Business Archive

Gulf Breeze officials hope a new proposed ordinance will help keep vacant lots looking clean and orderly.

The Navarre Beach Fire Department debuted a new beach truck Sept. 12 thanks to a generous community effort.

Atlanta (AP) — S. Truett Cathy, the billionaire founder of the privately held Chick-fil-A restaurant chain that famously closes on Sundays but also drew unwanted attention on gay marriage in recent years because of his family’s conservative views, died early Sept. 8, a company spokesman said. He was 93.

Ivan unleashed unprecedented damage to Gulf Power’s system when it hit Sept. 16, 2004. About 90 percent of the company’s customers lost power and 80 percent of the power grid was damaged. With the help of more than 5,000 outside workers, employees restored power to nearly 365,000 customers in 13 days.

It’s hard to argue that business in Navarre has recovered since the domino effect of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Dennis in 2005.

It’s been a banner year for tourism, both locally and statewide. An additional one-cent county bed tax, levied for Navarre Beach renourishment, also started in June. That added kick has boosted local tourism revenues, which have gradually recovered following the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Many new jobs been added at the Santa Rosa Industrial Park (SRIP) in East Milton. Navy Federal Credit Union has moved about 200 jobs to the former Clearwire building and is expected to add at least 200 employees at the location during their multiyear lease of the facility.

James Dabny from East River Smokehouse attended the Santa Rosa County Zoning Board meeting Aug. 14 looking for action that would allow him to continue operating a giant inflatable slide next to his business on Highway 98. He got what he wanted, sort of. The zoning board voted to recommend the conditional use permit but put a 24-month review period on it.

All area counties saw increases in their unemployment rates from June to July 2014. For Santa Rosa, Escambia and Okaloosa counties, July marked the third consecutive month that their unemployment rates had increased. Unemployment rates in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties are above the state and national averages, while Okaloosa and Walton counties remain below.

Gulf Breeze Police Chief Robert Randle is persistent.