Housing market to ‘spring forward’



As the destructive hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 become more of a memory, real estate professionals are predicting 2007 will be the year the deflated housing market rebounds to a state of normalcy. “With the spring, which is always the case, things are heating up,” said Mark Lee, a broker with Resort Realty. Lee should know a little something […]

David Bogan Memorial Reef established



As the sun rose on Feb. 21, tug boats headed out to the Gulf to drop the first load of debris from the I-10 bridge reconstruction to be used to form a new reef. “My cell phone rang,” remembers Robert Turpin, Escambia County Marine Resources Chief, “and my wife, Tammy, was on the phone to tell me that my friend […]

Midway Fire District will bid alone and with AMR



Midway Fire Commissioners voted at a special meeting Friday night to enter into a partnership agreement with American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance service in submitting a bid at the end of the month to provide ambulance service to all of Santa Rosa County. AMR is the largest ambulance service in the nation, with both ground and air ambulances. But Midway […]

A ferry to fort Pickens by summer?



Old battlefields don’t die, they just fade away. As historic American Civil War sites such as the infamous wheatfield in Gettysburg, Pa. and the nearby outpost of Fort Morgan, Ala. fall into disrepair and disappear under modern development, local officials struggle to keep storm-battered Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach accessible to the public. The fort, which was desperately held by […]

Property taxes are subject of Monday Town Hall meeting



Two similar homes on the same street may be taxed completely differently, and the Santa Rosa Property Appraiser wants to tell you why. Greg Brown, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, will conduct a Town Hall Meeting 7 p.m. Monday, March 26 in Gulf Breeze at the Rec Center on Shoreline Drive. Topics include: * The Save Our Homes Amendment, * […]

Mom foils man’s attempt to kidnap toddler



A Navarre mother recently prevented a child abduction from her own front yard. On March 13, at approximately 1 pm, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to an address on Bandera Drive, Navarre, in reference to an attempted child abduction. The female complainant stated that she was in her fenced in front yard outside of her trailer hanging […]

GBPD officers seek competitive pay



Gulf Breeze Police Officers have always held themselves to a higher standard of excellence. Now, as their contract with the city enters its third and final year, officers hope to see a pay raise that matches that standard. According to figures provided by the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police FOP, entry-level Gulf Breeze Police Officers, who make […]

Rotary awards four scholarships



Gulf Breeze Rotary awarded four $5,000 scholarships this month, bringing the total in scholarships awarded to date to over $30,000. “Emmalynn Daniel is an excellent athlete who plays soccer year-round,” praised Rotarian Cherry Fitch. “She is focused and self-disciplined, intelligent and goal oriented. She lived in a “FEMA trailer after the hurricanes, but that only seemed to make her stronger […]

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Santa Rosa County Libraries break circulation records

Santa Rosa County Libraries break circulation records After participation in the West Florida Regional Library System since the 1960’s, the Santa Rosa County Library System officially became an independent system on October 1, 2006. Since this time, Santa Rosa County Libraries have experienced record growth: * From October 1, 2006 to February 28, 2007, customers borrowed more than 174,344 items […]

Let there be light at the Bark Park



Soon Fido will be able to chase his favorite ragged tennis ball at Shoreline Bark Park after dark. The city’s dog park, which officially opened to the public in November, will soon feature lighting. “The city is getting ready to invest $5,000 for lights,” said parks and recreation director Ron Pulley. $3,500 of that money came from the Gulf Breeze […]