Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 1

IE Ann Landers 28 PENSACOLA MARDI GRAS FINALE ThePriscus Procession, called tine common man's Mardi Gras, winds though Pensacola tonight. Classified 4-8C ComicsTV 4B.5B Crosswords 2B.SC Legate SC Lottery 2C Movies 3B Obituaries 2C Opinion 6-7A Chance of rain 30 58 High IB Low 36 See weather, back of section Tuesday February 11, 1997 DOWNSIZING FEARS AT WHITING Possible military cutbacks have Santa Rosa County officials worried. I 1 A Gannett Newspaper MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA 1997 Jl mm Oil fiDBTleflSO Jury punishes Simpson with $25 million judgment Wa4 pjj Associated Press SANTA MONICA, Calif. A jury Monday heaped $25 million in punitive damages on O.J. Simpson for the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, saddling him with more than twice the debt even his pursuers say he can pay.

The judgment is on top of $8.5 million in compensatory damages awarded last week when the jury repudiated Simpson's 1 murder acquittal and found him liable in the 1994 slashing deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. "Finding 0. J. Simpson liable of the murders and acting with oppression and malice was one of the easiest decisions I have ever had to make," said juror No. 11, a white woman in her 30s who wasn't identified by name in a news conference.

Juror No. 266, a theater stage manager in her 40s, said she simply didn't believe Simpson's testimony. "Everything as it related to the evidence the shoes, the hitting, where the gloves were, the sweatsuit." Simpson should not profit from killings, 2A. WHATS NEXT? Oderbrecht-Metric builders began preliminary site work for the Garcon Point bridge last month. On Monday, crews were clearing trees and pulling up stumps for the bridge footings.

Construction is expected to take at least 30 months. The bridge has not been formally named. 1 guess we'll name it but I don't know when. Maybe soon," said Mahlon McCall, chairman of the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority. Ruling excites officials, saddens environmentalists By Brad Barnes and Heidi Nieland News Journal staff writers MILTON The Garcon Point bridge will not be stopped, a federal judge has ruled in a 11th hour suit brought by environmentalists.

"Let's build it this week!" exalted Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Ira Mae Hewatt. Tm very excited." Commissioner Bill Lundin, was And though officials were ecstatic, at least one resident had mixed feelings. "I'll use the bridge, if it ever gets built," said Garcon Point resident Nan Wilson. But Wilson lives on Katie Road, right next to the bridge construction added, "The only thing I hate is them taking all the trees down in front of our house. Now it's like barren wasteland out here." Barring an appeal, the judge's de-See JUDGE, 8A UNITING COUNTY: Bridge to link north and south, 1C equally thrilled about the bridge which will link the south and north sides of the county across East Bay.

"Fantastic! It's about time," he said. "When my family moved here in 1958, people were starting to talk about it." The ruling by U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger in Jacksonville was announced Monday. He turned down arguments by environmentalists who said that the bridge was permitted before the environmental consequences were thoroughly studied. each parking plan to reap cheers, jeers Patrols part of SRIA proposal ir I EPA at odds with citizens on relocation Group fears demolition would stir up toxic dust By John W.

Allman News Journal staff writer Residents near the Superfund site want home demolitions delayed until everyone is relocated to avoid exposure to stirred up, contaminated dirt. But the Environmental Protection Agency wants to demolish homes as the residents of the 358 homes are moved. Citizens Against Toxic Exposure, a Pensacola-based citizens (-jr(-m iiihii rr The bad news for parking space searchers is that parking would be prohibited along the north shoulder of Via de Luna. The idea is to try to stop pedestrians from having to cross the busy roadway as they walk often loaded with beach gear to the Gulf of Mexico. Parking has always been prohibited on the north side of Fort Pickens Road.

