which county staff whittled O ment appropriations, capital said Mayor Lane Gilchrist. to the city from Gulf Breeze infrastructure improvements,” high 90 According to Assistant City Natural Gas and South Santa said City Manager Edwin “Buz” down by approximately $3 O improvements are also included low 72 in the budget. Manager David Szymanski, the Rosa Utility System, two of the Eddy. During last month’s bud- million since the last budget general fund budget had an most profitable revenue sources See BUDGET , Page 2A6 hearing Aug.15 making the total budget $117 million. Commissioner Gordon Goodin Gulf Breeze remembers 9/11 Elections over, officials voiced his support for tax rate cuts at the last budget hearing INSIDE and continued to push for cuts hit ground running Thursday. Classifieds 5 D BY BRADLEY “B.J.” DAVIS, JR. sources to fund the nearly $300 “Day to day budgets are Gulf Breeze News million county transportation tighter than they were a year or Community 4,5A [email protected] plan. two ago,” said Goodin, adding Crossword/Movies 6B “We’ve looked at all the that it may be time for the Newly and re-elected offi- ways (to fund transportation). county to operate on a tighter Editorial 6A cials aren’t wasting any time We have asked people if they budget. Goodin suggested removing Entertainment 5,6 B hitting the ground running with have any better ideas,” said their positions. Cole. $842,420 for the completion of Island News 1,2B Incumbent Santa Rosa Newly-elected Diane Scott the Pace Library, $376,430 for District 2 County will take over the helm of 18- eight new building inspectors, School News 2 D Commissioner Robert “Bob” year Santa Rosa District code enforcement officers and Sports 1-8 C Cole landed his post with a Schools (SRDS) veteran Ken their equipment, $28,360 for nearly five thousand-vote lead Smith, District 1. She, too, feels an Animal Services employee, Talk of the Town 5A over Ron Scott. However, with there are some challenges asso- $31,520 for a new mosquito TV Listings 3 B the defeat of the proposed one- ciated with her future leadership control employee, $135,000 cent sales tax, Cole says there within the SRDS. for Navarre Town Center Lisa Newell/Gulf Breeze News Phase I engineering and most Though rains moved the commemoration from the 9-11 are some significant challenges “Growth is compounded by “Mailing Statement is notably, $825,000 for Sheriff’s Triangle in Gulf Breeze to St. Ann Catholic Church, many during his next four-year tenure. the class size amendment on Editorial Page” attended the event to remember the terrorist attack on New “We’re going to have to find requirements. The two issues Office sworn officer pay York and Washington, DC on September 11, 2001. Gulf a way to fund roads,” said Cole. are squeezing resources from increases. Goodin’s proposed FOUR SECTIONS Breeze Police Officer Kerry Troy, who was a member of the “We’ll go to the state to see if two directions. We need more cuts would reduce the county budget by more than $2.2 mil- VOL. 5, NO. 34 New York Police Department on that day, told how seeing a they’ll help us with this.” With class space at the same time we jet fly overhead still gives him chills. The crowd observed a the failing of the tax, Cole said have to put fewer students in lion. SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 moment of silence and heard a bugler “Taps” while carillon the Board of County each classroom,” said Scott. The suggestion that drew bells tolled to mark the event. The AFJROTC of Gulf Breeze Commissioners (BOCC) will the most fire from fellow High School accepted a flag on behalf of U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller. have to find other revenue See ELECTIONS , Page 2A6 See COUNTY , Page 2A6 GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A September 14, 2006 GULF BREEZE NEWS Fishin' Chix reel in mainstream media BUDGET: Majority of city BY FRANKLIN HAYES Fishin’ Chix coordinator Sondra residents vote for tax Gulf Breeze News Jack is quick to point out their [email protected] recent successes including their Continued from page 1A primary ballot solely to fund “Pink Rubber Boots” Ladies road improvements and main- get hearings, Eddy explained It can be tough to find time to Fishing Rodeo, which raised tenance. According to Florida $5,200 for Covenant Hospice, to council and staff that in the go fishing while posing for pho- law, municipalities within the tographers, but you won’t hear and their first place dolphin catch event the proposed tax passed, county such as the City of Gulf Fishin’ Chix founder and presi- at the Pensacola Big Game the city would be able to for- dent Claudia Espensheid com- Fishing Club’s 28th Annual mulate a feasible long-term Breeze would receive a portion plaining. The former financial Pensacola Lady Anglers capital improvement plan. of that county revenue to use auditor turned fishing fashionista Tournament. “I’m glad it was close. I however that municipality is enjoying amicable media “As they’ve seen and as hope in the future, the county chose. According to Eddy, attention from a broad range of we’ve proven - it’s not about commissioners will consider approximately 62 percent of putting it back on the ballot. It news outlets including NBC’s being the best lady angler, it’s city voters voted in favor of the about introducing women to would have been a huge benefit “The Today Show,” More tax. Magazine, Gulf Atlantic Florida Submitted Photo fishing. We’re finally getting a for the city,” said Eddy. The “It sends a mandate to the Fishing Magazine and the Claudia Espensheid poses for a Fishin’ Chix photo shoot for lot of respect,” Jack said. Santa Rosa Board of County Associated Press (AP). More Magazine which boasts 1,000,000 readers.