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March 19, 2012

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax took the weekend box office!

http://movies.yahoo.com/box-office/

FGCU women lose in OT at NCAA Tournament

The FGCU women's basketball team looked like it was headed to victory in its first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament appearance.

But 5th-seeded St. Bonaventure came back from an 11-point deficit in the final six minutes and change to force overtime and then outlasted the 12th-seeded Eagles for a 72-65 comeback win.

Sarah Hansen had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles, but a late 16-5 run by the Bonnies changed the game.

After St. Bonaventure took the lead late, Courtney Chihil scored a driving basket with about three seconds left to force overtime.

The Bonnies completed the comeback in the extra session, outscoring the Eagles 14-7 in the extra session.

Nicoya Jackson scored 12 points for FGCU, and Dunbar graduate Eglah Griffin had 11, including the Eagles 341st three pointer of the year, which broke the previous NCAA record.

An 11-0 run to start the second half put the Eagles in position to win, but St. Bonaventure's rally ended FGCU's cinderella hopes in hearbreaking fashion.

St. Bonaventure advances to play 13th-seeded Marist in the second round of the tournament.

FGCU ends the season at 29-3.

113 pounds of pot found in Cape grow house

A 53-year-old man was arrested after investigators reportedly discovered a marijuana growing operation at his Cape Coral home Thursday.

Javier Hernandez, who lives at 3829 Agualinda Boulevard, was booked into the Lee County Jail on charges of trafficking in marijuana.

Thursday afternoon, patrol officers contacted the Cape Coral Police Department Narcotics Unit after discovering what they suspected was a marijuana grow house.

Neighbor Carmen Valentin says she saw the whole scenario play out.

"They were yelling, '3829 Agualinda! This is the Cape Coral Police! We have a search warrant. Come out and put your hands up!' They just kept repeating it," she described.

During the investigation, officers contacted Hernandez, and he admitted there was a growing operation inside the home, according to an arrest report.

Detectives searched the home and found over 113 pounds of pot as well as 20 marijuana plants inside the garage, the report said.

Valentin says she would sometimes see him coming and going from the address.

"You usually assume he's probably going to work and coming from work and that's about it," she said.

Other neighbors we spoke with say they thought the home was vacant.

"Trying to figure out that a home that we thought had been vacated had that much disruption going on," said Colleen Deguzman.

Cape church discounts gas for drivers

Amid reminders of soaring gas prices nearing $4-a-gallon:  A bright spot.

"I saw $3.59 and it was like neon," said Winnie Arling, of Cape Coral.

 

Neon-clad volunteers flagged drivers to save $0.30-a-gallon at the Shell station at Del Prado and SE 44th Street in Cape Coral.

 

"I see all these green neon sweatshirts that says 'The Way'," added Arling. "I said that's a hell-of-a way to get my attention."

 

The Way Church of Cape Coral is behind this deep discount. The congregation opened a year ago and has about 20 members.

 

"We've been waiting for the perfect timing to do it and with gas prices so high we figured that this is the time, right now," said Dan Sardinas, co-pastor of the church.

 

The sale began at 10 a.m. When it ended at 12:30 p.m., they sold more 1,300 gallons of gas.

 

"I'm too happy," said Veltha Dhaity, of Cape Coral. "I never see that for a long time!"

 

The deal made her day. She asked for a church pamphlet.

 

"I appreciate and happy the church help us out so whatever they want me to do help out, I do," added Dhaity.

 

And while some counted the savings even before their tank was full.

 

"It saved me like $5 today," said Gene Ross, of Cape Coral.

 

Others were intrigued by the church's different approach to giving back. 

 

"I know they help a lot of people with food and all those kinds of school projects but never heard of them helping out with gas," said Sandy Deal, of Cape Coral. "I think it's fabulous."

 

And the church may even do this again.

 

Sardinas said the event cost the Way Church of Cape Coral about $500 and he got the idea from his former church in Pennsylvania. 

 

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March 15, 2012

Deputies recover stolen ring worth $45K

An employee of a cleaning company was arrested for allegedly stealing a $45,000 diamond ring while cleaning a client's house, according to Collier County Sheriff's Office reports.

The victim contacted deputies after discovering her 5.33 carat diamond ring, valued at $45,000, was missing.

She told deputies she put the ring away before the cleaning woman came over and when the cleaning woman left the ring was missing, reports said.

Deputies made contact with the cleaning woman, Rosemary Gato, who allegedly confessed to taking the ring.

Deputies returned the ring to the victim.

Gato was charged with one count of grand theft $20,000-$100,000.

 Would-be robber dives through 'drive-thru' window

A Florida man is jailed after attempting to steal money from a fast-food restaurant in what's being dubbed a "dive-through" robbery attempt.

Fort Lauderdale police say 31-year-old Edwin Walker is facing strong-arm robbery charges. Court records did not did not list an attorney Tuesday for Walker.

Police say surveillance video at a local Burger King shows Walker waiting early Monday for a customer to pull up to the drive-through window. When the window was opened, Walker allegedly jumped on the hood of a car and dove through the window to steal cash from the register.

An employee was able to grab Walker by the shirt and others held him down until police arrived.

The charge is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Man walks into Polk County Papa John's Pizza restaurant, walks out wearing stolen pizza costume

 

Polk County deputies say a man walked into Papa John's Pizza restaurant, put on a pizza costume, and then walked out of the Lakeland restaurant Sunday evening.  

Detectives say a white man, perhaps 18 years old, entered the restaurant with six others, wearing a white button-up shirt, dark pants and a dark tie.  He put the costume on and left the store wearing it.

The costume is described as approximately six feet tall, and looks like a giant slice of pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers and black olives.

Video surveillance shows the images of the suspect and four persons of interest. They are described as three older white males with dark hair. One had a full beard. The fourth person of interest is described as a white female with dark hair.

Two other persons of interest were described as a white male with dark hair wearing a white shirt, and dark pants; and an Asian female wearing black leggings and a light-colored jacket.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Kim Douglas at 863-577-1600 or 863.298.6200. Those who want to remail anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Hearland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS or visit www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com

March Madness vasectomies

Many urologists are experiencing their own version of "March Madness."

It appears the time just prior to the NCAA tournament is a busy time of year for urologists. 

Many men schedule their vasectomies, just before tournament time, so recovery can be spent watching the games.  

New techniques help make the procedure quicker and more comfortable.  But there is still some icing involved afterwards.

"We recommend they come in, and then spend a day and a half or two days, basically keeping the area as cool as possible. That helps to alleviate swelling, so they gotta be sitting, by and large, they can't sit around a lot. It's the perfect situation for television," Dr. Jones says.

Guys are typically told to stay in a reclined position while they're icing.  It just so happens that's a good way to watch basketball, too. 

Doctors say sometimes guys come in together, so they can sit around and watch games together.

 

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MARCH 14, 2012

Armored truck overturns on Daniels Parkway

An armored truck has overturned on Daniels Parkway at Pine Villa Lane in Fort Myers, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

The area where the truck overturned is near Daniels and Metro Parkway.

Organization delivers millionth pound of food

The Harry Chapin Food Bank reached a milestone on Tuesday, delivering its millionth pound of food in one year.

61 percent of Collier County students are defined as economically needy and receive free lunch while at school.

That need also goes home with those students.

With the partnership of the Harry Chapin Food Bank and Naples Children and Education Foundation, Lunch Boxes of Love took on hunger in a heavy way by making a food pantry mobile and going where the need is great.

The year-old organization celebrated a year strong in a big way on Tuesday, delivering the millionth pound of food to 500 families at Avalon Elementary School in East Naples.

Families lined up to get their hands on lettuce, potatoes, juice, and chicken.

"The money I have, it's not enough," says parent Odalys Quevado.

But since Lunch Boxes of Love, she and her three children don't have to worry about food anymore.

"I know that we will have enough food," says Monia Quevado.

That feeling is enough to keep the organization growing strong.

"Be happy. Be sad. But realize that we are doing what we're called to do," says Jo Anna Bradshaw with Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Lunch Boxes of Love will be presented with a check for $630,000 from the Naples Children and Education Foundation on April 10th.

The money was raised during the Naples Winter Wine Festival auction held by NCEF

Woman gets new charges in 'toxic tush' case

A Florida woman accused by authorities of illegally injecting toxic substances such as flat-tire sealant and glue into women's buttocks as an enhancement procedure is facing new charges.

Broward Sheriff's Office deputies say 32-year-old Oneal Ron Morris faces unlicensed practice of medicine and related charges after three new victims were identified. Morris, who police say was born a man and identifies as a woman, was arrested in November on similar charges in Miami-Dade County.

The victims told authorities that Morris wore a nurse's uniform, gloves and an ID tag during the procedures. Authorities said Morris also injected victims with caulk and cement. All three victims suffered medical complications and infections.

Morris is free on $8,500 bail after turning herself in Monday. Her attorney said his client maintains her innocence.

Candidate proposes Immokalee vegetable theme park

Though his idea for a theme park in Naples did not gain much traction, Collier County Commission District 5 candidate John Lundin will not be deterred.

Lundin, who is running as a Democrat, proposed during public comments that Collier County should think about developing what he calls I-Panave — the Immokalee National Park of Vegetables.

Lundin said the park could be modeled after the Parque Nacional De La Cultura Agropecuaria (or PANACA), which is a farming theme park in Colombia that promotes contact between humans and nature. The park is intended for those who live in the city and to create awareness about nature.

"It's like the Disney of the Hispanic world," Lundin said. "It would create jobs and be a way to celebrate everything growing in Immokalee."

Commissioners did not respond following Lundin's video presentation, but he said he will be taking his initiative to the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency and the Seminole Casino to promote it and find someone to take the reins of the project.

In late February, Lundin appeared before the Tourist Development Council and proposed turning the county into the "I-75 Theme Park Corridor."

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March 13, 2012

Beef prices continue to rise

Beef prices are currently at a record high and there's no sight of them coming back down any time soon.

The price is headed to spike even more.

Beef prices this year hit a record high of $5.00 per pound, up $.17 since last year, and it's expected to rise another 5-10 percent again.

"Everything is going up so it was hard to put my finger on just that," says shopper Linda Burack.

But gas prices aren't the only reason to blame for the beef price spike.

Contributors to rising costs include high feed costs, diminishing profits, demand for an overseas market, and that cattle numbers are down.

Producers who have struggled with increased feed costs and smaller profits started shrinking their herds a few years ago.

As supply dwindled, foreign demand shot up by 11 percent.

But even though prices are expected to increase, many stores adjust their prices differently.

Publix adjusts week to week, while Sweetbay adjusts year to year, and Walmart adjusts daily.

Burger joint Five Guys says they see the price hike firsthand. Just two weeks ago, they saw another 10 percent increase.

"We're expecting another 10-20 percent increase on that over the next few months," says manager Jake Ducey.

However, they refuse to pass the cost on to the customers for now.

"Each time it goes up, we're just making a little less," Ducey says

Women's basketball: FGCU seeded 12th in NCAA tournament, to face St. Bonaventure

The Florida Gulf Coast Universitywomen basketball team learned during Monday night's Alico Arena watch party that the Eagles will face No. 5 seed St. Bonaventure at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Tallahassee.

The 64-team bracket was announced live on ESPN. FGCU is seeded 12th in the Raleigh (N.C.) Regional and the winner of FGCU vs. St. Bonaventure plays the survivor of No. 4 Georgia and No. 13 Marist matchup on Tuesday.

It will be the first-ever NCAA tournament appearance for FGCU (29-2), which spent the previous four seasons in Division I transition, meaning the Atlantic Sun regular-season and tourney champion Eagles weren't eligible for NCAA or conference tournament play during that time.

FGCU has won 21 consecutive games, leads the nation in 3-pointers (10.8 per game; 335 total) and is second among other teams receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Although the Eagles have no NCAA tourney experience, FGCU coach Karl Smesko, who began building the program from scratch a decade ago, does. He led Walsh to the 1998 NAIA D-II national title in his only season at the Canton, Ohio, school and the Eagles to the national title game in 2006-07, their last season as a D-II program.

 

Cops caught sleeping on-duty

Two Fort Myers police officers are busted for sleeping on the job. Tonight fellow officers say that puts both the public and the officers in danger. Four in your Corner investigator Mike Mason spoke with a veteran officer who says cops are simply overworked. We found the officers who fell asleep were also working a lot of overtime and that heavy workload may have caught up with them.

On the night of January 28th, two Fort Myers police officers were caught sleeping while on-duty. One was officer Bryan Fuller seen here in a previous report.

According to investigators, at around 3:45 in the morning, dispatchers tried to raise - or contact - officer Bryan Fuller approximately 15 times. Eventually another officer found Fuller and activated his siren when he pulled up to Fuller's car. The officer observed fuller in his driver's seat with his head down and Fuller appeared to be dazed.

Later that night; a similar incident. Officer Jason Jackson was staking out a burglary suspect when a citizen stated the officer is sleeping in the vehicle. He was then awoke by his Lieutenant and verbally counseled. That same Lieutenant checked on Jackson ten minutes later and found him this time with his door open, left foot outside and he was unconscious in the vehicle.

Mike Mason: "What's the danger of an officer falling asleep on the job?”
Officer: "I'd say given the circumstances if you're in the wrong place obviously there's the potential of someone taking your firearm from you."

We spoke with a veteran police officer who asked us to conceal his identity for fear of retaliation. He says many officers are exhausted because they are overworked.

Officer: "It doesn't matter who you are, you're going to be very tired. Obviously that's why it looks like you had some officers falling asleep on duty."

Fox 4 found both officers who fell asleep had been working long hours. Time sheets show during the two week pay period when officer Jackson fell asleep, he worked 55 hours of overtime. Officer Fuller worked 63 hours of overtime.

The officer we spoke with says there are too many cops working behind the desk or on special assignments.

Officer: "I think part of the problem you have is you can look at the schedules and see that there might be 17 or 18 officers assigned to be on patrol at one time, that's never the case. You can show up to a briefing and you might see 6 or 7 guys."

The officers in our report both received written reprimands and were not allowed to work overtime for two weeks. The police union president says the Chief needs to put more officers on the streets. We tried to speak with Chief Doug Baker but he had no comment.
 

Segways hit Punta Gorda streets

A new sight is popping up in picturesque Punta Gorda.

"It's something different. It's hard to believe you can stand on 2 wheels without falling off," remarked Segways2u co-owner Keith Steele.

Steele and fellow Detroit resident Maureen Kearns rolled into town with more than 10 Segways. They're betting the small town will fall in love with the moving machines.

"It's a novelty... people are really excited about it," said Kearns.

The rental shop will be open only in the season from late November through April. The two seasonal transplants are optimistic the 2 wheeled devices will catch on once people get the hang of them. 

It's a hope shared by city leaders.

"It's a perfect fit. They're renting them close to safe pathways including the Harborwalk which is as good as it gets," said Punta Gorda Mayor Bill Albers.

The mayor said he is confident the Segways have found their winter home and hopes they will attract more visitors.

"I don't think any 80 year olds will get on them but we have new retirees and a younger population. The demographic is changing," remarked the mayor.

Renting a Segway in Punta Gorda starts at $40 an hour with guided tours for a little bit more.

Florida guaranteed $4 billion in mortgage settlement

America's biggest banks are ready to pay up more than $25 billion to try to solve the country's mortgage mess. Now, we're learning how struggling Florida homeowners could benefit from the settlement.

There are 48 states involved in this deal, but Florida will be one of just two to get guaranteed money: at least $4 billion in mortgage relief.

The money comes from a $25 billion National Mortgage Settlement involving five of the country's largest lenders: Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorganChase, Wells Fargo and Ally.

Attorney General Pam Bondi says Florida's share amounts to $4 billion in settlement credits, with an $8 billion total cash value.

$3.1 billion of that money will go to help financially-troubled borrowers cut their payments.

"The $3.1 billion is the holy grail of mortgage loan workouts for borrowers," said attorney Kevin Jursinski. "$3.1 billion will pay down your mortgage, which is going to be great for those in trouble to actually get real relief, and dollar relief."

$309 million is set to help underwater borrowers refinance. Jursinski said it appears the settlement will even offer help to reduce high interest rates for homeowners who are current on their payments.

"Their complaint is, we're paying, why don't we get help? Well, help is here," Jursinski said. "Help is here in the form of , we'll give you an interest rate reduction, even though your house could never get refinanced in a traditional manner."

$171 million will go to Floridians who have already lost their homes. But that would amount to $1,800 to $2,000 for qualifying borrowers.

"$1,800 to $2,000 isn't going to do anything for these people. That really is a slap in the face," said Eddie Felton at the Home Ownership Resource Center in Lee County.

Felton says that part of the deal may be too little, too late.

The Home Ownership Resource Center works to help keep people in their homes. The organization could get part of a $334 million payment from the settlement to prevent future foreclosures.

"Because of the lack of funding, we've basically had to turn people away," Felton said.

Jursinski says the key for struggling homeowners will be to apply for help as soon as possible.

"$3.1 billion is a huge amount, its just not going to be enough to take care of everybody," Jursinski said. "People need to get, apply and move forward of this, take advantage of this great settlement."

The court orders need to be finalized before the banks start offering the help. A timeline for that isn't clear, but part of the deal would leave the banks facing tough penalities if they don't pay out as promised.  

 

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MARCH 12, 2012

Police: Man took cab to rob north Fla. Bank

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Police say a man robbed a bank to pay a $400 debt he owed another man.

The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/AnDWIO ) reports 44-year-old Allen Cooper Jr. told the man on Thursday that he needed to go to the bank to get the money he owed him. Authorities say the two rode together in a taxi cab to the BB&T bank branch in Jacksonville.

According to police, Allen handed the teller a note demanding cash. Once the teller complied, the pair left the bank in the cab. Witnesses told police and they tracked the cab to an apartment complex. They found him in an apartment, where he had changed into women's clothing. Police say they used a stun gun to subdue him.

Records did not list an attorney for Cooper.

 DR. SEUSS' THE LORAXtook the weekend box office

Dad makes son wear sign for bad grades

Seventh grader Michael Bell Jr. brought home bad grades, so his parents made him hit the streets and wear a sign reading, "Hey, I want to be a class clown, is it wrong?" On the flip side, it asks cars to honk if they think three failing grades are bad.

"I don't like it, but I know that it's my fault," said Michael Bell Jr.

Bell Jr. is failing civics, language arts and math and his Dad is not happy. So instead of a fun spring break, this teenager has a unique punishment.

POLL: Do you think this punishment was fair? Vote!

"He has been screwing up in school, behavior and academics and right now I am trying to send a message to him," said Michael Bell Sr.

That message is to pull up his grades or you might find yourself sporting a sandwich board on North Kendall Drive next semester.

"Right now, this is the only thing I have left to try and reach him," said Bell Sr.

This 14-Year-Old Girl Just Bought A House In Florida

Meet Willow Tufano, age 14: Lady Gaga fan, animal lover, landlord.

In 2005, when Willow was 7, the housing market was booming. Home prices in some Florida neighborhoods nearly doubled from one month to the next. Her family moved into a big house; her mom became a real estate agent.

But as Willow moved from childhood to adolescence, the market turned, and the neighborhood emptied out. "Everyone is getting foreclosed on here," she says.

After the collapse, Willow's mom started working with investors who wanted to bid on cheap, foreclosed homes. Sometimes Willow tagged along.

 

One day, she went to a house that an investor wanted to flip. "It was filled with all kinds of stuff!" Willow says. "I was like, 'I can sell this stuff if he'd want to let me have it.' "

That was fine with the investor. So Willow sold the furniture and appliances from the house on Craigslist. She did the same thing with a bunch more houses. After a while, she was clearing about $500 a month, and saving a lot of it.

One day, Willow's mom, Shannon, saw a two-bedroom, concrete-block home on auction for $12,000 — down from $100,000 at the peak of the bubble. Shannon was telling her husband about the house, when Willow piped up.

"I was like, 'What if I bought a house? That would be crazy,' " Willow says.

Willow wound up splitting the house with her mom. Willow plans to buy her mom out in the next few years, and put her name on the title when she turns 18.

The place was a mess when they bought it — "like there was a riot or something," Willow says.

They cleaned it up and rented it out to a young couple for $700 a month.

As I was working on this story, I kept thinking that when a 14-year-old kid can buy a house, the market must have hit bottom. I kept saying this to Willow, and she'd sort of vaguely nod.

But it's hard for Willow to see herself as symbolic of anything. To a 14-year-old kid in Florida, the housing collapse is basically the only world she's known. It's the landscape. It's a Craigslist hobby.

She's thinking she may save up for a second home. 

 

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March 9, 2012

9 arrested in undercover prostitution bust

Nine people were arrested during an undercover prostitution operation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday.

LCSO initiated the operation after receiving tips and complaints from citizens and Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers regarding solicitation on internet websites.

Detectives were able to respond to the advertisements and place advertisements of their own with the purpose of catching the suspects.

Arrested were:

Jose A. Calix, 21, Naples
Solicitation of prostitution

Jesse Nieves, 51, Cape Coral
Transport for the purpose of prostitution

Amanda Dunaway, 29, Cape Coral
Solicitation of prostitution

Jessica Rodriguez, 29, Ft. Myers
Solicitation of prostitution

Christopher Anderson, 37, 2075 Sanctuary Road, Naples
Solicitation of prostitution

Edwin Walker, 27, 520 103rd Avenue, Naples
Solicitation of prostitution

Dwayne Malcolm, 24, 2880 49th St SW, Naples
Solicitation of prostitution

Jose Manjarroz-Diaz, 35, Naples
Solicitation of prostitution

Wilmer Amaya, 31, Naples
Solicitation of prostitution

Employee Talks Armed Gunman Out Of Robbery

The 32-year-old woman, who works at Cupid's Corner on South Charles R. Beall Boulevard, was confronted by 17-year-old Cody Conner with a loaded gun, said authorities.

Deputies said Conner demanded cash from the employee, but the woman told the teen "don't do this, it's not worth it."

The woman is a mother of four children and said she didn't want Conner to throw his life away.

After talking to Conner for about 20 minutes she was able to get him to remove the bullets from the gun.

The woman then told Conner she may have a job for him and had him fill out a job application, according to investigators.

 

Police said in a release that the woman and teen hugged and even smoked a cigarette together before she went next door to a convenience store to report the incident.

"And did he have a gun?" said the 911 operator on the call.

"Yes, yes sir he did have a gun," said the woman on the 911 call. "It's in his waistband."

"Did he take anything?" said the 911 operator. "He didn't get anything?"

"No," said the woman. "No I talked him out of it."

"Do you know his name?" said the 911 operator.

"I had him fill out an application," said the woman. "I told him I'd give him a job."

Deputies said they took the information on the job application and then used that to track Conner down.

The teen told deputies that the gun was actually a BB gun and that he had thrown it down near a lake. Police said they have yet to recover the weapon to verify Conner's story.

Conner told authorities that he was trying to help his grandparents pay their bills.

Conner's grandmother said he had just moved from Ohio to help his grandfather who had a heart attack.

"He's a good kid," said Wilda Harris. "I don't know what happened. My husband's having all this and he needs six surgeries, and there is no money to do nothing."

Harris said she never would have thought her grandson would consider crime to help out.

"I'm glad nobody is hurt that's all I can say," said Harris.

Conner was arrested two hours after trying to rob the business and is charged with armed robbery, said police. He was taken to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Daytona Beach.

Conner's grandparents said he will be released to them later and will be wearing a GPS ankle monitor.
 

Hollywood unleashes robocalls to fight illegal signs

 

The city has unleashed one irritating business tactic to eliminate another.

A new robocalling campaign seeks to hassle, hound and harass out of existence those pesky signs that illegally clutter public medians with offers to buy your gold and junk cars, fix your AC or rescue you from foreclosure. .

The city, this week, began placing up to 20 calls a day to each number it has collected from the signs.

"It occurred to me that they want us to call," Mayor Peter Bober said. "So, we're going to call, and keep calling, until their heads are spinning."

As far as Bober knows, Hollywood is the first South Florida city to use the robocalling technique as a sign-eradication tool: "That's something that I think we're leading the pack on."

Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis loves the notion.

"I think Mayor Bober's got a great idea," Ortis said. "Just load up their phones with messages and maybe they'll get the message."

In Pembroke Pines, code officers take down 200 of the signs a week and regularly field complaints about them. "Otherwise you'd just be plastered with signs," Ortis said.

Pembroke Pines passed an ordinance last year classifying the signs as litter and allowing a police officer to issue a notice to appear in county court to anyone caught posting the signs.

Trouble is, the ordinance is only enforceable if someone is caught in the act, said John Earle, the city's code compliance administrator.

"We spend way too many man hours and resources removing these signs," Earle said. "It's an ongoing problem for us."

In Boynton Beach, code compliance officers gathered 6,794 signs last year. And from Oct. 1 through the end of January, they collected another 1,316, said Diane Springer, the city's code compliance coordinator.

"We try to keep it under control so it doesn't become a major nuisance," Springer said. "It's a daily chore for us."

For $300, Hollywood bought a software system that allows it to automatically call a preprogrammed phone list and inundate each number with pre-recorded phone messages.

When they answer, they'll be informed that their signs were illegally placed in a public right of way and must be removed. And if they want the calls to stop, they must go to City Hall — where they'll receive a citation — and fill out paperwork confirming that the signs have been removed.

A lone sign in a grassy center median on Sheridan Street east of Interstate 95 on Thursday advertised "A/C Installation & Repair 

 

 

 

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MARCH 7, 2012

Two new companies bringing jobs to SWFL

Two new companies are bringing life to Fort Myers' job market.

When it's completed in June, the new 45,000 square foot CarMax retail center on Colonial Boulevard will be the company's largest in the region and will employ up to 100 new workers.

CarMax plans to fill between 75 and 100 jobs, hiring sales consultants, car techs, detailers, and purchasers.

Off Winkler Avenue, crews at LeeSar's new service center keep busy to reach the company's planned July opening.

Company CFO Gayle Reynolds says they plan to fill the center with workers hired locally.

"We're gonna be looking for the best of the best, the people who really want to be passionate about where they're working and what they're doing," she says.

LeeSar's center will open with 100 new workers including chefs, food prep, and sterilization techs and they will offer starting salaries of $30,000 to $40,000 per year.

Fort Myers planning manager Nicole Devaughn says year-round jobs tend to offer higher pay scales than seasonal jobs found this time of year, which is an encouraging sign for the unemployed.

CarMax says they plan to start advertising open jobs next month and LeeSaw has already filled about half of its 100 new jobs.

Job seeker fights back after losing $1 to scam

Roger Schaffer battled with customer service representatives for three days over a $1 charge.

After several e-mails and phone calls, Schaffer received the response he wanted. 

"He said ok, we're not going to charge you the dollar," Schafer relates. "I should have asked for interest, but I wasn't that interested at that moment.  I felt it was a victory."

The whole ordeal started when Schaffer received an e-mail, informing him he was chosen to access job opportunities ranging in pay from $17.30 to $52.26 an hour.

Looking for work for two years, Schaffer clicked on the e-mail's link.  It took him to a website for Data Entry Task Staffing, which in turn took him to a website for a credit check, www.creditreport.com.

Schaffer filled out the forms, then changed his mind and cancelled immediately.

That's when the fight over the $1 charge began. Schaffer prevailed, but thinks the opportunity was a money-grabbing scheme.

"There's no real jobs on their website. All they do is take your application and say they're going to look for something for you," says Schaffer.

Barbara Hartman of Southwest Florida Works urges job seekers to use caution when applying for jobs online. 

"You have to be very cautious," says Hartman. "Especially if it's unsolicited, don't reply.  Never reply."

Hartman says if a company needs to do a background check for a position, sensitive information will be sought during a later stage of the recruitment process, but not as part of the application.   

NBC2 contacted the company that sent the e-mail, but only got a voicemail and no returned phone call as of yet.

As for CreditReport.com, a representative says the job advertisement was unauthorized and that the company is "actively working to terminate any and all affiliates that conduct unauthorized, non-compliant marketing campaigns such as these."

Cell phones have more germs than toilet handle

Study finds average cell phone carries more germs than a toilet handle, but there are solutions.

Bystander helps woman recover stolen purse

A woman was arrested after allegedly stealing another woman's purse from the restroom at the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

According to reports, the victim was in a restroom stall when she saw a hand come over the top of the stall and grab her purse from the coat hook on the door.

The victim opened the stall door and saw the person running away, reports said.

A man coming out of the men's restroom heard a scream and a woman say, "He took my purse."

The man heard this just as he saw a masculine looking woman walking out of the women's room, reports said.

The man took off after the woman and kept her from getting on her bike.

The suspect was identified as Juanita Jessie Huizar. She was arrested and charged with grand theft more than $300, less than $5,000.

Cop Fired For Hauling Mattresses On Car

A Florida police officer who was just days from retirement was fired after being caught hauling two mattresses on her patrol car.

A member of the public filmed Sandra Lyles, a 32-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, loading two mattresses onto her police vehicle and driving off, WPLG-TV reported.

Lyles was not on duty at the time and officers are permitted to use their patrol cars for personal use -- within reason.

"It embarrasses not only the officer, but it embarrasses our department," Miami-Dade Police Commander Nancy Perez said.

"It is obvious we are not allowed to transport mattresses on the top of our marked police units. There are other items we cannot transport ... animals to veterinarians, children to school."

Lyles had not been a model officer during her career, with records showing she had been disciplined 19 times.

She had been suspended twice for being in "preventable" crashes with her patrol car, and was also once disciplined for parking in a handicapped space.

Panama City Beach breaks bikini record SLIDESHOW

Red-haired Rose Siegfried said it was rougher than she thought, walking the sandy mile during the bikini parade.

But she was glad to be a part of history Tuesday, she said, striding the sand with other female beach lovers as Panama City Beach broke the Guinness world record for the largest bikini parade, snatching the crown from Australia.

“It was exhausting,” said Siegfried, of Panama City Beach. “But it was exciting.”

After the parade, Guinness World Records representative Philip Robertson of London drew out the official announcement like American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest, teasing the crowd with a long pause and serious frown.

All participants had to complete the entire mile route to be counted, and all were checked off as they finished, he said with a serious tone.

Robertson then told a cheering crowd that Panama City Beach had just set a new world record of 450 bikini paraders, 93 more than the previous record of 357 set last year by Surfers Paradise beach of Australia.

Like Seigfried, spring breaker Elise Beres said it was rougher than she thought, strolling the mile from Harpoon Harry’s to the county pier and back during the bikini promenade.

“It was tough, walking in the sand,” said Beres, of Wisconsin. “But it was a lot of fun.”

The crowd of participants and onlookers broke into chants of “USA, USA” as the first paraders began arriving back to the grandstand after their walk, then again when the last stragglers returned. The real cheers started when the record was broken.

Spectators lined the deck and balcony overlooking the beach of Harpoon Harry’s and at nearby resorts.

“I thought it was awesome,” said Alsatia Smith of the University of Colorado at Boulder. “It was a great time. And it was great breaking the world record.”

About an hour before the parade, Sam Lansden said her group of breakers was down from Middle Tennessee State University. They signed up after hearing about the event Monday. They wanted to be a part of it, she said.

“We are going to do this because we want to get in the record book,” she said. “And to have some fun and show some skin. Woo-hoo!”

Despite the large showing of skin and some mild earlier concerns by public officials the event might get out of hand, the parade went off without incident.

Before the parade, Robertson told participants their bikinis “must stay on at all times or the police may want to have a word with you.” The participants seemed to be serious about setting a new record as well as having fun.

With scores of American flags scattered about and occasional chants of “USA, USA,” the parade often had the feel of an athletic event.

“There were so many beautiful girls; such a beautiful beach; such a beautiful day,” said spring breaker Augie Krahn of Wisconsin. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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March 6, 2012

Ft. Myers Beach weighs pros, cons of pedicabs

There's a debate brewing over whether to allow bike taxis to operate for cash on Fort Myers Beach. One local business manager says they would be good for business. Others say it would only further the already problematic traffic issue.

Anyone trying to get to Fort Myers Beach during season knows getting onto the island means dealing with traffic.

Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council considered allowing what are known as pedicabs, at the request of Pedal Pushers owner, Mike Dearden.

"We will help take cars out of traffic. It's just a fun thing to do. They have worked in the past here and people loved it – it's entertaining," Dearden said.

Dearden already gives rides for free. But to run a business, Fort Myers Beach Mayor Larry Kiker says council would have to approve a code allowing bike cabs to operate.

"My concern was if you get a vehicle, if you would, which is three-feet wide, where can it safely travel?" asked Mayor Kiker.

At least one business owner says bike cabs could make a traveling along busy streets dangerous, but resident Stacie Gal says she thinks pedestrians and drivers could make room.

"Anything that shows off our community and encourages visitors to have a good time would be beneficial and profitable to the area," she said.

Mayor Kiker asked staff to study congestion along Estero Boulevard and report back in the next few weeks before council decides.

Boy, 14, accused of burglary, vandalism

Deputies in Charlotte County arrested a 14-year-old boy on burglary and vandalism charges.

ThePort Charlotte boy is accused of breaking into and vandalizing a portable classroom at The Academy School on Febraury 24.

Benjamin Austin Paige, 14, is charged with Burglary, Criminal Mischief, and Obstruction of a Fire Extinguisher.

On February 28, the Charlotte County School Board security officer gave deputies a copy of the school surveillance video.

The security officer also identified Paige as the person who entered the portable classroom around 8:30 p.m.

Deputies say a witness also saw Paige enter the classroom, turn the lights on inside and exit the back door as he sprayed the fire extinguisher around the classroom.

Paige was arrested Monday morning at the school and taken to the Charlotte County Jail for booking. He was later released to his parents and placed on home detention, pending appearing in court.

Beloved daughter's ashes stolen during burglary

LEHIGH ACRES, FL -

Burglars broke into a Lehigh Acres home and stole an air conditioner and the homeowner's daughter's ashes. Now the heartbroken father wants his daughter's ashes back, no questions asked.

Memories are all Russell Fennimore has to remember his beloved daughter.

"Her smile was unspeakable. She was a really beautiful girl," said Fennimore.

Last March, at 40 years old, Jayme died of liver disease.

Burglars broke into Fennimore's home and stole his daughter's ashes.

"We found the air-conditioner gone, along with my daughter's ashes," said Fennimore.

They were kept in a trinket box.

"I'm angry that they took these ashes. It's like, why would they take ashes? There's no reason," said Fennimore.

The family thinks the burglars assumed there was jewelry inside the trinket box and grabbed it during a hasty escape.

"Take the air-conditioner, take the fans, whatever. But not my daughter's ashes," said Fennimore.

Fennimore says it couldn't happen at a worse time because the anniversary of Jayme's death is just weeks away.

The Fennimores hope the person who stole the remains of their daughter will return them.

Until then, they'll remember her through the garden they planted out front. All of the plants are from Jayme's funeral.

Six Collier teachers awarded Golden Apples

Maria Lana Christmas was talking to her fourth-grade students about character witnesses Monday morning at Vineyards Elementary when she got the surprise of her life.

The students were filling out paperwork to become colonial apprentices, and each needed a personal reference.

“And I was telling them that if you do your job right …” Christmas said, just as the Collier County Golden Apple sponsors, Education Foundation board members and volunteers knocked on her classroom door to present her an award for excellence in teaching. “So it was like a life lesson unfolding right there.”

Christmas, who has taught for 22 years, was one of six teachers who were surprised and honored for their work in Collier County classrooms.

The others:

Darlene R. Crete, a 10th-grade intensive reading teacher at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School, who has been teaching for 25 years.

Michal Durik, a Spanish teacher at Barron Collier High School, who has been teaching for 10 years.

Paul G. Horne, a social studies teacher at Naples High School, who has been teaching for 17 years.

Eileen Schoenknecht, a nursing teacher at Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology, who has been teaching for four years.

Sheila Snyder, a students with disabilities teacher at Palmetto Elementary School, who has been teaching for 20 years.

Durik was going over tests with his Spanish students when he was surprised by the Golden Apple entourage and several colleagues at Barron Collier. He was born in Scotland, where Golden Apples are unknown.

After just three years teaching in Collier County, the award was a huge surprise, he said. “I was gobsmacked.”

The teachers will be honored at the 22nd Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers at the Waldorf Astoria Naples on April 11.

Sheila Snyder teaches students 8-12 who have disabilities at Palmetto Elementary School. They were working on a social skills lesson on bossiness when the award committee showed up.

“A few of the kids were overwhelmed,” she said. “But they recognized the principal, and even some of the observers who had been to the classroom before, and everyone was smiling.

“And they watched me hold it together. Because I knew if I showed tears, they might be upset.

“It's a wonderful group of kids to share this with.” 

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March 5, 2012

Fort Myers may change rules for adult arcades

The Fort Myers City Council is looking to tighten regulations on adult arcade amusement centers. A public hearing on the issue will be held Monday evening.

The new proposed ordinance forbids the arcades from being located within1,500 feet from a single family residence, church, school or public library.

There are also rules outlining hours of operation and signage.

Officials we spoke with say the goal is to minimize the impact on neighborhoods.

The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

FGCU women's basketball team gets warm welcome home

An historic victory for the FGCU women's basketball team has the athletes celebrating and the school excited about the potential "ripple effect" from the win.

Sunday afternoon, the A-Sun tournament champions arrived home from Macon, Ga., and were greeted by a slew of family members, fans, and fellow FGCU athletes.

"For the last 3 years, watching this team grow, I just think it's so amazing," says June Klongerbo, whose great-niece is senior Kelsey Jacobson. "We know how hard they've worked."

The lady Eagles made history Saturday, taking the championship in the first year they were allowed to compete in the tournament. For the first time ever, the team will get a shot to play in the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball tournament.

"For us seniors we've not been able to do this for three years," says team member Courtney Chihill. "So this was a huge accomplishment for us, and I'm glad we were able to do it our first time."

It's a big athletic win for FGCU, and university president Wilson Bradshaw says the victory will affect the entire campus.

"Southwest Florida has been looking forward to this sort of notoriety for our university," Bradshaw says. "We've really established ourselves and continue to do that with academics. Athletics is really just going to help us, and vice versa."

Some, like Brian Beasley, agree. A basketball coach at Dunbar High School, Beasley coached senior Eglah Griffin when she attended school there. He says the basketball program at FGCU was a definite draw.

"I'm really really happy that she was able to come here and contribute here and that they put her to good use," Beasley says. "(The win) is really putting FGCU on the map."

The NCAA tournament is set to start in two weeks.

Police: Victoria's Secret bra bandits captured

Her last name is Pink, and police say she has a penchant for brazenly boosting sexy bras and panties fromVictoria's Secret.

Boca Raton and Boynton Beach police say they have cracked the case of the disappearing high-end undergarments — thefts that have been plaguing Victoria's Secret shops in the Boynton Beach Mall and Town Center in Boca Raton — with two arrests of the alleged bra bandits.

And, police say, it was an elaborate lingerie fraud across South Florida going back to October, involving repeated, stealthy strikes at the stores, in which hundreds of bras and panties worth more than $34,000 were stolen.

Dr. Seuss' The Loraxtakes the weekend box

office

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March 2, 2012

Mail carrier returns wallet filled with cash

Imagine driving down the road and spotting a wallet- you open it up and find $175 in it. Would you return it to its owner? One Cape Coral postal carrier did just that.

Cape Coral mail carrier Ray Maurillo spotted the wallet while delivering mail on Country Club Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.

The 40-year-veteran mail carrier immediately drove to the address on the driver's license and returned it to the owner's mother.

Maurillo says he didn't think twice about returning the cash.

"I could just see my son losing a substantial amount of money. I kind of really thought I was doing the right thing," he said.

Doing the right thing brought some good karma for the Maurillos. He explained his wife was able to book a $2,000 cruise for just $200 Thursday.

We reached out to the owner of the wallet, who said he is thankful for the generous act.

Imagine driving down the road and spotting a wallet- you open it up and find $175 in it. Would you return it to its owner? One Cape Coral postal carrier did just that.

House passes school bus ads bill with limits

A bill to allow ads on school busses passes House hurdles and is now on its way to the Senate. It's designed to help school districts come up with extra cash.

Lee County School Board Chairwoman Mary Fischer hasn't decided how she feels about advertising on buses.

"For us, that would be a very big consideration, considering that our business is educating children and that we would really be concerned about the appropriateness of any messages," Fischer said.

The house passed the bill so districts could raise additional revenue. Lawmakers set some limits to it by banning advertisements of prescription drugs, gambling, and religion.

School districts are allowed pick which ads go on a bus.

"I don't think it's right because a school bus is for students, it's not for business," said parent Rosa Tapia.

Some parents aren't convinced bus advertising is the best idea.

"I think it will cause distraction with traffic to have it on the school busses," Karen Paulino said.

While Lee County School Board members haven't discussed it yet, they're waiting to see how the issue plays out in the senate.

"When it comes to its final phase and we have more information we'll be able to have a conversation. Staff will study it for us and make recommendations about what we can or cannot do," Fischer said.

If it passes in the senate and the governor approves it, it would go into effect July 1st.

Business owner accused of illegal dumping

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrested the owner of a tree cutting service because, deputies say, he had illegally dumped 210 yards of debris on four vacant lots.

The investigation began February 24 when a large pile of tree limbs was found on a vacant lot in the 1200 block of Birchcrest Boulevard.

Officials say that pile was difficult to see from the roadway.

After looking into the matter further, deputies found an open field area with several additional piles of landscaping debris - consisting of 60 yards of oak tree limbs and several piles of palm fronds.

There were also about 150 yards of mulch on the adjacent vacant lots on the 1200 block of Guild Street.

Deputies contacted the out-of-state property owners and they said they did not give anyone permission to dump debris on their lots.

As the investigation continued, it was discovered that all four vacant lots were only accessible through the back and side yard of 1232 Birchrest Boulevard.

Wednesday morning, a Charlotte County Sheriff's deputy and a Charlotte County illegal dumping officer met with the 44-year-old homeowner Johnny Martin Brown, who owns Browns Tree Service.

Brown said he had been disposing of the landscaping debris on the lots, but had been making arrangements to clean it up.

Brown was taken to the Charlotte County Jail and charged with four felony Commercial Litter Law charges.

He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Strip-club raid: 'It's a whorehouse' police chief says

Daytona Beach police this morning announced a 16-month investigation into prostitution and drug dealing at a strip club.

As part of "Operation Chum Bucket," police served a search warrant Wednesday night at the Shark Lounge strip club at 730 E. International Speedway Blvd., where police say undercover officers made more than 20 drug buys involving marijuana, pills and cocaine.

"It hasn't been cleaned in over a thousand years,'' Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood told TV reporters. "It's skanky. It's filthy. If I was a roach, I wouldn't live inside."

Two dancers were arrested Wednesday on charges of prostitution after police say they solicited undercover officers.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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March 1, 2012

Crews recover backhoe from Collier canal

A dredging project in the Royal Harbor neighborhood hit a snag when a backhoe went into the canal. Crews used a crane to get the backhoe out of the canal.

Crews say they were dredging in the canal behind a home in the 1500 block of Blue Fin Court when the backhoe, sitting on a dredging barge, fell off and into the water.

Denny Hartman says he was standing on his dock Wednesday morning when the backhoe slipped into the water.

"He was doing his normal dredging. They started here this morning and kind of worked his way over to the one side of the barge and it's very slippery, greasy and he fell right in. I'll say one thing, he's one of the fastest guys I've ever seen. He got right out of there," said Hartman.

The operator wasn't hurt, but the backhoe leaked oil and gas into the canal.

Crews scrambled to get hundreds of feet of oil absorbing boom into the water.

"We have three separate boom lined up. We have a repellant boom to keep any oil or gas going through, but we also have absorbent boom that's collecting it and will actually remove all that," said Harbor master Roger Jacobson

Crews say because the accident happened at a dead end canal, they were able to contain the spill.

"Fortunately it's a nice dead end canal, so we're able to contain it right up here," said Jacobson.

A crane lifted the backhoe out of the water.

Orlando mom and baby share Leap Day birthday

Shaneka Hinton's new baby is one in a million — or one in 2.1 million, to be more precise.

Those are the chances of both mother and baby being born on a Leap Day, according to a Tufts University professor who made an estimate for the New York Post.

Christina Raynette Clemente was born Wednesday to Hinton, an Orlando woman who was born on Leap Day 1988. Leap Day, the 29th day of February, comes around once every four years.

"I always wanted my baby to be born on my birthday," said Hinton, who on Wednesday turned 24 – or 6, depending on who's counting.

Oscars 2012 - Check out pictures from the red carpet.

Christina entered the world at 6 pounds, 7 ounces about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando. Hinton's sister, Shadasha Owens, and cousin, Shylita Laide, were with her in the delivery room. The baby's father, Christian Clemente, 24, couldn't be there for the birth because he was working, but he expected to join the family Wednesday evening.

The little girl began to make her desire to be born known Monday, when Hinton had contractions while taking a Centura Institute exam to get a license as a massage therapist.

Christina and her mother aren't the only people in the family with a special birthday. The girl's 18-month-old brother, Christopher, was born on the Fourth of July. Mom and baby are expected to go home Friday.

Hinton, who usually celebrates her birthday Feb. 28, already knows from experience some of the things friends and family will say to Christina.

"They used to make jokes and tell me 'Happy Not-Birthday,'" she said.

But even if the girl hears those old lines, her mother hopes to celebrate their joint birthday in some special way, even if it's "something corny.

Former Fort Myers mayor son arrested

FORT MYERS, Fla.-- 20-year-old Wilbur Smith the fourth is out on bond.

The son of a former Fort Myers mayor, who's also a prominent attorney, according to the Lee Sheriff's Office was arrested Tuesday, accused of filing a false bomb threat.

Authorities said his father was the mayor of Fort Myers from 1988 to 1996.

Wilbur Smith the fourth is due back in court on April 2nd.

Woman claims N. Ft. Myers vet is holding her dog hostage

N. FT. MYERS - A Southwest Florida woman says a N. Ft. Myers veterinarian won't give her puppy back. 

 

Christina Sheridan says she dropped off her 13 week old Great Dane named "Vela" at Our Hope Center to be treated for what she thought was the parvovirus.

 

"I would simply at this point like to take my dog home," said Sheridan.

 

She said she was told that she could go on a payment plan because she did not have the money to pay for the full bill up front.

 

"When they did test her and said it was not parvo... they said it was hook worms. They said it was still the same and that I could make payment arrangements on that."

 

But when she returned to make a payment, they said she would have to pay the bill in full to get her dog back.

 

Sheridan gathered the cash and returned to the vet, but was turned away empty handed again, so she called 4 In Your Corner for help.

 

Fox 4 went to talk to Our Hope Center owner Brandi Mikolak. While she would not grant us an on camera interview, she did speak off camera.

 

Mikolak said that Sheridan abandoned the animal at Our Hope and that she would not return it.

 

She said she would donate "Vela" to a shelter.

 

Fox 4 did contact the Lee County Animal Shelter to see if there was anything they would do, but they told us the dog fight is a civil matter.

 

But we did talk to a member of the Florida Veternary Medical Association who says what's happening is wrong.

 

"In Christine's case where she gave a sick puppy to a veterinarian to be treated she remains the owner of that animal," said Dr. Richard Carpenter.

 

Bottom line: Sheridan may have to file a suit against the clinic to get her dog back

Fired Estero cheer coach gets her revenge

They say success is the best revenge.

The Hooter's waitress fired from her job as cheerleading coach at Estero High School is coaching again - but this time it's on her terms.

Zivich is now the co-owner of a Bonita Springs gym called Xtreme Air Sports. She will also be coaching her own all-start cheerleading team that will compete across the state.

"We have girls from Lee and Collier county that have signed up already," said Zivich. "I'm really excited."

Zivich was mysteriously fired from her Estero coaching job last November after a single parent bombarded the Lee County School District with complaints against her, criticizing the fact that she worked at Hooters.

"We certainly are sure that you'll get some answers," board member Mary Fischer told a dozen cheerleaders who spoke out in favor of Zivich.

But those answers never came. Zivich thought about suing the district but decided it was best to let it go.

"One door closed another one opens," said Zivich. "I'm just lucky enough to have this opportunity."

An opportunity that's also turning into a reunion.

"She was a really good coach," said Estero freshman Maddie Dawson. "Really inspirational. She really motivated us to do our best."

Many of the girls Zivich used to coach have quit Estero's cheer program and now want to cheer for her.

"I know a lot of girls especially the varsity girls are coming here instead of going to Estero," said Dawson. "Just because of Nicole being here."

"We love Nicole as a coach and as a person," Estero freshman Tyler Jones. "She's just near and dear to all of us."

"I don't really like Estero's cheer," said freshman Anna Lisa. "It was different when Nicole left."

For Zivich, that loyalty means everything.

"It's a good feeling knowing that they still support me and they love me as much as I love them," said Zivich, "to come and cheer for me here."

We asked her what she would like to say to the Lee County School District including board member Jeanne Dozier and Superintendent Joseph Burke for their role in her firing.

"I would say thank you," said Zivich.

Because if that never happened this new opportunity wouldn't be possible, she said.

Still, with success, comes a little revenge.

"On some level, do you feel like you're kind of sticking it to the Lee County School District?," asked Fox 4 reporter Matt Grant.

"I sure hope so," said Zivich.

Zivich is holding an "open gym" this week and next week for anyone interested. She says nobody will be cut and everyone will be placed on teams according to their ability.

Tryouts are scheduled for March 11.

For more information contact the gym at (239) 676-7192.

Fired Estero cheer coach to appear on Anderson Cooper

BONITA SPRINGS - Fired Estero High cheerleading coach and Hooters waitress Nicole Zivich is getting even more national attention.

Since Fox 4 began airing Zivich's story, Inside Edition ran a story on her fight with the Lee County School District.

Now, CNN host Anderson Cooper is talking with her.

Zivich taped an appearance for Cooper's daytime talk show Anderson in New York last Thursday.

"He was very positive," said Zivich. "He was shocked [about the firing] and couldn't believe that  had happened...I had very positive from everybody during the show."

The episode will be about how what you do outside of work can impact your day job.

"It's kind of crazy still," said Zivich, "how much publicity I'm getting."

Zivich now co-owns a Bonita Springs gym and will coach her own all-star competitive cheerleading team. Several of her former cheerleaders have already quit the Estero squad and want to join her team.

Fox 4 will let you know when Zivich's episode will air. 

 

 

 

 

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February 29, 2012

C'MON museum opens to the public

The Golisano Children's Museum of Naples opened its doors to the public on Tuesday.

More than 600 people visited the 30,000 square foot facility on its first day open to the public.

Parents say because the exhibits are all hands-on, it's a great way for their children to learn as they play.

There are exhibits on green construction, the Naples trolley – and there's even an NBC2 anchor station where kids can report the news and weather.

The museum is at North Collier Regional Park off Livingston Road.

It's open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's closed on Mondays.

Tickets cost $10.

$185K in pot seized in grow house bust

Two men were arrested Monday when police discovered dozens of marijuana plants growing inside a Cape Coral home.

Neighbor Danny Nguyen says normally, the neighborhood isn't all that exciting.

"It's quiet, very quiet," he said.

But Monday evening, Alex Navarro, 34, of Cape Coral, and Alejandro Gonzalez, 26, of Kissimmee, were each charged with trafficking in marijuana.  

Earlier in the day Monday, an officer noticed a specific smell coming from the home, located at 117 NW 21st Ave., as he was investigating a residential burglary alarm nearby.

"While he was in the neighborhood, he noticed a very distinct strong odor from marijuana," said Lieutenant Tony Schall, with the Cape Coral Police Department.

After obtaining a search warrant, investigators stormed the home and discovered 46 pot plants. The total weight was almost 120 pounds and they are worth an estimated $185,000.

"I think that's horrible for this neighborhood. There are a lot of kids down the street and I have two younger kids," neighbor Kristen Hall said.

Navarro and Gonzalez were placed under arrest and booked into the Lee County Jail.

Man injured after loose fire hose takes out mailboxes

One person was injured after a fire hose came loose from a fire truck and struck nine mailboxes along Easy Street in Port Charlotte, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

According to reports the fire truck was driving northwest on Easy Street approaching Key Lane. It had its lights and sirens activated at the time.

The fire hose came loose and was thrashing behind the truck and struck seven mailboxes on Easy Street southwest of Key Lane. As the truck continued, the hose struck two additional mailboxes northwest of Key Lane.

A man standing in the yard of 3204 Easy Street was struck in the leg by a mailbox from 3212 Easy Street.

The pedestrian, William Van Dornick, was taken to Peace River Medical Center.

Fla. man charged with Obama threat on Facebook

A Miami man is charged with using Facebook postings to threaten to harm or assassinate President Barack Obama during his visit to South Florida last week, according to a federal criminal complaint.
    
A Secret Service affidavit filed in Miami federal court identified the man as 20-year-old Joaquin Amador Serrapio Jr. of Miami.
    
According to the affidavit, Serrapio posted the threatening comments under the Facebook name "Jay Valor" during Obama's visit to the University of Miami last Thursday. There's no indication that Serrapio took any steps to carry out the threat or that the president was ever in any danger. The Secret Service did not immediately respond Tuesday to a telephone call seeking additional comment.
    
In the first posting on Feb. 21, Serrapio as "Jay Valor" allegedly said this: "Who wants to help me assassinate Obummer while hes at UM this week?"
    
Then on Thursday, the day of Obama's visit, the Secret Service affidavit said Serrapio made another posting.
    
"If anyones going to UM to see obama today, get ur phones out and record. Cause at any moment im gonna put a bullet through his head and u don't wanna miss that! Youtube!"
    
Later that day, Secret Service agents went to Serrapio's home, where he and his mother agreed to allow a search. The agents found an iPad showing the initial Facebook post about assassinating Obama. They also found a sniper-style pellet rifle and a pellet handgun in Serrapio's bedroom.
    
After his arrest, Serrapio admitted posting the threats, according to the affidavit. Serrapio's court-apppointed attorney declined comment Tuesday.
    
The agents also searched Serrapio's cell phone, which included a text message from someone pointing out that Serrapio could get into trouble for the Facebook postings.
    
"I know I can b killed by this communist administration and im challenging them," he texted back, according to the affidavit. "Let's see what those (expletives) got."
    
Serrapio was arrested the same day as Obama's visit and is now free on $70,000 bail, according to court records. He is scheduled to enter a plea at an arraignment set for March 9 and has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment.
    
The charge of threatening to assassinate or inflict bodily harm on the president carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.
    
According to his Facebook page, Serrapio fronts the "J. Valor Band" rock group that specializes in classic rock covers.
    
Man arrested, accused of punching police horse

WFTV obtained video of a disturbing incident in downtown Orlando where a man allegedly punched and injured a police horse during the All-Star weekend.

The video was posted on YouTube.

A mounted Osceola County sheriff's deputy was clearing pedestrian traffic after the All-Star game when police say Josue Santana pulled the police horse down to its nose.

The horse named "Shamrock" injured its front leg, and officials aren't sure if it will be able to return to work.

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February 28, 2012

Funky stench has Cape neighbors speaking out

Homeowners in southwest Cape Coral say a horrible smell from a nearby water treatment plant is sinking their property values. Some of them say the problem is getting worse.

Homeowner Debra Dempsey says she likes to air out her house.

"I like the fresh air," she said.

But often times, she says, that fresh air isn't so fresh.

"We like to keep our windows open and, unfortunately, we get the smell," said Debra.

The smell is coming from the city-owned Southwest Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant located off Southwest 21st place.

And Debra's husband, Rick Dempsey, says the smell has gotten worse over the past 10 years.

"When we first got here, it wasn't that bad. Now it's like every other day or every day," he said.

In a memo written by the Cape Coral Utilities Director Jeff Pearson, he acknowledged the odor issue at the plant. 

Pearson says his staff is double checking all of the plant's equipment to make sure everything is working properly.

But he also stated in the memo that crews may not be able to provide a 100-percent elimination of all odors from the two facilities.

Though many neighbors have complained, we met one who says she doesn't even notice the smell. 

Betty Brunner walks her dog Ginger past the water treatment plant everyday and says she doesn't smell any of the foul odors her neighbors have been complaining about.

"I really didn't realize there was a smell coming from there," she said.

But the Dempsey family says the sulfur smell that lingers in the air is holding them prisoner in their own home.

"One time we actually tried selling the house. People came and didn't even get out of the car once they realized it was across the street from the plant," Debra said.

Pearson says the city has spent a lot of time and money since 2006 to try and control the sulfur smell. 

Last year, the city even replaced costly membranes at the plant in an effort to keep the smell at a minimum.

Hundreds of cats removed from Florida sanctuary

Officials in the Florida Panhandle say they've removed hundreds of cats crowded in unsanitary conditions at a cat sanctuary.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Monday they were working with the Madison County Sheriff's Office to remove the cats from the Caboodle Ranch in Lee.

Officials say their investigation stemmed from complaints received by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. A search warrant was issued Monday. The sanctuary's founder was arrested and faces multiple animal cruelty charges.

ASPCA officials say the sanctuary had no adoption program nor made any effort to manage its population of cats. The animal group said it would provide the cats with shelter and medical care.

Lee is about 60 miles east of Tallahassee.

Woman told to ask for restraining order on another day

A local woman says she was turned away from the Lee County Courthouse after trying to protect herself and her children.

"I wasn't able to get there till 1:30 in the afternoon," she said. "And when I got there they told me that they were not able to process it, it was already too late in the day." 

It was a trip to the Lee County Courthouse, this mother says, can only be summed up as frustrating. She tells us she was told to come back another day after trying to file a restraining order against an abusive spouse. That's why we are hiding her identity.

"I don't understand why you would turn anybody away and say put your life on hold another day and try to come back in the morning," she said.  

The doors open at 8:30 in the morning on the third floor of the Lee County Courthouse, and despite the severity of any case, people are seen on a first-come first-serve basis.

"They sign up and they get appointments we have five or six staff people," said court spokeswoman Sheila Mann. She says the Domestic Violence unit can only help so many people in one day.

"We do our best to accommodate all the needs of everyone," said Mann. She says appointments often fill up quickly. "You could, by 10 in the morning, have all those five or six people scheduled for the entire day with injunctions," she said.     

This woman says she understands that it can get busy but she feels the system let her down. "I don't think there should be anybody turned away, maybe hire more people so everybody can have help," she said.    

Mann says if you can't file an injunction during the day you can go to the Lee County Sheriff's Office after hours. She says if you are fearful for your safety you can go to a shelter overnight for protection.

Vero Beach felon who deputies say stole award-winning goat, electronics charged with theft

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Detectives said a 22-year-old felon is responsible for a couple of thefts, including one involving a goat he stole and killed to sell for meat.

Andrew Allen Brown of the 200 block of Tenth Court Southwest, Vero Beach, was charged with three counts of grand theft, three counts of dealing in stolen property, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, burglary and some misdemeanor drug charges.

Earlier this month, Brown went onto an unspecified property, removed the goat from a cage, shot it and then attempted to sell the meat, his warrant affidavit states. The owner of the animal told Indian River County Sheriff’s detectives it was a 4-H ribbon-winning goat.

Items stolen in other thefts included some electronics and jewelry, according to reports.

Brown remained at the Indian River County Jail Friday in lieu for $77,000 bail. He previously served 18 months in prison for burglary and grand theft in Orange County.

Woman leaving for work discovers strange child in her car

A woman called Niceville Police Dispatch on Feb. 16 to report that she found a small child she had never seen before playing in her vehicle.

The boy's parents were nowhere to be seen when the woman called first responders. Officers responding searched for an open door or for parents looking for a child near the woman's home.

According to the Niceville Police call history records, a man was seen yelling down the road asking for help. He said his girlfriend's son had gotten out of the apartment.

The woman was called and came back to the area to retrieve her child.

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February 27, 2012

Phone scammers posing as federal agents

Scammers are making an aggressive push to get your money. They're calling you at work, home, and on your cell threatening you if you don't pay up. We found out what you should look out for.

That's just one message left on Rene Beadle's cell phone. The same man called her everyday this week - sometimes twice - asking her about a loan.

The thing is, she says it's about a loan she never took out.

"And he said, 'Well then I guess we're just going to come and arrest you at your job tomorrow' and he hung up on me," Beadle said.

After the third call from him, she told police.

"At that point, it became harassment. It became more of an annoyance than a worrisome thing," Beadle said.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is now investigating 10 complaints filed this week, including Beadle's, about these threatening calls. But according to Beth Schell, with the LCSO Fraud Line, the calls are a scam.

"That's a red flag right there because debt collectors - legitimate debt collectors - have certain guidelines they have to follow and harassing and threatening is not one of those things," Schell said.

She says in all 10 cases, the scammers claim to be an attorney, even using government names like the FBI and Federal Trade Commission to sound real and they tell victims they have to pay their debt.

Scammers are calling their potential victims with a phone number starting with the area code 512.

That's traced back to Austin, Texas. But that doesn't necessarily mean the scammers are actually in Texas.

"It would be coming from anywhere. There's so many ways that technology works now with re-routing phone numbers that it's really difficult to track," Schell said.

It's unknown how the scammers are getting people's phone numbers and information.

Luckily no one, including Beadle, has fallen for the scam.

"My concern is people are actually going to fall for the scam," Beadle said.

But she hopes now, her story will protect others.

Man runs over, smashes teen's small car

A Fort Myers man was arrested at the Redneck Yacht Club for driving over a small car several times early Saturday morning.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reported to Redneck Yacht Club around 5:00 a.m. A 16-year-old girl, accompanied by her 37-year-old stepfather, told deputies that she had left her 1994 Toyota Corolla in a field while she went "mudding" with friends.

While she was away, she heard that a car had been run over. When she returned to her car, she realized it had been crushed.

A security guard informed deputies that around 3:00 a.m., he witnessed a large group of spectators near the car urging two large trucks to run it over, shouting that, "the owner doesn't care."

The trucks attempted to run over the car but couldn't and left. A large white van with five-foot wheels then approached the car and the crowd again urged it to run over the car.

The van smashed both sides of the hood before driving over the entire car. The driver then drove over the car several more times.

A witness led deputies to the driver of the van and he was identified as Norman Nowling, 40, of Fort Myers.

He was taken to the Charlotte County Jail for criminal mischief.

A spokesperson for the Redneck Yacht Club said everyone signs a liability waiver upon entering the park and that the incident was an unfortunate event that occurred on their property.

Act of Valortook the weekend box office

NASCAR postpones Daytona 500 to noon Monday

postponed the Daytona 500 because of rain, the first time in the 54-year history of the event that it has been delayed a day.
    
Heavy rain soaked Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, and NASCAR never had a big enough window to dry the track.
    
Rain saturated the famed speedway, sending fans scattering for cover and leaving everyone in wait-and-see mode. Puddles of water formed in parts of the infield, and many fans got drenched as they tried to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation.
    
The 500-mile race was rescheduled for noon Monday. It will be aired on Fox.
    
Carl Edwards, runner-up to Tony Stewart in last year's championship race, will start from the pole. Former IndyCar star Danica Patrick will make her Daytona 500 debut.
    
The last shortened Daytona 500 was Matt Kenseth's 2009 victory, when rain stopped the event 48 laps from the finish. He was declared the winner while the cars were parked on pit road.
    
The 2010 race had more than two hours in delays as NASCAR twice stopped the event to fix a pesky pothole in the surface. Jamie McMurray held off Earnhardt Jr. to win that race.
    
This time around, drivers retreated to their motorhomes, relaxing while keeping an eye on developments. Former Daytona 500 winners Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne did in-studio interviews with Fox.
    
"Obviously, you want to go race," driver AJ Allmendinger said. "We get to race when we race. I know it (stinks) for the people sitting out there because they've got to sit in the rain. But for us, we go in here and we have push-up contests, we eat a lot of food and we have a good time."
    
Now, NASCAR fans will have to wait an extra day for the sport's most prestigious event.
    
This one comes with several intriguing story lines for a racing series trying to capitalize on the success of last season's captivating championship race.
    
The Daytona 500 will be the first of 10 scheduled Sprint Cup Series events this season for Patrick, who left IndyCar behind for a full-time move to NASCAR. She will race for the Nationwide Series championship driving for JR Motorsports.
    
She arrived at the pre-race driver meeting Sunday with three-time NASCAR champion Stewart, the owner of her Cup car. Stewart is trying to snap an 0-for-13 losing streak in NASCAR's biggest race of the year.
    
Stewart's 17 victories at Daytona include everything but the 500, ranking him second on the all-time list behind the late Dale Earnhardt's 34 wins. Stewart will start third when the race goes green.
    
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion, takes a 129-race losing streak into the event. His last victory was in 2008, his first season with powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports.

Arm wrestlers flex in Southwest Florida

Dozens of competitve arm wrestlers flock to Cape Coral to compete in the national arm wrestling circuit.

It was once a way to settle disputes in high school... or was the convoluted story in some 80's action flick, but his weekend in Cape Coral, some of the top arm wrestlers from around the world came together to flex some muscle.

At the Nemo Sports Bar in Cape Coral, some of the best arm wrestlers in the world came together to go head to head, but it's more than a competiton, it's a chance for competitors to come together as a family and celebrate the sport they love.

"A lot of people look at arm wrestling as a bar sports, rough and tough and what not, but the arm wrestling family is one of the best families out there," competitor Jesse Gonzales said.

This weekend's competition wasn't just for the men who dominate the sport.  There were also divisions set up for women, and even children starting their arm wrestling careers.

To many arm wrestling, or "pulling" has become a second life, and the more you compete the further you can go.

"I can travel pretty much anywhere in north america sometimes when you get more well known you can progress out to the world," competitor Guy Windover said.

 Arm wrestling will not be part of the Olympic games this summer in London, but with the continuing rise in the sport's wordwide popularity, there's no telling just how far pulling will go.     

 

 

 

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February 23, 2012

37,000 giant African land snails caught in S Fla.

State agriculture officials say they're still capturing thousands of giant African land snails in Miami-Dade County.

The invasive species was discovered Sept. 8 in the South Florida county. Since then, the Department of Agriculture's Division of Plant Industry has collected more than 37,000 of the snails.

Officials credit homeowners calling the state's hotline for the bulk of the captures.

The giant African land snail is considered 1 of the most damaging snails in the world because it eats at least 500 different kinds of plants and it can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco. It also can carry a parasite that can cause meningitis in humans.

It's illegal to import the snails into the U.S. without a permit. Officials say there are no permits currently issued for the snail.

Online: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/plantinsp/gals.html

 

Stephen Brewster arrested in Sarasota for the 40th time

Stephen A. Brewster lists his home address as a residence on Holiday Drive in Sarasota. But those who deal with him on a regular basis might suggest he'd be better off listing the Sarasota County Jail instead.

His rap sheet seems like it's a mile long and his mug shots number more than most people have pictures on their Facebook page.

On Tuesday morning, Brewster was arrested once again... this time for car burglary.  It marks arrest number 40 in Sarasota County.

Photo Gallery:The many mug shots of Stephen Brewster

Says Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight: "He's been though the judicial system (so much), he probably knows it better than I do."

Brewster's rap sheet includes arrests for fraud, forgery, stealing credit cards, criminal mischief, grand theft, petty theft, robbery, loitering... and the list goes on and on.

The woman whose car Brewster allegedly broke into was outraged when she learned of his arrest record.

Brewster is back behind bars, but for how long is unclear. His bond is set at just $5,000. It's a frustrating situation according to the Sheriff, and one that he says needs to be changed.

"If anybody out there has the answers, we would like to have it. Because we're frustrated too, with arresting the same people over and over and over again."

A spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office points out that in July of 2009, Brewster was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by 27 months of community supervision.

The spokesperson says that was more than what the state sentencing guidelines called for, and also notes most of his offenses were non-violent property crimes and his cases were prosecuted based on the evidence available.

The State Attorney's Office will seek prison time if Tuesday's arrest results in a conviction, or if it is a violation of his probation.

Man stabbed at parade with his own pirate knife

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating what looks like an accidental stabbing at the Mardi Gras celebration in Dunedin on Tuesday.

Photo Gallery:Dunedin Mardi Gras 2012

A 56-year-old man dressed as a pirate was posing for pictures with a group of teens he did not know, according to the PCSO. Deputies say the man had a knife in a scabbard as part of his costume and one of the teens grabbed the knife and posed with it for the photo, pointing the knife at the pirate.

Deputies say someone then noticed the man had blood on his shirt and called for help.

Dunedin Fire Rescue transported the victim to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Police: School bus dispatcher was bank robbery getaway driver

Police said a woman who usually directs Orange Countyschool bus drivers was behind the wheel during a bank robbery.

Sharon Reynolds-Bell is a longtime employee of the Orange CountySchool District, and Titusville police said she drove a car for her husband as he robbed a TD Bank earlier this month.

Reynolds-Bell has worked for Orange Countypublic schools for nearly 24 years.  Now, the alleged bank robber is suspended with pay, which means she gets $17.20 per hour.

Police said Reynolds-Bell, a longtime school bus dispatcher, was also a getaway driver for her husband.

"I'm not guilty.  And that's all I have to say, according to my lawyer," said Reynolds-Bell.

Reynolds-Bell did not want to talk to Eyewitness News about the bank robbery she and her husband are charged with committing.

"Police are saying you're the getaway driver," said Eyewitness News reporter Lori Brown.

"Well, like I said, if you want to talk to anyone you need to talk to my lawyer, because I didn't do anything wrong. Thank you," said Reynolds-Bell.

The Bells have signs up warning people they have surveillance cameras at their home.  Ironically, it is surveillance cameras that captured the bank robbery.

Court records from last month show that Reynolds-Bell dropped her husband off at the TD Bank in Titusville.

Police said Johnny Bell went into the bank wearing a wig and sunglasses.  He passed a note to the bank teller that read, "give me the money."

The teller put $1,200 in Bell’s bag, along with GPS tracking device.  Then, he got back in the car and told his wife to leave.

Records show Reynolds-Bell asked her husband, "how much did you get?" and "was it worth it?"

However, she told her friend she did not know her husband robbed the bank until police arrested him.

"I feel really bad for her.  She got pulled into something she didn't know anything about," said a friend of Reynolds-Bell who did not want to be identified on camera.

Court records show that Reynolds-Bell admitted to the robbery, and that she told police she and Bell had several fights over finances.

Eyewitness News found out Johnny Bell served 16 years in prison for attempted first-degree

YOU CAN FIND THESE ARTICLES AT WWW.NBC-2.COM

 

 

 

 

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FEBRUARY 22, 2012

Fort Myers approves riverfront project

The Fort Myers City Council unanimously approved construction for the downtown river basin project.

The project will bring the riverfront one block closer to downtown, by digging up the parking lot near Harborside Event Center and creating a water filtration system.

The project has been scaled down to meet the $5.5-million budget.

And Don Paight, with the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency, says six hotels and seven restaurants have already expressed serious interest in moving to Fort Myers once the project wraps up.

"We are talking with some large developers. People that have the wherewithal to do anything they want if they want to develop. They don't even worry about financing, it's all cash. And it's really nice to have people in that position willing to move in these days," Paight said.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-March. 

• Man wearing clown mask robs store with shotgun
• man wearing a clown mask and carrying a shotgun robbed a gas station in Apopka early Tuesday morning, police said.

The robbery happened around 12:30 a.m. at the 7-Eleven near Semoran Boulevard and Wekiva Springs Road.

The gas station clerk told police that the robber held up a shotgun and demanded money.

No one was hurt and the robber ran off, police said.

The mask officers believe was used during the robbery was found on the ground outside the store, said investigators, who did not provide a description.

Watch Local 6 for more on this developing story.

Homeless man harasses 911 for taxi ride

A homeless man was arrested Sunday for trying to use 911 to get a taxi ride.

According to the arrest report, around 10:54 p.m., 55-year-old Michael Barker called 911 nine times requesting assistance for various things, including requests for a taxi ride.

At one point, Barker called Pasco Fire Rescue complaining of chest pains, but hung up before giving his location. Dispatchers were able to find Barker near the First United Methodist Church in Hudson through his cell phone number.

When a deputy arrived and found Barker, he was on the phone with 911 again saying he lost his football and was standing on his head on top of a telephone pole. When Barker spotted the deputy, he immediately hung up and covered his head in a blanket.

While talking with the deputy, Barker admitted to calling 911 "like eleven times, 'cause I need you to call me a taxi." He also said he was not suffering from chest pains and did not need medical assistance.

Barker was arrested for misuse of 911 and taken to Land O'Lakes Jail without incident.

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Florida Teacher Anne Wampole Suspended for Being at School Super Drunk

There are only a handful of jobs where working under the influence of alcohol may be a benefit: stripper, news blogger, game show host. High school teacher certainly isn't one of them, as Bayshore High School's Anne Wampole has found out the hard way.

The 39-year-old Bradenton, Florida, teacher was approached by an assistant principal on January 13th. The administrator detected a strong odor of alcohol, and Wampole was immediately removed from class and ordered to take two breathalyzer tests according to theSarasota Tribune-Herald.

The tests came back with a blood alcohol level of 0.112. The legal limit to be considered intoxicated in Florida is 0.08. In other words, Wampole apparently got serious when it came to getting her drink on.

"It's a serious concern that it was that high that late in the day," Scott Martin, assistant superintendent, told the paper.

The tests were administered at about 1:30 p.m. Wampole had been in the school since 7:30 a.m. It's apparently not yet known yet if she had come to work intoxicated, or was drinking through out the day.

Wampole had been placed on administrative lead, and the Manatee County School Board will vote whether to put her on unpaid administration. She will face a hearing and could face eventual termination.

You can find these articles at www.nbc-2.com

 

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February 21, 2012

SAFE HOUSE TOOK THE NUMBER ONE MOVIE OVER THE WEEKEND

Arrested Naples man claims to have "monkey blood"

A 51-year-old Naples man was arrested Friday after pulling a gun on a woman in a bank parking lot.

According to the arrest report, the man, Mark Loescher, insisted he was the CIA director and Elvis Presley's brother.

He also told deputies he was half orangutan and they needed to contact the "fusion center" to check on his monkey blood.

Deputies responded to the Wells Fargo bank at Airport Pulling and Pine Ridge around 5:00 p.m.

Witnesses say Loescher pulled a gun on a woman after she approached him due to his car smoking.

Deputies detained Loescher in handcuffs and it was at this time that he informed deputies that he had jurisdiction over them as director of the CIA.

No credentials could be found.

Reports say Loescher's comments "were very off the wall," and that "it did not appear as if he was all there mentally."

The victim told deputies she had approached the vehicle to check on Loescher after noticing his car was smoking.

He pulled out the gun, later identified as a fully loaded .357 Magnum revolver and pointed it in her direction, causing her to become fearful for her life. She says she backed up slowly before going back inside the bank.

Loescher was taken to the hospital after complaints of high blood pressure. At the hospital, he said he needed to speak with the FBI and stated that he his good friends and shares an attorney with President Bush.

Upon his release, he was transported to the Naples Jail Center and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

"Euthanized" dog turns up alive

Lisa Gossett's one-year-old Chihuahua Lola was viciously attacked by another dog four months ago.

The veterinarian told her the outlook was grim and gave Gossett two choices.

"Pay out all this money and there's a 20 percent chance that she'll live or euthanize her, so it was hard," said Gossett.

Gossett says she didn't want Lola to suffer so she signed on the dotted line and said a painful goodbye.

It hit her 5-year-old daughter Bianca hard, she said.

"When she prays she says I want to see Lola again - I want to see Lola again," said Gossett.

The family had moved on until this week, when Gossett got a phone call.

It was the company that programs the ID microchips that go into pets.

The caller said a woman was requesting to switch Lola's chip over to a new owner.

"And I said, 'Oh no, you're mistaken Lola is not alive we had her put down she was in an accident.' And they said, 'No ma'am. In fact she is alive and there's a request for ownership for her,'" said Gossett.

Gossett immediately called the vet demanding answers.

It boils down to a document the owner signed when she gave the vet the go-ahead to euthanize the dog.

What she didn't know, and what wasn't explained to her, was she was surrendering all ownership rights to the veterinarian.

A worker at the vet's office chose to turn Lola over to the foundation "Second Chance" which rehabilitates dogs.

They assigned Lola to a foster home for her recovery.

After finding out about the miscommunication, Second Chance put Gossett in touch with Lola's new owner, Leslie Mason.

"When I was asked to take it I didn't believe it had an owner and it was just in bad shape and needed to be nursed back to health," said Mason.

Mason says she recently lost a dog to disease.

She says the only thing that got her through it was nursing Lola back to health - who she named Tinker.

"I want to say take her but then I want to say no, I want her - it's just, it's hard," said Mason.

In an act of complete kindness, Gossett and her daughter decided to let Lola stay at her new home.

"I'm grateful that she's in a place that she's so happy, I'm grateful just to be able to see her again," said Gossett.

Even though there was a happy ending, Gossett still has questions for the vet.

She says it was never explained to her that the vet could choose to keep the dog alive.

