OBSERVANCES SPORTS PERSONALITIES Next Tuesday is Gulf Breeze High Lyndi Freeman and Dave Veterans Day, a time finishes second Kessler of Gulf Breeze tie to remember those to Washington in the knot while on safari in who serve our country the District 1-4A South Africa with a few of wearing the uniform volleyball tourney their wild friends from the and protecting our to earn a playoff countryside. freedom. Page 3A berth. Page 1B Page 8A A W A R D ● W I N N I N G jmillers.com Consign 934-6200 Gulf Breeze ● Pensacola ● Destin Today! 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER November 6, 2008 Broxson Bus Learn about accident your local Women In prompts Business needs no Page 5A concern WEEKEND rocking ■ Driver passes out Weather behind wheel with 11 students on board THURSDAY 11/6 Mostly Sunny BY JOE CULPEPPER O Gulf Breeze News high 77 [email protected] O chair low 61 Students’ quick actions and questions of ‘what if?’ drew FRIDAY 11/7 Longtime public servant, 76, still attention last Thursday after a Scattered Storms hopes to serve people in some capacity Santa Rosa County school bus high 75O driver fainted behind the wheel low 52O while transporting students. ■ First of a two-part series Eleven Gulf Breeze Middle School students were on board BY PAM BRANNON SATURDAY when bus driver 11/8 Gulf Breeze News Sunny [email protected] Linda Daniel, 52, passed out at O high 70 hen John Broxson of Gulf Breeze approximately low 50O turns over his county commission 6:40 a.m. in the W seat to newly elected Lane Tiger Point area. Lynchard on Thursday, Nov. 13, he has no The bus, estimated SUNDAY plans to ‘retire’ from public service to the 11/9 to be traveling proverbial ‘rocking chair.’ Hailey Sunny about 15 miles per “I don’t know what will come next, but I Philips O hour, veered and high 65 don’t believe my days of productivity are Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News O John Broxson was Sheriff of Santa Rosa County before many of us were born. He hit a brick mailbox and tree at low 49 over,” Broxson, 76, said last week. “I will later served in the state House, Senate and on the County Commission. 1152 Laguna Lane. work in whatever public-service projects During the incident, passen- come along wherever I can help.” Sheriff, to the state House of said. “None of the work could have been ger Hailey Philips, 14, alertly Broxson has been helping shape Florida Representatives and the Florida Senate, to done without her support – either public or rushed to the front of the bus politics since he was first appointed Sheriff serving as chairman of the Lottery in our private life and businesses.” INSIDE and switched off the ignition. of Santa Rosa County in 1959. Commission, as well as many local commu- His wife of 54 years, Christina, said nei- The Santa Rosa County Commission seat nity boards and commissions. ther of them had ever considered making a Another student, Anna Classifieds 7C he has held since 2004, serving as Chairman “Of course, I didn’t decide to take on any major decision that would affect the family Caldwell, called 911 from her College Football 7B for the past year, was just the latest in a new job or challenge without talking it over without discussing it with each other first. cell phone. After the impact, Daniel Community 3-8A lengthy resume of public service – from and being in full agreement with Chris,” he See BROXSON, Page 2A6 regained consciousness. Crossword 3C Emergency personnel arrived Entertainment 2C within minutes. There were no Island News 5C Halloween screams injuries, and Daniel was trans- Obituaries 7A Storm water sparks debate ported to a hospital for observa- Opinion 6A tion. Another bus was dis- Military 3A ■ Soundview Trail view Trail over presumed white sand in accordance patched to transport the stu- storm-water disputes. with coastal regulations. Seniors 7A residents, city can’t dents to Gulf Breeze Middle At the heart of the dis- We’d lost so much topsoil Sports 1-6B find common ground School. pute is an inland dirt and from Hurricane Ivan flood- “Thank goodness,” said Joey Talk of the Town 4C grass wall, or “berm,” con- ing in 2004, and we wanted Harrell, Director of BY VICI PAPAJOHN to build a protective barrier Women In Business 5A structed at 1318 Soundview Administration Services at the Gulf Breeze News Trail. to protect the house from Santa Rosa County School “Mailing Statement [email protected] “We built the berm the periodic floods.” District. “You have middle before Hurricane Gustav,” Weber’s neighbors, the is on Editorial Page” school students who reacted