News Archive

Commissioners are pressed for time. They only have about five weeks left to decide which potential future courthouse site or sites to present to voters on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Voters will also be asked if they support a one-cent local sales tax increase over a four-year period to fund the proposed new judicial facility.

There is a wide gap between some local candidates in terms of fundraising success this year. In one race there is greater than a $20,000 difference. With the primary election roughly one month away, most of the funds raised will be spent quickly.

Two candidates for Santa Rosa County Commission had a heated exchange July 14 during the Santa Rosa County Tea Party Patriots’ forum. Moderator Sharon Glass had to intervene when Yvonne Harper exchanged words with Rob Williamson, who has since posted apologies for an erroneous comment he made during the event.

Brandon Aydelott, the Gulf Breeze teen accused of the brutal Christmas Eve 2013 murder of his mom, Holley-Navarre Middle School teacher Sharon Aydelott, will undergo further mental evaluation before a decision is made regarding his competency to stand trial.

When the Santa Rosa County Commissioners finalized a two-year contract for recycling services with Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) July 7, the new vendor was on site at the Central Landfill in Milton that same day processing recyclables. However, all the recyclables were collected through curbside pickup and not from drop-off locations.

Projections for the City of Gulf Breeze’s next budget show a 3.9 percent increase in revenue and a 1 percent increase in expenditures. “It’s a pretty skinny budget,” Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy said, referencing the estimated $717,000 surplus that could be available for capital projects.

Gulf Breeze Police Chief Robert Randle admitted July 21 that he jinxed himself when he told a local reporter July 4 than not much happens in the city during the holiday. But July 4, 2014, was different. Randle said that due to the efforts of a local citizen and three police officers, a man wanted in connection to a murder in Alabama was apprehended and taken off the streets.

Board members from the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council (TDC) had hoped to play a major role in helping to select the county’s next tourism director, but according to County Commissioner Jim Melvin, “That’s not going to happen.” Based on options given to the group at its July 16 meeting, TDC Board Chairman Mike Loera was selected to be part of the three-person interview team.

Santa Rosa County is planning to construct permanent restroom facilities at Navarre Park. Commission Chairman Jim Melvin said he will use District 4 recreation funds to cover project costs. The new facilities are expected to be operational by May 2015.

A costly project to repair a broken waterline under East Bay is expected to be complete in early August, according to Holley-Navarre Water System General Manager Ken Walker. The announcement of the pending repair should be welcome news for some local water customers who have recently expressed concern about the way their water smells and tastes.