Clinic administrator Lynda Stevens says the worker who removed the dog violated policy and has been fired.

 

95-year-old woman left in car while caretaker goes gambling, police say

A Boca Raton caretaker went gambling at a Coconut Creek casino on Sunday and left a 95-year-old woman sitting alone in a car for almost two hours, according to police.

The woman, who suffers from dementia, was not hurt.

Mary Holly, 53, who said she is a licensed nurse, fainted Monday during her initial appearance in a Broward courtroom. She's charged with one count of neglect of an elderly person.

When Holly was taken into custody on Sunday, there were two active warrants out for her arrest in Palm Beach County on unrelated charges of exploitation of an elderly person and grand theft, according to a police report. Details of those cases were not available Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday.

According to police, a visitor to the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 NW 40th Street, called police Sunday after noticing Belle Sapstein had been sitting alone inside of a silver Saturn for at least an hour. The car is registered to the elderly woman.

A Coconut Creek Police officer wrote in his report that Sapstein had no signs of distress, but that she couldn't answer any basic questions about herself or about her medical history. The woman was left alone without food, drink or a cellphone, according to the report.

Holly reportedly returned to the car and told police she thought it was okay to leave Sapstein in the car, according to the arrest report.

Surveillance video at the casino showed that Holly drove up to the parking lot at 4:49 p.m. Sunday. The officer was dispatched to the casino at 7:07 p.m., the report said.

Sapstein was taken to Northwest Medical Center in Margate. She was still listed as being a patient there on Monday afternoon.

On Monday morning, Holly needed medical help when she fainted during her bond court hearing. She returned about half an hour later sitting in a wheelchair.

Broward County Circuit Judge Louis Schiff ordered Holly to be held on a $6,000 bond and to have no contact with Sapstein. He also prohibited her from taking care of any patients until her criminal case is resolved.

"Had it not been for the Good Samaritan, this could've been a whole different scenario," Schiff said.

Fast food CEO on 'Undercover Boss' so horrified by abusive manager he shuts down a restaurant on the spot

The point of the CBS show 'Undercover Boss' is that the CEOs are supposed to stay 'undercover' as they work in the trenches of their own companies, their identities hidden from their employees.

But Rick Silva, the head of Checkers & Rally's drive-in hamburger restaurants, was so horrified at the abusive tone of one of his managers in Homestead, Florida, that he broke character and revealed himself in the middle of the episode.

And then he shut down the restaurant for the night, stunning the employees and shocking the manager, known only in show as

While working alongside an employee named Todd at the fry station of the restaurant, Todd is in the middle of telling Silva about his ambitions to be a chef, when Stevens yells at Todd to stop talking and cook the meat.

At one point, Stevens threatened Todd outside and beat him for not working hard enough.

When Silva questioned the employee about why he allowed himself to be treated so badly, Todd replied that he had to keep his job so he could support his mother and he worried that if he stood up for himself, he would be fired.

In response to Steven's abusive behaviour and barking orders at his employees, Silva responds by asking Stevens to speak with him outside.

When he asked why Stevens yelled at his employees, the manager explains: 'If I don't scream at them, they don't listen to me.'

Gaining confidence, the manager added: 'I'm not going to let you continue telling me I'm disrespecting my crew. Have you been in the fast food business before?

After initially attempting to not answer the question directly, Silva, who manages one of the largest fast food chains in the country with more than 800 stores in 28 states, shot back:

'I have been in the restaurant business for over 20 years. And I've been in the fast food business for over 20 years. I'm CEO for this company.'

Stevens' face shows that he is clearly stunned and he opens his mouth in disbelief, looking away.

'Right here, right now, we're going to shut the restaurant down,' Silva says.

When he calls the employees out to inform them of the news, they are afraid the closing will be permanent and their jobs are lost. 

However, Silva reopened the store with a new general manager the next morning and sent the offending manager in for more training.

'I came to the conclusion that he wasn’t prepared to run that shift and wasn’t convinced that when I walked away the restaurant would provide the level of service we need,' he told the trade magazine Nation's Restaurant News later.

He also accepted responsibility for the manager's poor behavior, saying it was his own fault as CEO that the company didn't have the proper training procedures in place.

As for Todd, at the end of the show, Silva awarded him with $15,000 to take care of his mother and money to finish culinary school.

Man robs store, caught when wheelchair gets stuck in sand, police say

Chiefland police officers said a man in a wheelchair held up a convenience store with a knife and told the store clerk police would not arrest a handicapped person, the Gainesville Sun reports.

A few minutes later, the suspect was arrested after police found him sitting in his wheelchair, which had gotten stuck in the sand behind the store. Police said he was drinking a Bud Light Lime when they found him.

John Christopher Champion, 22, of Chiefland, was arrested by the Chiefland Police Department on charges of armed robbery and aggravated battery.

The holdup happened inside the Chevron at 607 S. Main St. in Chiefland. Police said the incident was recorded on surveillance cameras, but the employee who had access to the surveillance system could not immediately be contacted. 

 

 

 

 

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February 17, 2012

Beer-money flashing offers lead to knife attack

Two St. James City women, one wielding a knife, were arrested Wednesday evening after their failed attempts to flash fellow bar patrons to earn extra beer money escalated into a parking lot attack.

Deputies were called to The Waterfront restaurant at 5:21 p.m. about two "disorderly females."

Restaurant workers say Alicia Martin, 28, and Kathryn Rayannic, 23, had consumed "excessive quantities" of beer at the bar.

Deputies say the duo ran out of money, so they bounced around the bar offering to expose their breasts to other patrons for money, so they could buy more beer.

"They were offering to show their boobs for drinks," said waiter Shaun Bassett. "We had five guys that were like, 'Please, leave us alone.' They actually went up to tables who had their wives there."

In fact, no one took the women up on their offer.

"Basically when they were turned down, they kind of got a little rowdy," Bassett said.

The other customers complained, and two restaurant employees, a male and a female, tried to get Martin and Ryannic to leave.

The arrest report says Martin shoved the female employee into a wall before walking the suspects out of the restaurant.

Once outside, deputies say Martin attacked the female employee, punching her in the back of the head.

The male employee jumped in and dragged Martin off the female employee. He took Martin's keys as the female employee called 911, deputies say.

That's when Martin allegedly pulled a knife and demanded the keys back. She allegedly charged the man, telling him she was going to stab him.

Deputies say the man backed off, so Martin put the knife away and attacked the female employee again.

Martin is charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Battery. Rayannic is charged with Disorderly Conduct.

Band members surprised with new instruments

Thursday's Manatee Middle School assembly started with music, but the band's performance got cut short – with a big surprise.

For a moment there was silence, then came the drum roll.

One by one, the students of the school's symphonic band were handed 21 brand new instruments. They were a gift from fidelity investments.

The kids couldn't wait to get their hands and mouths on them.

"Once I got this I kissed it like this and also I played a little tune for them," said student Josue Charles.

Fidelity donated $26,000 worth of instruments, everything from flutes to saxophones and trombones that kids in band can use any time they want.

"I was so surprised when I touched the clarinet just got a new feel a new vibe," said student Wendy Morales.

The excitement and smiles spread across the room from the students to the staff.

"It was phenomenal to see students' reaction. They were so excited they had no idea. And to see these beautiful shiny new instruments that they're going to get to use that was awesome," said Peggy Aune, Manatee Middle School Principal.

They've already started using them. They played an encore for the crowd.

Bound for trouble: Role-playing couple arrested

At least nine police cars responded Tuesday to reports of a woman bound in duct tape and naked in a man's car, but the incident turned out to be a Valentine's role-playing game.

Shortly after noon, police converged on the New Seasons Market in Portland, Oregon after receiving a report of a vehicle seen leaving the parking lot with a naked female tied up in the back with duct tape over her mouth.

According to police, a witness told officers that the driver of the car was a white male in his 20s, with a goatee and sunglasses and that the female "seemed hazy."

The witness told police that the male stated they "were just having some fun."

The witness provided the license plate and police tracked the vehicle to a home.

Just before 1 p.m. the car was spotted by an officer returning to the home.

An officer saw a bound and naked woman in the back of the car and approached the driver.

Nikolas Alexander Harbar, 31, told police that he and his girlfriend, 26-year-old Stephanie Morgan Pelzner, were doing some Valentine's Day role playing.

Officers confirmed the information with Pelzner and that she was voluntarily bound and nude in the back of the Subaru.

Both Harbar and Pelzner were arrested for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree and booked into the Multnomah County Jail.

Senate panel OKs slashing hourly pay for servers, bartenders, others

 

Restaurant servers, bartenders and other Florida workers who rely heavily on tips are expressing outrage about a plan moving through the Legislature that could slash their hourly wages.

The bill (SB 2106), approved by a Senate committee Thursday, would allow restaurants and other employers to pay their staffs the federal tipped minimum wage of $2.13 an hour instead of Florida's minimum of $4.65. To qualify, companies would have to guarantee that employees would make at least $9.98 an hour, when tips are included.

Opponents say it would cut the pay for people like Charles Spencer, who's working his way through school by waiting tables at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Downtown Disney.

Teen Steals Tomato Plant, Mistook For Pot

 

A 15-year-old Volusia County teen thought he was stealing a pot plant from a home near Daytona Beach, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. It turns out it was a tomato plant and the homeowner caught him.

The victim returned to her home on Carmen Avenue last Friday to see someone leaving through her kitchen window with one of her plants in hand.

She chased him, but lost him, authorities said.

Wednesday, while walking her son to school, the woman saw the teen again and along with another woman held him for deputies.

Deputies said the teen admitted he took the plant because he thought it was pot.

WESH 2 News is not identifying the teen because of his age 

 

 

 

 

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February 16, 2012

RSW installing full body scanners

Full body scanners are coming to Southwest Florida International Airport.  Passengers say they want to be safe in the sky, but are also concerned about the safety of the machines.

According to the TSA, the full body scanners are safe for anyone to use, even children and pregnant women.

"I prefer not to be scanned myself and my infant just I know there's health risks to it," said Kara Nichols.

According to information from the TSA, the millimeter wave technology screenings are safe. They give off 1,000 times less energy than international limits and guidelines.

Some passengers are okay with the new technology.

"Anything that will make travel safer I'm ok with," said Phil Aristone.

"Quicker, easier, just more effective," said Bob Randall.

The new equipment uses software known as automated target recognition. It detects metallic and non-metallic threats, including explosives and weapons hidden under clothing.

"I think it's a good idea. Privacy wise - I mean I understand that they're trying to be safe about everything but at the same time, I think you should have a little bit of privacy," said Rudy Hensle.

To help with privacy the scanners being installed only uses generic images. It's a basic human outline that shows where a possible threat has been detected.

Those images can't be stored, printed, transmitted, or saved. They're automatically deleted after you're cleared by a security officer.

The scanners are being installed and are not in use yet.

Financial Sex Aid: Florida Co-Eds Seek “Sugar Daddy” for College Degree

People who are looking for the perfect match, both men and women, go  online seeking a certain kind of arrangement.

A “sugar baby” is typically younger and eager for adventure. A “sugar daddy” is usually an older, financially established provider. A website called www.seekingarrangement.com helps the two meet.

CBS4′s Jorge Estevez found a 22-year old who is looking for her first sugar daddy.  She is a Miami student looking for someone to help her pay for her higher education and all the related expenses.

A self-proclaimed, cute blonde who is looking for fun in Fort Lauderdale admits to being a college student looking for some help.

And another pretty, young Miami college girl, who does not want to be identified, is more direct, asking specifically for 10 to 20-thousand dollars monthly. The 22-year old claims to be looking for someone who will never say ”NO” to her needs.

“The lesson here… ask and you shall receive,” she told Estevez.

“What have they given you?” asked Estevez.

“They have given me cars, trips, jewelry. These guys will take you out and they will court you,” she responded.

Jorge asked “What do these guys do for you?”

“They support you financially… financially,” she replied.

Support is proving to be crucial for a 20-year old sugar baby, who is in college at Florida International University.

“Have they paid your tuition?” asked Estevez.

“Yes Jorge.”

“Books?” he asked.

“Books. Everything,” she responded. “When I say everything… I mean everything.”

In fact, her profile asks for someone to “help a young’in out”.  And she is not alone. Numbers compiled by the “seeking arrangement” website showed that in the past six months, FIU ranked 20th in a list of the top universities with “sugar baby” sign ups.

Florida ranked third in the U.S. behind New York and California with 67,815 total users, of all ages. There are just over 1,000,000 and growing .

Our FIU student argued that it’s a way to survive the times.

“I don’t get support from my parents. As soon as I turned 18, they told me I am on my own. I have to figure everything out on my own Jorge.”

“And you discovered this? And you thought…?” asked Estevez.

“My dreams came true Jorge.”

But seeking arrangement, which began in 2006, insists they are not an escort service and specifies the terms of the relationship are left up to the two consenting users. Estevez spoke with the website’s founder, Brandon Lee.

“Why is this not like prostitution, since you mentioned it?” asked Estevez.

“We do not allow escorts or prostitutes to use the website. That is what I call a one or two-hour arrangement. It is not what this is about,” Lee said.

In fact, the website monitors profiles. They claim they shut down as many as 20-a day for alluding to inappropriate behavior.

“To make sure that terms such as hourly rate, in call, out call and terms like that aren’t used, we highlight them and catch them.

We put that question on the table for our “sugar baby.”

“What do you say to people who say this is a form of prostitution?” asked Estevez of our FIU student.

“That is not true,” she explained. “Prostitution is when you get paid for sex and that is just it. Sex. For this, you build a relationship with someone.”

It’s a relationship that begins online, a common practice nowadays, where one person logs on hoping to find another who is also in search of that perfect match.

“Years from now you are successful. What do you say to you about doing this?” Jorge inquired.

“They have money they want to help you. They see you struggling, They want to help you. Whether or not it is an arrangement… it is still a relationship,” the woman explained.

A match, found online, between two consenting adults looking for their own special arrangement.

So what is the ratio for these consenting adults? Well, most dating websites have more men than women. But at seekingarrangement.com, it’s the opposite. The ratio is 20 sugar babies to every one sugar daddy.

Seeking Arrangement is developing a mobile app for your smart phone and the website is going global with a Spanish language version and other languages.

Flower shop outside Lake Worth catches fire

The Hillmans canceled the store's insurance four months ago.

"It was either insurance or pay our employees," he said. "You should never have to make that decision."

More than a dozen Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews were called to A Flower Patch at 3435 S. Military Trail at 4:06 a.m. By 7 a.m. the fire was out and the crews were packing up. They were dispatched back around 8:30 a.m. to clean up some smoking embers.

Most of what was in the front of the store - including flower arrangements and teddy bears left over from Valentine's Day - survived the fire.

When Betsy Hillman opened the door to the flowers' cooler, the smell of roses battled the smell of smoke.

Most of what was in the back of the store was ruined except for a Rolodex full of years of customer information.

Investigators believe the fire, which started in the back of the store, was caused by an electrical problem. The fire intensified when it spread to a rack of spray paint cans, said fire rescue spokesman Capt. Don DeLucia.

"The travesty of this whole situation is just unbelievable," Todd Hillman said.

Betsy Hillman said customers and friends have offered their help after hearing about the fire.

"I've already had a lot of people wanting to come and help clean up. It was nice getting the phone calls," she said. "We have a lot of good support. It's the regular people that have come in our shop."

Todd Hillman added, "I've had people who I've done their birth, their prom flowers and their weddings. They're like family."

The Hillmans opened their shop more than three decades ago.

"My wife was a florist since she's been 16. She's always loved it," Todd Hillman said. "I was in lawn and garden. It seemed a natural match."

The Hillmans said they don't know if or when they will reopen.

Police: Man Admits To Counterfeiting

William LaRose was arrested after police found 18 counterfeit twenty-dollar bills in his possession. LaRose had been attempting to spend the counterfeit money at various Ocala-area stores.

Police were first tipped off to LaRose when he tried to use two counterfeit fifty-dollar bills at an Aldi Food Store, according to investigators. LaRose attempted to use counterfeit bills Monday at a Dollar General store as well before he was arrested, officers said.

The counterfeit bills collected from the two stores matched the ones police found in LaRose’s possession.

Investigators said LaRose told detectives that he was responsible for printing the money but would not provide details on where the equipment he used was located.

LaRose remains in the Marion County Jail on $6,500 bail.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000 or Crimestoppers at 352-368-STOP.
 

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February 14, 2012

'Robin Hood' accused of Goodwill theft

An Immokalee man accused of stealing from the Goodwill store where he works says he did it to help the less fortunate.

Many are calling Henry Martinez a modern day hero.

"He's kind of like a Robin Hood gentleman," said Goodwill customer Richard Sanger.

But Robin Hood is mostly known for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. That's a little different from what Martinez is accused of doing.

Collier deputies say he was stealing from this Immokalee Goodwill store where he worked.

"Instead of ringing up purchases for customers, he was giving items away to customers," explained Kirsten O'Donnell, with Goodwill.

And it was all caught on camera.

O'Donnell says customers were getting jeans, shirts and household items all at a heavy discount.

"When people steal from Goodwill they're not stealing from a company, they're stealing from a mission," she said.

Store employees say Martinez had been giving away items and slashing prices for months, totaling up to $1,300.

Martinez says he was given permission from his bosses and didn't think he was doing anything wrong.

"None of this was done for anything for my benefit. I was doing it to help those who are less fortunate," Martinez said.

"While he may have felt that what he was doing was helping people out, in actuality by keeping us from raising revenue, to support our mission," O'Donnell said.

Now the self-proclaimed hero now has a mission of his own - staying out of jail and finding a new job.

When asked if he thinks he did anything wrong Martinez replied, "In the long run, I don't think so - in the eyes of God. But in the eyes of the human, they think I did something wrong."

Shoplifters hit Victoria's Secret at Coconut Point

Thirty five perfume bottles were stolen from the Victoria's Secret store at Coconut Point Mall Friday afternoon, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

According to reports, an employee ringing up a customer heard the sensors at the front door go off. She looked up, but didn't see anyone.

Another employee walked over to the perfumes and noticed there were some items missing from the shelf, reports said.

They conducted an inventory and determined 35 bottles, valued at $1045, were missing.

Man uses towel to 'shut up' ex-girlfriend

A 55-year-old man accused of hitting his his ex-girlfriend in the face with a towel was arrested Jan. 28. and charged with battery, according to a Niceville Police Department arrest report.

According to the report, the man returned home and began throwing things at his ex-girlfriend, striking her in the face as she slept on the bed. The woman told officers she woke up when the man started throwing towels at her, the report said.

The woman told officers she feared for her safety. The man said the woman wasn't sleeping and was nagging him, so he "threw the towel to shut her up," the report said. He told officers, "I didn't hurt her, it was a towel."

Scammers target Valentine's Day

Authorities say thieves are targeting your online v-day purchases in an attempt to steal your identity.

This Valentine’s Day cybercrooks are adapting scams to romance you out of your hard-earned money. The following are some scams that have already been reported:

Shopping Scams

Beware of pop-ups and other unsolicited emails that request personal information to “complete your online order” or “finalize your floral  delivery.” If you have a question about a shopping transaction, it’s best to call the company directly or navigate to their website by typing the URL into a browser. Never use the link provided in the email or pop-up message.

e-Card Scams

Most cards are meant to spread thoughtful sentiments; however, cybercriminals are using this tactic to send “phishing” emails to trick you into divulging your personal information or clicking a link the will infect your computer with a virus. If you don’t know and trust the sender of the email, it’s best to not open it and take the risk.

Social Media / Chat Scams

The “flirt-bot” is a computer simulated chat that tricks users into revealing their personal information  on social media or other messaging platforms. This computer program uses flirtation to lure victims to a site that requests a credit card number to “prove” that the person is over 18. Other scams may come in the form of “friends” wanting to connect. If you don’t recognize the person, it’s best to decline any requests.

Good Samaritan turns in $350 lost by Connecticut man on Immokalee Road

A Connecticut man found out when it rains it pours — his cash.

Last week, John Fedus made a wrong turn after arriving in Collier County and stopped to call his sister. He pulled off on Immokolee Road and took out his wallet to find his sister's phone number. After getting directions, he took off — with his wallet filled with $700 on the trunk.

"My money was flying down Immokolee Road," Fedus said.

Luckily for Fedus, who would only say he is almost 70, some of his cash migrated back to him within two hours. He's grateful to the Collier County Sheriff's Office and a couple of Good Samaritans.

After frantically searching for the money and the wallet, not once but twice, a detective handed him seven $50 bills. It represented half of his money. Fedus said it also represented someone doing the right thing.

"I would like to give him or her a reward as a 'Thank You,'" Fedus said, "because there was one honest person out there."

Fedus' fortune changed when a couple of citizens flagged down a deputy and said they found some money. Fedus had reported his loss to the Sheriff's Office and the deputy matched up the two stories, said Karie Partington, a spokeswoman with the sheriff's office.

Fedus isn't the only who has misplaced some cash lately. The Sheriff's Office placed a lost and found ad in the Daily News asking if someone lost currency in the area of Pine Ridge Road. The ad says the money will be surrendered to the finder if not claimed in 90 days.

Parrington said the Sheriff's Office will often put in an ad for lost items — ranging from bicycles, jewelry and even cash.

Those Good Samaritans who turn in found items are also following the law.

Commander Bill McDonald said if someone finds anything tangible it should be reported to law enforcement.

"If you fail to report tangible items, it is treated as a theft," McDonald said. He said the people who found the money could have actually been charged with grand theft, anything over $300 in value, if they had kept the money.

McDonald said the Sheriff's Office fills out a report on found items and if they are not claimed within 90 days they are then given to the finder.

He called Fedus fortunate that someone turned in cash.

"That's pretty unusual," McDonald said. "People will turn in watches or jewelry but when people find a few dollars on the ground they rarely turn it in. So he was pretty lucky."

Fedus wrote a letter to the Sheriff's Office thanking deputies for their efforts in returning his money.

It may have only been half of his money but it was better than nothing, he said.

He didn't get his walled back but Fedus said he, too, would have returned the cash.

"Anything that is not yours should be turned in," Fedus said. "I don't believe in benefitting from someone else's spoils."

Fortunately for Fedus, no one spoiled a good ending to his tough day.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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February 13, 2012

Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by drug use and her regal image was tarnished by erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died on the eve of the Grammy Awards she once reigned. She was 48.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen said Houston was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton. "There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.

A Los Angeles County coroner's official said early Sunday that her body had been taken to a morgue. Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party were not able to resuscitate her, he said.

Houston's death came on the night before music's biggest showcase, the Grammys. She will be remembered Sunday in a tribute by Jennifer Hudson, organizers said.

Her longtime mentor, Clive Davis, went ahead with his annual concert at the same hotel where her body was found. He dedicated the evening to her and asked for a moment of silence as a photo of the singer, hands wide open, looking to the sky, appeared on the screen.

Houston was supposed to appear at the gala, and Davis had told The Associated Press that she would perhaps perform: "It's her favorite night of the year ... (so) who knows by the end of the evening," he said.

Houston had been at rehearsals for the show Thursday, coaching singers Brandy and Monica, according to a person who was at the event but was not authorized to speak publicly about it. The person said Houston looked disheveled, was sweating profusely and liquor and cigarettes could be smelled on her breath.

Two days ago, she performed at a pre-Grammy party with singer Kelly Price. Singer Kenny Lattimore hosted the event, and said Houston sang the gospel classic "Jesus Loves Me" with Price, her voice registering softly, not with the same power it had at its height.

Lattimore said Houston was gregarious and was in a good mood, surrounded by friends and family, including daughter Bobbi Kristina.

"She just seemed like she was having a great night that night," said Lattimore, who said he was in shock over her death.

Aretha Franklin, her godmother, also said she was stunned.

"I just can't talk about it now," Franklin said in a short statement. "It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen."

The Rev. Al Sharpton said he would call for a national prayer Sunday morning during a service at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

"The morning of the Grammys, the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird," Sharpton said in a statement.

In a statement, Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said Houston "was one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades."

At her peak, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry. From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful and peerless vocals rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.

She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston.

But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.

"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the United States alone.

She seemed to be born into greatness. In addition to being Franklin's goddaughter, she was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick.

Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform.

"The time that I first saw her singing in her mother's act in a club ... it was such a stunning impact," Davis told "Good Morning America."

"To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.

Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. "Saving All My Love for You" brought her her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. "How Will I Know," "You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All" also became hit singles.

Another multiplatinum album, "Whitney," came out in 1987 and included hits like "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

The New York Times wrote that Houston "possesses one of her generation's most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity."

Her decision not to follow the more soulful inflections of singers like Franklin drew criticism by some who saw her as playing down her black roots to go pop and reach white audiences. The criticism would become a constant refrain through much of her career. She was even booed during the "Soul Train Awards" in 1989.

"Sometimes it gets down to that, you know?" she told Katie Couric in 1996. "You're not black enough for them. I don't know. You're not R&B enough. You're very pop. The white audience has taken you away from them."

Some saw her 1992 marriage to former New Edition member and soul crooner Bobby Brown as an attempt to respond to those critics. It seemed to be an odd union; she was seen as pop's pure princess while he had a bad-boy image and already had children of his own. (The couple had one daughter, Bobbi Kristina, born in 1993.) Over the years, he would be arrested several times, on charges including DUI and failure to pay child support.

But Houston said their true personalities were not as far apart as people may have believed.

"When you love, you love. I mean, do you stop loving somebody because you have different images? You know, Bobby and I basically come from the same place," she told Rolling Stone in 1993. "You see somebody, and you deal with their image, that's their image. It's part of them, it's not the whole picture. I am not always in a sequined gown. I am nobody's angel. I can get down and dirty. I can get raunchy."

Brown was getting ready to perform at a New Edition reunion tour in Southaven, Miss., as news spread about Houston's death. The group went ahead with its performance, though Brown appeared overcome with emotion when his voice cracked at the beginning of a ballad and he left the stage.

Before his departure, he told the sell-out crowd: "First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, I love you, Whitney. The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage."

Brown said he decided to perform because fans had shown their loyalty to the group for more than 25 years. During an intermission, one of Houston's early hits, "You Give Good Love," played over the speakers. Fans stood up and began singing along.

It would take several years for the public to see the "down and dirty" side of Houston. Her moving 1991 rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl, amid the first Gulf War, set a new standard and once again reaffirmed her as America's sweetheart.

In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with "The Bodyguard." Despite mixed reviews, the story of a singer (Houston) guarded by a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) was an international success.

It also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit: a searing, stunning rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," which sat atop the charts for weeks. It was Grammy's record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the "Bodyguard" soundtrack was named album of the year.

She returned to the big screen in 1995-96 with "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife." Both spawned soundtrack albums, and another hit studio album, "My Love Is Your Love," in 1998, brought her a Grammy for best female R&B vocal for the cut "It's Not Right But It's Okay."

But during these career and personal highs, Houston was using drugs. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2009, she said by the time "The Preacher's Wife" was released, "(doing drugs) was an everyday thing. ... I would do my work, but after I did my work, for a whole year or two, it was every day. ... I wasn't happy by that point in time. I was losing myself."

In the interview, Houston blamed her rocky marriage to Brown, which included a charge of domestic abuse against Brown in 1993. They divorced in 2007.

Houston would go to rehab twice before she would declare herself drug-free to Winfrey in 2009. But in the interim, there were missed concert dates, a stop at an airport due to drugs, and public meltdowns.

She was so startlingly thin during a 2001 Michael Jackson tribute concert that rumors spread she had died the next day. Her crude behavior and jittery appearance on Brown's reality show, "Being Bobby Brown," was an example of her sad decline. Her Sawyer interview, where she declared "crack is whack," was often parodied. She dropped out of the spotlight for a few years.

Houston staged what seemed to be a successful comeback with the 2009 album "I Look To You." The album debuted on the top of the charts, and would eventually go platinum.

Things soon fell apart. A concert to promote the album on "Good Morning America" went awry as Houston's voice sounded ragged and off-key. She blamed an interview with Winfrey for straining her voice.

A world tour launched overseas, however, only confirmed suspicions that Houston had lost her treasured gift, as she failed to hit notes and left many fans unimpressed; some walked out. Canceled concert dates raised speculation that she may have been abusing drugs, but she denied those claims and said she was in great shape, blaming illness for cancellations.

Houston was to make her return to film in the remake of the classic movie "Sparkle." Filming on the movie, which stars former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks, recently wrapped.

Simon Cowell told CNN's Piers Morgan on Saturday night that he had been considering Houston as a possible judge on the U.S. version of his talent competition, "The X Factor."

Texting-while-driving ban up again in Legislature

Joyce Concklin has 10 good reasons why every state should pass a ban on texting while driving: That's the number of bones she broke when a texting driver ran into her. And that driver died, his mobile phone still clutched in his hand.

Concklin's accident happened in Texas, but she says it easily could have happened in Florida, where she lives.

Both states are among those that haven't outlawed texting by all drivers operating motor vehicles. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia already have bans, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The Florida Legislature, with Republican supermajorities in both chambers, has been hostile to anti-texting bills; one died in committee last year. The reason generally given is that it would be government intrusion into people's lives.

"There are already laws on the books that make it illegal to drive unsafely," said Jim Harper, director of information policy studies for the libertarian Cato Institute. Florida has a "reckless driving" law.

Being opposed to a ban on texting while driving is not being opposed to safety, "it's being opposed to silly laws that list everything you might do wrong," Harper said. "There were accidents after they started putting cup holders in cars, but we didn't outlaw cup holders."

Concklin, who is partly disabled because of the wreck, sees it differently.

"We may be infringing on your rights a little, but you're infringing on us," the 53-year-old Hernando County horse trainer said. "This (accident) changed my life, and not for the better."

A Senate bill (SB 416) banning texting while driving has zipped through three committees with only two votes cast against it, but it has not been scheduled for a final vote by the full chamber. The House version (HB 299) has gone nowhere.

A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who usually pushes for limited government and less regulation, says he hasn't taken a position on a ban. As a candidate in 2010, he did tell AAA "distracted driving of any kind (including texting) has to be discouraged." He said he'd work with lawmakers "to adopt policies that address distracted driving." He says a texting driver once struck his wife's car.

Both bills would make texting subject to secondary enforcement, meaning police could cite drivers for it only if they had been pulled over for another violation such as speeding. A first violation would be a $30 fine; a second violation within five years would be $60.

And if texting resulted in a crash, the driver would be assessed six points — 12 points within a year leads to a 30-day driver's license suspension. Points also lead to increased insurance rates.

The House sponsor, Republican Rep. Ray Pilon of Sarasota, said his bill is in limbo in the transportation and highway safety subcommittee. The chair, Rep. Brad Drake, said the law is unnecessary.

"It's difficult to legislate every kind of human behavior and then try and enforce it," Drake said. "People just need to be responsible for themselves."

The federal government says a texting driver is 23 times more likely to crash than one not texting. A study by AAA puts the figure lower at six times. The Florida Highway Patrol already prohibits its troopers from texting while driving on duty.

But critics point out that texting bans haven't had an effect on the number of accidents. A 2010 study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, which looks at insurance claims, said crashes didn't decrease in states that banned texting by drivers, and in fact found that reported collisions went up slightly.

Researchers surmise the bans are making a bad situation worse by causing drivers, knowing it's illegal, to move their phones down and out of sight when they text, taking their eyes further away from the road.

Of the 171,538 Florida crash reports filed during the first 10 months of last year, 149 of drivers in those wrecks — less than 1 percent — were known to be texting, state highway safety spokeswoman Courtney Heidelberg said.

All agree the real danger is what's generally called "distracted driving."

For example, the official Florida Driver's Handbook lists "driving while calling, answering, talking or texting on a mobile phone" as bad habits that drivers should break. But the handbook also lists "driving when ill, upset or angry" and "driving while eating and drinking."

Another brochure on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website includes "smoking" and even "other people inside or outside the vehicle."

But one in seven drivers have admitted to reading or sending a text message while driving, according to department figures, and nearly half of all 16- and 17-year-old drivers text and drive.

And certainly, texting and driving at the same time can be dangerous.

Drivers who text take their eyes off the road for almost 5 seconds, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates the trucking industry. At 55 mph, a driver can cross the equivalent of a football field while not looking.

It's that risk that caught up with Concklin. In 2010, she was riding in a 1-ton GMC truck that her husband was driving back to Florida from Texas after a deer-hunting trip.

Suddenly, she heard her husband say, "What's that guy doing?" A driver in a SUV barreling toward them at 70 mph had his head down and veered into their lane. Concklin's husband tried to swerve.

The other driver "popped his head up just as our tires began to squeal," she said. It was too late; they struck almost head on.

The SUV driver, a 20-year-old, died at the scene with his phone still in his hand, a crash report said. He had just bought his vehicle about a half-hour before the wreck.

Concklin was pinned in the truck until help arrived. She spent four days in the hospital and now has wire in her knee and plates and screws in her arm.

She says she can't fully train horses because she no longer has the flexibility.

Whatever the Legislature does — or doesn't do — this year about texting and driving, Concklin uses her ordeal to spread a simple lesson: "If it's that important, pull off the road."

The Vow took the weekend box office.

Butt dial leads to drug bust

Two people arrested in Palm Bay, Florida are accused of dealing drugs after they accidentally dialed 911 from their cellphone.

Janelle Litton, 25, and Joshua Justice, 20, were overheard by 911 dispatchers discussing drugs when Litton's phone pocket-dialed authorities.

"Don't do all of it. I'm not saying you can't do some of it, but don't do all of it," Justice was allegedly overheard saying on the 911 call. "You owe me 200."

"How about a hundred? An extra hundred on the last deal," Litton said on the 911 recording.

Deputies said when the 911 center receives a call that no one answers, they have to listen to what is going on in the background.

An informant called police at the same time and said they were witnessing a drug deal at a Waffle House on Malabar Road.

Police used the witness description and the 911 connection to trace the car, which was Litton's vehicle.

Officers said that within 16 minutes they spotted Litton's car on a nearby road.

"Uh oh. Oh my God, it's a cop," Litton says on the 911 call. "Put this thing up."

Authorities said they knew they had the evidence when they pulled Litton over.

"It clearly shows that some sort of drug transaction was going on and attempts to get rid of drug evidence," said Palm Bay Police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez.

Officers said found drugs in the car and then told Litton about her pocket-dial.

"Your phone's on," said the officer.

"My phone's on? I don't have a cellphone working right now," Litton told officers.

"The 911 always works, miss," said the officer.

Litton is charged with driving under the influence of drugs.

Justice is charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. 

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FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Stranger danger: Kids learn to fight back

Parents and children in Southwest Florida are taking action, fighting back against stranger danger. We found out what life-saving techniques are being used to keep kids safe.

Master Geoffrey Rackebrandt, of Tae Kwon Do United, teaches his students that it's OK to strike, hit, scratch and bite because if a stranger's attacking - it's not a fair fight.

Master Rackebrandt says he makes sure his four to eight-year-old students are trained for whatever they may face.

Rackebrandt keeps the rules simple – don't talk to strangers and don't follow a stranger's instructions.

But "strangers" can be a hard concept for kids to grasp.

"They understand an adult is telling them to do something and that is OK 95 percent of the time. And then there are going to be times when that's not OK," Rackebrandt said.

Seven-year-old Brittney Baxter was grabbed at a Georgia Walmart and her instincts kicked in before the kidnapper could get away with her.

Lee County Sheriff's Office Corporal Angelo Vaughn teaches children to do exactly what Baxter did.

"Run from them, or if they put their hands on you, yell and scream and kick as loud as you can," he said.

Experts say even though "stranger" may be a difficult concept to grasp, it's still important for parents to talk to their kids about stranger danger.

Three men and teen accused of hiding stolen jewelry in Chinese food charged with grand theft

Not even the tasty General Tso's chicken could hide the stolen jewelry placed inside a plate of Chinese food by three men and a teen wanted for burglary in Melbourne, a Martin County Sheriff's Office arrest report states.

About 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Melbourne Police Department issued an advisory to law enforcement to be on the lookout for suspects in a residential burglary. The thieves got away with a $1,000 digital camera and jewelry worth $500. Witnesses gave police a description of the four suspects and their vehicle, a silver Chevrolet Traverse with a Tennessee license plate.

About 4 p.m., a Martin County Sheriff's deputy on southbound Interstate 95 at mile marker 102 saw a vehicle with men inside who matched the description on the advisory. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy saw the digital camera in the back of the SUV, the report states.

After getting a search warrant for the vehicle, deputies found the loot on the front console inside a takeout plate of Chinese food, sitting on top of the chicken, fried rice and egg roll.

Deputies charged the driver, Michael King, 19, of Lauderhill, and passengers Henry Mims, 20, of Lauderhill, and Lavretzky Dareus, 18, of Sunrise, with grand theft.

King faces an additional charge of driving without a valid driver's license. A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody. He was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and grand theft.

 

Blogs / Clifford Davis's Blog / While you were sleeping: One-legged suspect attempts to elude police

Police received a tip that a black GMC SUV was carrying narcotics near Ken Knight Drive on Jacksonville's Northwest side Tuesday afternoon.

When officers pulled behind a vehicle matching that description, Ariosto Wyman, 27, got out of the passenger side and "began to hop down the sidewalk away from [police]," according to the arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's office. 

Wyman is missing his right leg below the knee.

Read other While You Were Sleeping posts

When officers called to him, he came back. 

Officers searched him and found a bag of marijuana, as well as a digital scale with cocaine residue on it located on the floor board next to Wyman's shoe.

As Wyman was searched at the Duval County jail police discovered a bag with 120 grams of cocaine concealed in his body.

Confidential medical records faxed to Lely couple by mistake

Confidential medical records meant for a local mental health facility end up in the hands of a Collier County couple.

Insurance companies trying to contact the David Lawrence Center in Naples are sending patient information to a home fax machine in Lely.

The couple tells WINK News this has been happening since they got their new phone line three years ago. They called David Lawrence and the faxes stopped for awhile. But, since the first of this month, they have once again started receiving dozens of faxes with private patient information.

"The information was so personal that is was an egregious offense to their privacy," says Deborah Foley.

Within the past 10 days, Foley and Paul Lietz have received more than a dozen faxes from insurance companies all over the country.

"We have access to the medication they're on, the name of their insurance company, the number of their insurance policy, sometimes their social security number," says Foley.

Lietz immediately called the mental health and rehab facility to explain the mistake. Foley tells WINK News, "nothing changed. The faxes continued coming in."

When WINK News called the David Lawrence Center we were sent the following statement: "We determined the faxes are not being generated by the David Lawrence Center and this is not our breach of confidentiality, however we are taking every step necessary to resolve the problem with the senders."

After WINK News got involved the center called Lietz and explained it was the insurance companies misdialing. They say no way.

Lietz says, "I don't know, but my guess is they have a directory that goes out to all the insurance companies that has my fax number listed as their fax number."

Foley says she called the insurance companies and asked what number they had on file. They told her the fax number they have on file is the same as their residential fax number.

"It's not a misdial by one person. This is coming in from a number of insurance companies. It's happening repeatedly. It's happening from a whole range of patients," Foley said.

The David Lawrence Center tells WINK News they have contacted the insurance companies and assured they now have the correct fax number.

We got these articles from www.nbc-2.com  

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February 9, 2012

Woman may lose home to Cape road project

The City of Cape Coral is gearing up for a major road project - one that would force several homeowners to give up their property and we found out at least one family had no idea!

The city and the county are considering the homes by eminent domain to make way for the re-alignment of Littleton Road at Kismet Parkway.

Rhea Buckley found out her home is one of four that the City of Cape Coral could take her northeast Cape Coral home by eminent domain.  

The Cape Coral Transportation Advisory Committee is looking at a plan that could wipe out four inhabited homes to make way for a new and improved road.

"So they're going to take my house?!" she asked.

Not just yet, said Cape Councilman Kevin McGrail, who sits on the TAC – the committee looking at ways to realign Kismet Parkway to make traffic flow directly onto Littleton Road.

"This is my house, I paid for my house - I have a nice pool. No, no, no, this is my house," Buckley said.

"If we decide the benefits are worth looking into then all of these residents will be noticed of the next step," said McGrail.

That "next step" is next week's TAC meeting. And Buckley says she plans on being there.

"If all of us homeowners get together we can tell them to go somewhere else with their road," she said.

Wings of Freedom Tour lands at Page Field

The World War II Wings of Freedom Tour arrived at Page Field Wednesday. Anyone can pay to go up in one of the old planes and tour Fort Myers.

NBC2's Stephanie Kolp went on one of those tours and reported live from the sky above Fort Myers. Watch the video above.

The Wings of Freedom Tour is open Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to Noon.

Plane tours are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12.

Flights start out at $425.

Accused bank robber Cedrick Shivers caught red-handed when dye packs explode

Police say they caught Cedrick Shivers red-handed, literally, when dye packs exploded in his car minutes after he held up a bank in Wilton Manors on Friday.

The arrest came just months after Shivers, a former accountant, wrote to a federal judge asking to be excused from paying the remainder of the restitution he owed for 16 bank robberies he committed in Broward and Palm Beach counties during a seven-month period ending in 2002.

Shivers sold his own blood plasma to make payments toward the $18,705 he owed in restitution, he wrote in the May 16 letter. He'd also worked jobs holding advertising signs on the street, but was on the "brink of being homeless" with no more job prospects, he wrote.

"I paid for my crime by spending six years in prison, which in turn has caused me to be blackballed from many jobs due to my criminal background," wrote Shivers, 47, of Fort Lauderdale.

He was just two months from successfully completing his three years of supervised release, the federal version of probation, at the time and feared he would be locked up again if he missed an installment.

"I have no assets to speak of except my 1998 Chevy Cavalier (which I am planning on sleeping in for a while)," Shivers wrote. "... I would like to start over with a clean slate, putting this whole dilemma behind me as I continue my quest to become a productive member of society again."

U.S. District Judge William Zloch turned down his request and it appears that Shivers, who had been dubbed "the early morning bandit" because he struck soon after the banks opened, managed to pay back what he owed.

If the allegations against Shivers are proven, it seems his efforts at reform ended around 9 a.m. on Friday.

Federal prosecutors said Wilton Manors police pulled over Shivers for speeding just minutes after a holdup at the Iberia Bank on Wilton Drive.

"You got me red-handed," Shivers told the officer, referring to the dye on his hands, according to an affidavit in the federal case filed against him.

The officer said the red dye packs – that were included with the stolen $2,940 – had exploded.

The officer said he also saw stains on Shivers' white T-shirt, red smoke in the passenger area, and dye-stained money on the driver's seat.

According to court records, Shivers admitted to the Friday hold up when FBI Task Force agents questioned him. He told agents that he had been casing the bank since November and had planned to rob it on Feb. 10, "the day before his girlfriend's birthday, but opted for today as he needed the money for rent," agents wrote in court records.

A robbery demand note that was used in the robbery was also found in Shivers' vehicle, agents wrote.

"This is a robbery. No silent alarms – no dye packs! Give me only 100's and 50's – loose bills. Failure to comply or if I get less than $4,000 will result in bombing of building by my accomplice," the note read.

Shivers told police he ran from the bank to his Chevy, which he had parked at a nearby gas station, but the red dye and tear gas exploded in the car and he was having trouble seeing just before the officer pulled him over.

Bank employees and another witness identified Shivers as the robber and he was treated for burns he received on his hands, according to agents.

Jail inmate escapes hospital in leg shackles

A Volusia County Jail inmate who was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in DeLand escaped with his feet shackled but was captured in short time later, police said.

Michael Burke, 23, slipped out of a bathroom and away from a jail guard, walked across a parking lot at Florida Hospital DeLand and into some woods before hiding in the garage of a vacant house on Plymouth Avenue — the same street the hospital is on, DeLand police Lt. Jack Waples said.

• Police find squatters, grenades in home
• bomb squad was called to a Miami neighborhood Tuesday evening after a man found squatters with drugs, a handgun, grenades, and a pig inside his home.

Miami police said an out-of-state homeowner arrived to his Miami home at 2021 SW 37th Ave. and discovered two people, who police said were squatting, inside.

When police arrived, they found cocaine, marijuana, a handgun, ten grenades, and a pig inside the house.

East Naples man accused of tow rage, crashing van into fence after picking it up

An East Naples man is accused of smashing his van into a business fence after being enraged that his car had been towed.

Joseph Allen, 30, of the 1400 block of Fifth Avenue North, was arrested Tuesday by Collier deputies at home.

According to an arrest report, a dispatcher from Checker Cab, which shares a business property with Macias Towing, located at the 3000 block of Terrace Avenue, advised deputies that Allen came knocking on the window of the business demanding to get his van back.

The dispatcher at Checker Cab told deputies that she informed Allen that she worked for the cab company and not the towing company and he then left.

A few minutes later she said she heard a crash, according to reports.

Deputies said they observed the entrance fence to the business was severely damaged and pieces of headlamps from a vehicle on the ground near the fence.

When he went to pick up his van he rammed into a fence as he was leaving causing $3,000 worth of damage. The owner of Macias Towing told deputies that earlier in the day he had towed Allen's white Dodge van due to the fact it was illegally parked.

Deputies said they met with Allen outside his residence where he then told deputies that the towing company falsely towed his van and in fact stole it. Deputies then informed Allen that the towing company legally towed his van and that it was not a criminal matter, according to reports.

Allen faces a felony charge of criminal mischief for causing $3,000 worth of damage to the business fence.

WWW.NBC-2.COM

  

 

 

 

 

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February 8, 2012

2 accused of operating mobile meth lab

Two people were arrested after investigators discovered a methamphetamine lab inside a motor home in Charlotte Harbor Monday.

Richard Parsons, 37, and Judena Shafer, 35, were each charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Monday morning, a witness reported seeing Shafer exit a camper parked in a vacant lot in the 2300 block of Bayshore Road and warn that it was about to blow up, according to an arrest report. Shafer reportedly said that Parsons was inside cooking meth and didn't know what he was doing.

Joe Zeller owns the bakery next door to where the motor home was parked. He called deputies.

Sergeant James Van Ande rushed to the scene.

"I did go inside there," said Van Ande.

Van Ande says once they began investigating the motor home, deputies discovered glass jars, wrapped in cloth stuffed with paper towels.

He said that's common for a meth lab.

Deputies then made their way to the woods out back where they say they found items used to cook meth.

"I went over to the wooded area and found blister packs for ephedrine which is the key ingredient. You can't make meth without it," said Van Ande.

The two were arrested and taken to the Charlotte County Jail, where they were each held on $2,500 bond.

The motor home was towed away.

Tampa Bay gets another high-profile movie

Another high-profile movie is going to be filmed in the Tampa Bay area.

The Tampa Bay Times reported (http://bit.ly/x7SDV5) Tuesday that a James Franco movie called "Spring Breakers" will be filmed around St. Pete Beach. It also features former Disney Channel starlets Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens, and Heather Morris of the "Glee" TV show.

Industry trade reports say "Spring Breakers" is the story of college students who rob a restaurant to finance their Florida vacation. They land in jail but are bailed out by a rapping drug and weapons dealer played by Franco, who in return wants them to murder his rival.

The movie is expected to be in theaters sometime next year.

Last year's "Dolphin Tale," filmed mostly in Clearwater, made nearly $95 million at the box office.

Another high-profile movie is going to be filmed in the Tampa Bay area.

Yoga class controversy on Venice Beach

 

Seven days a week you can find hundreds of people doing yoga on Venice Beach. There's no sign-up and no charge. Now Sarasota County officials say some regulation may be needed, and that's not sitting well with many of the yoga enthusiasts. Venice resident Patricia Gerhardt says yoga on the beach has changed her life. "I do what I can. I have gotten stronger and stronger. I come every morning." She was among hundreds stretching and moving along with the sand and tide Tuesday morning, all of it led by Elin Larsen. "I just show up and people do yoga with me." The gatherings have grown from a few dozens to hundreds during the past four years.  Larsen says it's mainly from its simplicity. "They don't have to sign up. There is no intimidation. They are not counted. I am kind of light and funny out there so they have a good time with it." Although Venice Beach is in city limits, it is maintained by Sarasota County. They may be looking for more regulation -- something Larsen is hesitant to discuss. "My concern is something I do not want to talk about right now." Larsen does receive tips from those who want to or can pay. The county does charge other yoga groups on other beaches per hour, bringing in thousands of dollars a year.   While Larsen won't discuss the matter, her followers, like Larry Chiricosta, are more than eager.  "They leave and there is not an ounce of anything left on the beach. This is America. We should be allowed to do that." "She has quite a following. Part of it is because it is free." Venice City Council Member Emilio Carlesimo says the morning sessions are making area residents healthier and want to live in and visit Venice. Spending time and money in the city when the classes are over. "You have to deal with the city of Venice as a unique entity. I think it would restrict some of our citizens from going there." Larsen says she and the local governments are in talks. "We have to come to an agreement. The city and the county need to kind of get together. This is different than anything anyone else has ever seen." Something many there have come to love.  They are concerned any change could mean big change.  "You are getting your exercise. You are meeting people. It is a part of what Venice is all about." Both county officials and Larsen met Tuesday morning. Afterwards, the county told ABC 7 they support yoga on the beach, however Larsen may soon start having to pay them at $13.50 cents per hour, which in return will guarantee her the space there. County officials say they will continue to work through the details allowing Larsen to continue on as she is until around May. After that we will just have to see.   We talked to her this evening and she says she is still confident it will work out.

Flowers, dinner, bowling -- and counseling -- ordered by Broward judge in domestic case

A marital spat that began when a Plantation man didn’t wish his wife a happy birthday and then escalated into a domestic violence charge, resulted in an usual bond court ruling by a perceptive judge.

Instead of setting bond or keeping Joseph Bray locked up, he ordered him to treat his spouse to dinner, a bowling date and then to undergo marriage counseling.

“He’s going to stop by somewhere and he’s going to get some flowers,” Judge John “Jay” Hurley said during the first appearance hearing. “And then he’s going to go home, pick up his wife, get dressed, take her to Red Lobster. And then after they have Red Lobster, they’re going to go bowling.”

Hurley emphasized that he would not have ordered such whimsical conditions for Bray, 47, if his domestic violence charge was more serious, or if his wife appeared to be injured or in danger of being harmed.

  

 

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FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Students using Facebook to rank attractiveness

Websites created just to judge teenage students have been around for years. They're called "Hot Lists" and almost every school in Collier County has one.

"They're the souped up versions of the old slame books," says Collier School Board member Barbara Berry.   

The Facebook pages are set up so middle and high school students can vote on who's hot and who's not.

The person who makes the page is usually anonymous but there are hundreds of followers and comments weighing in on which of their peers is more attractive.

"I think it's just trouble," says concerned parent Tracy McCary.

Some ratings are PG, but others get combative and nasty, using derogatory words to slam each other.
One student on the Gulfview Middle School page wrote, "No one talks about your dirty ***. Everyone is glad you left."

Another competition on the Oakridge Middle School page escalated to one student commenting, "Damn man, just quit life."

"I think it's a form of bullying. I don't believe that people should be judging anybody," McCary says.

When the bickering actually crosses the line to bullying is unclear. And while some parents think schools should do more to monitor the sites, others say it's impossible.

"How can they do it? Shut every website down? Not happening," says grandmother Bertha Ciazzo.

Collier County school officials say they can't and won't monitor all of the sites and forcing kids to shut them down altogether isn't an option since they can't control what students do at home.

"Parents play a big role. I don't want to raise the children in Collier County. I want to be responsible for their education," Berry said.

The only time schools can step in is if a student or parent reports humiliating or threatening comments.

But some parents fear that may be a little too late.

Thousands Of Florida Offenders Escape Supervision

Reports say nearly 30,000 offenders are currently missing from state supervision. 5,600 of them are violent crimes. More than 23,000 unaccounted for are men.

According to the reports most offenders have been able to walk away from work related programs or simply just stopped calling their probation officer. There is the possibility of families members not keeping authorities informed of a death. 

Department officials say they do everything they can to track down the missing crooks by checking in on the probation system, hospitals, prisons and death certificates. As well as paying visits to their homes, jobs, friends and family members. 

The department says it publishes all offender profiles on the web and accepts anonymous tips

Man busted for mooning on trolley | MUGalicious

He traveled all the way from Massachusetts to Florida and all he brought back was a black eye.

Two Cape Coral men attending a martini competition in Cape Coral told cops that a dude, later identified as Matthew Keith, 21, from Bridgewater, MA, along with his juvenile brother, pulled down their pants and mooned them while riding a trolley, according to a Cape police report. reports The News-Pressin Fort Myers.

Deputies: Man attempted to steal woman's slot machine ticket

A 32-year-old man was arrested Sunday after authorities say he tried to steal a woman's slot machine ticket at the Seminole Casino Immoklaee.

Luis Juan Francisco, of the 100 block of Seventh Street South, Immokalee, is facing a charge of attempted grand theft.

Just before 10 p.m., the victim was playing a slot machine at the casino when she printed out her winnings ticket. Francisco approached her and attempted to grab her ticket from the machine while she was still sitting in front of it, according to an arrest report.

The value of the ticket was redacted from the arrest report. The Collier County Sheriff's Office reports it was worth between $300 and $1,000.

The victim pushed Francisco away from her and contacted security, reports said. Deputies were called to the casino, where they located and arrested Francisco.

You can check out all these articles at www.nbc-2.com 

 

 

 

 

 

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February 6, 2012

Chronicletook the weekend box office

Winning Fantasy 5 ticket sold in Fort Myers

A winning Fantasy 5 lottery ticket was sold at Right Way Food Mart in Fort Myers, the Florida Lottery announced Sunday.

The ticket was one of four winners that correctly guessed all five winning numbers correctly.

Those two winners will each receive the top prize amount of $74,372.41.

The winning numbers were 04-10-21-34-36.

In addition to the top-prize winners, there were 462 people who matched 4 of 5 numbers, winning $103.50 each, and 12,830 people matching 3 of 5 numbers for a prize of $10.00 each.

An additional 126,815 people matched just two numbers and won a free Quick Pick ticket.

Drawings are held seven days per week at approximately 11:15 p.m.

K9 sniffs out 90 pounds of pot in I-75 bust

A 31-year-old Miramar man was arrested on I-75 in Fort Myers on Friday afternoon after approximately $360,000 in marijuana was discovered in drug bust.

Detectives say they conducted a traffic stop at 4:30 p.m. on a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban after the front seat passenger was seen not wearing a seatbelt.

The detective became suspicious after speaking with the driver and passenger after despite claiming they were cousins, they did not know each other's first and last names.

The passenger, Khalfani Robb, was found to have previous criminal history for distributing marijuana.

A K9 search was conducted on the vehicle and confirmed the presence of illegal drugs inside six large boxes inside the cargo area of the vehicle.

All of the boxes contained marijuana, weight a total of 90 pounds with an estimated value of $360,000.

Further investigation revealed that Robb was traveling from Miami to Bradenton to deliver the marijuana.

He has been charged with trafficking in marijuana over 25 pounds, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and keeping a shop or vehicle for a controlled substance.

Teen caught eating pot after traffic stop

 

An East Naples teen was arrested Friday by Naples police officers who reported catching him eating marijuana after pulling over the car he was riding in for having the wrong license plate.

Adam Garcia-Parra, 19, of the 11400 block of Trinity Place, was arrested at the 800 block of Eighth Avenue South.

While officers were on patrol they ran a license check on a silver Nissan, which revealed the tag actually belonged to a green Chrysler, according to an arrest report. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, whose name was redacted from reports.

The driver and passengers, including Garcia-Parra, were asked to exit the car so officers could conduct a search of the vehicle for weapons or drugs, reports said.

While officers searched the car they discovered marijuana in the back seat, where Garcia-Parra had been sitting, officers said. They noticed a green leafy substance on Garcia-Parra’s shirt and asked him to open his mouth to check if he had tried consuming the marijuana, reports said. They found marijuana leaves on Garcia-Parra’s tongue and in the molars of his teeth, reports said.

Officers said they attempted to make contact with the driver’s guardians but were unable to reach them.

Garcia-Parra and the driver were arrested and transported to the Naples Jail Center where a marijuana cigarette was found in the pocket of Garcia-Parra’s pants, authorities said.

Garcia-Parra faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and introduction of contraband to a county detention facility. The driver faces charges of possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, attaching tag not assigned to property, no motor vehicle registration, no driver’s license, and no proof of insurance.

Woman Says Her Chest Too Big To Perform Field-Sobriety Test

A woman was arrested in Martin County after failing a DUI field-sobriety test during which she blamed the size of her breasts for being unable to perform the tasks.

Maureen Raymond, of Port St. Lucie, was charged Sunday night after being pulled over near the intersection of Jensen Beach Boulevard and Federal Highway in Jensen Beach.

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February 3, 2012

Naples eyeglass store hit by thieves

Thousands of dollars worth of eye glasses were stolen from a Naples store. While it may sound like a one-of-a-kind crime, owners say this isn't the first time they've been hit.

Naples Optical Center General Manager Rick Radunz says they carry all the big names.

"Gucci and Fendi and Chanel and all of those different brands," he said.

And on Wednesday, thieves robbed them blind.

"Pretty much the store was empty. A few frames lingered here and there - a lot of broken glass and ceiling tiles were down. They tried to yank machines out of our lab," Radunz described.

Naples Optical Center is now out of thousands of dollars in eyewear.

They say sophisticated thieves used tools to get in the front door - cut the phone lines and the alarm system before spending nearly an hour cleaning out the store.

Naples Police say this isn't the first time thieves have burglarized an eyeglass shop.

They say thieves go inside, take the eyeglasses right off of the display and make off with thousands of dollars in merchandise.

And police say they believe they're apart of a much bigger ring - a bigger ring that could be responsible for another burglary at Naples Optical in 2010.

Reporter Saundra Weathers:Do you think you guys were targeted?
Radunz:Yes. It seems to happen every year, or every other year, where a group of guys will come through the area and hit different opticals.

And he says those opticals could end up for sale at swap meets or online. Police say it's a business for criminals.

"They're not cheap. The inventory is fairly expensive," Radunz said.

And now the owners of the 30 year old optical business have to replace that inventory.

They say they're hoping their customers and new security system will keep them open for business.

"As we speak we have boxes of product coming in. We have very faithful and loyal customer base," Radunz said.

Collier man busted for poolside pot garden

The Collier County Sheriff's Office discovered a poolside marijuana grow operation at a home on Connors Avenue in North Naples and seized more than $13,000 worth of marijuana.

Deputies received a tip about a possible marijuana grow operation at the home of David Scott Krause, 151 Connors Avenue.

Detectives walked up the driveway to the home and smelled the odor of raw marijuana coming from the garage. One of the garage doors was wide open and detectives could see two marijuana buds hanging to dry in plain view, reports said.

"It was in plain view when they walked up and plain smell from the edge of the street so he wasn't trying to hide it," said Harold Minch of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives then made contact with Krause's wife, who gave detectives written and verbal permission to search the residence. Krause arrived at the residence while detectives were there.

Detectives also found four marijuana plants growing by the outdoor pool. The plants had an estimated street value of $12,000.

Deputies also found 5.9 grams of suspected hashish and six marijuana pipes with marijuana residue, reports said. The marijuana had an estimated street value of $1,500.

Krause was arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

A foot chase, a pit bull, a brawl, a Taser and a bystander stabbing himself, twice

Deputy Owen Confessore has had some close calls while working with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

In May 2011, he was shot in the chest by a man who earlier had shot his step-grandfather in the stomach, which eventually claimed the elderly man's life. Fortunately, the eight-year deputy was wearing a bulletproof vest, which saved his life.

Fake agent pulls over car to search for terrorists

Hudson, Florida -- A man claiming he worked for the Department of Defense was arrested after he pulled over a car with an Ontario license plate while seeking out terrorists.

According to the arrest report, around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, 73-year-old Joseph Tarochione pulled the car over in the Calendar Girls Strip Club parking lot on U.S. 19 and told the driver he would not let him go, because he wanted to have the car checked for bombs.

Tarochione then called 911 and told the operator he worked for a Department of Defense special forces unit and his name was classified, but he needed a deputy to search a car for bombs.

When the deputy arrived, Tarochione told him he had been assigned to seek out terrorists and the driver he pulled over must be one, because he had foreign license plates.

The deputy found a .22 magnum handgun on Tarochione, as well as a .22 caliber long rifle revolver along with a 16-gauge shotgun and lots of ammunition in Tarochione's vehicle.

Tarochione was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer and was taken to Land O'Lakes Jail.

  

 

 

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FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Twin births costly and on the rise

Aidin and Landon Morgan say they usually get along at preschool, but ask the 5-year-old twins who is older and they butt heads.

These two are part of a growing trend of twin births on the rise since 1980.

New numbers from the Centers of Disease Control say the number of twins born is up by almost half since then.

In fact 1 in 30 babies born in 2009 was a twin.

Leaders in reproductive genetics say women in their 30s and 40s are more often choosing to get pregnant with the help of fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization.

The rate of twin births has doubled in the state of Florida since the 80s, mostly for white women more than 30 years old.

Evan Gross sends his twins to the same daycare as the Morgan brothers.

Gross says while he and his wife were in their late 30s, they had their kids the old fashioned way.

"I think many people are waiting until they're older to have kids because they are focused on careers," Gross said.

Experts say $26 billion a year goes to caring for premature babies; an issue twins often face.

Pediatrician Pierre Loredo says one twin can get more nutrients than the other and cause problems after birth.

Loredo says there are no signs the trend is slowing down.

Trio makes 1,000 mile trek across Florida

A photographer, a biologist and a filmmaker are trekking 1,000 miles in 100 days. They want to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Florida's wildlife corridor.

"One of coolest things I've ever done in my life," said photographer Carlton Ward Jr.

The trio is hiking, biking and kayaking across the entire state.

"We all at some point hit a gator it's like wow," said filmmaker Elam Stolzfus.

They want to send a message.

"It's about land, it's about water, it's about people, and all these things connect," said Stolzfus.

The explorers want to preserve a natural habitat known as Florida's wildlife corridor, which stretches from the southern tip of the state all the way to Georgia, and is essential for the survival of our wildlife.

"It's important to keep all of our wild lands connected so these animals can have access throughout the state of Florida," said Darrel Land, Florida Fish and Wildlife panther expert.

Aliese Priddy's ranch is part of the corridor.

She's lost several of her calves to hungry panthers, but knows the importance of sharing her land with the predators.

"It's not just public property that we can depend on to support our wildlife. We have to depend on private ownership," said Priddy.

"Feels like every 20 feet we're stopping to look at another print or another scat. We saw panther tracks and bear tracks and coyote tracks and bobcat tracks," said Ward.

Wednesday is day 16 of their trek. The trio got a chance to rest at a campground a little closer to civilization, but plan to head back into the Everglades on Thursday.

"Got a pretty long day tomorrow," said biologist Joe Guthrie.

With more than 800 miles to go, the next 84 days are sure to be long.

Osceola Co. teacher accused of using hot sauce to discipline students

A special needs teacher in Osceola Countycould be fired for allegedly using hot sauce to discipline her students.

Lillian Gomez is currently suspended from her job at Sunrise Elementary School in Kissimmee.

She’s accused of pouring the hot sauce on crayons to stop autistic children from putting them in their mouths.

Family members of some of the students involved told WFTV they want Gomez fired.

"I was really upset. I couldn't believe it. Honestly, I was like how can a teacher of so many years do something like that,” said Osceola Countyresident, Karina Holguin. “They got to be traumatized, especially for a kid who can't express himself like any other children that can tell you this hurts or doesn’t hurt.”

Holguin said she's outraged because two of those children are her 5-year-old nephews.

The alleged incident happened last fall.

When the district found out about it, Gomez was removed from the classroom.

The superintendent is now requesting she be fired. A termination hearing is set for later this month.

Polo club founder Goodman adopts his adult girlfriend

Polo club founder John Goodman has adopted his longtime adult girlfriend as his legal daughter in what plaintiff's attorneys are calling an attempt to shield assets from a civil suit filed by the parents of a Wellington man killed in a car crash.

"The events which serve as the grounds for the relief sought by the Plaintiffs border on the surreal and take the Court into a legal twilight zone," wrote Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley in an order granting attorneys for Lili and William Wilson the right to information concerning Goodman's adoption.

Goodman, who founded the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, legally adopted 42-year-old Heather Laruso Hutchins, as his daughter on Oct. 13 in Miami-Dade County, according to court documents.

The Wilsons are suing Goodman for wrongful death in connection with the Feb. 12, 2010 crash that killed 23-year-old Scott Patrick Wilson. According to Palm Beach County Sheriff's reports, Goodman ran a stop sign on 120th Avenue on Feb. 12, 2010 and hit Wilson, who was driving west on Lake Worth Road. The civil trial is set for March 27.

Kelley had previously ruled that the trust set up for Goodman's two minor children could not be considered as part of Goodman's financial worth if a jury awarded damages to the Wilsons. According to the adoption papers, Hutchins is immediately entitled to at least a third of the trust's assets as his legal daughter since she is over the age of 35.

In a deposition taken in the lawsuit last May, Hutchins told attorneys she started dating Goodman in 2009.

William Wilson's attorney, Scott Smith, said Goodman benefits from the trust and is using it to try to shield assets. The attorney for Lili Wilson, Chris Searcy, argued in a motion that by adopting Hutchins, Goodman can now direct her to remove up to a third of the trust.

"By way of this adoption, John Goodman now effectively owns one third of the trust assets," Smith said. "It cannot go unrecognized that he chose to adopt his 42-year-old adult girlfriend as opposed to a needy child."

Dan Bachi, Goodman's civil attorney, said Hutchins' adoption was done to ensure the future stability of his children and family investments.

"It has nothing to do with the lawsuit currently pending against him," Bachi said.

Kelley called Goodman's tactic of adopting his girlfriend "unprecedented."

"The Court cannot ignore reality or the practical impact of what Mr. Goodman has now done," Kelley wrote. "The Defendant has effectively diverted a significant portion of the assets of the children's trust to a person with whom he is intimately involved at a time when his personal assets are largely at risk in this case."

Tests taken several hours after the crash revealed Goodman had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit to drive in Florida. He faces a criminal trial on March 6 on charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash and could face up to 30 years in prison.

Greenacres man arrested after allegedly threatening woman with Japanese sai blade

A moped-driving, sai-carrying, gun-wielding Greenacres man was arrested Sunday evening after he threatened a woman in her home while asking for "the man."

Victor Scott Borchert, 40, is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail this morning in lieu of $25,000 bond. Bochert, who has been ordered to possess no weapons and have no contact with the victim, is facing charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.

According to the probable cause affidavit, a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched around 6:56 p.m. on Sunday to suburban Lantana to reports of an aggravated assault.

The homeowner, a 24-year-old woman whose name is withheld in the affidavit, said that she called 911 after a man she did not immediately recognize knocked on her front door. She said that she opened the door and recognized the man later identified as Borchert, but didn't know his name at the time.

Borchert pointed a gun to her stomach as he held a sai - a Japanese dagger-shaped martial arts weapon - in her direction, the affidavit stated. Borchert asked the woman where "the man was." The woman said she insisted, as she did previously, that no man lived in her home, only her and her two children.

She said she slammed the door, and he hopped on a moped and fled.

Borchert was found in the 700 block of Minor Road when the initial responding deputy spotted the moped.

Two pistols - a Walther P22 and a Steyr M9 - were found on Borchert, the deputy noted the affidavit. Borchert argued that they were for the protection of his business, but the deputy noted that he was in the public and needed a concealed weapons permit.

Borchert then invoked his right to speak to an attorney.

The deputy, who noticed Borchert had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, then found the sai inside the man's Ford pick-up truck

We found these articles all at nbc-2.com 

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February 1, 2012

Mitt Romney takes Florida

 

Mitt Romney	769,599	46%	(X)
	Newt Gingrich	530,125	32%
	Rick Santorum	221,789	13%
	Ron Paul	116,488	7%
	Rick Perry	6,733	0%
	Michele Bachmann	3,944	0%
	Jon Huntsman	6,171	0%
	Herman Cain	3,478	0%
	Gary Johnson	1,182	0%

 

Vero wife upset at hubby's request to 'use the bed' with another woman

Marian Searchwell's husband said his wife grew enraged after he decided to bring home a "female visitor."

"Specifically, Searchwell began yelling at (her husband)," an Indian River County Sheriff's deputy wrote in a recently released arrest affidavit

The husband said Searchwell -- his wife of five months -- grabbed his neck during the 10:10 p.m. Jan. 26 incident, leaving abrasions.

Searchwell's account of the apparent domestic donnybrook in the 400 block of 43rd Avenue Southwest in Vero Beach differed.

The 56-year-old woman said she was in the master bedroom when her husband appeared, asking that she leave "in order for him and his female visitor to use the bed."

"When she did not comply with his request, he picked her up from the bed," the affidavit states.

Searchwell said she grabbed her husband's shirt and his neck.

The affidavit did not state why Searchwell's husband and his "female visitor" wanted to use the bed.

Typical uses for beds include sleeping, napping, slumbering, dozing, snoozing, getting 40 winks or some shuteye. They also can be employed by children as a make-shift trampoline, or modified with the addition of wheels for use in a so-called bed race.

In any case, the affidavit did not state whether Searchwell's husband and his "female visitor" were afforded use of the bed. Nor did the affidavit state whether the bed was a twin, full, queen, king, bunk, Murphy or a rollaway.

Searchwell, of the 400 block of 43rd Avenue Southwest in Vero Beach, was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.

Zoo wants company to stop using chimps in TV ads

A Chicago zoo is mounting a campaign to stop a company from airing a Super Bowl Sunday commercial featuring mischievous suit-and-tie wearing chimpanzees playing tricks on their human co-worker, saying all that monkey business proves deadly for the endangered species.

Lincoln Park Zoo officials fear images of the frolicking chimps broadcast worldwide do little to help conservation efforts, inaccurately portraying the animals as unthreatened and even as cuddly and harmless pets.

"If people see them that way they are less likely to try and conserve them," Stephen Ross, assistant director of the zoo's Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, said of the commercial that shows chimps laughing at a 'Kick Me" sign on the human. "Individual chimps are being harmed and wild populations are being harmed by this frivolous use of an endangered species."

Ross said he and other animal welfare advocates have been complaining to CareerBuilder.com ever since the company started using chimps in Super Bowl commercials in 2005. But this year is different because he's armed with a Duke University study that he says supports his longtime claims: Commercialized chimps dressed as people — even when running up big banana daiquiri bar tabs — makes viewers less concerned about the plight of wild chimps.

"The argument they (CareerBuilder.com) make is it doesn't matter how they're portrayed, they are helping to protect them," said Brian Hare, an assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology who led the study. "The opposite is true. These commercials are negatively affecting people's decisions about how they support conservation."

CareerBuilder.com declined to comment on the study or any suggestion that the commercials put wild chimpanzees in danger. But in a prepared statement, the Chicago-based company said the "chimpanzee stars" were not harmed and that the American Humane Society watched the commercial being filmed to ensure the animals were "treated with respect."

Hare is particularly concerned about how a Super Bowl commercial — shown around the world — will persuade people in Africa, some desperately poor, to capture and sell the animals.

"This advertisement teaches them there is a market for these animals, that there are some crazy people in America and Europe who would want them as pets," he said. "Even if there isn't a market, they think there's a market."

And that, he said, could devastate the wild population of chimpanzees that has already dwindled from more than 1 million to about 100,000.

Further, he and Ross said the message that chimps make good pets is a dangerous one, as was demonstrated in 2009 when a chimpanzee attacked a Connecticut woman, ripping off her nose, lips, eyelids and hands before being shot to death by police.

Ross said he's not optimistic that CareerBuilder.com will pull the ad before this year's Super Bowl. "They already paid for this one," he said, adding that the company has never responded to any of the letters he's written them since 2005.

In fact, in an effort to drum up publicity about the ad, the company sent another email to The Associated Press trumpeting the upcoming commercial starring "CareerBuilder's beloved chimpanzees" that was back by "popular demand."

In that email, the company pointed to statistics that showed CareerBuilder.com business surged after previous Super Bowls and that its brand awareness also has grown dramatically.

But, he said in an email, maybe his concerns will find an audience of its own that the response from "a wider segment of the public ... is negative enough for (CareerBuilder.com) not to invest more money in extending the campaign with new ads."

Ross and Hare are encouraged by another conclusion of the Duke study: The commercials may not be all that effective. Contrary to Careerbuilder.com's suggestion that the commercials helped their business, Hare said people who watched the commercials reported that they found commercials with chimpanzees less interesting than those that featured athletes, music and other things.

That is not surprising to Peter Dabol, chief executive of Ace Metrix, a firm that rates the effectiveness of ads.

"These kinds of slapsticky, kind of funny ads and these ads in particular, were relatively low scoring ads even though their likeability is high," he said.

"These (CareerBuilder.com) ads performed at the bottom of the pack of all Super Bowl ads," he said. "That's typical of what we see as pure humor, cheap laugh ads."

Woman on bus spots her stolen car

Taking the bus pays off for the victim of a car thief. Authorities in central Florida say a woman was forced to take the bus after her car was stolen. But she saw her car drive past while she was on the bus.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports the woman called 911. A responding deputy spotted the car and pulled it over.

Aaron Hosack and Amber Jones now face multiple charges, including grand theft. 

 

 

 

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JANUARY 31 2012

Pet Ambulance now operating in SWFL

It's the first of its kind in the state.  A pet ambulance, designed to respond to emergencies for man's best friend, is now in operation in Southwest Florida.

Cindy Reece's dog Dudley needed help and he needed it fast. So his veterinarian sent for the pet ambulance to get him to the emergency room as soon as possible. 

"I didn't know it existed. I had never heard of a animal ambulance, but since there was a possibility that he would need oxygen between here and the cardiologist and we had no means to do that-we know that he's in the ambulance they will be able to give him oxygen," says Reece.

Dudley is the first of a few animals to take a ride.

"That's really where it came from. Those calls where everybody feels a little bit helpless and so this is a situation where you don't have to feel helpless anymore," says Dr. Wendy Arsenault.

The ambulance was put into service by Southwest Florida Veterinary Services Doctor Wendy Arsenault and her husband.

"It's piped for oxygen. Unlike a human ambulance we actually have oxygen cages,  they wouldn't put a person in that, there's an ECG, a defibrillator, blood pressure, IV fluids, a catheter supplies, first aid. Pretty much everything in a human ambulance is in this ambulance," says Arsenault.

It's an ambulance designed to save lives.

"Time is of the essence, and the faster that you can administer that aid, the better they can do," says Arsenault.

One thing that would make the ambulance better is using sirens and lights.  It's something there's not permission to do just yet. But that and even more advancements are in the works to keep tails wagging.

"He's really trooper he's been really sick," says Reece.

If you need the pet ambulance in an emergency: call 239-992-8387.  

To see it for yourself, head to 'Bark in the Riverside Park' in Bonita Springs this Saturday from 11 until 3.

For more information go to: www.swfveterinaryspecialists.com.

Deputies warn of Jamaican lotto scam

Dozens of people have claimed they are getting inundated with calls promising they have won a fortune. But we found out those calls are nothing short of a scam.

For the past month, Joyce Doll's phone has been ringing off the hook. 

"He was so persistent. He would call two or three times a day and I'd hang up and they would call back," Doll said. "I must have had 15 to 20 of them."

She says the callers claimed she won $2.5-million in the lottery. But there was a catch - she first had to send them $575.

"I told him I was not interested and I'm not sending you a check because I think this is a scam," Doll said.

But it's a scam that others are falling for.

Beth Schell, with the Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud Department, says within the past few days she's received at least 20 calls from people who were scammed from an 876 area code - the so called Jamaican lottery.

"[One man] lost 200,000 to Jamaican scammers," she said. "It just seems they are wreaking havoc on our community."

To claim your winnings, the scammer tells the person on the phone that all they have to do is put money on one of those re-loadable cards.

"Asks the victim to turn the card over and there is some numbers on back of the card they give it to the scammers and then the scammer gets money that was put on the card," said Schell.

Schell added schemers are getting information on their victims from the internet - lists that are sold. Or, she says, they will simply call random numbers.

They are also targeting widowers or those who seem lonely.

Arrest report: Zephyrhills man says house is possessed

Pasco deputies found him on the porch of someone else's house, screaming into the night that the house was possessed.

Neighbors called 911 around 2:30 a.m. Saturday when they heard shouts from Jonathan Portz, 37, a Pasco County Sheriff's report said.

The owner of the house, at 4542 Firelane Road, told deputies he didn't know Portz.

Portz, of 5140 Counselor Drive in Zephyrhills, was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct and taken to the Land O'Lakes jail. He has since been released.

Pasco deputies found him on the porch of someone else's house, screaming into the night that the house was possessed.

Neighbors called 911 around 2:30 a.m. Saturday when they heard shouts from Jonathan Portz, 37, a Pasco County Sheriff's report said.

Man returns $8K after finding it on side of road

What would you do if you found a briefcase filled with thousands of dollars on the side of the road?

