By Rob Johnson on July 18, 2018
3-mile bridge, Bob Kerrigan, cracked concrete, FIU bridge collapse, florida department of transportation, Gulf Breeze, Matt Morgan, Pensacola, Pensacola Bay Bridge, Skanska USA, Tanya Branton
Headlines
Cracks in newly placed concrete during the current construction of the Pensacola Bay Bridge recently caused two temporary halts to work on the deck of the $400 million span, state officials told the Navarre Press Wednesday. “Cracks were identified in some of the newly placed concrete…,” said Tanya Branton in an email. “Work on this […]
By Rob Johnson on July 13, 2018
City of Gulf Breeze, drinking water, Fairpoint Regional Utility System, Flint, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Future Labs, Herbicide, Jennifer Boone, John Pope, lead, Michigan, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Pesticide, saltwater, Santa Rosa County, South Santa Rosa Untility System, Thomas Lambert, Tiger Point, Water contaminants
Local
Let’s get this part out of the way: the drinking water provided by the City of Gulf Breeze through its two utilities to customers all the way from the city itself to Tiger Point isn’t perfect. But it isn’t likely to make you sick either. Read the full article in the July 12 issue of […]
By Rob Johnson on July 13, 2018
Brett Ramsey, Charles "Buddy" Ingram Jr, Daryl Lynchard, David Stone, Debbie Gunnoe, Douglas Larson, Elisa Bailey, Fred Terasa, Geo Mayer, Hidden Creek Golf Club, Holley Navarre Water Board, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Joseph "Joe" Aguirre, Joseph Genovese, Landrum HR Consulting, Mark Miller, Michael Kennedy, Shane Kahl, straw poll, Tammy Pahal-Morgan, transparency, Will Goulet, Yvonne Harper
Local
So many candidates, so little time. In most elections, the days right before the casting of ballots are the time when undecided voters can make up their minds or change them. Read the full article in the July 12 issue of Navarre Press. Visit www.navarrepress.com/subscribe to view subscription options. Sign up to receive the online […]
By Rob Johnson on July 6, 2018
ad valorem taxes, Bob Benaquis, Florida Supreme Court, Larry Jones, Lawrence Richard, lease fees, Nancy Benaquis, Navarre Beach, Navarre Beach residential property, Richard Goodson, Roy Andrews, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Board of Couny Commissioners, U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz
Local
Three years after county commissioners agreed to cap the annual lease fees on Navarre Beach residential property at $250 a year, about 150 leaseholder accounts are still overdue with total delinquencies of $215,258. Some of the lease accounts have had overdue balances that started long before the county capped the fees in 2015, and a […]
By Rob Johnson on July 6, 2018
Catawba Land Grab, City of Gulf Breeze, David Landfair, Florida Auditor General, florida department of transportation, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze city council, Gulf Breeze Mayor, Jimmy Eddins, Matt Dannheisser, Patty Burke, Pensacola Bay Bridge, Robert Nicholson, Rusty Buggie Enterprises, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County School District, Sen. Doug Broxson, south santa rosa utility system, stormwater drainage, Terry Mead, Tiger Point Gulf Club, Tom Naile, Wayside Park
Local
The long quiet political landscape in the City of Gulf Breeze is rumbling. For the first time since 2008, candidates for the mayor’s seat on the city council are putting out yard signs, knocking on doors and airing their differences in a political campaign of the sort many residents can’t recall witnessing before. Read the […]
By Rob Johnson on June 28, 2018
Attorney, City of Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze
Community, Local
The hometown lawyer who asked Gulf Breeze City Council to recommend his firm for a contract worth at least $156,000 for legal representation heard critics who appeared before the panel on Thursday say in no uncertain terms that someone else should get the job. “I don’t like you,” said Noah Berry, a longtime Gulf Breeze […]
By Rob Johnson on June 28, 2018
