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2007: The Year That Was
The year progressed as any other, but rolled out both positive and negative revelations that changed the way people see Gulf Breeze and the surrounding area, for better and for worse. 2007 produced intriguing headlines related to crime, the Andrews Institute, notable deaths, The David Bogan Bridge, commercial development, ambulance service, zoo troubles, weather the District 3 Election and much more. January 2007 marked the 50th birthday of First Baptist Church, Gulf Breeze. On Jan. 5, the community lost the beloved K-9 officer, "Ace." In January, the Gulf Breeze High School "Soundwave" band participated in the Orange Bowl halftime show in Miami.
Former Gulf Breeze City Council member Clay Ford defeated Democratic opponent Elizabeth Campbell in the race to replace District 3 Representative Holly Benson in February. Benson left office in January to become the head of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. At the end of February, Santa Rosa County Commissioners narrowed down potential courthouse sites from a list of 50 locations. After two and a half years and over $6 million after the last hurricane roared through Gulf Breeze in 2005, the restoration process for the city's parks was declared a success in March of 2007. At the end of March, Santa Rosa County enacted a hiring freeze in light of major budget cuts proposed by the state. The state eventually approved the reductions in August.
On April 18, local anglers caught a 12 foot mako shark near Portofino on Pensacola Beach. The Andrews Institute became operational and hosted an official grand opening in April. Approximately 1,000 people showed up April 22 to the grand opening. In May, Lifeguard Transportation Services, Inc. won the county's contract for ground ambulance service. The new provider, which took over for Rural/Metro Ambulance Service, began its contract on Aug. 1. The Santa Rosa Island Authority celebrated the opening of the public safety and restroom facility in May. Gulf Breeze resident William S. "Bill" Rone was formally appointed to the Senior Executive Service during a standing-room-only ceremony held at Hurlburt Field on May 16. In June, Gulf Breeze City Council approved the final version of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) guidelines. Msgr. Luke Hunt celebrated 40 years of ministry on June 3. In June, the area's first liquor store, Aloha Wine and Liquor, opened for business.
In July, park officials announced that they needed $3 million within the next year and at least $1 million of it by the end of 2007 to keep the park open. As 2007 draws to a close, zoo officials announced that the zoo met its fundraising goal of $1 million because of enormous community support and fundraisers. During the year the zoo lost four kangaroos, a young hippo and a giraffe. At the end of October, zoo officials announced a new director would be taking over. Danyelle Lantz, a former chief financial officer, took over for Doug. H. Kemper, Jr. On July 27, an unidentified suspecrobbed the People's First Community Bank on Shoreline Drive. In August, the State of Florida challenged Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser Greg Brown's reduction in property appraisals. Tiger Point Park kicked off its inaugural season of football on Aug. 18. In late September, the community was hit with very heavy news. John David Roy Atchison was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Sept. 16 for allegedly using the Internet to set up a sexual encounter with a 5-year-old girl. Atchison pleaded not guilty to the charges in a federal courtroom in Michigan and faced life in prison if convicted. Atchison took his own life in a low security prison in Michigan after being taken off a suicide watch.
On Sept. 20, a Fort Walton Beach man caused a three-hour standoff with Santa Rosa Sheriff's Deputies, which forced three nearby schools to go into lockdown. Gulf Breeze was spared by the tornado that ripped through Pensacola Oct. 18 but not from torrential rainfall that dwarfed the so-called 100-year floods in April of 2005. Repair work resumed on J. Earle Bowden Way, the road connecting Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach in October.
On Nov. 21, a man attempting to steal beer from Cancun's Mexican Grill ended up with only a pocketful of condiments and a scraped hand. On Dec. 3, law enforcement officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Marshals, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and Gulf Breeze Police executed search warrants for Cancun's Mexican Grill and other undisclosed residences in the area. 25 people were arrested, 15 of which were deported. Nine face federal charges. Cancun's owner Rogelio Galvan Chavez and others face drug trafficking charges. The restaurant remains closed pending the outcome of the trial.
Notable Deaths: Allen R. Levin, Jan. 12 Sarah Brown, Feb. 17 David Bogan, Feb. 21 James "Gibby" Naylor Fail, June 4 John David Roy Atchison, Oct. 5 Dr. Alec Kessler, Oct. 13 Notable projects that did not receive funding this year included: a plan to widen U.S. 98 to six lanes from approximately the eastern border of the Naval Live Oak reservation to the Garcon Point Bridge and the restoration of the Gulf Breeze side of the Pensacola Bay fishing bridge. E. Louise Benson bequeathed to The Gulf Breeze Historical Society $30,000 along with selected sections of some property that contain four buildings, including her home on Live Oak Avenue, two buildings on Pfeiffer Street, one that is currently used by Dolphin Design and Printing. Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church obtained the Benson building, which church officials later decided to sell. Betty Archer Allen, Pam Brannon, B.J. Davis, Lisa Newell and Vici Papajohn contributed to this report. |
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