That's exactly the question a man in Tampa was faced with after finding $8,000 inside a briefcase on Highway 301 on Saturday.

But, Frank Colla said he made the right decision, and now he's being praised for returning the money to its rightful owner.

It turned out the owner hadeaten at a restaurant and then drove off with the briefcase on top of his car.

When Colla first found the cash, he said it took him a second to decide what to do, but in the end he did what he felt was the right thing.

"There was stuff going on in my head as to what are the legal ramifications for me to keep this or whatever, but my moral obligation and integrity said you're going to have to return it,” he said.

The owner of the briefcase did not want his name released.

 

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January 27, 2012

Teen takes the wheel after bus driver dies

Graceann Rumer just started driving two weeks ago.

She used the few driving skills she had to save a school bus full of students by grabbing the steering wheel as the driver collapsed Tuesday afternoon.

"I just realized that there's no one driving this bus... I need to do something," Rumer said.

The 17-year-old senior at Calvary Christian Academy in Northeast Philadelphia had been driving to school for practice a lot lately, but, luckily for all, on Tuesday she happened to take the bus.

Rumer and about three dozen other students were riding the bus home when the 51-year-old driver suddenly collapsed at about 3:30 p.m., falling from the driver's seat on to the floor.

With the driver obstructing the brake pedal, Rumer acted quickly -- grabbing the wheel of the moving bus and making a U-turn to slow it down and change direction, as it was heading into oncoming traffic, witnesses say.

With still no access to the brake pedal, Rumer put the bus into park and successfully and safely stopped it, according to witnesses and bus company officials.

"I usually panic at like everything but I just reached over... grabbed the wheel and I pulled it over to the side and got off the road," Rumer said.

None of the students were injured. Sadly, the bus driver -- Charles Duncan -- died of what appears to be a heart attack.

Parents of fellow students, friends and school officials all praised Rumer's quick thinking and action.

"We had three of our children on the bus along with dozens of other kids and the outcome could have been much different," said Renee Lawsin. "She did something very heroic."

Rumer dismisses being a hero instead saying she was just the closest student to the front of the bus who had any driving experience.

Body was in Clearwater storage unit since 1995, police say

When a manager at a Clearwater storage business told a family they were going to have to auction off the contents of a rented unit for back rent, the family said there would be just one problem: a relative's body was in storage there.

The woman's body had been stored there since 1995, the family said.

The strange announcement brought a swarm of investigators from the Clearwater Police Department and the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Officer to the U-Stor Self Storage, 1217 Lakeview Road.

Officials with the storage business told police the family has rented a storage unit for many years. When the family missed several payments, a U-Stor manager called to say the unit's contents would be auctioned off.

The granddaughter of the woman found in the storage unit called back and told the manager not to sell or auction the contents in the storage unit, said Joelle Castelli, a Clearwater police spokeswoman.

She told the manager that just before her mother died, her mom told her that her grandmother's body had been put in the storage unit in 1995.

"She called and said, 'My mother told me on her death bed that Grandma is in the storage unit. You can't sell our stuff,'" Castelli said.

The manager checked the storage unit and found what appeared to be a casket, police said.

The manager called police. The woman's body, which was prepared for burial and had been placed in the storage unit by her daughter, was in a long blue box with handles.

Family members have rented a storage unit at U-Stor Self Storage since 1985. They currently rent a total of three storage units, police said.

Investigators have found a death certificate that confirms the woman found in the storage unit died in 1995, Castelli said. They also found a death certificate that confirms her daughter died recently.

The disposal of a body is heavily regulated by the government; police are investigating whether any laws were broken. Such an infraction would most likely be considered a misdemeanor, police said.

Authorities are transferring the body to A Life Tribute Funeral Care, which has locations in Largo and Gulfport.

The name of the woman found in the storage unit hasn't been released.

Woman arrested after allegedly calling 911 six times

An Osceola County woman is still in jail for allegedly calling 911 six times for no apparent reason.

"What's going on there ma'am?" the 911 operator asked.

"None of your business! Just send me a sergeant. It's none of your business! Why the hell are you so stupid?" Joan Mayo replied.

Each time Mayo got connected to the 911 center in St. Cloud on Tuesday, she screamed profanities at dispatchers and berated them, according to police.

Officials said Mayo never had a clear reason for calling, but neighbors said she was looking for something in particular.

"She just wanted cigarettes. That's all she wanted. She wanted cigarettes," said her neighbor, Lillian Morales.

The final straw came when police showed up to talk to her. Police said Mayo called 911 on her cellphone a sixth time while they were in the parking lot dealing with the situation.

Mayo was arrested and hauled off to jail on charges of misusing 911.

"Rarely do we get calls like this for service," said Sgt. Denise Roberts, of the Saint Cloud Police Department.

Police said this affected two agencies, because cellphone calls are first answered by Osceola County, then routed to St. Cloud.

But, Mayo won't be forced to pay back money wasted investigating her calls because no real calls were delayed.

Mayo allegedly told police she had no regard for the 911 system and would call whenever she

'Cristina' talk show criticized after fight breaks out on stage

A melee broke out on the set of a South Florida talk showwhen an attacker threw a syringe at a man accused of assisting with illegal cosmetic injections, witnesses told police.

The prop syringe struck Corey Eubanks, 40, of Hollywood, on his forehead during a taping of Telemundo's "Pa'lante con Cristina" at a Doral studio on Wednesday night, according to a police report. It left Eubanks with a small cut above his left eye, police said.

On Thursday, Eubanks and his two lawyers, Gabriela Nova and Jim Lewis, accused the Spanish-language show of providing inadequate security and letting the program spiral out of control. They also requested restraining orders against the people they suspect attacked Eubanks.

"They assured us, 'We're not the 'Jerry SpringerShow,'" Nova said. "They assured us nothing would happen. And, lo and behold, it did. They gave us a false sense of security."

Jensen Beach Post Office evacuated after 'suspicious package' leaks moonshine

The Jensen Beach Post Office was evacuated Thursday after a "suspicious package" began leaking an unknown oily substance, according to Martin County Fire Rescue spokesperson Daniel B. Harshburger.

Crews were called to the scene by employees of the post office at 2301 NE Savannah Road. The Martin County Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials Response Team was also called.

The post office was evacuated at 10:41 p.m.

Harshburger said that the substance was later identified as moonshine.

During the incident two people were transported to a local area hospital for evaluation Harshburger  said.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office bomb squad was called to the scene as a precaution, sheriff's office spokesperson Rhonda Irons told tcpalm.com. She said deputies assisted fire rescue officials with evacuating the post office and helping to keep people from entering the area.

these articles were found at www.nbc-2.com

 

  

 

 

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January 25, 2012

Woman says fortune teller duped her out of $136,000

Priti Mahalanobis, a college-educated mother of two who ran a business, was having a rough time.

Her father's company was in trouble. Her brother's marriage was failing. She wasn't feeling well.

Distraught, she went to the Meditation and Healing Center in Windermereafter receiving a coupon book in the mail that included an ad for a $20 psychic reading, she said

The woman, Peaches Stevens, also known as Mrs. Starr, told her there was a curse on her family that could be removed with Stevens' help, court documents show.

Mahalanobis was to perform rituals, bring Stevens thousands of dollars, open credit-card accounts and keep them secret from her husband and hand over $65,000 worth of jewelry to be pawned, Mahalanobis said.

Seven months later, Mahalanobis was out $135,899 in cash, jewelry and gift cards, prosecutors said. By that time, she realized she had been duped and hired a private investigator to pursue the case.

"Nobody goes to someone to be conned, to be victimized," Mahalanobis said. "Unfortunately, I put my trust in the wrong person."

On Jan. 11, Peaches Stevens, 29, also known as Mrs. Starr, was arrested on felony charges of obtaining property by fraud. Stevens, who lives in Winter Gardenand was released from the Orange County Jail on $22,000 bail, Tuesday night said she could not comment on the advice of her attorney.

The private investigator, Bob Nygaard of South Florida, credits an interview Mahalanobis granted to CNN'sAnderson Cooperlast fall with pressuring the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office to prosecute the case.

Mahalanobis, who lives in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood and lost her Quiznos sub shop in Avalon Parkas a result of her financial woes, admits feeling foolish about what happened. But she decided to go public to try to help others.

"I learned a lot," said Mahalanobis, who is working part-time in a school cafeteria and slowly paying off her debt. "Not to let fear or guilt control you or your actions. Also, listen to your gut, your instinct, that little voice in the back of your head. Because your mind can fool you."

Mahalanobis alleges that Stevens, whose office is steps from the Windermere Police Department, gave her several ways to purge her family's bad luck. They included:

•Putting 11 $100 bills and 11 relatives' names on a piece of paper in an envelope under her mattress and a grapefruit under bed while she slept. This purportedly was because money is the root of all evil, and the evil afflicting her family would be attracted to the money, Mahalanobis said.

•Buying seven tabernacles at a cost of $19,000 each to "vanquish the negativity, curses and evil spirits that plagued her family," a charging report states.

•Keeping her efforts to purge the spirits secret or the evil

Red spitting cobra, other venomous snakes seized in Boca Raton

Here’s what lurked in a Boca Raton apartment: A red-spitting cobra, a puff adder, a uracoan rattlesnake, two false cobras and a small alligator.

State wildlife officers have seized the reptiles from their owner, Tyler Nolan, of Pacific Boulevard, and cited him for a variety of violations, including possession of venomous reptiles without a permit. The snakes were turned over to a facility licensed to keep them and the alligator was released into the wild.

A report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission states that an investigator had received information that Nolan had the reptiles without a permit. The investigator went to the apartment building at 5653 Pacific Blvd. and met Nolan in the parking lot. Nolan allowed him to inspect his animals, claiming he was in the process of obtaining licenses for them.

All the reptiles had been housed in secure enclosures, under lock and key, according to the report. The investigator returned the next day with two other agents and they seized the reptiles.

66 cats removed from West Delray home

WEST DELRAY — Sheriff's deputies and officers from Palm Beach CountyAnimal Care & Control had their hands full Friday night, evicting a woman and collecting the 66 cats she had accumulated in her home west of Delray Beach.

Animal Care & Control officers removed the cats from a small home on Lake Boulevard, said Capt. David Walesky, operations manager with Animal Care & Control.

It wasn't the first encounter between the woman and authorities. They had been working with her to reduce the number of cats.

She was cited in December for having animals without rabies shots and tags, according to an Animal Care & Control case report. She also was cited for having too many cats, owning unsterilized animals and breeding animals without a permit.

At the same time, however, living conditions in the home time were "fairly clean," according to the report.

She was required to reduce her number of cats to 10 by Saturday. But rather than reduce the number of cats, their population grew, Walesky said.

 

Bathtub gator lands man in jail

A Florida man's efforts to save a baby alligator have landed him in jail.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office said Alexander Springer was keeping the foot-long gator in a bathtub.

Springer's wife, Teresa Springer, said she tried to tell her husband to get rid of the gator, but he didn't listen.

"I told him he better get rid of it because one day he was going to get caught," she said.

Deputies showed up at their home after a report of a domestic disturbance.

While deputies were at her home, Teresa said she showed them what was living in her tub.

"He told our detectives that he basically got the alligator from a friend and he was protecting it and was going to release the alligator the next day," said Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesman Judge Cochran.

Teresa said her husband had no plans to release the gator.

She said he built an enclosure in the backyard with chicken wire and a pond because he planned on keeping it as a pet.

"Why would I want a gator in my house? I'm scared of them. That's not a natural habitat for an alligator in the first place," she said.

Springer was arrested.

The alligator was released in a local lake.

What's the moral of the story?

"Leave alligators in their natural habitat and don't try to hide them in your bathtub," Teresa Springer said.

600 new Arthrex jobs heading to Collier County

Hundreds of new jobs are coming to Collier County. Tuesday, commissioners approved more than $2 million in economic incentives for Arthrex, Inc. to assist the company with it's plans to expand and create 600 new jobs over the next five years.

If Arthrex can produce the jobs, then the county will produce the money.

Collier County commissioners gave the green light for Arthrex to build a new 200,000 square foot facility near Ave Maria and expand their existing facility on Immokalee Road.

Commissioner Coletta says, "what we did today is what we've been aiming for, where we've been heading for some time."

Over the next five years, the medical equipment manufaturer will get $2.2 million from the county, but only if Arthrex creates 600 new jobs in Collier County.

Commissioner Coletta says, "the guarantee is they will only get paid for the jobs they produce. The way the program is set up, you only get compensated for what you produce after the fact, never before."

Arthrex Vice President Scott Price says they're already well on their way to creating at least 400 jobs by June of 2014. He tells WINK News, "We added 80 new jobs between June and December of 2011, and we are expecting to have added over 160 new jobs between July 2011 and June 2012."

Commissioners are excited one of the fastest growing companies in the nation has decided to stay and grow in Collier County.

"Arthrex has been the model company in Collier County. It's what everyone should try and be some day," said Coletta.

Commissioners also approved incentive funding for Animal Specialty Hospitals of Florida and Florida Specialties of Immokalee.

THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT NBC-2.COM 

 

 

 

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JANUARY 24, 2012

$400K boat stolen in Fort Myers

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of a 36-foot boat from its slip in the Catalpa Cove community, according to sheriff's office reports.

The owner of the boat, named the Gypsy Fiddler, contacted the sheriff's office Sunday. He told deputies he last saw his 2008 Grady white 36-foot boat in its slip on Saturday around 6 p.m. On Sunday around 10 a.m. he noticed the boat was gone.

The suspects had disconnected the shore power cables from the power box mounted to the dock and took the mooring lines, reports said.

The boat also had twin outboard motors on the boat worth $20,000 each. The boat is estimated to be worth $400,000.

Clerk caught selling illegal 'bath salts'

A Port Charlotte convenience store clerk was arrested Friday after he reportedly sold illegal "bath salts" to undercover detectives.

Reddy Vankateshwar, 44, was charged with sale and delivery of bath salts, possession of bath salts, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, investigators received information that the drug, which is banned in Florida, was being sold at the store.

During two undercover drug buys, Vankateshwar reportedly sold the bath salts to detectives for $40 each time.

He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail and later released on $13,500 bond.

Teenager calls 911 'because she heard mother having sex with boyfriend'

A 15-year-old girl called police in the middle of the night and asked to be put in a Christian children's shelter after she heard her mother and boyfriend having sex.

The teenager dialled 911 at 4am  last Thursday after confronting her 35-year-old mother.

The girl told police that she felt 'disrespected'.

An officer went to the house in Panama City, Florida where the girl asked to be removed from her home.

GAP STORE CLOSES AT COASTLAND AFTER OPENING IN 1979

The Gap has closed after 33 years at Coastland Center in Naples.

The store, which opened in 1979, planned to shutter its doors for good Monday. The store had signs posted throughout that told customers the store would be closing.

"We don't have plans to close any additional stores in Florida at this time," said Kimberly Terry, a Gap spokeswoman in the corporate office in San Francisco, in an email Monday. "Customers can continue to shop with us at the Waterside Shops."

The Waterside Shops store, 5495 U.S. 41 N., No. 7, is attached to a Baby Gap and Gap Kids.

A Gap Outlets store at Miromar Outlet in Estero, 10801 Corkscrew Road, also will remain open, Terry said.

Gap Inc. in October announced it was closing some U.S. stores and downsizing others to focus on expanding internationally. In recent years, Gap Inc. had suffered from weak sales as shoppers turned to trendier rivals to shop.

"As part of our real estate strategy — which we outlined in 2007 and provided an update on at our Investor Day in October — we're constantly re-evaluating our real estate portfolio to ensure we have the right stores in the right places to best serve our customers," Terry said.

Gap was working to retain workers from Coastland and position them in one of the company's other brand stores, including Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Stores.

"We have a strong track record of placing the majority of employees at either another Gap location or at one of our sister brands," Terry said.

 

 

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JANUARY 23, 2012

Fla. instructor finalist for teacher of the year

A South Florida music instructor is a finalist for the national teacher of the year award.

Alvin Davis, Florida's 2012 teacher of the year, was named a finalist in the national contest by the Council of Chief State School Officers Thursday. Finalists from three other states are also vying for the prize.

Davis is a music teacher at Miramar High School in Broward County.

As part of duties as the Florida Department of Education/Macy's Teacher of the Year, he has been traveling throughout the state visiting schools and sharing information.

A panel of educators selected the finalists from all 50 states. The winner will be honored by the president in April.

Lehigh family comes home from vacation to an empty house

Lehigh Acres man came home from vacation to find his home wiped out. Everything inside was taken by burglars. The victim said he's forced to rebuild one step at a time.

After five months in Thailand, John Carr came home to the surprise of his life, thanks to some thieves. The Lehigh man and his wife went overseas for the birth of their twins. After they came home, they found nothing but the furniture indents in their carpet.

The crooks took everything they could, acting like moving men. They took the matresses, but left the pillows. Clothes are missing from the closets. Appliances, like the oven, are gone. They even pulled the alarm system off the wall.

The Army vet said his family is devastated. They're now left with nothing, while the thieves got away surprisingly unnoticed.
Passengers stranded for 10 hours at Charlotte County Airport

Airline travelers were stranded for nearly 10 hours in Punta Gorda Thursday night so they turned to WINK News for help.

Allegiant Air told WINK News it was an unfortunate domino effect.  The flight that was supposed to take passengers from Punta Gorda to South Carolina at 12 p.m. Thursday, had mechanical issues with the battery and that was just the beginning.

A second flight, with mechanics on board, was supposed to go to help but that flight also experienced mechanical issues.  Throughout the day, passengers waited at the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda.  Some waited near baggage claim, outside the TSA secured area and others waited at the gate.  Passengers told WINK News they didn't hear much from the airline all day.

"Communicate with us what is going on up in Greenville.  We just get no communication whatsoever," said James White, passenger.

"Its very poorly organized.  You cant get any information," said Steward Matheson, passenger.

WINK News called Allegiant Air to get some answers.  They told us passengers at the gate received gate service which included pizza, drinks, vouchers for $75 and being able to change their flight with no fee.  Allegiant Air told WINK News they were sorry for the delays.

The plane taking passengers to South Carolina arrived at about 9:30 p.m. and departed shortly thereafter to take passengers to South Carolina.

Ex-juror pleads guilty in Fla. to soliciting bribe

former juror in a South Florida federal criminal case has pleaded guilty to soliciting a bribe in exchange for helping sway the panel not to vote for conviction.
    
Prosecutors say 55-year-old Italo Campagna could get up to 15 years in prison. Campagna pleaded guilty Thursday in Miami federal court.
    
Documents show Campagna met in October with the brother of a man charged in a cigarette smuggling case. Campagna said he would try to persuade jurors to acquit the defendant for between $50,000 and $100,000.
    
The brother contacted the FBI, which recorded a telephone call between the two discussing the proposed bribe. When they arranged to meet later, Campagna was arrested.
    
A mistrial was declared in the cigarette smuggling and a new trial got started this week.

'Porn producers' are scamming victims in Kissimmee

Beware of phony porn producers promising easy money, Kissimmee police say.

In recent months, at least four victims in Osceola County have been duped or robbed by young men claiming to run Pornhub, a free pornographic website, records show.

In each case, the fake porn producers claimed they needed to launder money through personal bank accounts and were willing to pay account holders $1,000 for just a couple of days in return for providing their debit cards and PIN numbers as collateral, records show.

The most recent victim told police a stranger called "G" emptied her Wells Fargo bank account in early January after she fell for his ploy of waving cash at her as she drove through north Kissimmee. Within days, her account had been overdrawn and the deposited funds turned out to be bogus, records show.

Suspect arrested in deodorant thefts in Fort Pierce

An Oakland Park woman was charged Monday with a series of deodorant thefts last summer, according to her affidavit.

Dana Lee Frazier, 41, and an accomplice stole more than 130 sticks of the men's antiperspirant products from the Winn-Dixie in the 2000 block of U.S. 1 and a couple of CVS locations in June. She was charged by Fort Pierce police with third-degree grand theft and organized fraud.

Frazier was named as a suspect in a tip to Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers, police said. She was being held Tuesday at the St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail.

A warrant was issued for the other suspect. Police identified her after witnesses provided a license plate for the suspected getaway car. Detectives learned the woman had rented the car in Fort Lauderdale.

Newt Gingrich to speak Tuesday at Cambier Park in Naples

On the heels of a poll that puts him in first place, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrichis headed back to Collier County this coming week.

A campaign rally is scheduled for the Cambier Park band shell in Naples on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. in support of the Republican candidate. The Florida primary is a week later, Jan. 31.

He last made public appearances in the area with a town hall meeting and book-signing in North Naples in late November.

Republicans who cast ballots for Gingrich during early voting in Collier last week said recent, unflattering comments about the candidate's personal life by his ex-wife did not sway their choice.

Gingrich won the South Carolina GOP primary Saturday.

A poll released by American Research Group, conducted Thursday and Friday, had showed Gingrich with 40 percent of votes in early South Carolina primary voting, placing him ahead of Mitt Romney, who garnered 26 percent.

The previous week, the same New Hampshire-based polling firm showed a closer race, with Gingrich at 33 percent and Romney at 32 percent. 

 

 

 

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JANUARY 20, 2012

Fla. instructor finalist for teacher of the year

A South Florida music instructor is a finalist for the national teacher of the year award.

Alvin Davis, Florida's 2012 teacher of the year, was named a finalist in the national contest by the Council of Chief State School Officers Thursday. Finalists from three other states are also vying for the prize.

Davis is a music teacher at Miramar High School in Broward County.

As part of duties as the Florida Department of Education/Macy's Teacher of the Year, he has been traveling throughout the state visiting schools and sharing information.

A panel of educators selected the finalists from all 50 states. The winner will be honored by the president in April.

Lehigh family comes home from vacation to an empty house

Lehigh Acres man came home from vacation to find his home wiped out. Everything inside was taken by burglars. The victim said he's forced to rebuild one step at a time.

After five months in Thailand, John Carr came home to the surprise of his life, thanks to some thieves. The Lehigh man and his wife went overseas for the birth of their twins. After they came home, they found nothing but the furniture indents in their carpet.

The crooks took everything they could, acting like moving men. They took the matresses, but left the pillows. Clothes are missing from the closets. Appliances, like the oven, are gone. They even pulled the alarm system off the wall.

The Army vet said his family is devastated. They're now left with nothing, while the thieves got away surprisingly unnoticed.
Passengers stranded for 10 hours at Charlotte County Airport

Airline travelers were stranded for nearly 10 hours in Punta Gorda Thursday night so they turned to WINK News for help.

Allegiant Air told WINK News it was an unfortunate domino effect.  The flight that was supposed to take passengers from Punta Gorda to South Carolina at 12 p.m. Thursday, had mechanical issues with the battery and that was just the beginning.

A second flight, with mechanics on board, was supposed to go to help but that flight also experienced mechanical issues.  Throughout the day, passengers waited at the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda.  Some waited near baggage claim, outside the TSA secured area and others waited at the gate.  Passengers told WINK News they didn't hear much from the airline all day.

"Communicate with us what is going on up in Greenville.  We just get no communication whatsoever," said James White, passenger.

"Its very poorly organized.  You cant get any information," said Steward Matheson, passenger.

WINK News called Allegiant Air to get some answers.  They told us passengers at the gate received gate service which included pizza, drinks, vouchers for $75 and being able to change their flight with no fee.  Allegiant Air told WINK News they were sorry for the delays.

The plane taking passengers to South Carolina arrived at about 9:30 p.m. and departed shortly thereafter to take passengers to South Carolina.

Ex-juror pleads guilty in Fla. to soliciting bribe

former juror in a South Florida federal criminal case has pleaded guilty to soliciting a bribe in exchange for helping sway the panel not to vote for conviction.
    
Prosecutors say 55-year-old Italo Campagna could get up to 15 years in prison. Campagna pleaded guilty Thursday in Miami federal court.
    
Documents show Campagna met in October with the brother of a man charged in a cigarette smuggling case. Campagna said he would try to persuade jurors to acquit the defendant for between $50,000 and $100,000.
    
The brother contacted the FBI, which recorded a telephone call between the two discussing the proposed bribe. When they arranged to meet later, Campagna was arrested.
    
A mistrial was declared in the cigarette smuggling and a new trial got started this week.

'Porn producers' are scamming victims in Kissimmee

Beware of phony porn producers promising easy money, Kissimmee police say.

In recent months, at least four victims in Osceola County have been duped or robbed by young men claiming to run Pornhub, a free pornographic website, records show.

In each case, the fake porn producers claimed they needed to launder money through personal bank accounts and were willing to pay account holders $1,000 for just a couple of days in return for providing their debit cards and PIN numbers as collateral, records show.

The most recent victim told police a stranger called "G" emptied her Wells Fargo bank account in early January after she fell for his ploy of waving cash at her as she drove through north Kissimmee. Within days, her account had been overdrawn and the deposited funds turned out to be bogus, records show.

Suspect arrested in deodorant thefts in Fort Pierce

An Oakland Park woman was charged Monday with a series of deodorant thefts last summer, according to her affidavit.

Dana Lee Frazier, 41, and an accomplice stole more than 130 sticks of the men's antiperspirant products from the Winn-Dixie in the 2000 block of U.S. 1 and a couple of CVS locations in June. She was charged by Fort Pierce police with third-degree grand theft and organized fraud.

Frazier was named as a suspect in a tip to Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers, police said. She was being held Tuesday at the St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail.

A warrant was issued for the other suspect. Police identified her after witnesses provided a license plate for the suspected getaway car. Detectives learned the woman had rented the car in Fort Lauderdale. 

 

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JANUARY 19, 2012

Cape residents tired of ugly, noisy facility

Residents along and near Everest Parkway in Cape Coral say they are fed up with a bad neighbor. Residents say the city's water treatment plant is noisy and unsightly.

The plant sits in a residential area with homes to the left and right. Residents nearby say it's big, ugly and noisy.

"I wish they would do a little more to camouflage it," said neighbor Steve Kozma.

The annoying neighbor is what's known as Cape Coral's Everest Facility - owned and operated by the city.

Not only is it the site of a water treatment plant, it's also the city's Fleet Maintenance Division, where heavy machinery often comes and goes.

And all of it sits just feet from people's back yards.

"I hear trucks coming in and out," said neighbor Michael Graf.

The city has had plans to hide the plant for years and many neighbors we spoke to say they moved to their current location thinking that would happen.

Cape Coral City Councilman Marty McClain says the city couldn't afford it then, but it can now.

"It was cost prohibitive," he said.

Now the city wants to build an eight-foot concrete wall around the facility - a $300,000 project.

"It's going to be landscaped and it's going to be irrigated. You're going to have a very attractive buffer," McClain said.

And residents like the sound of that - saying it will only increase the value of this neighborhood.

"If they did a little bit to make it [less] visible, I think that would increase the value and it'd just be a good neighbor," Kozma said.

The Cape Coral City Council will vote on the issue Wednesday.

Obama heads to Orlando for travel speech

President Obama is headed to the heart of Florida's tourism industry to announce a new travel proposal.

Obama heads to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Thursday to make the announcement.

His Florida visit comes 10 days before Sunshine State Republicans are set to vote in a presidential primary.

Obama carried Florida in 2008 against Republican John McCain, 51% to 48%. And, for now, Florida voters don't seem to be abandoning Obama in droves.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed the president and GOP front-runner Mitt Romney in a near-statistical tie in the state in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup

To test Intoxilyzer, FDLE paid employees to get drunk

Facing the possibility of losing its key weapon against drunk drivers, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement decided it would pay some of its employees to — what else? — get drunk.

So, one day in October, the state's version of the FBI shelled out $330 on Jim Beam whiskey and other booze, along with mixers and some Doritos, and invited 15 employees to headquarters to imbibe on work time.

With a video camera recording, the FDLE crime analysts, staff assistants and Capitol Police officers drank up, and then blew into three Intoxilyzer 8000s at their Tallahassee headquarters. Their blood was then drawn and sent to a lab.

The $8,000 study, put together in three days, was part of a broader push to save the reputation of the embattled Intoxilyzer 8000, FDLE records show. And in December, FDLE's alcohol testing guru Laura Barfield came to a Sarasota County courtroom for a hearing and presented results of the drunken employee experiment to a panel of judges, saying it proved the machines were accurate.

But the study might not even be worth the $330 bar bill.

At the hearing, judges deciding the fate of the machine in Sarasota and Manatee counties seemed skeptical of even considering the study, in part because bloodwork was still at the lab and the examination was not yet finalized.

Beyond that, statistics experts say there are concerns about how the study was conducted, whether it has any scientific validity, or whether it proves what it intended to.

"That doesn't really address the problem," said Dr. John Robinson, a biostatistics consultant with expertise in health care. "It's only performed at one time, with a small group of people."

ALL THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT NBC-2.COM 

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JANUARY 18, 2012

Wikipedia goes dark at midnight

One of the internet's busiest websites is going dark tonight for 24 hours.

Starting at midnight, Wikipedia will shut down to protest anti-piracy legislation under discussion in Congress.

The House and Senate each have their own bills under consideration.  

The Stop Online Piracy Act in the House, nicknamed SOPA, would allow the government to shutdown websites alleged to distribute pirated content.

"That represents, you know, a form of censorship potentially, and the concerns about a free internet are very large for a lot of people," says CNET.com's Scott Stein.

The film and music industries support the legislation, seeking to protect their intellectual property and revenue, but tech companies including Google and Facebook have spoken out against it, saying it threatens their industry.

Several other websites are joining Wikipedia in going dark, hoping to get the public involved in the issue.

The Obama administration has also brought up concerns about the legislation, but says it wants to work with Congress on a way to fight piracy while protecting the internet.

Man with injunction against him texts woman, asks her to marry him

A 52-year-old man was charged with violation of a domestic violence injunction after contacting the woman who filed the injunction against him.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's report, the man was prohibited to talk with the woman at all, but sent her a text anyways that read, "Even though u r mad at me will u still marrier me?

Man punches stepdad after being asked to stop staring

A 42-year-old man faces domestic violence battery charges after attacking his stepfather Jan. 3. The younger man had been staring at the older man, who asked him to stop.

"Make me," the suspect replied, according to his Crestview Police Department arrest report.

When the older man stood up, his stepson punched him in the eye, the report said.

The suspect had been "acting mad" all day, his mother told police.

Man with injunction against him texts woman, asks her to marry him

A 52-year-old man was charged with violation of a domestic violence injunction after contacting the woman who filed the injunction against him.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's report, the man was prohibited to talk with the woman at all, but sent her a text anyways that read, "Even though u r mad at me will u still marrier me? ... I love you!"

  

 

 

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January 17, 2012

Air potato trespassing in SWFL

It's being called the kudzu vine of Southwest Florida. An aggressive and dangerous weed, dubbed the "air potato" is creeping across Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties. The spud is blamed for killing native plants.

"It wants to get as much sunlight as it can and keep growing, so if that means climbing over native species and choking them out, that's what it'll do," said Holly Downing, with Sanibel's Department of Natural Resources.

This troublemaker is described as dark in complexion, weighing 1-4 ounces, with a small, bulbous head. It's known to hide out across Southwest Florida, and may be in the company of equally destructive vines.

Don't let its heart shaped leaves deceive you, this runaway is your yard's worst nightmare.

"When they come here, they don't come with predators. There's nothing to keep them in check. So they grow out of control," said Downing.

Dubbed the air potato because it grows up in trees but has the shape and size of ordinary potatoes; these pretty vines deceived Americans in the early 1900's when they brought this aggressive weed over from Asia and Africa as an ornamental plant.

In Asia and Africa, the air potato was introduced to dinner tables, but if they're not prepared appropriately they can be poisonous, according to Jenny Evans of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.

This time of the year, a single vine drops about 1,000 potatoes. In the spring, those potatoes will sprout, growing at a rate of 8 inches a day! That's enough to blanket native plants, blocking out available sunshine.

Once you find the air potatoes, killing them is easy. Forget the chemicals, which can harm your native trees. Simply pick them up, and throw it in the trash. But be sure you dispose of it correctly. If the potato ends up in your yard compost pile, it could show up in mulch, spreading the problem even more.

Burning them is the only way to kill them.

The air potatoes are so widespread on Sanibel Island, citizens brought in 800 pounds of potatoes to be incinerated on Sunday.

The island started an aggressive campaign to kill the invasive species last year.

Grandmother robbed of $36k worth of jewelry

A Lehigh Acres woman was trying to help out someone who needed work. Instead of doing the work he was hired to do, the man stole $36,000 worth of jewelry from the victim.

"He took every piece of gold," said Velma Ferguson.

Ferguson says a stranger approached her, offering to do work for cheap and ended up ripping her off.

"I was doing a good deed for the man, I thought.  Here he is ripping me off," said Ferguson.

The 74-year old grandmother hired Kevin Clark to pressure clean her roof and driveway. 

At $150 she thought it was a "steal" and she was right!

Instead of cleaning her house, Ferguson says Clark cleaned her out of her rare jewelry.

"He took every piece of gold in that room, hanging on the picture and my son's graduation ring," said Ferguson.

Ferguson says Clark broke into her Lehigh Acres home through a side door. It wasn't until her sister came for a visit that Ferguson realized her precious jewels were missing.

"I told her Gloria my rings are gone.  She said, ‘Velma you must have stuck them somewhere.' I said, ‘No Gloria, I know my rings were laying right here where I stuck them this morning,'" said Ferguson.

Ferguson confronted Clark, who denied it.

"I said to him, ‘Did you go in my house?' And he said, ‘No ma'am I would never do that,'" said Ferguson.

So Ferguson called law enforcement.

Detectives ran Clark's name through their FINDER database and located a transaction he made at Gold Master Liquidators in Lehigh Acres.

That transaction was for two gold rings belonging to Ferguson. 

Detectives arrested Clark for burglary, grand theft and providing false owner information to a secondhand dealer.  Ferguson says she learned an expensive lesson.

"I thought it was safe.  Looks like he needed the work but now just run them off," said Ferguson

Contrabandtook the weekend box office.

Bank foreclosing on O.J. Simpson's Florida house

Like tens of thousands of other Florida homeowners, imprisoned former football star O.J. Simpson is in danger of losing his house to foreclosure.

Miami-Dade Circuit Court records show that JPMorgan Chase filed for foreclosure in September on the four-bedroom, four-bath house south of downtown Miami. Simpson's attorney has since filed a motion to dismiss the case, but there has been no further action since November.

Simpson bought the 4,233-square-foot house in 2000 for $575,000, property records show. Its current assessed value is $478,401, with property taxes of about $9,000. The 2011 taxes were paid in December.

The 64-year-old former football star and actor is serving a nine-to-33-year prison sentence stemming from a 2007 armed confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas casino hotel room. Simpson was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges. He is appealing the conviction.

Simpson was acquitted in 1995 in the Los Angeles slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. A civil jury in California later ordered Simpson to pay $33.5 million for Goldman's wrongful death. The attorney for Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, said Monday the bankruptcy case played directly into the Simpson foreclosure.

"No surprise at all," said David J. Cook, the Goldman attorney in San Francisco who has spent years trying to collect the judgment.

Simpson received $750,000 in 2007 for a book ghostwritten under his name titled "If I Did It," Cook said. A Florida bankruptcy judge eventually awarded rights to the book to Goldman, who released it. Cook said it sold some 150,000 copies.

About $350,000 of Simpson's money went to pay down a line of credit had tied to his Miami-area home. The bankruptcy trustee, however, filed a so-called clawback lawsuit against the bank that sought return of the money as ill-gotten gains. Cook said when the bank paid the money, Simpson's mortgage amount was raised to offset the cost.

"It was just a matter of time before he would lose the house," Cook said.

Even in prison, Simpson has income from his NFL pension and another retirement account that is shielded under federal law from creditors. Residual payments from Simpson's movies, such as the "Naked Gun" series and "The Towering Inferno," go to the Goldmans.

There was no answer at the Simpson house when an Associated Press reporter knocked on the front door Monday afternoon. There were no cars in the circular driveway, which was strewn with fallen palm fronds. But the house appeared in good repair and the grass was mowed.

Simpson's attorney in Nevada did not immediately return a telephone call and email seeking comment.

Wife throws knife at husband after he says he wants a divorce

A woman who allegedly threw a knife at her husband a few hours after he said he wanted a divorce was arrested.

Crestview Police were called to the couple’s home just before midnight after the woman threw the knife and hit her husband on his right side, according to the arrest report.

When police arrived to the home the husband refused medical treatment because the knife hadn’t punctured his skin. He said that the incident occurred a few hours after he told his wife he wanted a divorce. In the hours leading up to the incident he said he tried to avoid being in the same room as her “to prevent further argument,” the report stated.

Just before the knife was thrown, the husband said Smith had come out to the garage to find him, but he’d gone into the house to avoid conversation.

He said Smith followed him back into the house and when he tried to leave the room she “grabbed and pulled him by the back of his jacket … causing him to fall through an end table onto the ground,” the report stated.

The man said he tried to leave the room again after that and that’s when he saw her pick up the knife.

When she was interviewed Smith said she had been “upset” all day with her husband over the divorce. She said when he tried to walk away without speaking to her “she picked up a knife and threw it at him, but missed,” the report stated.

She was arrested and charged with aggravated battery.

THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT WWW.NBC-2.COM

 

  

 

 

 

 

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JANUARY 12, 2012

Weird sea critter washed up in Delray Beach likely an oarfish, biology professor says

Carolyn Hoffman was walking along the beach in Delray Beach on Jan. 5 with her husband when something odd caught her eye.
A long, ribbon-shaped fish with a large, bulging eye had washed up in the surf.
“It just rolled up on the beach in front of us,” Hoffman said. “I’ve never seen anything shaped like that.”
Her husband, Harry Furrevig, is a fisherman, so Hoffman decided to take his photo with this odd sea creature to add to his collection of fishing photos.
“Let’s fillet this and eat it,” Furrevig told her jokingly. “I said no thanks,” Hoffman said.
Palm Beach Atlantic University biology professor Ray Waldner, an ichthyologist, said the fish is probably an oarfish – a fish in a family by itself, the longest of the bony fishes.
It cto his collection of fishing photos.
“Let’s fillet this and eat it,” Furrevig told her jokingly. “I said no thanks,” Hoffman said.
Palm Beach Atlantic University biology professor Ray Waldner, an ichthyologist, said the fish is probably an oarfish – a fish in a family by itself, the longest of the bony fishes.
It could also be a “dealfish,” Waldner said.ould also be a “dealfish,” Waldner said.

The fins of the fish in Hoffman’s photos do not match an oarfish precisely, Waldner said, but they could have been worn down in the surf.
“It’s not that rare to have one of these things wash up on the beach,” Waldner said.
When oarfish do wash up, they usually have a hole in their sides, Waldner said. That’s because the ribbon-shaped fish are often gored through the side by billfish.
If the fish is an oarfish, it’s actually a small one, Waldner said. Oarfish are common to 26 feet long and have been found to grow as

Jupiter woman, 62, upset with 'Judge Judy' allegedly attacks man with hammer

A 62-year-old woman was arrested Sunday morning after she hit a 65-year-old man on the head with a hammer, police say.

Janet Knowles, of Jupiter, was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.

Jupiter Police responded to the defendant's house around 11:30 a.m. Sunday after dispatchers received a call of a domestic disturbance.

When police arrived, they interviewed the alleged victim - who was not named in the probable cause affidavit - while he held bloody paper towels on his head.

The victim told police he was watching "Judge Judy" on television while sitting on his recliner, when Knowles got "upset with Judge Judy," the affidavit says.

Knowles then hit him in the head with a hammer and the victim received a "large cut" to his head and left forearm.

He was treated at the scene by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews.

Knowles told police she was upset because Judge Judy was on television. She became "mad" and then hit the victim on the head with the hammer.

Knowles also began talking about a neighbor and what a neighbor was wearing, the affidavit says.

Police said Knowles could not hold a conversation with them during the investigation.

The affidavit does not say what the relationship between Knowles and the victim is.

Knowles is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.

Gas leak in downtown Naples impacts restaurants on 5th Ave.

 

Crews are working through the night to repair a gas leak in downtown Naples. The natural gas leak was detected just after 6 o'clock Wednesday night on the corner of 8th Street South and 4th Avenue South.

Naples Fire Department Batallion Chief Pete DiMaria says a two inch natural gas line that feeds into 5th Avenue was punctured construction crews.

The smell of natural gas filled the air throughout the downtown area. 8th Street South was blocked off between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue for several hours.

Crews with TECO came in to help mitigate the leak. "The big concerns is if the gas is at lower areas it could lead to an ignition point and we could have a large explosion."

Crews had to turn off the gas in the area while they worked to fix the leak. This impacted several businesses along 5th Avenue.

The owner at Chopps tells WINK News the restaurant was full at 8:00 when the gas was shut off. They finished serving everyone who had already ordered but had to turn customers away.

Andrea Neri, owner of Rosso Pomodoro says, "We lost money, everyone here on this street lost money."

The owner of Aqua says they were able to continue serving customers because they have a propane tank, but the majority of restaurants on 5th Avenue were impacted in one way or another.

Crews are expected to fix the gas line overnight and turn the gas back on before restaurants open back up tomorrow.

Ft. Myers bookkeeper allegedly stole from boss to pay bills

 

An investigation has led to the arrest of a Fort Myers woman who stole approximately $25,000 from her own boss to pay a mounting credit card bill.

Cathy Krupp, 53, of 9037 Hendry Road in Fort Myers, is charged with Grand Theft and Scheme to Defraud.

Krupp worked as a bookkeeper at Ernie's Signs, located on Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs. The investigation shows Krupp regularly wrote checks to herself and altered the books to make it appear as though the checks had been sent to vendors. An examination of her computer revealed that Krupp also made nearly fifty electronic transfers of company funds to two companies to pay her personal credit card and phone bills.

The investigation showed Krupp's scheme had been going on for a little less than two years. 

Dog sniffs out lost golf balls

A Punta Gorda dog has an unusual talent – finding lost golf balls. He lives on the edge of a golf course and not only recovers golf balls on the ground, he digs them up as well. The dog's talent is saving the owner a lot of money.

Buoy, a one-year-old Cavashon, has a golf course in his back yard. His yard sits right by one of the toughest holes on the green.

"People that hit their ball with a slice, their ball goes into a set of bushes behind our building," said Buoy's owner Jim Bonebrake.

When golfers tee off and miss, Buoy comes out a winner.

"I haven't had to buy a golf ball ever since which is great," said Bonebrake.

He collects dozens of lost balls a week. He even digs some of them out of the ground.

"He smells them. He can even smell them if they're buried in the ground and dig them up," said Bonebrake.

Buoy's hobby has created a pile of more than 100 golf balls.

"If you knew what kind of a golfer I was, you would know he saves me plenty of money," said Bonebrake.

Buoy's record is recovering 14 golf balls in just one hour.

Some are old, some are brand new.

"All we ask you to do is mark, put your initial on it and we're happy to return it to the rightful owner," said Denise Horton, Buoy's owner.

It seems neighbors are listening. Buoy found a ball marked with a "T" on it.

 

  

 

 

 

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January 11, 2012

OJ drinkers uneasy over FDA tests

The FDA says it will stop imports of orange juice and concentrate from Brazil if they test positive for an illegal fungicide. And the stepped-up testing has OJ drinkers concerned.

The future of imported orange juice and concentrate could be grim.

It's all over concerns on the reported findings of fungicide carbendazim in orange juice products from Brazil - the world's largest producer of orange juice.

"Oh I think it's terrible," said OJ lover Jackie Wagner.

In the letter from the FDA to the Juice Products Association, it states the EPA has not approved carbendazim for use as a fungicide on oranges. In fact, it's illegal in the U.S., but not in Brazil.

"Yes, it is a concern. I mean any type of chemicals that we are using in our foods is a concern to me," said orange juice drinker Judy Fritzeche.

Right now, the FDA isn't overly concerned, but they are still conducting their own testing to make sure the fungicide isn't a health risk to the public.

"It makes me more alert of what's going on. I'll be watching to see how all of this pans out in the future," said Fritzeche.

But for now, the FDA isn't calling out specific brands that use imported concentrate. Officials there are just testing the concentrated and juice products only – not the oranges.

For Wagner, the latest information is enough to make sure her OJ purchases stay at Sun Harvest.

"I'll always make sure I'm buying Florida orange juice," she said.

Now there is no need to run to your fridge and trash the OJ.

The EPA reports the consumption of orange juice with carbendazim at such low reported levels does not raise safety concerns.

However, if the FDA finds orange juice with carbendazim at levels that present a public health risk, they will alert the public and will remove the product from the market.

North Naples Trader Joe's to open in Feb.

The first Florida store for the Trader Joe's grocery chain will open February 10th.

The store, located in a shopping center on US-41 just south of Immokalee Road, will have a ceremonial lei-cutting to welcome customers at 8 a.m.

After that, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The chain features domestic and imported food and beverages, fresh bread, juices and deli items, as well as the basics like milk and eggs.

They boast their store add about a dozen new items every week, after they have all passed the scrutiny of a tasting panel.

The chain, which started in 1958 in the Los Angeles area, has over 360 stores in 31 states.

Image of Virgin Mary appears at hamburger restaurant | Weird

Tampa, Florida -- An Ybor City restaurant's name has taken on a new meaning after some say the image of the Virgin Mary appeared on one of its walls.

The restaurant is Hamburger Mary'sand the image first got attention over the weekend after some customers noted its appearance on a stainless steel plate on the wall near the kitchen.

Photo Gallery:Virgin Mary spotted at restaurant

"From certain angles it does look like the Virgin Mary," says acting manager Melanie Todd.  "I never have noticed it myself, before [this weekend]."

This isn't the first time the Blessed Virgin has appeared on an inanimate object in Tampa Bay.  For several years an image said to be her adorned the glass windows of a Clearwater office building. Vandals destroyed the several of the windows in 2004.

Todd says the image at the restaurant -- known for its gay karaoke and drag queen bingo nights -- reminds her of that earlier appearance in Clearwater. "Everybody is curious to see it," she says. "It's a true image, it really is."

Whether or not it's divine in origin, people seeing faces or things out of shapes is a rather common phenomenon called pareidolia.

Todd hopes that the faithful who may now flock to her restaurant will then stay for some food and a drink.

"We need as much guidance and overlooking as we can get!" she says with a laugh.

Woman comes face-to-face with six-foot snake

homeowner in Sharpes said she was stunned to find a six-foot-long red-tailed boa constrictor staring her down in her own back yard.

The snake was quickly captured at the woman's home on Columbine Street, and has been taken to animal control. The woman who first saw the snake thought it was a towel or rag until it moved.

These articles were all found at www.nbc-2.com   

 

 

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January 10, 2012

Illegal radio station owner skips arraignment

The man arrested for running a pirate radio station from his Dunbar home took his story to Washington DC on the day he was due to be arraigned in court.

When faced with a date in court or telling his story in Washington DC, Al Knighten picked DC.

"I'm here to talk about the impact of radio in communities of color," Knighten said in a phone interview.

It's with that thought Knighten ran an illegal radio station from his Dunbar home for two years. He said it was too expensive to take the legal route.

In December, the FCC and Fort Myers Police shut down Dunbar Community Radio and arrested Knighten.

Even Fort Myers Police officers admitted it was a difficult crackdown of a station that aired gospel music, church sermons and community information.

Both Knighten and fellow DJ Ron Jenkins stand by their station.

"We felt yes we were breaking the rules, but it had to be done. This is the only way we'd get what we needed in our community," said Knighten.

Knighten missed his Monday morning arraignment in Lee County court to be a featured speaker at the Civil Rights on the Airwaves forum.

The group is highlighting the lack of minority owned local radio in under-served communities.

"The right way to start radio stations and sometimes taking the steps to get it started," said Knighten.

He hopes his story helps others get their start the legal way.

Jenkins and Knighten want to do the same thing.

"It is supposed to open the airwaves for low bandwidth or wattage radio stations this year. We hope that comes true," said Jenkins.

Knighten says he didn't have to appear in court in-person for his arraignment, where the judge reassigned his case.

Knighten has pleaded not guilty. If convicted he could serve up to five years in prison.

Meandering bear removed from Immokalee neighborhood

Collier County deputies and Florida Fish and Wildlife responded to a call of a bear in a tree in a residential area just before 11 a.m. Monday.

The bear was in a tree at the end of N. 4th Street.

Florida Fish and Wildlife tranquilized the 225-pound bear and it fell from the tree.

"From what I heard, he was up in that particular tree for like eight hours, so it was probably like one or two o'clock in the morning that he'd been there," said witness Tevell Brown.

Collier County deputies and FWC biologists carried the bear to FWC's truck.

A bear was also found in a tree on N. 4th Street in November. It's unclear if the bear caught Monday is the same bear from two months ago.

But officials with FWC say they have responded to 25 bear reports in Immokalee alone in the last year.

Immokalee resident Raul Martinez says he sees a bear at least once every three weeks.

"They multiplied. There are too many. They're all over Immokalee," he said. "I'm just concerned because they can't be out here at night. Like at seven o'clock at night you can't sit out there because a bear's just wandering around everywhere."

While this bear wasn't tagged, biologists said they were familiar with him. He's been relocated to the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.

But Martinez says he has his eye out for the next one.

Whorehouse makes presidential endorsement

They say politics creates strange bedfellows. That's certainly true with the Ron Paul presidential campaign.

The workers of the famous, HBO-spotlighted Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel are endorsing Paul for president, saying it's because he's for states' rights.

"That's why the Bunny Ranch exists. Who knows better of how to govern a community than the community?" Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof said.

The women are also impressed he's a doctor.

"He knows what women's wants and women's needs are. And when it comes to a man that's going to be in the office, you want a man that knows his way around a woman," worker Ara Rose said.

The brothel is doing more than just endorsing; they're also fundraising for the Paul campaign by asking patrons for donations on their way out.

"The bunnies are always talking about politics. They are into their country and they vote," Hof said.

And they say their support will carry a lot of weight with more than 125 million hits on their web site every month.

"People will listen to us, and if they listen to us, they'll look at Ron Paul and they are going to like him," Hof said.

And that could have a lot more people across the country voting and "pimpin for Paul" also.

Deputies: "Sweet-talking" burglar arrested

Detectives say they caught a burglar accused of sweet talking his way into people's homes and stealing whatever he could.

Broward County resident Rocky Thompson is now in the Charlotte County Jail.

Thompson is accused of sweet talking Punta Gorda residents and luring them outside their home.

Detectives claim once the residents were outside, an accomplice would enter the home and take whatever they could.

"He was distracting you. That was his business and he was very confident in it," said Punta Gorda resident Don McClintock.

McClintock lives just blocks away from where detectives told us Thompsan robbed an elderly woman of more than $130,000 worth of jewlery.

McClintock and other residents at the Gateway Condominium Complex said they saw Thompson that same day and he couldn't give them a real reason as to why he was there.

"Whoever he met up with he was prepared, he was smooth," said McClintock.

Christy Arnold with the Punta Gorda Police Department claimed many criminals like Thompson travel from the east coast to Southwest Florda.

Arnold said the criminals hope the distance will keep them out of legal trouble.

"Be aware of your surroundings. If you're not expecting someone at your door, don't let them in," said Arnold.

Detectives suggested more arrests are likely but wouldn't say who they're looking for.

In court records, they argued Thompson and his son were a team and are suspected in several burglaries.

Cops: Woman breaks down ex's door with a propane tank

This time it's a 36-year-old woman who beat down her ex-husband's door with a propane tank, reports the Northwest Florida Daily News.

Why, you ask?

Because he wouldn't answer his phone.

The ex escaped indoors but the woman followed with the propane tank - breaking down the door and then beating him on the head with her fists and open hands.

The woman said she'd gone to the house to "resolve their differences," a deputy wrote.  

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JANUARY 9, 2012

Fla Panhandle constructing 10 artificial reefs

Areas around Panama City are getting new artificial reefs in the coming months.

Bay County officials accepted a $60,000 grant from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to construct 10 new artificial reefs by the end of the summer.

The Panama City News Herald (http://lb.vg/4W7Q0 ) reports each reef will be composed of 4 pre-manufactured concrete and steel pods arranged in grid pattern about 600 feet apart.

The reefs will provide the hard surface necessary for habitat and reproduction for popular recreational fish including red snapper, grouper and amberjack. A large majority of the submerged land on the continental shelf is sandy and not an ideal breeding ground.

Commissioner Mike Thomas said residents and tourists will be able to bottom fish, troll and dive around the reefs.

Information from: The News Herald, http://www.newsherald.com

The Devil Insideis the number one movie

Firefighter runs marathon in full gear to honor comrades

- Robert Verhelst does the unthinkable at the bike transition area during the HITS Triathlon Sunday, he puts on more than 50 lbs. of clothes. The 33-year-old firefighter from Madison, WI completed the final leg of the race, a 26.2 mile run, while wearing full firefighter gear.

"Most people do think I'm nuts," said Verhelst during his marathon, "that's a good thing though, you can't be like everybody else."

"You gotta step outside that box."

His steps under the bright Naples sun are nothing compared to what he's endured in the past. Verhelst spent eight days sorting through the rubble at Ground Zero.

"The hardest part is the bike ride," Verhelst said, "(the marathon) is easy, I know what I'm doing this for."

He's doing this for two reasons: to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died on 9/11, and to raise money for Code 3 for a Cure, a non-profit group of firefighters who have battled cancer.

President and found Lorenzo Abundiz has survived three bouts with the disease.

"I said one of these days I'm going to drive a fire engine across America and I'm gonna honor and remember firefighters who died of cancer because they paved the way for better equipment and procedures that we all use today," said Abundiz.

"There's a lot of guys that are going through a lot more things than just being hot," said Verhelst, "this is the least I could do for them."

And he'll do it for them 27 times this year, which would break the Guinness World Record for most triathlons in a single year. The current record is 20. The full race includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run.

1793 penny fetches $1.38M at Orlando auction

A one-cent copper coin minted in 1793, the first year that the United States produced its own coins, has fetched $1.38 million at a Florida auction.

James Halperin of Texas-based Heritage Auctions told The Associated Press on Saturday that the sale was "the most a United States copper coin has ever sold for at auction."

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the final bid by an unknown buyer for the coin was one of the largest sales at the Florida United Numismatists coin show and annual convention.

The newspaper reports that the 1793 penny is rare and in excellent shape, showing no wear on its lettering, its Lady Liberty face or the wreath on its back. It came from the Mint in Philadelphia.

Halperin said the auction had $60 million in transactions. The show runs through Sunday.

ALL THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT NBC-2.COM 

 

 

 

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JANUARY 6, 2012

172 pounds of pot seized in grow house bust

A Lehigh Acres man faces jail time after investigators discovered over 170 pounds of pot inside his home Wednesday.

Mariano Jimenez, 50, of 3114 SW 15th St., was arrested and booked into the Lee County Jail on multiple drug charges.

According to an arrest report, detectives visited his home Wednesday afternoon after receiving an anonymous tip that he was growing pot there.

During a search of the home, investigators found dozens of marijuana plants, several bags containing pot, and drug equipment, the report said.

Detectives say Jimenez kept the marijuana at the home while his children were present.

"That's awful. That's really awful," said neighbor Mell Brunt. "I saw the sheriff bring him out of the house."

He says one of the red flags that the home may have been a grow house was the two large AC units used to cool down a small, single-family home.

Brunt said when he saw the deputies bringing out the plants, he thought they were carrying Christmas trees at first. Then, he says, he realized one family probably wouldn't have that many trees.

Jimenez is charged with several felonies - including keeping a home to cultivate drugs with minors present. 

The Department of Children and Families is also investigating.

High-tech animal detection system debuts

The Florida Department of Transportation announced the high-tech Roadside Animal Detection System along a 1.3 mile stretch of US 41 in southern Collier County is operational.

Sensors were installed along a 1.3 mile segment of US-41 east and west of Turner River Road. The sensors detect animals as they approach the roadway.

"A very dangerous stretch of roadway for Florida panthers - in particular a number of female and kittens have been killed over the yearss," said Elizabeth Fleming, a Florida representative for Defenders of Wildlife.

The sensor then communicates this information to drivers by flashing bright LED lights on six warning signs placed along the road.

The project began in the fall of 2011.

Defenders of Wildlife and The US Fish and Wildlife Service partnered to obtain grant funding for the $450,000 project.

The first sign is just a test. More signs could soon be on the way.

From Collier to Colo.: Missing cat comes home

A Collier County man is happy to have his cat home after it was found more than 2,000-miles from home!

Waylon the cat is back at home with his Daniel Johns after he disappeared six months ago.

"Seemed like he settled right in, got up this morning and he still seemed like he settled right in. It's kind of nice," Johns said.

Johns adopted Waylon last June from Collier County Domestic Animal Services.

The cat escaped an hour after his adoption by chewing through a dryer vent at Johns' Goodland home.

And six months later, he was found in Littleton, Colorado in December.

"I was just like, ‘Oh my God that's awesome!' It's been a long time," he said.

An animal shelter in a nearby city there linked Waylon to Johns by a microchip. So, Johns went to Colorado to get Waylon and brought him back last night.

But the mystery remains – just how did Waylon get to Colorado?

Local Veterinarian Randy Eisel says it's unlikely any cat will travel 2,000-miles on their own four legs - especially since they usually stay in one area.

"Somebody thought they wanted him to be their cat. And they took him and ended up driving him out to Colorado and he escaped from them as well," Eisel said.

Johns thought the same. Now he has cat-proofed his house hoping Waylon will stick around.

"He's got his own room all to himself. He can't get out the window. The dryer vents made of metal now. He can't cut a hole in it so hopefully he will really like it there. I do," Johns said.

Dr. Eisel also says these kinds of stories pop up often. And it proves the effectiveness of the microchip and how beneficial they can be for pets and their owners.

Lowry Park Zoo welcomes first baby of the year, it's a Tapir

TAMPA, Fla. (January 4, 2012) - The horns, hats and party favors from the Zoo's noisy "NOON" Year's Eve celebration were put away for another year, but in the quiet hours that followed that night, an endangered Malayan tapir gave birth to a female calf before sunrise on New Year's Day - the first Zoo baby of the New Year.

Upon arriving at the Zoo at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve for their first nightly check of the expectant animal, zookeepers found all to be quiet in the tapir building. Then following the 2 a.m. check on New Year's Day, keepers were greeted by the tiny tapir who was already clean and dry (a sign that the birth had occurred with enough time for the mother to clean the newborn).

Photos: Lowry Park Zoo's new baby Tapir

Now three days old, the spotted newborn is alert and nursing routinely, both positive signs of health and strength. For her safety and bonding with mother "Umi," she will remain inside the tapir building under the watchful eye of animal care staff for the time being. The pair is not expected to be on exhibit for about a month.

"With less than a dozen viable breeding pairs of this endangered species in the managed population, each birth is extremely important in our efforts to sustain its viability," noted Dr. Larry Killmar, VP and director of collections.

Tapir calves are born covered in spots which fade to a solid black and white pattern within six months. Infants resemble a watermelon in size and shape. The newborn received her first check up by the Zoo's veterinarian this week where she was discovered to be a female weighing approximately 15 pounds, and is expected to gain about a pound a day.

The Malayan tapir is among the most primitive herbivores, dating back 20 million years. Closely related to the horse and rhinoceros more than any other species, the tapir has a unique, short trunk, formed by its upper lip and nose to help eat leaves, fruits, and aquatic vegetation. In the wild, tapirs are found in Burma and Thailand within dense forests, usually near water.

There are four species of tapir native to Southeast Asia and in Central and South America, all of which are classified as endangered due to ongoing decline. The Zoo's Malayan tapirs are members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Tapir Species Survival Plan (SSP). 

The Asian Gardens habitat area, where the tapirs are housed, was made possible by funding from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

Man arrested for throwing out bag of marijuana at courthouse

Winter Haven police have arrested a 31-year-old man on drug charges after he threw away a bag containing more than 20 grams of marijuana at a courthouse.

Police say Demetrius Nickerson was at the courthouse around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and attempted to pass through security. After setting off the metal detector, Nickerson was wanded by security personnel, who discovered a hard, unknown object.

Nickerson quickly told security that he would be right back and headed out the front door. Police say he returned a short time later and proceeded through security.

During this time, security became suspicious and called police, who discovered that Nickerson had thrown away a bright yellow bag containing marijuana separated into bags.

Twenty minutes later, Nickerson left the courthouse and retrieved the bag from the garbage can. Officers were waiting for him and he was arrested and charged with Possession of Drugs within 1,000 Feet of a School, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

• FHP: Man wearing Darth Vader mask attacked trooper
• A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was attacked in Orlando early Thursday by a man wearing a Darth Vader mask, authorities said.

Michael Cole, 28, of Orlando, was arrested on felony charges of resisting arrest and battery on an officer.

According to the FHP, a construction worker informed the trooper around 2:45 a.m. of an intoxicated man wearing a Darth Vader mask who was walking in the middle of a road near Summerlin Avenue and Anderson Street.

Man Arrested for Selling Moonshine

State alcohol agents arrested a Jacksonville man who they said was selling moonshine from a barbecue stand on Beaver Street the morning of the Gator Bowl game.

Two state agents working a detail before the game approached a stand operated by Michael Freeman, 44, of Jacksonville, around 10:50 a.m., according to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report. They both walked away with two beverages and a hot dog.

One agent purchased a shot of vodka and another purchased a shot of moonshine. Agent Dianne Stanley asked for Grey Goose vodka and was advised by the suspect it was moonshine, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Other agents returned to the stand and observed a 1.75 liter bottles of Grey Goose, Canadian Whiskey and Absolute Vodka on a table in plain view, the report said.

According to JSO, the suspect admitted to police he did not have a state beverage license, was selling alcohol and possessed moonshine whiskey.

Agents found two large vodka bottles of moonshine and 17 miniature bottles of moonshine whiskey, over a gallon of moonshine. Freeman said he had gone to Macon, Ga., to purchase two gallons of moonshine for $70.

Police seized the alcohol and Freeman's 2004 Ford Explorer used to transport the alcohol. Freeman was taken to the Duval County jail and charged with possession of moonshine, and concealing beverage with the intent of defrauding the state of tax revenue. He was also charged with trafficking a controlled substance.

Police found a bottle of 60 Lortabs with no prescription attached to the bottle, the report said.

Palm City man says 'ball drop' beef begets beer splashing, biting, stabbing

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is an 11,875 pound geodesic sphere that was scheduled to descend beginning at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve from atop One Times Square in New York City, according to timessquareball.net.

The "ball drop" event typically is watched at the scene and on television by millions. In many cases, alcohol consumption is involved.

The records don't state whether the Palm City couple has a DVR or VCR or other means to record TV broadcasts for replay. Still, the "ball drop" can be watched via the Internet.

The 26-year-old boyfriend said his 46-year-old girlfriend splashed his face with beer, and he did the same back. The girlfriend went inside their home and her son, Brandon Scarpati, 19, came out and argued with his mom's boyfriend.

The boyfriend said there was pushing, wrestling and fighting, and that Scarpati bit his hand. The boyfriend put Scarpati in a "headlock" but Scarpati eventually got a knife. Scarpati is accused of putting the edged weapon in the boyfriend's face and stabbing his hand.

Scarpati said his mom told him her boyfriend spit on her and that he confronted the boyfriend. Asked what happened between Scarpati and the boyfriend with the knife, Scarpati "shrugged and looked away from me (a deputy.)"

The 46-year-old woman said her son likely was "sticking up for her."

Scarpati, of the same address as his mother and her boyfriend, was arrested on an aggravated battery (domestic) charge.

 

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January 5, 2012

Tuition-setting dispute reaches Fla. Supreme Court

dispute over who has the power to set state university tuition and fees has arrived in the Florida Supreme Court.
    
A group that includes former Gov. Bob Graham filed an appeal last Friday. Now, it's up to the justices to decide whether to take the case.
    
Graham, also a former U.S. senator, contends the Board of Governors should have tuition- and fee-setting authority as part of its duty to oversee the State University System.
    
The Legislature argues that it alone has that power. The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the lawmakers.
    
The Graham group bases its argument on a state constitutional amendment that created the board in 2002. Graham led a citizen initiative that collected signatures to put the amendment on the ballot.

Local actress gets lead role in Hollywood movie

Nicole Crowther of Fort Myers has won the leading role in a major motion picture. The 22-year-old has been chosen to star in the movie, which will start shooting in a couple of weeks in California.

"When they told me I had the lead, I just started screaming! I could not believe it, but I was so happy," Crowther told WINK News. "I just knew when I calmed down, that this is a great opportunity, and I have to seize it."

Crowther will star in "Spin 2: Revenge." It will be a sequel to the movie, "Spin", which comes out in March. Crowther has a minor role in "Spin", and her character survives a maniacal killer. She then becomes the lead role, an avenging angel, in the sequel.

"My character is very tormented. She's complicated. I have had to go to some dark places. Sometimes I lock myself in my room for two days and just go over the lines. I have ways to put me in that space of gaining revenge on the murderer," said Crowther.

She is part of the family that owns Crowther Roofing in Lee County, and went to Bishop Verot High School. She then decided to go to the Los Angeles Film Academy, where she thought she wanted to focus on film directing. Instead, she found she had a passion for acting.

We asked about surviving in Hollywood. 

"It is very intense, very hard. There are millions of people who want the same role you want. It can be very cut-throat.   If they don't like you, they will just cast you out, you are gone, like your heart is just ripped out. There have been times I have just gone to my room and cried for hours," Crowther said.

Crowther however, is ready to make the most of her big break in getting a starring role in a major film.

"I am super-excited. I am going to kick butt in this role, and I am going to have a great time doing it, too," she told WINK News.

Typo involving 80 cents nearly cost man his home

When Tom Mudie was approved for a mortgage modification program, he thought his foreclosure troubles were over.

Bank of America lowered his monthly payment by nearly $200. All he had to do was make the new payments — on time for three months — and the new amount would be made permanent.

But a simple error — hitting a "0" on his telephone keypad instead of an "8" — threatened not only to cancel the savings but also to cost him his home.

"I want to keep my home," Mudie said. "And to lose it over 80 cents is crazy."

Mudie paid his second trial mortgage payment by phone. The keypad mistake meant that instead of paying $615.82, he paid $615.02. He was three quarters and a nickel short.

The mistake meant that, in the precise calculus of the computer, Mudie broke his modification contract. He was kicked out of the program.

Banking and government officials say his story reflects a broader trend of simple mistakes with consequences that are all out of proportion, hurting homeowners' modification chances.

When he realized what happened, Mudie said, he contacted a customer service representative who told him to send a check for the 80 cents. That would clear up the problem, he said he was told.

"I did everything they told me to," Mudie said. "I wrote the check for 80 cents, as crazy as that sounds. I included it with my next payment. They cashed it."

But the next month, Bank of America sent back the 80 cents — plus the next payment he had made. Then a letter from the bank arrived bearing bad news:

"Your loan is not eligible for the Fannie Mae modification program because you did not make all the required trial period plan payments by the end of the trial period."

It goes on to say the foreclosure is back on track. Then other alarming paperwork arrived.

"This home transition guide is through the United Way," read one pamphlet.

"When you start seeing that," Mudie said, "you start thinking charities and stuff. So I knew that I am in trouble."

Bank of America spokeswoman Jumana Bauwens said it all boils down to the computer glitch. Just like Mudie, she said, the bank made an error when it booted him from the program.

Bauwens took a closer look at Mudie's account and said the bank is in the process of crediting him for the payment he made. She said that because the problem partly was caused by the bank, he's back on track with the plan for lower monthly payments.

"He's in the process of getting a permanent modification," Bauwens said. "The paperwork is not finalized, but that 80 cent error is not going to create any additional issues for him."

Though Mudie's loan is serviced by Bank of America, it actually is owned by government-backed Fannie Mae.

Andrew Wilson, spokesman for Fannie Mae, said he has heard of simple mistakes getting out of hand before. Computers, he said, see things in black and white. Homeowners should be able to get beyond them and fix the problem.

Anyone having difficulty getting help from a servicer can call Fannie Mae directly if they are among the many with a Fannie Mae loan.

Homeowners can reach Fannie Mae's Tampa Mortgage Help Center at (866) 442-8554.

As for Mudie, he's happy for another chance to keep his home.

But from now on, he said, he'll pay by mail.

Report lists best diets by category

The latest and greatest diets always tend to hit just in time for your New Year's resolution. But many people are left wondering which one is best for them. We got a hold of the latest ranking of the most popular diets today.

Both the Paleo and Vegandiets have claimed popularity 2011, but also took on some tough criticism.

"A lot of these things on the market are kind of harsh," said dieter George Flinton.

He says he's tried them all.

"I need to lose weight. I am almost 90 pounds overweight and I need to lose it and this is the easiest way to do it, the safest way," he said, speaking about Weight Watchers.

It's one of the most popular diets on the planet, and one that's living up to its image.

U.S. News & World Report rated it best commercial diet and the easiest diet to follow.

And though Weight Watchers may hold two titles, an old diet has resurfaced - taking the title of Best Diet Overall.

It's called the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

"The DASH diet is really flexible, it gives you an opportunity to make mistakes but it also holds you accountable," said Mike Drumm, with Fitness on the Move.

The DASH diet focuses on low cholesterol, low fat and low sodium intake. It's a gem for dieticians pushing balance, moderation and a change in lifestyle. 

 

 

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January 4, 2012

Neighbors lead deputies to alleged meth house

Alert neighbors helped lead deputies to a meth lab set up in a North Fort Myers home just down the street from a church and school.

Michael Martin and James Laycock are accused of setting up a meth lab in an empty North Fort Myers home.

"The first thing I seen is a strange person from my window. I jumped up and went through my side yard by that time Ms. Connie come out with her baseball bat," said neighbor Janet Sletcher.

Sletcher and Connie Smith told their landlord who called deputies. When deputies arrived to the Wood Road home, they found Martin and Laycock inside.

Deputies also found a food processor, ephedrine, a face mask and drain cleaner, items detectives say are used to make crystal meth.

"When I heard meth I said, ‘He could've blown up the neighborhood,'" said Sletcher.

To make matters worse the suspects set up shop less than 1,000 feet from a church, which means suspects will face an additional felony charge.

The guardians of the quiet neighborhood warn the duo to stay away.

"I'll be more aware. My .38 will be on my nightstand instead of under my bed," said Connie Smith.

"Don't even try it now, we got guns, take your chances," said Sletcher.

Accused 911 calling, gas passing man arrested in Fort Pierce

A Fort Pierce police officer Dec. 17 was in Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute's emergency room when Isreal Rosado, 44, was discharged. Rosado refused to leave until he got a meal, and police told him to leave.

"The suspect would not follow orders given and pulled his penis out and urinated on the floor," an affidavit states.

An officer directed Rosado to a phone after he said he needed a ride. Dispatch officials reported Rosado called and said he had "mental problems." The officer told Rosado he needed to vacate the premises, and he said he wanted to go to a mental health center for a meal.

Another officer said Rosado, of the 700 block of Palm Avenue in Fort Pierce, previously called 911 for a ride.

He was arrested on charges including misuse of 911 and trespass after warning.

The officer patted Rosado down for weapons and he "continued to pass gas."

"The aroma was unbearable," an affidavit states.

Lehigh middle school teacher suspended with pay

Lehigh Acres middle school teacher accused of selling crack cocaine to an undercover detective is now suspended with pay.

That's according to our source at the lee county school district. The Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested 26-year old Carl Richardson at a North Fort Myers apartment two weeks ago. 

Deputies say Richardson tried to sell an undercover detective crack cocaine twice, once in April and once in May.

Student kayaks 422-miles to get home

A 20-year-old college student embarked on a holiday adventure when he kayaked 422-miles in 18-days from a state park in Tallahassee all the way to Pine Island. Tuesday he shared his story.

While most college students drive home for Christmas break, Nathan Jangraw paddled 422 miles in a 17-foot kayak

"Most people thought I was kind of nuts, I guess," he said.

He explained that he pre-shipped packages of food to destinations along his route. And at times, he would wedge his kayak in trees to create shelter during the long, lonely nights.

He said the greatest challenge was running out of drinking water. So, he engineered a desalinator, which boiled seawater so that it would be safe to drink.

Nathan finally arrived at his parent's Pine Island home last week after 18 long days on the Gulf.

His mom, Suzanne Jangraw, explained she was anxiously waiting on the shore for her son's arrival.  

"I'm sitting there with my cell phone, pacing back and forth. He pulled in, and he looked great!" she said.

Nathan, an Army ROTC cadet, used the journey to prepare for the rigors of military life – and, he says, simply to prove he could do it.

"Honestly if I ever have to sleep out in the woods in the military, I know it won't be a big deal at all to me now that I've slept out there in the woods quite a few times now," he said.

The 20-year-old will be commissioned a second lieutenant in May and says he has a few more adventures up his sleeve before he ships out.

"I'd like to go farther next time, maybe faster too," he said.

His mom said that wasn't exactly something she wanted to hear.

"Motherhood's not for wimps," she said.

ALL THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT WWW.NBC-2.COM

 

 

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JANUARY 3, 2011

Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol takes the weekend box office

Gators beat Buckeyes, avoid losing record

Florida's special teams came up big in the Gator Bowl, scoring twice as the Gators beat Ohio State 24-17 on Monday in a game between Urban Meyer's old team and his future one.

Andre Debose returned a kickoff 99 yards - the longest scoring play in bowl history - and Chris Rainey blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown.

The speedsters helped the Gators (7-6) avoid their first losing season since 1979 and pick up some much-needed momentum after losing 6 of their previous eight games.

Ohio State (6-7) finished below .500 for the first time since 1986. The Buckeyes can take solace in knowing that Meyer, who officially takes over at Ohio State this week, will make it a priority to improve special teams. Meyer did that in his six seasons in Gainesville, and Rainey and Debose were 2 of his most prized recruits.

Ohio State fell to 0-10 in bowl games against teams from the Southeastern Conference. Yes, the Buckeyes beat Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl last year. But that victory was vacated.

The latest loss had everything to do with Florida's speed.

The Gators dominated the defensive line of scrimmage. They had a season-high six sacks, harassing Braxton Miller on nearly every passing play. Jaye Howard and Sharrif Floyd were disruptive all afternoon.

Florida had similar success the last time it played Ohio State. The Gators were dominant on defense in a 41-14 win in the 2007 Bowl Championship Series national title game in Glendale, Ariz.

Debose and Rainey proved to be the difference in the much-hyped rematch that centered around Meyer.

Just after Ohio State tied the game at 7 on Miller's 5-yard pass to DeVier Posey in the second quarter, Debose took the kickoff, made one cut to the outside and went untouched for his third career special teams touchdown. The Buckeyes never got close enough to even swipe at him, let alone make the tackle.

Florida was up 14-10 at halftime and essentially put the game out of reach on the opening possession of the third.

Rainey came off the left end and blocked Ben Buchanan's punt. Seldom-used linebacker Graham Stewart scooped it up at the 14-yard line and scored the first touchdown of his career.

It was Rainey's sixth blocked punt of his career, breaking the school and SEC record.

Rainey also ran for 71 yards on a warm and sunny day in Jacksonville. John Brantley completed 16 of 22 passes for 132 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He had a 17-yard strike to Deonte Thompson in the first.

Jeff Demps added 31 yards on the ground.

Ohio State wasn't nearly as effective.

Miller completed 18 of 23 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 15 times for 20 yards. He completed an 11-yard TD pass to Jordan Hall with 57 seconds remaining. The Buckeyes failed to recover an onside kick, and Florida ran out the clock for its sixth bowl victory in the last seven years.

Ohio State's Dan Herron ran for 82 yards, but also had a fumble. Posey finished with five catches for 37 yards.

Miller, a freshman, gives Meyer an experienced and improving quarterback for next season. The Buckeyes won't be bowl eligible, though.

The NCAA hit Ohio State with a 1-year bowl ban and additional penalties last month for violations stemming from players who exchanged jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia for cash and tattoos. The violations cost coach Jim Tressel his job, and the Buckeyes turned things over to interim coach Luke Fickell.

The Buckeyes lost four in a row to end the season.

Man caught with stolen car, threatening note

An Ohio man is in trouble after he was caught driving a stolen car in North Fort Myers on Monday.

Andrew Gau, 29, was booked into the Lee County Jail on a charge of grand theft auto.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Gau and his two passengers were heading to Walmart in a black Saturn car along Pine Island Road early Monday morning, when a deputy pulled them over for a traffic violation.

During the stop, the deputy learned that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Ohio on Dec. 31.

The deputy searched Gau and discovered a note in his pocket that said he had a gun and demanded prescription pills, according to the report.

He was taken to jail and held without bond.

Man arrested for Punta Gorda "distraction burglaries

Punta Gorda Police detectives arrested an Oakland Park man early Saturday morning on charges related to the "distraction burglary" cases.

Rocky Thompson, 48, has been arrested on charges of burglary and grand theft. More charges and arrests are possible.

The cases have been under investigation for the past 13 months. They have occurred in Punta Gorda Isles and in the Historic District.