But officials say the spaces lost on Via de Luna are offset by a net increase of about 150 spaces since opening of an expansion of the Casino Beach parking lot. 3,000 spaces During special events like the annual Blue Angels beach show, which draws 75,000 or more spectators, special event parking would go into effect allowing parking almost anywhere except in front of fire hydrants and intersections. The "no signs would be covered for those events. Counting roadside spots, there are about 3,000 parking places on the beach. Planners hope by March 1 to replace the chaos that traditionally surrounds summer beach parking with the new, clearly defined rules.

And they're proposing to spend $32,000 for one or two new part-time deputies who would work varying shifts and patrol for parking violators. The island authority has viewed the plan favorably, even though it flies in the face of suggestions from two parking studies completed by outside firms the PaSt. The board could approve the new plan at Wednesday's meeting. If so, a media education blitz By Brad Barnes News Journal staff writer PENSACOLA BEACH The first real parking plan for the beach in years may be launched next month, complete with an ad campaign to let us know where to go. And it won't be soon enough for beach-goers who are looking for help in finding a parking spot in the upcoming dog days.

"It's madness. Every time I go to the beach, it's like everyone else does, too," said Steve Simmons, 28, of Pensacola. "It makes me dread coming." Although it probably won't solve congestion problems, officials hope the new plan will make parking safer and easier to understand. Among highlights: Parking along Via de Luna Drive and its side streets will be allowed for the first time since the 1995 hurricanes. Roadside parking will only be allowed during daylight hours.

Part-time deputies will be hired and tasked primarily with enforcing parking and alcohol violations. They'll be given bullhorns and laptop computers so they can track repeat offenders. New parking and "no parking" signs will be put up to clearly establish parking areas. So why is the plan's author, Dr. Andrew Gygi, prepared to be the least-liked person on the beach? "You've got people who say, 'We want to park and you've got those who don't want any roadside parking," said Gygi, the only elected member of the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

"Neither one's going to like it, because it's a balance between the two." John BlackieNews Journal photographer Escambia County Deputy Mike Haveard directs traffic at Pensacola Beach. Officials hope a new plan will make parking on the beach safer and easier to understand. including a pamphlet, newspaper advertising and question-and-answer programs on radio and television could begin as soon as this month. Helping the dunes "People need to know that things are going to be handled a little differently," Gygi said. The new rules wouldn't be radically different from present ones, though the current policy is muddy and often not enforced.

And some beach residents along the south side of the road don't like the fact that cars still might be parked in front of their yards on nice weekends. "Why even half the street? I don't think they should allow roadside parking at all," said Marcus Bedford, 53, who lives on Via de Luna. His solution to parking problems? "Count the cars and shut the bridge down when it's full." The roadside restrictions also should help the hurricane-ravaged dune system rebuild by cutting down on foot traffic. That fact tempered the anger of some. "I guess it'll be OK," said Cadie Kryden, 35, of Gulf Breeze.

"I mean, I don't like the sound of losing parking, but I understand it's best for the dunes." Studies done by separate firms in 1987 and 1993 both suggested completely eliminating roadside See NEW, 8A Proposed parking plan Santa Rosa Sound Gulf Breeze Santa Rosa Sound Parkinn lots Under the proposed plan, roadside parking on parts of the beach is being allowed for the first time since Hurricane Opal. But now it will be permitted only on one side of the street. On Via de Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road, it's allowed only on the south side of the street. For side streets, the side you're allowed to park on varies. Obey area signs, which should be in place in March.

I No parking I I Range Point committee, and the hA will meet Wednesday in Mobile to hash out the final details of the $18-million federal relocation plan. The disagreement over when homes are demolished is one of the last hurdles. "The whole idea behind relocation is to protect the people that have lived there," said Frances Dunham, committee member. "Any further exposure is unacceptable." Kenneth Lucas, EPA environmental engineer and the site's project manager, said the issue should be resolved. Once everyone agrees, he said, the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, can prepare a final relocation plan. IN 1995, the EPA agreed to relocate 358 households near the former Escambia Wood Treating Co. and Agrico Chemical Co. sites after toxins in the soil and groundwater were determined to exceed safe levels. The two businesses have been combined into one Superfund site for cleanup.