Beggs and Lane, Benjamin Zimmern, Beverly Zimmern, Catawba Land Grab, Catawba Street, City of Gulf Breeze, Galloway Johnson Tomkins and Burr, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze City Attorney, gulf breeze city council, Gulf Breeze Mayor Pro Term David Landfair, John Reese, Michael Stebbins, Pete Peters, Terry Mead, Tom Naile
Local
One law firm vying to be the next Gulf Breeze City Attorney has years of experience representing its would-be employer in a controversial case that’s causing concern among some City Council members and other residents. Losing round after round in the long-running property rights fight with two Gulf Breeze homeowners is a track record that […]
By Rob Johnson on June 22, 2018
Bien May, Commissioner Bob Cole, Daryl Lynchard, Debbie Gunnoe, Fairpoint Regional Utility System, Geo Mayer, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Holley Navarre Water Board, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Milton, Navarre, Ricki DeSantis, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa county Zoning Board, Wallis Mahute
Local
James Calkins is moving on with an eye on moving up. The 32-year-old real estate investor resigned as president of the Holley Navarre Water System board last Thursday. He capped off the day by being named to the county-wide Santa Rosa Zoning Board. Read the full article in the June 21 issue of Navarre Press. Click […]
By Rob Johnson on June 20, 2018
Adventures Unlimited, Alan Lowery, blackwater river state park, Commissioner Rob Williamson, Dan Schebler, david piech, Florida-Alabama Transportation Organization, Florida's Sunshine Law, Guy Thompson, Jack Sanborn, Julie Morgan, Kyle Holley, Milton, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Judicial Center, Tough Mudder Inc., Tourist Development Council, Vernon Compton, Wesley Meiss
Headlines
Jack Sanborn’s forced resignation from the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council last week came so suddenly that some of his supporters missed their chance to send letters backing him. “I was preparing a letter but he resigned before I could send it,” said Milton City Councilman Alan Lowery, who also sits on the volunteer […]
By Rob Johnson on June 20, 2018
Daryl Lynchard, Debbie Gunnoe, Doug Larson, Fairpoint Regional Utility System, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, George "Geo" Mayer, hidden creek golf course, Holley, Holley Navarre Water Board, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Jim Morgan, Mark Miller, Navarre, Ricki DeSantis, Santa Rosa County, spray fields, Treated sewage effluent, Will Goulet
Local, Water Department
Going full circle in reorganizing for the second time since January, what’s left of the Holley Navarre Water System board seems to be right where it was early this year: promising transparency and better management. But the new era being touted by freshly minted President Will Goulet began with a purge this week. Goulet loyalists […]
By Rob Johnson on June 16, 2018
Art Martinez, Community access road, Edgewood Drive, Florida, florida department of transportation, Heart of Navarre, Highway 98, Holley by the Sea, Katrina Walls, Leisure Street, Navarre, Navarre Beach, Phil Babiak, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Sound, Sharon O'Neil, Shawn Ward, Tamara Fountain, Traffic, Volkert Construction Services, Whispering Pines Boulevard
Local
Almost everyone wants traffic reduced on Highway 98 through Navarre. But no one wants more vehicles routed through their neighborhood. Stress levels are already rising, even though the $500,000 feasibility study of possible routes for a new Community Access Road ordered by state and Santa Rosa County officials has barely begun and won’t be finished […]
By Rob Johnson on June 9, 2018
Christa Gunn, City of Gulf Breeze, Community access road, david piech, don gaetz, Edgewood Drive, Eglin Air Force Base, florida department of transportation, gulf breeze city council, Hurlburt Field, Naval Live Oaks Preserve, Navarre, Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Navarre Chamber, northwest florida, Pensacola Bay Bridge, Phil Babiak, Ralph Agnew, Sen. Doug Broxson, State Rep. Jayer Williamson, Tallahassee, Tamara Fountain, traffic congestion, U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz, Washington D.C., Whispering Pines Boulevard
Local