During the burglaries, a person distracts the homeowner by knocking on the door and asking questions about repair work to the home.

While the homeowner is distracted, a second or third suspect enters the home and steals valuables.

The most recent "distraction burglary" took place around 4:15 p.m. on December 29th.

Smart phones are changing the way people lose weight

your New Years resolution has to do with getting in shape or losing weight, there's an App for that.

Smart phones are changing the way people shed the pounds and hopefully making it easier for you to actually keep that New Years resolution.

If your goal is to eat better, there's an App to track the amount of calories consumed. If your goal is to start running, there's an App to track your pace, miles and calories burned. There are more than 7,000 apps that have to do with health and fitness.   '

Alex Cherednichenko is working out at Planet Fitness in Naples. She says her New Years resolution is to be healthier, and she's turning to her smart phone and fitness Apps to help her meet her daily goals.

Cherednichenko says, "if I don't come to the gym, I have an App that helps me work out at home that has a routine you can do with videos, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, an hour."

But do they work? Some say no. Angel Lallave tells WINK News he had an App that kept the history of what muscles he worked out for a particular day. He says, "after two weeks I stopped using it. I kept more of a mental note. I thought it was redundant to us it."

Yassel Rodriguez doesn't have a smart phone, but says he doesn't need an App to help him stay fit. "I just keep everything in my mind. Monday through Friday. I just work out a different muscle every day."

Ken Small is the manager at Planet Fitness. Small says the Apps do work if they're used right. He says the key is just finding the best App for you and sticking with it, like any New Years resolution.

Small says, "If you set up guidelines and follow them consistently, you'll end up getting where you want to be."

For Cherednichenko, the motivation comes with seeing results and she says having an App that tracks the results and rewards you is a big help.

"They also come with reward points that make you want to finish the session, other hints, tips to improve your fitness, that does help a little bit."

There are more than 7,600 Apps that deal with health and fitness and more than 500 that deal with just weight loss.

ONLY ON WINK: Beer bandits caught on camera

A Fort Myers convenience store is hoping surveillance video will help catch a couple of beer bandits. The two men seen in the video have hit the Crystal Drive shop four times in a week in a half.

"Beer run" takes on a whole new meaning on the surveillance video.

"They're trying to look like they're actually shopping for regular goods," Shane Keith of The Villas Convenience Mart said Monday.

But the two men then head back to the beer cooler, grab a couple cases of Bud Light, and bolt.

"They're coming in here in between rushes. They see when there aren't a lot of cars in the parking lot, they know the employee is either cleaning the restroom or stocking up some shelves," Keith said.

After a week and a half of holiday heists, The Villas Convenience Mart says the beer bandits are impacting their bottom line.

"It increases everybody's prices. We work on a certain margin and obviously when people take the inventory without paying it affects the other customers," Keith said.

They're now hoping the video will finally end the grab-and-go frenzy.

"Parents, where are your kids?" Keith asked.

The owner of The Villas Convenience Mart says other convenience stores have also reported thefts by the two men.   

Pirate ship runs aground with 100 people onboard

CLEARWATER, Florida - Clearwater Fire and Rescue crews responded to the Memorial Causeway Bridge on New Year's Eve, where a pleasure craft, the Pirates Ransom, ran aground with approximately 100 people on board.

Photo Gallery:Pirate ship runs aground

Another vessel, the Island Time, attempted to take some of the passengers ashore also ran aground.

All passengers were taken to shore by fire rescue and police boats. One 77-year-old woman was checked out at the scene, but refused treatment. No one was injured.

Fog is believed to have been a factor in the ships running aground.

Suburban Boca man accused of trying to bribe deputy with Dolphins tickets

Eric Scott Topalian, 23, of suburban Boca Raton, is charged with two counts each of possessing controlled drugs without a prescription, bribery of a public servant, threatening a public servant and resisting arrest without violence.

Documents detailing the alleged incident weren't available today because of the holiday.

Palm Beach County Jail records show Topalian was booked Saturday afternoon by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies.

Although the Dolphins face their hated rivals, the New York Jets, they've struggled through yet another sub-.500 season. They started 0-7, fired head coach Tony Sparano in mid-December with three games left, and go into this afternoon's Jets face-off with a 5-10 record.

"Have you been watching the Dolphins? No one's going to go to that game," Palm Beach County Judge Timothy P. McCarthy told Topalian.

Topalian began to say something but the judge admonished him that it probably would be better if he didn't discuss the potential value of an alleged bribe while he still was considered innocent until proven guilty.

"Miami-Jets tickets aren't worth a damn," McCarthy said, and reduced Topalian's bond accordingly, ordering him held in lieu of $6,000 bail.

As it turned out, it might have been the judge who made the wrong call about the game. The Dolphins won a thriller, 19-17. 

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DECEMBER 22, 2011

Shangri-La opens its doors

It's been closed for more than a decade, but the doors at the historic Shangri-La are finally open. Now Bonita Springs is hoping the landmark can boost business along Old 41.

Down Old 41 from Susie Sayger's flower shop - Heaven Scent Flowers - sits what she calls a hidden gem.

"It's been there for years and years and they got all things going on inside that people really don't know," she said.

But Wedbesday, people were given the chance to find out.

After sitting vacant for 13 years, the historic Shangri-La Hotel and Spa in Bonita Springs finally opened its doors, while hopefully opening an opportunity for business to bloom downtown.

"Waiting a long time - jump start for downtown and hopefully they are our catalyst to make it happen on Old 41," Sayger said.

The hotel originally opened in the 1920s and became known for the healing powers of its mineral springs and even played host to celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Buddy Hackett.

But the place closed in 1993 after going bankrupt.

"First impulse was to see if we could preserve and protect the property - feel like we did a terrific job," said Shangri-La co-owner Heather Burch.

Burch says she plans to draw people in by first hosting events and later restoring it to a spa, restaurant and hotel.

"Opening this will give people the opportunity to discover what's here and gifts it brings," Burch said.

Sayger says she hopes that gift is more people and business along Old 41 in Bonita Springs.

"They just don't know what a quaint downtown or hometown and that's what we are," she said.

12-year-old boy comes home to burglar

"It's pretty scary as a parent."

Josue Carballo's worst nightmare almost unfolded in Lehigh Acres Tuesday afternoon.

His 12-year-old son, Josiah, was walking home from the bus stop when he saw a random white car in the driveway. Immediately, he knew something was up.

"When I came over, I saw the glass that was broken in," says Josiah. "Someone has to be in the house!"

Scared, Josiah called his mom who told him to take a picture of the car's license plate with his cell phone, but he couldn't act fast enough. The suspect was about to make a run for it.

The man stormed outside, and asked Josiah if he lived at the home. Fearing for his safety, Josiah said no. The suspect then fled, but not without a few parting gifts.

"Wedding rings, necklaces—things we've accumulated over time we just can't replace."

In all, Josue says the man ran off with $4,000 in jewelry. Just days before Christmas, the family is left wondering how someone could do something this brazen and heartless.

"This is people's lives out here. We're trying to work and make a living. And you're out there robbing and trying to take it from us while we're trying to work."

Man's life saved by customer at local sub shop

A man who was eating at a local sub shop was saved by the quick thinking of another customer Wednesday afternoon.

Anthony Candice said he has lunch at Jersey Mike's in Fort Myers at least once a week.  Wednesday turned out different when a man sitting in the booth across from him started choking.

"Complete stranger to me.  He was just sitting there and like any other person would do, I reacted in a way that I thought was going to help him out and luckily it worked out," said Candice.

The manager of Jersey Mike's said as soon as the man started choking, Candice started the heilmich maneuver without even thinking twice.

Sisters arrested for stealing clothes at Naples store

Naples Police catch two Lee County women stealing more than $500 worth of new clothes from a Naples Department Store and investigators say this isn't the first time.

The two women are sisters and Wednesday night they are both behind bars at the Collier County jail.

They're not only accused of stealing new clothes, but cashing in on the stolen goods.

Naples Police say Charlisha Shields, 23, and her sister Charquita Shields, 21, are not amateur thieves.

Lt. John Barkley of the Naples Police Department says, "You could tell by their system they were very well versed at what they were doing."

The sisters were shopping at the JCPenny at Coastland Center Mall Tuesday afternoon when a security guard noticed them acting suspicious.

"They were placing large amounts of items in areas before they would stash them. They would put them in large bags and hey exited the store," says Lt. Barkley.

Once the two women were apprehended, police located their cars in the parking lot. Police opened their trunk to find piles and piles of new clothes from more than five stores. "there was a bunch of merchandise involved," Lt. Barkley said.

Pictures taken after the arrest show dozens of items taken, including kids clothing, but Lt. Barkley says the women weren't necessarily after the clothes.

"It wasn't a case of stealing to provide for my family, they were definitely doing this to get the cash." Lt. Barkley says the sisters were taking the stolen clothes back to the store and returning them without the receipt and sometimes getting cash or gift cards in return.

He says it's a case of these women taking advantage of stores during the busiest time of the year.

"People are bringing a lot of items back and sometimes it can get lost in the shuffle so someone trying to return something isn't that rare right now," Lt. Barkley said.

 Police say additional investigation will be conducted at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, Gymboree, and Fredrick's of Hollywood, to determine if any further charges will be filed.

Charlisha Shields was arrested and charged with grand theft, resisting a merchant without violence, and resisting arrest without violence. Charquita Shields was arrested and charged with grand theft, and resisting a merchant without violence.

Immokalee middle school children get college scholarships

Twenty-seven students from Immokalee received a surprise before they headed out for Christmas break Wednesday. They found out they're going to college for free.

It's the season for gifts and for those Immokalee Middle School students, the gift is extra special.

They got a letter telling them they've been selected for the Take Stock in the Children of Immokalee Program - meaning students like Francisco Gonzalez will be able to attend all four years of college for free.

THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT WWW.NBC-2.COM

 

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DECEMBER 21, 2011

Grinches try to steal Christmas cheer

Lights went out after a vandal trashed holiday decorations in a Port Charlotte couple's front yard. All the while, security cameras were rolling.

"It's a little disturbing to see so much anger at a tree. I don't get it," said homeowners Angie and Stephen Phillippo.

The couple spent part of the day Tuesday putting their holiday display back together. Just after dinner Monday night, they heard the wannabe Grinches in the act.

"I saw the kids out here and I chased them down the street. They ran through the yards," said Stephen Phillippo.

Whoever ripped apart the decorations got away.

For the Phillippos, seeing the images replayed can't help but put a damper on their season's greetings.

"People are just selfish, rude, and self centered. Why not care about one another and their property and lives?" said Stephen Phillippo.

Fortunately outside, all the holiday decorations including the inflatables are back in action.

The Phillippos say, in the spirit of Christmas, if the vandals are caught they won't press charges.

Fort Myers woman loses money in scam

LEE COUNTY, FL -

A Fort Myers resident lost a large amount of money to a man claiming to be with Publisher's Clearinghouse, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

According to deputies, the victim, Marcia Regan, said she began exchanging phone calls with a man called John Michael with Publisher's Clearinghouse on December 12.

The man convinced her to send money via Money Pak cash cards. He told Regan the money was for transferring her winnings.

"I believed them because they were so smooth," Regan said.

Regan said she received two personal checks in the mail from the suspect. She cashed the first check and it appeared to have cleared, but she later learned it was fraudulent.

The bank wouldn't cash the second check.

"Sure enough, the check they had sent me for $2,500 had been returned for insufficient funds," Regan explained.

Regan had already spent that money, and so far, hasn't gotten that $250,000 prize. And living off pension, she says she's wondering how she'll ever get out of the red.

Knowing she may never get her money back, she says she picked up the phone wanting, at the very least, the last word.

"I called him a scumbag," she said. "I said, 'You're nothing but a scumbag. You have stolen my money - more than my money."

Toddler helps save great-grandma

When 77-year-old Virginia Claflin suffered heart problems Saturday in her North Muskegon, Michigan home she was able to tell a 911 operator that her internal defibrillator had activated four times and give her address.

The dispatcher soon heard sounds of pain. Then, Claflin could no longer communicate.

That's when a distinctly young voice came on the line.

Claflin's 2-year-old great-granddaughter Aliya Carrasco picked up the phone and started telling the operator what she was seeing.

"Grandma's fallen down," Aliya said.

Asked by the dispatcher if her great-grandmother's eyes were open, Aliya said they weren't.

"Does it look like she's sleeping?" the operator asked.

Aliya answered yes.

The girl was told to tell her great-grandmother that help was on the way and to open the door when responders arrived.

When they did, Aliya told responders where her grandmother was, and where her baby brother and sleeping great-grandfather were.

Virginia Claflin was expected to be taken to a Grand Rapids hospital Monday for minor surgery and is expected to be fine, said Alicia Szymczyk, the woman's granddaughter and Aliya's mother.

North Muskegon Fire Chief Steven Lague says he was impressed, at least in part, by just how young Aliya is.

"In my 28 years of experience, I've never experienced anything with a 2-and-a-half-year-old like this," Lague said in an interview Monday. "We have had 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds, but at this age, I was very shocked."

Just knowing that a child was in the home created a better emergency response, the chief said, and the fact that she stayed calm made everything easier.

Aliya's mom said she's impressed as well, but not necessarily surprised.

"That's pretty typical," Szymczyk said. "She loves talking on the phone."

The North Muskegon fire chief said what happened can be a reminder for families to talk about emergencies.

He said that children should know their address and what 911 means.

The department already starts talking to kids about that at day-care age, he said.

"I don't think it's too early for them to start learning now," Lague said.

Aliya and her mom were visiting from California, so the toddler may not have known the address at her great-grandparents' home, but Szymczyk said the family has talked about who the police and firefighters are.

Everything's $5: Macy's Employees Accused Of Setting Own Prices

Two Macy's employees accused of setting their own prices have been arrested.

Vasthi Marseille and Marline Santelus were arrested Thursday on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.

Police said the women selected almost $1,000 worth of merchandise that they manually marked down to $5 apiece while working at the Macy's in the Town Center at Boca Raton.

According to the arrest report, Marseille said she knew of another sales associate "who had done unauthorized price adjustments for other employees in the past," so she figured "why not?"

Police said Marseille told them she didn't plan to do it, but when Santelus got to the mall, the two of them started talking and decided to adjust

 

 

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December 20, 2011

Walmart voyeur caught taking upskirt videos

A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with video voyeurism on Saturday after being caught taking cell phone videos under a woman's skirt at a Fort Myers Walmart.

Fort Myers Police were dispatched to the Colonial Boulevard Walmart store around 12:30 p.m.

A loss prevention associate with the store told officers that he observed the suspect, later identified as Joshua L. Kendall, acting suspiciously in the menswear department.

Video surveillance showed Kendall following a female victim around the store and bending down several times to place a cell phone underneath her dress.

After he takes the videos, he is seen returning to his cart and looking at his cell phone for several moments.

The loss prevention associate notified the store manager of the situation and continued to monitor Kendall until police arrived.

Kendall told officers that he was approached by the victim regarding the videos, but Kendall denied all allegations.

The victim advised that she wished to press charges against Kendall and he was taken into custody.

His cell phone, along with video surveillance was submitted into evidence.

Kendall was released Saturday on a $1,000 bond.

Firefighters "felt like puppets" at private party

Firefighters with Estero Fire Rescue vow to protect and serve, but some say they were surprised when their fire chief asked them to serve alcohol at a private fundraiser in the gated community Wildcat Run, including a few firefighters who were on duty at the time. 

In an email, a firefighter writes five of the Estero firefighter calendar models were asked to attend the event shirtless.

The firefighters refused to go shirtless, but reluctantly agreed to wear tank tops and bunker pants. 

When a few of the men arrived at the party wearing t-shirts, the firefighter writes the chief "asked if we could tear the sleeves off the T-shirts. We thought he was joking because it seemed like an odd request, but due to his demenour [sic] we came to the conclusion he was not joking around." 

He also writes, "Our duties at the event [were] to serve food and alcohol to the women there and make small talk."

Roberto Medina is the Union District Vice President for Estero Fire Rescue. 

He says five of the firefighters who attended the party told him they "felt like puppets" and believed it wasn't right to hold a private calendar signing fundraiser when there are only two weeks remaining in the 2011 calendar year. 

"There was nothing public about it," says Medina. "It was in a private residence, in a private subdivision. It wasn't advertised like all of the other public education events are."

Fire administration officials say the party is history, and it is a dead issue. 

But Medina says the station near the Coconut Point Mall was shut down during the party, potentially slowing response times.  

"There definitely would be a delay coming from two miles or four miles up the road," says Medina.

Fire Commissioner Dick Schweers maintains public safety was not at risk. 

"We don't shut down the station," says Schweers.

He says firefighters do community events routinely and that a fluid system between area fire units ensures that the closest fire truck responds first. 

"They were capable of going on a call.  They had a car there, not a truck, and they had full gear," Schweers says. "They could have gone on a call."

Schweers admits there was alcohol present at the private function, which he says raised thousands of dollars for college-bound Estero students. 

But Schweers denies the firefighters had any "participation with" alcohol at the party, although he refused to clarify whether that included serving alcohol at the event. 

Schweers says that could be grounds for dismissal. 

"They would be in deep trouble," says Schweers. 

But Medina says the firefighters served alcohol at the direction of the fire chief. 

He suggests the Fire Commissioners do not have the full story. 

"He probably needs to do an investigation himself and possibly interview these individuals," says Medina.

Fla. nudist campaign targets European tourists

Pasco County Commissioners are considering whether to spend tourist tax dollars to promote the county as a destination for international nudists.

Commissioners on Tuesday will discuss whether to award a tourism development grant of almost $4,000 to PANDAbare, which stands for Pasco Area Nudist Development Association.

The Tampa Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/vYc1zC) that the group is launching a marketing campaign that targets nudists from Germany and England. The campaign will urge tourists to use Pasco County as a base while visiting museums, beaches, amusement parks and the Space Coast.

Pasco has about a dozen nudist communities and "naturism" - as the nudist lifestyle is called - recently celebrated its 70th anniversary in the county.

Information from: The Tampa Tribune, http://www.tampatrib.com

Man shot in hand outside Fort Myers Rib City

Lee County Sheriff's Office tells WINK News a man was shot in the hand Monday night at the Rib City off Palm Beach Blvd in Fort Myers just before 10:30 p.m.

A sergeant with the department said the man was at Rib City at 10:30 p.m. and was shot in the hand.  The Lee County Sheriff's Office is investigating but said the man has non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies, K-9s and a helicopter were canvassing the area for about an hour.  Deputies won't say if they're still looking for a suspect or if anyone has been arrested.

Trust WINK News to bring you details as we get them into our newsroom. 

 

 

 

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DECEMBER 16, 2011

FGCU puts social media in the classroom

The fascination with social media has reached the classroom. Florida Gulf Coast University is teaching students how to put that interest to work.

Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are networks that have made their way into the classrooms at Florida Gulf Coast University.

"We all think of students as being digital motivators and that's true to a point, but they're used to being consumers of social media. They're not used to being producers," said Lyn Millner, head of the Journalism program at FGCU.

Millner is teaching social media in her "Writing for a Mass Audience" course.

"We talk about what's an effective tweet, What do you tweet? What do you have to offer that other people don't?" said Millner.

With students finding the lessons so useful, faculty at FGCU decided to turn the material into its own course.

"I wouldn't have thought it was necessary, but then again I noticed that students who were using it, in depth at it, were the ones that were getting the jobs," said Millner.

"It's tough to get a job right now, and I've put my name out there and I've gotten so many internships from getting to know people," said Caity Kauffman.

Her most recent job, Director of Communications for a hockey media outlet- based in New Jersey. The CEO saw her resume on a retweet, called her up and offered her the job.

"You can be the best at what you do, but if you don't tell people you are good at it and can't put your name out, then no one will ever know," said Kauffman.

Dog doo prompts Pasco woman to pull out shotgun, deputies say

So when she saw the dog and his owner Wednesday afternoon, she grabbed her shotgun.

"I'm having a bad day," said Jackson, 50, according to a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report. "I'm gonna shoot you and that dog."

She pointed the gun at a 55-year-old man and his two granddaughters, ages 2 and 11 months, who had been searching for the dog after it escaped its fence, a report states. They found the dog in front of Jackson's home at 6920 Tierra Verde St.

A passerby, who didn't know anyone involved, stopped her car and ushered the man, children and dog inside.

Jackson kept the gun level.

"If you don't think I can still shoot that dog, you're wrong," she said, according to the report.

The group fled and called for help. A deputy arrived and noted a sign on Jackson's front door:

"PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB. This means YOU. I am BUSY. The next salesman, Jehovah's Witness, Port Richey especially, any ADT representative, will be greeted with a loaded shotgun. Ring my door bell or knock on my door at your own risk. If I blast you, you have nobody to blame but yourself."

The deputy knocked. "Approximately 40 minutes later (Jackson) came to the door. I asked why she didn't answer the door and she said, 'I don't have to. You don't have a warrant.' I placed (Jackson) in handcuffs," the report states.

Jackson was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault. She is being held at the Pasco jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. The report states the shotgun was found inside the house. It was loaded

Accused Fort Pierce drunk woman bites hubby who threw away beer

A 35-year-old woman accused of biting her husband after he told her he threw away the beer was arrested, according to a recently released affidavit.

The husband on Dec. 9 showed Fort Pierce police a cellphone video of his wife, Tricia Renee Habeb, searching for beer in the refrigerator.

“The suspect became irate at the fact the victim put her beer in the garbage can,” an affidavit states.

The husband was heard saying that he’d called police, and Habeb hit her spouse in the face area.

The affidavit didn’t state whether the beer was domestic or import.

The husband said Habeb came home drunk, and was looking for more beer but couldn’t find it. He said he disposed of the beer and that he wouldn’t give her the car keys because she was intoxicated.

That, he said, is when Habeb got incensed and chomped him on the arm and neck.

Habeb said her husband held her against her will and that he punched her in the mouth. Police saw little, if any, injury to her.

Habeb, of the 1400 block of North Lawnwood Circle in Fort Pierce, was arrested on charges including battery and resist officer without violence

• Police: Teen stole car, candy canes
• "I came downstairs, which is what I always do, went outside to get the paper, and no car," Mundy said.

His 1998 yellow Porsche Boxster had been stolen. Hours later, St. Johns County deputies said, investigators found the car with 19-year-old Chase Cameron.

According to a police report, someone called 911 when they thought Cameron was acting nervous and irritated at a McDonald's in Ponte Vedra.

"He did more damage in three hours than I've done to the car in 13 years," Mundy said.

When investigators arrested Cameron and opened up the Porsche, they found evidence of another crime. At some point Sunday morning, deputies drove to Ponte Vedra, where investigators believe Cameron went to a Christmas tree lot here and broke into their shed.

Inside the Porsche, deputies found tools, a cash register, a credit card machine and candy canes.

"Who steals two boxes of candy canes? I mean that's the Grinch. We give those to the little kids," said Kevin Varnadoe, of Severt's Christmas Trees.

In 18 years of business, Varnadoe said this was the first time he's had a tree lot broken into and burglarized.

"That was the really bad thing we thought. This has got to be more than a thief. He's just a bad person," Varnadoe said.

Cameron is being held at the St. Johns County Jail on $18,000.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DECEMBER 14, 2011

Synthetic pot still popular among teens

There are shocking national statistics out that show an alarming number of high school seniors are using synthetic marijuana. And while some forms of it are outlawed in Florida, there are hundreds legally for sale.

Synthetic pot is legal in some forms and it's become popular among teens.

A new White House report shows one in nine high school seniors have used it in the last year.

That's an alarming statistic for parents like Chevala Jones.

"It's very shocking to find that out," she said.

But other forms of it, like Spice and K-2, now rank as the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors, second only to marijuana.

Steven Hill, with Southwest Florida Addiction Services, says he's seen more teens use it over the last few years.

"We see a lot of kids who are using Spice or K-2," he said.

At the treatment facility, he says almost all of the two dozen kids they treat have used the synthetic drug in the past.

"A lot of kids do start with this because it's a lot easier to get than other things," Hill said.

The drug can lead to seizures, changes in heart rate and panic attacks.

Now poison control centers across the state are fielding calls from users. And so far this year, there have been 471 of them.

There were only 252 in 2010.

But Hill says the problem won't change until all synthetic drug combinations are banned.

"The government has outlawed five synthetic cannabinoids. The problem is there are over 400 that exist. So as one gets made illegal, they just shift over to the new one.

Man accused of stealing from church

A thief that deputies say was after AC parts led them on a chase after hitting a North Fort Myers church. And ultimately, it took a K9 team to catch the man.

Knowing there are hundreds of people in North Fort Myers that need help, Joan Joy says she spends most days volunteering at All Souls Church off US-41.

Wednesday morning, she says she worried that it was her church that may need the help.

"We looked on the ground and saw that the air conditioners had been tampered with," Joy said.

Overnight, deputies say it was Eric Lansford who broke two AC units while stealing the parts.

Another volunteer, Jim Keto, said the crime hurts the homeless and other needy people that the church serves.

"We feed them and give them medical care - a whole number of other things. For somebody to just arbitrarily do something like this is just absolutely disgusting," he said. "I'm a little more than angry."

According to the arrest report, a neighbor alerted deputies when she reported seeing a man near the AC units around 2 a.m.

When deputies arrived, they say Lansford jumped into an SUV. They quickly broke the window and tased him, but he still took off heading north.

"They chased him for a few blocks and eventually used one of the K9 dogs to corral him," said Father Alan Kelmereit.

Father Kelmereit explained the damage done did not shut down the church. He says that is thanks to the deputies that interrupted Lansford.

"Oh they stopped a whole lot. We have 10 or 11 of these AC units around so just getting two of them was a great blessing," he explained.

Bahama Mamma's possibly paved to make way for Chase Bank

It seems anywhere you drive these days, a Chase Bank is popping up somewhere. It's a welcome sign of development, but not for one Cape Coral business owner.

Bahama Mamma's is a fairly new business, but it could soon be leveled to make way for the big bank, which has another branch, just a few miles away.

"It dawned on me, this is the perfect location," said Lee Mahatzke. For the Bahama Mamma's owner, this vacant bank was the perfect place  for a new restaurant.

But now his new business, opened in 2010, could become a casualty of a new Chase Bank, something he says he was told nothing about!  The new bank would be built on a busy corner of Del Prado and Cape Coral Parkway - joining two other banks - already located here.

Surrounding buildings, including Bahama Mamma's, would be demolished to make way for a parking lot.

Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director John Jacobsen says the new Chase would bring in big business.

"A bank is going to bring a substantial number of jobs, that's a good thing," he said.

He suggests Bahama Mamma's move to another location. "We'd like to help him find a new spot, you know, there are vacancies in the downtown," he said.

But Mahatzke says that's simply not an option. He says he sunk too much money, 130-thousand dollars, into this building, and is angry. "It's supposed to be "Community Redevelopment Agency" but once you're in here, you dont know whats going on, unless you read the paper or talk to somebody else," he said.

 

We're told Cape Promenade Trust owns those lots of land where the Chase bank may go. Mahatske says that company is in foreclosure and he heard nothing about a Chase Bank until he read about it.
    

WINK News called Cape Promenade Trust for comment, and they refused to comment on the matter, saying they are under contract.
    

It's not known when the bank will be built.

Naples-Marco Island area among America's booziest cities

Too much free time, money to burn and sunny weather are some of the theories being thrown around about why residents in the Naples-Marco Island area are tied for second in the nation in terms of the percentage of heavy drinkers.

Meanwhile, it appears the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area is sobering up, dropping like a sake bomb from No. 9 to No. 52 since 2007, according to 2010 data from the Centers for Disease Control.

About 9.5 percent of residents in Naples-Marco Island were listed as heavy drinkers while Cape Coral saw its percentage decrease from 8.1 to 6.

The study, which looked at 192 areas across the country, defined heavy drinking as men having two or more drinks a day and women having at least one drink a day.

Christine Holmes, a licensed mental health counselor and director of Collier's David Lawrence Center's substance abuse services, said the high number of affluent retirees likely affects the ranking.

“One of the things that we do know is that people do tend to overindulge when they're on vacation,” she said. “When people entire the world of retirement, it's like a vacation ... and drinking could become a pattern.”

Kevin Lewis, CEO of Southwest Florida Addiction Services, said although people tend to look at places such as Miami as havens of drinking and debauchery, the numbers often tell a different story.

Especially with people older than 55, the level of drinking can be surprising, Lewis said. “Alcohol is their substance of choice,” he said.

Add to that a change in routines when a person retires, along with loneliness due to the death of a spouse, and drinking can become a problem. “Some parts of the golden years are not always golden,” Lewis said.

In Cape Coral, residents said they aren’t surprised by the drop in drinking rates, but have trouble wrapping their heads around the area’s top 10 ranking a few short years ago.

“That really surprised me,” said John Grant, a manager at The “O” Bar in Cape Coral. “It’s shocking.”

But the local economy seems to be having an impact on drinking and the number of bars, Grant said. “I’ve seen other bars shutting down left and right,” he said.

(Page 2 of 2)

 

Kevin Deeb has also noticed a difference.

“It seems like the bars are a lot more empty when you go out,” Deeb said. “I’ve seen a huge drop-off in the last four or five years.”

In Collier, officials said they aren’t worried about the area being seen as having an alcohol issue.

“It's certainly not going to discourage people to come to the area,” said Jack Wertz, executive director of the Collier County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “There are lots of studies out there that rank cities for different things. Another study said Naples was one of the healthiest cities in the country. What makes this interesting is the fact that we're not really known for our nightlife.”

Bill Barnett, the mayor of Naples, was equally nonchalant.

“I don’t care what people do as long as they’re not getting DUIs,” Barnett said. “They can do it in the privacy of their own home or go out to dinner and have drinks. To me, it’s like no big deal.”

But Theresa Finer, executive director of AAR Counseling Services in Naples, said the numbers may be indicative of a serious problem.

“It's nothing like where I grew up,” said the former Yonkers, N.Y., resident who has lived in Southwest Florida for the past 15 years. “People seem closer to the alcohol than their friends. I don't see that closeness here where people go to a bar to be with friends.”

The friends, Finer said, seem secondary to the cocktails. “So many people drink alone. It's sad. It's like there's a generation of lost souls here.”

Guns stuff lots of Southwest Florida stockings

For some in Southwest Florida, all they want for Christmas is a gun.

Local gun retailers say sales are up this holiday season as more people plan to give and receive guns as gifts.

Guns on 41 has had sales go up about 25 percent compared to the beginning of last year’s Christmas season, said owner Travis Brunson. Black Friday was at least twice as busy this year.

“Generally Black Friday was never really that big of a gun day,” Brunson said. “Nor actually was Christmas season.”

Affordable handguns, such as 9 mm semi-automatic pistols, have been his bestsellers.

Richard DeBoest II, 49 of Fort Myers, bought his 10-year-old daughter Olivia a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle Saturday as a Christmas present. It’s a perfect starter gun, he said, because it has hardly any kick.

“My dad bought me mine when I was 12,” DeBoest said.

Olivia DeBoest has taken shooting classes for the past two summers at a camp in Texas that teaches gun safety, Richard DeBoest said. Her enthusiasm made him want to surprise his daughter with a rifle from Santa.

“She understands that they’re not toys,” DeBoest said.

Ladd Everitt, spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said the key to preventing accidents involving guns and children is proper training.

“You want to make sure that they know how to handle a firearm safely and observe the basic rules of firearm safety,” he said.

There are responsible and irresponsible ways to give a child a gun, he said.

Gun dealers bombarded the FBI with background checks for potential gun owners on Black Friday this year, breaking the 2008 record by 32 percent, USA TODAY reported. The FBI fielded 129,166 Black Friday background checks this year, compared with 97,848 in 2008, said Jerry Pender, deputy assistant FBI director.

Josh Hackman of Fowler Firearms & Gun Range said the store discounted all its merchandise by 5 percent last weekend to capitalize on that increased interest going into the Christmas season. Select guns were $20 to $100 off, and there was a steady stream of customers shopping as Christmas music played over the store’s loudspeakers Saturday afternoon. 

 

 

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DECEMBER 14, 2011

Man arrested for operating illegal radio station

A man was arrested for broadcasting gospel and public service announcements! Federal officials say the man who operates radio station 107.5 was doing so without a license.

Static is all you'll hear on the radio station – dubbed Dunbar community radio.

"I think 107.5 you know, it was great," said listener Eddie Salters.

Those like Salters listened to the station because it was the only one that catered to the Dunbar area.

But now, it has been shut down after its operator, Al Knighten, was arrested for illegally broadcasting shows and music.

Officials we spoke to say he was even airing public service announcements without a license from the FCC.

"I think it was worth it, letting people know we can create something in this community that we can be proud of," said Knighten.

Knighten says he doesn't have any regrets.

Neither does Ron Jenkins, chairman of the Fort Myers Citizens Police Review Board. He says he hosted a show on the station.

"Our community has to be educated. We have to have the opportunity to speak to one another. Otherwise, it's going to be business as usual," said Jenkins. "The FCC and local media outlets were not doing their job representing our community. Our community has been stymied and hasn't been able to grow for decades because we haven't been able to talk to one another."

Fort Myers Police helped with the FCC bust and Captain Dennis Eads admitted it was a difficult crackdown.

"It is because they are providing a service. But the bottom line is that it's illegal," he said.

As for several local leaders that appeared on the illegal radio station, police say they don't expect anymore arrests

"As far as I know from the FCC there are no violations for them appearing on the show," Eads said.

Fort Myers Councilman John Streets, who appeared on the radio station as a guest, said that while he believes in the group's message, the law is the law and they had to be shut down.

Now the question everyone is asking is why they didn't they just get a license.

Those we spoke to say it's all about money. They say they spent about $4,000 to get the station up and running and a license could have cost them a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Mail carrier rescues woman from burning home

Kim Hawkinson has walked the same mail route in Ralston, Nebraska for 12 years.

She's become friends with many along her route, but she wasn't prepared for what she would encounter at one house.

"The curtains were on fire," she said. "Both sets were on fire and I set down the mail and I went into the house and I started yelling 'Mary Lou, Mary Lou, where are you?'"

Mary Lou Smith's house was on fire.

"I just remember finally seeing her and pulling her out," Kim said. "I said, 'We've got to go outside, we've got to go outside.' We went outside and I sat her down and she called 911. The smoke was too much and we just waited for the firemen to get there."

"I'd never seen anything like it," she said. "I don't think I've ever. The windows started busting out."

Firefighters quickly arrived and put out the fire.

Apparently, Mary Lou was cooking and some ingredients caught on fire. When she tried to douse it in the sink, fire spread to the walls of the kitchen.

Fortunately, she's OK.

"She's fine a little shook up obviously," Ralston Fire Chief Kyle Ienn said. "You know it's Christmas time which is always more difficult when you have something like this, but she's doing fine."

Thanks in part to a friend who passes by daily.

"That's a first for me," Kim said. "I expect dogs and weather but not fires."

Kim doesn't consider herself a hero - just some one who cares about people.

She took a chance at paying it forward.

"I think its some thing like instincts to take over to get her out," Kim said. "She's a friend. I've known her for 12 years and I hope anyone would do it for me."

Damage to Mary Lou's home is $60,000 for the structure and contents.

Fortunately, she has family that lives nearby.

NTSB recommends full ban on cell phone use while driving

In a sweeping recommendation Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending all states adopt laws banning texting and calling, even hands-free, except in the case of an emergency.

"That boy did not see my daughter and her friend run in front of him because he was too focused on his conversation," said Kristen Murphy, whose daughter Chelsey was hit and killed by a driver talking on a cell phone, just blocks from their Naples home.

In the 18 months since it happened, Murphy has made it her mission to prevent similar accidents.

"I believe talking on a cell phone and texting should be banned," Murphy said. "Both of them."

The National Transportation Safety Board is now recommending every state do just that: no texts, no calls.

"This behavior is not necessary while operating a motor vehicle, period," said Jay Anderson, who runs the non-profit group, "Stay Alive, Just Drive." The organization is fighting for laws to prevent distracted driving.

Anderson said its gotten even worse with the growing popularity of smartphones.

"People are checking their e-mails, they're Googling, they're posting on Facebook. They're playing games while driving now," Anderson said.

35 states have laws against texting, Anderson said, and nine prevent hand-held calling.

Florida has no such laws yet, but Anderson believes they're necessary.

"I think that's the way to send a message also, is to remind people that this behavior behind the wheel is a public health threat," Andersons aid.

While the NTSB can't make the law, its recommendation does carry weight in Washington.

Kristen Murphy just hopes lawmakers will be listening.

"How many more people have to die, how many more mothers have to lose a child," Murphy said. "How many more mothers have to watch a child's dream shattered by them being the cause of the accident."

WINK News also asked for your opinion on Facebook. several people called it a good idea, but some, like Mercilla, say "hands-free should be allowed because its no different than talking to someone who is sitting beside you."

Christa likes the idea of the phone ban, but says, "i think this is going to be difficult to enforce."

Man accused of using fake credit card to buy $4,000 in Gucci shoes

A Miami man is accused of using a fraudulent credit card to purchase $4,000 worth of shoes.

Eduardo Diaz Jr., 22, was arrested Monday by Collier deputies at the 5400 block of U.S. 41 North.

According to a Sheriff's office report, the manager of the Gucci store located at the Waterside Shops reported Diaz Jr. as a customer who was attempting to purchase shoes with a fraudulent credit card.

The manager told deputies that Diaz Jr. presented her with a credit card to make payment for two pairs of shoes that had a total value of $4,000.

However, when the manager went to complete the transaction the payment could not be processed, according to reports. The manager said she then called American Express to verify account information but she was advised that the name on the card did not match the actual card holder's information.

Diaz Jr. then fled the store but was located by deputies in a nearby restaurant, according to reports.

Deputies said they also found Diaz Jr. in possession of a new Gucci purse that had been purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue, which is also located at Waterside Shops.

A representative with American Express told deputies that the embossed number on the front of the card is a valid card account number but the name of the card holder is different than the one that was presented by Diaz Jr.

Diaz Jr. faces charges of fraud-illegal use of credit cards, possession of forged embossed or altered credit card and grand theft.

Bonita Springs woman claims movers stole more than $8,000 in property

A Bonita Springs woman claims a moving company stole $8,600 in personal property.

The victim told Lee deputies on Monday she hired the moving company to transport her belongings from the 23800 block of Costa Del Sol to Mount Holly, North Carolina.

Upon reaching her destination she discovered her Dell laptop, worth approximately $1,100, and some gold rings were missing, Lee incident reports said.

The victim says she is certain the items were stolen and not lost during the move. Reports says she has contacted the movers but they have not returned her calls.

This theft is still under investigation so the movers name was not released in reports.

Homeless man's yearn for a pedicure lands him in jail

Jonah Lee Troutman told Volusia County deputy sheriffs he thought it was "a blessing from God" when he was walking along and spotted a credit card on the ground.

He didn't look for food. Booze wasn't on his mind. No time to shop for clothing.

Troutman, 27, headed to Nancy's Nails at 2955 Enterprise Road in DeBary and asked for a pedicure.

But when the owner of the business ran the credit card, it was declined. Twice.

Deputies were called and Troutman told them he thought it was a gift card. He also told deputies he knew it wasn't his.

The card had not been reported lost or stolen, deputies said.

Troutman told deputies he was homeless.

But not for long.

Deputies arranged for accommodations at the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he faces charges of petty theft and illegal use of a credit card.

THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT WWW.NBC-2.COM

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DECEMBER 13, 2011

"Speaker" scam leaves victim out $200

Just in time for the holidays, a Collier County man thought he was buying a home theater system. But when he got home, he quickly realized he had been scammed.

The Collier man, who asked not to be identified, says he thought he was getting a great deal on the home theater system when it was offered for hundreds less than the sticker price.

"The guy says, ‘$600 and you can have it.' And I told him that we don't have that kind of money," the victim said.

So, the dealer knocked it down to $200. When that happened, the victim says he was sure to check the product.

"It was completely sealed so we knew it hadn't been tampered with," he said.

And while it came with a warranty, he says the transaction was sketchy.

The sale happened in a Taco Bell parking lot.

The victim says two men came up to him in a white van and they had a story. They said they had to sell the home theater systems and were willing to cut a deal.

"'I'll tell you what, my boss is making get rid of these because he doesn't want me coming back to Fort Lauderdale with them. So I'll give it to you for a couple hundred dollars,'" said the victim, remembering what the men had said to him.

The man handed over cash, but when he got home, the product didn't live up to the hype.

"It's supposed to have a CD/DVD player and a Blue-Ray player and there's nothing in there but speakers," the victim said.

So he turned to the internet.

"The first thing we did was look it up to see what it was worth and as soon as we looked it up, it said ‘scam scam scam,'" the victim described.

A quick Google search showed dozens of similar stories with "Wahldorf" speakers.

"You know they looked legitimate as can be," the victim said.

The guy even wrote down his name and what turned out to be a fake phone number.

"It was a scam for sure," he said.

He says it's one he hopes no one else falls for.

Trailer park a problem for Immokalee master plan

Immokalee residents are set to find out if the master plan to upgrade their town will be approved. But we found out there are a few hiccups they have to get through first.

Immokalee residents we spoke to say they want to fix their town. They say the only problem is their plan is being held hostage.

"Two county commissioners have indicated that they would not vote for it unless this one trailer park was made the exception to the rule," said Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta.

And that exception includes allowing the trailer park, located on Alachua Street, to remain in tact even though the county says it's in a dangerous spot, just feet away from a salvage yard.

But it will all boil down to one critical vote.

"What I'm hoping is everybody will put the politics aside and let the people reign," Coletta said.

And the people have spoken with their master plan.

Immokalee's CRA has layouts that show just how the some of the plans will look.

It includes Caribbean and Spanish themed architecture, new streets and hopefully a draw for outside businesses.

"They've been ready for a long time - definitely ready for change," said Immokalee CRA Executive Director Penny Phillippi.

It's a change that didn't come easy.

The plan to change the way Immokalee looks, bring in new businesses and stimulate the local economy may not be too economical if it isn't passed.

County leaders say that if the master plan isn't passed, which costs $500,000 to complete, that money will go down the drain.

Coletta said, "$500,000 is a lot of money - especially to a town like Immokalee, who by the way paid for this themselves from taxing efforts."

Now those efforts could end up back on the drawing board if the trailers get in the way of Tuesday's vote.

Spanking table, pole found at illegal swingers' club

Four people have been charged in connection with converting a two-story house in Hillsborough County into a swingers club.

A sheriff's office report says a six week investigation determined that the home was being used as a swingers club in Seffner, about 13 miles northeast of Tampa.

Investigators say all three bedrooms were lined wall to wall with beds. The living room had a dancing pole, a spanking table and large televisions playing adult pornographic films.

The business operated Wednesday through Sunday during the hours of 6 p.m. until the early morning hours. Neighbors had filed several complaints to police.

Owners and operators Steven Bowers, 56, and his wife, Cynthia Lynn Bowers, 55, both of St. Petersburg, plus an Orlando couple, Ricky Zabala, 55, and his wife, Pamela Zabala, 54, who ran the club when the owners were away, were all arrested.

The four were charged Saturday with operating a sexually oriented business without a license. They were also charged with operating a bottle club without proper zoning and licensing.

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First fans line up for Red Sox spring training tickets

The calendar may say December, but baseball fans are already starting to think spring.

Fans have started lining up to be the first to pick up spring training tickets for the Red Sox, which go on sale on Saturday morning.

The new Jet Blue Park opens off Daniels Parkway in February, but the ticket counters aren't quite ready, so fans are still lining up here at the team's old home at City of Palms Park.

Derek DeArmond has been one of the first in line for spring training tickets for 11 years.

"The last probably two or three weeks, everybody wants to be my buddy. 'Hey can you get me these tickets,'" DeArmond said.

This year, he brought his son, a soldier home for his first spring training in years, and his son's friend. They staked out their spot on Sunday, almost a full a week before tickets go on sale.

"There's a small group of us, usually have a friendly rivalry see who gets up front," DeArmond said.

They're not exactly roughing it out there.

"We've got generators, we've got an a/c machine we can set up in here if it gets real hot."

Veteran ticket campers like these have even come up with their own rules over the years.

"We have a four hour rule," DeArmond explained. "You can go anywhere in Lee County in four hours and come back, and don't have to worry about your spot in line."

But this year will be bittersweet, a last hurrah for the ticket camping tradition at City of Palms. While these fans will miss the intimacy of this stadium, the excitement this year is all about the new beginnings for the Sox, and the new Jet Blue Park.

"Here we get our own mini green monster," DeArmond said. "It'll be a whole new ballgame."

Fans are limited to eight tickets with each trip to the window. DeArmond says he plans to get his seats for the Yankees and St. Patrick's day games, then head to the back of the line to start all over again.

Deputies arrest man posing as a soldier selling magazines

 

If you've purchased magazines from a man named Michael Moorefield, chances are, you've been scammed.

He was seen going door-to-door in a Fort Myers neighborhood, telling un-suspecting homeowners he's a soldier selling magazines for fellow servicemen and women. Turns out, his whole story was a lie. 

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says scams like this one are common around the holidays. People pose as veterans, tugging at your heartstrings, tricking you give up hard earned cash. 

That's exactly what deputies say Michael Moorefield was up to, as they closed in. 

Lloyd Wickett had a front row seat to the arrest of Michael Moorefield. "The sheriff was right behind the bushes, he just walked over called him over and took it from there," said Wickett.

Deputies say Moorefield went door to door on a street off McGregor Boulevard Friday, claiming he was a soldier selling magazines, but not telling a straight story.

"Supposedly he was selling magazines to give them to servicemen overseas so I think that was his game," said Wickett

According to his arrest report "Moorefield lied and said he was in the service along with his father, and they were going to financially support soldiers in Afghanistan. Another homeowner says he was trying to raise money for the University of Florida rugby team.." 

His ploy was working. "He had taken a 200 dollar check from the lady down the street," said Wickett.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office urges you to pay extra attention to solicitors around the holidays.

"As we get towards the end of the year with Christmas and holidays, things tugging at our heart strings, we see more and more the door to door solicitors coming by, wanting to sell magazines," said Stacey Payne, with LCSO.

LCSO says if you encounter a solicitor, ask for a permit. 

If you buy something from a door to door salesman, and the purchase is over $25 dollars, you're protected under the Federal Trade Commission's Cooling-Off Rule which gives you three days to cancel your order and receive a full refund.

  

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DECEMBER 12, 2011

New system to accommodate seasonal traffic

It's the time of year when seasonal residents make their way back to Southwest Florida and roads tend to get clogged.

But this season, drivers will notice more green lights with the Department of Transportation's new traffic system in place.

Every year engineers change the lights to accommodate seasonal traffic. They say they are all switched over now.

And with the new system comes new features.

"The speed of data transfer is light years ahead," says Lee County Department of Transportation engineerGreg Coggins.

This year, the signals are considered to be "smart." Sensors in the road tell the Department of Transportation how many cars are going through the intersection at any given time.

"They can adapt to the change in traffic and adjust on their own based on the counts they're getting off the road," says Coggins.

Plus, if there is a road or intersection that's congested due to rush hour or construction, engineers can check it out through their traffic cameras.

From there, they can instantly change the traffic light to stay green longer through the computer at headquarters

Hollywood woman turns 104

A Hollywood woman says avoiding sugar, salt and dairy has helped live a healthy, long life.

Ida Ginsberg also says she's never smoked or had a drink in her life. She turns 104 on Monday.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel (http://sunsent.nl/u5EvQ1 ), Ginsberg lived part of her life in New York city and moved to Florida in 1969. She still lives on her own.

She also recommends dancing.

Ginsberg has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She plans to celebrate her birthday at home with cake and her loved ones.

'Ugly Christmas sweater' is a compliment

Call Anne Marie Blackman's creations the most garish you've ever seen, and she'll know she did her job well.

"There is no science to this," she chuckles.

Blackman is the Killington, Vermont crafter behind "My Ugly Christmas Sweater."

She adorns sweaters from her home and recently had to expand into a storage space and mailing center.

"You really can't make a mistake when you're decorating an ugly Christmas sweater," she explains. "You can never have too many bells on a sweater or too much fringe."

The company outfits a strange but wildly popular trend: folks wearing the tackiest clothes imaginable to their Christmas parties.

Blackman looks all over for gently-used sweaters. Some, she re-sells as they are.

She embellishes others to add extra gaudiness. It's silly stuff, but a serious business.

Blackman ships thousands of sweaters worldwide for about $35 to $80 for more intricate designs.

"I was an at-home mom for 15 or 16 years," Blackman recalled. "I started this a couple years ago when my kids were getting ready to go to college, and it's been great."

The craft aspect is the businesswoman's favorite part of her job.

She also likes learning new ways to market online, including the use of social media to reach new buyers.

"The bookkeeping part is the part I least enjoy!" she laughs.

My Ugly Chrismas Sweaters certainly aren't for shy people.

If you're bold enough, the businesswoman bets you'll have a good shot at taking home your party's door prize.

Blackman predicts continued sales growth as the trend continues to pick up party hosts.

Swingers club in Seffner neighborhood shut down by sheriff's detectives

Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives say they shut down a swingers club in a Seffner rental house Friday and arrested four people.

Complaints from neighbors about the home at 11326 Brightridge Drive kicked off a six-week investigation by sheriff's detectives and agents from the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

Neighbors said cars would turn up their dead-end street on weekend evenings and head directly for the very end, pulling into the 150-foot driveway lit with tiki torches behind the white picket fence and gate.

The unassuming two-story white house has red trim and sits well off a street lined with single-story ranch homes.

Inside, detectives found three bedrooms lined wall to wall with beds.

The living room was equipped with a dancing pole, a spanking table and large-screen televisions playing pornographic movies.

Steven Bowers, 56, and his wife, Cynthia Bowers, 55, both of St. Petersburg were the owners and operators of the swingers club, deputies said.

They were leasing the home. Ricky Zabala, 55, and his wife, Pamela Zabala, 54, of Orlando assisted with the club when the Bowers were away, according to investigators.

All four have been charged with operating a sexually oriented business without a license, a county ordinance violation, and operating a bottle club without proper zoning and licensing, a second-degree misdemeanor. Each charge carries up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. All four were released from jail Saturday.

The business operated Wednesday through Sunday from 6 p.m. until the early morning hours, deputies said. During business hours, detectives witnessed various numbers of people inside the house and saw as many as 50 people inside at one time.

Couples were allowed into the club free, deputies said, and single men and women were charged various fees to enter. Anyone entering was allowed to bring their own bottle of alcohol and could share with others, deputies said.

Stephanie Brandon, 24, heard rumors about the house at the end of the street since she moved to Brightridge Drive months ago. "I heard they set it up on the Internet and that's how people found out about it," she said.

Some nights she could see strobe lights flashing when they opened the door. Steven Bowers came by Brandon's home once and talked grass with her fiance. "He seemed nice," she recalled. The rumors of kinky parties floating around the neighborhood didn't bother her. "The people coming didn't disturb my children because they always came after they had gone to bed," Brandon said.

"I never knew it was a crime," Brandon said. "I just thought that that was what they were into."

THESE ARTICLES WERE FOUND AT WWW.NBC-2.COM 

 

 

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December 9, 2011

Resident needs help controlling town's cats

A Fort Myers Beach resident is trying to get a hairy problem under control. She says hundreds of cats are overrunning the town – and she can't take care of the problem alone.

Jo Knobloch has been trapping cats on Fort Myers Beach for more than five years.

"A lot of people moved out, foreclosures -- and left their cats behind," said Knobloch.

That's why she says nearly 500 cats are roaming the area from Lover's Key to north of the island.

She has a solution to keep the numbers down.

"Unless they are fixed its going to be a continual problem," said Knobloch.

She believes in the TNR method – Trap – Neuter - Release.

"This stops the overpopulation. Once the cat is fixed someone needs to feed and take care of them. Can't be tossed back out and not fed," said Knobloch.

Knobloch says that she can't keep doing this alone and she needs help because she believes the cats will continue to breed and overrun the area.

"Need people with trucks, people who can take cats in, maybe help feed them," said Knobloch.

She went to the town for help.

Town Manager Terry Stewart says it's a conversation he needs to have with Lee County Domestic Animal Services.

"Sitting down and speaking with them and going over the contract with them, what they envision and service they can and should provide, and then go from there," said Stewart.

Until then Knobloch will continue to provide the animals with a place to stay and hopes others will help provide the cats with a meal and a chance at life.

If you want to help JoAnn Knobloch, you can reach her at 239-463-6118 or you can contact the Lee County Domestic Animal Services Operation SOS at 533-9234 to schedule an appointment.

$1M pledge will bring music therapy to FGCU

Southwest Florida Children's Charities donated $1 million to Florida Gulf Coast University, enabling the Bower School of Music to offer a music therapy program.       

The full undergraduate major is slated to start in the fall of 2014. 

"From about the time of the founding of the Bower School of Music, the plan was to develop a music therapy program, but our thoughts were to get our performance programs and education programs up and accredited," explains Dr. Donna Price Henry, FGCU Dean of Arts and Sciences. 

Southwest Florida Children's Charities provides funding to local charities serving children with the help of its annual fundraising event, "The Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest." The next even will be February 24 and 25, 2012.

Carolyn Rogers explains the music therapy fits with the mission of Southwest Florida Children's Charities.

"Raising money at the Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest is all about the kids," she said.

Louise Patrick heads FGCU's music education program.  She explains music therapy helps achieve non-musical goals like regaining speech, expressing emotions, or learning to move, and it helps patients of all ages. 

"Music therapy encompasses from birth to death," said Patrick. "That whole program brings another perspective to the role that music can play in our lives."

Teacher suspended for using hose to clean student

School officials have punished a Tampa-area teacher accused of using a water hose to clean up a pre-kindergarten student who soiled himself at school.

The St. Petersburg Times (http://bit.ly/tkwUb5 ) reported that 52-year-old Stephanie Wilson was suspended for 10 days without pay after the Pinellas County School Board said she went around to the side of the school building, donned a pair of gloves and used a low-pressure hose to wash the student on Oct. 28. When she finished, she put the student's pants on and went to the classroom, where she put a clean diaper on.

According to district records, Wilson told the child's parent she hosed the child, apologized repeatedly and said she used poor judgment.

Wilson is a 30-year veteran teacher at Dunedin Elementary School, northwest of Tampa.

Information from: St. Petersburg Times, http://tampabay.com

Officer charged with DUI in patrol car

Internal affairs is investigating why an off-duty Miami-Dade police officer wasn't taken to jail after authorities say he was found passed out drunk in his patrol car.

Police Director Jim Loftus says he gave explicit orders that 32-year-old Fernando Villa be treated like anyone else after he was found Tuesday at a West Kendall intersection. But the Miami Herald (http://bit.ly/shsmsk ) reports that Villa was not handcuffed and booked into jail. Instead, he was allowed to go home after signing a form promising he would appear in court. Loftus says internal affairs will find out who altered his instructions.

"Promise to appear" notices are generally given for low-level misdemeanors, not felonies or DUIs. It wasn't immediately clear who drove Villa home.

Villa has been relieved of duty with pay pending an investigation.

Sneaky squirrel sets off school's fire alarm

When a false fire alarm went off in a Manatee County school last year, officials thought a student may have been responsible.

Instead, it turned out to be a squatter, of sorts.

A squirrel had taken up residence in the school kitchen at Blackburn Elementary where the alarm had been triggered.

By reviewing school security cameras, maintenance staff found that the squirrel had climbed up a wall and pulled the alarm.

The video even shows the sneaky squirrel appearing to look around before it pulls the lever to trip the alarm.

School officials say they were glad to find the video: they had to show it to the fire department to avoid a fine for a false alarm.

"We didn’t have to pay any fines for a false alarm once the fire department realized the little guy was the culprit," according to Todd Henson, director of maintenance and operations for Manatee County Schools.

The squirrel was eventually trapped and let go.

"It's really hard to fine a squirrel, so he got a stern lecture and was released outside," Henson joked.

These stories were found @ www.nbc-2.com

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December 8, 2011

Church building to be a new restaurant

Have you ever just needed a drink and some time in church? When a new restaurant opens in Naples you'll be able to do both.

Holy Mackerel, Soul Food, or Shepherd's Pie are all names Steven Fleischer admits would be fitting for his new restaurant. It's in a building that used to be a church.

"It's going to look like a church inside and outside. The dining area will physically be in the church part of the building," said Fleischer.

On Wednesday, city leaders approved his plan to convert the old First Baptist Church into fine dining.

"It's not an uncommon idea," said Fleischer.

Fleischer will rip out the old ceilings and floors of the 65 year old building, but plans to keep its charm.

Fleischer admits it will be a different dining experience.

"People like having a different experience when they come out to have a cocktail. You can go to church and have a cocktail now," said Fleischer.

Fleischer says there will be a full bar and good food, but he hasn't decided on the type of cuisine just yet. He says it will be affordable.

"It's going to be moderately priced and a good place to go," said Fleischer.

A good place to go with a lot of history.

The building has also housed a doctor's office – and before that it was a church with pews.

Historian Louis Bolin says the building was built by the church's original members.

"Its character is that it was hand built by its members. They dropped off the lumber, they hand built it," said Bolin.

Character Fleischer promises to keep when the church doors open and the pews are replaced by plates.

The restaurant is set to open its doors in 2013.

College student falls victim to scam

College students looking to make some extra cash – beware. Online scammers may be targeting you. One Florida Gulf Coast University student fell victim to a scam and shares his story to warn others.

Like many college students, in between studying and his job at a nearby store, sophomore Torrence Herman wanted to earn some extra cash.

"The website was legit, it matched everything from the email," said Herman.

He checked out an email he received from "Ma Corr Research Solutions" for work that could be done online.

At first he was skeptical so he spoke with someone he believed worked for Ma Corr.

He followed the instructions to deposit checks from the company into his bank account, then wire most of the money to someone else.

"This is a nice way to have extra cash on the side, just in case," said Herman.

But when the bank tried to process the checks Herman says they bounced.

Turns out they were fake.

Herman had already wired money from his bank account to a likely scammer.

"This is not happening, like you want to say why and how but at the same time, you're just like why did I put myself in this hole?" said Herman.

Herman is in the hole now for more than $5,600.

He hopes other students looking for online work do their homework.

"Don't believe the hype. If you think it's real, double check first. If you get a check, take it to the bank," said Herman.

Herman says the setback hurts, but he'll try not to let it keep him from moving forward.

Cape Coral High sacks football coach

Cape Coral High School fired its football coach Monday.

Brad Metheny was informed that his contract was not renewed, and that the school wanted to go in a different direction.

The team was 7-5 this year, won its district and then lost in the 5A playoffs to Immokalee.

Metheny has coached the team for the last two seasons. He came to Cape Coral from Frostproof, where he coached for four years and had a record of 34-11.

Metheny will be allowed to remain a teacher at the school, according to school district spokesman Joe Donzelli.

He said it's within the principal's purvue to pull coaching duties but keep Metheny as a teacher because coaching is a supplemental position.

NBC2 Sports Director Brian Colleran will sit down with Metheny this afternoon. We'll show you what he had to say on tonight's newscasts.

Man gets 10 years for coffee machine scheme

A Louisiana man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a South Florida fraud scheme involving a coffee machine business.

A federal judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced 47-year-old Manuel Rodriguez on Wednesday. Besides the prison time, Rodriguez must also pay more than $1.1 million in restitution. He was convicted in September of multiple fraud and conspiracy charges.

Victims testified that Rodriguez and his businesses were selling coffee vending machines, along with supposedly high-quality locations that would generate numerous sales for clients. Witnesses say they lost amounts from $15,000 to $192,000 in the scheme.

Victims testified that Rodriguez told them their machines would sell enough coffee to recoup their investment in 12 to 18 months. But machines were placed in poor locations, making few, if any, sales.

Lake Helen grandmothers go from bake sales to pinup girls

If at first you don't succeed, take off some clothes.

That's what a group of grandmothers in Lake Helen did when their fundraising efforts fell flat.

It all started because women in town wanted to raise money to remodel the kitchen at American Legion Post 127, a popular gathering spot in Lake Helen for veterans. In the past, the ladies had held bake sales, but they found they were only netting a few hundred dollars. Remodeling expenses would likely be in the thousands.

That's when Pat Chadwick, editor of the Lake Helen City Observer newsletter, suggested putting together a calendar featuring some of the town's older women baring it all. Soon, the 2012 Ladies of 32744 calendar was born. The calendar's title refers to Lake Helen's ZIP code."We've been having a blast ever since," Chadwick said. "We can be quite daring in Lake Helen, I guess."

The calendar girls don't show too much skin. Chadwick, who photographed the women, said she opted for tasteful rather than raunchy portraits. Betty Pfahler is the oldest calendar girl at 87. The youngest is 44.

Pfahler posed with nothing more than a long, white veil and a bouquet of flowers to cover her. She had never modeled for a calendar before -- not even in her younger days.

"I think it sends a good message," Pfahler said. "You can have fun at any age -- just keep a positive outlook."

Nancy Roberts, 75, filled the role of Miss July. Roberts' layout depicted her sitting on a tank while wearing nothing more than combat boots, a helmet and a red, white and blue scarf. Meanwhile, Sharon Cremen, 67, ditched her clothes in exchange for a box wrapped in a bow to become Miss December.

It took courage for Cindy Thomas, who posed as Miss May, to participate. Thomas was born with a bone disease and has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She uses a wheelchair.

She despises having her picture taken, but she let Chadwick talk her into posing. She's glad she did.

Men in Lake Helen have embraced the calendars, said Lewis C. Long III, 70, a member of American Legion Post 127.

"They want autographs," he said.

A movie called "Calendar Girls" inspired the fundraiser. Released in 2003, the film is based on the true story of a group of British women who raised millions for leukemia research through a similar calendar.

The American Legion Post 127 has fallen on tough times. Most of the members are well past their 60s, and younger veterans aren't rushing to fill their ranks.

The Legion's sign is so faded with age that it's difficult to make out the letters. During a recent visit, a strong smell of gas filled the building. A subsequent inspection by the gas company revealed a regulator on a propane tank was broken.

The kitchen is in violation of city codes. As a result, the Legion cannot hold pancake breakfasts or spaghetti dinners, events that strengthen community bonds and raise funds for the post.

So far, it appears the fundraiser is working. The calendars started being sold the day before Thanksgiving, and the first 200 printed have almost sold out. Chadwick said the group plans to print more to meet the demand. The calendars are available for a $13 donation.

Even if they don't raise enough money to remodel the kitchen, the Ladies of 32744 said they have shown each other one thing.

"We are not all over the hill yet," Cremen said. "We've still got some life in us."

And they've learned it's never too late to shed some clothes for a good cause.

Donations can be mailed to PO Box 884 Lake Helen, FL 32744. More information about obtaining a calendar is available by calling Pat Chadwick at 386-228-3695

Cheer coach says she fired because of Hooters job

A high school cheerleader coach in southwest Florida says she was fired because a parent complained about her part-time job at a Hooters restaurant.

The Naples Daily News (http://bit.ly/rROXq0 ) reported that 24-year-old Nicole Zivich was fired from Estero High School Nov. 21. Zivich told the Lee County School Board this week that a parent of 1 of the cheerleaders had sent a flurry of emails complaining about her second job at the popular chicken wing restaurant where waitresses wear tight-fitting uniforms.

Citing a privacy policy regarding personnel issues, the school district has not given a reason for her termination. But school superintendent Joseph Burke said it had nothing to do with her employment at Hooters.

She was working under contract as the school's varsity cheerleading coach 

 

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DECEMBER 7, 2011

Red tide prompts shellfish consumption warning

For the first time since the red tide was spotted off of Lee County's shores, the Lee County Health Department is speaking out.

The latest water samples taken show that there are about 3 million cells of red tide per liter of water; anything above 1 million cells is considered high by FWC.

Marine biologists are estimating thousands of fish and other marine life are being killed each day by the red tide.

Although there doesn't seem to be any dead fish washing ashore, mollusks, like clams, scallops and mussels are.

Shellfish don't usually die from the red tide toxin, but can give people neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

The Lee County Health Department says eating them they can make you sick with throat, lung, or stomach irritations.

"It's probably airing on the side of caution," says Fort Myers resident John Clark.

However, the health department is saying it's unlikely sick mollusks would make it to your dinner table.

Local clam farms are tested a few times a week for the deadly toxin, and shut down if affected.

"Everything that comes in has a tag on it with what bay it comes out of and all the regulations on it and it's safe," says Beach Market Seafood owner Denis Henderson.

But Henderson says it's easy for people to get the wrong idea. 

"They'll probably stop eating shellfish all together," he says.

His business takes pride in selling local products, but he says if any tests were fishy, they wouldn't make it to his business.

"The Florida Agricultural Department, they really do a lot of testing and anything in any bay they find and shut it down," he says.

The shellfish that could make you sick are the ones you find washing up on the beach or in your own backyard.

One marine biologist compared eating shellfish on the beach, to eating a raccoon dead on the side of the road.

"I would never go out and get my own in these waters here because you really don't know," Henderson says.

Live shelling is prohibited within a half mile of shore anyway, so this shouldn't be an issue, but it's not uncommon for people to pick up scallops, clams and conch from these shires and eat them everyday.

Naked man asks, 'Taser me, bro,' gets his wish

Two men — one of them naked — were arrested Friday, accused of stealing a boat from a covered dock on Lake Botts in Pierson, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said today.

Darrel Horne, 28, and Matthew Shrider, 27, both of Pierson, face charges of armed burglary, grand theft and resisting an officer, Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

At one point, after asking to be shot with a deputy's Taser stun gun, Horne was.

The two told deputies their truck ran out of gasoline about 4 p.m. as they were on their way to see a friend who lived on the other side of Lake Botts, Haught said.

"They then decided to take the boat from the dock on Richardson Lane," Haught said. There were no paddles in the boat, so the men found a piece of wood to use, he said.

A neighbor of the boat owner called the victim to report the theft. He said one of the men was carrying an ax as they walked to the dock.

When deputies arrived, they ordered the men to return to shore, Haught said.

"Horne started to curse at the deputies and take off his clothes," Haught said. "He then dove in and swam in the opposite direction, cursing and making hand gestures as he went."

Shrider paddled the boat back to shore, where deputies found the ax, a can of beer and a bottle of rum.

Horne, still naked, was eventually found in a heavily wooded area along the shore of the lake.

While the men were together in the back of a patrol car, Horne repeatedly kicked Shrider, making the car rock while Shrider yelled at him to stop, Haught said.

A deputy, armed with a Taser stun gun, opened the door at which time Horne told him: "Taser me. Taser me, bro."

When Horne prepared to kick Shrider again, the deputy fired the Taser and Horne then complied with all of the deputy's orders.

Two arrested for false kidnapping, said 'joke' was for $100 ransom

Two area residents were arrested Saturday for filing a false report.

Deputies were called in to investigate an alleged kidnapping of 21-year-old Sarah Zombori by 57-year-old Joseph Battista. She was being held on a $100 ransom.

Battista supposedly communicated to Zombori's boyfriend that she would be killed if law enforcement was contacted, according to a Walton County Sheriff's Office press release.

Deputies were dispatched to Battista's Somerset Bridge Road home where investigators determined  that Battista and Zombori were working together to obtain money from Zombori's boyfriend.

Battista said the incident "was a joke," the release said. The investigation also revealed a plant on Battista’s patio appeared to be marijuana.

At the time of arrest, Zombori resisted arrest by kicking and striking a deputy.

Battista was charged with one count of marijuana production, a third-degree felony; and two counts of making a false report of a commission of a crime, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Zombori was charged with two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony; one count of resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, a third-degree felony; and one count of making a false report of a commission of a crime, a first-degree misdemeanor.

They were booked into the Walton County Jail.

Dog turns up after 8 year absence

It's not uncommon for a dog to run out the front door, go missing for a few hours, only to be found down the street at the neighbor's.

But this dog's trek was much longer.

Petunia, the pit bull, went missing in Virginia way back in 2003.

Now, eight years later, Petunia showed up at the Spenceville Wildlife Area in Yuba County in California.

A woman found her Wednesday, and drove her to an Animal Care Services shelter.

The shelter scanned Petunia for a microchip and traced it more than 2,700 miles away to the Pruitt family, who got the call of a lifetime.

When Petunia finally makes her way home, she won't be alone.

Her long lost friend, another dog the Pruitt family has, will be there too
 

 

---

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Naples photographer robbed of $35k in equipment

Thieves have stolen more than $30,000 worth of camera equipment from a Naples photographer.

Stefan Andreev says someone broke into his studio on Sunday night at his home and stole cameras, artwork, and alcohol.

"This is a major setback for me. That's more than $35,000 worth of equipment," he says.

The photographer is hoping someone will see the equipment from the other side of the lens and come forward.

"I'm hoping that Collier County deputies will do their job and locate these guys and put them behind bars," Stefan says.

Until then, he's actually inviting the crooks back for a photo op.

"I welcome them back, but this time, since they took all my camera equipment, I'm gonna shoot them with something else," he says.

SWFL homeowners caught in tax scam

More than 200 homeowners in Lee and Collier counties hired Equitax of Southwest Florida to fight their property assessments for them.

Most customers paid $265 plus a percentage of any tax savings, but homeowners are discovering they didn't get much for their money.

For the 46^th time in a row, Equitax failed to appear today at hearings scheduled for homeowners to contest their property assessments, meaning the homeowners lose the case.

Later this afternoon, Jeffrey Brody of the Equitax of Southwest Florida franchise asked to withdraw all remaining petitions scheduled for hearings. "These have been reduced from last year's county developed market values and need not be pursued further," Brody emailed to the Lee County Property Appraiser's office. 

But Brody did not communicate his evaluations with his clients, like Ted Gravenhorst who decided to challenge the property assessment on his Bonita Springs home after he learned his assessment was about 5 percent higher than his neighbors' homes. 

 Gravenhorst learned today Equitax did not appear at his scheduled hearing nor did it submit any evidence on his behalf.  "I'm going to call American Express and tell them that I feel like I was scammed," says Gravenhorst. 

Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson calls Equitax of Southwest Florida a scam, noting the filing fee is only $15 to challenge a TRIM notice.  "Hire a professional who will charge a fee to do an appraisal, not a fee to file a petition for $15," says Wilkinson. 

Wilkinson also says failing to appear wastes taxpayer money.  "There's quite a cost to the taxpayer because obviously we don't know if they're going to show and we want to prepare," Wilkinson explains. 

At Equitax's Estero office, the landlord says Brody's current on his rent, but hasn't been at the office for six weeks. 

David Humphreys, president of Equitax, Inc., says Brody bough the Southwest Florida franchise this spring, but still owes the company $50,000.  Humphreys says the corporate headquarters has tried to reach Brody via email and phone calls, but they haven't heard from him.  Humphreys says only Brody has the customers' money.

Woman arrested for trying to sell infant

A Miami woman was arrested early Sunday morning for trying to sell her eight-month-old son, according to FDLE agents.

Kenia Quiala Bosque, 30, came to the attention of the FDLE and Monroe County Sheriff's Office when a confidential informant told them Bosque arranged to meet a Monroe County man in Miami to complete the sale for $7,000.

Authorities send an undercover officer instead, but Bosque never showed.

Fearing for the child's safety, investigators went to her home and determined there was enough evidence to arrest her.

Bosque was booked into the Miami-Dade County jail. Her children are in the custody of relatives.

Dead Friend Buried Beneath Christmas Presents: Patty White Accused Of Murder

Police arrested a woman they said killed her friend and hid her body under a pile of Christmas presents in Florida, TV station WBTV reports.

Then, the suspect, Patty White, hightailed it back to her home in South Carolina, making withdrawals with the dead woman's ATM cards along the way, according to TV station WJXT.

Police accuse White, 40, of beating and strangling Michele O'Dowd, 67, in the older woman's apartment. O'Dowd was found dead by her twin brother on Friday, who looked for her when she didn't show up for work according to FirstCoastNews.com.

The debit card transaction enabled Jacksonville police to easily track White. Surveillance cameras at the ATMs supposedly recorded White getting cash, The Charlotte Observer says.

O'Dowd was described as a family friend of White. She invited White to move in with her a few months ago, but the the relationship soured and White returned to live in York, S.C. But White made another trip to O'Dowd's home last week in what authorities describe as a robbery attempt gone wrong, according to WBTV.

The deceased woman's apartment was ransacked.

York City Police, teaming up with Jacksonville cops, pulled over a car on Friday where White was the passenger, TV station WBTV says. York City police say they brought White to a station house where they say she confessed the murder and robbery to Jacksonville detectives.

Woman accused of daring man to slap her buttocks before Vero Beach screwdriver attack

Mary Ingram said she was joking around with a man and "bent over to antagonize him to slap her on the rear end."

The man removed his belt and slapped Ingram's caboose in a "joking

Avenue. Mosley told Indian River County Sheriff's officials he got in a physical altercation with the man who is said to have slapped Ingram's backside.

Mosley said he tried to speak with the man, and the man "sucker punched" him.

Ingram, an affidavit states, and the man were standing in the road, joking around.

"During the horse play, Mary turned and stuck her buttocks out and dared (the man) to hit her," an affidavit states.

The man took off his belt and "jokingly spanked" Ingram.

That's when Ingram's "mood switched from playful to upset."

Harsh words were exchanged and Ingram walked away, returning with Mosley and a screwdriver. The man said Ingram was swinging the screwdriver at him, but that she didn't threaten to stab him.

Mosley is accused of taking the screwdriver and trying to stab the man, who punched Mosley in the face and ended the altercation.

Records didn't state whether Ingram was callipygian or whether the screwdriver was of the flat or Phillips head variety.

Ingram and Mosley, both of the 4200 block of 26th Avenue in Vero Beach, each were arrested on a felony aggravated assault with a weapon charge.  

 

---

December 5, 2011

 

Salvation Army Employee Caught Stealing Money

NAPLES - The Collier County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of a Salvation Army kettle bucket taken from a bell ringer standing outside the Publix at 1981 9th Street North in Naples on Thursday night.

The bell ringer told officers that she was standing outside the store when another Salvation Army employee came by and told her he was supposed to switch out her kettle bucket for an empty one.

The man switched the kettle buckets and drove off.

The bell ringer then grew suspicious of the man's actions and notified her boss, who said he did not give permission for anyone to switch the kettle buckets.

The employee who switched the buckets was identified as 49-year-old Kevin Dinger. Video surveillance from the Publix confirmed his identity.

The boss made contact with Dinger, who denied he had been at the Publix location and switching out the kettle buckets.

After being told that he was seen on surveillance video, Dinger changed his story, stating he was asked to switch out the kettle buckets since the bell ringer's bucket was full.

Dinger eventually met with officers and provided another story regarding the switching of the buckets.

However, due to Dinger not being able to explain several key details regarding the theft, as well as several factors alluding to the possibility that Dinger had been stealing from the Salvation Army kettle buckets since his employment began, he has been arrested and charged with grand theft and fraud.

His court date has been set for December 27th.

Development Director for Salvation Army of Collier County Chris Nind said the act is a sad example of the tough economic times.

Nind said the act is not a reflection on the 100 seasonal employees that ring bells, but he will be reviewing applications for criminal history.

Burger King Cashier Calls Cops on Pot Smokers

Authorities say a central Florida man was arrested after jokingly trying to buy drugs at a Burger King drive-thru.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office reports that 32-year-old Shawn Porter and a friend placed an order for "blunt and some herbs" at a Deltona Burger King Thursday night.

A cashier smelled marijuana coming from their car and jotted down the license plate of the car, and then a supervisor called 911.

A deputy located Porter's house by running the tag number and was waiting when Porter arrived home with a Burger King bag in his hand. The deputy reported finding 28 grams of marijuana in the car.

Porter was charged with drug possession. He was being held on $1,000 bond.

Florida Carjackers Fail; Can't Drive Stick Shift

Two carjackers gave up trying to steal a 2007 Nissan when they discovered that the car was a stick shift.

The St. Petersburg Times reports (http://bit.ly/vsyCrM ) that a man and his girlfriend were leaving his workplace early Friday morning when two men pulled a handgun. The assailants said if the couple didn't get out of the car, they would shoot.

The men then jumped into the car and started it, but didn't get far. Police say the carjackers couldn't drive stick, so they gave up and ran away.

Authorities are investigating.