The relocation affects households from Pearl Avenue north to Hickory Street. The contaminants lead, dioxin, arsenic and benzo(a)pyrene pose a long-term risk, but not an immediate threat, the EPA has said. Dunham was in Washington last week to speak during a press conference for the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides. The coalition has released a report called "Poison Poles" that details environmental hazards caused by wood preservatives used in treating utility poles. SOME OF the chemicals, including dioxin, have contributed to the problems in Pensacola.

"Mount Dioxin" is the nickname given to two mounds of contaminated soil excavated by the EPA and placed near the former Escambia Wood Treating site. The two mounds, both 60 feet high, are covered with plastic sheeting. Jay Feldman, the coalition's executive director, said the report is meant to raise public awareness. "I think the EPA does tend to forget that they're supposed to be regulating hazardous materials and supposed to be protecting people," he said. "We will continue to seek out an EPA that is responsive and takes these chemicals off the market." Lucas said he has heard about the report, but hasn't read it.

EPA cleanup crews will be in Pensacola this week sampling groundwater. I Bevonrj this I I Pensacola Beach Fire Department 'Numbers indicate parking pj (wat SPaCeS' 1 JXL'' Beach boardwalk Fort Pickens I Towers Hotel fjvil. picnic area fCTrl Via de Luna w-n ri i i i Mr i -mzz. 12 mite Pensacola Beach Gulf of Mexico Fort Pickens Rd. Louis MatalonNews Journal artist Gospel music KOs sports at WZNO Eglin, Hurlburt Field halt flights over Gulf of Mexico cided to sell the station because "the time was right." Glinter said the station might change call letters but for now is concentrating on building its audience by playing songs by such artists as the Bishops, the Mc-Cameys and New River.

"I used to think the adults 35 to 40 were the target audience for this format," Glinter said. "But now that a lot of young people are listening to country, we're finding more young listeners interested in Southern gospel because of the country style." The station is using a satellite format but will start local programming within a few months. There are five radio stations with Christian formats in the Pensacola By Troy Moon News Journal staff writer Game over! Hallelujah? Pensacola's only all sport-talk radio station WZNO-AM 1230 retired its format at 8 p.m. Sunday and called up an up-and-coming prospect: Southern gospel music. The switch comes just weeks after Mike and Dara Glinter purchased WZNO from Mark Oliver and Bonnie and David McDonald.

"We thought Southern gospel was an area in this market that hasn't been served," Mike Glinter said Monday afternoon after receiving dozens of calls from angry and confused sports fans. The couple, who moved from Kansas City, decided to call Pensacola home after attending the ing to public affairs officers. Air Force training flights were suspended in coastal areas of the Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico following incidents off New Jersey and Texas. No incidents were reported along the Panhandle. Flight officers, pilots and air traffic controllers reviewed collision avoidance procedures during the one-day suspension.

The Navy did not suspend any flights at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, said Patrick Nichols, a base spokesman. More close encounters, 8A. By Scott Schonauer News Journal staff writer Training flights over the Gulf of Mexico from Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field were suspended Monday after two reports of close encounters between military and commercial aircraft in other areas of the country. Pilots from Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing were expected to resume over-water flights today, said Lt. Wade Arnold, a wing spokesman.

The suspension didn't affect inland missions and many flights were diverted over land, accord Gospel Revival at Brownsville Assembly of God last summer. "I think they (church members) will like it," Glinter said. What about people aching for sports? They're asking, "Where did you go, Joe DiMaggio?" "It was the only sports station in town," said Mark Kilpatrick, 32, of Pensacola, who called the News Journal to complain. "It gave you scores, interviews and FSU football," said Kilpatrick. "I'm upset because it gave a lot more insight into sport3 than even ESPN." WrZNO began its all-sports format in the summer of 1 995.

Oliver said he and his partners de area. 232.