Midway FD is 3rd highest tax entity



BY BRADLEY “B.J.” DAVIS, JR.Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com According to Santa Rosa Tax Collector Greg Brown, Midway Fire District was the county’s third highest taxing authority for the year, raking in over $1 million more in property taxes than the City of Gulf Breeze. 2005 taxes for Gulf Breeze were just over $1,075,030 whereas Midway’s earnings were nearly double that […]

Bridge walker delivers flowers, smiles



Anyone traversing the three-mile bridge during midday is likely to have seen an amicable young man, bouncing happily to music flowing through his headphones, carrying a bundle of roses. An inquisitive mind may wonder, ‘I see this guy everyday, what is he doing?’ “We get four or five phone calls every day asking who he is. He’s a very happy […]

She’s a beaut!



Tom Realing of The Northwest Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens wrangles an alligator during a two-day project that moved the reptiles to a newly completed exhibit. Spectators of all ages enjoyed the grand opening of the exhibit “The Gator Hole” last Saturday featuring 34 alligators acquired by the zoo. The facility was able to obtain the alligators and construct […]

Citizens adjusts to market



As Florida’s insurance crisis deepens, key players at the state and county levels are making moves to improve the situation. Citizens Property Insurance (Citizens), the state’s insurer of last resort that currently insures over 800,000 Floridians is adjusting to over $2.4 billion in losses, stemming from nearly 120,000 claims in 2005. Citizens’ board members called an emergency meeting July 21 […]

City accepts final townhome plan



Gulf Breeze City Council approved a variance request for the 32-unit Driftwood Townhomes scheduled to be constructed behind the post office on Duncan Road. The original preliminary plat approval was recently rejected by council due to required setbacks between the development and adjacent residential property. “There is a different zoning district by the post office that was closer than 30 […]

ZOO hopes to develop ‘International Market’



The ZOO is now accepting bids for the construction of mixed-use retail space along U.S. 98 in front of the facility. The ZOO is accepting bids until Sept. 31 for approximately 300 linear feet of highway frontage that is 300 feet deep and represents a total of approximately 8.6 acres. “The ZOO prefers and is most interested in an “International […]

Library now open



BY FRANKLIN HAYESGulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com The Gulf Breeze branch of the Santa Rosa County Library System reopened Aug. 1 after a two-week closure. All four county libraries feature upgraded software, computer systems and many new titles. “I really believe the software’s going to be more user friendly. Our technology is really up to date and it will give people […]

A Lady worth being the ‘Talk of the Town’



Let me introduce to you a lovely lady. Her name is Eloise Finklea Benson, and she is a true Gulf Breeze pioneer. She lives in her home with two cats “Honey” and “Stormy.” Eloise was born in Foley, Ala. on April 16, 1914. Her father was a farmer who cultivated 200 acres in Baldwin County. Though she has no children […]

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Lefawnduh, a show cat owned by Sarah and Pete Hatcher, prances around her domain carrying her catch of the day.

Panel discusses artificial reefs



It’s no mystery that fishing is big business in Northwest Florida. The sport’s interdependency with local economy and the Gulf of Mexico’s lack of natural reef structures have authorities discussing all aspects of artificial reefs. Representatives for various state and federal entities such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Navy met with county government officials […]