By Rob Johnson on August 10, 2017
Carol Boston, Santa Rosa County School, Santa Rosa County Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, teachers union, Wyrosdick
Education, Local
Santa Rosa public school teachers will receive about half of the $3.3 million annual pay raise they have sought per a 5-0 vote by the school board that limited their increase Thursday night. School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, who had a victory statement prepared in advance, seemed to anticipate the board vote that supported his position […]
By Rob Johnson on August 10, 2017
Business, economic development, Growth Fund, industrial parks, Santa Rosa County, Shannon Ogletree
Headlines
From a 500-employee gun manufacturing plant to a 300-worker distribution center, Santa Rosa County is seeking to attract a diverse list of potential employers to its three industrial parks or other locations. But Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree said on Thursday that his efforts are hampered by a lack of financial incentives, starting at the […]
By Rob Johnson on August 2, 2017
BP oil spill, Chabin Concepts, Commissioner Sam Parker, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Breeze Chamber, Gulf Power, John Hutchinson, kristen loera, Local-Option Sales Tax, Michelle Bauer, national retailers, RESTORE Act, Rick Byars, Sandy Sansing, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office, Santa Rosa County Economic Development Plan, Shannon Ogletree, Tamara Fountain, Vision 15 plan
Headlines
The County Commission’s recent proposal to pay up to $120,000 for an economic development strategy devised by a private consultant seems to ignore that it paid $25,000 for such a plan in 2013. In fact, three current commissioners and Santa Rosa Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree are listed in the report by California-based Chabin Concepts […]
By Rob Johnson on July 30, 2017
ban, City of Gulf Breeze, City of Milton, Governor Rick Scott, gulf breeze city council, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, marijuana, medical marijuana, Medical Marijuana Treatment Center
Headlines
The impending City of Gulf Breeze ordinance that prohibits medical marijuana sales outlets within the municipality’s borders leaves no room for misinterpretation—starting with its first words: “Ban imposed.” Written by the city’s paid staff at the direction of the elected City Council, the new law is tentatively slated to go into effect in mid-to-late August […]
By Rob Johnson on July 27, 2017
Avalon Boulevard, Board of County Commissioners, courthouse, courthouse site, Jayer Williamson, Jerry Long, Milton, Mulat Road, Santa Rosa County, Tony Gomillion
Headlines
Pensacola businessman Jerry Long didn’t waste time in accepting Santa Rosa’s $850,000 offer for his 19 acres on Avalon Boulevard as the prospective site of the new county courthouse. Long accepted the offer within days after the commission voted to make it last week, according to County Administrator Tony Gomillion. If the 75-day due diligence […]
By Rob Johnson on July 27, 2017
City of Gulf Breeze, Emergency vehicle, Fairpoint Drive, Fire Chief Shane Carmichael, Firetruck, GovDeals, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Assistant City Manager Nathan Ford, Gulf Breeze Fire Station, Pierce Lance pumper
Local
The bright red paint still shines, and the siren can scream as loudly as ever, but the hulking firetruck that started a proud career in 1986 in the City of Gulf Breeze is now relegated to the auction block. Finding a new home for the 20-ton Pierce Lance pumper isn’t easy. Since posting a national […]
By Rob Johnson on July 27, 2017
City of Gulf Breeze, crestview, David Landfair, Florida, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Fort Walton Beach, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze city council, Gulf Breeze City Manager Samantha Abell, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Marijuana medical dispensaries, Medical cannabis law, medical marijuana, Michelle Beasley, Milton, Niceville, Randy Hebert, Renee Bookout, Terry Mead, Vikash Singh
Local
The message from Gulf Breeze City Council to medical marijuana dispensaries: This town isn’t big enough for both of us. Despite the 70 percent statewide voter approval of the expanded sale of a non-euphoric form of the drug in November, the five-member Gulf Breeze panel is balking at allowing sales in this beachy community of […]
By Rob Johnson on July 26, 2017
Baskerville-Donovan Inc., Commissioner Rob Williamson, Commissioner Sam Parker, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, County Engineer Roger Blaylock, Flood Control, flood mitigation, half-cent sales tax, Holley by the Sea, Navarre, Pace, Pea Ridge, Retention ponds, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Commission Meeting, Sheila Harris, stormwater containment, Yvonne Harper
Local
County officials revealed this week that they have moved the start of five flood control projects in the Pace/Pea Ridge area ahead of stormwater containment in Navarre. The roughly $10 million in retention ponds, drainage and other infrastructure for which the county is seeking federal funds in the Pace/Pea Ridge area contrast sharply with those […]