This Weeks Box Office

 

1	1	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1	Summit Entertainment, LLC	$16,900,000	$247,290,944	3	4046
2	2	The Muppets	Walt Disney Pictures	$11,200,000	$56,136,000	2	3440
5	3	Happy Feet Two	Warner Bros. Pictures	$6,000,000	$51,785,000	3	3536
4	4	Arthur Christmas	Sony Pictures Releasing	$7,350,000	$25,292,000	2	3376
3	5	Hugo	Paramount Pictures	$7,625,000	$25,188,000	2	1840
6	6	Jack and Jill	Sony Pictures Releasing	$5,500,000	$64,308,000	4	3049
8	7	Immortals	Relativity Media	$4,394,000	$75,588,285	4	2627
10	8	Puss in Boots	N/A	$3,050,000	$139,522,000	6	2750
7	9	The Descendants	Fox Searchlight Pictures	$5,200,000	$18,087,330	3	574
9	10	Tower Heist	N/A	$4,134,880	$70,779,710	5	2404

 

Unwanted Kiss Leads to Assault, Battery Charges

A 36-year-old Crestview man accused of kissing and pushing a woman in a local nightclub was arrested Nov. 20 and charged with assault and battery, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

The woman told deputies the man walked up to her while she was sitting at the bar in the club and "kissed her and put his tongue down her throat against her will," the report said. She said she ran away from the man and he came toward her and pushed her in the chest.

The woman told deputies he came at her "with his fists closed" and that she was afraid he was going to hit her. 

 

December 2, 2011

     

Country Star Says She's Not Bringing Son Back to Lee County

     The deadline has passed for Mindy McCready to bring her son Zander back to Florida. McCready claims she is pregnant and unable to travel. Thursday, a Lee County judge signed off on a custody order to track down the country singer and pick up her son from Nashville.

In a surprise move, Lee County Judge James Seals signed a custody order an hour before expected. 

Now, officials are tracking down McCready to try and bring her son back here to Lee County.

Time has run out for Mindy McCready to bring her 5-year-old son Zander back to Lee County.

"It appears she has chosen not to do so and a judge signed the order," said Aimee McLaughlin, with the Children's Network of Southwest Florida.

The five-year-old was in the care of his grandfather when the country singer took him from his North Fort Myers home on November 22.

Tropic Isles Elementary School officials tipped off the Department of Children and Families after they became concerned Zander wasn't showing up for school.

A Lee County judge gave her until Thursday to bring him back.

The singer, who now claims she is in Tennessee, pregnant and unable to return, has been in the middle of a custody dispute over her son - who is supposed to be with his grandmother.

While McCready's father defends his daughter, the Children's Network is readying to bring Zander home as soon as possible.

"I don't think we have made child arrangements yet - child safety is our priority. Our primary focus is to locate the child," McLaughlin said.

Officials we spoke to say the boy will be place back with his grandmother.

There is still no word whether or not McCready could face charges for bringing her son out of state.   

 

Replica Vietnam Memorial Set Up in Bonita

BONITA SPRINGS -The largest replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in the U.S. is now on display in Bonita Springs' Riverside Park.

During the ceremony Thursday, Bonita Springs Mayor Ben Neslon remarked how the wall brings about an "absolute, tangible feeling of reverence."

The name William Pitsenbarger is on the wall. He was Jerry Sutton's best friend and died April 11, 1966 after a fire fight in Vietnam.

"They wanted him to come out that night, and he said, ‘No.' He says, ‘I'll stay here and just pick me up in the morning.' And when they came back that night, all of them were killed," Sutton said.

Thursday was the first time Sutton was able to see his friend's name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"I get a little choked up talking about this," he said.

The exact replica of the wall, scaled to 80 percent of the memorial in Washington, D.C., is no less powerful for its smaller size.

At a ceremony Thursday afternoon, guests honored Vietnam veterans like Bill Durys, a Marine who was in DaNang during the Tet Offensive.

"I was lucky and I came away with no wounds but it's buried in my head," said Durys, with the Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club.

And Thursday's recognition was long overdue for some Vietnam vets.

"When we came home, people did not support us. They called us names, baby killers, some people even spat on us and it wasn't right," Durys remembered.

Bob Gillette, of Bonita Springs, paid $13,000 to have the traveling exhibit brought here, hoping to spark the curiosity of younger generations to learn about the Vietnam War.

"What they all went through, how they were treated when they came back, the aftereffects of Agent Orange. I don't think everybody understands what was going on and what has happened," Gillette said.

Thursday marked the first of four days area visitors can pay homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Plans for a permanent memorial in Bonita Springs are in the works - expected by Veterans Day 2012.

 

LCEC: Says Buying LED Lights Saves Big Bucks in the Long Run

The holidays are here, and the lights are going up around southwest Florida. This year, flipping the switch doesn't have to drain your wallet.

The last thing anyone wants at the end of the holidays is a whopping electricity bill, but LCEC says if you're willing to spend a little more money up front it'll cut your cost in the long run.

You might not go crazy with your Christmas lights, but if you're stringing one strand, or one-thousand, LCEC has some words of advice: go with LED lights instead of the old incandescent kind.

"But if you're going down the long haul, they're going to last you longer and consume quite a bit less electricity so depending on how much lighting you're having around your home inside and outside will have some impact that way," said LCEC official Doug Barker.

Here's the math for the cost of electricity: say 800 lamps, which is a few strings, left on 12 hours a day, the entire month of December: the cost from LED lights are a little more than $3.00.
The cost from incandesent lights are $33.00.

"We were all interested to find out what the savings would be," said Elmer Tabor.

Tabor is in charge of the Cape Coral Holiday Tree. Last year, the lights on the tree were switched the LED lights, and in a three week period, the savings rolled in.

"We went back two years ago and calculated the tree raised my electric bill $80.00. Last year we checked and the tree increased my electric bill by nine dollars," he said.

If you want crazy, or quiet, holiday cheer shouldn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
 
You're going to see all lighting in the future will basically be LED, it's where to go," said Barker. 

  

Teen Stopped at Airport for Design on Purse

A teenage girl's sense of style got her in trouble at the airport.

Vanessa Gibbs, 17, claims the Transportation Security Administration stopped her at the security gate because of the design of a gun on her handbag.

Gibbs said she had no problem going through security at Jacksonville International Airport, but rather, when she headed home from Virginia.

"It's my style, it's camouflage, it has an old western gun on it," Gibbs said.

But her preference for the pistol style didn't sit well with TSA agents at the Norfolk airport.

Gibbs said she was headed back home to Jacksonville from a holiday trip when an agent flagged her purse as a security risk.

"She was like, 'This is a federal offense because it's in the shape of a gun,'" Gibbs said. "I'm like, 'But it's a design on a purse. How is it a federal offense?'"

After agents figured out the gun was a fake, Gibbs said, TSA told her to check the bag or turn it over.

By the time security wrapped up the inspection, the pregnant teen missed her flight, and Southwest Airlines sent her to Orlando instead, worrying her mother, who was already waiting for her to arrive at JIA.

"Oh, it's terrifying. I was so upset," said Tami Gibbs, the teen's mom. "I was on the phone all the way to Orlando trying to figure out what was going on with her. It was terrifying. I don't ever want to go through it again."

Vanessa and her mom said it's hard to believe anyone could mistake the design on the purse for a real gun because it's just a few inches in size and it's hollow, not to mention Vanessa has taken it on planes before.

"I carried this from Jacksonville to Norfolk, and I've carried it from Norfolk to Jacksonville," Vanessa said. "Never once has anyone said anything about it until now."

TSA isn't budging on the handbag, arguing the phony gun could be considered a "replica weapon." The TSA says "replica weapons have prohibited since 2002."

It's a rule that Vanessa feels can't be applied to a purse.

"Common sense," she said. "It's a purse, not a weapon."

A TSA official at JIA said it's not that uncommon for passengers to wear something that could be considered a gun replica, but the official encourages everyone to check the prohibited items list, which can be found online or at the airport before going through security. 

 

December 1, 2011

McCready Pregnant with Twins

The Associated Press is reporting country singer Mindy McCready is in Nashville and says she will probably not be able to bring her 5-year-old son back to Florida to fulfill a judge's order — because she is nearly 7 months pregnant with twins.

Authorities believe former country music star Mindy McCready fled Southwest Florida with her five-year-old son Tuesday - even though she currently doesn't have legal custody of the boy.

 A case worker from the Children's Network made an unannounced visit to the Cape Coral home of Mindy's father on Tuesday.

The boy, named Zander, was supposed to be there. The boy had been reported sick and missed school before Thanksgiving, according to a police report.

But when he missed school again Tuesday - and was again reported sick by his step-grandmother - a case worker headed to the home.

Zander wasn't there.

Mindy's father, Tim McCready, didn't want to tell the case worker where the boy was.

Fearing the boy had been taken to Arkansas without the court's permission, the case worker called police and notified the Department of Children and Families.

When police arrived, the boy's step-grandmother, Malinda McCready, told police she wasn't saying anything and they needed to talk to her lawyer.

This case has a long legal history and a lot of family strife. There have been dozens of court hearings about the custody of the boy.

Mindy's mother has legal custody of Zander and is raising him, with the help of her husband.

Mindy and the child's father have visitation rights. The boy is also allowed to visit his grandfather, Mindy’s father, which is where he was Tuesday morning.

Authorities say an Amber Alert has not been issued because the child is with his mother.

Police have communicated with McCready via the video chat service Skype, but it's not clear if they were able to see the boy, as she reportedly asserted in a Facebook posting.

In an emergency hearing late Tuesday, a judge ruled that McCready has until 5 p.m. Thursday to return the child to authorities or face arrest.

If she surrenders the boy, another hearing is likely to be held on Friday to address her visitation rights.

Charlotte Woman Loses $3K in Granny Scam

CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A 79-year-old Deep Creek woman lost more than $3,000 to scammers Tuesday.

Investigators say Dolores Grieco received a phone call from a woman clamining to be her granddaughter. The woman said she was in Lima, Peru, and under arrest for speeding and carrying marijuana.

"She was crying, she sounded like my granddaughter," Greico said. "She said, 'I'm in Peru and I'm in jail.'"

Greico added, "I said, 'What are you doing in Peru? I just saw you at Thanksgiving.' She said, 'We got such a good deal that we decided to go.'"

According to a Charlotte County Sheriff's Office report:

"The fake granddaughter then handed the phone over to her 'lawyer' who said he located the closest Western Union at Murphy's gas station on Kings Highway and to send $2,875 for bail and $200 for her fine. He also said not to make a big deal out of her sending money and told her to tell people she was sending money to help her granddaughter with medical problems."

Greico reportedly withdrew the money from a Bank of America and then visited the gas station, where she was told she couldn't send over $100. Detectives say she then went to Winn Dixie nearby and sent the money.

"When she returned home, the 'lawyer' called and she gave him the code to receive the money. He called her back a couple hours later and said a judge fined her granddaughter $2,975 and when that money was received she would be released and on the next plane home."

When Greico went her bank to withdraw the full amount, a teller became suspicious and questioned her about the transaction, the report said.

"She admitted to the teller the real reason and the teller told her to call her family and find out if [Greico's daughter] was really in Peru. [Greico] called her daughter and was told [she] was at her job in Tampa."

Greico then contacted authorities to report that she had been scammed. Because she did not have caller ID, she was unable to determine where the calls originated.

"I feel very foolish," Greico said. "Tell everyone you know about this scam. Tell them to hang up and call their loved one to make sure the story is true."

Woman in PSL Drops Pants to Give Neighbor Something to Take a Picture of, Warns of Cuban Temper

A woman accused of dropping her pants and bending over to give a neighbor "something to take a picture of" after the neighbor apparently photographed her dogs running without a leash was arrested.

Mercedes Donahue, 52, also stands accused of kicking over rocks from a rock wall Nov. 22 between her house in Port St. Lucie and that of her neighbor, according to a recently released arrest affidavit.

Donahue, of the 1800 block of Southeast Wexford Court, told Port St. Lucie police she's an "angry person" and her neighbor "is going to see what her Cuban temper is really like."

Donahue's neighbor told police of a dispute with his neighbors going back more than 14 years. He said when he saw Donahue's dogs running outside without a leash he went outside to take photos for "evidence."

He said Donahue saw this and grew irate. After Donahue put the dogs away, she stood in the road in front of his driveway and started photographing him.

"She turned around & dropped her pants down and I saw everything (female genitalia) & (slang private area reference) & (slang reference to a portion of the buttocks)," he wrote in a sworn statement.

A woman identified as a second victim reported seeing Donahue dropping her pants and pointing to her caboose.

After pulling up her trousers, Donahue is accused of kicking over rocks on the neighbor's land.

Donahue told police the neighbor dispute has been going on for more than 14 years and that her neighbor is snapping photos of her. She said she pulled her pants down "to give him something to take a picture of." Her explanation of the events was almost identical to the neighbor's.

Donahue's husband showed police video surveillance of the incident, which depicted Donahue yelling, taking pictures, exposing herself and kicking rocks.

Donahue repeatedly told police she was going to hurt her neighbor "by bashing his head in with one of the stones she kicked over."

An officer lost count of the number of times she indicated she'd hurt her neighbor and that eventually police would discover him dead.

"Furthermore, the defendant (Donahue) told me she is an angry person and the victim is going to see what her Cuban temper is really like," an affidavit states.

Donahue was arrested on charges including lewd lascivious behavior, disturbing the peace and criminal mischief.

Miami's Federal Jail Overrun With Strippers Posing As Paralegals

Stripteases, sexual favors, booze, porn mags, and fat stacks of cash would be run-of-the-mill in many Miami strip clubs. But at downtown's maximum security Federal Detention Center?

Multiple attorneys interviewed by Riptide say the FDC visitor rooms have been taken over by South American pole dancers posing as paralegals for wealthy drug lords inside. Lawyers hired by the accused narco dons allegedly list the scantily clad women as "legal assistants," and the FDC lets them in. Meanwhile, attorneys who refuse to go along risk losing their clients to lawyers with busty beauties on staff.

"They take off their tops and let the guys touch them," veteran defense attorney Hugo Rodriguez says. "The majority of these young, very attractive women are noncitizens brought in exclusively for the purposes of visiting the FDC. Any lawyer can sign a form and designate a legal assistant. There is no way of verifying it. The process is being abused."

The accusations are difficult to prove. An FDC spokeswoman declined to comment, and prison officials refused Riptide's requests for any incident reports on faux paralegals being tossed from the facility.

But attorneys swear the scam is ongoing. One "discovery room" normally used to discuss trial strategy was recently closed, they say, after guards caught an inmate and a paralegal "discovering" more than legal documents.

Neighbors Spark $100K Dispute Over Fence

CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Does your next door neighbor have the right to tell you what you can put in your own backyard? That's the question costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to answer in Port Charlotte.

The view in a Port Charlotte couple's backyard, come sunset, would take your breath away.

"This is like they say God's country. You wake up everyday and look out your backyard," said Mike Mickel.

Retired police officers, Mike and Barbara Mickel, couldn't dream of a better home along Collen Street in Port Charlotte.

"We've never had anything like this. We never thought we would," said the Mickels.

Three years ago, that dream decended into a fiscal nightmare all because of a fence they put up.

Their next door neighbors, Robert and Mary Norton, sued the Mickels.

In court documents, the Nortons claim the Mickels' fence obstructed their view of the water.

They argued it's a view they've enjoyed since the 70s when they moved into their house.

The Mickels told us they've spent close to $100,000 in legal fees because of the fight over the fence and have used much of their life savings.

"We're on an austerity program right now that people wouldn't believe just because of this," said Mike Mickel.

In April 2010, a Charlotte County judge ordered the Mickels to take down the fence. Just this Septemeber, an appellate judge disgreed and ruled the shrubs and fence can stay.

Next door neighbor Mary Norton told us to speak with her husband, but our calls to him weren't returned.

In the end, the neighborly fight turned lawsuit seems to haave spoiled the view for everyone involved.

"Bottom line... we're good people. We're good neighbors. We're good neighbors," said Barbara Mickel.

 

November 30, 2011

 

Company Bringing Over 600 Jobs to Charlotte County

CHARLOTTE COUNTY - The need for employment has shattered records and it's forcing counties to fight for jobs. Tuesday, Charlotte County won big by successfully luring a multi-million dollar company to open up shop. And with it will come more than 600 jobs.

The beeping of busy forklifts doesn't stop inside the Cheney Brothers' food distribution center on Florida's east coast.

"I started as a stocker - had to learn what a stocker was," said Gary Simpson, an employee at Cheney Brothers.

But Simpson says his simple job soon turned into a career at wholesaler Cheney Brothers.

Now the company plans to transform a piece of now-vacant land, located close to the Punta Gorda Airport, into its next warehouse.

And that move is estimated to create more than 600 jobs.

"Food service is a career that will last forever. You have to eat. Every restaurant needs someone to deliver their product, to select the product. The food industry won't go anyway. It will always be there," Simpson said.

The company's facility in Riviera Beach is over 300,000 square feet. And while it won't be identical to the one in Charlotte County, it will be very similar.

"It's all about jobs, jobs coming for our residents," said Charlotte County Commissioner Tricia Duffy.

Cheney Brothers is poised to become Charlotte's largest private employer and was lured to the area by voter approved tax incentives.

That means the company won't pay property taxes for a decade.

Commissioner Duffy argues it allows the county to be competitive.

"This is the biggest step we've ever taken in diversifying Charlotte County's economy," she said.

Byron Russell, the company's CEO, says one of the reasons Charlotte County was chosen is because neither Lee nor Collier counties went after them.

He says it's a victory for Charlotte County that will mean more than just his business.

"There is a small network of 10-15 businesses that follow the distribution centers," Russell explained.

It's a following that, for some people, could mean an unforeseen career change.

"If you work hard, the sky is the limit," Simpson said.

Police: Sneaker Theft Suspect Hid Crack Pipes in Buttocks

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-- A West Palm Beach woman was arrested and accused of trying to steal shoes from a sporting-goods store, and before being frisked by officers, she told them she had hidden crack pipes in her buttocks, according to an arrest report obtained by WPBF.com on Tuesday.

Teresa Hart, who will turn 48 this week, hustled out of the Sports Authority store in the 2600 block of Okeechobee Road on Sunday with four pairs of Nike shoes worth a total of $342, the report said.

Dog May Have Dialed 911 Before Shooting

MANATEE — Did a dog dial 911 in Manatee County Sunday?

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office officials at least were told that’s what happened when they responded to a home where a 911 hang-up had occurred Sunday morning.

In a story reported by Bay News 9, Sgt. Will Kelley of the sheriff’s office responded to a home on 21st Street West to check on the hang up and was greeted at the door not only by the house occupant but by several dogs.

“The person at the house told us she thought the dogs accidentally dialed 911,” said Dave Bristow, a sheriff’s office spokesman. “We didn’t come up with that. That’s just what we were told.”

Bristow said the dogs’ owner opened the door and tried to squeeze out without letting her two 65-pound Bull Mastiff-Pit Bull mix dogs get out.

But the dogs forced their way out of the door and began aggressively lunging and trying to bite the deputy, Bristow said. Kelley retreated to avoid the dogs, but was forced to shoot one.

The dog was taken to the vet. The dog’s condition is unknown at this time. Kelley was uninjured.

Man Knocking on Doors, Rocking Back and Forth Arrested

FORT WALTON BEACH — A 30-year-old man was arrested Nov. 13 on charges of loitering and prowling.

Over the past weeks leading up to the man's arrest, multiple residents living on or near Emerald Drive reported a strange man knocking on their doors late at night. Many individuals reported being frightened by the man's actions.

According to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's arrest report, a homeowner called deputies saying a man had knocked on his door late at night. The man said when he looked out the man was rocking his hands back and forth as if he had a baby, which he did not.

The man was found by deputies and when asked what he was doing on the street late at night he said he was knocking on doors trying to get money. 

 

Naples Daily News Writer Tied Up and Robbed

 

 LEHIGH ACRES - A sports writer for the Naples Daily News was pistol whipped, beaten, tied up and robbed Monday night. And Tuesday, he told his story.

Woody Wommack says four masked men, armed with guns, busted into his Lehigh Acres home Monday night, tied him up and ransacked the place.

He was kicked, punched and pistol whipped while the intruders grabbed his TV, computers and DVDs.

But Wommack says that's not what they came for.

"They kept asking me, ‘Where are the guns? Where? Where's the weed? Where's the money?' And I kept telling them I didn't have anything and they kept calling me a liar," he described. "And they just kept kicking me in the head."

Wommack says it's a case of mistaken identity and says the burglars had the wrong house, the wrong guy.

Wommack says he can't describe the men because of the masks they were wearing.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is investigating. 

 

November 29, 2011

Election 2012: Mitt Romney to raise money in Naples on Tuesday

NAPLES — Mitt Romney is stopping to raise money in Naples on Tuesday as part of a multicity campaign swing through Florida.

The former Massachusetts governor will attend a noon lunch at the Naples Yacht Club, at 700 14th Ave. S., hosted by former U.S. Ambassador Francis Rooney. Romney will make no public appearances in Naples, and the media won’t be admitted to the fundraiser.

“Florida is an early state and is very important,” said Brett Doster, Romney’s chief Florida strategist, recently by email. “Gov. Romney is spending the right amount of time in Florida between now and Christmas and will be increasing his time in Florida significantly as we move into the four weeks prior to the primary.”

Florida’s Republican presidential primary election is Jan. 31. Iowa’s caucus is Jan. 3, and New Hampshire’s primary is Jan. 10.

Romney is scheduled to stump on jobs and the economy at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Conchita Foods in Hialeah Gardens before his Naples stop. In the afternoon, he heads to Tampa for more stumping on trade policy at the Tampa Port Authority, according to a campaign news release.

Romney campaign staff couldn’t be reached Monday. The St. Petersburg Times reported he will hold another fundraiser at the Tampa Museum of Art.

Rooney, a Naples resident and longtime supporter of Romney, said the event could not be held at his home because of the anticipated large turnout, which he estimates will be around 175 people. He credits the “broad and deep support that the governor’s got in Southwest Florida.”

Romney’s visit comes three days after rival Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, departed from a Naples visit that was by all accounts successful. He appeared at two heavily attended events — a town hall meeting and a book signing — and a $1,000-per-head private fundraiser.

Recent national polls have shown Gingrich narrowly ahead of Romney, and Gingrich has secured the endorsement of a major New Hampshire newspaper, a key victory in the early voting state.

But Rooney predicts the unwavering favor Romney has commanded throughout the GOP primary race will prevail.

Other candidates, he said, “have come and gone, have waxed and waned.”

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney will solicit more support in Naples on Tuesday as part of a multi-stop fundraising swing through Florida.

At noon, the former Massachusetts governor will attend a lunch at the Naples Yacht Club, 700 14th Ave. S, said Francis Rooney, the former U.S. ambassador to Vatican City and host of the Romney fundraiser. No media or members of the public will be admitted.

“Owing to the broad and deep support that the governor’s got in Southwest Florida, we’ve moved it” to the yacht club from his home, he said, “to accommodate in the neighborhood of 175.”

Rooney, who lives in Naples, has been a long supporter of Romney, who, among the field of GOP candidates for the party’s presidential nomination, has commanded the most consistent favor among likely voters.

Romney’s visit comes three days after rival Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, left Naples following two heavily attended events — a town hall meeting and a book-signing — and a $1,000-per-head fundraiser.

After stopping in Naples, Romney heads to Tampa for another fundraising event at the Tampa Museum of Art.

Group wants DEP to reconsider beach restroom plan

COLLIER COUNTY, FL -

The push for new restrooms at Vanderbilt Beach is hitting a roadblock. The Department of Environmental Protection agreed to bend the rules to allow Collier County to build a new facility, but neighbors are asking the DEP to reconsider.

When it comes to the restrooms at Vanderbilt Beach, there's one thing almost everyone agrees on.

"We need new bathrooms - no question about that," said Kathy Robbins, Spokeswoman for the North Naples Community Alliance.

How to get them isn't so clear.

Despite backlash from neighbors, commissioners agreed to go ahead with a $1.2 million structure in the same spot as the current restrooms.

"It sits on top of the existing footprint of the existing bathrooms," said Gary McAlpin, Coastal Zone Management Director.

It's bigger, has more stalls, an observation deck and concession stand. 

"Too big. If they would scale it back, just to improve the restroom part of it, no problem," said Robbins.

But the project is moving forward.

"We're going through the permitting phase," said McAlpin.

The site sits closer to the beach and the dunes than the Department of Environmental Protection usually allows, but last month the DEP granted a variance to the rule. That was the first step in getting a permit.

"The variance was granted almost before we knew it," said Robbins.

Robbins and a group of neighborhood associations are asking the DEP for more time to review the information the department used to grant the variance.

The group, known as the North Naples Community Alliance, could ask for an administrative hearing and ask the DEP to reverse its decision.

That could send the county back to the drawing board.

Man denied beer, attacks with hatchet

Marathon (CBSMiami) - An argument over beer led to a one man to attack another with a hatchet in Marathon.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, on Friday 32-year old Maykel Borges was hanging around at the Trailerama Trailer Park on 15th Street and asking for beer. The park's residents said they gave him several beers during the course of the day then told him to leave.

Borges did, but later returned with a hatchet. He then reportedly began arguing with people at the trailer park, and at one point reportedly swung the hatchet at one man, cutting him on the side with it. Borges then dropped the weapon and ran.

When deputies arrived just after 6 p.m., they found the hatchet and tracked down Borges at his own trailer, not far away. He was arrested, charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery, and he was booked into jail.

The victim was transported to Fishermen's Hospital for treatment of a small cut on his side.

South Florida teen finds out what can happen when private photos go public on porn site

MIAMI — Juan and Maria Varona of Miami are struggling through a situation no parent should ever have to wrestle with. Hackers have intruded into their lives, violated their daughter's privacy. And they want others to know that it can happen to them, too.

About four years ago, their youngest child, Angie Varona, uploaded some photos to her private Photobucket account. Among the pictures: Angie posing in her bikini and in a bra and panties, images meant only for her then-boyfriend to see. She was 14 and brash — as many teens are at that age — without the foresight to suspect what could happen next.

"It was stupid," Angie, now 18, says. "I guess I thought I looked appealing and sexy. My self-esteem wasn't what it should've been either."

Plenty of her friends were doing much of the same. Posting provocative pictures on their Facebook walls. Sending images they would later regret to boyfriends who would one day become ex-boyfriends. But Angie's account was hacked, and six months later a school friend emailed her an ominous note: Her pictures were appearing on porn sites.

At the time, her name did not accompany her photos. That would come later. That and people posing as Angie Varona on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and assorted forums and message boards.

Eventually, the nightmarish notoriety would land the Miami teen on ABC's "Nightline" to warn other girls about the possible consequences of posting provocative photos — no matter how private the website. She also recounted her story in MiamiMontage, a publication produced by high school journalism students at a University of Miami summer program.

"All this time, I wish I had listened to my parents," she says. "None of this would've happened and I would just be living through the regular drama of high school."

Remembering that initial discovery still makes her shudder. "I was crying hysterically. I couldn't believe it," she says. And she didn't know then how bad it would get. Over the next four years, she would become an unwitting and unwilling Internet sex symbol.

She immediately told her parents, who went to Miami-Dade police and hired a lawyer. The police couldn't do anything about it. There was no nudity in the photos, so it didn't qualify as child pornography. But it was the family's introduction to the underworld of child erotica.

"Some of those sites had girls younger than Angie, naked," recalls Juan Varona, a teacher. "Kids take pictures of themselves in the bathroom and don't understand how others can just hack into their accounts."

Varona says he was disappointed in his daughter when he found out what had happened. He and his wife had warned her about the perils of the Internet. As a teacher, he was aware of the growing problem of teens posting and sending nude or semi-nude photos of themselves. But he also recognized that Angie's photos were no more than "bathing suit shots. It wasn't any different than what you see other girls wearing on the beach or in Victoria's Secret [catalogs]."

The family's lawyer emailed some of the websites to ask that the unauthorized photos be taken down. A few complied. One hacker was tracked to Spain, too, and for a few months the Varonas thought the problem might be contained.

Juan, however, was anxious. "I knew that when something gets out there, when something goes viral, you can't stop it. It takes on a life of its own."

And it did, with the photos making their way to pedophile sites. Within weeks, classmates and teachers at her high school knew about her Internet photos. Some called her a slut and a porn star. "They would stare at me funny in the hallways and I knew why," Angie recalls. "If I was dating a guy, they would send him the pictures from one of the websites and ask, do you want to date a girl that the whole world can see her body?"

Even now, if you Google her name, you get more than a million hits. "People are mean. They'll write that I wanted to be famous, that I wanted all this, and I didn't," she says.

Her friends told her it could be worse — the photos could be more revealing. But that offered little consolation. She changed schools. Her parents worried how it would affect her college and job prospects. 

November 28, 2011

 

Box Office Charts

 

 

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.) Nov 25 - 27 weekend

 

This Wk	Last Wk	Title	Dist.	Weekend Gross	Cumulative Gross	Rlse Wks	# of Theaters
1	1	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1	Summit Entertainment, LLC	$42,000,000	$221,303,162	2	4066
2	-	The Muppets	Walt Disney Pictures	$29,500,000	$42,000,000	1	3440
3	2	Happy Feet Two	Warner Bros. Pictures	$13,400,000	$43,773,000	2	3611
4	-	Arthur Christmas	Sony Pictures Releasing	$12,700,000	$17,000,000	1	3376
5	-	Hugo	Paramount Pictures	$11,350,000	$15,380,000	1	1277
6	4	Jack and Jill	Sony Pictures Releasing	$10,300,000	$57,417,000	3	3029
7	3	Immortals	Relativity Media	$8,800,000	$68,632,100	3	2677
8	5	Puss in Boots	N/A	$7,450,000	$135,361,000	5	3005
9	6	Tower Heist	N/A	$7,323,040	$65,384,540	4	2474
10	10	The Descendants	Fox Searchlight Pictures	$7,200,000	$10,740,894	2	433
11	7	J. Edgar	Warner Bros. Pictures	$4,950,000	$28,822,000	3	1910
12	-	My Week With Marilyn	The Weinstein Company	$1,773,000	$2,084,456	1	244
13	8	A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas	Warner Bros. Pictures	$1,640,000	$31,600,000	4	875
14	9	In Time	20th Century Fox	$760,000	$35,059,900	5	749
15	14	Like Crazy	Paramount Vantage	$425,000	$2,478,000	5	150
16	20	Melancholia	Magnolia Pictures	$330,000	$1,214,912	3	100
17	12	Footloose	Paramount Pictures	$300,000	$50,847,000	7	384
18	15	Moneyball	Sony Pictures Releasing	$290,000	$73,160,000	10	187
19	11	Paranormal Activity 3	Paramount Pictures	$275,000	$103,245,000	6	355
20	16	The Ides of March	Sony Pictures	$215,000	$39,547,000	8	15

 

Prostitution Sting Nabs Two Suspected Pimps

NAPLES - Two suspected pimps were arrested during a prostitution sting operation set up on Friday.

On Friday, Collier County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Estey Avenue and Airport Pulling Road in reference to the location of a juvenile female who had previous been reported as a runaway.

When deputies arrived, a witness told them he heard from a friend that the juvenile was spotted staying with several older black males at a Red Roof Inn nearby.

According to the witness, the men were working as pimps, and using the girl for prostitution.

With the assistance of CCSO, the witness was able to set up a sting operation, pretending to want to meet the girls for sexual services.

A meeting place was arranged at Central Avenue and Poinsettia Avenue.

According to reports, the witness then drove to the location and spotted a Haitian male with two young females.

The witness again contacted CCSO and asked deputies to meet at the location to confirm the identity of the female.

When deputies arrived, the Haitian man and the two females were placed into handcuffs and questioned.

One of the females was found to be over the age of 18.

She told deputies that she and the other juvenile female had been attempting to live on their own for several days when they asked a man, 30-year-old Clark Orangeboor, for help.

She said Orangeboor coerced them into becoming prostitutes in exchange for a room at the Red Roof Inn.

The Haitian man, 37-year-old Sorel Seide, had arranged for the girls to provide oral sex and sexual intercourse to a variety of other individuals over the course of several days.

Reports show the girls were taken into custody to be questioned at the same time and despite not being able to speak to each other to create a collaborative story, their recounts of the events matched.

Seide has been charged with procuring prostitution of a minor.

Orangeboor has been charged with procuring prostitution of a minor and lewd lascivious battery for sexual acts with a person ages 12-15.

They remain in the Collier County Jail on no bond.

Stolen Motor, Drugs Sold to Undercover Narcs

CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A 25-year-old Englewood East man was arrested during two undercover operations by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit on Tuesday night.

According to reports, at 9:25 p.m, Steven Craig Kasten sold a stolen boat motor valued at $1,733 to undercover narcotics detectives for $300 in the parking lot of a Burger King located at 12531 South McCall Road.

Detectives later learned the boat motor had been taken from a 14-foot johnboat in South Gulf Cove.

At 10:30 p.m, Kasten sold Oxycodone pills to an undercover detective in the parking lot of a McDonalds, located at 1250 South McCall Road.

Kasten was arrested and taking to the Charlotte County Jail. He remains a suspect in the theft of several other boat motors that have been reported recently.

At this time, he has been charged with dealing in stolen property, grand theft, sale and delivery of oxycodone, possession of oxycodone, and six counts of violation of probation.

 

Florida Crime Keeps Falling, and Experts and Law Enforcement Search For Why

Although Florida's economy continues to sputter four years after the start of the Great Recession, the state's financial and unemployment woes can't slow down one impressive trend: Crime continues to plunge.

Crime in Florida has plummeted nearly 33 percent since 1999, including nearly 13 percent since shortly after the recession began in late 2007. Tampa Bay's crime rate also has fallen during that time — about 25 percent in Hillsborough, 8 percent in Pinellas and 14 percent in Pasco.

A declining crime rate in times of economic despair — especially when law enforcement budgets are shrinking as officers fight a burgeoning prescription drug abuse epidemic — seems counterintuitive. But the crime drop is fairly consistent nationwide, and experts even say the trend is occurring globally.

Although no one can say for sure why crime is lessening, some theories are coming into focus:

Technology is helping police prevent crime. The population is getting older. Even low inflation — of all things — is likely playing a role.

Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, said that for years, experts looking at economic data for clues about crime paid attention mostly to the unemployment rate.

But Rosenfeld suggests that may be too narrow. He is working on a study exploring the relationship between inflation and crime.

This recession, just like the Great Depression, has been marked by low inflation, which has kept the prices of goods down, Rosenfeld said.

That, in turn, has dampened the opportunity for underground — and often illegal — markets to develop. In fact, these days, technology has given people access to even more legal markets — think Craigslist, Etsy and eBay.

Technology has helped in other ways. The auto industry over the past several years equipped vehicles with sophisticated security systems. Cellphones have become mini GPS tracking devices.

"The world we live in is much different than decades ago," said Eric Baumer, a criminologist at Florida State University. "Life has changed a lot."

Other theories about the prolonged crime decrease address popular notions about why people commit crimes in the first place.

People tend to connect economic disadvantage to crime, Baumer said.

"But the truth is, the economic downturn can have these countervailing effects," he said.

For example, he said, when people are out of work, they tend to spend more time at home. That may decrease the opportunity for the average thief who wants to break in.

Experts also said age may have a lot to do with it.

"As the population ages, the fraction of the population that commits crime at a high rate is smaller," Rosenfeld said.

Still, it's not hard to see why people may have a perception of high crime.

"You can show people stats all day long," said Clearwater police Chief Tony Holloway, "but the next day they may see someone out there selling drugs. …From their perception, they still see crime, so for them it can't be down."

Zoom out, though, and the picture looks quite different.

Thus far, crime in the state is down 2 percent from last year, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which recently released data from the first half of this year.

In Tampa Bay, it fell even more. There was a drop of more than 10 percent in Pinellas, nearly 15 percent in Hillsborough and 6 percent in Pasco County. Hernando was the only local county to see an increase — about 13 percent.

Law enforcement officials make it clear they're happy with numbers like these. But even they admit they're not sure exactly what's behind them.

"I think it's got to be a combination of factors," said St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon. "I just don't think that anybody knows what they all are."

Holloway said one reason may be that police have become more attuned to patterns and cycles in crime.

For example, many departments beefed up patrols around malls and shopping centers this weekend since burglaries typically rise around Thanksgiving. The Florida Highway Patrol put more troopers on the roads.

Police also have many more tools at their disposal. Departments these days routinely report that Internet and social media sites are helping them solve crimes. And many use data to track and even predict crime.

In St. Petersburg, officers a few years ago started monitoring the movements of the city's most notorious juvenile and adult criminals. It has led to a decrease in auto thefts, officials said.

"I think we're getting smarter," Holloway said.

Harmon and other law enforcement officials said they don't like to live their lives by stats, but that doesn't mean they aren't interested in deciphering them.

Holloway said that over the next few months, he's sending his officers into the community to meet with residents about crime.

He wants to know what people are seeing every day on the streets. He also wants to know if they're choosing not to report incidents.

He, like researchers, hopes to answer this question: Is crime decreasing because of something police are doing, or would it have fallen on its own?

"I think that's the question we should be asking ourselves," he said. "I want to know why. We want to know why. … If there's something we're doing right, we need to know. If there's something we're doing wrong, we need to know."

Still, experts caution it could be years before they really understand this continued long-term crime decrease. They said that more data and scrutiny are needed.

"There's quite a complex array of things to sort through. It's not straightforward," Baumer said. "(But) these are real patterns. Crime is at levels we haven't seen in three or four decades."

Three Face Prison Time in Special Toilet Paper Scam

Talk about a dirty scam.

Federal prosecutors in Florida say at least three people working for a septic tank company duped customers into buying about $1 million in unnecessary products — in some cases enough toilet paper to last more than 70 years.

More than a dozen customers were told they needed special toilet paper to avoid ruining their septic tanks because the federal government changed regulations on toilet paper. The federal government does not regulate septic tank products.

The trio pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to commit wire fraud.

The Miami Herald reported that they worked for FBK Products. A phone number for the Riviera Beach-based company was not working Saturday 

 

 

November 23, 2001

Troops Sell Uniforms to Feed Their Families

COLLIER COUNTY, FL -

A military store says more troops are selling their uniforms just to put food on the table.

"It's sad, it makes us sad," said Shirley Brooks of Homer Helters Antique and Military Store.

She says it's sad because more and more troops are coming into the antique military store, cashing in on their uniforms, just to put food on the table.

"It's terrible when they have to choose between food and living. What comes first? Of course the food comes first," Brooks said.

But troops only get $10 to $20 for some of the items.

"I think every little bit helps. When they come in, give them some gas money, some food money for their family," said Dennis Jarstad, Manager of Homer Helters Antique and Military Store.

Jarstad said former troops are bringing in things like boots, helmets and web gear but the store doesn't accept weapons.

He blames this on a tough economy and the lack of jobs for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Hard times has brought a lot of vets in that are getting discharged now," Jarstad said.

And with the holidays fast approaching, they're seeing more troops trading in the gear they wore to fight for freedom, for much less than it's worth.

"I think a lot of these fellas are going to regret not keeping some of this stuff," Jarstad said.

"We feel bad. Maybe down the line when they have children, they'd like to pass that on to them and they're giving away their heritage," said Brooks.

Luckily for troops trading in their fatigues at their store, there is some relief, even in hard times.

"We'll hold on to it. Give them the money they need. Kinda like a pawn shop and if they can come back and buy it, we'll be glad to give it back to them," Brooks said.

Robert VanWinkle Kicks Off "The Giving Tree"

FORT MYERS, FL -

The 25th Annual "NBC2 Giving Tree" kicked off this morning.

You can pick up a tag at Southwest Florida Perkins locations, grab a gift and then return it to Perkins.

Students Show Support for Fired Cheer Coaches

LEE COUNTY -

Three cheerleading coaches at Estero High School were apparently fired by the principal. Now not only are the coaches searching for answers - so are their students.

"Out of all three years that I've cheered for Estero High School, this has been the best out of all of them," said junior Jocelyn Peppard.

One by one, Estero high school cheerleaders and their parents take to the podium at Tuesday Lee County School Board meeting hoping school officials would tell them why their freshman, junior and varsity coachers were all fired.

Nearly 15 people showed their support for the program during Tuesday night's meeting and begged to have the decision reversed.

We spoke to the varsity coach Nicole Zivich who says she was advised by the principal that she and the other first year coaches would no longer be coaching. And she says she was given no warning or reason why.

"I do have some issues dealing with the methodology here, but we will deal with it," said Dr. Joespeh Burke, Lee County Superintendent.

The school district says since it's a personal issue, they are unable to comment, but gave a brief response during the meeting.

"You will get some answers," said Lee County School Board member Mary Fischer.

That response gave some reassurance for the girls Tuesday night.

Be on the Lookout for a 30-Foot Beer Bottle

The Treasure Island Police Department is investigating the theft of an inflatable advertisement display from the 10400 block of the Treasure Island Beach.

The theft occurred on Saturday evening, November 19, 2011.

The City of Treasure Island hosted a three-day Sand Ovations event on the beach. To promote the event, Great Bay Distributors had erected a 30-foot, inflatable Bud Light bottle.

The expensive display is a 30-foot-tall, inflatable Bud Light bottle with logo and includes a portable, electric blower. Its estimated value is $5,000.

 

November 22, 2011

Dog track wants to add slot machines

Bonita Springs could be on the fast track to adding slot machines at the dog track. The city met with a representative from the dog track to learn more about what other counties are doing to cash in.

Izzy Havenick, the track's Vice President of Political Affairs, says the move would add jobs for Bonita and Lee County residents.

He added that 1.5-percent of the track's gross gaming revenue would go to the city and county each year.

"Until the legislature defines what is allowed and what is not, we believe we should at least have the conversation and explore all opportunities," said Havenick.

Carl Schwing, Bonita Springs city manager, says he believes this would help the city's economic development, but also understands gambling is a controversial issue.

"That's why we think it makes some sense that if it's going to go anywhere, it goes to the voters to let them decide," he said.

But Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann says after having the best tourism year in the history of Lee County, expanding gambling would hurt the industry.

"In the long term, it's going to be bad for Lee County and it's going to change the whole quality of life here. It's going to be a giant leap backward and it's going to hurt us and I don't want that for my grandchildren," he said.

The slot machine proposal would have to go to the county for a referendum vote in order to be approved.

But if it goes Mann's way, there may not even be a referendum vote.

"I am so convinced that it is the wrong step for Lee County and it's going to destroy the quality of life here that I'm not going to be the one that's putting this on the ballot trying to make it happen," he said

Debt collector allegedly posed as deputy

Angel Rosado traded in his sheriff's hat, holster and gun for an orange, jail-issued uniform. He's not a sheriff's deputy, he's accused of impersonating one. Real deputies say Rosado posed as a deputy on his job as a contracted debt collector for Cash Plus.

In a sheriff's report a victim says Rosado showed up at his job last month pretending to have a warrant and threatening to arrest him if he didn't hand over $180.

"That's not called for," Cash Plus Manager, Deborah Gittes said.

Shocking claims that don't exactly fit his job description at Cash Plus.

"He's not supposed to be doing that," Gittes said. "They go to their place of work or their home and they tell them they owe this and hopefully put them on some sort of payment plan."

The victim told deputies he tried to come up with the payment he knew he owed to Cash Plus but before he handed over the money he asked to see Rosado's badge.

Rosado's response according to reports, "You see my gun don't you?"

We wanted to see just how easy it was to get our hands on some of these items. We were able to get a sheriff's hat, a holster equipped with all the fixings a sheriff deputy carries around. These are all the things the victim says Rosario had when he approached him.

In the report the victim says he called deputies and found out Rosado was not a sheriff's deputy and was there to collect a debt for Cash Plus.

Gittes says she was shocked to hear about his debt collecting tactics.

"He presented himself as a legit collector so we figured he knew what he was doing but obviously within the law," she said.

Rosado has bonded out of jail but now he's out of a job. He's also facing charges for carrying a gun as a convicted felon.

Black Friday ads and store hours

Click below for some of the best sites with ads from Best Buy, Target, Kohls, Sears, Home Depot, Lowes - and many others.

Bfads.net
Gottadeal.com
Blackfriday.info

Local shopping centers have announced their hours for Black Friday:

 

FORT MYERS/LEE COUNTY

Bell Tower Shops

Where: 13499 S Cleveland Avenue Opens: 8 a.m. Black Friday Holiday hours

Coconut Point

Where: 23106 Fashion Drive Opens: Some stores open at midnight, mall opens 8 a.m. Additional info & holiday hours: Coconut Point website

Gulf Coast Town Center

Where: Alico Rd & Ben Hill Griffin Opens: Some stores open at midnight, mall opens at 6 a.m. Black Friday Holiday hours & information

Edison Mall

Where: 4125 Cleveland Avenue Opens:4 a.m. Black Friday Holiday hours

Miromar Outlets

Where: Corkscrew Road & Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy Opens: 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night Additional info & holiday hours: Miromar website

Tanger Outlets

Where: 20350 Summerlin Road Opens: 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night Additional info & holiday hours: Tanger website

NAPLES

Coastland Center Mall

Where: 1900 Tamiami Trail North Opens: Some stores open at midnight, mall opens at 6 a.m. Holiday hours

PORT CHARLOTTE

Port Charlotte Town Center Mall

Where: 1441 Tamiami Trail Opens: 4 a.m. Additional info & holiday hours

 

Dispatcher accused of selling fake designer purses

A Cape Coral dispatcher has been placed on administrative leave after she was arrested for allegedly selling imitation designer purses.

Hopkins is out on bond and spoke with us about her arrest.

"LCSO came here and said they had a warrant for counterfeit merchandise," said Hopkins.

Deputies confiscated 72 counterfeit designer handbags and accessories from her garage. Some of the brands were Gucci, Coach, and Louis Vuitton.

"She even offered coupons. Buy 5 get the 6th free," said Tony Schall of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Undercover detectives made several purchases from Hopkins and her husband since they came across their ad on Craigslist in August.

"They freely listed a phone number to contact," said Schall.

Hopkins said she was selling the designer replicas in order to support her family.

Hopkins claims the couple fell on hard times a year and a half ago - when her husband lost his job.

Hopkins is charged with counterfeiting private labels.

Hopkins is on paid administrative leave until an administrative hearing. She has been with the city of Cape Coral for four years.

She was off duty at the time of her arrest

 

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November 21, 2011

Fix-A-Flat butt injections lead to arrest

A Miami Gardens transgender woman is facing charges of practicing medicine without a license after police say she injected a patient's rear with everything but the kitchen sink in an illegal cosmetic surgery procedure.

Oneal Ron Morris, 30, was arrested Friday after an investigation by Miami Gardens Police and the Florida Department of Health.

According to police, the victim saw Morris in May and was injected in her buttocks with a substance consisting of cement, "Fix a Flat," mineral oil and super glue.

The amateur incision was then sealed with super glue, police said. The victim was later hospitalized with a serious medical condition as a result of the injections.

Morris, who police say is a man but appears to look like a woman and sports an apparently enhanced rear herself in arrest photos, was being held on $7,500 bond.

It was unknown whether she has an attorney.

Police believe there may be other victims of Morris who may be afraid to come forward. They said the victims haven't done anything illegal and shouldn't be afraid to come forward.

Local man camping for Black Friday deals

Hype for Black Friday deals is officially starting to take shape.

Every year, diehard shoppers line up extra early for savings the day after Thanksgiving.

One Southwest Florida man is already camping out outside Best Buy at Page Field Commons to ensure he gets to cash in on their advertised doorbuster savings.

Sean Keeley, his niece and nephew have an Occupy movement of their own going on.
"I've been camping out since 7:00 Friday night," Keeley said.

But instead of protesting corporate profits, he's going to contribute to the busiest shopping season of the year.

Thanksgiving through Christmas retailers rake in 40% of their annual revenue.

"I'm here for the LCD Sharps that are $199 and a couple of external hard drives, and miscellaneous stuff," Keeley says.

Keeley set up his base camp outside of Best Buy on Friday, a full week before Black Friday sales markdown prices.

Keeley says spending the night on the concrete is a better way of coping with his recent layoff than his original plan.

"Friday I was like, eh, I might as well go sit down and not go to the bar," he said.

The general manager of the store, Josh Loveall, welcomes Keeley's tent city.

"They're absolutely welcome to come," he says of prospecting campers.

But not every store in Southwest Florida wants a campsite staked out front.

Several retail centers say they want shoppers to call ahead if they're looking to occupy a sidewalk this week.

Battlefield Tampa

It’s understandable that Tampa, Fla., police felt the need to prepare for violence at an Occupy Tampa protest. But was a tank really necessary?

A picture from Thursday’s demonstration, posted to Twitter yesterday by the hacking group Anonymous, shows what is now included in the arsenals of many police departments around the country: a massive “armored personnel carrier.” Or, in laymen’s terms, a tank.

The police department’s website refers to Tampa’s big blue vehicle, complete with logos of “our sponsors,” as “virtually unstoppable.”

Woman Arrested, Accused of Giving Baby Alcohol

A 30-year-old Fort Myers woman was arrested on Saturday after admitting to Fort Myers Police officers that she gave a 1-year-old child drinks from an alcoholic beverage.

Police say they received a call from a woman requesting assistance around 10:15 p.m. The woman disconnected the phone call quickly.

When police called back, the woman stated there was "no emergency."

Officers were dispatched to the area and found a large group of people in front of a residence. Laqweeta Neal was identified as the woman who requested police.

Neal told officers that her brother slapped her in the face and twisted her arm behind her head after she provided the child with a "sip" from wine coolers she had been consuming.

Due to Neal's admission that she provided a child with an alcoholic beverage, she was arrested and charged with child abuse.

Neal's brother, Rousheem Williams, was also arrested for the obvious injuries caused to Neal. He is charged with battery.

 

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NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Cape Coral's Big John returns!

Everyone in Cape Coral has been curious since a big staple in the community disappeared. But Big John has returned and he's looking better than ever!

A Cape Coral icon is back on his pedestal.

"He looks very pretty now. The paint job is good," said Cape resident Martha Lara.

Big John spent 100 days in hiding inside an auto body shop in Cape Coral.

His 28-foot body was split in two and he had a lot of work done.

He got a hip replacement, new steel bones and an updated outfit that was painted by artist German Palma.

"I've never done anything this big. Motorcycle helmets are what I specialize in and something this big - I was excited," Palma said.

Another addition is that Big John is carrying grocery bags.

It's the statue's original look from 43 years ago when there was a grocery store at the plaza where Big John stands.

Thursday morning, Big John debuted the new look, which was a relief for those at Auto Galaxy. Workers there say keeping him hidden was no easy task.

"That was a chore. We kept the main door down. We got lucky too because we had few people that wanted to go that way, so we had to detour people from going back that way," said Kevin Collum, of Auto Galaxy.

It took about eight hours Thursday to get Big John back to his spot looking over Cape Coral.

Fork lifts, cranes and about 10 men lifted his long legs onto a flat-bed truck. And then in two separate pieces, Big John took a ride down the street.

He made it without a scratch to his final resting place and the community is happy to have him back.

"Fantastic! I love it. I love it," Lara said.

World sand sculpting competition begins

Over the next 10 days over 150,000 visitors are expected to travel to Fort Myers Beach for the World Championship Sand Sculpting Competition. It's being held in Florida for the very first time.

Ana Maria Malgajo is in town from Boliva. It's her family's first visit to Fort Myers Beach.

"Oh I love it. It's so beautiful especially for us that we don't have an ocean," said Malgajo.

As much as she enjoys the sculpting, there's something she loves more - shopping.

"I'll spend as much as I can," she said.

That's welcoming news for Jay and Dianne Snyderman. The more they sell, the quicker they retire.

"This business is a love affair. The whole idea of leaving this business is a real tear jerker. Dianne doesn't want to leave, but enough already," said Jay Snyderman.

After 32 years in the jewelry business, the Snydermans will close up shop as soon as they sell their remaining inventory.

During the sandsculpting championship, they'll keep the shop open late.

Event coordinators expect the event to draw 150,000 people over the 10 day event and will have a $25 million impact.

 

"Staff, guests, previous guests, there's a buzz going around for week anticipating this huge event," said Karla Feacell of the Holiday Inn.

Antique tub stolen from Bokeelia home

A Bokeelia resident reported the theft of an antique tub from the side of her home, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

The owner told deputies the tub has been in the same location for 40 years and is over 100 years old.

The antique cast iron tub is worth approximately $1,000.

Cape on spray painted home: 'We don't regulate ugly'

An entire Cape Coral home is covered in spray paint. Neighbors say it's an eyesore and want it painted over. But the city says it isn't a violation if the homeowner is the one doing the painting.

It's something you can't miss at the Cape Coral address.

"I don't like that kind of thing in my neighborhood - it's kind of unsettling," said neighbor Dan Bordner.

"It's just ridiculous. It ruins the values of people's homes," added neighbor Carol Youngs.

Spray paint is all over the roof, the yard and the garage on the SE 5th Avenue home.

"Who in their right mind would want something spray painted all over their house?" Youngs asked.

But the City of Cape Coral says if you want to spray paint your house, you can go right ahead.

"We don't do anything about it, can't do anything about it," said city spokeswoman Connie Barron.

But for eight-year-resident Youngs, she says she thinks something should be done about it.

"There are a lot of ridiculous laws and that should be the top of things to take care of," she said.

According to Barron, there is no code or law that addresses painting the outside of your home. And it isn't considered part of the sign ordinance because it's your home and that isn't something that code addresses.

"Whatever someone wants to do with their home - paint on garage, on side of the house – it's certainly up to them. It's a free speech issue," Barron said.

We attempted to contact the homeowner to ask why their home was spray painted, but no one answered.

Barron says she hasn't gotten any complaints about the house.

"We don't regulate ugly," Barron.

But she says she has received calls from people upset about color and other instances of spray paint on homes.

Barron went on to say the only time the city takes care of spray paint on homes is when it's on a vacant home.

At that point, it's considered graffiti and they will paint over it.

Weed-laced wine

While controversial, medical marijuana is now legal in 16 states. There are already a variety of ways medical marijuana patients can ingest that pot.

Some smoke it. Some choose to eat it in things like cookies or even ice cream.

Now a California chef is taking it to the next level by adding pot to wine.

"I wouldn't doubt that winemakers have been making this as far back as we know," says chef Herb Seidel.

Marijuana-infused wine and can go by nicknames like "green" or "tree" wine.

Seidel caters private parties in southern California.

He has a medical marijuana card and enjoys teaching other medical marijuana patients how to cook with weed.

His pot recipes are published in magazines and he even has his own set of cooking DVDs.

He says his friends in the wine country are making pot wine.

Online food blog Gourmet Live also reports that winemakers are taking a couple of barrels a year and putting marijuana inside, steeping it.

Winemakers are then pouring pot wine at the end of winemaker dinners and VIP tours, something that is illegal under federal law and would be illegal in the state of California, unless everyone tasting had a medical marijuana card.

Chef Herb doesn't sell or serve marijuana infused wine, but knows how to make it.

Although cannabis cookies, brownies, and other foods are sold at medical marijuana dispensaries, pot wine is not.

Still, some think it should be.

Tampa Woman Lines Up 9 Days Early For Best Buy's Black Friday Sale

While thousands of people her age are busy camping out in various Occupy movements around the country, a Florida woman decided last night to occupy the sidewalk outside her local Best Buy in order to be the first person to be disappointed by the Black Friday offerings on Nov. 25.

"You can't beat some of the deals they have on plasmas, flat screens and laptops," the young woman, who has coordinated her camp-out with three other families, tells Tampa's NBC affiliate. "We're all students; you've got to pinch a penny; it's affordable right now."

We don't know if she actually calculated the amount of money she and her cohorts are spending on their not-at-all-idiotic outdoors adventure. Because we're pretty sure she would still get the same deals if she showed up a mere few hours ahead of the Black Friday madness... or maybe just stayed at home and shopped online

Kissing crime: Assistant principal calls cops after elementary students smooch

A Fort Myers principal involved Lee County sheriff’s deputies in an elementary school crush.

Deputies were dispatched Wednesday to Orange River Elementary School in reference to what Assistant Principal Margaret Ann Haring called a “possible sex crime” — two students kissing.

“This incident is more of a simple assault, though by definition there would have to be a victim,” Sgt. Stephanie Eller said.

Haring told deputies she had two students, both under 12, who kissed while in physical education class, reports said. Haring said one of them was debating about who liked who more.

The student then went over and kissed the other. The smooch was witnessed by a teacher, reports said.

Haring first called the Florida Department of Children and Families who told her to contact the Sheriff’s Office. Haring told deputies there is an ongoing involvement with DCF.

Harind said “there were no new allegations of sexual abuse as far as she knew,” reports said. Much of the information in regards to DCF was redacted from reports.

When there is “suspicion to the level of concern, school employees are required to call DCF,” Lee County Public Schools spokesman Joe Donzelli said. “If there is an ongoing investigation no further information can be provided”.

By Florida law, school district employees are required to call DCF if they suspect abuse, Donzelli said. Haring’s reason for calling was not released.

“As a teacher, they obviously felt that this was something they wanted to report and we encourage that,” said Terri Durdaller, spokeswoman for the Sun Coast Region of the DCF.

Durdaller said DCF decides on a case-to-case basis whether the department will handle an incident reported to its 1-800-96ABUSE hotline or whether it will instead be referred to local law enforcement.

“This call came into the hotline and it did not fit our criteria,” Durdaller said.

According to DCF publications, legal criteria for a report through the department is constituted when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child who is a Florida resident is believed to have been harmed or threatened by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver or other person responsible for the child’s welfare.

Staff writer Kristine Gill contributed to this report.

  

 

 

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November 17, 2011

Gov. Scott now a grandfather

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is now a grandfather.

Scott announced on his Facebook account Wednesday that his grandson, August Philippe Richard Guimard, was born Tuesday night.

The governor commented on his posting that his grandson was beautiful and so tiny. He listed the weight at 5 pounds, 6 ounces. He also posted a picture showing himself and his wife, Ann Scott, holding the baby.

Scott, 58, has two grown daughters. This is his first grandchild.

The governor spent Wednesday in Naples with both his daughter, Allison, and his new grandson.

Man accused of pointing laser at sheriff's helicopter

A Lehigh Acres man was arrested for allegedly pointing a laser pointer into the eye of a pilot of the Lee County Sheriff's Office helicopter.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit was responding to reports of a shooting in the area of Homestead Road and Adams Road.

A few minutes later, the pilot requested units respond to the area of Kenilworth Boulevard because someone had pointed a green laser light into the cockpit and the eyes of the other pilot.

"Anything that interferes with our ability to see outside is dangerous," said Commander Pop Warner of the Lee County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit.

The pilot was wearing night vision goggles.

"If a laser were to come in, it can not only wash out these goggles and prevent us from seeing outside. Plus seeing our instrument panels- It could prevent us from doing that," said Warner.

The pilots radioed to other deputies and gave them the location where the laser light originated.

When they got to the home on Alwynne Drive, they found the laser pointer and arrested Jorge Garcia.

Deputies say Garcia told them he thought it was a joke.

The pilot suffered an eye injury and was taken to the hospital. He was treated and released.

We went to Garcia's home, but he did not answer the door.

Garcia is facing one count of pointing a laser light at driver, pilot causing injury.

Mom, daughter arrested after school cafeteria brawl

County deputies said Leslie Thomas teamed up with her 11-year-old daughter in a lunchroom brawl involving feuding sixth-graders.

Both mom and daughter were arrested, and the mother was charged with battery, child abuse and other charges for entering the school without permission and provoking the fight.

Jahmiyah Smith says the 29-year-old mother stormed in with her daughter and told her to attack.

"All of the sudden I saw a big crowd coming into the cafeteria," Jahmiyah said. "The girl just called me the b word, and then I turned around and she hit me from the back."

Jahmiyah said her friends stepped in to stop it, and that's when the mom got involved as well.

"She was in there fighting with the kids," Jahmiyah said.

Jahmiyah's mother, Kathleen Smith, said she's complained to the school about her daughter being bullied by a group of girls, including the girl involved in the fight.

"Every day I'm at the school, and I just keep complaining and complaining and complaining, and nothing gets done. It takes for this to happen for them to want to do something," Kathleen Smith said.

WFTV tried to ask Principal Eric Hollinhead if the school had ignored Kathleen Smith's plea for help, but reporter Drew Petrimoulx was kicked off campus.

East Naples man accused of pouring cooking oil on car

When an East Naples man found out a neighbor filed a restraining order against him, Collier deputies say he sought retaliation with a few choice words and a bottle of cooking oil.

Anthony Stephen Castellano, 49, of the 200 block of Grosbeak Lane, was arrested Tuesday and faces a felony criminal mischief charge stemming from the July incident in which he threw a torn up restraining order in his neighbor's face, shouted about how he hated law enforcement on his door, then poured cooking oil into a convertible belonging to his neighbor's roommate, according to the arrest report.

The oil caused nearly $3,500 in damages to the car. Castellano told the car's owner afterward that he had been drinking and using drugs for four days when the incident occurred, the woman told investigators.

Castellano faces an additional felony charge of burglary because of the car's location in a carport, as well as a misdemeanor charge of violating a restraining order.

Man blames strippers for drugs in his car, Lee deputies report

A man pulled over on Interstate 75 told Lee County sheriff's deputies he routinely drove strippers around and the Ecstasy found in his vehicle had to belong to one of them.

Junior Jean Merilia, 30, of Hollywood was arrested by deputies Tuesday along I-75. He faces charges of drug possession and keeping a vehicle for drugs.

Arrest reports say Merilia was driving south in a gray Dodge when deputies pulled him over for having windows tinted so dark they could not see the driver or see if there were any passengers inside. He also was following the vehicle in front of him very close despite several opportunities to change lanes.

After he was pulled over, deputies say Merilia explained that the vehicle was a rental and that he was not aware the tint was too dark. He appeared extremely nervous and told deputies he was returning from dropping off his children in Tampa. Deputies did not find any child seats or other children's items, reports said.

A drug sniffing dog alerted to narcotics in the vehicle. Merilia was sweating profusely and told deputies he rented the car for almost a month and could not be responsible for anything illegal inside because he routinely drove strippers around, reports said.

Deputies found a plastic baggy near the console. Inside were 27 capsules containing Ecstasy, deputies reported. 

 

 

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November 16, 2011

Retailers face backlash for Black Friday decisions

Retailers are becoming more aggressive with their holiday shopping strategies with doors opening earlier and earlier for the post-Thanksgiving shopping rush known as Black Friday.

Target and Best Buy will open doors at midnight on the Friday following Thanksgiving, while Walmart and Toys R Us will open the evening of Thanksgiving, at 10 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively.

Tammy Katz thinks starting the shopping on Thanksgiving is too early. "You should be with your family on Thanksgiving itself," says Katz. "But the day after, everything's fair game."

Ray Amati disagrees. He'll be out hunting for a new TV. 

"There's kind of a camaraderie... from store to store, line to line. You see the same people," says Amati.

"I don't think Thanksgiving should be left out," says Doris Schick. "All the people that have to work on Thanksgiving night to help out the shoppers, I don't think that's right."

Neither does Target employee Anthony Hardwick. The cart attendant in Omaha, Nebraska started an online petition to "Tell Target to Save Thanksgiving" on the website change.org. 

Hardwick says he started the petition when he realized he'd have to go to sleep around one o'clock on Thanksgiving afternoon in order to work an overnight shift for Black Friday.  He says he didn't want to miss his family's entire Thanksgiving celebration.

"I'm a guy just trying to make ends meet," says Hardwick, who holds a second job also. "I'm nothing special.  There's nothing amazing about me.  I'm just trying to stand up for what's right in this whole deal."

He's no longer scheduled to work the shift, but Hardwick says the online petition is for his fellow teammates who tell him they're too scared to sign it. 

"For them, that's what this is for," Hardwick says. "For the people who can't speak for themselves." 

More than 91,000 have signed the online petition, and representatives from change.org say the petition has inspired at least 30 more aimed at retailers opening early on Black Friday.

The Florida Retail Federation predicts aggressive tactics like the early hours will put Florida's sales ahead of the national pace this holiday season. 

"Retailers don't just do something without thinking that the consumer's going to like it," explains Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. "The consumer will decide.  If they like it, they'll stop in.  If they don't, retailers will not do it again. But we think that they'll like it."

A Target representative says the store will be open to accommodate guests who prefer to shop early rather than wake up in the middle of the night to get a good deal.  As for Hardwick, the store will not discipline him for stating his opinion or creating the petition.

Zoomers Amusement Park taking shape

abandoned Zoomers Amusement Park in South Fort Myers is coming back to life. The park, on Summerlin Road will soon feature a rollercoaster, tilt-a-whirl and adult go-karts.

Forty contractors are breathing new life into the park, with a three million dollar transformation now underway.

Project manager Alan Fluke calls Zoomers the poster child of Southwest Florida's sour economy.

In 2008, Florida Community Bank foreclosed on Zoomers, then 95-percent complete.

It never opened.

Since then, it's been the target of thieves, vandals, even hurricanes.

"The hardest part was people driving by it all the time, seeing it rusted and overgrown, and wondering when is it going to open? Now it's going to open," said Fluke.

Monday, the park received a large shipment of arcade games from New York.

Later this month, an adult-sized roller coaster will be shipped in from Texas, a tilt-a-whil will come from New Jersey and go-carts come in from Oregon.

Contractors were surprised to find most of the existing rides, while rusty, were still in perfect working condition.

Fluke explains Zoomers new focus is to attract all ages, "It's not just the kids, teens, mom and dad. This'll be a place where everyone can go to have a good time."

Even grandma and grandpa will find activities to suite them, with games like duckpin bowling.

Arcade prizes will even include adult-oriented items like pots and pans, power tools and big screen TVs.

By February, the park is expected to finally fly its checked flags.

Deputies on probation after failing to find felon's gun

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards has released its investigative report into a September incident in which a loaded revolver was found in a jail cell.

Disciplinary action has been taken against sheriff’s deputies Dennis Campbell and Robert Speakman, who failed to find the weapon during the search of a suspect, according to the report.

Both deputies are on three-month disciplinary probation and pending the results could face a three-day suspension without pay.

The incident was the first offense for both deputies.

The deputies were given their letters of reprimand and suspension Nov. 4.

On Sept. 8, 18-year-old Stoney Mathis was arrested for a traffic stop and taken to Okaloosa County Jail.

After his release the next day, a deputy searching the facility found a loaded .38 revolver tucked under a roll of toilet paper, according to the investigative report.

Investigators noted that neither deputy had properly searched Mathis’ waistband, which is where the weapon was hidden.

After finding the gun, investigators watched the video surveillance tape of the cell and saw Mathis pull the revolver from his waistband.

According to the report, Mathis was pulled over for a traffic stop. During the stop, passengers in the vehicle attempted to evade officers as well as destroy evidence.

Speakman responded to assist the initial deputy. Speakman is seen on video surveillance handcuffing Mathis and taking him to the front of a patrol vehicle to search him.

The deputy asked Mathis if he had “anything that would stick or hurt him,” and Mathis told him no.

Speakman performed a search, carefully checking Mathis’ legs and groin area, the upper part of his body and his pockets. The video footage, according to the report, shows Speakman looking around as if he realized he didn’t search Mathis’ waist. He began a search but did so “quickly” and only did half of the waist area.

Mathis was then put into another deputy’s patrol car and taken to Okaloosa County Jail.

Mathis and another man arrested that night were searched by Campbell upon arrival. As Campbell began to search Mathis, the suspect asked to use the bathroom.

Campbell said he told Mathis he would have to wait until he was searched and shackled.

Campbell checked Mathis’ waist and pockets. He also collected the Fort Walton Beach man’s belt before allowing him to use a cell’s bathroom.

The deputy described the 230-pound man as having a “big gut,” which hung over his pants. Campbell said he did not “physically lift up his stomach” during the search.

Campbell told investigators that not properly checking Mathis’ waist “might have been a mistake in retrospect,” according to the report. 

 

 

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November 15, 2011

Black bear spotted near FGCU campus

FWC called off the search for this black bear found wandering around near the FGCU campus. We spoke to authorities as they worked to keep the animal and humans safe.

"[There is a] healthy bear population and we continue to build homes in woods, so we are going to see bears," said Officer Stewart Spoede, with the FWC.

Monday night, a 100-pound black bear was spotted around FGCU's campus off of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway.

"That's pretty frightening," said FGCU senior Ryan Hickey.

He says it's scary because he walks late at night on campus from class.

"I guess I'll just watch were I walk. I'll keep an eye out," he said.

But Officer Spoede says people aren't generally in danger from bears, they are simply just a nuisance.

"Bears will flee from contact with people so there is no reason to be scared," he said.

Spoede said that particular bear had already been trapped once. So the fact that he's back isn't good.

"Bears are notorious for relocating to areas where they are from," he said.

But Spoede says what is good is that the bear was not acting aggressive toward people.

"It wasn't in a dumpster or aggressive - just sitting in woods and got nervous and fled across the street," he said.

And fleeing is what they want the bear to do. That way FWC doesn't have to trap the bear and relocate it.

"As long as he's doing what bears do and not causing trouble we have no reason to relocate him," Spoede said.

FWC wants to remind people that we do have black bears living all around us.

Officers say if you happen to come in contact, try and make yourself as big as possible, look right at the bear and back away slowly - but never run.

Landlord arrested for stealing electric meter

disagreement between a landlord and a tenant lands the landlord in jail. He says he's owed thousands of dollars. But because he took matters into his own hands, he may have to pay the tenant.

Gregory Taras says his tenant owed him money and he wasn't going to take not being paid lying down.

"I'm just like FPL. If you don't pay your bill, you shut the power off," Taras said.

And that's just what he says he did after he says his tenant, behind more than $6,000 in rent, refused to pay.

"I popped the meter, threw it in the front seat of my truck, started to leave and that's when Collier County came up and said I didn't have any right," he said.

Officials tols him he had no right to remove the electric meter and no right to leave his tenants without power.

According to the state's landlord tenant agreement, a landlord can't force a tenant out by turning off utilities - even if services are in the landlord's name.

The tenant says he was down on his luck and had a verbal agreement with his landlord and he never expected this to happen.

But his landlord tells a much different story.

"He's way behind on his rent and activity and action needed to be taken," Taras said.

But that action landed Taras behind bars. He's facing petit theft charges for removing the FPL meter.

And deputies say because he showed up to the property that he owns to collect rent on several occasions and tampered with the meter five times in one week, he's also charged with cyber stalking.

Those are charges and allegations that could force Taras to pay his tenant!

Florida law says the tenant can sue the landlord for up to three months rent and court costs if they violate the agreement.

District: Teacher admits taking money for grade

A Charlotte County teacher accused of selling grades has submitted his letter of resignation.

Jeff Spires, a math teacher at Charlotte High School, was accused of accepting cash from a student for a better quiz grade.

Spires, a teacher a Charlotte High for nine years, was placed unpaid administrative leave after the accusations arose in late October.

His letter of resignation, however, states his resignation effective as of October 28th.

Charlotte County Public Schools District officials say Spires confessed to selling a grade on one occasion this school year.

The investigation report will be reviewed to determine if any additional disciplinary action will be given.

Schools warn of bracelets used to smoke pot

A bracelet has some educators and parents worried their about more than making a fashion statement. At first glance, the crafty bracelets made out of a macramé type weave with beads and silver accessories look fashionable, even trendy.

"Looks like those little charm bracelets," says parent Michael Messine.

"They look like regular bracelets," says parent Clyana Wint.

But some school officials in the Orlando area are warning parents the bracelets may be used to smoke marijuana and even hide other drug paraphernalia such as crack, heroin and prescription pills.

Clyana says, "That's crazy. [I] would have never thought that."

Mom Lisa Griner says, "It's too bad our kids feel they have to participate in such things." 

 

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November 14, 2011

 

Teens arrested for paddleboard theft in Naples

Two teens were arrested for stealing a paddleboard off the beach and attempting to sell it on Craigslist.

Bill Lake told authorities he put his 10-foot, $1,500 paddleboard on the beach in front of his condo complex and hit the pool.

He was notified by his neighbor a short time later that he witnessed a male and female approach the board and carry it into the ocean.

"My neighbors saw them, then found me later and said, did you loan it to someone? I said no," Lake says.

However, later that evening, Lake found his paddleboard where he least expected it, on Craigslist.

"I got the telephone number. I called the person and set up a meeting," he said.

From there, the Naples Police Department took over.

Within 15 minutes of setting up a meeting, police took 18-year-old Peter Gonzalez, and 18-year-old Raquel Tingley in custody for trying to sell the board for $800.

"Special thanks to the Naples Police Department and their huge amount of manpower. They got people out of bed off-duty to come in. Huge thanks to the Naples Police Department," Lake says.

Tingley and Gonzalez bonded out of jail. They're expected to be arraigned in December facing grand theft charges.

 

Immortalstook the weekend box office!

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/

Snowbirds (and their money) return to South Florida

The migratory season is upon us and Florida's most famous birds are making their annual return.

Snowbirds. We love them. We hate them. We love to hate them. They often get a bad rap, characterized as disgruntled, rude, demanding and always looking for a deal, but nobody can deny the huge economic benefits they bring.

Here are the tell-tale signs they have returned.

Ex-boyfriend charged with breaking in, lighting ironing board on fire

A 57-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and charged with burglary of a home on Gulf Cove Court.

Larry Lynn Hensley, of Santa Rosa Beach, is charged with breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and lighting an ironing board and towel on fire in the living room, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Hensley was charged with unarmed burglary, a second-degree felony. He was being held in the Walton County

Man pushes wife after she finds him drunk, lying in his urine, deputies say

A Golden Gate Estates man is accused of pushing his wife, who was holding their young child, after she found him drunk and lying in his own urine.

Brendan Duffy, 40, of the 4200 block of Hampton Lane, was arrested Saturday by Collier County sheriff's deputies at home.

According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Duffy’s wife arrived home with their 2-year-old daughter and found Duffy asleep, intoxicated and laying in his own urine.

Duffy’s wife said that she began arguing with Duffy when he asked to hold their daughter but she refused because of his state of intoxication.

Duffy then pushed his wife down while she was holding their daughter in her hands, at which time she informed him that she was going to call the police but Duffy took her cell phone from her hand, according to reports.

The victim said she tried to use the house phone but Duffy shoved her to the floor for a second time.

She then ran to a neighbor’s residence, according to reports.

Duffy faces a charge of domestic violence.

 

 

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November 9, 2011

More than 600 jobs may be headed to Charlotte

More than 600 jobs could soon be headed to Charlotte County. Commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward with what would become the county's biggest job deal ever.

The plan is to lure food distributor Cheney Brothers to the area by giving upwards of $1.5 million in tax exemptions.

The incentives were orginally approved by voters.

County and business leaders told NBC2 the company, Cheney Brothers, wants to build an almost $20 million, 300,000 square foot building.

The building would serve as a distribution center for the company located near the airport.

In order for center to happen, county commissioners will have to approve Cheney Brothers' bid on the lan

2 SWFL men jailed in Mexico with $950K in cash

-

Two Southwest Florida men are in jail in Mexico after attempting to leave Mexico by plane after selling a boat for $950,000 cash. Mexican authorities say there is more to the situation than the sale of a boat.

Investigators in Mexico say it all began with the sale of a boat. A boat officials say isn't worth the $950,000 the two American men sold it for.

The two men in jail are identified as 56-year-old Steeven Knight and 41-year-old Walter Stephens.

Knight is a former developer for the Sanibel Yacht Club.

Both are being held by Mexican-Federal Police in a Mexico City jail. 

Authorities  received a tip on October 24th that 2 Americans were traveling with some 'dirty' money on a private Lear Jet from an airport in Toluca, Mexico to Houston, Texas.

The next day-police stopped the flight from taking off and boarded the plane to question the 2 men and the pilot.

The men appeared nervous and a search was conducted. 

Police found a suitcase on board with $950,000 in American dollars inside.

All 3 men were taken into custody, but the pilot was released.

No formal charges have been filed and no court dates have been set for Knight and Stephens.

Investigators think there's more to this situation than just the sale of a boat. They say Stephens has some prior drug trafficking charges in the United States.

Suit: Vegetables stuck in workers undies before being served at upscale steakhouse

 

Kitchen workers at the Morton's of Chicago steakhouse in Boca Raton are accused of sticking raw vegetables in their undies before serving them to their customers, the website Jose Lambiet's GossipExtra.comreported, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

A sous-chef claimed in his harassment suit he saw a colleague at the restaurant "place stalks of asparagus inside his underwear, next to his anal/genital area in order to simulate his penis," then "serve that asparagus to Morton's unsuspecting paying customers."

Major yuck.

  

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NOVEMBER 8, 2011

18-foot sinkhole found on Fort Myers Beach

An 18 foot deep sinkhole has been discovered on Fort Myers Beach. Town officials say they caught it just in time - before someone fell in.

The hole, large enough to fit two Volkswagens, is under a public sidewalk next to Nervous Nellie's restaurant.

"Absolutely terrible. I don't think anybody had any idea it was there," said Rob Degennaro, owner of Nervous Nellie's.

During a recent inspection, town officials were surprised to find the seawall was hollowed out and the sidewalk was supported by a thin layer of concrete.

"I think eventually the sidewalk would have collapsed there and if someone were to be on it, it would have been a real dangerous situation," said Terry Stewart, Fort Myers Beach Town Manager.