The unfolding struggle to alleviate the traffic strangle on Highway 98 through Navarre is shaping up to be a major lobbying effort that may take several years and will likely reach to Tallahassee and even Washington, D.C. A campaign organized by the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is getting underway with invitations being prepared […]
By Rob Johnson on June 9, 2018
Ace Hardware, Brad Baker, Doug Haskitt, Dr. Liz Moseley, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, florida panhandle, Hurricane Dennis, Hurricane Irma, hurricane season, Katherine Richardson, Memorial Day Weekend, Mother Nature, Santa Rosa County, severe weather, Sgt. Rich Aloy, Subtropical Storm Alberto, U.S. Weather Service, Wal-Mart
Hurricane, Local, Weather
Santa Rosa dodged a bullet when subtropical storm Alberto veered to the east over Memorial Day weekend, but experts warn that Mother Nature could be reloading for several more shots this summer. For county Director of Emergency Preparedness Brad Baker and other officials, the challenge now is rallying residents to be on guard for the […]
By Rob Johnson on June 8, 2018
Army Corps of Engineers, Canals, Clif Payne, dredging, environmental protection agency, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, marine life, National Marine Fisheries Service, Nursery ground, Rod Miller, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Shores, Santa Rosa Shores Homeowners Association, Santa Rosa Sound, Seagrass
Local
The waterfront subdivision of Santa Rosa Shores has received a warning of sorts from the Army Corps of Engineers about its plan to dredge parts of the canals that allow boat access to its 231 homeowners. In an eight-page letter, sent to county officials in May, the Army Corps raised questions about possible environmental damage […]
By Rob Johnson on June 1, 2018
Beach Community Bank, City of Gulf Breeze, City of Gulf Breeze Community Center, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze chamber of commerce, Gulf Breeze High School, Gulf Breeze High School swim team, Kate Henning, Katherine Edwards, Outdoor community pool, Paul Henning, Public pool, Quint Studer, South Santa Rosa County, T.J. Edwards, The Club II, tiger point golf club, Tom Naile, University of West Florida
Local
Ever since The Club II’s owners filed for federal Bankruptcy Court protection from creditors in 2016, several community leaders in South Santa Rosa have talked about taking on the financial challenge of reviving the once-popular facility. Now there’s some action. Read the full article in the May 31 issue of Navarre Press. Click here to subscribe […]
By Rob Johnson on May 30, 2018
Crime, crime rates, escambia county, Florida, Gulf Breeze Police Chief Rick Hawthorne, gulf breeze police department, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson, Sgt. Rich Aloy, violent crime
Crime, Headlines
At first glance, some of the annual crime statistics released last week by state officials make Santa Rosa appear to be trending worse than Florida overall and neighboring counties. What’s more, Santa Rosa’s violent crime rate rose by 10.4 percent, while it fell by double digits in both Escambia and Okaloosa. Read the full article […]
By Rob Johnson on May 16, 2018
BP oil spill, Commissioner Bob Cole, Commissioner Don Salter, Commissioner Lane Lynchard, Commissioner Rob Williamson, Commissioner Sam Parker, Cragin Mosteller, Florida Association of Counties, Grover Robinson, Julie Morgan, Kay Godwin, National Association of Counties, Navarre Beach, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Couny Commissioners, Travel expenses
Headlines
Rarely are questions raised about Santa Rosa County commissioners’ use of the panel’s $50,000 annual travel budget. Instead, there’s a large degree of trust accorded in the commissioners’ judgment about the necessity of their occasional trips to such destinations as government policy meetings in Washington, D.C., and other gatherings in cities such as Orlando and […]
By Rob Johnson on May 9, 2018
Brandi Whitehurst, Debbie Gunnoe, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, George "Geo" Mayer, Gulf Breeze, Holley, Holley by the Sea, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Navarre, Navarre Beach Water System, Paul Gardner, Phil Phillips, Santa Rosa County, Turkey Bluff Road, wastewater disposal
