COMMUNITY HEALTH TALK OF THE TOWN Fitness guru raises Local study targets Favre’s visit, Auxiliary $$ in friend’s memory firefighter safety fundraiser top topics Andy Tucker lifts weight, Andrews Institute Deanna Favre shares her donates funds to church studies injuries common story at GBUMC, while physical fitness program in to firefighters to make Hospital Auxiliary puts gift Randy Halsall’s name. 4A the profession safer. 4B items on the market. 5A OCTOBER SPECIAL Subscribe or resubscribe A W $ A for just 30 and get a R D gift subscription for a friend ● W I for $ N just N 15! I N Call (850) 932-8986 G Major credit cards welcome. Some restrictions apply. CIO Joe Story vacates post Gulf Breeze News Bowl Residents at Andrews in 32563 BY JOE CULPEPPER Gulf Breeze News [email protected] Dr. Joe Story, Chief argue hike Innovations Officer at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, resigned Sept. 30 after Proposed water/sewer rate accepting a job with a Destin waste conversion company. increase irks SSRUS users Story’s departure came nine A proposed 8.5 months after his role in hiring a BY JULIE B. CONNERLEY percent water and Special to gulf Breeze News See STORY A , Page 2 sewer rate increase [email protected] for South Santa Rosa Utility Services (SSRUS) customers in just the 32563 zip code has sparked controversy. WEEKEND “This is basically taxation without representa- Weather tion,” charges Mike Robertson, owner of Mike’s THURSDAY 10/15 Garden on U.S. Highway 98 at Tiger Point and a board member of the United Peninsula Partly Cloudy CHAMPIONS! Association (UPA). O high 84 Gulf Breeze News first reported Sept. 24 that low 64O Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News the SSRUS board had voted to recommend the The Gulf Breeze Blue Mighty Mites show off the traditional cowbell trophy after defeating the Tiger Point zip-code-specific increase. The Gulf Breeze City Tigers 31-0 on Saturday in one of several ‘Gulf Breeze News Bowl’ youth games. The team includes, Council scheduled an Oct. 19 public hearing to FRIDAY 10/16 front, from left: Spencer Bond, Charlie Atkins, Eli Odom, Jackson Hamrick, Tiger Boykin, Joe Snider and See WATER, Page 2A Scat. T-Storms Julian McCulley. Middle: Ethan Sawyer, Gage Farris, Ryland McCurdy, J.D. Wells, Christopher Moore O and Ethan Nichols. Back: Coaches Todd McCurdy, Paul Snider and Tom McCulley. Not pictured, players Related inside high 70 ■ O Garrett Lutz and J.B. Miller and coaches Chris Moore and Jud Odom. Story, photos, Section C My 2 Cents: SSRUS Advisory Board low 56 chairman defends proposed increase, 6A SATURDAY 10/17 Scat. T-Storms Gulf Breeze woman makes difference for disabled high 73O ■ Whitney Harris assists prosthetic leg and is missing the cy, peer mentoring ed for Senate Bill 856, com- Forum in Tallahassee. While I low 54O Florida Youth Council in lower length of her right arm, and other activi- monly known as the Disability was at YLF, the Florida Youth Whitney drives, played varsity ties to improve the and History Awareness Bill, Council did a presentation about helping empower people SUNDAY 10/18 basketball and excelled as a quality of life for establishing the first two weeks how they were making a bill to Scat. T-Storms xylophone player in the Gulf those with disabil- in October as Disability and make the first two weeks in O BY LISA NEWELL Breeze High School band. ities. The program History Awareness Weeks. October Disability History and high 72 Gulf Breeze News The determined young empowers people Harris, a popular member of Awareness Weeks. After the O low 57 [email protected] woman is now a member of the to decide which Harris the class of 2008, became forum, during the fall term of Florida Youth Council, a group issues need solv- involved with the group when my senior year, I got an applica- Whitney Harris is not dis- that helps youth aged 13 to 17 ing, and develop strategies for she was in high school. tion to the Florida Youth abled, though she may appear to and emerging leaders aged 18- solving them. “In June of 2007, I attended Council and got accepted later be. Though she walks with a INSIDE 30 get involved in self advoca- Recently, the group advocat- the Florida Youth Leadership See HARRIS, Page 3A Crossword puzzle 3B Local theater to show Police cruiser Classifieds 3D Community 3-8A sensory sensitive flicks involved in crash Entertainment 2B ■ GB Cinemas 8 caters to children Felonies 2A ■ Early indications are that officer with autism, others with disabilities Island News 1D might have been at fault in collision Obituaries 7A Gulf Breeze News Authorities this Opinion 6A Dasher loves the movies, but sometimes the BY JOE CULPEPPER week still were Sports 1-8C sounds are just so overwhelming that he covers his Gulf Breeze News