By Rob Johnson on July 14, 2017
Alan Lowery, county commissioners, courthouse, half-cent local option sales tax, Santa Rosa County, Travis Peterson
Headlines
When the proposed location for a new county courthouse was rejected by voters last year, it failed despite a core of support from downtown Milton and unanimity among the Santa Rosa commissioners who proposed it. The latest prospective site has neither. “I’m disappointed,” Milton City Council Member Alan Lowery told this newspaper Thursday after a […]
By Rob Johnson on July 13, 2017
Chris Thomas, Coastal Concessions LLC, Gulf Breeze, Judge John Simon, Lagerhead's restaurant, Lagerheads Cafe, Lagerheads on the Gulf, lawsuit, Legal battle, Liv Beach Shop, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Navarre Pier, Navarre pier restaurant, Santa Rosa County, Scott Rayner, Stephanie Maddox
Local
Before the partners in Coastal Concessions LLC began a legal war with each other in February, their lease from the county to run the Navarre Beach Pier seemed like a license to mint money. But the dueling lawsuits between Stephanie Maddox and Scott Rayner have now been settled and the roughly $2 million-a-year business that […]
By Rob Johnson on July 13, 2017
ad valorem taxes, Attorney Roy Andrews, City Manager Buz Eddy, City of Gulf Breeze, D. R. Horton Inc., David Landfair, Edgewood Drive, Greg Brown, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze city council, Housing development, Joey Harrell, NAI Halford, Renee Bookout, Rod Miller, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, School, South Santa Rosa County, south santa rosa utility system, stormwater control, tiger point golf club, Travis Talley, united peninsula association, waterwater treatment
Local
The owners of homes near the defunct west course of Tiger Point Golf Club are expressing concern they may have new neighbors—either a public school or a sizable housing development. The former course, now vacant, is being studied as a possible school site while its owner—the City of Gulf Breeze—awaits prospective bids on the 47-acre […]
By Rob Johnson on July 12, 2017
bridge maintenance, florida department of transportation, Garcon Point Bridge, Rep. Jayer Williamson, Santa Rosa County, taxpayer dollars, tolls
Headlines
The first steps toward the state purchase of Garcon Point Bridge, and the reduction or elimination of tolls, are being taken faster than proponents previously expected. Although state legislators had requested earlier this year that the Florida Department of Transportation prepare a report by Jan. 1 on the feasibility of buying the bridge from the […]
By Rob Johnson on July 12, 2017
Avalon Boulevard, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Don Salter, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Commissioner Sam Parker, County Administrator Tony Gomillion, Ed Henry, Highway 90, Jennifer Byrom, Milton, Milton Courthouse, Pine Forest Road, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County courthouse, Santa Rosa County Judicial Center, Seville Square Realty, Terhaar & Cronley
Headlines
Yes. No. Maybe. Let’s look at somewhere else. That’s how Santa Rosa County commissioners reacted July 10 when they discussed five offers of land on which to build a new county courthouse. Not only was there no consensus on the five offers on choosing a parcel of land for sale or lease—and one for free—from […]
By Rob Johnson on July 5, 2017
Bay Breeze Dive Center, bridge construction, Carlos Faught, Donna Green, florida department of transportation, Flowers by Yoko, Gulf Breeze, Hampton Inn, Liv Beach, Narueman Nonnapha, Pensacola Bay Bridge, Pensacola bridge, Quality Inn, Santa Rosa Sound, Stephanie Maddox, Thai 54 Cuisine, The Bridge Bar
Headlines
Business at the Thai 54 Cuisine restaurant in Gulf Breeze has plummeted by 40 percent since early June, when construction began on the new Pensacola Bay Bridge less than 100 yards from the eatery’s parking lot. “They blow dust here all the time,” said Narueman Nonnapha, owner of the restaurant, which opened in 2012. For […]
By Rob Johnson on July 5, 2017
Brevard Street, Brewster Street, Camden Drive, Fire Chief Ron Norton, Flood, Flood Control, Greg Cotton, Hemlock Street, Holley by the Sea, Holley Navarre Fire Department, Jean Murchison, Milton, motorists, Navarre, Pace, Rainfall, Redfield Drive, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Scott Kemp, Sherry Smith, Sherwood Drive, South Santa Rosa County, stormwater, stormwater retention, Yvonne Harper
Headlines
From requiring developers to dig deeper stormwater retention ponds to imposing new fees on residents that would pay for better drainage, a task force of Santa Rosa residents, county officials and engineers is recommending measures to fight flooding. The strategies are detailed in a draft report from the group that is scheduled to be discussed […]
By Rob Johnson on June 29, 2017
Bergren Road, Bien May, County Engineer Roger Blaylock, effluent, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Gulf Breeze, Hidden Creek Golf Club, Holley, Holley by the Sea, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Midway, Navarre, Navarre Beach Water and Sewer, Paul Gardner, sewer system, South Santa Rosa Utility, treated wastewater, wastewater disposal