Headlines
The wastewater disposal solution long sought for Holley Navarre Water System (HNWS) at Eglin Air Force Base is now taking shape. In negotiation for years, a lease for spraying on Eglin acreage is considered by HNWS management and Santa Rosa County officials as the best way to satisfy regulators’ requirements for effluent disposal capacity. Read […]
By Rob Johnson on April 30, 2018
Bien May, Bobby Killingsworth, Clayton Connors, Daryl Lynchard, Doug Larson, Doug Robbins, effluent disposal, Fair Weather Partners, Fairpoint Regional Utility board, Flea Market, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Geo Mayer, Gulf Breeze, Hidden Creek Golf Club, Holley, Holley Navarre Water Board, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, Jim Morgan, Keith Kilpatrick, Midway, Navarre, Paul Gardner, Ricki DeSantis, south santa rosa utility system, Thomas Springer, Will Goulet
Headlines
While grappling with issues that could affect how much Holley Navarre Water System ratepayers are charged in the future, the volunteer board that supposedly reached harmony in a January election shake-up has become a familiar war zone with new combatants. “It’s a mess,” said James Calkins, the president who succeeded Bien May this year. Read […]
By Rob Johnson on April 22, 2018
Amy Klotz-Hollenbeck, City of Gulf Breeze, Fairpoint Drive, Golf, Golf cart, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze city council, Gulf Breeze Police Chief Rick Hawthorne, Next Door website, ordinance, Residential neighborhood, Shoreline Drive, Shoreline Park, Terry Mead, Tom Naile, Vernon Prather
Local
Get golf carts off the sidewalks and don’t let children behind the wheel. That’s the gist of a proposed City of Gulf Breeze ordinance aimed at answering complaints about the perils of golf cart traffic in residential neighborhoods. Read the full article in the April 19 issue of Navarre Press. Visit www.navarrepress.com/subscribe to view subscription […]
By Rob Johnson on April 18, 2018
City of Gulf Breeze, Daryl Lynchard, effluent, Eglin Air Force Base, Fairpoint Regional Utility, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Flea Market, Holley-Navarre Water System, Holly, James Calkins, Navarre, navarre beach water, Paul Gardner, Ricki DeSantis, Samantha Abell, south santa rosa utility system, treated wastewater, Will Goulet
Headlines
Once closely allied, Holley Navarre Water System and the City of Gulf Breeze are now at arm’s length. Not only is the revamped board of HNWS backing away from a proposed contract under which it would have paid an estimated $8 million dollars over two decades to spray treated wastewater on land that the city’s […]
By Rob Johnson on April 16, 2018
Amy Klotz-Hallonbeck, Brenda Smith, City of Gulf Breeze, Dolphin Street, Don Palmer, Golf cart, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Police Chief Rick Hawthorne, Next Door, ordinance, social media, Tabby cat, Tom Naile
Local, Pets
Growing community outrage about a deceased cat found on a residential street in the City of Gulf Breeze last week has revived efforts to regulate the golf carts that zip about town on roads and sidewalks. “My daughters are crying their eyes out tonight because someone in a golf cart hit and killed a family […]
By Rob Johnson on April 13, 2018
Bill Burke, City of Gulf Breeze, David Landfair, Florida Auditor General's Office, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Mayor, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Legal fees, Patty Burke, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Sound, Sen. Doug Broxson, Tom Naile
Local
Patty Burke, an outspoken critic of how the City of Gulf Breeze is run, has become the first official candidate for mayor in the election scheduled for November. “I would just like to bring more fiscal responsibility to City Hall,” said Burke, a 56-year-old former investment counselor at the Dean Witter brokerage firm. Read the […]
By Rob Johnson on April 11, 2018
City of Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze city council, Samanta Abell, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County School District, Sen. Doug Broxson, Shawn Brantley, south santa rosa utility system, Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, tiger point golf club, Tom Naile