Now, crews are making emergency repairs. The project will cost the town $130,000.

The hole has already cost Nervous Nellie's restaurant thousands of dollars in sales.

For more than a month, the restaurant's patio was too unsafe to keep open.

"We're very busy back here. There's a lot of people walking around, hanging out at night. I think we really dodged a bullet," said Degennaro.

The town blames the seawall shift on a 2006 Lee County utility pipeline project where it says the contractor tried to pass a pipeline under the seawall, which caused the wall to shift.

Five years later, the tide and current have washed out ground beneath the seawall.

The town officially approved a fix Monday and will try to get the county to split the cost.

"Hopefully the attorneys don't have to get involved. If they are, I can't speak to what will happen," said Stewart.

Construction on the sea wall is expected to take another week.

Slide show: Donuts coax bear out of tree

One Immokalee neighborhood had an unwanted neighbor after a black bear climbed up a tree in someone's backyard and for hours, refused to come down.

The branches of a mango tree must have seemed like the perfect place for the male bear cuddle up. And with a crowd below, he was set to stay there for awhile.

"When you see a bear in a tree it's because it is scared. That's one of their safety measures, to escape up a tree," said wildlife biologist Joe Bozzo.

The 200 pound male showed up in the neighborhood Sunday.

"So he's been running around - back there that yard - last night, and then comes back over here to my mom's house," said neighbor Raul Martinez.

He says before the bear was trapped, his elderly mother was terrified to come out.

"She's locked up in her room - locked up inside her own house," he said.

And Martinez says he is disappointed with the response from deputies and FWC. He said at first, officials told him there was nothing they could do.

"Oh but if it be Naples, they would have been there in a heartbeat. But it's Immokalee, so," Martinez said.

Bozzo said Monday they couldn't use a tranquilizer dart on the bear.

"We didn't have a good open shot and it's about 25 feet up in the tree," he said.

So Monday afternoon, biologists set a trap - an eight-foot piece of culvert pipe with a door on one end.

"The idea is to bait it in and it pulls a bait bag and then it closes the door like a big mouse trap," Bozzo said, adding donuts were used as bait.

Though it's a little unusual to see a bear hanging out in a backyard, Bozzo says it shouldn't really surprise anyone in Collier County.

He explained the area has the second densest population of bears in the state and sometimes they just get little too comfortable.

Man accused of choking roommate, throwing meatloaf at girlfriend

A San Carlos Park man is accused of choking a his roommate and throwing a meatloaf at his girlfriend during a drunken fit of rage, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Deputies met with one of the victims, who was standing in the road way on the 17300 block of Oriole Road, in front of his residence.

He told deputies that when he arrived home from work, his roommate, Terrance Aaron Ford, 53, had been drinking all day and caused a disturbance with his girlfriend. When he confronted Ford about it, Ford grabbed him by the throat and threw him down into a recliner. He then squeezed his throat and threatened to hit him, reports said.

Ford’s live-in girlfriend told deputies Ford was drunk and tearing up the house when he threw a meatloaf at her. After hitting her with the meatloaf, she says, he threatened to hit his roommate’s girlfriend, who also lives in the house.

Ford was arrested and is facing charges of assault and battery. He is the owner of the home and invited the victim and his girlfriend to move in about two years ago.

Report: Teacher had two beer cans and plums in her lunch box

The school resource officer told a deputy an eyewitness had said that the teacher was stumbling and that her speech was "thick tongued."

Murgueytio then reportedly failed a field sobriety test.

This teacher packed an unusual lunch: The deputy found two beer cans in her lunch box next to some uneaten plums.

Get the DUHtails at WBBH NBC-2 Newsin Fort Myers.

Photo: Lee County Sheriff's Office

  

 

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NOVEMBER 7, 2011

Puss in Boots

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/

Driver caught with 10 pounds of "Purple Drank"

A 30-year-old man was arrested on Friday evening after being found with 10 pounds of liquid-promethazine codeine, or "Purple Drank."

At approximately 6:30 p.m., a detective with the Lee County Sheriff's Office's Highway Interdiction Unit observed a vehicle with extremely dark tinted windows failing to maintain lanes on I-75 near mile marker 150 in North Fort Myers.

The detective stopped the vehicle, a rented 2011 Ford F150, and issued a written warning to the driver, Ashlee L. Anderson.

It was revealed that Anderson was on probation for drug-related charged and had been released from prison on October 17th.

A K9 officer conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle alerted to the presence of drugs. Further searching revealed 10 pounds of the opiate-based liquid-promethazine codeine. 

The drug has a street value of approximately $50 per ounce.

Anderson was arrested and charged with trafficking in opiates, keeping a vehicle for drugs, and possession of opiates with intent to deliver.

Teacher accused of DUI crash in school parking lot

A Lee County teacher is accused of driving under the influence and deputies say she crashed into another car in her school's parking lot.

Deputies say on Thursday morning, the Dunbar Middle School, school resource officer called to report a minor crash that happened in the parking lot.

The crash involved teacher Christine Murgueytio's white Kia and another parked car.

The SRO told deputies that Murgueytio might have been impaired because an eyewitness had said that she was stumbling and that her speech was "thick tongued."

When deputies arrived and spoke the teacher, she was asked if she had been drinking or taking any drugs.

According to the arrest report, she replied that she had only taken one Ambien Wednesday night.

When asked to take a field sobriety test, she agreed but asked to do so in the back of the parking lot so that her coworkers and students would not see it happening.

Based on the results of those tests, she was placed in custody and asked to give a breath sample.

And as the deputy was gathering her things from her car, according to the arrest report, he found two beer cans in her lunch box next to some uneaten plums.

Murgueytio also agreed to give a urine sample, which was then placed into evidence.

She was then taken to the Lee County Jail, but has since been released on bond.

Safety Harbor man discovers stranger asleep in his pickup

Joseph Bingham walked out to his pickup truck Saturday morning, opened the door and found something unexpected in the passenger seat: a 26-year-old Tampa man he had never seen before, fast asleep, according to an arrest report.

Bingham called the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. A deputy showed up to his house about 8:10 a.m. The man in the truck was still asleep, according to the report. But not for long.

"They dragged me out of the car, threw me on the ground, and treated me like a criminal," said Arturo Hernandez Jr., the surprise occupant. Hernandez said he didn't know how he ended up in the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado.

Hernandez, who was arrested and faces a trespass charge, declined to say anything else.

Bingham couldn't be reached for comment Sunday.

Women's soccer: FGCU wins A-Sun title on Wacker's goal in second OT

Sunday afternoon's Atlantic Sun women's soccer championship game was Florida Gulf Coast University's first shot at an automatic Division I NCAA tournament bid in any sport.

The Eagles finally nailed it.

After spending four hours in a Naples hospital with a 104-degree fever Saturday night, FGCU freshman Shannen Wacker took a backward head-bumper from senior Gina Petracco, tapped the ball once on the breakaway, then beat Mercer goalkeeper Nikki Atkinson to the right side of the net with 3:50 left in double-overtime to give FGCU a 1-0 home win in front of 1,026 fans.

The Eagles exploded into each other and the mob of students on hand before collecting their A-Sun championship T-shirts and trophies, and posing for a slew of photos. Monday afternoon, they find out who and when they'll play when the 64-team College Cup field is announced via NCAA.com beginning at 4:30. FGCU, whose RPI mostly has hovered in the 70s, likely will have to travel for the first-rounder that will be played Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The A-Sun regular-season champion Eagles, who snatched their first conference tourney title in their first attempt after four seasons of transition into D-I, had to knock off a Mercer team that had won two of the last five tourney titles, including last season's. It was a grueling, physical match that often saw FGCU's field littered with ugly clumps of green (FGCU) and orange (Mercer). There were four yellow cards and stern warnings to the FGCU student section and Mercer bench.

FGCU (14-4-2) out-shot Mercer 15-10, but really, the scoring opportunities were few and very far between. Eagles senior all-conference goalkeeper Stephanie Powers had four saves, while Atkinson had six for Mercer (10-8-2).

By the end of regulation, players on both sides were panting, often with hands on hips or knees.

"We were exhausted," Petracco said. "But it's all about heart and determination."

None had more than Wacker, the tournament MVP who had the first goal in FGCU's 2-1 semifinal win against North Florida on Friday, and a 99- or 100-degree fever at the kickoff Sunday.

"I'm ready to pass out," Wacker said. "I was exhausted but I did what I could."

"Both defenses were so good and so fast at clogging everything up," FGCU coach Jim Blankenship said. "The teams couldn't get into a rhythm because the defensive pressure was so fast and so good."

Petracco, who had a goal and assist Friday night, took a long pass from junior Brittany Burt before heading the ball to Wacker for the goal.

"Gina, to her credit, has been busting it all weekend with Shannen,"Blankenship said. "They really work well together. It was a nice ball in and Gina just got up and won her header and the ball came out right to Shannen and she just rocked it. Kind of fitting that it was those two. That was what we were hoping would happen."

Petracco saw Wacker, and it, coming.

"I saw the ball in the air and I knew Shannen was behind me, so I needed to get it back quick for her to get the ball," said Petracco, who joined teammates KC Correllus and Powers on the all-tournament team. "It turned out perfect. It was unbelievable. Perfect goal. Perfect timing."

A red-faced Wacker managed a grin.

"(Petracco) went up for it, did a lot of hard work, and I saw the ball and tried to finish that," Wacker said. "Me and her, since I started playing forward at the start of the season, we've just had a lot of chemistry and connection together. So I just got by her side, and I was there."

When Blankenship started this program five years ago, FGCU didn't even have a field. But he insisted he always believed the Eagles could reach this goal in their first year of postseason eligibility.

"We talked about that last week," Blankenship said. "I said, 'We've been dreaming about this for five years.' This is why I came here and why we started this program 

 

 

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October 31, 2011 

 

Cape man arrested for road rage assault

A 49-year-old Cape Coral man was arrested on Friday evening after assaulting a person in a fit of road rage.

Florida Highway Patrol reports that the victim and a witness in a 2007 Mazda reported to a patrol officer that they had been assaulted by a man driving a blue Chevy Corvette.

The suspect, Terrance Lee Grable, was located and stopped on I-75, arrested, and charged with battery.

Woman offers undercover officer sex for $17

A woman who flagged down an undercover officer and then offered oral sex was arrested.

The officer was driving down Lovejoy Road around 8 p.m. when the 45-year-old woman motioned for the officer to stop, according to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department arrest report.

Once the officer had stopped, the Janet F. Overdurf said she would provide oral sex for $25.

The two then negotiated the price down to $17 before the officer arrested Overdurf for prostitution.

When searching Overdurf before placing her in the patrol car, the officer found a crack pipe in Overdurf’s “crotch area.”

Overdurf, who has at least two prior arrests for prostitution, said she used the pipe daily to smoke crack cocaine.

She was subsequently charged for possession of drug paraphernalia in addition to prostitution.

Police: Fla. pizza workers burned down rival store

The battle for pizza supremacy has taken a wrong turnin Florida.

Two managers of a Domino's Pizza restaurant in Lake City, in north-central Florida, have been charged with burning down a rival Papa John's location. The motive? Police say one of the men admitted that he believed with his competitor out of the way, more pizza lovers would flock to his restaurant.

The Papa John's was gutted in the Oct. 20 fire.

Both men — Sean Everett Davidson, 23, and Bryan David Sullivan, 22 — were booked on an arson charge and were being held in jail.

The Star-Banner of Ocala reports (http://bit.ly/vJdDVQ) that police are still looking for an ignition device that the men claimed they made but did not use to start the fire.

Puss in Bootstook the weekend box office! 

 

 

 

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October 28, 2011

Man attempts to rob pharmacy with "bomb"

Charlotte County deputies are trying to identify a man who attempted to rob a pharmacy by saying someone had forced him to commit the robbery and he had a bomb strapped to his body, according to reports.

The man went into the pharmacy on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte around midnight Wednesday and handed the clerk a note demanding Oxycontin, Roxicodone, Xanax and several other drugs.

The man said he was being forced to rob the pharmacy and he was strapped with a bomb.

The man left the store without any of the drugs.

The suspect is described as a white male, 20-23 years of age, 5'8" to 5'9" tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, dark sunglasses, baggy blue jeans, black gloves and black and white sneakers.

If you have any information on this attempted robbery contact CCSO Major Crime's detective Kevin Connolly at 941-639-2101, or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477).

LPGA tour's season-ending event to be played in Naples

A big money maker coming to Southwest Florida and it's bringing the world's best female golfers too. THE LPGA making a big annoucement on Thursday.

LPGA says it will hold its season-ending event at TwinEagles next year in Naples.

TwinEagles, just off of Immokalee Road, can now say its golf course is where the pros play.
The LPGA announcing today that next year around this time, the city of Naples will be home to its end of season tournament called the CME Group Titleholders.

"For a lot of fans at home you'll think of LPGA tour championship. CME Titleholders simply replaced that," said Michael Whan, LPGA Commissioner.

So how do you get into Titleholders? Well you have to play your way in! During each tournament, 3 players will qualify and at the end of the season the best of the best will compete. Stacy Lewis, a pro golfer, at today's annoucement has already qualified for Titleholders.

"We really wanted to try to end the season with a bang and get the best players in the world there. I think we'll have about 65 best players in the world tee up for the 2nd highest purse we have all year," said Stacy Lewis.

TwinEagles has 2 courses, but the ones the pros will play on is currently closed. It was just recently designed with the hope it would attract the professionals.It will open in January.

"All of the greens are elevated and it's going to require a lot of good golf shots. The last few holes are going to ..there's a drivable par 4 and some long holes so it's going to provide a lot of drama at the end," said Lewis.

This season-ending event is expect to rake in some big bucks for the area.

"What's going to throw you is how many of our customers from around the world come and how much staff and TV media show up. This event is going to be show in 150 countries," said Whan.

TwinEagles was picked because of its club house and its course's world class design. So why Naples? Well the Executive Chairman of the CME group, Terry Duffy, suggested Naples and once everyone checked it out, they loved it.

Thieves hit Harry Chapin food bank – again

Someone stole a delivery truck from the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers. The truck stolen was a replacement for another truck that was stolen in September.

"If you're going to steal from the food bank, you're going to steal from anybody," says Neal McAlister, the Director of Operations.

Someone first stole one of their pricey delivery trucks back in September, and then crooks hit the food bank again this week.

"I guess when it rains it pours," says Al Brislain, the President of the organization.

The thieves actually took the rental that Harry Chapin was using as a replacement for their stolen truck.

Now, the organization, which delivers food to places like the Salvation Army and church pantries, has to use fewer trucks to do more work.

"We're using pretty much every truck that we have to move food, to get food in, to get food out and when we come up short on a truck, it hampers the ability to serve people," says Brislain.

After the last truck was taken, the food bank put anti-theft devices in almost all of the trucks.

The rental, they assumed already had it, but it didn't.

Unlike the first theft, surveillance cameras didn't capture the theft.

Contractor caught pumping oil into Naples Bay

Protecting Naples Bay is a top priority for city officials and they say a construction crew in Naples blatantly dumped dangerous sludge into the water supply.

Today, Harbor Master Roger Jacobsen told the Code Enforcement Board he caught workers with RK Hydro-Vac pumping waste down a storm drain. He even had video to prove it.

"This truck was backed up along the bushes right along 11th Street with a hose coming out the back of the truck stuffed down into our storm drain, emptying the contents of the truck into our storm drain," he said.

Jacobsen also showed the board results from a lab test. The material being pumped from the truck down the storm drain included evidence of oil, petroleum hydrocarbons.

Chad Martin, a vice-president with RK Hydro-Vac, admitted the company pumped material down the storm drain, which leads directly to Naples Bay, but he said it wasn't enough hazardous material to make an impact.

According to city code, the amount doesn't matter because any petroleum is prohibited.

"Petroleum products are poison. Just like we can't ingest petroleum oil, neither can the organisms in Naples Bay," says City of Naples Natural Resources Manager Mike Bauer.

As it turns out, RK Hydro-Vac isn't licensed to work in Naples. The company paid a fine this week. Now they're facing another $5,000 fine.

"It disgusts me as a member of this board that it would do something like that," one board member said.

The Code Enforcement Board ruled pumping the sludge was definitely a violation.

Bystanders save people from burning van

-- For the first time, WINK News is hearing from the heroes who helped save three people's lives Thursday morning.  A car and a van collided, the van burst into flames and trapped three people inside.  The bystanders that helped pull people from the burning van said they were doing what they had to.  They just hope if it happened to them, someone would return the favor.

"When I ran up to the van, I started to pull on the door because the hood was in flames," said Cindy Smith, who pulled people from the burning van.

On Thursday morning, Smith decided to take a different way home after dropping her daughter off at school.

"I just started punching the window and the window wasn't budging," said Smith.

It was on that different way home, along Veterans and Surfside in Cape Coral, Smith found herself saving lives.

"God put me there.  He put me there.  Like I said, I never take that road," said Smith.

Just before 7 a.m., a car and van collided.  The van burst into flames.  Right in front of her eyes, Smith saw it all and didn't think twice.

"My adrenaline first kicked in, my human nature kicked in and I'm a mother and when I see kids, I would want someone to do it for me," said Smith.

Inside the burning van, three women, unable to get out.  Smith along with another good samaritan, Michael Hernandez, feverishly did what they could.

"As we tried to get people out and see what was going on, then the car just erupted into flames," said Hernandez.

Smith, Hernandez and others, pulled the three out of harms way.  They waited with EMS crews until the three inside the van were taken to the hospital.  When you ask Smith if she's a hero?  She will tell you no.  

"I would just call myself a human being and having compassion for my fellow man," said Smith.

Five people in total were taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, including an off-duty Lee County Sheriff's Office Deputy.  The sheriff's office told WINK News the deputy had his protective gear on and he's recovering at home. 

 

 

 

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October 27, 2011

Lee man arrested for letting cattle run loose

A 64-year-old man was jailed Tuesday after deputies say he allowed his cattle to run loose from his Lee County property.

Greg Seibert, of south Fort Myers, was charged with one count of permitting livestock to run at large or stray, a misdemeanor.

According to a Lee County Sheriff's Office report, several of Seibert's cows were spotted running free near Treeline Avenue and Amberwood Road on Oct. 19.

Authorities issued him a notice to appear in Lee County court after a deputy captured two of the cows the next day, the report said.

On Oct. 25., after Seibert had said he would remove the cattle from his pasture, the deputy reportedly captured several more in the area.

On Wednesday Seibert was arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail, where he was later released on bond.

According to Sergeant Stephanie Eller with LCSO, as more houses go up, deputies get more calls for animals on the loose.

Eller says so far this year, deputies have taken over 100 animals to the sheriff's office livestock compound. They've cited 11 people and jailed three for letting livestock, including cows and horses, run loose.

"It's just not a good outcome anytime," she says.

If drivers were to crash into livestock, the result could be deadly, which is why Eller says sheriff's deputies taking fencing animals in seriously.

Red Sox stadium nearly complete

In three months, Lee County's newest baseball stadium, Jet Blue Park, will open. Construction crews are one pace to have it ready when the Boston Red Sox return to town.

They're past the 7th inning stretch at Jet Blue Park.

Seating - stairways - and the Green Monster -all taking shape.

All replicating Fenway - and even the real scoreboard - which is currently on the disabled list, but will be ready for its spring training debut.

"It's been in storage for 10 or 12 years, so they're rehabbing it now, its in town, in an undisclosed location," said project manager Bob Taylor.

The other famous piece taking shape - the Green Monster.

"This is absolutely unique, I don't think you'll find a situation like this anywhere, even in major league stadiums," said Taylor.

What's different is there are three tiers of seating in the monster section, including a middle party deck area that will have netting to protect fans.

"And also to make sure a home run still must clear the 37 foot height just like it would have to in Fenway in Boston," said Taylor.

But unlike Fenway is the pavilion type covering - architecturally designed to mimic the cypress trees - from the angled poles resembling tree trunks up to the tree line of Southwest Florida.

"If you look at the top of those cypress heads, they're uneven and they undulate up and down and the idea was to emulate those cypress heads," said Taylor.

The new ball park will seat about 9400, and there will be standing room throughout. Right here is the lawn seats, where people can be next to the team bullpens.

The field will get sod this week and soon the Green Monster will be painted.

As the final truss goes up, there are still some unanswered questions.

"In Fenway the scoreboard is operated from behind, but here, we're not exactly sure how we'll put the numbers in the scoreboard," said Tom Easley, project inspector.

Boy, 9, drives for drinking dad...again

For the second time this month, authorities have charged a father with allowing his 9-year-old child to be a designated driver.

Nathan Walter Sikkenga, 31, of Gillette, Wyo., told troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol in Orlando on Saturday that he and his wife "were under the influence of alcohol" and instructed their son to drive the van, according to an arrest report released Tuesday.

The van crashed into a security gate arm bar. An Orange County Sheriff's deputy who witnessed the crash told responding troopers that a child was behind the wheel and the father was sitting in the front passenger seat, the report states.

Sikkenga was charged with felony child endangerment. No current telephone listing could be found for Sikkenga and it wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney. He was let out on bond and had asked for his lawyer when police read him his Miranda rights. The police report did not indicate why the father was charged and not the mother.

On Oct. 8, police say a Detroit-area man had his 9-year-old daughter drive him to the store because he had been drinking. Surveillance video from a gas station shows him telling a clerk that his daughter was his designated driver.

Brownstown Township, Mich., Detective Lt. Robert Grant said the girl was sitting behind the wheel in a child's booster seat before 3 a.m., when an officer opened the driver's side door of the full-sized panel van her father uses for work. He said she was surprised when police pulled her over.

She said to the officer, "What did you stop me for? I was driving good," Grant told the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.

The girl told police that her father had been drinking whiskey all night and that he had allowed her to drive before. Her parents are separated.

The father, who told officers he was teaching his daughter to drive, was arrested and refused a Breathalyzer test, Grant said. He was charged with second- and fourth-degree child abuse during an Oct. 10 arraignment.

He also was charged with being a habitual offender and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Teen carried 30 pounds of cocaine in cake boxes

cake mix at Miami's airport faces drug trafficking charges.

The teen turned 18 while being held in juvenile detention on charges of trafficking cocaine and importation of a controlled substance. The suspect is not being identified because of their age.

The Miami Herald reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/szmQ7V ) the teen had arrived in Miami on a flight from Jamaica last Friday when federal customs agents selected the teen's suitcase for screening. The teen, originally from London, claimed to not know what the substance was.

Miami-Dade Police Maj. Charles Nanney told the Herald that due to enhanced screening at the airport, it was rare to find someone with so much drugs "let alone a girl that young."

Man caught with 'weed' in pants pocket, 'stem' in rear pocket, 'rock' in hat

A 48-year-old man was arrested Oct. 7 on charges of drug possession, marijuana possession and narcotic equipment possession.

Deputies were called to Edney Avenue when a woman called and stated Lawrence Michael Larimer was intoxicated and walking down the street to buy cocaine, according to his Okaloosa County Sheriff's arrest report.

Deputies found Larimer and asked to speak with them. He agreed and when asked if he had anything illegal on him he said, "just less than an ounce of weed."

He was detained and three items were found on him: an ounce of "weed" in his front pants pocket, a crack "stem" in his rear pants pocket and a crack "rock" in the seam of his hat, the report said

 

 

 

 

 

 

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OCTOBER 26, 2011

Giant Lego man washes up on Siesta Key beach

A giant Lego man was found washed ashore on Siesta Key Public Beach just before dawn on Tuesday morning.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office says a beachgoer found the "man" near Access 5. The figure is approximately eight feet tall, weighs about 100 pounds, and is made of fiberglass.

He is wearing a shirt bearing the cryptic message, "No Real Than You Are," on the front, and the number "8" with the name "Ego Leonard" on the back.

A similar Lego man was found on a beach in the Netherlands in 2007 and another was found in England in 2008.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office removed the Lego man around noon on Tuesday. They say he is being kept in a secure environment until his owner comes forward.

Buddha statue stolen from restaurant

LEE COUNTY, FL -

A Buddha statue from in front of the Osaka Japanese Steak House on San Carlos Boulevard was stolen sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

The statue is valued at approximately $500.

If you have any information on the theft, contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS.

Florida teacher could face thousands of dollars in fines for helping students register to vote

Whatever you do, Florida teachers, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT try to educate your own students. Especially if you’re trying to teach them to participate in democracy. Specifically, responsible, eager kids involved in student government who are dedicated to pro-active leadership. And particularly about how to get out there and, you know, register to vote so they have an actual say in what happens in their own lives.

And we here at TPC know about those nasty little new election laws, don’t we? If you follow the News-Journal link, you can read about Florida’s… because they care so much about non-existent voter fraud that they’re making it difficult for legitimate voters to…. vote.

See? Irony isn’t dead.

Before you ask, yes, the ACLU is suing.

The problem was that the teacher didn’t register with the state before helping the students, and she failed to submit the necessary forms on time. Of course, that is a deterrent, and that’s the point.

Students tend to vote Democratic, and in Florida, apparently that is simply unacceptable. The answer in that state and so many others? Suppress the vote with superfluous laws that target the poor, students, the elderly, minorities, and rural voters. It’s all the rage!

Keyword: Rage.

Man tries to flood cell with toilet water

A man already charged with trespassing is facing another charge after he tried to flood a toilet in a holding cell.

The 49-year-old man came to the attention of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office after he was spotted outside a convenience store he’d been trespassed from in July, according to his arrest report.

After he was arrested and booked for the trespass charge, the man was put into a jail cell where he took off his shirt, put it in the toilet and then attempted to “flood the cell” with toilet water, the report stated.

After he was moved to another room, this one without a toilet, he ripped a thermostat off the wall.

Deputies charged him with criminal mischief for the damage.

In all, he caused about $300 worth of damage.

 

 

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OCTOBER 25, 2011

New communities to bring jobs to E. Naples

Three residential communities are planned in East Naples with the plan to bring more jobs to the area.

The first, Hacienda Lakes, is located at Rattlesnake Hammock Road, and Collier Boulevard. The second, Sabal Bay, is located at Thomasson Drive and US-41. And the third, Treviso Bay, is nearing completion off US-41.

Donna Fiala, the county commissioner representing the district, believes the neighborhoods will bring homeowners who will spend money in nearby shops and restaurants and spur new ones to open up.

"I'm seeing new things coming to life and us getting ready for our economy to recover," she says.

Fiala says Lely Resorts' success is what's driving the new construction and she's confident in it.

"By the time they start building, like in another year and half, by that time they expect the economy to turn around and they want to be ready for it," she says.

However, many aren't convinced. They say building 3,000 new homes among the three neighborhoods won't add jobs.

"What do we need it for?" asks homeowner Lavigne Kirkpatrick.

Local landscaper Drew Scott says with the amount of foreclosures and vacant stores in Southwest Florida, the future isn't looking too bright.

"Have you seen the amount of vacant properties, dilapidated houses, foreclosures that are going on? And the main objective is the build more houses. Who are we building these for?" he asks.

Fiala says they have reduced impact fees to make Collier County more business friendly, and she sees these developments as a positive move going forward.

FGCU using solar powered trash bins

Florida waste management officials are increasingly relying on solar powered trash bins.

The containers are popular in cash-strapped cities seeking to save gas money on trash collection. The Palm Beach Post (http://lb.vg/j07j3 ) reports Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers are all using the $3,800 containers.

The solar container has a sensor that turns on the compactor when the bin is close to full. When the barrel is full of compacted trash, it emails the trash collection department for a pickup. The compacted trash means the trash doesn't have to be picked up as often. The solar panel on the top powers a 12-volt battery

Delray city officials estimated they will save about $15,000 a year using the containers.

Woman attacked by otter in Thonotosassa

A Thonotosassa woman is recovering after she was allegedly bitten by an otter.

Melissa Donna was attacked by the animal in the Green Oaks Trailer Park on Saturday afternoon. According to neighbors, an otter was being kept as a pet by someone in the park.

Witnesses said that otter got loose and began attacking Donna's two dogs. We're told as Donna tried breaking up the animals, the otter bit and slashed her in the arms and hands.

The victim's son sent pictures of Donna's wound to Bay News 9, but the images were too graphic to share.

Donna was taken to the hospital and is recovering Sunday.

Debbie Land, a neighbor, heard Donna screaming and ran to help. Land said she's still wondering why someone would have an otter as a pet.

"They should have never been able to keep that otter over on their lot," she said "It's just a bad, bad situation all around. They've done other things in violation of these rules."

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials toldBay News 9it is not illegal to have an otter as a pet.

However, the owner has to have a permit. It remains unclear if owner has a permit.  

FWC officials said the agency is still investigating the attack.

Armless archer setting world records

If you've ever wondered what determination looks like, take a good long stare at Matt Stutzman.

You wouldn't be the first.

Stutzman was born without arms, but he compensates with creativity and the will to succeed.

"Even at a young age, I remember always trying to do stuff and I'd ask for help with my parents and my parents would always tell me, in a nice way, 'Try to figure it out first before we help you,'" he says.

He turned his determination into success on the archery range.

Two years ago we figured out his unique release system.

Stutzman adjusts the bow with this toes, holds it with his right foot, and brings up the arrow with his left.

"My feet are my hands, so I just and hold it the same way they would with their hands," he explains.

Using a release aid, he hooks the string to his shoulder before taking aim and letting go.

He's vying for a spot on the 2012 US Paralympic Team.

In September Stutzman hit a shot from more than two football fields away.

230 yards to be exact, breaking a Guinness World Record for the longest shot on target. 

It was 14 yards better than the old one set by a man who had both arms.

"I believe how I shoot is an advantage, because I use my leg and my leg is the strongest part of my body," he says.

Not counting his inner drive of course, which has him eyeing the able bodied competition with one ultimate goal.

"I want to be the best archer in the world...hands down...the best archer in the world," Stutzman says

Deputies: Using replica guns can be dangerous

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is cautioning the public about the seriousness and potential consequences of airsoft guns, which can appear very real.

Deputies say the look-alike guns are used to play military-style games like paintball, but cheaper and less messy because the weapons fire plastic pellets instead of paint capsules that burst on impact.

Officials with the sheriff's office want the public to be aware of the dangers and consequences of showing those weapons in public.

"The realism is a lot better than when I was a kid. We had little plastic guns that were blue or yellow. Now they have actual weapon systems that look like real weapons," said George Welch, with the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Because they can look so real, they can create unnecessary encounters with law enforcement.

They can also scare other people who might be lawfully armed with a real gun and who may respond with deadly force, fearing that their life may be in danger.

Toy guns - airsoft guns included - are required under federal law to have a bright orange tip to distinguish them from real weapons.

The law was put in place to protect law enforcement personnel and teens from misunderstandings, injuries and deaths.

Still, some guns are sold without the orange tips and those unaware of the law would be none the wiser.

Deputies are asking people who own airsoft and similar toy guns not to alter them.

They say people should keep in mind that the orange tip does not necessarily protect you because some people do not know about airsoft guns and may assume that the are real guns.

The sheriff's office also encourages parents to tell kids to use airsoft guns away from the public eye where no one will mistake the guns for real guns or be hurt by an errant BB.

When using airsoft guns, make sure everyone within view understands what you are playing with and what you are doing.

And if a law enforcement officer approaches you while you are using airsoft guns, immediately set the gun down, then stand still and slowly put your empty hands up, eliminating perceived threat to the deputy.

  

 

 

 

 

 

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OCTOBER 24, 2011

Man found with feces on him stole car, Collier deputies say MUG SHOT

An East Naples man accused of stealing a man’s car out of a store parking lot was caught during a traffic stop. Deputies say the suspect was found with feces on him.

Kevin Patrick Killilea, 36, of the 200 block of Bay Meadows Drive, was arrested Saturday by Collier County sheriff's deputies at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Rattlesnake Hammock Road.

The victim, who is an employee at the retail store in the 6300 block of Naples Boulevard, told deputies that on Friday he left his father’s 1990 gray Toyota Camry parked in the parking lot while he was working.

He also told deputies he had left the car unlocked.

Deputies said there was no video surveillance from Best Buy’s parking lot or from any of the surrounding businesses.

According to reports, on Saturday morning, deputies found the stolen Camry traveling on U.S. 41 and conducted a traffic stop.

Deputies said that the driver, Killilea, was high off of huffing air dusters and had feces on him.

Inside the vehicle, three cans of industrial strength Ultra-Duster were found, according to reports.

While deputies attempted to read him his Miranda rights, Killilea kept interrupting saying he wanted to kill himself.

Killilea was arrested on a felony charge of third-degree grand theft auto

94-year-old extinguishes fire, called a hero

When you think of flour, you think of cooking.

For 94-year-old Rose Swiszowski it was all she could think of to put out a fire when her pitcher of water didn't quite do the trick.

The pint-sized resident of St. Francis manor in Vero Beach, Florida was walking to her apartment Sunday night when she saw the fire.

She yelled for neighbors and starting doing everything to put out the flames on two chairs in front of the community building.

Firefighters would soon arrive and credited Rose with saving the day.

She's shy about it all and says firefighting runs in the family.

This was a first for this Detroit native.

And she says once is enough, she'll stick with spend her time heating things up in the kitchen.

Fire rescue officials say they will return to the complex next week to thank Rose Swiszowski for her courageous act.

Report: Stranger passed out, vomited in woman's apartment

A woman arrived home to find a drunken stranger in underwear, later identified as Ryan Markey Wells, 20, passed out in her Gainesvilleapartment, reports The Gainesville Sun.

As she tried to escort him out of he place, he shoved her then began to punch and kick her in the head.

The poor woman was left with two swollen eyes and an apartment covered in Ryan's vomit

Woman Stole Cash Register Containing a Quarter: Cops

A woman was arrested for helping to steal a cash register, which contained a quarter, from a Gainesville bagel shop, authorities said.

 

Erica Denise Phillips, 28, faces charges of grand theft and burglary of an unoccupied structure unarmed, a jail official said Thursday. She was released on her own recognizance.

 

According to an arrest report, Phillips said her role in the incident was to drive an alleged accomplice  in his car to and from the bagel shop, and search the cash register for money, The Gainesville Sun reported.

 

Phillips said the man broke the front door's window to get inside and carried the $800 cash register to the car, the newspaper reported.

 

The man hasn't been charged so far.

 

Tebow brings festive atmosphere to Miami 

One thing is clear this afternoon at Sun Life Stadium in Miami: this is not your typical football team between two franchises that combine for one victory and nine losses.

 

There is a festive playoff atmosphere outside the stadium and many of the fans are torn between their pro allegiances and their college team as quarterback Tim Tebow makes his first start of the season for the visiting Denver Broncos.

“I grew up a die-hard gator fan,” said Brian Felton of Boynton Beach. “Now I follow the Broncos and Dolphins. I’m sad the Dolphins didn’t draft Tebow. Tebow has a chance to fire up the team. When Tebow comes in, no matter what, he fires up the team.”

 

There were nearly as many Gator and Denver Bronco jerseys as there are Miami Dolphin jerseys. Some fans wore Bronco jerseys and Dolphin baseball caps.

 

“He gives them a better chance to win. That’s what the Broncos need, he’s the next Elway,” Felton continued. “The Dolphins had a chance to pick Tebow and now they’re struggling to find a quarterback.”

 

Matt Moore starts at quarterback for the Dolphins in place of the injured Chad Henne.

 

Hollywood resident Andy Kirk was tailgating before the game wearing a Florida gator jersey.

 

“We’re definitely a little torn right now because we’re Dolphin fans but we also want to support our alma mater and Timmy Tebow. We want to see a Dolphin win but we want to see Tebow throw up some good numbers.”

 

One fan who wasn’t torn about who to root for was Rodney Fresquez, who flew in from Denver for the game.

 

“Today is Tebow’s day to shine out here in Miami. We’re hoping he comes out and gives everyone a great show,” he said, while grilling zucchini. “We had 80,000 people chanting for him in Denver. Now Denver is getting their wish. Tebow is a winner and that’s how he plays. He’s a leader not a follower.”

 

Tebow ran onto the field a few minutes after noon to warm up and received a nice ovation from the crowd. 

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October 21, 2011

Food pantry struggles to meet increased need

The shelves at the St. Matthews House food pantry are nearly empty. They're asking for your help to feed the hungry.

"Compared to last year the amount of people coming for food has doubled," said Van Ellison, Saint Matthews House director.

The shelves in St Matthew's food pantry are far from over flowing.

"The resources are not keeping up at this point with the amount of the need in our communities," said Ellison.

Last month alone the pantry served 1800, like Michael Peters.

‘Helping me to get my life back together and it's been an absolute blessing," said Michael Peters.

St Matthews has always helped when someone lost a job or had a setback, but now, even working families are going there.

"Now we're seeing more and more families that their hours have been cut back so they're working part time and they just don't have the resources to pay rent, pay electric and feed their family," said Ellison.

With so many mouths to feed, the pantry has had to make some changes.

Volunteer Kathi Kelly can't pack the bags full.

"We've just cut down to basically half of what we give out," said Kelly.

Adding to the problem, other food pantries have already run out of food so they're sending people to St Matthews.

"The need is by far the worst they've ever seen," said Ellison.

Ellison says a stagnant economy is creating gaping holes on the shelves.

"The resources for poor families if they've had a cushion that's been exhausted because the economy hasn't improved for so long and that's really the cause," said Ellison.

The pantry especially needs canned vegetables, beans, macaroni and cheese and cereal.

"If businesses or church groups or schools want to do a food drive we're happy to come and pick up food," said Ellison.

They will also take donations right at the St. Matthews House on Airport Road.

Thief flees jewelry store in taxi

A North Port man was jailed after investigators say he stole a $7,000 gold necklace from a Port Charlotte jewelry store and then fled in a taxi Wednesday.

Taxi driver David Kopolovic said he got a call for a ride around 1:30 p.m.

"It was the peculiar thing about it. He never game me a final destination," said Kopolovic.

Kopolovic said his passenger, 22-year old Joshua Roberts, said he was fighting with friends, had to grab some things, and to wait for him.

What seemed to be a routine fare quickly turned into a heart pounding nightmare.

"When he jumped in the car he acted terrified and that the guys were going to kill him. I assumed he was telling the truth," said Kopolovic.

The men chasing down the cab worked inside Willis Jewelers.

Workers say Roberts first came in and asked about a necklace worth a couple grand, but came back 40 minutes later and took off with a gold necklace worth almost $7,000.

The jewelers were right behind him!

"It seemed like they were trying to break the windows in. For me, it was a very scary situation I really thought they were trying to kill him," said Kopolovic.

The jewelry store workers say they called 911 as they were following the cab down US 41.

But it wasn't until a Punta Gorda police office pulled over the cab did the driver realize he was being used a get away car.

"I wanted him to tell me what it was about. I could tell one of the guys had a cell phone. Murderers usually don't dial for help," said Kopolovic.

For Kopolovic, what's even more memorable is that he ended up being the one taken for a ride.

"It was $10.50, so he burned me for $10.50," said Kopolovic.

Kopolovic says he never expected his passenger's final destination would be jail.

Roberts faces charges of grand theft, probation violation, burglary, and trafficking in stolen property.

The stolen necklace was recovered from Roberts' pants pocket, according to deputies

'Batman' arrested in Michigan

PETOSKEY, Mich. (AP) - Holy probation Batman! Mark Williams won't be wearing his Batman costume for a while. He was arrested after being spotted on the roof of a Michigan building in his superhero get-up.

Williams said he wanted to prevent crime. He's pleaded guilty to attempted resisting-obstructing an officer.

A judge sentenced Williams to six months of probation. A local paper (Petoskey News-Review) reports Williams has also been ordered not to wear anymore costumes.

Fla. students mistakenly given racy bracelets

JAY, Fla. (AP) - Officials at a Florida Panhandle elementary school are rounding up risqué 'slap' bracelets that were mistakenly given as prizes for students' fundraising efforts to buy classroom supplies.

Jay Elementary School officials say children were given the bracelets that slap shut around their wrists on Tuesday. The school was notified by a parent whose child found the picture of a scantily clad woman after tearing the fabric on the bracelet.

The Pensacola News Journal (http://on.pnj.com/poyVXz ) reports about 160 bracelets were handed out. Only four bracelets had the X-rated images under the fabric coverings. School officials exchanged the bracelets for yo-yos on Thursday.

Principal Danny Carnley calls the incident unfortunate and says the situation was handled professionally.

The bracelets were supplied by a Tennessee-based fundraising program and were made from recycled material.

'Connect with a Classroom' surprises 86 teachers

NAPLES, Fla. - Eighty-six teachers in Collier County were surprised with some extra cash. It's part of the Education Foundation of Collier County's "Connect with a Classroom" project.  

Teachers request funding for certain classroom projects that aren't covered in the budget. Amy Diemert, a 6th grade science teacher at East Naples Middle School, applied for two grants. One was for supplies for a bottle rocket project and the other was for science fair boards so every student could have one.  

"Our budgets are very tight. Everyone knows that, so these little extra things that we are able to ask the community to help really make a huge difference," says Diemert.  

Thursday, volunteers from the Education Foundation delivered more than a hundred grants to 34 schools in Collier County.

"These are huge things that can really enhance the education for our students and we need the help so the community is a great thing the Education Foundation does to connect teachers to the community," says Diemert.  

The Education Foundation still has a number of teachers that still need help fulfilling their grant requests.

The Education Foundation is offering to match donors dollar-for-dollar (up to $5,000) for those requests still available.

Teacher accused of trading grades for cash

high school teacher is accused of trading better grades for cash. Now the Charlotte County School District is investigating.
    
When a student struggles with scoring As or Bs, often teachers will offer a chance to redeem their grades with extra credit. But one student at Charlotte High School claims he paid the price.
    
"The allegation was that he had paid the teacher on several occasions in cash, dollar amount, to adjust a grade on a particular test," Superintendent Dr. Doug Whittaker said.

According to Whittaker, Charlotte High School math teacher Jeff Spires is on leave while the district investigates the claim. They're talking to students, seeing if more were involved, and how long this may have been going on.

"We are checking to see whether or not this has indeed occurred," Whittaker said. "If it has, this is a very egregious offense. Grades hold such weight in high school that to compromise the accuracy and validity of those grades is a very serious offense."

But not all students give the accusation a passing grade. Charlotte High Senior Emily Burkett says she and others stand behind Jeff Spires.

"It's not true at all," Burkett said. "It's a rumor that started last year, and I think it's really messed up. He doesn't deserve it, he's a really good teacher, and I think it should stop."

We tried contacting Spires a variety of ways to get his side, but so far, we've gotten no response.

"We have taken this allegation very very seriously and while we would hope it's not the case, we have to wait and see," Whittaker said.

The school district expects to wrap up the inquiry part of the investigation by the end of the week. Spires will then get a chance to tell his side, and at that point, Superintendent Whittaker will make a recommendation to the school board. We'll let you know how it unfolds. 

 

 

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October 20, 2011

FDA: Diet pills tainted by illegal prescription drug

The FDA has issued a warning about 20 brands of dietary supplements advertised as so-called "natural" weight loss aids.

The FDA says they contain a prescription weight loss drug known under the name "Meridia."

"Meridia" was removed from the US market last year because it was linked to heart attacks and stroke.

A complete list of affected products can be found here: Tainted Weight Loss Products

Strollers recalled due to choking hazard

More than 400,000 jogging strollers are on recall because of a choking hazard.

B.O.B. Trailers Inc. is recalling single and double strollers because the stroller canopy's embroidered logo patch can detach.  The company has received six reports of children mouthing the detached patch, and two children gagging and choking on it.  In each incident, the children were seated in an infant car seat attached to the stroller.

The recall involves all B.O.B. strollers made between November 1998 and November 2010.  They were sold at REI, Babies ‘R Us and stores nationwide and on Amazon.com between November 1998 and October 2011 for between $280 and $600.   

The brand name BOB®, Ironman®, or Stroller Strides® is embroidered on the canopy of the strollers.

Customers should stop using the recalled strollers until they remove the embroidery backing patch from the interior of the canopy's logo.  Contact B.O.B. Trailers for instructions or more information at www.bobnotices.com.

Former FGCU golfer Lamielle 2nd in PGA Tour first-stage qualifying

Former FGCU golfer Joey Lamielle of Sarasota led a contingent of nine golfers with Southwest Florida ties, including five from FGCU, in the first round of PGA Tour first-stage qualifying Tuesday.

Lamielle, 29, who played on the Nationwide Tour in 2009 and competed in his second U.S. Open this summer, is in second place after shooting a 7-under 65 at Grasslands Golf & Country Club in Lakeland.

The number of berths into second stage has not been announced but is generally around 20 per site for the four-round events.

Police: Son Calls 911 On Drunken Mom

A local mother is in custody after police said she raced down Interstate 95 while drunk with her family in tow.

Investigators said Patricia Siciliano's own son had to call police to rescue the family.

According to police, the boy told officers that his mother was drunk and out of control at the time.

"She was doing a 100 (mph) down I-95 and I told her I didn't want to die. And then she wouldn't get out of the car so I had to pull it over. I had to pull like her, like, move her over and she started hitting me. I have bites, cuts and punches all over my face," the boy said.

Residents blame management for water woes

Some residents inside one Charlotte county mobile home park weren't blaming Mother Nature for their recent water troubles. They accuse management of failing to address their complaints for more than a year.

NBC2 first told you about draining issues and standing water at Tropical Palms in July.

The property owner is Equity Lifestyle Properties. The company manages 11 mobile home parks in Southwest Florida.

Since our intial report, residents said nothing has been done to fix the problems.

That standing water left homeowners feeling frustrated and forgotten.

"Yes, it's Florida. Yes, there is a lot of rain but I believe the company isn't living up to their responsibility to maintain this community," said resident Donna Spafford.

Our repeated calls and requests for comment from Equity Lifestyle Properties went unanswered

  

 

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OCTOBER 19, 2011

Scott posts university salaries online

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, October 18, 2011..........Amidst a push to reform higher education, Gov. Rick Scott has posted the salaries of all state university employees online, prompting pushback from faculty.

The salary information for all 11 state universities was already publicly available, but Scott's office last week took the extra step of compiling the information, putting it into a searchable spreadsheet and posting it online on the "Florida Has a Right to Know" website.

The website allows Florida faculty and administrators, and anyone else, to easily glimpse the salaries of their colleagues, supervisors and rival academics for the first time.

Salaries of professors vary widely, from the $30,000 a year made by an English instructor at the University of Central Florida to $1.2 million paid to a medical professor at the University of South Florida. The highest professor salaries came primarily from medical school professors at the University of Florida and USF.

The effort to publish university salaries comes during a time that Scott has pressed for changes in higher education, touting an effort in Texas to scrutinize faculty productivity and tenure. This has made some faculty nervous that Scott is publishing salaries as part of a maneuver to galvanize public opinion against university faculty in a push to tie pay to performance, or change other benefits such as tenure.

Scott has also posted the salary information of state employees and information on public employees who receive state pensions worth more than $100,000 a year on the same website.

"Just as salary information for all the Office of the Governor workers and the state agencies are posted online, Florida has right to know about university salaries as well because they are paid for by taxpayer dollars," said Scott spokesman Lane Wright.

But faculty say salaries are not always paid for with state taxpayer dollars.

"My reaction is not a privacy concern, this is public knowledge anyway," said Tom Auxter, a philosophy professor at the University of Florida and the president of the United Faculty of Florida. "But when the governor just publishes this, it makes it look like it is something other than it is."

For example, some professors have part of their salary paid for through endowments or grants, not state funds.

"They are not necessarily all state dollars and it is somewhat misleading as to how the categories are arranged," said University of Florida spokeswoman Janine Sikes.

For instance, the highest-paid professor in the university system is Dr. Neil Fenske, a renowned dermatologist and professor who is paid $1.2 million. But a USF spokeswoman said his salary is mostly paid for through clinic fees from patients. A USF statement said Fenske is considered "one of the nation's leading cancer specialists in melanoma."

Faculty are also concerned the online database will draw attention to the six-figure salaries paid to a few superstar professors and administrators, versus the more typical five-figure salary of an assistant or associate professor.

The database also doesn't include some forms of compensation. Figures posted for university presidents, for example, list just their base salaries and not bonuses. For instance, University of Central Florida President John Hitt made $673,500 in the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The salary database shows his salary was $463,500.

Auxter, the UFF president, said Scott is motivated to cut costs at universities. Toward that end, Auxter said the governor has chosen to "vilify" faculty rather than find new revenue sources.

"(Scott) has boxed himself into a strategy where he has to be constantly claiming to expose government waste," Auxter said. He said professors, on average, make less in Florida than in most other states.

Florida universities are already struggling to keep talented professors in the state, Auxter said, a by-product of tough budget years in which universities have seen funding cut from the state.

"You can't pay the talent you want to keep and the talent you want to attract," Auxter said.

Man holds lost cell phone for ransom

A 28-year-old Cape Coral man was arrested Monday night after finding a man's lost cell phone and holding it ransom for $300.

The victim, Michael Pfister, told Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies that he lost his cell phone Friday night at the Zombicon event in downtown Fort Myers.

On Saturday afternoon, Pfister's girlfriend received several text messages from the missing phone.

The suspect with the phone, later identified as Joel Ervin, demanded $200 for the return of the phone.

The suspect also stated that if police were called, the phone would be destroyed.

Pfister arranged to meet the suspect and make the transaction. When the two met, Ervin demanded $300 for the exchange.

Pfister was able to relay the vehicle information and description of Ervin to deputies shortly after the transaction was made.

Ervin was located a short time later and stopped by the deputies.

The money, along with the cell phone were returned to Pfister.

Ervin has been charged with dealing in stolen property, and grand theft over $300 and under $5,000.

T-Mobile Customer Runs Up $201,000 Phone Bill

A woman in Florida recently bought her brother a phone and put him on her plan. But little did she know that her brother's two-week trip to Canada would result in a 43-page bill for more than $201,000.

"I was freaking out. I was shaking, crying, I couldn't even talk that much on the phone. I was like my life is over!" The woman tells WSVN-TV about her reaction to the mammoth bill.

Apparently what had happened was that her brother had not turned the data roaming off on his phone during his trip to Canada. More than 2,000 texts and a number of downloaded videos later and — at $10/megabyte — you end up with a phone bill larger than many mortgages.

While T-Mobile says it sent several texts to the brother alerting him of the rates, the sister believes she should have been given a heads-up at some point before things got into six-digit territory. "Wouldn't you let me know as the primary holder and they are saying no we respect your privacy. What privacy? That is my account," she says.

Though it had no obligation to do so, T-Mobile eventually decided to slash the bill to $2,500 and gave the customer six months to pay off that amount.

  

 

 

 

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OCTOBER 18, 2011

"Occupy" supporters camp in Centennial Park

The "Occupy Fort Myers" movement is now putting down roots in the city. Protesters have been camping out in Centennial Park since the movement began on Saturday night.

What started with only five tents has now increased to eight, and campers say they plan to stay indefinitely in their attempts to raise awareness and stand behind the movement.

"Even if we take over the whole park, we will stay peaceful and have no problems," says protester Jack Murray.

City ordinances allow the group to assemble for political reasons, but they insist it's not a political movement and they will keep it that way.

Members of the group say they are sleeping in shifts and talking about the movement's mission while awake.

"We are discussing each other's opinions and ideas, and we have general assemblies, talking about getting more organized," said protester Justin V.

The group says they're getting by on the generosity of supporters.
Local business Cyberstreet, Inc. donated WiFi internet.

"I don't hold a sign and picket, but I support their movement with technology," said company owner Walter Peterson.

The technology is combined with donated food from strangers passing through in support of the movement.

"Everyone is heard. People come here to be heard," Murray says.

Approximately 25 people are currently at the park showing their support. More are expected to arrive throughout the evening.

Florida lawmaker looks to ban debit card fees

For years, banks have touted free checking. But recently, some of them have come under fire for proposing debit card fees.

The idea has prompted outrage for bank customers like Brenda Beck.

"We've been a customer for 29 years, so they shouldn't do that," she says.

If you use a Bank of America debit card, you'll pay $5.00 per month.

That fee is something Bill Wagner won't have.

"We're still considering going over to Chase Bank where they don't charge that fee," he says.

Florida representative Jeff Clemens is saying no more to all of them.

He filed legislation to ban banks in Florida from imposing the fee.

"When you sell a service that's free to people for years and convince them they don't need to carry cash or checkbooks any longer and then you turn around and want to charge them for that, it's completely unfair," Clemens says.

But the Electronic Payment Coalition doesn't see it that way.

In a statement to Bank of America and others, they say, in part, "Facing a $6 billion slash in revenue, banks are facing an impossible decision – raise fees, eliminate things that were free, or stop issuing debit. Using bad legislation to try to repair the ills of bad regulation is like putting a band-aid on a broken bone."

Clemens sees it differently.

"This is bank propaganda," he says.

And consumers like Wagner say they need all the help they can get.

"We're paying enough for our banking. We don't need to pay more," he says.

Clemens says while banking regulations typically fall under federal oversight, a recent United States Supreme Court care gives the bill a chance to affect state banks and big national banks like Bank of America.

Two charged in theft of cooking oil

Two Miami men were arrested after allegedly stealing used cooking oil from a Burger King in Punta Gorda, according to Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reports.

A manager at the Burger King on Jones Loop Road spoke with two men who were behind the restaurant pumping cooking oil from a storage container belonging to Griffin Industries.

The men told the manager Griffin Industries' truck was down and they were collecting the oil. When the manager called Griffin Industries, the company said no one was in the area collecting oil.

The manager contacted deputies and a BOLO was released.

Burger King may not have been the only restaurant hit. An employee at IHOP told police that night that she saw a truck that matched the description in the back where they keep the oil.

Later that night, a Punta Gorda Police Officer noticed the truck behind the Golden Corral and conducted a traffic stop on the truck.

The two men in the vehicle were identified as driver Antonio Hernandez and passenger Javier Abad. They said they were traveling from Miami to Tampa.

The passenger wouldn't make a statement and the driver told deputies he was just trying to make a living, but would not provide any other information.

"They were just out for themselves to make a lot of money illegally," says Charlotte County Sheriff's Office spokesman Robert Carpenter.

It was estimated 150 gallons of used cooking oil was stolen from Burger King with an estimated value of $1500.

Abad and Hernandez were arrested and charged with grand theft.

Students defy dress codes with "bellies and bottoms" out

When it comes to dressing for school, some South Florida students are following a fashion mandate one teacher describes as the Three Bs: Busts, bellies and butts.

Midriff-baring shirts. Backless halters. Short shorts with pockets hanging down.

Some parents and teachers say the garments defy not only dress codes — and a new state law banning saggy pants in schools — but common decency. At a public forum this month, several Broward parents said the dress code — and lack of enforcement — was one of their biggest concerns.

Jeanne Albertus, a teacher at Piper High in Sunrise, said some students wear "hems so high and necklines so low that nothing is left to the imagination." At Coral Springs High, teacher Penny Pagano says the boys' pants are sagging "way below their butts."

Dress codes cover most body-baring possibilities. Palm Beach CountySchools has this helpful line: "Undergarments shall not be worn as outergarments." 

 

 

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Real Steel  was the number 1 movie

 Facebook rant results in student's suspension

Facebook post has gotten a Catawba Valley Community College student suspended and banned from campus.

Marketing student Marc Bechtol said it was satire and free speech, but the college isn't laughing.

It all started with Catawba Valley Community College's branded debit card. It doubles as Bechtol's student identification.

It's something he said he told the school he didn't want.

It's also something that came anyway, asking Bechtol to verify personal information he didn't want a financial services company to have.

Bechtol said he activated it because, according to the card literature, it was the only way he could get his grant money.

He says the next thing he knew, a credit card offer from a different bank was in his CVCC inbox.

"No coincidence here. I never get credit card offers through that school box, but it happened the day after the card was activated," Bechtol said.

That ticked him off.

So, he took to Facebook.

"Anyone else's inbox full of spam today? I wonder if they'd like it if we register them with every porn site known to man. Anyone know of any good viruses we could send them?" he posted.

He immediately followed up with this post: "OK, maybe that would be a bit excessive."

Bechtol said it was satire. "There was no intent to do anything, no follow up act to do anything.

Obviously I was venting frustration," he said.

CVCC didn't find it funny.

In a letter, CVCC called Bechtol's Facebook post "disturbing" and "indicates possible malicious action against the college."

It also said Bechtol violated CVCC's student conduct policy and that he's suspended for two semesters plus banned from the CVCC campus.

"They even threatened to have me arrested while leaving," Bechtol said.

Now, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is stepping in, claiming Bechtol's Facebook posts are protected speech, and asking CVCC to end Bechtol's discipline.

"They're using this to silence a dissenter," Bechtol said about CVCC.

Bechtol said FIRE called CVCC Wednesday and after that, CVCC called him to tell him he can come to class Thursday.

Bechtol said he has not heard that his suspension has been lifted though.

CVCC said they're involved in Bechtol's due process at this time and can't comment.
 

Occupy protests in Fort Myers, Naples

Occupy protestors are marching around the world and right here in Southwest Florida. They say they're protesting big business and say they've had enough of capitalism.

There were two Occupy protests in Southwest Florida Saturday. One was in Naples and the other in Fort Myers, where nearly 500 people gathered in Centennial Park.

Protestors we spoke to say their message is clear

"Because we are sick of corporate greed," said Kelly Garcia.

Governor Rick Scott said the national movement lacks focus, and protesters were not happy to hear that.

"I do not understand what they're looking for, but I think it's good that the people are showing up and expressing their views. That's the great part about America, you can do it," Governor Scott said.

"The reason Governor Scott doesn't get it? He's out of touch," said protestor Pete Crumbpacker.

"He does not understand because he can't. The rich have a totally different mindset. It does not make them evil people. They just literally don't understand they can't relate," said Gary Land.

But relate to what? We found the Occupy movement centered on an anti-corporate, anti-corrupt platform.

"The influence of special interest money in our elections," said Land.

Some protesters say money shouldn't buy everything.

"Until we have real responsible government - responsible to the people not the folks who give them money to get them elected," Land said.

And he says they can't afford to not be heard anymore.

Protesters finished where they started here in Centennial Park. There were no incidents with police and organizers say they're planning another march for next Saturday.

In Naples, about 200 people marched from City Hall to 5th Avenue waving signs and chanting about their frustrations.

Lori Harrod came from Ohio to march alongside her grandmother. In all, four generations of her family marched.

"We are the 99 percent, we can't make ends meet or afford our homes," Harrod said.

Employed, Harrod said she still cannot make enough to live comfortably.

The unemployed members of the movement also shared frustrations with tax breaks for the wealthiest few and corporate influence on politicians.

Drew Scott, an emerging leader in the movement, said he still thinks the movement is a non-partisan affair and should remain that way.

"As soon as you involve a political party you close the book on the movement," he said.

This, after recent comparisons between the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement.

Bill Van Arsdale of Bonita Springs was also in support of the movement.

He said he found common ties with some Tea Party supporters there to oppose the Occupy Movement.

"I just had a conversation with a guy from the Tea Party. At first, he yelled at me but by the end of our talk he said we actually have a lot in common," Van Arsdale said.

He also said he plans to meet with Tea Party members to discuss some of the common themes in the movements.

But Scott maintains the movement should remain grassroots to avoid corruption and a takeover by political parties.

The movement plans to meet again on Nov. 5 as part of a worldwide day of the occupation.

The hope, Scott said, is to find a more central method of turning protestors' frustrations into actions by those in power.

Suspicious package removed by bomb squad

The Collier County Bomb Squad removed a suspicious package that was found underneath a car parked in a plaza near the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and Panther Lane.

Officials on scene say that a man was walking to his car from a lawyer's office in the plaza and noticed that his bumper looked funny.

As he was checking it out, a package - one that was said to be wrapped in platic and smelled like fresh glue - fell out from the bumper.

People inside the businesses had been asked to stay there until it was determined the package was no longer a threat.

Authorities later confirmed that the suspicious package was a GPS tracking device that had been installed on the vehicle.

Amtrak rider nabbed in Naperville with 45 lbs. of pot

Naperville police took Sanchez into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday after he alighted from an eastbound Amtrak train. Taylor said he did not know whether the arrest was made at the Fourth Avenue commuter train station north of the city’s downtown area or the Route 59 depot.

DEA agents began investigating Sanchez after he purchased a ticket on the west coast, Taylor said. They developed information Sanchez was carrying some sort of contraband.

Federal investigators are “routinely” looking for people who are “using all modes of transportation” to move and smuggle narcotics, weapons and other illegal goods, Taylor said.

“We have groups (of agents) working airports, train stations and bus stations,” Taylor said. “It’s literally planes, trains and automobiles.”

DEA investigators regularly partner with local law enforcement agencies, Taylor said. In Sanchez’s case, “we got in contact with Naperville police, and they had one of their K-9s available” for sniffing out drugs, he said.

The dog began barking at Sanchez, and a subsequent search of the two suitcases and backpack he was carrying yielded 45 “packaged” pounds of marijuana, Taylor said.

Taylor said he did not know whether the marijuana was bound for the Naperville area. A Naperville police watch commander on Friday night did not return a telephone message that sought further information about the case.

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October 14, 2011

Moon and Jupiter to shine close together

The two most brilliant objects in our current night sky will make for an eye-catching duo tonight (Oct. 13), weather permitting. 

Looking low to the east-northeast around 7:30 p.m. local daylight time, you’ll see a nearly full waning gibbous moon. Sitting just to the right of the moon will be the lordly light belonging to the largest planet in our solar system : Jupiter.  

Jupiter will hover about 5 degrees from the moon's right. Your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees, so moon and Jupiter will be separated by about half a fist. 

The sky map of the moon and Jupiter here shows how they will appear together tonight.

Cosmic dance of Jupiter and moon
If you stay up through the night, you may notice the moon slowly pulling away from Jupiter at a rate of one lunar diameter per hour, and the orientation between the two bright objects will change as well.

By around 1 a.m. local daylight time (early Friday morning), the moon will seem to hover high above and to Jupiter's left. By 6:30 a.m. — with morning twilight rapidly brightening the sky in the east — the moon will seem to hang high and almost directly above Jupiter.

In the days that follow, the moon will pull away to the east and diminish in illumination, leaving glorious Jupiter to rule the October night.

On Oct. 28, Jupiter will arrive at opposition against the sparse background stars of the constellation Aries, the Ram. Since it is then opposite to the sun, the planet rises at sunset, crosses the sky from east to west during the night and sets at sunrise. 

Beginning in November, Jupiter will already be up in the eastern sky when the sun goes down. This will continue for the rest of the fall season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Jupiter shining bright
Opposition generally brings a "superior" planet (an outer planet as compared with Earth) closest to the Earth, and this is why Jupiter now shines more brilliantly than it has all year.

Astronomers use a reverse number scale to measure the brightness of objects in the sky, with smaller numbers corresponding to brighter objects. A negative number, for example, represents an extremely bright object. At an eye-popping magnitude of - 2.9 — fully four times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star — Jupiter is far brighter than any nighttime star.

But this year's apparition of Jupiter is an exceptionally good one. Although "Big Jupe" comes to opposition every 13 months (every time the Earth sweeps between it and the sun), 2011 is also Jupiter's year of perihelion. This is when it is closest to the sun in its 12-year orbit, so it's also particularly close to the Earth. 

Jupiter is 33 light-minutes away this month, compared to its most distant opposition of the last decade in 2005.

Charlotte deputy resigns over fake traffic stops

Charlotte County deputy Timothy Hamula resigned Tuesday after an internal affairs investigation revealed that he fabricated anywhere from 30 to 40 traffic stops, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Hamula was accused of Falsification of Official Documents and Untruthfulness.

According to documents obtained by NBC2, Hamula admitted that he had fabricated information for the false traffic stops. In the report, he told a sergeant that he was under stress to show activity.

Several owners of the vehicles that Hamula had claimed to have stopped denied ever being pulled over by him, the report said.

Gary Vankleeck was one of Hamula's "traffic stops."

"I haven't had a speeding ticket to be honest with you," said Vankleeck.

Vankleeck is proud of his 30 years of law enforcement service. The former police chief is still surprised by a phone call he received last month.

"He asked me if I had been pulled over in one of my cars and I said not to my knowledge," said Vankleeck.

Vankleeck says he asked wife if she'd been pulled driving her car, but she had not been stopped either.

The call was part of an Internal Affairs investigation into Deputy Timothy Hamula's traffic stops.

One of the many traffic stops the deputy said he conducted happened at the intersection of Wilmington and Coliseum one Tuesday evening in July. When investigators asked the owner if the traffic stop happened, he said it didn't.

According to their report this happened quite often.

"I was kind of surprised. This should not happen," said Vankleeck.

The internal affairs report says Hamula admitted to fabricating between 30 and 40 traffic stops.

Investigators claim he'd call in "fake traffic stops" and put in tag numbers, like the one from Vankleeck's vehicle. He is also accused of using tag numbers from the cars of other Charlotte County Sheriff Office employees.

Hamula states in the report he did it because "He was under stress to show activity."

The sheriff's office said Hamula "wasn't doing his basic job" and that the agency has no quota.

For some who found themselves flagged for no good reason, Vankleeck says the deputy's departure is a good thing.

"If you take an oath of office and swear to that oath to do the right thing, you better stand by it," said Vankleeck.

Hamula resigned after Sheriff Bill Cameron informed him that he would be fired.

Red tide, fish kills hit Southwest Florida beaches

Red tide and thousands of dead fish are now officially on the beaches of Southwest Florida. We snapped captured pictures of dead fish on the shorelines of Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Ussepa Island.

Officially, the red tide bloom is about two to 12 miles off the Lee and Charlotte coasts from Gasparilla Pass to Captiva in low to medium concentrations in Pine Island Sound.

People we spoke to are hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst.

"We got here a couple of hours ago and just noticed how many there were- everywhere," said beachgoer Maureen Petrie.

Just two days ago we groups of dead fish from a helicopter off of Cayo Costa. And now, those thousands of dead fish are hitting shore.

"It's pretty gross. I'm not even used to the ocean, so to come here and see all these dead fish is kind of unpleasant," said another beachgoer, Eric Fical.

The FWC says the fish kill was caused by red tide.

• Click here for more info on red tide

"It's a phytoplankton that happens to produce toxins that are poisonous to animals with backbones," explained Dr. Bruce Neill, a marine biologist with the Sanibel Sea School.

In the water, the red tide paralyzes fish's gills - causing them to suffocate and wash up on beaches.

But red tide can affect people on land as well.

"The chemicals that produce the poison in red tide are very small but can drift up into the air and become aerosolized - we call it ANS - then they can bother people and cause respiratory problems," said Neill.

That is something both Petrie and Fical said they experienced.

"We started coughing a little bit," Petrie said.

Friday, they're hoping for a day-without the stench.

"We're staying on Fort Myers Beach and there's no dead fish there," Fical said.

But experts say that area could be next.

"The fish could blow in on the winds you feel blowing on your back right now," Dr. Neill said.

FWC will retest the Gulf water Friday and release their all inclusive report just before the weekend.

Red tide and thousands of dead fish are now officially on the beaches of Southwest Florida. We snapped captured pictures of dead fish on the shorelines of Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Ussepa Island.

Officially, the red tide bloom is about two to 12 miles off the Lee and Charlotte coasts from Gasparilla Pass to Captiva in low to medium concentrations in Pine Island Sound.

People we spoke to are hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst.

"We got here a couple of hours ago and just noticed how many there were- everywhere," said beachgoer Maureen Petrie.

Just two days ago we groups of dead fish from a helicopter off of Cayo Costa. And now, those thousands of dead fish are hitting shore.

"It's pretty gross. I'm not even used to the ocean, so to come here and see all these dead fish is kind of unpleasant," said another beachgoer, Eric Fical.

The FWC says the fish kill was caused by red tide.

Naples mom says she can't get telemarketers to stop calling

That's what a Naples mom is asking the government agency who run the "Do Not Call List" after telemarketers continue calling her disabled son's phone number, even though the number is registered on the no-call list!

Four In Your Corner's Colleen Hogan is questioning government officials and finding out what you can do to keep those pesky telemarketers away.

"They're bold and they don't take no for an answer," Naples mom Lin said. She requested her family's last name not be used for the story.

"It borderlines on abuse," she said.

Abusive telemarketers are calling Lin's son's land-line constantly! And now she's telling them to hold the phone!

"The telemarketers over the past few years have gotten really, really bold with their phone calls to us, and when we tell them we're on the national 'Do Not Call' registry, they'll say things like, 'Oh, didn't you hear the federal government went broke and there is no more do not call registry?" she said.

They're conversations that tie up Lin's disabled son's phone line. A phone line he relys on in case of an emergency.

"Again yesterday the girl called and said, 'I've never heard of a 'Do Not Call' registry," she said.

Lin wants to especially end the connection with one company in particular, Service Star, who calls from a local number. She says they won't stop calling.

"And he said if you hang up on me, I'll call back in 5 more minutes."

So I called Service Star to see what the deal is.

A manager said they do cross-check numbers against the 'Do Not Call' list and assured me, they wont be bothering Lin again. But I didn't stop there. I called the Attorney General's office and the State's Deppartment of ConsumerServices to report the violation. A spokesperson says they will investigate Lin's complaints and possibly fine or shut down the companies if they keep calling. Something Lin wouldn't mind.

"The telemarketers do not fear any wrath from the federal government for abusing the people on that registry," she said.

You can add your cell phone number to the 'Do Not Call' registry and your number will never become un-registered once it's in there unless you remove it.

We've posted links for the registry and the complaint form if you're still getting telemarketers calls on our website, just click on the Big Red 4.

 

Company promotes Lehigh Acres on YouTube

A local real estate firm is trying to shed some positive light on Lehigh Acres, using a camera and YouTube to tell the story.

The Chang Group, based in Fort Myers, created a 10-minute video tour of the community, focusing on the area's affordability and recreational activites. It also gives of history of its establishment.

"There's a lot to do in Lehigh, but nobody tells that story. The Chang Group wanted to tell that story," says Duane Sulk, Marketing manager for the company and host of the video.

Sulk says the piece originally started as a way to draw in new homeowners, but now organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and economic development groups are also starting to take notice.

While some residents think the piece oversells the community, most are glad for the positive publicity after much negative news.

"I think it's a good thing that people are trying to say something good because it's a nice place to live," says Stephanie Rowland, who has lived in Lehigh Acres for about 5 years. 

According to Sulk, most of the video's highlights were driven by the people the crew met while filming.

"We started talking to these people, and they were so excited about the town, but that image never gets out," Sulk says.

He says the company plans to do a piece on Cape Coral next. The full YouTube clip on Lehigh Acres is available here.

Bike Riding Zombie Pub Crawl

 

 

 

 

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October 13, 2011

Sony recalls 1.6 million LCD TVs worldwide

Sony Corp. says it is recalling 1.6 million LCD televisions globally because of a defect that can trigger overheating, smoke and melting parts.

Sony says has received 11 such reports in Japan, though none involved injuries or damage beyond the TVs. The models subject to the recall in Japan are the Bravia KDL-40X5000, KDL-40X5050, KDL-40W5000, KDL-40V5000 and KDL-40V3000.

The defective part - an inverter transformer used for LCD backlights - is also used in models sold overseas. But Sony says it has not received reports of similar problems.

The company will release local recall information for customers in each affected market.

 

Man agrees to deal over fake breast exams

South Florida prosecutors say they've reached a deal with man they say posed as a doctor and offered free door-to-door breast exams.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel (http://sunsent.nl/r0yoDD ) reports that Broward County prosecutors told a judge about the deal Tuesday, but scheduling conflicts prevented the judge from approving the deal. No date for a new hearing was set.

Authorities say 81-year-old Phillip Winikoff offered the exams at a Lauderdale Lakes apartment complex in April 2006. Authorities say he managed to assault two women before he was arrested.

Details of the deal weren't immediately available. If tried and convicted, he could have been sentenced to more than 45 years for sexual battery and 10 years for practicing medicine without a license.

Catfish seen swimming on Florida roads

Parts of Florida's Indian River County were under water Sunday morning.

The county received nearly ten inches of rain over the past few days' as a result some roads and neighborhoods experienced minor flooding.

Catfish were even seen swimming in the street in Vero Beach.

Indian River County's public works director says the county's storm drain system was just overwhelmed by all the rain.

Heavy winds also knocked debris into roadways.

Lee County employees accused of planting fake bomb

Two Lee County employees are behind bars and accused of planting a fake bomb at county owned gas pumps.  Sheriff Mike Scott told WINK News the men stood and watched as the bomb squad was called out and then even helped evacuate people from the building.

Randal Feinstein, 61, of Cape Coral and William Prussman, 64, of Cape Coral, are facing charges of planting a hoax bomb.  Feinsten is considered second in command at the Lee County Fleet Department and is facing additional charges for telling other employees not to tell on him.

Marilyn Rawlings, director of Lee County Fleet Management, reacted to the news that two of her own were arrested in connection to planting the fake bomb.

"Its definitely a dark day for Lee County Fleet.  A rubber snake is funny, plastic vomit might be funny, but this is not funny," said Rawlings.

Sheriff Mike Scott told WINK News the two men placed a briefcase near a gas pump on the fuel island of the Lee County Fleet Facility on September 8, three days before the 10th anniversary of 9-11.  The fuel island holds 20,000 gallons of fuel.

"It was probably intended to be a practical joke but proximate to 9-11 on a fuel dock at county maintenance and a monster propane tank right next store?  Thats not a joke," said Scott.

The facility was locked down and everyone evacuated.  Prussman even notified the staff there was an emergency.

"All the while the two that were responsible for it stood there and watched and that is what really frosted me," said Scott.

When WINK News tried speaking with the family of Prussman, no one was home.  At the Feinstein's home, the family didn't want to talk.  Scott said the men could have to pay for the resources used.  Feinstein is facing an addition charge of tampering with a witness because deputies said he told other employees not to tell.  

Both men are still employed for now.  "They are still county employees, they are being put on administrative leave," said Rawlings.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office report also said the two men premeditated the plan and they talked about where to put the briefcase in order to create fear.  Both men will have their first court appearance Thursday morning.

Global BlackBerry glitch hits Southwest Florida

It has the nickname "Crack" Berry and it's more than 70 million users are experiencing withdrawal. BlackBerry users on five continents can't get their emails or texts.
 
"Some people are gonna find their emails taking hours if not a day or two to come through," said Rob Mason, owner of The Phone Doctor in Fort Myers.

"They'll see their web access slow to non-existent."

The problems started overseas on Monday. Canadian phone company, Research in Motion, says a crucial link in its infrastructure, as well as its backup, failed. Which caused the worst outage in years. And unfortunately, there is no quick fix.

"It's a rude awakening to find out how reliant we are on these little things," said Mason.

The company waited until Wednesday to release a statement, apologizing for the inconvenience. RIM is working to fix the outage but can't say when it will be fixed.

In the meantime, Mason says you'll have to use the old fashion way to check your email.

"Back in the old day, we would go into our computer, log onto our email server and we could check messages from there."

"We forget sometimes that the mobile device is just an extension from that."

Mason recommends BlackBerry users download the BlackBerry Desktop Manager, free software that allows users to backup their mobile device on their computer.

Motorcycles in president's motorcade collide

Two law enforcement officers on motorcycles collided Tuesday while accompanying President Barack Obama.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the president's motorcade was travelling east on Lake Mary Blvd. when an Orlando Police Department motor unit ran into the rear of a Seminole County Sheriff's Office motor unit.

Both officers were ejected from their vehicles and suffered minor injuries.

President Obama is in Florida raising money for his 2012 re-election campaign.

 

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October 12, 2011

Deputies searching for GCTC car "puncher"

Three cars were broken into at Gulf Coast Town Center, and money and valuables were stolen. Deputies say what's unique about these break-ins is that the locks on the cars were "punched."

Between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, two cars in the LA Fitness parking lot, and one over at the Best Buy, were broken into. The thief used the technique of "punching in the lock."

Deputies explained one example of that could be using a screw driver to get in quickly and without being noticed.

"Its broad daylight, there's construction workers, who's going to break in?" asked LA Fitness member Cheryl Hunter.

The sheriff's office says someone did break into Monte Carlo at the best buy - stealing iPods, a car stereo and cash.

Then, the thieves got into a ford F-150 truck and a green minivan at LA Fitness - grabbing money and cell phones, all by punching in the locks.

"For somebody who is used to doing that, it can take seconds," said Sergeant David Velez, with the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Whether valuables are left in the open, or they are stowed away where they can't be seen – people who frequent Gulf Coast Town Center say the parking lot can still be a welcome mat for would-be thieves.

"A lot of people who work out here work on routines, and it wouldn't surprise me that those who did these kind of crimes knew exactly what they were doing or who they were doing it to," said LA Fitness member Scott Sebastian.

Despite being a safe and well lit area, some people are a little on edge.

"I'm not going to bring my purse anymore because obviously we're being watched," Hunter said.

"Feel like I should bring everything I own into the gym with me," added fellow LA Fitness member Branden Hernandez.