Local
The proposed lease by Holley Navarre Water System of rural land in the Bergren Road area to dispose of treated wastewater could save much of the estimated $18 million it had planned to spend building a pipe to Eglin Air Force Base for the same purpose. Such savings could help pay for—among other things—repairs to […]
By Rob Johnson on June 21, 2017
Bien May, effluent disposal, Federal Clean Water Act, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Rural Water Association, Florida Utility Services, Gulf Breeze, hidden creek golf course, Holley by the Sea, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, manhole covers, Mike Smallridge, Navarre, recycled water, Santa Rosa County, Sewer pipes, South Santa Rosa County, south santa rosa utility system, stormwater, Tampa Springs, Tiger Point, treated wastewater, Yvonne Harper
Headlines
The failure of Holley-Navarre Water System to stay within its state-approved standard for disposing of treated wastewater is partly the fault of some homeowners who are improperly channeling stormwater into sewers, according to the utility board’s president, Bien May. In a letter responding to a Navarre Press query, May confirmed the accuracy of this newspaper’s […]
By Rob Johnson on June 21, 2017
Andy Terhaar, Attorney Jennifer Byrom, City of Milton, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Sam Parker, downtown milton, Ed Henry, Guidry Land Development LLC, half-cent local option sales tax, JDL of Santa Rosa, Milton, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County jail, Santa Rosa County Judicial Center, Seville Square Realty, Terhaar & Cronley
Headlines
Five Santa Rosa property owners have come forward with offers of land—one for free and the others for sale—on which to build a new county courthouse. The overtures are in response to county commissioners’ request last month for bids as they reassess their previously unsuccessful strategy to replace the aging downtown Milton courthouse. Read the […]
By Rob Johnson on June 20, 2017
ad valorem taxes, Capital Trust Agency, David Peaden, demolition, drainage infrastructure, Ed Gray, Gulf Breeze, Highpoint Drive, Housing development, Larry Kuhn, Levin-Rinke Realty, Milton, Navarre, Real Estate Market, Rick Harper, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Property Appraisers, Santa Rosa Sound, teardowns, West Florida Homebuilders Association
Local
The number of Santa Rosa homes torn down to build new and bigger ones has nearly doubled since 2012, and the trend is evident from Milton to Gulf Breeze. “I think it’s a healthy sign for the real estate market,” said David Peaden, executive director of the West Florida Homebuilders Association. Read the full article […]
By Rob Johnson on June 15, 2017
Bergren Road, City of Gulf Breeze, effluent spray, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, HNWS, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Tiger Point
Local
Unable to stay with the state-approved standard for disposing of treated wastewater by spraying effluent on a golf course or piping it into ponds, Holley Navarre Water System is nearing a deal for a major expansion of disposal capacity. Mindful that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is well aware of the utility’s continuing infringement […]
By Rob Johnson on June 8, 2017
"boiler rooms", conspiracy, escambia county, Florida, fraud, Internal Revenue Service, Milton, Sagar Thakkar, Santa Rosa County, scam, scammers, telemarketing fraud
Local
If it seems that you’re getting more of those suspicious phone calls lately from someone claiming that you’re way overdue on money owed to the Internal Revenue Service or on a credit card, welcome to the club. The Escambia-Santa Rosa County area is ranked 45th among the country’s most popular markets for telephone scammers in […]
By Rob Johnson on June 1, 2017
Attorney Roy Andrews, Chris Thomas, Coastal Concessions LLC, Fusion World LLC, Judge John Simon, Lagerhead's restaurant, Lagerheads on the Gulf, lawsuit, Legal battle, mediation, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Navarre Pier, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, Scott Rayner, South Santa Rosa, Stephanie Maddox
Local
Although the feuding business partners who manage the Navarre Beach pier are being allowed to stay on after a contract violation, they still face possible sanctions in Santa Rosa Circuit Court. Judge John Simon told Scott Rayner and Stephanie Maddox last week that they must soon end their four-month legal battle through supervised mediation. Read […]
By Rob Johnson on May 31, 2017
Buz Eddy, Catawba Street, City of Gulf Breeze, Don Spencer, Dr. Kenneth Long, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze City Hall, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Jim Doyle, Nathan Ford, Plantation Hill subdivision, Santa Rosa County, South Santa Rosa, stormwater drainage infrastructure, Tappie Villane, Terry Mead, Thomas Lambert, tiger point golf club
Headlines
Jim Doyle is disproving the old adage that you can’t fight City Hall. He recently rallied several of his Gulf Breeze neighbors to defeat a plan devised by the City Council and its paid staff to levy a special assessment of $1,686 per home to pay for new stormwater drainage infrastructure near their houses. Doyle […]