in At the past three Gulf property owner Jean Weber Burkes and the Van THREE SECTIONS Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News a wonderful manner. They did Breeze City Council meet- said. “The city later Cavages, assert that the VOL. 7, NO. 45 Plantation Hill had plenty of spooky everything they could do, ings, council and staff have informed us that we had berm causes flooding in NOVEMBER 6, 2008 creatures lurking about as area kids dialed 911, worked with the heard heated debate from used the wrong soil, and we their yards. The Burkes celebrated Halloween. Photos, 4-5C See ACCIDENT three residents of Sound- replaced the berm with all See WATER, Page 2A6 , Page 2A6 home! City leaders defend role of bonding programs ■ Mayor, council get the light of an election year, the that bonding pool will bring staff, and both are audited by Eddy said. “Because of that your no money from CTA results of that action have the city budget almost a mil- outside services. The mayor program we have been able to come under fire and scrutiny. lion dollars. gets no money personally from keep our taxes lower than any or GBFS “Over the past 23 years, the “With the 16 programs that those funds, and neither does other community around us. bonding pool we set up has generate fees from both the anyone on the City Council.” Since it involves tax-exempt BY PAM BRANNON brought the city budget fees in Capital Trust Agency (CTA) But he said that bonding bonds, the IRS keeps a really Gulf Breeze News excess of $5 million altogeth- and the Gulf Breeze Financial program is a great advantage to close look at what is happening [email protected] er,” said Ed Gray III, who was Service (GBFS), this year the the residents of the City. and investigates anything any Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Action taken by the Gulf mayor in 1985. City budget is getting “We receive fees for spon- time that they think might not Breeze City Council in 1985 City Manager Buz Eddy $825,000,” Eddy said. soring those tax-exempt bond fall under the program’s continues to bolster the city’s reports that for the City’s Both are monitored and programs, and we can use authority. Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly budget each year. But now in Fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 managed by (Gray) and his those fees in lieu of taxes,” See CTA, Page 4A6 GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2A November 6, 2008 GULF BREEZE NEWS ACCIDENT: Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Report Thankfully, bus had not reached U.S. 98 Information provided by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Continued from page 1A driver. My hat’s off to them for Felonies 11/01/2008 being very responsible.” Gipson, Thomas Jason, W/M, 31, 1900 block of Elodie Lane, Gulf Laura Warren, General 10/27/2008 East, Jesse Ryan, W/M, 23, Breeze, fugitive from justice. Manager of Durham Bus 5800 block of Congress Street, Gulf Vaca, Antonio, H/M, 46, 3300 Service in Milton, said Daniel Breeze, aggravated assault, cruelty block of Green Briar Circle, Gulf radioed the transportation dis- toward a child, and obstructing jus- Breeze, violation of probation. tice. patcher to report she was feeling 10/28/2008 DUIs ill. Seconds later, she slumped Wright, Kyle Justin, W/M, 18, partially out of the driver’s seat 3200 block of Lynn Drive, Navarre, 10/28/2008 Dugan, Stephen Michael, W/M, and passed out. burglary. 10/30/2008 26, 6400 block of Sailport Cove, “We didn’t get an immediate Carroll, Jason Paul, W/M, 22, Navarre, DUI. report of what caused her to 2400 block of Panhandle Trail, 10/30/2008 black out,” Warren said. “She Navarre, burglary. Maney, John R., W/M, 51, 3200 Gutierrez, Jose Andres, H/M, block of Maplewood Drive, Gulf was held at the hospital 28, 8600 block of Olivera Street, Breeze, DUI. Thursday for tests, and they Navarre, sex offense. 10/31/2008 couldn’t explain exactly why Hopson, Khristina Brooke, W/F, 19, 2900 block of Rosa Del Villa she passed out. 10/31/2008 Robyn S. Philips/Special to Gulf Breeze News Smith, Michael Richard, W/M, Drive, Gulf Breeze, DUI. “We pulled the (on-bus) A Santa Rosa County school bus sits partially in the yard of Jamie and Robyn Philips at 48, 1200 block of Greenview Lane, Stenslie, Tiffany Anne, W/F, 31, videotape, and the video filled 1158 Laguna Lane after it struck a tree and mailbox after the driver passed out at the wheel. Gulf Breeze, lewd and lascivious 2600 block of Barefoot Creek in all the holes on when the behavior, obscene communication Circle, Navarre, DUI.