Deputies searched the area, but didn't find anything.

The bold crime serves as a reminder for people not to leave expensive items or money inside their cars - if it can be avoided. 

"It's unfortunate, but thank God, it could be worse," Sebastian said.

Gulf Coast Town Center has security driving around 24-7 and some stores have surveillance cameras. Best Buy has a camera at its front door, but LA Fitness does not have any cameras.

LA fitness or best buy wouldn't comment on the thefts.

Working smoke alarms could mean free pizza

Nothing in life is free but for people living in Fort Myers, dinner could be free if they order from Domino's on Thursday.  The South Trail Fire Department has teamed up with Domino's to help homeowners stay safe during fire prevention week.

A smoke alarm could be the difference between life and death.  If your smoke alarms are working properly, it could mean free pizza for you and your family.  

Protecting her family and keeping them safe from the danger of fires is the number one priority for Sissy Doyle.
 
"I've gone in and put in extra smoke alarms that maybe weren't necessary but you can't replace a life," said Doyle.

On Tuesday, Doyle received a surprise visit from the South Trail Fire Department when she placed an order for her afternoon pizza.

"Most of the fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms so its so important to have every home protected by a working smoke alarm," said Christie Knudsen, public information officer, South Trail Fire Department.

Dominos is teaming up with the men and women of South Trail for fire prevention week.  If your smoke alarms are working, you could get a free pizza.

"If their smoke alarms are not working, we will provide them with a working smoke alarm," said Knudsen.

Doyle lost her childhood home in a fire when she was 14 so having a working smoke alarm is an important message she wants to pass along.

"This is a great opportunity for homeowners to just go in and double check all their fire extinguishers and smoke alarms," said Doyle.

For this project, Domino's is providing the pizza and the South Trail Fire Department has money put aside for their fire prevention programs.  The truck is only used if its not needed for another call.  Warning homeowners of fire danger is why the men and women of the fire department are making surprise house calls.

"People don't realize how very quickly fire grows and what limited time you have to escape," said Knudsen.

The free pizza smoke alarm inspections will continue Thursday.  The South Trail Fire Department will be delivering pizzas from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m.

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October 11, 2011

Marijuana-shaped candy alarms shoppers

Sour-apple candies sold in stores have some people puckering, but it's not because of the candy. It's because of the packaging with messages like, "Hey man, pass the bag!"

"It is just candy, and it's harmless, but the message othe outside of the bag is probably not the best," says Crystal Gossman.  "I'm sure most parents wouldn't want their kids to be walking around candy that says ‘Pothead" on the back and front of it."

The candy is sour apple-flavored and comes in gummy candies and lollipops with names like "Potheads" and "Pot Pops."

We found them on lower shelves of the Spencer's Gift store in Edison Mall.

"It's not setting a good example, I would say," LaTasha Thomas says, "but it's not doing too much harm either.  It's just candy."

Deborah Comella of the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida disagrees.  She believes the candy makes the drug seem less harmful than it is.

"It's very troubling.  It's very troubling because it is illegal in the state of Florida," says Comella.

The product's maker, Kalan LP issued a statement today, saying it developed the marijuana-shaped candy as a response to a growing movement among adults in the U.S. towards legalization. 
 

Realtor finds squatter in Lehigh home

A 23-year-old man was arrested Saturday by Lee County Sheriff's deputies after he was found squatting in a Lehigh Acres home.

Deputies responded to the home at 1703 Cornell Avenue N. after Jean Willy, a realtor for the property, stated that the homeowner, Yvette Osme, complained she was unable to get into the home.

Osme had listed the  home for sale after losing her job.

When Willy arrived, he says he found the driveway gate locked with a chain and padlock that did not belong to him or Osme.

Deputies made contact with Steven Toussaint, who stated he had been hanging out at the home after receiving a key from his cousin.

A search of the home revealed a side bathroom window had been broken out, locks had been changed, and the power meter appeared to have been tampered with.

In addition, Osme discovered that her stove, refrigerator, and a weight lifting bench, totaling approximately $1,400 were also missing from the home. In their place was new furniture not belonging to Osme.

"I see their furniture, their tv, everything in my house," Osme said.

Toussaint and his girlfriend, Denise Smith, were interviewed by deputies.

Based on the timeframe the items went missing from the home, and the fact that Toussaint was in possession of key with the inability to produce a name and location for the cousin who gave him the key, he was placed under arrest for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft.

Ron Paul "Sign Bombs" pop up around SWFL

All across the country, a grassroots effort is taking place for GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul. "Sign bomb" events at busy intersections are going on and people are showing their support for the Texas congressman.

Ron Paul supporters were at the intersection of US-41 and Gladiolus Monday. And more supporters are doing the same thing all over the country – picking intersections and overpasses to show their support.

The grassroots effort started online and word spread quickly.

The so-called sign-bombers say the signs were homemade and were created at sign making parties.

They say the goal of this is to build Paul's support base throughout his campaign. 

Of the 67 counties in Florida, 26 have the sign bomb events going on.

Ron Paul supporter Brian Harris says the congressman has an active support base and this shows the underdog still has a chance.

"One of the things that you'll commonly hear when you talk to people is, ‘Oh I love Dr. Paul. I love all of his positions, but I don't think he can win.' And we're out here today to show that he can win, if we do our part," Harris said.

Over the weekend, Ron Paul won a values voters straw pollwinning 37-percent. But in traditional polls, Paul still trails candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.

Monday, other sign bomb events were in both Collier and Charlotte counties.

Meanwhile, the full slate of Republican candidates is headed to New Hampshire for a debate set for Tuesday night.

Cape Coral family wants son to repeat senior year

"This is for my son who's been a good kid his whole life to be able to get a chance to do what he wants to do," said Jerry Pandolfi, about his son 17-year-old Derek.

In Derek Pandolfi's bedroom, are reminders it'd mean the world to play for the Yankees.
 
"Both college and professional scouts have all told us that this kid has a future in college and the major leagues," explained Jerry.

Derek is a left-handed pitcher for the Cape Coral Seahawks and in a few months will undergo Tommy John surgery to reconstruct his elbow.

"They need to see him pitch after he's had this Tommy John surgery to see that he's okay," said Jerry.

Seeing him pitch would mean repeating his senior year, a move Derek's family believes is necessary because he'll miss spring season to recover. But they say the district told them they plan to send a private tutor to Derek's home so he graduates on time.

"Why is it so important he repeats his senior year?," asked Fox 4. "To get a chance to go to the best school that he possibly can," added Jerry. "He won't do that if he finishes up here at home and then has no senior year to play."

Lee County schools has no comment because of student confidentiality. So, we called the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

"The bottom line really is you get four years of eligibility and an injury is not usually a reason to get a fifth year," explained Corey Sobers, a spokesman with the FHSAA.

Sobers said repeating a year of school wouldn't make much of a difference to college recruiters.

"I think if someone's looking at you, they're looking at you before your senior year," said Sobers. "And if they see talent, then i don't think they're going to bail on you because you have an injury."

But the Pandolfi's know what's best for their son and that's having a spring season. Even if it's in 2013.

The family says they're seeking legal counsel and say they'll do whatever it takes to get Derek to repeat his senior

NBA scrubs first two weeks of season

NBA Commissioner David Stern has made good on his threat to cancel the first two weeks of the season unless a new labor agreement was in place by Monday.

Stern truncated the season following seven hours of negotiations between the league and the union today. He says both sides are very far apart on virtually all issues.

Owners locked out the players July 1 when they couldn't reach a deal before the expiration of the old collective bargaining agreement. Opening night was scheduled for Nov. 1.
 

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OCTOBER 10, 2011

Real Steel

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/

 Two busted selling counterfeit CDs, DVDs

An undercover investigation at the El Mercado Flea Market in Immokalee on Saturday led to the arrests of two individuals caught selling counterfeit DVDs and CDs.

Collier County Sheriff's Office detectives as well as a field investigator for the Recording Industry Association of America observed the counterfeit DVDs and CDs for sale at two separate booths.

The first booth was registered to Rafael Castillo-Aguilar.

When confronted, Castillo-Aguilar told authorities that he had purchased the DVDs and CDs for $1.00 and sold them for $4.00 each.

Castillo-Aguilar was arrested and charged with possession and sale of counterfeit DVDs and CDs.

A second booth was registered to Maria Petra Garcia.

An undercover buyer purchased a counterfeit CD from the booth. The RIAA inspector was also able to visit the booth and photograph a stack of CDs that were all determined to be counterfeit.

Garcia was arrested and also charged with possession and sale of counterfeit DVDs and CDs.

A total of 256 counterfeit DVDs and 1,091 counterfeit CDs were confiscated at Castillo-Aguilar's booth by the Collier County Sheriff's Office

Naples teen steals, pawns grandmother's jewelry

An 18-year-old Naples woman has been arrested for grand theft after an investigation by the Collier County Sheriff's Office revealed she had stolen and pawned her grandmother's jewelry.

According to police reports, the victim, Beverly Bishop, informed police that she had discovered her jewelry missing from her bedroom on Wednesday.

Her granddaughter, Amanda Bishop, admitted to her grandmother that she had stolen the jewelry and pawned it at First Pawn, located at 889 Airport Rd S.

After admitting she had stolen the items, Amanda returned some of the pawned jewelry to her Beverly.

Beverly was able to visit the pawn shop and identify the remainder of her stolen jewelry.

Amanda has since been charged with grand theft and faces additional charges of defrauding a pawn broker.

Human, wild animal encounters on the rise

Experts in Southwest Florida say the number of bears, coyotes and panthers is on the rise. And lately, many people have been finding those animals right in their backyards.

Already in 2011, there have been at least eight panther attacks on livestock in the Golden Gate Estates area.

And Naples resident Richard Stayloch says after his bear encounter, he isn't taking any chances.

"We've seen a black bear, and that keeps us on our toes," he said. "We try and keep things that attract them away."

Some of those things include garbage and small pets - things bear expert Mike Orlando says can attract one of the 900 bears that live in our area.

"Bears are moving in, so we are going to see a conflict," he said.

An East Naples resident saw a bear last week rummaging through the trash.

Experts say there have been more bear encounters lately because they are getting ready to hibernate and are loading up on food. And one of the easiest places for them to do that is in your trash can!

"Right now they're trying to get 20 to 30,000 calories a day to get ready for winter," Orlando said.

But bear encounters aren't the only thing on the rise. The number of panther attacks this year has gone up as well.

"The opportunities exist for more and more of these interactions," said Darrell Land, with the Panther Team.

He says some of those opportunities can be easily presented when people do not take care of their pets properly - especially those who live near the refuge or panther habitat.

"You need to have some kind of kennel or cage that has sides on it, or a roof, to put animals in," he explained.

This could also save your animals from another wildlife species we see in Florida - coyotes.

"Probably coyote in neighborhood and don't even know it," said University of Florida wildlife Professor Martin Main.

Main says these 20 to 25 pound animals have recently populated every county in Florida and they aren't afraid to attack your family pet.

And Main says if you find yourself face to face, "Show the coyote who is boss."

Fla. man arrested 44 times since 1998
A Broward County man's arrest on charges of illegal credit card use is his 44th since 1998.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (http://sunsent.nl/qWfPvo ) reports that Bobby Jo Staley, of Cooper City, has been arrested more than three dozen times, mostly for small-time felonies.

Most recently, he has been charged with defrauding Home Depot stories of more than $97,000 in merchandise.

In another recent case, Staley was charged with posing as a deputy in Palm Beach County and trying to get Social Security information about a man whose credit card he had stolen.

Authorities say Staley spent several long stretches in jail awaiting disposition. He would then often be sentenced to time served. In other cases the charges were dropped.

Information from: South Florida Sun Sentinel, http://www.sun sentinel.com

Wildlife officials use robo-deer to catch poachers

State wildlife officials nationwide are using roadside robot deer decoys to nab unscrupulous hunters, and the program is expanding in states such as Florida and Utah.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources spokeswoman Amy Canning says the state now has five robotic deer decoys.

Canning says the decoys are often used to catch hunters who try to shoot deer at night, which is prohibited even during hunting season.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Katie Purcell says Florida is using six decoys statewide.

She says the deer decoys allow officers to catch would-be poachers in the act, saving investigative time later.

Georgia's program was so successful that the state's robotic deer decoy had to be replaced in 2006 after being shot more than 1,000 times. 

 

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OCTOBER 7, 2011

Two arrested for lewd behavior at Bunche Beach

Lee County deputies arrested two men for sex offenses during an undercover operation at Bunche Beach.

On October 6, deputies conducted an undercover operation the beach, located off of John Morris Road, after getting complaints about men participating in acts of lewdness in public. 

During the two hour operation, two men approached undercover male detectives at separate times and started conversations indicating they were looking for sexual activity. 

While having these conversations, both men exposed themselves - further indicating they wished to participate in sex acts.

The two men arrested were:

- Willard J. Wolf, 49, of Fort Myers Beach

- Benito Romero-Molina, 25, of Fort Myers

Both men have been charged with Engaging, Committing or Offering Lewdness.

VW recalls 168,000 cars for fuel leaks

Volkswagen is recalling 168,275 cars equipped with diesel engines because of a defect in the fuel injection system that could cause fuel leaks and fires.

The recall affects certain 2009-2012 Jetta midsize cars, and some 2010 through 2012 Golf small cars, as well as some Audi A3 models from the 2010 through 2012 model years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday on its website. All are equipped with 2-liter TDI diesel engines.

Cracks can develop in the fuel injection system and cause fuel to leak, possibly causing fires, VW said in documents filed with federal safety regulators.

However, the company said in the documents that it doesn't know of any fires, crashes or injuries caused by the problem.

Fuel injectors squirt fuel into the cylinder, where it is ignited. The resulting explosion pushes the pistons, which move to power the cars. On some of the VW diesels, a vibration given off by the injectors can cause stress that eventually can lead to cracks in the injector fuel lines, VW said.

Volkswagen will replace a fuel injector line in some models and install dampers to cut the vibrations on all of them. The repairs will be made free of charge. The recall is expected to start in November, NHTSA said.

The recall includes 161,144 Golf and Jetta models and another 7,131 Audi A3s.

The Jettas, including SportWagens, were made from May 2008 through September of 2011, while the Golfs were made from May of 2009 through September of 2011. The A3 models were made from September of 2009 through September of 2011.

About 20 percent of the cars built during those time periods will need to have fuel lines replaced, and all will the vehicles will get the vibration dampers, VW said.

More than 20 percent of the Volkswagens sold in the U.S. have diesel engines

Downtown business getting booted, called nuisance

FORT MYERS, FL- "What's Up Dog" in downtown Fort Myers is getting evicted because the restaurant's landlord claims it's too loud. The restaurant isn't going down without a fight.

Music, karaoke and Chicago style hot dogs, all in a fun atmosphere is what owner Kim Campbell says she's been serving to downtown Fort Myers for more than a year.

Campbell says, "People are telling me, 'Oh my God, your business is so needed down here, you brought something fun, you've got something for everyone!'"

Now, she says, her landlord Meta Group is trying to take that away saying "What's Up Dog" violated the conditions of it's 3-year lease by playing it's music too loud and being a nuisance.

"Why am I being singled out? Why am I the only one? Everyone has music down here!," Campbell wonders.

Meta group's attorney says the manager received several complaints from tenants living above the business and even had one person move out because of the noise level.

Campbell says she's trying to comply.

"What is the decimal? What is the level? We'll do it."

Now she's gathered a list of supporters who do not want to see her go.

"I'm bringing people to downtown Fort Myers so we're a team," Campbell explained.

Now the business owner who spent thousands remodeling the place to get it where it is today feels that she's fighting the battle alone.

"I put a lot of money into this place. This is my life," Campbell said.

Deputies: Teen hits mom in face when not allowed to drive parents' car

A Golden Gate Estates teen is accused of hitting her mother in the face after being told that she was not allowed to drive her parent’s car.

Shelby Marie Lewis, 18, of the 700 block of Fourth Street Southeast, was arrested Wednesday by Collier deputies at home.

According to reports, deputies found Lewis in front of her residence crying and claiming that her mother had hit her when they were arguing.

Deputies said the only injury observed were scratches on Lewis’ hands.

Deputies then made contact with Lewis’ mother who told them that Lewis became angry with her when she was told she could not drive the car because the insurance on it had been cancelled.

Lewis’ mother told deputies that Lewis demanded to be given the keys to the car while pointing her finger in her mother’s face and calling her demeaning names.

Lewis then grabbed keys to another car and attempted to bargain with her mother, the reports said.

According to reports, Lewis’ mother attempted to take the keys from her at which time Lewis struck her mother on the left side of her face. When Lewis’ mother was asked if she hit her daughter back she told deputies she would never hit her daughter and she only attempted to shield herself from being hit again.

Lewis’ mother said her daughter took her phone and broke it when she threatened to call the cops, the reports said. Lewis’ mother told deputies that she then took what she thought to be her daughter’s phone and broke it in retaliation. She was not aware that it was, in fact, her daughter’s boyfriend’s phone.

Lewis was arrested on a charge of domestic battery.

PHOTOS: 8-foot alligator trapped in North Naples condo parking lot

NAPLES— An 8-foot alligator was trapped early Thursday after it was seen in a lake and walking in the parking lot of a North Naples condominium community.

Man said he stabbed caregiver after he was denied cable TV

Thomas Wilkes was arrested and charged with attempted murder Thursday morning after police say he admitted to stabbing his caregiver. It happened in the assisted living facility on Ruthbern Drive in Daytona Beach just after 9 a.m.

Police say Wilkes, 49, told them he was angry with Justina Threadgill because he said she nagged him and wouldn't give him cable TV. Wilkes told police he thought about killing Threadgill for a week.

Friends call Threadgill a wonderful person. Pat Quigley says, "She's truly devoted to special needs individuals, she's done that for all the years I've known her and even longer."

Wilkes's family members say if he doesn't take his medicine he becomes violent. He's being booked in the Volusia County Jail.

Two Florida species may be extinct, federal wildlife service says

A shrimp and a snake that were once known to make their home in Florida's waters may now be extinct.

A review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates the Florida fairy shrimp and the South Florida rainbow snake, two species not known to have been spotted in decades, may no longer exist.

The report to be published Thursday finds there was not enough information to proceed with Endangered Species Act protection on the two because information "suggests that the species are already extinct."

The filing doesn't amount to a formal declaration of extinction. Researchers could still come forward with information to prove the snake and shrimp are still in existence

 

  

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$2.2M in cocaine washes up on Fla. Beach

Bundles of cocaine said to be worth $2.2 million have washed up on a Florida beach.

Police in Fort Pierce say beachgoers at Kimberly Bergalis Park spotted the packages Tuesday morning and called 911.

WPTV reports the drugs weighed in at 22 kilos.

An investigation is under way to try and determine where the cocaine came from. It comes a week after 25 packages of cocaine washed up on a military beach south of Port Canaveral.

Cape Councilman calling strip club with city cell phone

District 2 Councilman Peter Brandt's campaign signs say "continued common sense", but according to emails we received, his common sense is being brought into question.

The emails we received are from a facebook group called "Vote Them Out", a group dedicated to removing incumbents from the Cape City Council.  They sent me phone records from Brandt's city issued cell phone and are questioning 3 calls on the report.  On Thursday December 30th, at 315pm a call was made to Babe's strip club in Fort Myers.  That same number appeared 2 more times - on Monday afternoon January 3rd at 430pm and again at 450pm.  So, was it Brandt who made those calls? And if so, why?  We asked him.

Brandt told me the phone records are accurate. He says he did call Babes on those three occasions but refused any further comment.  And because the strip club is not in the city of Cape Coral, we know that the calls were likely not official city business.

Meanwhile, the group - "vote Them Out" - issued me a statement saying Brandt -"abused his public trust by using his taxpayer cell phone for his own personal gain and should be held responsible for his actions."

Another question being raised whether or not Brandt violated any city charter rules by calling the Fort Myers strip club.  We tried to get that answer from the city.

The city's PIO Connie Barron said in a statement, "This really is not a City administrative issue."

 “Star Wars” collectible rage against girlfriend lands man in jail

A 29-year-old Collier man was arrested on domestic violence charges on Tuesday after his girlfriend tried to move out of his home with a "Star Wars" collectible she’d given him, according to a Collier deputies report.

U-Tsong Yang, of the 4900 block of Europa Drive in East Naples, was arrested at home by deputies.

He is accused of shoving his live-in girlfriend and trying to prevent her from calling 911.

After a verbal dispute, Yang’s girlfriend packed up her car with her belongings from the Europa Drive residence _ including a Boba Fett helmet she’d given him, the report said. An enraged Yang then punched a plastic drawer in her car and started pulling things out of the vehicle, according to the report.

When she tried to call 911, the report said, he grabbed her phone and pushed her to the ground.

Boca Raton cracks down on neighborhood Halloween show

Newman has been attracting hundreds of visitors with a high-tech Halloween display for the past four years, but on Monday the city delivered a letter saying that the dancers and emailed flyers make the show a commercial activity, and that's forbidden in a residential neighborhood.

Fundamentally, what he's doing is not customarily associated with residential use," Deputy City Manager George Brown said. "Performing live dance shows on the property and inviting people into the neighborhood via advertising qualify it as commercial activity."

Newman faces a fine of up to $1,000 if he goes ahead with the show, and he could face a fine of up to $5,000 for each repeat violation, Brown said.

Newman said the city has known about his plans for months, but notified him of the problem after the nightly light show began Saturday. The dancers are scheduled to perform during the last two weekends of the month.

Brown said the city would allow the dancers and lights in Sanborn Square downtown, but Newman said it's too late to reprogram and move all the equipment.

Newman spends months, and several thousand dollars, each year to wire up his front yard with synchronized lights, music and anamatronics to inspire kids to learn about robotics and to collect money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he said.

"This isn't commercial. A yard sale would be more commercial than this," he said. "I don't make a penny off of it. In fact, it costs me a lot every year. All the money we get goes to sick and dying kids."

Dancers from Jewel's Dance Studio and the Lake Worth Playhouse volunteered to perform during the last two weekends of the month to help draw in more donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

About 30 dancers, ages 7 to 18, have spent more than 20 hours of their free time during the past six months to perfect the routine, said Julie Coursey, who owns Jewel's Dance Studio.

"They'll be devastated if they can't perform, because of all the work they've put in," she said. "We've been trying to do a lot more out in the community, because it teaches them about how important it is to give back."

Neighbors also volunteer to direct traffic and keep kids safe during the peak traffic on weekends, Newman said.

"I haven't heard any complaints about this before from anybody in the neighborhood," said John Kukla, who allows spectators to park in his yard to watch the show. "Halloween is a big deal here. It benefits the neighborhood, and it involves the community."

Newman hopes the show will go on. He's asked the city to reconsider, and he hopes others will do the same.

"It's just ridiculous," Newman said. "I think people will come out of the woodwork to see the show, and I hope they give to Make-A-Wish."

Chick," 71, And Man, 54, Busted In Naked Car Romp

When the officer opened the vehicle’s rear door and asked the nude couple what they were doing, Tim Adams offered a concise answer. “I’m fucking this chick,” he said.

Yes, Adams referred to his septuagenarian consort, Rita Daniels, as a “chick.”

According to a City of Farmington Police report, Daniels’s 2002 Buick (license plate: DIVA 145) was in a shopping center parking lot, adjacent to a restaurant whose customers, including a 10-year-old-boy, apparently had a view of the illicit nighttime action on September 3.

Officer Andrew Morche noted that the car’s windows “were covered with heavy condensation,” and that Daniels was atop Adams “and the two were engaged in sexual activities.” The pair was parked in a spot outside the restaurants Luigi’s and Tre Sorelle (which can be seen in this Google Street View image).

A police investigation determined that the couple’s courtship was a brief one. They had met for drinks at a nearby bar “before moving to the back seat of the Buick.” When questioned by cops, neither Daniels nor Adams--both of whom were unsteady and smelled of booze--knew the other’s name. A Breathalyzer test recorded Daniels’s blood alcohol content as .15, nearly twice the state limit.

Daniels and Adams were busted for indecent exposure and disorderly intoxication and booked into the local jail, where they were held until sobriety returned. While in custody, cops noted, “Adams decided to strip to his underwear.”

Misdemeanor charges against Daniels and Adams, who are pictured in the above mug shots (click to enlarge), are pending in Michigan's 48th District Court. (2 pages)

Bear breaks into Macclenny home, eats birthday cake

Reports of a very bold black bear in Macclenny has the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issuing some advice and warnings as they try to track it and kill it.

The bear apparently broke into a home at 2 a.m. Monday and grabbed food, including a birthday cake, before ambling off, according to commission spokeswoman Karen Parker. A commission biologist went to the home Tuesday to investigate and found a well-used trail behind it and lots of garbage spread around by the bear, as well as remains of the cake, Parker said.

Readmore Jacksonville-area crime news

Wildlife officials set a trap baited with cupcakes, since this bear seems to have a sweet tooth. Commission biologists know this bear, since it was part of a research project at Camp Blanding and has been outfitted with a white collar and two ear tags, Parker said. Biologists tracking the bear say it had moved several miles south of Macclenny by Tuesday morning, and when it's captured, it will be put down.

"Relocating this bear is not an option," Parker stated in a news release. "Public safety is our No. 1 concern. When we catch it, we will euthanize it. We do not want the bear entering another house."

Black bears usually shy and avoid contact with humans, but their strong drive for food may overcome that shyness if they have easy access to human food sources such as pet foods, garbage or livestock feed. The best advise is properly store garbage, bird feeders and barbecue grills. Place garbage cans outside right before they are picked up so they don't entice a bear to forage overnight.

If the bear is threatening the safety of humans, pets or livestock or causing property damage, report it to the commission at (888)-404-3922. You can find out more about living with black bears at MyFWC.com/Bear. 

 

 

 

 

 

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October 5, 2011

Bear caught rummaging through trash – again

An unwanted neighbor made an appearance in an East Naples neighborhood. An adult black bear woke up one couple in the middle of the night while it was rummaging through their trash right next to their front door. They say it wasn't the first time the bear has made its rounds though the community.

Residents say they are now on the lookout for a repeat offender.

"He was large, his head must have been that big, tags on both ears," said homeowner Bob Heed.

He says he woke up in the middle of the night to hear scratching near his window.

"I was kind of hoping it was a bear instead of someone trying to break in," he said.

And Heed's unusual wish was granted.

Early Saturday morning, he watched as a black bear rummaged through his trash looking for last night's leftovers.

Neighbors say the Enchanting Shores community isn't your typical bear country. It is well kept and the closest habitat for black bears is about 100 yards from there.

But one of those bears managed to make it to this Heed's front door.

"He had trouble getting turned around between the car and the house to get back out and go out the back," Heed said.

It was in this same community back in March where FWC was called to remove the 420-pound adult male black bear after it kept getting into people's trash cans.

Now within the last month, with its natural food supply diminishing, the green trash cans can look promising.

"The bear is still hungry, it's still trying to fatten up and get as much as they can. They still have that physiological need to get as much food as they can before the winter," said wildlife biologist Joe Bozzo.

And this problem is hitting a little close to home.

A bear knocked over this trash can next to FWC's offices and left behind the evidence.

Bozzo says the bears equate the green barrels with food and FWC may have to look into some hazing techniques to get them to go elsewhere for some grub.

"Rubber bullets, bean bags, things like that where we can try and give it a disincentive to be around human beings," Bozzo said.

Until the perpetrator is caught, residents in Enchanting Shores are driving – even if they're just going two doors down - because they don't want to be around the bears.

"I don't know what the answer is. I don't know if it's possible to trap the bears and move them further away," Heed said.

Teen caught with his pants down in burglary

14-year-old boy was arrested Monday after authorities say he was caught breaking into a pickup truck in Port Charlotte.

Antonio Kleiss of Port Charlotte was booked into the Charlotte County Jail on a charge of Burglary to a Conveyance and Attempted Grand Theft.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, a witness called 911 after spotting Kleiss acting suspiciously inside an unlocked Dodge pickup truck that was parked in a parking lot located at 2275 Aaron St. in Port Charlotte, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

When questioned, Kleiss told the witness that the truck was his grandfather's, then took off running, an arrest report said.

As the teenager fled to a nearby apartment, his pants fell down, revealing his red boxer shorts, the witness said.

Authorities later found the teen at his grandmother's apartment, where he was still wearing the red boxers, according to the report.

Inside the residence authorities found an ignition part that had been stolen from the truck.

Kleiss was arrested and jailed. He was later released to a parent and is on 21 days home detention.

Obama wants debt collectors to have access to cell phone numbers

To the dismay of consumer groups and the discomfort of Democrats, President Barack Obama wants Congress to make it easier for private debt collectors to call the cellphones of consumers delinquent on student loans and other billions owed the federal government.

The change "is expected to provide substantial increases in collections, particularly as an increasing share of households no longer have landlines and rely instead on cellphones," the administration wrote recently. The little-noticed recommendation would apply only to cases in which money is owed the government, and is tucked into the mammoth $3 trillion deficit-reduction plan the president submitted to Congress.

Despite the claim, the administration has not yet developed an estimate of how much the government would collect, and critics reject the logic behind the recommendation.

"Enabling robo-calls (to cellphones) is just going to lead to more harassment and abuse, and it's not going to help the government collect more money," said Lauren Saunders of the Boston-based National Consumer Law Center. "People aren't paying their student loans because they can't find a job."

Whatever the impact on the budget deficit, the proposal has aligned the White House with the private debt collection industry — frequently the subject of consumer complaints — at a time when the economy is weak, unemployment is high and Obama is embarking on his campaign for re-election.

Democrats in Congress who frequently support the president, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, declined through aides to say whether they favor or oppose the plan.

Nor was there any reaction from two other members of the party's leadership in the Senate, Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Chuck Schumer of New York. Both men frequently take the side of consumers in legislative struggles.

Several aides, speaking on condition of anonymity so they could talk freely, said Democrats do not want to oppose the president but are unable to support the request.

Mark Schiffman, a spokesman for ACA International, an industry trade association, said the administration "basically has come to the same solution we have" at a time when an increasing number of Americans have no landline phone to receive calls.

The change "is something we have been advocating for," he said, although he added his organization did not have direct discussions with administration officials in advance.

Schiffman noted that debt collectors have long been allowed to make robo-calls to landline phones. He said automatic dialing is a more efficient way to contact consumers who are overdue in their payments, and the industry wants it allowed in all cases, not solely those involving debts owed to the government, as Obama has proposed. Legislation along those lines was introduced in the House last week.

Federal law currently permits private debt collectors to use automatic dialing in trying to contact consumers on their landline phones. They also are permitted to make individually-dialed calls to some cellphones.

The request comes at a time when the government is looking for ways to collect tens of billions of dollars.

According to a report by the Treasury Department's Financial Management Service, the Education and the Health and Human Services departments as well as FMS itself referred debts totaling $35.9 billion to private debt collectors in the 2010 fiscal year.

The Education Department accounted for the largest share by far — $28.8 billion referred to 22 private debt collection companies. The firms collected $685 million outright, and another $1.7 billion was recast into agreements that are designed to be paid monthly, according to the report.

Education Department officials did not respond to several requests to speak on the record about the proposal.

According to written responses the department provided to questions, it hires private collection agencies in part so the government can gain "the benefits of greater collections" through the use of new technology that is developed by private industry.

Collection agencies can receive a fee of as much as 17.5 percent of the amount they recover.

A different federal agency, the Federal Trade Commission, collects extensive records about the private debt collection industry in general.

"The FTC receives more complaints about the debt collection industry than any other specific industry," according to an annual report to Congress, more than 100,000 in 2010.

The complaints fall into several categories, citing alleged harassment, demands for impermissibly large payments, failure to provide required consumer notice and threatening dire consequences such as jail time

Pasco County man jailed twice in 1 night

Pasco County Sheriff's deputies say a man released from jail after causing a drunken disturbance, was arrested again after he tried to break into two cars in the jail's parking lot.

Authorities say 48-year-old Donald Gartner was arrested Sunday afternoon after deputies found him crawling out from under bushes at his neighbor's house. They say Gartner, who was intoxicated, was charged with criminal mischief.

The St. Petersburg Times reports Gartner was released from jail about 10 p.m. Sunday.

Deputies say while he was outside waiting for a ride home, he tried to get into two cars in the parking lot. He was arrested again, less than two hours after his release, and charged with two counts of attempted car theft. Gartner remained in the Pasco County Jail Tuesday morning.

'Meth cook' tries to escape arrest through trap door

A suspected methamphetamine cook tried to escape from law officers through a trap door in his bathroom Sunday night, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred about 9 p.m. when sheriff’s deputies responded to complaints of “smoke and strange odors,” according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Robert Michael McDonald, 39, first tried to run out of the back door of his home at 957 B Street when deputies knocked on his front door, the news release said. He went back inside when he saw that deputies also were in his backyard.

As other occupants of the house answered the front door, McDonald went through a trap door in his bathroom to a crawl space under the home, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Deputies found meth lab supplies in the living room, kitchen and dining areas.

The other occupants told deputies about the trap door. They identified McDonald and said they had seen him cooking meth, according to his arrest report.

Deputies spotted McDonald in the crawl space under the house but could not coax him out.

“After a period of time, a chemical irritant was introduced under the residence and McDonald was taken into custody without further incident,” the news release said.

McDonald was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence.

A 21-year-old also was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both charges are misdemeanors.

POLICE: Jensen Beach internet prostitute's customer shot by husband

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. -- A 33-year-old man who claimed to be a mixed martial arts fighter was incapacitated by a shotgun after a fight with an internet prostitute and her husband early Monday morning, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say they were called to a mobile home on Northeast 15th Terrace at 1:12 a.m., alerted by a 9-1-1 made by the husband, Daniel Jason Diodato, 27, after the shooting.

Kyle Ryan Hicks, 33, of Stuart told police he came to the mobile home expecting sex, after finding Sarah Ruth Diodato, 21, on the "Backpage" website, where adult personals moved after Craigslist stopped allowing "adult services" postings. The suspect told police he was "shot for no reason."

Daniel Diodato told police his wife offered sex via online ads and that the john became upset after paying $120 and finding him there to provide security for his wife. Sarah Diodato said the suspect wanted sex and became angry when she had offered only "companionship," such as a half-hour massage, and that's when her husband intervened and a fight began.

Daniel Diodato told police he shot the suspect after he had beaten both Daniel and his wife, telling them he was an MMA fighter. He said he would have shot the suspect "center of mass" had he not been holding his wife at the time, and instead shot him in his left hip area.

Hicks left a lot of blood at the scene and was transported the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. As of 6 p.m. Monday, Hicks is listed in fair condition.

Hicks was listed as a suspect on reports, while the Diodatos were listed as victims, though no arrests have been made. Martin County Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate

 

 

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October 4, 2011

Chamber: Jobs available in Lee County

Despite the stigma that no one is hiring, we found more than 100 job openings available right now at local restaurants and businesses.

As of Monday night, at least nine places are hiring at Gulf Coast Town Center. They include:

- Conor's Steak and Seafood
- Keys Bar and Gille
- Elevation Burger
- GNC
- Rush Coffee and Tea Shop
- Home Team Inspection
- Aarons
- WAVV Radio-Alpine broadcasting
- Cable Support Systems

Those businesses will all be featured at an upcoming job fair. And experts say while many places are hiring, some are resume collecting.

"I have received probably around 100 applications over the last several months. We are hiring somewhere between 8 and 10 employees," said Lori Lester, owner of Rush Coffee and Tea Shop.

"We've seen a significant increase from January to now. In the past nine months, a 23-percent increase of activity in our website looking for a variety of things," said Armando Nargi, President of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce.

The Lee County Chamber of Commerce job fair is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Wednesday in the ballroom at the Clarion Hotel.

Deputies search for 'Bonsai Bandit'

Lee County deputies are looking for the man who stole a $5,000 tree Sunday from the entrance of the Lee County Election Center.

With that kind of price tag, you know it wasn't just any old tree.  In fact, it's known as a bonsai tree, trees that date back 1,500 years to China.  Bonsai trees became popular in the U.S. after World War II, when soldiers brought them home from Japan. The stolen bonsai tree was sitting in a custom made display following the annual Bonsai Show this past weekend at the Election Center located at 13180 South Cleveland Avenue. 

As seen in the surveillance video, the male suspect simply picked up the tree and carried it away.  He then loaded it into either a white jeep or silver car.  The suspect is a white male, approximately 6 feet tall with a heavy build.

If you know anything about this Bonsai Bandit, call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at (239) 477-1000.  Or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000,call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.  Anonymous tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org, through the TipSubmit app on any iPhone or by texting CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.

JetBlue Park 100 days from opening day

Construction crews have just 100 days to finish JetBlue Park, the new Red Sox stadium in Lee County.

They're working hard to complete the project before the first game of Spring Training.

With the skeleton in place, 200 construction workers are down to the details.

"We're still doing drywall, still doing framing, steelwork but it's getting to the point where it's now some finish work and doing things that make it look pretty," said Bob Taylor.

Crews are working fast to finish the shade cover over the stadium, then they'll gradually bring in 9,000 seats.

Green seats are about the only detail that separates JetBlue Park from Fenway's red and blue hues.

The stadium has top-of-the line amenities, including the latest and greatest PA system

"But a lot of old traditional stuff too. A hand operated score board reminiscent of Fenway Park. We tried to blend in modern technology but maintain that old baseball tradition too," said Taylor.

Even the Green Monster panels are in the mail and expected to arrive next week.

But the project has had its share of snags. The site has been targeted by thieves.

"There's been some minor things out here taken- equipment, copper wiring, typical things disappearing off construction sites these days," said Taylor.

Deputies have been called to the site 6 times in the last two months.

Luckily Taylor says the thefts shouldn't delay the project

"Security is not one of those things we talk about publicly a lot, but let's just say we'll let the criminals decide when they get out here to find out what's been going on," said Taylor.

The ballpark is on target to meet its mid-January deadline.

Until then crews are hard at work, sometimes 7 days a week hammering out the details.

Consultant saves Cape Coral $1.4M

The City of Cape Coral is saving $1.4 million in health care costs, which will not only help the budget – it will help city workers too.

A trip to the doctor can be expensive for you and your employer.

For the city of Cape Coral, health insurance bills have grown year after year – until now.

The city hired an outside consultant to negotiate with insurance provider Blue Cross Blue Shield. The result was a 4-percent decrease in healthcare costs.

That equals a total of $1.4 million savings.

That money will be used to help fill a $4 million gap in this year's budget.

Finance director Victoria Bateman says she was thrilled to hear the news.

"I took it and I was ready to sign because we have been struggling with our finances," said Bateman.

Not only does it save the city money, employees will be paying less in premiums for their children and spouses.

Plus they will pay less for generic prescriptions.

The reductions are a win-win – for both the city and employees.

Bateman says she is working to obtain the same savings for the city's retirees. 

 Steak 'n Shake suspect sentenced to 25 years

 

A Cape Coral man is preparing to serve 25 years in prison. Jarrett Mundle and four of his friends broke into a home and held a family at gunpoint in December 2009. 

They then fled the scene- and got into a deadly shootout with Cape Coral police outside a Steak 'n Shake on Pine Island Road.

The state wanted more time.

"I would like the court to keep in mind the randomness of this violent home invasion," says Assistant State Attorney Marie Doerr.

The defense wanted less time.

"The one year minimum with a probationary period to follow would be most effective to ensure the community's safety in the future," says Defense Attorney Jay Brizel.

In the end Judge Margaret Steinbeck settled on 25 years with the Department of Corrections for Jarrett Mundle.  The 21-year-old was found guilty of two felonies- for an attempted home invasion and battery in December 2009.

"They burst into a home at 1 in the morning and pistol whipped a grandmother. These men had loaded guns on a baby and a 15-year-old and then- they tried to escape and as you know a death resulted from it," says Doerr.

The death happened outside the Steak and Shake on Pine Island Road. Mundle and his  friends fled the home invasion and were chased by Cape Coral police.

The confrontation ended with a shootout. 

Tyson Richardson was died of a fatal gun shot wound from a police officer.

"Mr. Mundle has shown great remorse for the events of that evening- not just because he was caught, but for the acts that he did," says Brizel.

Mundle was cleared of the murder charges but will pay for damage he caused.

"The woman sustained permanent hearing loss as a result of being pistol whipped," says Doerr.

Mundle will spend a minimum of 22 1/2 years in jail as part of this sentence.  He has 30 days to appeal it. 

Two of the other men involved will head to court in the next month.

iPhone users ready to trade in, trade up

Apple is expected to announce its next generation of iPhone Tuesday and that has many consumers looking to trade in and trade up.

But we found that of the more than 300-million cell phone subscribers in the U.S., 40-percent own a smartphone.

And of those smartphone users, 40-percent of them use a phone that runs on Android software, while only 28-percent own an iPhone.

Leigh Piscitelli calls herself an Apple nerd. And with the iPhone 5 announcement on the horizon, it's got her thinking of what she'll do with her current phone.

"Give it to a sibling," she said.

But for thousands of other iPhone owners, they are choosing another option - to resell their phone.

Anthony Scarsella, with Gazelle.com, has seen a 30-percent increase in the last week of people selling their iPhones on Gazelle's website.

Monday alone, they had 17 hundred trades.

"Real record breaking day - almost like our Black Friday tomorrow," he said. "We have never seen anything like this before. It's unprecedented behavior."

Depending on the type of phone, people can get upwards of $230 for the iPhone 4. And, he says, the time to sell is now - until the iPhone five hits the shelf.

"Prices stabilize then they rise - leading up to the announcement. As soon as phone is announced, they will drop," Scarsella said.

It's those prices that Alex Arthur keeps an eye on at Gadget-Ease, off of Bonita Beach Road. He sees anywhere from five to 10 people a day coming to cash their iPhones in.

He says others are just there to buy.

"Good for people who couldn't buy an iPhone four before - now they can buy iPhone 4," Arthur said.

The iPhone 4 is typically in the 200s, with the seller getting 50-percent.

And Arthur says they are typically sold almost as soon as they hit the shelf.

"We open at 10 and have customers at the door at 9 - waiting for that phone and it's gone," he said.

It is predicted that 41 percent of mobile phone users are going to buy an iPhone 5.

Deputies: Suspicious package not dangerous

The Collier County Sheriff's Office says the package that was found at the Towne Centre 6 Movie Theater is not dangerous. But they could not say immediately what the package was.

The Collier County Bomb Squad is heading to a Naples movie theater after deputies say a suspicious package was discovered on the property.

Officials with the Collier Sheriff's Office say they got the call just before 8 p.m. Monday about a suspicious package found at the Towne Centre 6 Movie Theater off of US-41 in East Naples.

The theater has been evacuated as a safety precaution and a perimeter has been set up.

No other information was immediately available. But we do have a crew heading to the scene and more details will be posted as they come in. 

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September 3, 2011

Dolphin Taletook the weekend box office

29 new laws go into effect Oct 1

New restrictions on expert witnesses, minors seeking abortions, and local governments with gun ordinances kick in Saturday as new bills passed by lawmakers earlier this year go into effect.

In all, 29 new laws go on the books Oct. 1, the first day of many local governments' fiscal years and the last major push of legislation passed during the 2011 Legislative session.

Among the most controversial measures is one that places heavy fines on local governments that enact tougher gun laws than those imposed by the state. Despite being on the books for decades, laws prohibiting cities and counties from enacting stricter gun laws lacked any teeth. No more.

Backed by the National Rifle Association, the new law imposes penalties for local officials and fines of up to $100,000 in attorney fees and damages if a plaintiff successfully sues local officials gun laws that go beyond state law. City and county officials face fines up to $5,000 and can't use taxpayer money to defend themselves in court.

Local officials have spent the past few months repealing local ordinances deemed to be tougher than state law. The bill was one of a handful of NRA-backed measures pushed during the last legislative session. Another that restricts the ability of health care providers from asking patients about gun ownership is being challenged in federal court.

Also controversial is another law that kicks in Saturday. The bill (HB 1247) makes a number of changes to the current laws requiring parental notification when minor girls seek an abortion. Among the changes, the bill lengthens the time a judge has to act on request for a judicial bypass.

The measure also requires minors seeking a judicial waiver from the requirement to seek a judge within their judicial circuit. Minors can now seek a judge residing within their appellate district, a much larger geographic area.

Backers say the measure still provides protections for minors who feel they can't tell their parents. Critics say that in some small judicial circuits, the new law will make it difficult for the minor to remain anonymous.

Other bills that go into effect Saturday include:
-HB 75: The law creates the crime of "sexting", the transmission of sexually explicit pictures, often by cell phone. But it reduces the penalties from what they would be for teens charged with doing that now, which would brand them a sex offender for many years. Under the new law, a first time offense would not result in a sex offender label.

House Bill 75 modernizes these laws to ensure that childrens lives are not ruined due to youthful indiscretion," said sponsor Rep. Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington. "This reform will let our youth know that such behavior is wrong without labeling them sex offenders for the rest of their lives.

-HB 479 bolsters requirements for expert witnesses in medical malpractice lawsuits. Gov. Rick Scott in June signed legislation that doctors said was their most significant victory at fighting off lawsuits since caps on certain damages were put in place in 2003. The legislation makes it harder for some doctors from out of state to serve as expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases. The bill also gives medical and dentistry boards the authority to discipline witnesses who provide "deceptive" or fraudulent testimony in a malpractice case. Another feature of the bill creates a standard informed consent form for cataract surgery patients and says that incidents resulting from certain specific risks aren't considered adverse incidents.

-HB 99 allows companies providing five types of commercial insurance coverage to raise rates without first seeking approval by the Office of Insurance Regulation. The provision still allows the agency to reject rates that are excessive, inadequate or unnecessarily discriminating. The bill continues a move begun last year when Gov. Charlie Crist approved an insurance package that deregulated other lines of commercial coverage. The changes were supported by the insurance industry and employer groups. "The bill pretty much completes changes begun last year," said Sam Miller, executive vice president for the Florida Insurance Council.

-SB 344 makes it a crime to have sex with animals or know about someone having sex with animals, or making it possible to have sex with animal. Apparently, existing Florida law does not allow for easy prosecution. The law makes it a first degree misdemeanor, punishable by p to a year in jail.

-HB 339 is aimed at reducing credit card fraud by toughening penalties for possession of stolen credit or debit cards by someone who knows or should know the card was stolen.

Report: Woman hurls Holy Bible at son's girlfriend

A Fort Walton Beach woman accused of throwing a Bible at her son's girlfriend was charged Sept. 25 with battery causing bodily harm, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

The younger woman told deputies she had been arguing with her boyfriend's mother when the woman "picked up a Bible and threw it at her." She said the Bible struck her in the right eye, which was swollen and bleeding when deputies arrived, the report said.

The older woman said the argument was over some of her jewelry that was missing. She told deputies she wanted her son's girlfriend "out of her house becuase she was a thief." She said she struck the younger woman in the eye "accidentally" when she swung the book behind her, saying, "Get out of my face." The woman said her son's girlfriend was "in her face with a cell phone taking pictures" and recording her, the report said.

The woman's son told deputies that he saw his mother throw a Bible at his girlfriend during the argument from 10 to 15 feet away, striking her in the face. He said that he and his girlfriend and their children have been staying at his mother's house for the past month because they have no where else to go.

 Boca-based drug-sniffing dog for hire

Caleb is a high-energy Dutch shepherd who loves his work — sniffing out drugs. That makes him a favorite for parents who pay for the pooch's services. But he's also a threat to teens who are hiding a drug habit.

Caleb is one of three certified drugdogs for Boca Raton-based private Special Narcotic Investigative Force, or SNIF for short. Andy Novotak, a former police officer for the Florida East Coast Railway, started the company in 1985 and still runs it.

He works for people who want to make sure family members or employees aren't using drugs, but who don't want to involve police.

Traditionally, clients are sober houses, strip clubs and private high schools. Yet he's got a growing segment among suspicious parents who want to know if their teens are hiding a stash.

"Parents call us when they suspect their kids may be doing something," he said. "The dog sniffs the rooms and finds their hiding places. It's a confidential thing. They don't have to involve the police."

If a dog discovers contraband, Novotak instructs his clients to dispose of the drugs so they're not holding illegal narcotics, he said. But if his dog turns up a large quantity, Novotak said, he calls police.

Still, it's risky business to operate a company based on finding illegal substances, said Eugene O'Donnell, professor of police studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

"You're essentially hunting for evidence of crime," O'Donnell said. "You're ferreting that out and putting yourself in the position of law enforcement personnel. How do you know what happens to the drugs when somebody else takes possession?"

About a year ago, Novotak and Garo,aGerman shepherd, searched a house west of Boca Raton. Garo showed there was a sign that drugs had been in a teen's bedroom — but nothing wasfound.

On the way out, Novotak offered to search the garage and the dogfound the teen's marijuana — stuffed inside a door panel of his mother's Volvo.

"These kids are pretty clever these days," Novotak said.

Several parents who have hired SNIF declined to discuss their experiences, concerned about their family's privacy.

Novotak charges $150 an hour and currently travels across Florida, working about three cases a month for parents. He also hires his dogs out to help search for missing pets.

Dressed in black, Novotak cuts a daunting figure when he works with Caleb, whose bottom teeth were replaced with titanium teeth following a training accident.

Jim Tichy, owner of The Lodge at Delray Beach, a sober house, said his clients are surprised when they see Caleb coming in to sniff for drugs.

"It's an extra cost but it's well worth it," Tichy said. "I don't have any incidents in my houses because I do such things."

For Caleb, finding drugs is a game, Novotak said, and he doesn't want the game to stop.

"These dogs, that's all they want to do is work," he said. "He's almost a little too much for me. He'll be pacing the floors at night when I'm trying to go to bed."

American Heritage School of Boca/Delray hired SNIF for years to search its high school students' lockers, backpacks and cars. The dogs were a successful deterrent, headmaster Bob Stone said.

"His dogs were trained professionally, were never aggressive and they were able to do what he trained them to do," Stone said.

During Novotak's two or three unannounced visits per year, the school went on lockdown, with students told to stay put, Stone said. The dog came in and sniffed. If he was drawn to a car or locker, a student was told to open it or face expulsion.

"It's not a lot for you to open your door if you haven't done anything," Stone said. "At our school you don't have any rights. Our rules are very black and white, for the safety of the school."

Some drug paraphernalia, such as pipes, was found in the school over the years, Novotak said, but no drugs.

"It was more of a symbolic thing," Stone said. "We've had situations where the kids didn't think we were very serious about [a zero-tolerance drug policy]…All the sudden these dogs, big German shepherds, came in and they understood we meant business." 

 

 

 

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September 30, 2011

Two arrested in prostitution sting

Two women were arrested for prostitution after an undercover sting in fort Myers, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

According to reports, the undercover operation on Wednesday targeted those who advertised their services on a particular website.

At 2 pm, the undercover deputy called the number on one of the ads and spoke with a woman who identified herself as Ariah. The two arranged to meet at a hotel for a two girl special.

The undercover deputy and the woman agreed on a price of $440 for one hour.

When the undercover deputy arrived, two women answered the door wearing only sundresses.

The undercover deputy paid the $440 and the three agreed on what sexual acts would be performed.

The takedown signal was given and the two women, Amanda Calvert and Taylor Wetherington, were arrested.

During the arrest, detectives found marijuana and Calvert admitted it was hers.

Calvert was charged with

• Keeping house ill fame rent for prostitution etc 1st viol
• Marijuana-possess not more than 20 grams
• Narcotic equip-possess drug paraphernalia advertise
• Prostitution or assignation offer commit engage 1st off

Wetherington was charged with

• Prostitution or assignation offer commit engage 1st off

Acid" scare used to steal jewelry

Thieves in Collier County are targeting homeowners with a so-called "acid spill" scam. Investigators say three men went to a home and distracted their victim so they could steal her jewelry.

Detectives we spoke to say it was the first "distraction theft" of the season. But it's a scam they've seen before. 

They explained the thieves will be pretending to do work in the neighborhood show up at your door. Then what happens next is meant to confuse their victim. But the catch is that it's all an act to make off with the loot.

Wednesday, that victim was Ruth Spence. And now her engagement ring is gone.

"I had a diamond," she said. "I had a beautiful diamond."

That ring was stolen in a scam that started with two men saying they were building a fence next door. 

"So they get me outside and, presumably, the third guy swept the house," Spence said.

Spence said she made her way back inside with two of the men and they laid their story on her.

"A third guy comes in and says, ‘I'm the one that's going to spray acid on those brown recluse spiders that are in that tree next door,'" Spence remembered.

But, she explained, the guy needs a bucket of water. So Spence started filling one up in the laundry room.

That's when she says he made his move.

"He accidentally sprayed my hand and said, ‘Oh! That's the acid. Come with me quickly,'" Spence described.

While she was rushing to wash her hands, the man told Spence to take off her jewelry and put it in milk to keep the acid from ruining it. 

And while Spence was paying attention to the acid on her hands, the thieves swiped the jewelry and got out.

"He said, ‘I'm going to go out and get something to get that stuff off,' and never came back," she said.

What Spence didn't know at the time is that those thieves did not actually spray acid on her hands. In reality, it was just a mild cleaning solution.

Naples Police say they've seen it before - in two cases last year and one earlier this year. 

"They distract you and then pick up your jewelry. As they're leaving you go back to find your jewelry and it's missing also," said Naples Police Lieutenant Matt Fletcher.

Officers say anyone can be a target, but scammers usually go after elderly women. 

"I believe these people are either followed home or they're targeted from working out in their yard or anything like that," said Lt. Fletcher.

Ruth was just returning from a trip up north when the thieves struck.

"I hadn't had a chance to unpack. My stuff was sitting right there inside the door," she said.

Now, she's ready to press charges.

"If they have to go to jail, they have to go to jail," she said.

Police are still looking for the three men. But Lt. Fletcher says he doesn't think they're from around here

Bed racers to roll Saturday in Cape

No time to sleep: These beds are made for racing.

The annual Big Kahuna Bed Races roll through downtown Cape Coral Saturday during Cape Coral Bike Night.

And if you’ve never seen a bed race, you owe it to yourself, says bed racer Steve DeAngelis.

“What a riot that is,” he says and laughs. “People are yelling and really getting into it.

It’s a fun event.”

In each race, teams of four people push and steer wheeled beds down the street. A fifth member sits in the bed and "drives."

Teams build and decorate their beds using plywood, metal and other materials.

DeAngelis and his team – employees of the Fort Myers Beach restaurant Yucatan Beach Stand – decorated their bed like a rumrunner-style boat.

Restaurant manager DeAngelis says he’s taking a break from pushing this year.

Instead, four soccer players from his kitchen staff will handle the honors. Last year was the restaurant’s first entry in the race.

“Actual athletes will do it this year,” he says and laughs. “Last year was quite the experience, I tell you.

“You realize just how out of shape you are when you’re shoving that thing down the road.”

The seventh annual race benefits The March of Dimes.

Each bed can’t be smaller than a standard twin-sized mattress or bigger than a queen-sized mattress. All beds must be human-powered (no motors).

Winners will be named for racing, best decorated, most entertaining and people’s choice.

The event starts with a “Pre Pit Party” in Club Square and a parade of beds.

“That’s always an opportunity for the participants to talk smack and say who’s going to beat who,” says Norma Eveland, director of the motorcycle group The Chrome Divas.

“There’s some rivalry, for sure.”

The Chrome Divas decorated their boat this year in a dental theme – complete with a driver dressed like a tooth. The bed is sponsored by a local dental office.

Eveland says she always looks forward to the races.

“It’s fun,” she says. “It’s a little chaotic, but everybody has a great time.”

Boca Raton pawnshop raid nets $3 million in stolen dental equipment such as electric toothbrushes; three arrested

Three people were arrested Wednesday after authorities raided a Boca Raton pawnshop suspected of selling stolen dental hygiene products.

A precise estimate of the value of the stolen items was unavailable, but investigators said it could total more than $3 million.

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies raided Citi Pawn in the 900 block of North Dixie Highway and arrested its manager, Igor Roytikh, 44, on charges that included dealing in stolen property - some of which came from as far away as Tequesta and Cutler Ridge in southern Miami-Dade County - and aggravated retail theft.

Lauren Ann Healy, 23, and Brian Hegmann, 26, both of Deerfield Beach, were arrested after authorities alleged they supplied the shop with merchandise stolen from retail stores in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Hegmann and Healy allegedly concentrated their efforts on dental hygiene products such as electric toothbrushes and whitening strips, authorities said.

An investigation that began in July showed that Healy pawned more than $22,000 worth of toothbrushes and whitening strips through September, a probable cause arrest affidavit said.

Roytikh indicated to investigators that the toothbrushes were sold over the Internet, according to the affidavit.

Acting on a tip from an informant, investigators set up multiple surveillances of the alleged "booster crew."

The surveillances indicated that Hegmann was the getaway driver, authorities said. Healy, with occasional assistance from a third suspect, would allegedly enter the store and steal the products.

Investigators followed Hegmann and Healy to more than 60 retail stores, according to the affidavit.  

 

 

 

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SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 

Men try to rob bank before business hours

Two men are in custody after they reportedly bungled a bank robbery in Cape Coral Wednesday morning.

The men, who were wearing masks, tried entering the front door of the Capital bank located at 22209 Santa Barbara Boulevard around 8:20 a.m., about 40 minutes before the bank was set to open, according to police.

Police say a bank employee was letting in another employee when the men tried storming in. The employee was able to shut and lock the door in time, leaving the would-be robbers outside, according to police.

The bank workers called 911 and provided police with a description of the getaway car. A few minutes later officers spotted it nearby and a chase ensued.

The suspects reportedly led police to SW 6th Court and SW 9th Street, where they crashed the car into a mailbox.

Police found two handguns the suspects allegedly threw from the car during the chase.

The men, identified as Patrick Healey and Steven Mammon, were placed under arrest and taken to the Lee County Jail for booking.

A search of the suspects' vehicle let to the discovery of bullet proof vests, gloves, and bandanas.

Healey is the son of Corporal Patrick Healey of the Lee County Sheriff's Office who died in the line of duty in 2004.

Iwo Jima statue's restoration complete

If you've crossed into Cape Coral using the Midpoint Bridge, there's no doubt you've spotted the Iwo Jima statue under construction. After years of deteriorating, the rehab is finished.

Busted up and broken down, Cape Coral's signature welcome sign was worn out for way too long.

"Within five years, it would've had to been demolished. It would have become a public safety hazard," said sculptor DJ Wilkins.

But for the past six months, Wilkins and project manager George Colom have called a tent off Veteran's Parkway their second home as they sandblasted the 67,000-pound statue down to nearly nothing.

They erased 200-feet worth of cracks before the rebuilding began.

"We drilled 250 one-and-a-half inch holes to flush out the core, added steel refilled it with grout," Wilkins said.

He says he worked to fix what the Iwo Jima statue's original artist got wrong - the detailed weapons, soldier's uniforms, the hands positioning the American flag and one hand that was facing the other way.

"[It] was anatomically impossible. So we had to turn it around the right way," Wilkins said.

And one of the statue's finishing touches will actually come from Iwo Jima - sand that will be bottled up and placed inside of the base.

"That sand is in memory of all the people killed and wounded in Iwo Jima during that period of time," Colom said.

All that's needed then is an American flag atop the 26-foot tall statue. That will come before it opens to the public late next month.

E. coli scare prompts Tyson to recall ground beef

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is recalling about 131,300 pounds of ground beef that might be contaminated with E. coli.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that it became aware of the problem when Ohio health authorities reported that a family in Butler County had become ill with E. coli. Ground beef in the family's home tested positive for the bacteria.

The products being recalled include Kroger-brand ground beef; Butcher's Brand beef and generic label beef, which were all produced Aug. 23.

The Kroger beef was distributed in Tennessee and Indiana; the Butcher's beef in North and South Carolina and the generic beef in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

Tyson Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Man arrested for freeing caged birds from park

St. Petersburg police have arrested a 21-year-old man on animal cruelty charges after detectives say he cut holes in aviary cages and freed 10 injured birds - all while videotaping.

Blake Richard Riede was arrested Thursday. Police said he uploaded the video of him freeing the birds on YouTube. The video was entitled "Saving Some Birds."

A bald eagle, two turkey vultures, a red tailed hawk, two red shouldered hawks and one barred owl were missing, while three owls were still nearby. Park workers and volunteers managed to recapture all but 1 of the birds. A red shouldered hawk is still missing.

Many of the birds couldn't fly due to wing injuries.

While videotaping his actions, the suspect identified himself when he turned the camera on himself.

Broward outlaws bong sales to minors

a law making it illegal to sell a smoke pipe, bong, rolling papers or other smoking devices to someone under age 18. Loopholes in the law allowed for the sales, even though minors cannot buy tobacco. Some of the pipes are disguised as highlighters or lipstick cases. Penalty: $250 for first offense, $500 for subsequent.

Approved stateand federal lobbying contracts with Ericks Consultants, Pittman Law Group, Ron Book, Tripp Scott, and William Peebles.

Set an Oct. 11voting date to take power to appoint the medical examiner away from the governor and give it to the county administrator.

Passed a resolutionopposing the proposed closure of U.S. Postal Processing Centers in Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale.

Enteredan agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for $26.7 million in noise-reduction work for homeowners who will be affected by construction of the new "main" runway on the south side of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The FAA will pay $20 million of the total.

  

 

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September 28, 2011

Fishermen angered by sunset wedding on their pier

Fishermen in the Panhandle town of Navarre Beach weren't happy when a pier manager closed their favorite fishing pier for her daughter's sunset wedding.
    
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jim Melvin told the Northwest Florida Daily News on Monday that he had been deluged with calls from fishermen complaining about the Saturday-evening wedding.
    
The Northwest Florida Daily News reports Melvin said the pier manager did not have the authority to close any section of the pier without prior permission from the commission.
    
Pier Manager Dorothy Slye said her job is to maximize revenue for the pier and that the wedding brought in $300 for the county.

Man charged with DUI, attempts to board school bus

Ice Cream Cone Mascot Mistaken for a KKK Member

An ice cream shop in Ocala, Florida thought it would be a clever marketing tactic to have an employee dress up as an ice cream cone and stand out in the parking lot with a sign advertising their goods. Little did they know!

Managers and staffers at the two-month-old Ice Cream Family Corner and Sandwiches say that many townsfolk have avoided their shop because of the ice cream cone man, whom they've mistaken for a Ku Klux Klan protester. The Ocala Star-Banner reports:

Liza Diaz, who manages the store... said an employee at the bank where she does business told her a co-worker was so frightened by the white dollop patrolling the street corner that she called her husband crying and refused to drive through the intersection.

"One (customer) told me, 'I had to think twice before coming in here because I thought it was KKK,' " Diaz said.

Diaz is from Puerto Rico and had never heard about the KKK until a reporter informed her about the group. The shop owners are named Jose Cantres and Jesus Diaz, which seems to disqualify them from KKK membership. Photographs show that the men who wore the foam ice cream cone costume—which features a hole cut out for the wearer's face to show through—had brown skin. Also, KKK robes don't usually come with sprinkles.

So how could anyone conclude that Ice Cream Family Corner was some kind of white supremacist operation? The Star-Banner offers a credible hypothesis:

The costume tends to sag around the wearer's shoulders, and the waffle cone is mostly obscured by the sign the mascot holds in front of him. So to a motorist who gets only a glance cruising past at 40 mph, it can—and apparently does—look like a menacing Klansman.

Central Florida boasts a numberof active KKK chapters, so it's certainly not unreasonable to assume—from afar—that a person who shows up in an Ocala parking lot with a white pointy thing on their head is a KKK member, or is pretending to be one in order to intimidate people. In 2004—not that long ago!—the Star-Banner reported on the case of two teens who told a sheriff's detectivethat they wore KKK-like outfits to frighten an African-American bus driver. Also, from Wesley Snipes' 2007 tax evasion court documents we learned that almost one-quarter of Ocala residents said in a survey that burning a cross on someone's lawn—a popular KKK pasttime—shouldn't be a federal crime.

Ice Cream Family Corner isn't using the ice cream cone mascot anymore.

New retailer, 3 restaurants coming to Gulf Coast Town Center

Gulf Coast Town Center has one new retailer and three new restaurants that will open in the next few months.

The new businesses are G.N.C., Elevation Burger, Connors Steak & Seafood, and Keys Bar and Grille.

“These new retailers and restaurants further enhance the diversified mix of stores and dining experiences at Gulf Coast Town Center,” said Ashleigh Henry, marketing director for Gulf Coast Town Center. “As the area’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination, Gulf Coast Town Center provides both Fort Myers/Naples residents and visitors with a unique blend of more than 100 of the nation’s finest retailers and restaurants.”

General Nutrition Centersbetter known as G.N.C. is focused on health and nutrition. Their products consist of vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, heath and fitness books, magazines, and diet and energy products. G.N.C. has more than 6,000 stores in the U.S. G.N.C.’s goal is to live well. G.N.C. will be located next to Kirkland’s.

Elevation Burger’s vision is to be much more than a burger restaurant. It is a vision for an elevated product that is fresh and flavorful because it is made from the highest level ingredients. It is a vision for authentic sustainably prepared food that is better for you and better for the environment. It is a vision for an elevated experience in a friendly and environmentally friendly setting. It is a vision for USDA-certified, grass-fed, ground-on-premises beef as well as fresh-cut fries cooked in heart-healthy olive oil and hand-scooped shakes, malts and fresh baked cookies.

Connors Steak & Seafoodoffers casual dining and specializes in fresh seafood and premium aged steaks, as well as gourmet salads, pastas and more! Enjoy a memorable evening with friends and family in our well-appointed dining rooms, or stop by for the lunch you and your associates deserve. Our friendly service and flavorful fare will keep you coming back for more. Connors Steak & Seafood will be located outside the mall, adjacent to L.A. Fitness.

Keys Bar and Grilleis where the intoxicating thrill of Duval Street meets the heart-pounding rhythm of dynamic dueling pianos. The Keys is your neighborhood destination for a truly unique and memorable dining and entertainment experience. Walk in the doors and walk into paradise – take pleasure in casual grub done island style, watch renowned entertainers tickle the ivories, and become a star when you join the fun and sing along piano-side. Sip a drink, enjoy the party, and stay where the fun never ends. Keys Bar and Grille will be located in between Dick’s Sporting Goods and Charlotte Russe. The bar and grille was located at The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples until recently closing to relocate.

Gulf Coast Town Center, owned and managed by CBL & Associates Properties Inc. of Chattanooga, Tenn., and The Richard E. Jacobs Group Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, features more than 75 specialty shops and more than 28 restaurants and eateries. The shopping center is located off Interstate 75 at Alico Road, exit 128.

  

 

 

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SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Thieves steal birdbath containing cremains

A memorial birdbath was stolen from a Fort Myers woman's front yard late last week.

The owner, Stacey Fredericks, advised police that inside the base of the birdbath were her deceased sister-in-law's cremated ashes.

"The base of the birdbath, it was a column. And inside the column is where her ashes were," Fredericks said.

Fredericks discovered Saturday that the birdbath had been stolen. She believes the thieves were unaware that the birdbath held the ashes of the woman she affectionately calls, "Aunt Ro."

"It's bad enough that you would steal a bird bath. But it had someone's name on it," she said.

According to reports, the bronze birdbath was approximately 2.5 to 3-feet-tall and weighed around 75 pounds.

It had a bird sitting on top dipping its beak, and also featured the aunt's name and years of birth and death, "Rosemary Gieneve Covello 1939-2004." It's estimated to be worth approximately $1,800.

Covello's final resting place is now an empty clearing on Fredericks' lawn.

"I think of Aunt Ro every time. It means it's Aunt Rosemary. It's her overlooking us," Fredericks says.

Police say there are no suspects in the case at this time. If you have any information on the whereabouts of the stolen birdbath, call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at (239)477-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS

Domino's Pizza owner giving burgers a try

The man who built the dominos empire is trading in his pizza dough for hamburgers. Tom Monaghan announced he's opening a burger delivery restaurant.

Gyrene Hamburger will only sell burgers. There will be no sides, no drinks - just burgers.

The burgers will be delivered in 15 minutes or less within a one and a half mile radius.

With help from his protégé, Monaghan plans to open the restaurant on US-41 and Central Avenue by November.

"The point is we want to deliver it really fast and we picked a really small radius so we can do that safely," said Adrian Martinez, manager at Gyrene Hamburger.

Monaghan says all of the money from the restaurant will go to his school, Ave Maria.

Spat involving porn and golf club ends in bogey for Vero Beach man

A tiff over porn in Vero Beach ended not in hugs and kisses but rather with a golf club and a beat down, according to a recently released Indian River County Sheriff's Office report.

A 23-year-old man on Sept. 19 told deputies his "female roommate" whacked him with a golf club, which the roommate apparently identified as a six iron.

"He said that they got into an argument over porn," the report states. "She told him to get away from her and he did not. She then grabbed a golf club and started beating him with it."

The 24-year-old woman appeared to be teed off and said she was leaving and not coming back.

"She told me she used a six iron on him," a report states.

Golfers typically use a six iron for an approach shot, though it can be used to tee off on a par 3.

In 1971, Alan Shepard, commander of Apollo 14, used a six-iron head attached to a utility tool to hit a couple of golf balls on the surface of the moon.

Shepard's famous lunar golf incident came about 16 years before the birth of the woman in the apparent Vero porn golf club beating brouhaha.

A six iron is not to be confused with a six pack of soda, a six shot handgun, Six Flags amusement park, six degrees of separation, a sixth sense or a sick sense of humor.

A deputy noted "several large contusions" on the man's arms, face and back.

The man apparently gave the woman a mulligan, not wanting her to be

"Hold & Hug a Gator" Exhibit coming to downtown Naples

A day in Naples might include some shopping, a nice lunch and it could soon include hugging an alligator.  

A sign for "Hold and Hug Alligator Exhibit" is catching visitors' attention. It made one family
visiting from Colorado, stop, and now their 8-year-old is hugging an alligator.

Mike Sturgill or "Gatorman Mike" as most people call him has made a living off of selling photos of tourists holding and hugging a gator. For years, his exhibit has been on US 41 near the Everglades.

"It's the first place you come out of Naples where you actually see anything about alligators and that's one of the reason why I picked this spot," said Sturgill.

But now Gatorman Mike has found a new spot, near downtown Naples. He's hoping to expand his business in Tin City, but first he needed City Council's approval which barely happened.

"It was like 4 to 3 so I feel very fortunate that they decided to give it a try. I appreciate it very much," said Sturgill.

Gatorman Mike needed a special permit because animal exhibits aren't allowed in Tin City
under city code. Council members had to decide if his business fell under cultural use. Some argued it did. Others didn't think so.

"It's a difference of opinion how alligators tie into the culture of the city, I'm afraid, and at least 3 other members saw it my way," said Council member Sam Saad.

The Alligator Exhibit will be in Tin City on October 1st. His other exhibit along US 41 will also stay there.

Julie Salomone

 

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SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

The Lion Kingtook the weekend box office again!

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/

Police: Fla woman tried robbing store with toy gun

Authorities say a drunk woman tried to rob a convenience store using a toy gun.

Palm Bay Police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez said 19-year-old Wilnelia Caraballo walked into the store Sunday wearing a clear plastic mask and holding an Uzi-type gun.

A store clerk yelled, "Palm Bay police. Get on the ground" in hopes of tricking the suspect.

Caraballo allegedly got on the ground and store employees held her until police arrived moments later. Authorities said Caraballo appeared to be intoxicated.

She was charged with attempted armed robbery.

Woman Arrested After Cops Say She Struck Boyfriend with Pillow

Police arrested 36-year-old Joyce Belkadi after they say she struck her boyfriend with a pillow during an argument.

The incident happened Friday in Boca Raton.

Belkadi faces battery charges

Booster seats recommended for children

Child safety specialists are pushing parents to keep kids in child restraint seats longer and longer - some until the age of 12, even though it's not required by law.

A recent AAA survey shows one in four consumers don't believe booster seats are needed after a child has outgrown the car seat.

"The awareness just isn't there of how important it is and what can happen. If you've never had an incident you wouldn't, you really wouldn't know that," said Marsha Kut of AAA.

Florida doesn't have a booster seat law, but child safety advocates say children under 4 feet 9-inches should use them.

Certified child passenger safety technician Brenda Hernandez says booster seats are easy to use. No straps are needed.

"This seat actually just sits right on top of the vehicle seat," said Hernandez.

The seat elevates kids so the seatbelt hits across the lap and on the shoulder.

"Not below the shoulder on the arm area or too high up on the neck," said Hernandez.

She says without booster seats, kids can injure their stomachs in a crash.

"So what we're trying to do is prevent those injuries by using that booster seat," said Hernandez.

Hernandez also recommends reading the manufacturer's instructions and registering all child restraint seats for recalls and repair updates. 

 

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Cape Coral girl, 16, gets break on 'The X Factor'

Jazz Little will come face to face tonight with two of the top names in entertainment - Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell .

The 16-year-old Cape Coral resident is expected to sing for them in the premiere of "The X Factor" at 8 p.m. on Fox.

"I am immensely proud of all the work she has done from a young age," said her father, David.

Less than two years ago, performing for big names and audiences was hardly a confidence-builder.

In fact, crowds sent her running to the restroom so she could throw up, said Suzi Hosfeld, executive director of Fort Myers-based Envy Models & Talent, who is coordinating her career.

She gets nervous each time she sings. Place Adbul, Cowell and large audiences in front of her and those emotions can intensify.

"Whether it's two people or 20 people, I get the same same feeling of being nervous, anxious and the adrenaline gets going" Little said. "Sometimes, that nervousness can throw me off."

The show runs through Dec. 22. The early auditions have finished taping, including a boot camp portion and mentoring program at the judges' homes, where contestants' acts were polished. The judges will then cut the field for the live audience portion of the show, which begins Oct. 25.

Little also has been featured in commercials promoting the show.

Although contestants contractually are not allowed to talk about their experience or reveal how they finished, Hosfeld did say the Ida S. Baker High School student will make Southwest Florida proud through the early auditions.

"She is one of those unique people with amazing talent," Hosfeld said.

When she was younger, Little's only audiences were at occasional karaoke nights when her father performed as a D.J. The family knew she could sing and called Hosfeld for help.

Hosfeld put her on stage at the St. Andrew Festival's You Got Talent event in January 2010.

"I told her, 'Let's see what the audience has to say,'" Hosfeld said. "They went wild."

Jazz's voice and charm also got her a title. She is the reigning Miss Teen Cape Coral-World and will compete in the state event in Tampa in November. The winner receives a four-year college scholarship.

Teen uses fishing rod to reel in 12-foot alligator

 

 

kTim Stroh of Hobe Sound, Florida has been hunting alligators with his mom and dad for five years.

Over the weekend he reeled in the catch of a lifetime.

Stroh and his family and a friend were boating in the St. Lucie County Canal when they saw a huge gator just before a bridge.

"I've just never seen a gator that big and so close," said Tim.

"When I saw how big it was it even intimidated me," added Tim's dad, Steve.

With his bass fishing rod he tossed his line and the 800 pound alligator chomped down.

Tim has a slender build, but don't let that fool you.

He managed to pull the gator beside the boat.

When he realized how big it was he hit the beast with a bang stick... a .44 caliber gun shell on a stick.

He harpooned the 12' 3" reptile with the help of a friend and pulled it into their boat.

They have permits and alligator hunting season runs until November 1st.

The gator is now being stored in the family's freezer.

Tim's dad Steve is a taxidermist as well as an alligator hunter.

"I'm gonna' mount the head for him so he can put it in his room."

Although the trophy was impressive, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say there have been bigger catches.

The longest gator in Florida was more than 14 feet and the heaviest more than 1,000 pounds.

The biggest gator the family had caught to date was 400 pounds.

"I am going to try and catch a bigger one, that's all you can do," said Tim.

Men Jailed After Catching 260 Baby Alligators

Two Sumter County men were arrested early Thursday morning after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers caught them with sacks filled with recently hatched alligators, officials said.

Robert "Bo" Martin Duval, 32, and Christopher Cork Scroggins, 22, both of Bushnell, were booked into the Lake County Jail on felony charges of possession and capture of hatchling alligators and misdemeanor conspiracy charges, officials said. Duval was also charged with possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, according to officials.

FWC Officer David Straub and FWC Reserve Officer John Parrish were on surveillance at the Montverde boat ramp on Lake Apopka in Lake County when the two men came ashore in their airboat.

“You have got me, and I have a lot of alligator hatchlings,” Duval said as the officers approached him and Scroggins, FWC said.

Officers returned the hatchlings to the lake alive.

“Unfortunately, there is an illegal market for hatchling alligators, and people who participate in this type of poaching have no regard for our resources or the laws that protect them,” Straub said.

Duval and Scroggins later bailed out on $13,000 and $3,000 bonds, respectively.

Charges are pending against a woman who assisted the men at the boat ramp, officials said.

Possessing/capturing hatchling alligators is a third-degree felony, which, on conviction, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

To report alligator and other fish, wildlife or boating violations, please call the 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.