By Rob Johnson on May 25, 2017
ad valorem tax, Business development, commercial development, economic development, Joe Kucharski, national retailers, Navarre, rebates, Retailers, Rick Harper, Sales taxes, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Shannon Ogletree, South Santa Rosa, The Fresh Market, Tourist traffic, Whole Foods Market
Business
Navarre could eventually be the site of new high-end grocers such as Whole Foods and The Fresh Market if the county successfully expands its fledgling economic development incentives for national retailers as Shannon Ogletree envisions. Read the full article in the May 25 issue of Navarre Press. Subscribe online for as little as $38 per […]
By Rob Johnson on May 24, 2017
Department of Defense, Department of Veteran Affairs, Ed McCants, Internal Revenue Service, Karen Haworth, medicaid, military, Military benefits, National Personnel Records Center, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Veterans Services, social security, Veteran services, veterans
Headlines, Military
The daunting hodgepodge of forms and documents required to obtain some financial and medical benefits for military veterans has driven up requests for help in Santa Rosa by double digits in the past five years. But even if they lack the precious scraps of evidence to qualify for pensions, insurance and medical care, Karen Haworth […]
By Rob Johnson on May 18, 2017
Attorney Roy Andrews, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Commissioner Sam Parker, Community workshops, Dan Schebler, Dean Easterwood, Ed Carson, Florida's Sunshine Law, half-cent local option sales tax, James Calkins, Local-Option Sales Tax, LOST, LOST revenue, Moving Santa Rosa Forward, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, Scott Kemp, Tamara Fountain, taxes
Local, Santa Rosa County
Although a citizens group is supposed to oversee how the county’s new half-cent local option sales tax is spent, some members of that panel say the real decisions are being made without their input. Read the full article in the May 18 issue of Navarre Press. Subscribe online at navarrepress.com for as little as $38 […]
By Rob Johnson on May 17, 2017
Baskerville Donovan, Catawaba Street land grab, Catawba Street, City of Gulf Breeze, Ed Gray, Flood, Flood Control, flood control relief, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Financial Services, Gulf Breeze Interim City Manager Samantha Abell, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Danheisser, half-cent local option sales tax, Holley by the Sea, infrastructure, LOST, LOST revenue, Max JOrdan, Navarre, Pensacola Bay Bridge, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, South Santa Rosa, stormwater protection, Stormwater Task Force, Terry Mead, tiger point golf club, Tom Naile, Yvonne Harper
Headlines
The familiar military axiom “Hurry up and wait” is now shared by the civilian residents of Holley by the Sea and the City of Gulf Breeze who yearn for flood control relief measures they say are long overdue. Each of the similarly sized communities is run by governments that have separate studies in hand documenting […]
By Rob Johnson on May 10, 2017
Bank of New York Mellon, Bridge tolls, Captial Trust Agency, Dick Kane, Ed Gray, florida department of transportation, Florida Legislature, Garcon Point bonds, Garcon Point Bridge, Rep. Jayer Williamson, Santa Rosa County, Sen. George Gainer
Headlines
The first steps toward a state purchase of Garcon Point Bridge and the authority to reduce or eliminate tolls have been taken by the Florida Legislature. Led by freshman Rep. Jayer Williamson from Santa Rosa County and Sen. George Gainer of Panama City, two bills that passed on Friday authorize the Florida Department of Transportation […]
By Rob Johnson on April 27, 2017
Attorney Roy Andrews, Chris Thomas, Coastal Concessions LLC, Commission Chairman Rob Williamson, Edgar Doubleday, Fusion World LLC, Lagerhead's restaurant, lawsuits, Legal battle, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Navarre Pier, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Commissioner meeting, Santa Rosa County Commissioners, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Scott Rayner, South Santa Rosa, Stephanie Maddox
Local
Threatened with possible eviction from their Navarre Beach Pier business, the embattled principals who run it bought more time this week with a three-year-late payment of $3,250 on their revenue-sharing pact with the county. County Attorney Roy Andrews backed off his recent ultimatum to Coastal Concessions LLC over the company’s unauthorized subcontract with an outside […]
By Rob Johnson on April 27, 2017
Bankruptcy, Beach Community Bank, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy law, City of Gulf Breeze, Club II, Club II athletic center, Ekatrina Henning, Gulf Breeze, Judge Jerry Oldshue, Paul Henning, South Santa Rosa County
Local
The personal bankruptcy case of the Sacred Heart emergency room doctor and his wife who own the Club II athletic center appears no closer to being resolved than when it was filed last October. In fact, rather than offering a plan to satisfy creditors, as ordered by Federal Bankruptcy Judge Jerry Oldshue in Pensacola, Paul […]