Headlines
The City of Gulf Breeze’s proposed sale of part of Tiger Point Golf Club to the Santa Rosa County School District may be a better deal for Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick’s organization than either side realized. In fact, the results of a new appraisal received by the City of Gulf Breeze this week indicates that the […]
By Rob Johnson on April 7, 2018
Career Source ESCAROSA, Department of Economic Opportunity, Department of Revenue, escambia county, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Santa Rosa County, Sen. Marco Rubio. Sen. Bill Nelson, Sheryl Rehberg, Tiffany Vause, unemployment rate
Local
With the unemployment rate on Career Source Escarosa’s turf now about half the 8 percent that it was five years ago, the agency would seem to be working its way out of a job. Instead, Career Source Escarosa finds itself searching for new strategies to help the roughly 7,600 job seekers in Escambia and Santa […]
By Rob Johnson on April 4, 2018
Dannheisser, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Michael Stebbins, Renee Bookout, resigns
Headlines, Local
Amid growing acrimony on the Gulf Breeze City Council, Mayor Matt Dannheisser has decided not to run for re-election in November. Dannheisser’s probable successor is David Landfair, the mayor pro tem and a JROTC instructor at Gulf Breeze High School, who told the Navarre Press on Wednesday that he plans to run. “I’m announcing my […]
By Rob Johnson on April 4, 2018
Buz Eddy, City of Gulf Breeze, Fairpoint Regional Utility, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Holley-Navarre Water System, James Calkins, John Grant, Midway Water, Navarre, navarre beach water, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Utility System, Vernon Prather, Will Goulet
Headlines
In an apparent reversal of fortune from a year ago, Fairpoint Regional Utility now expects a financial surplus that could rise to about $12 million during the next decade. Further, recent changes to Fairpoint’s board are already signaling its increased independence of influence from City of Gulf Breeze officials who campaigned last year for a […]
By Rob Johnson on March 30, 2018
Bridge tolls, florida department of transportation, Florida House, Florida Rep. Jayer Williamson, Florida Sen. Doug Broxson, Florida Senate, Garcon Point Bridge, Garcon Point Bridge Authority, Morgan Lamb, Santa Rosa County, Warren Bloom
Local
Okay, we couldn’t agree on an offer to buy the Garcon Point Bridge, so perhaps we should give it back. “Maybe we could just walk away,” State Rep. Jayer Williamson told the Navarre Press after neither the Florida House nor Senate could pass legislation aimed at a state purchase of the bridge during the recently […]
By Rob Johnson on March 28, 2018
Capital Trust Agency, City of Gulf Breeze, David Landfair, Gulf Breeze, gulf breeze city council, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, Holley-Navarre Water System, Michael Stebbins, Patricia Burke, Renee Bookout, Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa County School District, Sen. Doug Broxson, Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, tiger point golf club, Tom Naile
Headlines
Challenges by some Gulf Breeze City Council members over delays in their requests for specifics about the municipality’s mounting legal fees are putting Mayor Matt Dannheisser on the political hot seat. In fact, in a city where unopposed candidates are the norm, three of Dannheisser’s colleagues on the council are thinking of running against him […]
By Rob Johnson on March 25, 2018
Andrews Institute, Assisted Living Facility, Carol Ettelson, City of Gulf Breeze, Gerald Munday, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Jack Floyd, Joachim Drive, John Tolan, Pauline Morris, Retirement home, Sacred Heart Medical Group, Sara Munday, St. Ann's Catholic Church, The Arbors, Tom Pulley
Local
Although the new Arbors senior living community won’t be fully open until May, 20 residents have already moved into the City of Gulf Breeze retirement spot. “It feels like home,” said Gerald Munday, a retired United Methodist Church minister who—with his wife Sara—relocated from a nearby single-family home to be among the Arbors’ first tenants. […]