investigating a Talk of the Town 5A ears or bolts for the door. [email protected] three-car motor Sitting quietly – typical etiquette expected at the vehicle accident that occurred Thursday, Oct. 8 “Mailing Statement cinema – is another challenge. at the intersection of Andrew Jackson Trail and on Editorial Page” But that restriction will be tossed out Saturday, U.S. Highway 98 involving a city police cruiser. FOUR SECTIONS Nov. 7 during a 10 a.m. showing of ‘Where the Wild Graphic illustration by Joe Culpepper/GBN A spokesperson at the Gulf Breeze Police VOL. 8, NO. 42 Things Are’ at The Breeze Cinemas 8. Breeze Cinemas 8 manager Mike Aguado invites area OCTOBER 15, 2009 residents to attend sensory sensitive movie showings on Department said last Friday it appears that Officer See MOVIE, Page 3A the first Saturday of each month beginning Nov. 7. See CRASH Page 2A home! your Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A October 15, 2009 GULF BREEZE NEWS County Republicans to meet tonight The Santa Rosa County Forces, restaurants, hospitality, hamburgers, hot dogs and Republican Party will meet at correctional, accounting, elec- drinks during the awards cere- 6:45 p m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 BRIEFS trical and aerospace industries mony. Registration fees are $30. Thursday, October 15 Center, 8543 Navarre Parkway, Navarre in the Red Roof Inn and Suites will be present. For more information, call Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Aviation Advisory Conference Room at 2672 from 9 a m. to 1 p.m. at the PJC This free event is open to the (850) 983-5043. of Commerce Monthly Committee 5 p.m., Avalon Boulevard near Amos Studio on the corner of public. Additional information Breakfast 7 a.m., Andrews County Administrative Interstate 10 in Milton. All reg- 12th Avenue and College can be found at www.work- Santa’s Craft Fair slated Research Pavilion, Andrews Center, 6495 Caroline istered Republicans are invited. Boulevard in Pensacola. forceescarosa.com or for next Wednesday Institute, Gulf Breeze Street, Milton For further information, con- The event will offer job-seek- www.pjc.edu. Santa Rosa County Library Fire Department Advisory Committee 4 p.m., tact Morgan Lamb at (850) 939- ers an opportunity to meet with Santa’s Workshop Craft Fair, Executive Group 6:30 SREF, Mediacom run County Administrative Center, p.m., Emergency 2409 or send an e-mail to mor- more than 50 area employers presented by the Navarre 6495 Caroline Street, Milton ganlamb@bellsouth net. who are actively looking for tal- set for Garcon Bridge Garden Club, will kick off the Operation Center, 4499 Santa Rosa County School Pine Forest Road, Milton ented individuals to fill their Christmas shopping season with Board 6:30 p.m., District PJC, ‘Workforce’ current openings. Attendees The Santa Rosa Education an Oct. 21 craft fair offering Headquarters, 5086 Canal bring job fair to area should come dressed for success Foundation and Mediacom many handmade items, as well Street, Milton Thursday, and bring copies of their Communications will stage the as a variety of unique gift items. October 22 Community providers, resume. 2nd Annual 4.8-mile Mediacom The craft fair will be held at Friday, October 16 Gulf Breeze Area Employers with current Workforce Escarosa and Garcon Point Bridge run/walk the Navarre Conference Center Chamber of Commerce Pensacola Junior College are openings representing health- across the Garcon Point Bridge behind Taco Bell from 9 a.m. to Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Gala Expo Committee 8:30 a.m., partnering to host a Community care, communications, retail, on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 a m. 4 p m. For information or an Committee Meeting 8:30 Chamber Headquarters, 409 Career Fair on Friday, Oct. 16, education, construction, Armed Participants will be treated to application, call 396-5494. a.m., Chamber Headquarters, Gulf Breeze Parkway 409 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Santa Rosa County Breeze Commission 9 a.m., County WATER: Rate increase would be second in past year Administrative Center, 6495 Monday, October 19 Caroline Street, Milton Continued from page 1A “In effect,” said Don Monday, October 26 Richards, UPA President, “Gulf Santa Rosa County BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SSRUS Commission 9 a.m., County Santa Rosa County Utility discuss the matter. Breeze subsidized their utility Administrative Center, 6495 Board 5 p.m., County The City of Gulf Breeze owns South Santa Rosa Utility System, provider of water operation by acquiring another Caroline Street, Milton Administrative Center, 6495 and operates the SSRUS. City and sewer service for the area east of the City of Gulf treatment plant.