  

 

 

 

 

 

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September 20, 2011

No Love for Marco comedy club

A Marco Island comedy club owner is speaking out after his bar was slammed on Twitter by a nationally known comedian, who accused that owner of making a racial slur. But the owner and comedian have different takes of what happened leading up to the war of words.

Comedian Fazion Love is accusing the owner of Off the Hook Comedy Club of using a racial slur to a waitress last weekend.

He even mentioned his experience on Twitter:

"I like to send my apology to the fans that came to see me Sunday@Captbrien Comedy Club he made a commit about "[N-words]not tipping enough."[Read more of his Tweets]
 

"I was going to make sure that none of my comedian friends that I know were going to go there and perform at his club," Love told NBC2.

Love says he was so bothered by the comment, he didn't come back for his show Sunday.

"I was just like, ‘You know what? I'm getting out of here' and I just didn't show up," he said.

Owner of the club, Brien Spina, says no racial slur was ever made.

"That never happened. Of course that was just a story that was made up because he must have felt awkward after he got fired from a club," Spina said.

Spina says he fired Love from the show for several reasons - including too much drinking at the bar. He also sent out a bunch of Tweets about that night. Click here to read those.

"It was a whole combination. Every show he was 45 minutes late and customers were upset," he said.

Love says he was not drinking. Now he's asking fans to find him a new spot for comedy.

"If someone finds me a perfect comedy club in Fort Myers, I'm going to open a comedy club just to run him out of business," Love said.

To that, Spina responded, "God bless him. I hope he runs the comedy club exactly the way he runs his talent business because it would be out of business quicker than we could ever imagine."

Click here to read a press release from Off the Hook Comedy Club about Love's termination.

Bed tax revenue increases in Lee Co.

From the gulf oil spill to the recession, Southwest Florida's tourism industry has had some serious forces working against it the past few years. But Lee County expects to see the most money ever from the bed tax this year.

It's time to venture out again.

"I think people have saved up for vacation and they want it, they need it," said Tamara Pigott of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Tamara Pigott tracks Lee County's tourism trends and says tourism is at it's highest since it peaked in 2008.

One way she tracks the numbers is through a bed tax visitors pay when they stay at hotels.

In fiscal year 2007-2008, bed tax revenue brought $23.6 million to Lee County.

For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, Pigott projects it will reach $24 million.

"I think it's a multitude of reasons, mostly pent up demand," said Pigott.

Tourism is a $2.6 billion industry in Lee County.

Tourists from Europe and across the globe come to Florida to get a vacation for less money.

"I think I meet someone from a different country everyday," said tourist Jane Polako.

While a vacation may not be cheap for everyone, Pigott says she thinks it's a need people are beginning to recognize once again.

The bed tax revenue is used to promote the Southwest Florida area, maintain the beaches and pay off stadium debts.

Bed tax revenue:
FY 2006/2007      $23.1 million
FY 2007/2008      $23.6 million
FY 2008/2009      $21.8 million
FY 2009/2010      $22.7 million
FY 2010/2011      $24 million (projected)

NBC2's investigators discovered people are getting government assistance money from ATMs inside liquor stores, strip clubs and even a dog racing track. NBC2 found out how it's happening and why the state isn't doing anything about it.

Inside a smoky Ft.Myers bingo parlor, Pat Chapman spends about a $100 each Friday hoping to win big.

"We go home maybe down $20 down," says Chapman.

While she can afford to lose a little money, the state's poorest families cannot. Yet, that didn't stop them from withdrawing thousands of public assistance dollars from ATM machines inside bingo parlors, bowling alleys and liquor stores throughout Florida.

Florida's Department of Children and Family services oversees the program, funded with federal tax dollars. It deposits money onto EBT cards, or Electronic Benefit Transfer and recipients use it just like debit cards.

NBC2 reviewed money associated with Temporary Cash Assistance program, which provides short-term cash benefits to families with children under the age of 18, or under age 19 if full time secondary school students, as well as pregnant women during in their last trimester.

With the help of FMS, Inc. a Virginia-based software and database developing firm, NBC2 individually sorted through 1.3 million transactions made from 2009 to April, 2011, totaling $201.8 million.

We uncovered recipients withdrawing $700 at a dog racing track outside Jacksonville; $140 at the Lani Kai bar on Ft. Myers Beach, and $740 at the Foxy Lady, a strip club outside Miami.

It also included $18,000 withdrawn at bingo parlors; most of those had liquor licenses.

Total withdrawals at similar locations: $190,733 (see the breakdown of where this money was withdrawn in the charts below the story).

"I think by and large, people who receive these benefits are doing the same thing that everybody else is doing, trying to make it through the next day and do the best things for their children and families," said DCF spokesperson Joe Follick.

He argues just because money is withdrawn from ATM machines inside liquor stores and bingo parlors, doesn't mean that's where recipients are using the dollars.

Chapman disagrees.

"You just don't go walking into some place and use somebody's ATM machine to get the cash. You're going to go and sit down and play bingo, that's why you brought the card," said Chapman after sharing our findings with her.

It's not like some recipients didn't have choices. We found $3,300 withdrawn from an ATM machine inside Gulf Liquors in Miami, when recipients could have walked next door and used an ATM inside a grocery store.

DCF has known about the potential for abuse for years, but has done nothing to stop it.

"I don't think it's in anybody's best interest to have the state of Florida monitor every single transaction. Nobody wants big brother in here," said Follick.

Follick also says the amount we found is a fraction of the millions of dollars used appropriately. He believes it would cost the state more money to monitor the questionable locations we found.

Representative Scott Plakon wants more oversight. He helped us fight DCF for the data. Based on what NBC2 found, he now plans to ask the agency to find a way to stop withdrawals at the locations we discovered.

"I think we're creating a moral hazard situation in Florida if we just allow this to go on and just look the other way," said Plakon.

California recently passed a law blocking the types of transactions we uncovered, and Georgia is looking into to doing it too.

To prevent those questionable transactions, we found state legislators have to change the law. DCF says there would likely be a programming cost, and lawmakers would have to decide if the benefits outweigh the cost.

Until then, there's no way for the state to prevent it.

About the data:

With the help of FMS, Inc. a Virginia-based software and database developing firm, NBC2 individually sorted through 1.3 million transactions made from 2009 to April, 2011, totaling $201.8 million dollars.

NBC2 found $190,733 withdrawn inside locations like liquor stores, strip clubs, bowling alleys, bars and bingo parlors. The majority of the establishments had state liquor licenses. (see where this money was withdrawn in the charts below the story)

How we did the story:

Most of our findings came from an analysis of EBT transactions and establishments with state liquor licenses. Through a database manager, we matched the city and street addresses of EBT transactions with the addresses of liquor license holders.

FMS, Inc., an IT company in Virginia volunteered to help sort the data, the NBC2 investigative unit spent days verifying the addresses of the merchants. We tried to be as conservative as possible with the figures. When I found a merchant that shared address with other stores in a strip mall, I typically deleted those transactions. On the contrary, transactions we did keep, include establishments that shared the same addresses with large malls/outlets, like Bayside Marketplace in Miami and Channelside in Tampa. Most of those types of malls/outlets had numerous bars/restaurants with liquor licenses.

We also deleted thousands of transactions at grocery stores and pharmacies, like Publix and CVS, that had separate liquor stores entrances, but shared the same address. If EBT card data would have included suite numbers, we suspect the number of questionable transactions would have been much higher.

Giant African snails invade south Florida

Authorities were searching for some slimy and dangerous intruders in Coral Gables, Florida last week.  

Giant African Land Snails were rapidly reproducing in Douglas Park area.

Officials say they can be hazardous.

These snails consume about 500 different kinds of plants, and they can cause damage to plaster and stucco.

They also carry a parasitic worm that can lead to meningitis in humans.

"They populate at an incredible rate. Exponential is an understatement, from two to 2000, that's an exaggeration, but it felt like that," said resident Jason Tesser. "There are hundreds of them in the backyard."

Dr. Vincente Conte says the worms cause a form of meningitis, which right now there is no treatment for.

This species is one of the largest of snails in the world.

They grow up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in width.

Their life span is around nine years.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen these snails to call to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 888-397-1517.

Hunter shoots himself in foot with crossbow, becomes pinned to ATV

Gulf Hammock, Florida -- A Florida man shot himself in the foot with a crossbow while hunting on Sunday night.

Florida Fish and Wildlife says 21-year-old John Champion was alone hunting from his ATV at the Fiber Factory Hunt Club in Levy County.

Champion, who is a paraplegic, was reportedly cocking his crossbow when he accidentally fired the bolt through his left foot, pinning it to the floor of the ATV.

He was unable to free his foot, and then became stuck on some brush when he attempted to drive out. Other hunters and family members eventually arrived and Champion was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

FWC investigators say he suffered a puncture wound and several broken bones in his foot.

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Forget cremations or being buried, how about being liquidised? Funeral home brings in machine which turns dead bodies into 'brown syrup'

Forget cremations or being buried, how about being liquidised? Funeral home brings in machine which turns dead bodies into 'brown syrup'

They plan to try it out on some dead bodies over the coming weeks.

The 'alkaline hydrolysis' unit, installed by a Glasgow-based company called Resomation Ltd, works by submerging the body in a solution of water and potassium hydroxide, which is then pressurised and heated to 180C for two-and-a-half to three hours

The end result is a small quantity of green-brown tinted liquid containing amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts and soft, porous white bone remains which are easily crushed.

The white ash can then be returned to the next of kin of the deceased.

The liquid can be recycled back to the ecosystem by being applied to a memorial garden or forest or simply put into the sewerage system.

Resomation Ltd founder Sandy Sullivan said: 'Let's face it - there's no nice way to go. You have to go from what looks like a human person to ash and bone, whether you get there by flame or decomposition.

'If you stood in front of a cremation, with the flames and heat, it seems violent. You go next door and the resomation is quiet.

'It's stainless steel and clinical and sterile. It seems nicer and returns (a body) quickly to ash.

'We're using the exact same chemistry that's carried out by bacteria but instead of happening over months and years, it happens in three hours.'

A funeral director in Columbus, Ohio, reportedly had his body liquefying operation shut down a few months ago - after 19 uses - because it was not approved by the state.

Resomation Ltd claim that the system can reduce a funeral home's greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent, and that mercury emissions - typically released from dental fillings during cremations - are eliminated.

A scientist told the BBC that disposing of remains in a municipal water system is perfectly safe.
The UK is considering bringing in the technology here.

 

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September 19, 2011

The lion Ling takes the weekend box office .

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/boxoffice/

 Firefighters revive child from near drowning

A child's life is saved in the nick of time, "I'm just glad I was here," said neighbor Nancy Weiss.

Deputies say a 7-year-old girl was swimming with her 4 year-old brother at a Woodlake Drive home Saturday. Her parents, Maria Pentos and Nehemias Alvarado were cleaning the home at the time while the homeowners were out of town. That's when they spotted their little girl unresponsive and lying face down in the pool.

Nancy Weiss is still shaken up by what she saw.  "What was your reaction to all of this?" "Horror. Fear for her life," said Weiss. Weiss says the parents ran over here with their little girl. The mom performed CPR in the driveway while the dad rang the doorbell for help.

"I was an immediate wreck but I ran back and got the phone and called 9-1-1," explained Weiss.

Firefighters responded minutes later. The little girl gained back a pulse by the time the ambulance got to the hospital. Lieutenant Eric Madden performed advanced life support the whole way there. He said, "Whenever you can help someone out like that you just pray everything turns out okay."

"What do you think if the station wasn't so close to the house?" "I think this would be a different interview if this station wasn't here."

Weiss hasn't been able to sleep since the near drowning, thinking about the horrific moments Saturday afternoon and that little girl. "It's not an easy thing to go through. I mean I don't know these people from Adam but your heart says you do. And you do what you can -- which was nothing."

As of Sunday night, the Bonita Springs Fire Department says the little girl's condition is improving.

11-11-11 a popular wedding date

November 11, 2011 has wedding planners working overtime. We found out a record number of brides and grooms will soon say 'I do' on 11-11-11.

The clock is ticking.

Gina Caccavale is one of countless brides exchanging vows on 11-11-11.

"11-11-11 is the day that I want to do it. It's too bad we can't get married at 11 o'clock," she said. "Numbers have been a role my entire life. I was born at 3:33."

Whatever the reason, bridal shop owners we spoke to say they are busy.

"11-11-11 is easy to remember when it comes to their fiancés needing to remember anniversaries," said Dana Castellanos, of Alfred Angelo.

She says Alfred Angelo Bridal in Fort Myers has 325 weddings for that date alone, compared to about 200 during 10-10-10.

"11-11-11 is much bigger than Valentine's Day," Castellanos said.

The next two months, For the Bride owner Wendy Bennett says she welcomes the work.

"We have deadlines, and lots of them, to meet," she said. "Because, you know, when the economy goes ‘whoop,' everything kind of goes ‘whoop.' But a bride is still going to buy her dress."

Shop managers stress it's not too late to book November nuptials - if you can find a venue.

"I would go into places and I would tell them that weekend and their eyes would get really big. They're like, 'Do you realize how many brides are going to be getting married on that weekend?' I'm like, 'Yeah, I want to be one of them'" said Caccavale.

Judging by how many customers these bridal shops have, I wouldn't wait until the 11-th hour.

November 11 falls on a Friday this year. Wedding planners say November 12 has also been a popular date.

Oysters reveal the health of Naples Bay

Researchers with the city of Naples Natural Resources Department spent Friday checking out the oyster reefs in Naples Bay. The oysters help them determine the health of the bay.

In the southeastern part of Naples Bay, the researchers are on a mission.

"Today we're looking at the health of oyster reefs in Naples Bay," said Environmental Specialist Katie Laakkonen.

They know where the oyster reefs are, but not how healthy they are.

"Are they 50 percent alive? Are these just dead reefs? How healthy are they? Today we're just getting a handle on that," said Laakkonen.

The team anchors off one of 4 sites in the bay. They're working on a year-long research project.

"This is going to better assure that we're focusing our restoration efforts in the right place," said Laakkonen.

Using specially designed equipment, the researchers pull up all the oysters in a one meter square area. They're looking for adults and baby oysters.

Then they start counting and measuring.

"It's just to get an idea, just basically an average growth, length and growth," said Laakonnen.

The goal of the research is to see how healthy the oysters are because the more oysters there are in the bay, the healthier and cleaner it is.

Oysters are natural filter feeders.

"One oyster can clean 50 gallons of water an hour, or a day, and if you got about a thousand oysters on a square yard of oyster reef, you've got 50,000 gallons of water being cleaned a day. Wonderful cleaners," said Mike Bauer, Natural Resources Manager.

Over the past 50 years, the oyster count has taken a hit. There are 80 percent fewer than once lived here.

But the Natural Resources Department is working hard to restore the reefs.

"As time goes by, you're going to be able to see down into the water. Right now, it's pretty murky," said Bauer. "The water's going to clean up and you're going to fish in here, catch more fish and be able to swim in here someday too."

The oysters go back to the bay after the count to continue their work cleaning the bay. 

 

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September 16, 2011

Massive cuts for UMassive cuts for US Postal

The US Postal Service announced it must make massive cuts to fill a $10 billion deficit. Jobs and even your local post office could be on the line.

For small business owner Fiona Gill- a trip to the post office is part of her everyday routine.

She depends on the US Postal Service to send and receive mail daily.

To her, the thought of post office closures is unimaginable.

"I get that we all have to downsize and I'm sure there's ways to do it but closing major amounts of places is not probably the best situation," said Gill.

Southwest Florida's postal worker's union president Sam Wood says we'll see an unknown number post office closures.

The Fort Myers processing facility could close. It's one of nine on the list in Florida. There could be at least 450 layoffs.

"Really it's affecting the customers and our local economy- Ft. Myers in particular," said Wood.

Wood expects snail- mail to move at an even slower rate - between two and three days slower if all of our mail goes through West Palm Beach first.

But Southwest Florida wouldn't be alone.

Nationwide, 3,700 post offices could close, 250 processing facilities could be shut down and 120,000 postal workers could be laid off.

Wood- and US- Postmaster General Pat Donahoe- don't think it needs to happen.

"Back in 2006 we were actually making money- $4-5 billion in profit. Then congress tried to take away some of the money and use it for the federal government instead of allowing the postal service to run like a business and use that money to make our company better," said Wood.

One idea is to deliver mail five days a week instead of six.

The post office isn't just competing with the convenience of email, it's also losing a huge amount of money when compared to Fed-Ex and UPS.   

The profitability gap between the post office and those companies is the widest it has been since the late 1990s, averaging a loss of more than $21,000 for every post office employee. 

Ky. professor discovers new species of bee

A University of the Cumberlands assistant biology professor has discovered a new species of bee, and the university says his finding will be published in The Florida Entomologist.

Leif Deyrup and his father, Mark Deyrup, first noticed the species in 2002 while looking at pollination of plants in a habitat called Florida scrub. Seeing unusual features in the bee's appearance and behavior, they decided to conduct a research project. Deyrup's father works at Archbold Biological Station, specializing in classifying different types of insects.

Deyrup's primary expertise is in animal and insect behavior, but the university says he is excited about the bee discovery. The 35-year-old is in his fourth year of teaching biology at the university in Williamsburg in southeastern Kentucky.

Largo 911 call: 'Taco Bell won't serve me tacos!'

A Largo man's late night craving and demand for tacos landed him in the Pinellas County jail for misuse of a 911 system.

Terry Kimbell, 50, called 911 from his cell phone to inform the dispatcher Taco Bell would not sell him tacos while he stood in the drive-thru lane Tuesday night, according to a Largo police report.

Bay News 9obtained the 911 call through a public records request:

911:"Largo emergency."

Kimbell:"It's not an emergency. However, can you -- can you put me through to dispatch? I'm at the Taco Bell, and I walked in, and I left my car on purpose, so I wouldn't drink and drive. I walked up, they wouldn't serve me. So, I'm at the Taco Bell at 137th and Walsingham and I just want some tacos. That's it." 

Kimbell tells the dispatcher he has the munchies. He'd been drinking alcohol, according to the police report.

911:"What are the employees saying?" 

Kimbell:"You can't walk up, you've got to drive up. You got a get a DUI to get a taco. I got the munchies and I walked a quarter mile from here. Are you going to help me out or do I have to get arrested to get home? You know what I'm saying?"

911:"Well, we're not going to take you home." 

Kimbell:"I want you to call the manager at the Taco Bell."

Kimbell stayed on the phone the for about 11 minutes with dispatch until a police officer arrived and arrested him for misuse of a 911 system.

Kimbell was released from jail on Wednesday.

Bay News 9 tried contacting Kimbell at his apartment, but the door was not answered. He did tell the dispatcher the reason he called 911 though:

Kimbell: "When I get refused service for no reason, it T's me off. So, I call you guys. Does that make sense?"

Largo police Lt. Mike Loux said when someone calls 911 for a reason that's not an emergency, they're tying up resources for those who truly are having an emergency.

"Certainly calling 911 because you didn't get your tacos is not something that would constitute an emergency," Loux said.

A Taco Bell manager said they don't allow customers to walk in their drive-thru for safety reasons.

The fast food company does not want customers to get run over. The manager also said people on foot pose an increased robbery risk to employees.

Man arrested after swindling girlfriend, stealing almost $50,000

A 41-year-old man has been charged with stealing almost $50,000 from a man by manipulating his daughter, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Travis Gary Knight of Jacksonville is charged with stealing $48,250 from the man’s bank account between August 2008 and October 2009, according to his arrest report.

Knight met the man’s daughter at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in June 2008 and “said all the right things,” according to his arrest report. The two began dating. He moved in with her shortly after.

Knight said he worked in Panama City, but the woman noted that he never went to work, according to the report.

Knight later asked to use her credit card for a trip to Texas to attend his grandmother’s funeral, but she said none of his purchases were made in Texas, according to the report.

She told deputies that Knight continued to use her card, but the balances were always paid. In fact, Knight was using her father’s account through telephone transfers to repay the balances, according to the report.

Knight was arrested in Crestview on Sept. 7 and charged with theft over $20,000. He was being held in the Okaloosa County Jail on a $50,000 bond Tuesday.

 

 

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Macy's recalls Martha Stewart casserole dishes

Macy's is recalling almost one million Martha Stewart Collection enamel cast iron casserole dishes because the coating on the dishes can crack or break during use. 

This can cause the enamel to crack and fly off as a projectile.

The recall involves the 7 quart, 5.5 quart, and 2.75 quart size casserole dishes. 

They were sold at Macy's stores and online between June 2007 and June 3011 for between $25 and $170.

Customers can return the dishes to Macy's for a full refund.

Brazilian admits smuggling reptiles in pants

Brazilian man has pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle python and tortoise hatchlings in his pants.

Simon Turola Borges admitted Wednesday that he tried to sneak the reptiles through security at Miami International Airport last month when attempting to return to Brazil.

Prosecutors say airport screeners spotted two ball pythons encased in panty hose in Borges' cargo pants pockets. They also found several other pythons and tortoises contained in similar hose inside the man's underwear. All were small hatchlings and all are protected under U.S. law.

A federal judge sentenced Borges to probation and a $400 fine, which she ordered paid to the Miami Science Museum for reptile preservation programs.

Did ‘Debbie Cakes’ reference spark Hobe Sound beating?

That’s one observation that could be made after the 21-year-old woman’s arrest in a Sept. 8 incident involving her fiancee, a 23-year-old woman, according to recently released Martin County Sheriff’s records.

Deputies about 3:40 a.m. went to the area of Southeast Bayberry Terrace and Southeast Gomez Avenue in Hobe Sound and heard a woman yelling in the backyard of an address in the 8600 block of Southeast Bayberry Terrace.

They met a 23-year-old woman who said she and her fiancee — Benafield — had argued. The 23-year-old woman said that she, Benafield and a man were inside.

“Deborah was angry at (her fiancee) because (her fiancee) called her ‘Debbie Cakes,’ she hit (her fiancee) in the back of the head . . . approximately four times, but she was not injured,” an affidavit states.

The man said he saw Benafield hit her fiancee, but he apparently made no mention of “Debbie Cakes.”

Benafield, meanwhile, said she didn’t recall what happened because she “blacks out” when angry.

Being called “Debbie Cakes” might make some angry, but being given Little Debbie cakes makes others happy.

Little Debbie snack cakes, a staple of school lunch boxes nationwide for decades, come in dozens of varieties, including Oatmeal Crème Pies, Star Crunch Cosmic Snacks and Devil Squares.

One of Elvis Presley’s favorite snacks was Little Debbie Fudge Brownies, while Oatmeal Crème Pies are consumed daily by University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, the Little Debbie website states.

The affidavit didn’t state whether the “Debbie Cakes” spat will impact the pending nuptials.

Benafield, of the 8600 block of Southeast Bayberry Terrace in Hobe Sound, was arrested on a domestic battery charge

Drunken man tried to pull his tooth with pliers, cops say

Nothing like liquid courage before attempting self-surgery.

And, apparently the procedure had an unpleasant adverse side effect: The Port St. Lucie cops then requested his wife to open the garage door to dissipate the stench from the vomit on the floor.

Outrageous?

Well, it's been done before in the Sunshine State.

Remember Tina Belinda Masta of Naples?

Cops:Naked drunk woman throws rocks, pulls own teeth

When it comes to outrageous behavior Floridians don't have to depend on Charlie Sheen for entertainment.

Get the DUHtails at Will Greenlee's Off the Beatblog for TCPalm.com in Stuart.

Photo: St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office 

 

 

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Man caught with 30 fake credit cards

A 36-year-old man faces charges after police discovered dozens of counterfeit credit cards inside his SUV during a traffic stop in Naples Monday.

Police pulled over Jamie Velazquez of Houston, Texas, for driving with a broken taillight along Goodlette Frank Road North, according to an arrest report.

During a search of Velazquez's vehicle, officers say they discovered 30 counterfeit cards and 10 Walmart gift cards.

"I believe 29 were Discover cards. There was one card with no information on the front, what we call a blank card," said Matt Fletcher of the Naples Police Department.

Police also found numerous pieces of newly purchased luggage and clothing with the tags still attached in the trunk.

"Lots of suitcases. Story didn't quite match up with the info and items in the vehicle," said Fletcher.

The credit cards were all fraudulent. Police have a machine that helps them determine whether or not a credit card is genuine.

Velazquez was arrested and taken to the Collier County Jail, where he remains pending bond.
Because he has no ties to the area, police believe he's likely connected to a larger criminal enterprise.

"We're trying to link that up. I'm not sure if he has and any in the past. We're still trying to track that information down," said Fletcher.

Police say Velasquez drove thousands of miles from Texas with the counterfeit cards, but the alleged spree ended in Naples.

Lee County to see second greatest job increase in nation

A new survey forecasts Lee County will add the second most jobs of any metropolitan area in the nation before the end of the year - second only to San Antonio. And while it sounds great for Southwest Florida, it's not all good news.

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Surveym 22 percent of companies interviewed in Lee County plan to hire more employees in the rest of 2011, while 6-percent expect to reduce staff.

The amount of local companies planning to hire is up 12-percent from last year.

Jim Wall, of Southwest Florida Works, helps people find work for a living.

Wall said Tuesday he believes the increase in jobs in the coming months will be largely due to preparation for tourist season.

"Some of the jobs may be temporary," Wall said.

But Wall also said there are businesses hiring permanent, full-time workers.

"There are efforts within the county to diversify the workforce and I don't think that is reflected in this survey," Wall said.

Medical and manufacturing industries are among businesses that Wall says are increasing permanent hires.

Local businessman Brian Rist said he revamped his tornado shutter business to include a solar air conditioning system to stay afloat and hire more people.

"It is hard to have a business these days but it is doable," Rist said.

Rist wants to double his employees to 200 within the next two years thanks to the new solar technology.

"When you are feeding 100 families it makes all the hard work worth it," Rist said.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on interviews with 18,000 employers located in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

It includes the largest 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas based on number of business establishments.

The survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforces during the next quarter.

Potholes may prevent mail service in N. Ft Myers

Emergency responders and residents in North Fort Myers say they're dealing with delayed response times and nearly impassable roads on a daily basis. Now, county is considering declaring a state of emergency.

The two roads of concern are Laurel Lane and Bartholomew Drive.

Several cars and trucks got stuck on Laurel Lane last week when there was a lot of rain. Now that it has dried up, the county is assessing thee roads to see if they need to declare a state of emergency.

Whenever an emergency call comes in to the North Fort Myers fire station, firefighters say they know one thing.

"You just know you're going to have a bumpy ride," said assistant Fire Chief Chris Noble.

Bumpy is an understatement. The potholes are more like craters as cars try to swerve and maneuver around the gaping holes in the ground.

In residential neighborhoods, emergency vehicles respond to calls at about 35 miles per hour.

But on roads like Bartholomew Drive, they go much slower.

"We're probably going 5 miles an hour, the big truck, weighing around 40,000 pounds, they have a much rougher ride than this," Noble said.

A slower ride means slower response times. And in an emergency, minutes are everything.

That's why Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall is stepping in. She requested the Department of Transportation and Emergency Management to assess Bartholomew and Laurel to see if public dollars will be needed to fix the private roads.

"I think the public's health and safety. If it's going to be at risk, we need to take responsibility to make sure our emergency vehicles can get down that road," said Commissioner Hall.

Besides emergency vehicles, residents who drive the roads everyday are fed up.

"It's at the point now where we're spending more money getting our vehicles fixed from these roads then what its worth; I just had an $800 bill on my van," said North Fort Myers resident Joyce Darling.

Another public service that is in jeopardy for residents on this private road is the mail service.

The post office delivered letters to residents on Bartholomew and Laurel informing them their postal service would be suspended if the roads weren't fixed because they were experiencing too many maintenance expenses.

"They said they were going to give us 30 days to get the roads fixed and the problem is they haven't given us those 30 days. Our mail has stopped," Darling explained.

Some residents are even trying to fill in the roads themselves, using concrete roofing tiles.

The problem is they still have nails in them, causing flat tires for emergency vehicles.

The county will spend a week assessing the roads and Commissioner Hall says she hopes to make a decision next Tuesday.

Cops: Man Used Pepper Spray In Tirade On Mom

A man is charged with attempted murder after his mother told police that her son used pepper spray on her and shot at the door of a room she had locked herself in.

Sanford police said Gayle Fahr called 911 Saturday night to report that her "son had turned on her."

When officers arrived at the home, Fahr's son, Gene Fahr, 51, answered the door and directed officers to the room where his mother was located, police said.

Officers were initially unable to open the door due to bullet holes near the handle, and opened the door with force, police said.

Police said Gayle Fahr, who was wearing an oxygen mask, was visibly shaken.

Gayle Fahr told officers that her son had been drinking and blamed her for his recent break-up with his girlfriend, police said. She said her son sprayed pepper spray into a fan in her room, took her phone, disabled her computer and told her she would not be contacting anyone, police said 

 

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Cape man saves business with $1M lottery prize

A Cape Coral man has a new financial life free of debt after winning a lotto jackpot. Now the concrete layer says he has a more concrete future.

Ken Shaffer is in the slabbing business and has been for virtually his entire life.

"I dropped out of school to do this," he said.

But recently, the economy has his business dried up. The Shaffers were living paycheck to paycheck. Shaffer says he wasn't even able to pay his suppliers.

"[It was] $8,000 we owed them. It took me two years to pay them off," he said.

But they were paid in full Monday.

"The hair stood up on my arm and I got this nervous feeling across me.  I couldn't believe it was a million dollars," Shaffer said.

Shafer, a regular lottery player, bought a $20 lotto ticket at a North Fort Myers 7-Eleven. And after he scratched the ticket, his debts were paid.

His wife and daughter said it was hard for them to take it in as well.

"Well we couldn't afford a phone, I had to use my dad's phone," said Shaffer's daughter McKenna.

"It's just a weight off our shoulders. We don't owe anyone any money now. You can go out and have a meal and not worry how much it was going to cost," added his wife, Beth Shaffer.

"It is a relief! I don't have to worry about if I get slow in a month, then I won't be able to pay my rent, my mortgage payment - won't be able to make the car payment. We know if something happens now, we're going to be able to survive," Shaffer said.

Shaffer chose to take the lump sum payment option for his winnings in the amount of $650,000.

Shaffer said while he's still going to mow his own lawn, the grass is definitely greener.

Deputies find drugs in woman's bra

A routine traffic stop led deputies to discover illegal drugs and paraphernalia inside a Charlotte County woman's bra Saturday, according to an arrest report.

Shortly before midnight a deputy pulled over 28-year-old Keri Ann Bonneville and her passengers Mandi Jay Aston, 21, and an unidentified 21-year-old man, for driving without taillights.

During the stop, Bonneville reportedly kept tugging on her bra, which called attention to a large bulge in her chest area. The deputy then conducted a patdown search and heard what sounded like a rattling pill bottle.

That's when Bonneville reached into her bra and pulled out a bottle containing dozens of muscle relaxants and a pouch containing drug paraphernalia and various other prescription drugs including Oxycodone, the report said.

Deputies then searched the vehicle and discovered a plastic spoon with opiate residue, according to the report.

Bonneville and Aston were arrested and taken to the Charlotte County Jail for booking. The unidentified passenger was released without charges.

Possible escaped python remains elusive

Last week, signs were posted in a North Naples community warning people of an escaped 8-to-9-foot python.

Deputies said someone posted the signs in the Victoria Lakes condominium community, located off Airport Pulling Road North.

One neighbor claimed he spotted an 8-9 foot yellow python at his front door last week.

An all-day search took place for the dangerous reptile, but three days later, the snake is still nowhere to be found.

That leaves many wondering if there was ever a snake to begin with.

"We're really not sure, but I guess when you're talking about a 9-12 foot long snake, it's better to err on the side of caution," says Victoria Lakes resident Stephen Popper.

FWC officials say they've called off their search, but the development's property manager says they have a trapper on standby just in case the snake is still nearby.

Popper says he's preparing for just that.

"We had to sit down and talk with our kids and say, ‘Hey, look, if you see a big snake, don't go over and say gosh, this would be cool, call me over and say Dad, I found a big snake,'" Popper says.

However, not every resident is in fear of the snake slithering through their neighborhood.

"I think people were overreacting. I don't think they're that dangerous to humans. They're not that fast and you can see them coming," says resident Brian Harrington.

Harrington may think the python isn't dangerous to humans, but ever since he heard about the missing snake, he says he hasn't let his cat out of the house.

"I have not let my cat out because he's not as smart as I am," he says.

With the snake still on the loose, residents are urged to use those smarts by being extra careful and on alert for the snake .

Man in Keys accused of exposing himself through sunroof

A Miami-Dade man was using a car's sunroof for much more exposure than is legal, authorities said.

Julio Socarras Mompeller, 31, is accused of standing up through the sunroof of a silver Mercedes Benz with his pants down, exposing himself and making self-stimulating gestures with his hand, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office says the incident took place about 9 a.m. Sunday in the southbound lanes of U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 90.5 in Plantation Key.

The incident was reported by an off-duty Florida Highway Patrol trooper who was taking his wife and young child to a 9/11 ceremony, the Sheriff's Office said.

Facebook comments turn into violent fight, 2 arrested on felony charges

Comments on the social networking site Facebook appear to have sparked violent confrontations that left two people with felony arrests, according to affidavits released Monday.

Erik Luciano Manguilar, 19, and 17-year-old Refugio Torres Jr., each were arrested Saturday on an aggravated battery charge in connection with incidents in the 2900 block of Southeast Camino Avenue. Manguilar, of the 400 block of Southeast Cortez Street, was arrested on an additional criminal mischief charge.

An apparent housemate told Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies he lives at the Southeast Camino Avenue address with his brother and his brother's girlfriend. The girlfriend is Torres' cousin.

The cousin "had issues" with Torres stemming from comments Torres posted on Facebook about her and her newborn child.

The cousin told deputies that Torres was upset with her apparently after she and Torres' sister got in a fight at the Walmart Supercenter in Stuart. Not long after the fight, Torres posted comments about his cousin on Facebook.

"She recalled him writing, 'need to feed your baby' or somewhere along those lines," an affidavit states.

Manguilar and another man are said to have arrived at the Southeast Camino Avenue address in a Mitsubishi driven by Torres.

The housemate said the Mitsubishi occupants were making comments toward Torres' cousin and her boyfriend. Manguilar got out and appeared he wanted to fight.

The cousin said she approached the vehicle and punched Torres in the face.

The three in the Mitsubishi left.

The housemate said the Mitsubishi returned about 20 minutes later. The housemate and a neighbor were outside. The housemate said Torres was driving and that Manguilar got out. The housemate saw what he thought was a shotgun and ran inside. The neighbor ran to his home.

Torres' cousin said she saw Torres with what she thought was a firearm.

The neighbor said a man later identified as Manguilar hit him with a bat and also struck his front door several times with the bat.

Manguilar "confirmed the whole dispute was over Refugio's Facebook comments towards his cousin," an affidavit states.

Manguilar eventually said he and Torres had bats. Manguilar said he hit the neighbor with a bat and damaged the doors on the neighbor's home and Torres' cousin's home.

Torres, of the 300 block of Southeast Tejon Street, said his cousin hit him in the face and he drove away. He said he and Manguilar returned, armed with bats.

Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, while customarily not naming juveniles accused of crimes, does name some juveniles depending on the seriousness of the crime, their age, aggravating circumstances and other factors.

  

 

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SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

Ground turkey recalled due to Salmonella

An Arkansas meatpacking plant has recalled 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The products were distributed nationwide and should be returned to the point-of-purchase.

The plant had previously recalled ground turkey products after a Salmonella outbreak on August 3^rd.

The samples tested on August 24^th also tested positive for Salmonella. Product from August 30^th is also being recalled pending a positive match.

Pictures:Costumed police nab Florida speeders

Orange County deputy sheriff Richard Lockman, gets in the holiday mood Tuesday, December 9, 2008 dressed as an Elf ,spots a red light runner in the intersection of the South Orange Blossom Trail and Taft-Vineland Road. About 30 deputies are working the red-light running detail to bring awareness how dangerous it is to run a red light. Sixty six citations were issued, 50 were for running the traffic signal

Man Fires At Snake, Shoots Self

A 75-year-old Florida man was recovering Saturday after accidentally shooting himself while trying to shoot a snake, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

Police responded to a report of a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a home in Volusia, Fla., about 17 miles south of Daytona Beach, at around 4 pm Thursday.

When officers arrived on the scene they found 75-year-old Garrett Bauernschmidt suffering from gunshot wounds to two fingers on his left hand.

His caretaker told police that she had come home to find a large water moccasin snake near the front door. Bauernschmidt got a .38 caliber handgun, fired one shot at the snake and missed. The gun discharged a second time as he manipulated the safety, injuring him. No one else was injured in the incident, and the snake got away.

Bauernschmidt was treated at the scene, then taken to a local hospital. A family member on Saturday told the News-Journal that he was fine but declined further comment.

 

Contagiontook the weekend box office for best movie.

  

 

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September 2, 2011

Family business plans to hire 100 people

Not only can one little bag make a big difference in fighting off pesky bugs, it could also make a big impact on Southwest Florida's economy.

"We should be able to increase to a hundred new employees in the next year," says Ralph Bevins, founder of "Skeeter-eez."

Skeeter-eez is a product Bevins created that's contained inside fabric pouches you can wear around your neck to ward off mosquitoes and other flying insects.

Inside, you'll find a mix of citronella, and what the family describes as "secret ingredients."

Bevins and his family recently relocated from North Carolina to Cape Coral where they plan to expand their business. 

They've already moved into an office building, and they're currently looking for a place to actually assemble the products.

"We've suffered all the consequences, put all the money in to get to this point and we're ready to go large," said Bevins.

And Bevins is hoping to go large right here in Southwest Florida.  In the next month, he hopes to hire ten people.

In the next year, he hopes to hire a hundred.

"Let's say we end up in 40 different countries. That will create even more jobs here. Not even a hundred people would be able to handle that," said Bevins.

Ralph hopes people who are unemployed or who are out of work in Southwest Florida will not only help his family's dreams grow, but also their own.

"There were times when I was younger and I couldn't find a job. I had to create my own work, and it's not always fun. So it will be nice to employ people that are looking for a job," said Bevins.

Florida family charged in $40 million psychic scam

Rose Marks and her family of fortunetellers offered hope, but prosecutors said it came with a steep price.

The Florida family claimed to confer with gods, spirits and even Michael the Archangel to cure diseases and break curses, asking for and accepting jewelry, gold coins and luxury cars in return.

In all, authorities said, the family amassed a $40 million fortune from a psychic scam dating back 20 years.

They used "magicians' tricks" to frighten victims, who lived as far away as Denmark and Japan, to give them the money, prosecutors said. The victims included a best-selling author who gave $20 million.

Marks, 60, and eight family members pleaded not guilty last week. Their lawyers said they believe their Gypsy religion gave them the ability to heal psychically and that business was legitimate.

"They try to do that and they get paid for it," defense attorney Fred Schwartz said.

Marks moved her family to Florida 13 years ago. Her children and grandchildren moved into her posh, waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale after her husband died of brain cancer in 2006.

Often using the alter ego "Joyce Michael," the women of the family extracted valuables from their victims to support their lavish lifestyle, prosecutors said. Neighbors saw luxury cars coming and going, but saw little of the family.

Their nearby business, Astrology Life, advertised life coaching and $20 special readings.

In the scheme, prosecutors said, Marks was the matriarch, splitting her time between the family's Fort Lauderdale shop and another in New York next to the luxurious Plaza Hotel.

She billed herself as a clairvoyant who offered spiritual guidance to movie stars and Fortune 500 executives. Marks claimed that her ancestors have been spiritual advisers dating back 2,000 years, Schwartz said.

People came to her distraught over sick family members and busted romances. The victims, who prosecutors identified only by their initials, turned over money and other valuables.

If they didn't, Marks and her family warned that they "would contract terrible diseases, suffer horrible financial hardships, and endure terrible catastrophes," according to a federal indictment.

Sick loved ones would not recover and victims would remain haunted by evil spirits, they allegedly said.

Marks' attorneys identified the best-selling author as romance novelist Jude Deveraux, who they say first contacted Marks in 1991. Marks helped her when she was having problems conceiving a baby.

Later, Marks consoled her after her 8-year-old son Sam died in an accident in 2005, Schwartz said.

"There were times Rose would spend four or five days in her hotel room helping her," he said.

Deveraux did not respond to emails sent by The Associated Press seeking comment. She confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that she was a victim but declined further comment.

One 32-year-old victim was so severely distressed that he was hearing voices. Marks' daughter-in-law, Cynthia Miller, convinced him that Michael the Archangel required a sacrifice: 32 gold coins representing each year he "did not have faith." When the voices didn't stop, the victim asked for the $400,000 worth of coins to be returned. Miller said the coins were in a cemetery, but that only Michael the Archangel knew the exact location, according to the indictment.

Another victim was told that the women of her family were cursed by a jealous sister from previous generations and warned it was "getting worse with each generation," the indictment said. The fortunetellers promised she would get her money back three times over. The victim gave her mother's wedding veil and jewelry, including a ruby medallion, prosecutors said.

Mark's daughter-in-law, Nancy Marks, picked out a pricey Cartier watch and told the victim she had to pay for it so Marks could "turn back time and bring back love," prosecutors said.

Another victim was told sacrificial money was going to a health organization to feed children in Africa. Like most of the victims, he was told the money would be returned after it was cleansed. But when he called to get it back, his phone calls went unanswered, the indictment said.

A victim identified as Y.L. gave "large sums of money" to Nancy Marks to lift an ancient curse that had supposedly befallen her family 250 years ago, according to the indictment.

Defense attorney Norm Kent said prosecutors left out the time she flew to New York at the last minute to talk Y.L. out of suicide. He accused authorities of cobbling together a case using only negative stories. He said they ignored the help the Marks family offered to grieving clients.

Prosecutors said the family laundered the money through upscale auto businesses belonging to a friend.

In all, authorities seized Tiffany and Cartier diamond rings and watches, $1.8 million in gold coins, Harley Davidson motorcycles, several luxury cars, including a red Ferrari and a white Rolls Royce, as well as two South Florida properties.

Prosecutors said the victims talked with law enforcement and slowly realized that others were encountering the same kinds of problems with Marks and her family.

Schwartz said authorities talked the victims into realizing they were victims, and plans to ask the court to drop the charges, which include conspiracy and wire fraud. A judge denied bail to the family members.

Kent said the family had a legitimate business that was licensed by the city of Fort Lauderdale.

"Fortune telling is a protected activity," he said. "They have a licensed business that people went to."

Hard Rock $30,000 winner robbed at Estero outlet mall

When Jana Rajchl won a $30,000 jackpot at Tampa's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Tuesday, she had the option of taking her winnings in cash or check.

She chose cash.

Hours later outside the Miromar Outlets in Estero, someone swiped the Plantation woman's purse. Her $30,000 is gone, along with credit and debit cards, her driver's license and other personal items.

Lee County sheriff's spokesman David Velez says it is "very possible" she had been followed from the casino; she told investigators she didn't feel that was the case.

Casino spokesman Gary Bitner said taking a check is an option for anybody who wins a jackpot.

"When someone wins a jackpot, a large jackpot, it's one way that they can take the money," he said. "And we certainly don't discourage it."

Authorities believe a "good Samaritan" took Rajchl's purse Tuesday afternoon.

Rajchl told Lee County deputies that she and a friend were returning to her car after stopping at the outlet mall when they noticed a flat tire, a sheriff's office report states. As they waited for a AAA truck, a man approached them and offered assistance more than once.

After AAA arrived and the tire was being changed, the man who had offered help went inside the car and took the purse, the report states.

Investigators say the car's door lock had been tampered with and the tire was slashed.

The suspect is 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a thin build, dark hair and braces, a Lee County Sheriff's Office report states. He wore khaki shorts and a blue shirt and carried a blue and white umbrella. He and an accomplice fled in a white Nissan Altima.

The victims weren't able to get the Altima's license tag. Rajchl said she's upset that the shopping center didn't have cameras in its parking to record the incident and provide video of the suspect.

Bitner said the casino and Seminole police are working closely with the sheriff's office on the investigation.

Bitner said casino patrons should always pay attention to their surroundings and report any unusual behavior to any of the casino's hundreds of security staffers.

He also said the casino property has hundreds of security cameras.

"So this isn't a place where people get away with things," he said.

Bitner said it's uncommon for people to have their winnings stolen after they leave the casino.

"We may get a case like this once a year at any of the seven casinos [we have], so it's not constant," he said.

But several patrons were robbed in January in a casino parking garage, including a 67-year-old Clearwater man who had $1,100 taken from him, investigators said. The suspects beat him and one suspect shot him with a stun gun, landing one shot in the face and one in the shoulder.

You might want to steer clear of custodian closet at Oslo Middle School

An Oslo Middle School custodian accused of having booze in his lunch box and urinating in a closet might not be getting a gold star in coming days.

An Indian River County Sheriff's deputy last week contacted a school board employee who said she learned from the Oslo Middle assistant principal that a 51-year-old custodian had a bottle of alcohol in his lunch box, according to a recently released sheriff's report.

The custodian also is said to have urinated in the "custodian closet." The context of the report suggests the "custodian closet" does not contain rest room facilities, such as a commode.

The custodian also is reported to have "had an incident with a teacher in which he was slurring and saying inappropriate comments."

A custodian, sometimes known as a janitor or maintenance person, typically is charged with ensuring clean conditions at a facility and completing other grounds and related tasks.

A plastic Powerade bottle that was about three quarters full of apparent alcohol reportedly was found in the custodian's lunch box.

A sheriff's investigator took two samples of the liquid to be tested for alcohol.

 

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AUGUST 31, 2011

Good Samaritan pulls woman from gator's jaws

A 90-year-old woman's leg was mostly severed after an alligator attack near Copeland, on SR-29 in Collier County.

FWC says Margaret Webb was in her front yard when an alligator attacked her. The water is high, close to her home.

Dwain Daniels III was driving by, saw the attack and rushed out of his vehicle to help.

"He looked over saw the lady on the ground half in the water, wheeled around and jumped out of his truck to come to her aid. It appears he was able to pull her away from the gator," said Jayson Horadam, FWC - Captain of Law Enforcement.

Daniels took a shot at the alligator and believes he hit it.

He says the gator was seven or eight feet long.

When deputies arrived, they said her leg was nearly severed. She was taken by helicopter to Lee Memorial.

Hospital officials say her leg was amputated below the knee and she is in critical condition.

"Any alligator that shows aggresion towards humans is a problem," said Corporal George Cahill, with the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Since then, a trapper with FWC has been on scene trying to capture the gator.

"We would like to find the gator before the day ends. Again if it hasn't been killed, it could be sitting on the bottom of the canal over here that's well over 14-feet deep and just as dark as can be," said the trapper.

Wednesday night, FWC officers were still patrolling along canal with flashlights.

If the alligator is dead, its body will likely float to the surface in a few days, said the trapper.

Teen arrested after fight over ravioli

A teenager was arrested after getting into a fight with his brother over a can of ravioli, according to Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reports.

Tuesday around noon, deputies responded to Orangeade Drive in South Punta Gorda Heights for a domestic disturbance.

Kyle Aldrich, 18, told deputies he and his 20-year-old brother Kody, were in the kitchen arguing about a can of ravioli.

Kody accidentally struck Kyle in the mouth with his elbow, which upset Kyle. He started shoving his brother Kody, reports said.

Kyle allegedly grabbed a knife from the counter and started to swing it towards Kody, reports said.

Kody feared for his life so he and his mother went to the neighbor's home. The neighbor called deputies.

By the time deputies arrived, Kyle and Kody had settled their disagreement.

Kyle, who is on juvenile probation, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and violation of probation.

Police: Woman Drew Bomb, Wrote 'Boom' On Suitcase At MIA

A woman has been arrested, accused of planting a hoax bomb that prompted an evacuation at Miami International Airport on Tuesday.

Miami-Dade police said Danisa Landaeta, 30, of Miami, drew a picture of a bomb and wrote the word "boom" on the luggage of her friend, who was at MIA to catch a flight to Venezuela.

According to the arrest affidavit, Landaeta's friend turned over the luggage to Santa Barbara Airlines before her flight.

Officials spotted the note and the drawing at about 2:40 p.m., and they evacuated Terminal F and relocated several planes as they investigated. The terminal was reopened at about 3:45 p.m.

Miami-Dade police said the business and transportation operation interruption cost more than $1,000.

Police said Landaeta confessed, and she was arrested on charges of planting a hoax bomb and criminal mischief.

  

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AUGUST 30, 2011

Naked driver spotted near school bus stop

Fort Myers Police are searching for a man who exposed himself to a woman and her child Monday morning.

Latoya Wilson told police she and her child were walking in the area of Jackson Street and Maple Avenue when a van approached them from behind.

She said she could see inside the van and the driver was naked from the waist down and was making lewd gestures, reports said.

"He's going to take their whole childhood from them," Wilson said. "I've never known nothing to be that sickening. It brought tears to my eyes. I was just in shock."

She yelled at the man to leave, then called police.

"He's right here at the bus stops. You don't know if he's into boys or girls. He could snatch anybody's child up," Wilson said.

Officers issued a BOLO for the suspect's vehicle.

Police learned the van may have been spotted in the area before the incident and was possibly following girls to their bus stop.

One mom we spoke to said she even saw the man in the same area Monday night.

"I noticed him just riding and riding so I called her to see if she could give me the description that I saw and it was him, so we chased him out of the neighborhood. We haven't seen him since," said Regina Williams.

The vehicle is described as a late model silver van possibly a caravan or Toyota.

If you have any information, contact Fort Myers Police at 321-7700, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or text message C-R-I-M-E-S (274637) keyword FMPD.  Tipsters can remain anonymous.

No pet chickens for Lee County residents

Lee County Commissioners will not consider changing county ordinances to allow chickens in residential neighborhoods.

Commissioners received dozens of emails from residents who wanted to keep their chickens.

County staff members said keeping the chickens would require permits and licenses and would be too difficult to enforce.

Only Commissioner Brian Bigelow wanted to hold a public hearing to consider allowing chickens in residential areas. His motion died without support from other commissioners.

Nude Woman Found Crawling Up Busy Street: Cops

A Key West woman is facing charges after she was arrested twice in three days in separate naked, drug-fueled romps on public streets, according to police.

Alena Larrazabal, 32, was hospitalized after she was found stark naked crawling down a busy Stock Island street Monday afternoon by a couple of deputies, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

Police say an incoherent Larrazabal was meandering on her hands and knees as cars swerved to avoid hitting her. At one point, she rolled on to her back and spread her legs before continuing her crawl, the report said.

As the deputies tried to get Larrazabal out of harm's way, she began to fight with them. With the help of some paramedics, they were able to get her strapped down to a stretcher, and she was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Mother turns in son after jewelry stolen

 

 

A Port Charlotte teen is learning a lesson in tough love after his mother turned him in to deputies for allegedly stealing her jewelry.

"It breaks my heart. It breaks my heart."

Vincent Caponi's mom says at first she thought she misplaced her jewelry, but soon realized that wasn't the case.

"It's been melted down, sent away. It's gone. It's gone," she said.

Detectives say the 15-year-old gave the jewelry to his 18-year-old friend Jacob Leininger, who sold the jewelry at two different shops.

"If they are walking up or riding a bicycle there, if they look like they can't afford a McDonald's hamburger, then what are they doing with gold jewelry and rings?" she said.

That question led us inside a jewelry shop and coin store.

"If we feel like we have a bad deal or something don't look right we them to go down the road," said Herbert Gunderson, owner of Herb's coins.

The owners say they followed the law, which requires them to keep the jewelry for at least 15 days.

"We do what we have to do but we don't always know who we are buying from," said Gunderson.

Before a ‘cash for gold' store or a pawn shop can buy anything, the seller must complete a state form that requires a state ID, signature, and a fingerprint.

"The only thing we can really do is see if the merchandise fits the person," said Karl Vice, Charlotte County Cash for Gold owner.

Vice says he asks the sellers where they got the jewelry and won't buy it unless he believes them.

"I imagine that most criminals are liars too or they have a story prepared before they come in," said Vice.

Caponi's mother says she hopes that by laying down the law, she will get something in return.

"I hope that I can get my son back going to school, getting good grades and never have to deal with law enforcement again," she said. 

 

 

 

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August 30, 2011

Lawsuit to have speed trap warning tickets tossed out

FOX 4 spoke to a lawyer who filed a lawsuit on behalf of motorist ticketed for flashing their headlights to warn other drivers about speed enforcement areas.

Attorney J. Marcus Jones says what law enforcement officers are doing is illegal. “The intent behind this statute by the legislature was to prevent people from putting flashing lights on top of their vehicles. You can get all kinds of lights to put on top of your vehicle” said Jones when speaking about the Florida Highway Patrol.

Jones also says the tickets violate a driver’s constitutional right to free speech. He wants a judge to ban Florida law enforcement officers from writing tickets to drivers who flash their lights to warn others, reimburse drivers for the fines they’ve paid and to rule that the officers are misapplying a law about add-on emergency lights.

Fox 4 called the FHP offices today, but they had no comment on the lawsuit.

Naples restaurant seeks 100 new employees

new North Naples restaurant is looking to hire 100 employees, but you have to get your application in this week.

Interviews started Monday morning and applications are piling up.

Before Seasons 52 can fill its tables with diners, the restaurant needs to hire about 100 people.

"We're currently hiring for culinary as well as service positions," Director of Operations Mark Norberg said. "We're looking for hosts, for bartenders, for greeters, for servers."

Throughout the first morning, more than 150 people applied.

"It's been overwhelming. The response has been fantastic," Norberg said.

Claudia Maturell started in the restaurant industry a few months ago.

"I really liked it, and I found out that's where I want to go from now on," she said.

Maturell is hoping for a job as a hostess. It's just the beginning of this 19-year-old's search. Other workers have been looking for years.

"It's been pretty frustrating, honestly, and I guess you just have to keep on slugging it out," one unemployed worker said.

Some applicants, like Abel Mak, already have a job but are looking to make a change.

"I'm just looking for a new opportunity," Mak said.

"We have a lot of individuals who are coming in who are currently employed and are looking to join a great establishment like Seasons 52," Norberg said. "We're also finding that we have a lot of team members who are coming in and looking for seasonal work. It has been a rather slow summer, and they're looking to pick up that job moving into season."

Katherine Fredlund waited for her interview Monday morning. She's been looking for a job after being medically discharged from the military last year.

"I've applied at a couple other restaurants, administrative work and things like that," Fredlund said.

Fredlund says she's optimistic.

"Everything has gone well so far, so let's hope for the next round," Fredlund said.

Fredlund selected the restaurant, which is listed on Forbes' Magazine's list of the 100 best companies to work for, for its reputation.

"They have the most amazing customer service, and they're one of the best restaurants to work for," Fredlund said.

At Seasons 52, where the menu changes throughout the year to reflect produce that's in season, things are blooming.

"We think that the economy is vibrant right now. It's actually starting to grow again. We've had the opportunity to open six restaurants this year," Norberg said.

The North Naples location on US-41 near Vanderbilt Beach Road will open in October

Woman bites store security officer during theft

A Fort Myers woman was jailed after police say she stole several items from a local department store and then bit a security guard as she tried to flee Saturday.

Police say 25-year-old Latoya Williams stole shirts, watches, sunglasses and other items from the Bealls department store located at 9370 Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers Saturday afternoon.

When a store security officer stopped her in the store parking lot, she reportedly bit him in the arm and leg, according to an arrest report. The security officer was able to detain her until police arrived.

Police later confirmed through a records check that she had five active felony warrants.

She was booked into the Lee County Jail, where authorities discovered she was carrying a mechanics socket that had been converted into a crack pipe, the report said.

TSA: Man hid 7 snakes, 3 tortoises in his pants

The Transportation Security Administration says a man tried to board a TAM Airlines flight to Brazil with nylon bags filled with seven exotic snakes and three tortoises.

TSA spokesman Jonathon Allen says the man was stopped after passing through a body scanner at Miami International Airport last Thursday. Security officials spotted the nylon bags filled with snakes and tortoises stuffed inside the man's pants.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel (http://sunsent.nl/p9xoel ) reports the critters were taken by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. The unidentified passenger was arrested.

  

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AUGUST 29, 2011 

The Helptakes the weekend box office again.

Buzzing  ad: Immokalee man charged with shaving sleeping girlfriend's head

— An Immokalee man is facing a domestic battery charge after authorities say he gave his girlfriend a hair cut — while she slept.

David Bustos, 26, of the 700 block of Crestview Circle, was arrested Thursday by Collier County sheriff’s deputies at home.

Bustos and his girlfriend got into an argument on Tuesday causing Bustos to leave his girlfriend’s home, according to an arrest report.

She told deputies that around 7 a.m. the next morning she awoke in her bed to Bustos shaving her head with an electric hair clipper. He used such force with the clippers that it caused a small cut on her scalp, according to reports.

The victim told deputies that she immediately kicked him off of her and he fled the home.

Deputies said there were several sections of braided hair lying on the victim’s bed.

Councilman admits to stealing candidate's campaign sign

Campaign signs in Cape Coral turned up missing and were then reported stolen. And one Cape Coral councilman admits he took them. The case is now in the hands of the police department and it's already changing the campaign.

Cape Coral District 2 candidate Joe Coviello says his campaign signs were stolen at Thursday night's candidate forum at Cape Coral City Hall.

"I filed a report because I believe in standing up for what's right and I think that was wrong," he said.

Cape Coral Councilman Bill Deile freely admits he took them.

"I took yard signs, two or three, and turned them over to code this morning," he said.

Deile is running for re-election, but in a different district from Coviello. He says he took the signs because they shouldn't have been there in the first place.

"Our land use regulations, you can't post signs in public places," Deile said.

It's a city ordinance Coviello is well aware of. But the candidate says he had permission to put the signs in the building.

"We talked to staff members who said signs out in the hallway were acceptable," he said.

In an email to NBC2, Cape Coral Public Information Director Connie Barron confirms she spoke to Coviello's campaign manager and told him "not to have signs in council chambers."

The email went on to state, "At previous debates, we have had people hand out campaign materials in the lobby area and we have been flexible with them doing so."

Coviello says he left his signs in the lobby, thinking they would be OK.

"Even if they shouldn't have been there, he has no right touching my property and removing my signs," Coviello said.

But Councilman Deile stands by his actions.

"It's any citizen's place to do that and turn them over to code," Deile said.

As police investigate the incident, the city has decided to strengthen its policy. The rule for Friday night's forum was no signs, whatsoever.

Forum attendee Russell Moody believes that anyone could have taken the signs down if they wanted. The signs aren't why he's attending.

"People here are going to hear from all the candidates anyway and it's not the signs, it's the platform," he says.

But Linda Prince disagrees. With more than 100 people attending the forum, she believes name recognition means everything.

"I don't see a problem having them in the hall. It's a political statement and that's why we are here," she says.

The primary election for districts two, three, five, and seven will be held September 13^th

Men caught with 75 counterfeit credit cards

Two Hialeah men were arrested on Saturday afternoon after Lee County Sheriff's deputies found them in possession of 74 cloned/counterfeit credit cards.

Reports say the deputies stopped 35-year-old Yuraldi Broche and 34-year-old Joseelier Diaz-Quintero on I-75 near mile marker 141 at approximately 1:00 p.m. for a traffic infraction.

When the men were questioned, they told deputies they were traveling from Tampa to Miami, but would not say where in Tampa or why they were headed there.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of the credit cards. The magnetic strips on the cards allegedly contained information of people whose identities or credit card information had been stolen.

Broche is charged with possession of counterfeit credit cards and trafficking in cloned credit cards.

Diaz-Quintero is charged with possession of counterfeit credit cards, trafficking in cloned credit cards, and possession of a counterfeit driver's license.

 Police: Man stole landlord's goods, held yard sale

A Hillsborough County man has been charged with stealing $30,000 worth of his landlord's belongings and then selling them at a yard sale on the victim's property.

Police say the 54-year-old suspect lived in a trailer on the property. They say he stole an antique gun, tools, equipment and other items from the victim's home, barn and garage. They say he then held a yard sale earlier this month.

The man has been charged with armed burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property. 

 

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AUGUST 26, 2011 

Charlotte man arrested after SWAT standoff

A 27-year-old man was arrested Thursday after he reportedly threatened his wife, then barricaded himself inside their Charlotte County apartment for nearly five hours.

Investigators say Carmelo Pedro Torres, Jr. held his pregnant wife against her will inside their residence at Murdock Circle Apartments Wednesday evening. The woman eventually escaped unharmed and called 911 shortly after 6:30 p.m., according to reports.

Torres then reportedly barricaded himself inside with a gun.

Authorities responded to the scene and evacuated residents in nearby buildings. Nearly five hours later, SWAT team members fired gas into the unit, forcing him to surrender peacefully, according to reports.

He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail on charges of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Domestic Battery, Sexual Battery, Child Abuse, and False Imprisonment.

The incident remains under investigation.

Man accused of exposing himself and urinating in store

 

HOLMES BEACH, Fla. – Detectives arrested a man Saturday afternoon after a Publix employee says the man exposed himself in the store and urinated on the floor. 62-year-old Peter Pavljuk was arrested and charged with Indecent Exposure in Public, and Driving While License is Suspended. According to Manatee County Sheriff’s detectives, an employee in the Publix Supermarket on Eastbay Drive in Holmes Beach saw Pavljuk expose his penis near the children’s drinking fountain. The employee says Pavljuk was holding his penis in his hand in a vulgar way and looking at the employee with a smirk on his face. He then proceeded to urinate on the floor. Pavljuk initially told detectives that he was unable to hold his urine in and could not make it to the restroom. However, the employee told investigators that Pavljuk had been standing a few feet from a restroom and made no attempt to enter it. Pavljuk was also found to have been driving while his license was revoked due to a DUI charge.

 

Copyright 2011 Southern Broadcast Corp of Sarasota All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Changing image in Beach couple's piling starts to look like Jesus

When Dave and Pat Wolfe spruced up their neat little backyard with a short set of wooden dock pilings, they didn't know the lawn decoration had a surprise in store.

They were drinking morning coffee poolside a few days after installing the set in early August, when they noticed a face on one of the pilings. It was the first of two that have appeared. It looked like a man, a wolf, or a lion, depending on which friend or neighbor stopped by their house in Jensen Beach.

"Everyone saw something different," said Pat Wolfe, 58. "Some couldn't see it at all, but there were very few."

Then this weekend the image changed. Now it looks like, well, Jesus.

"I hesitate to say that, because everybody says that," Wolfe said. "Not everyone agrees with me, but some do."

She's a down-to-earth lady who finds the change in her yard decoration "curious." She was raised Catholic and now attends a Unitarian church. She sure doesn't want anyone lining up at her door to visit the piling to see the face.

"Oh, no, nothing like that," she said. "Then I'd worry someone might take it."

She chalks up the images, and the changes in them, to the recent rains.

"I think the piling dries that way. It (the image) wasn't there when we bought it," Wolfe said. "I know, because I'd been staring at it constantly, trying to decide if I'd put it in the right place."

Wolfe tried to find out what sort of value might be placed on the piling once the image started looking like Jesus. She went to a local Ebay store.

"They had a category called 'Mystical Art,' " she said. "The guy told me there was a grilled cheese sandwich with the Blessed Mother's face that a casino in Vegas bought to bring in tourists. He said he would take it and try to sell it. He would get a big cut if he succeeded. I decided not to do that."

Someone she knew made an offer, too.

"I did have somebody offer me his winning Fantasy 500 ticket for it," Wolfe said, "but I said no. He got four out of the five numbers, worth $450."

"I don't know that I would sell it, anyway."

Wolfe preserves each change as it appears with pictures. She expects the images will fade eventually and they'll be left again with a plain piling.

In the meantime, "I wonder a lot," she said. "I make my coffee in the morning and wander out there and take a look."

Accused nude dude in Vero Beach says he's 'just out here helping people'

An accused naked man encountered last week at Humiston Park in Vero Beach defied arrest, saying, "'I'm just out here helping people!'"

A couple and their teen daughters flagged down a Vero Beach police officer just before 8 p.m. Aug. 19 about a man exposing himself at the showers, a recently released arrest affidavit states.

Police spied accused nude dude Robert Johnson, 57, standing sans clothes in view of about 15 to 20 people. Witnesses said Johnson strolled "completely naked" for three to four minutes on the beach before police arrived.

Johnson's genitalia was "plainly visible," the affidavit states. Police told Johnson he couldn't be naked in public, and Johnson declined to provide identification.

"'You can't take me to jail for this, I'm just out here helping people!'" Johnson is quoted as saying.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Johnson elaborated on the assistance he said he was providing. Nor were those who may have received aid from Johnson identified in the one page affidavit.

It could be considered uncommon to encounter a naked person offering

 

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August 25, 2011

43 cloned credit cards seized at traffic stop

A Miami man was jailed Tuesday after investigators discovered dozens of cloned credit cards during a traffic stop in Fort Myers.

Joel Rodriguez Sanchez, 46, was booked into the Lee County Jail on 43 counts of possession of counterfeit credit cards, one count of trafficking in cloned credit cards, and one count of possession of a fraudulent driver's license.

According to an arrest report, a deputy pulled over Sanchez and his passenger after he was spotted following too closely and failing to stay in his lane on northbound Interstate 75, about a mile north of Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Sanchez was driving a rental car from Miami to Tampa, the report said.

During the traffic stop, Sanchez and his passenger reportedly related conflicting travel plans while acting extremely nervous.

A search of the car revealed 43 concealed counterfeit credit cards along with a fraudulent Florida driver's license, according to the report. Investigators say the cards were made to match the information on the fake license.

Now comes the tedious task of finding all the victims.

"Our job now is contacting the victims and financial institutions," said Sergeant Keith Day.

Day works in the Economic Crimes Division. He says most of the victims have no idea their information has been stolen – until it's too late.

Lee County's Highway Interdiction Unit was designed to combat the growing problem.

Recently they've made multiple busts. They've found cloned credit cards and the people who make them.

"A lot of them will infiltrate the information through computer databases in corporations- social networking sites, rummaging through garbage,' said Day.

The crooks also use skimmers and RFID devices get your credit card number without you ever knowing a thing.

Sergeant Day says the best thing you can do is be aware of who you're giving your card to.

"Don't give your information out online to unprotected sites, run your credit report," said Day.

Save the Chickens group gaining support

LEHIGH ACRES -

Controversy continues tonight over whether chickens should be allowed in unincorporated Lee County. Right now they're not allowed, but one woman is fighting that and she's gaining support.

"We were prepared to go to battle and that's what we have done," said Diana Camino, with the group, Save the Chickens.

She said that battle is over whether or not the animals should be allowed in residential areas.

"There is a need for it and a desire for it in the community," said Camino.

Camino, a Lehigh resident, voiced her desire for chickens in front of more than 30 people in the first Save the Chickens meeting.

She also gave her take on an analysis that Lee County Commissioners received this week.

It outlines the pros and cons of the Lee County ordinance that prohibits chickens from single family residential zoning areas.

"Little disappointed because it sounded negative in the beginning and they recommended no," Camino said.

Camino isn't standing alone in her support. She has passed out a petition that, as of Wednesday night, had more than 700 signatures.

Andrea Grace is one of them. She has four hens at her Fort Myers home.

"They make the greatest pets ever, they are less than a nuisance than my dog," Grace said.

But there is also a petition in opposition with 600 signatures.

Edd Weiner, with the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Panel, believes allowing chickens would be a move in the wrong direction.

"This isn't a farming community, this is a subdivision community," he said.

Weiner says there are 54,000 thousand homes in unincorporated Lee County and only maybe 100 or so people who want chickens.

"Ordinances and laws are created for a majority of the people," he said.

It would take three county commissioners to agree in order to move forward. So far they have taken no action.

"Keep positive until something else happens and right now I see no negatives," Camino said.

Ex-Gov. Jeb Bush sent lessons to Rick Scott before he took office

Newly released documents reveal that Jeb Bush offered incoming Gov. Rick Scott a long list of "lessons learned through trial and error" that touched on everything from how to deal with those guarding his safety to telling him it was "OK to veto stupid bills."

In emailed documents obtained by The Associated Press after they had been kept out of public view for months, the former two-term Florida governor urged Scott prior to his swearing-in to push for universal private school vouchers, save money by releasing elderly prisoners and close down one of the state pension plans.

Bush also suggested that his fellow Republican consider selling off the state's virtual school, eliminate state money for some university programs and look at taxing online sales as part of a swap to lower other taxes. Some of the initiatives suggested by Bush were passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature this past spring.

"Take them for what they are...a desire that you succeed," Bush wrote in one email to Scott that was sent around New Year's Day. Scott, a former health care executive who had never held office, was sworn-in Jan. 4.

Scott didn't respond immediately to calls for comment Wednesday. But records show that he forwarded Bush's emails, including two attached memos, to his top transition adviser.

Bush's suggestions were included in a batch of emails recovered recently by a member of Scott's transition team. The private company handling email for Scott's transition office shut down the email accounts in January, but it wasn't publicly known until this month that the emails had been deleted. Last week, Scott ordered an investigation into why the accounts were closed and whether the state could recover emails written by himself and other members of his senior staff between the time of his election and his inauguration.

Bush, who was Florida's governor from 1999 to 2007, remains extremely popular, particularly among state Republicans. He emailed Scott two documents, one called "Ideas for Governor Scott'" and the other called "Scott inauguration."

Showing a bit of candor that he has avoided publicly since leaving the governor's office, Bush noted that he tried to share similar advice with Gov. Charlie Crist, who succeeded Bush. Crist, who began his term as a Republican, left after one term to mount an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate last year as an independent after it became clear he would lose the GOP primary.

"You didn't ask for this, but it is the 'standard envelope in the desk of the new guy,'" wrote Bush. "To be honest I did the same thing for Governor Crist but he did nothing I suggested, so with the risk of being presumptuous, I am trying again."

At the end of the list, Bush added that if Scott wanted to "seek counsel from the old guy, I will be there for you. If you don't, I won't be offended. If you do, you can ignore my advice and likewise, I won't be offended. My commitment to you is that whatever we speak about will be confidential."

The "lessons" Bush shared included a suggestion that the new governor work with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents guarding him. Bush, who did not elaborate, said Crist and the late Gov. Lawton Chiles put the agents in "difficult positions by rejecting their involvement in their private lives."

Chiles was in the final days of his term as governor when he died in December 1998 from an abnormal heart beat while exercising at the governor's mansion. His body was not discovered for several hours because he was in a private recreation area.

Crist told the AP on Wednesday that he did not know what Bush was talking about. He said that the only time he did not have FDLE agents with him was on "occasions" when he would go fishing.

Bush also advised Scott to make sure that first lady Ann Scott has someone helping her and that "her cause should be your cause."

He reminded Scott that the "Legislature's agenda becomes yours" when state lawmakers end their annual session. "Both the good and the bad will be yours in the eyes of Floridians. It is OK to veto stupid bills. Trust me, legislators get over it," he wrote. Bush also urged Scott to "own" and "dominate" the annual budget because it's the "path to good policy."

The list of initiatives offered by Bush that were passed this year by the Legislature includes shifting Medicaid patients into managed care and expanding the use of online education in public schools. Scott had already said he supported those ideas during the campaign.

Bush called the state pension plan that guarantees benefits to employees based on their salary and years of service "doomed." Scott tried unsuccessfully to persuade lawmakers to shut this pension plan down and shift new hires into one that paid them on how well their investments perform.

But the former governor also recommended that Scott push ahead with "education savings accounts" or a form of universal private school vouchers. Under the plan, students from kindergarten through high school would get vouchers of a to-be-determined amount that they could use to offset private school tuition. Critics say such proposals would undermine public schools, while Bush and other proponents argue that it would give parents choice, improve education and save the state money in the long run by putting more students in private schools.

Bush acknowledged such a move would probably lead to legal challenges. As governor, Bush helped create a voucher program for students at poor performing public schools that was thrown out by the Florida Supreme Court. Scott said during the campaign he favored voucher programs but he didn't push it this year.

"I am guessing lawyers inside Tallahassee will say that it is not constitutional," wrote Bush. "I don't know how our court will respond but it will be a game changer for the country and you might have the chance to change the makeup of the court."

Bush added that Scott should look at releasing older prisoners who have already served a long time, saying they cost extra money and are unlikely to commit crimes. He said that Scott should slash funding for university institutes and force them to seek private funding because they are not "part of the direct mission" of higher education.

He recommended that Scott consider selling the Florida Virtual School, which offers online classes to students, saying that while it makes significant money it could make "more in the private sector. "You could use the proceeds to fund a technology initiative that would lead the nation," Bush wrote.

Bush, who pushed for deep tax cuts while he was governor, also told Scott that one way to keep his promise of eliminating the state's corporate income tax was to "review the potential of taxing online sales."

"It seems to me there has to be a way to tax sales done online in the same way that sales are taxed in brick and mortar establishments," he wrote. "My guess is that there would be hundreds of millions of dollars that then could be used to reduce taxes to fulfill campaign promises."

Bush, in an emailed response to the AP, said it is a tradition for former governors to send letters to the incoming governor and he commended Scott and the legislative leadership for their actions so far "in the midst of a challenging economy."

"They accepted the challenges with a vision for the future and as a result passed policies that will strengthen Florida's future," Bush wrote. "If the policy ideas I sent played a role in the conversations and decisions, I am flattered."

Shelter dog is surrogate mom for zoo coyote pups

Four abandoned coyote pups, rescued by the Naples Zoo, are finding motherly love from an unexpected source.
Meet Millie, a long-time shelter dog turned surrogate mom for a pack of young, orphaned coyotes.
The six-year old Plott hound went from pound pup to top dog two weeks ago, after being hand-picked by the Naples Zoo. "We found Millie, thank goodness, to kind of be their surrogate mother. To help them feel safe, to help them feel secure, and also to show them by example how they can be more comfortable around people," Jayne Hardwick of the Naples Zoo said Wednesday. Millie was rescued from Labelle Animal Control by Naples Humane Society, but she sat at the shelter for several months. Finally, she's finding an permanent home at an unexpected place.
"Sure, a home is what we typically get. The zoo, that's totally different but it's going to be a rewarding life for her," Karen Sesso of the Naples Humane Society said Wednesday. The Naples Humane Society says Millie's cut out for the job. She's been a mom before and even helped foster pups during her stay at the shelter.So far, zookeepers say she's playing the part...except when her hound dog instinct gets the best of her.
"She got a scent of our skunk who is one of our show animals just a little bit ago, and she just went crazy," Hardwick laughed.
Millie and her unorthodox offspring spend the majority of the day together, supervised for now in a pen. While the zoo's pairing is far from conventional, they're hoping to create a family worth wagging over.
"I think Millie won out as well as the zoo. I think it was a win-win for both of them," Sesso said.
Thirteen years ago, the Naples Zoo adopted a dog from the Humane Society to help socialize a tiger cub. That pup, Crystal, is still at the zoo, now serving as a surrogate mom for a dingo.

  

 

 

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August 24, 2011

Pair accused of stealing 20 tires from business

Two Fort Myers residents are accused of stealing 20 used tires from the Tire Kingdom on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Charlotte County deputies responded to reports of a suspicious van in the area of Tire Kingdom Monday evening.

Deputies found a green Ford van parked on the side of the business and spoke with the driver and his passenger, Refugio Salinis and Josephine Ramirez, reports said.

Deputies discovered 20 used tires in the van, reports said.

"It seems to be a sign of the times. Scrap metal is going up, price of gold is going up and people are taking the stuff to just try to make things work," said auto technician Josh Parts.

The owner of the business told deputies the tires typically sell for about $20 each.

Parts says if those tires end up on people's cars, it could be very dangerous.

"It's not really safe at all. As far as putting a used tire out there - it could separate and blown out on the interstate at high speeds," said Parts.

Salinis and Ramirez were arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft.

FL lawmakers may get rid of PIP requirement

Governor Rick Scott called on lawmakers to re-examine insurance requirements for Florida drivers. All drivers must have personal insurance protection to register their vehicles. But Florida lawmakers could do away with that requirement.

Personal injury protection - or PIP as it's called - is mandatory insurance coverage required by the state since 1972.

Florida is one of 10 states that have a no-fault system. But some say that system is being abused and they say, fix it or flush it.

Governor Rick Scott said Tuesday that reform should be a high priority in the next legislative session.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation released new information Tuesday showing that since 2005, the number of car crashes has decreased.

Meanwhile, since 2008, the number of PIP payments has increased by almost a billion dollars.

"I think PIP is the same in automobile as sinkhole is for property," said Dan Dannenhauer, with Five County Insurance Agency.

Dannenhauer will help draft policy recommendations for the governor.

He says PIP now means an automatic payout of expenses - all the way up to the $10,000 limit, even if the claim shouldn't be so much.

"You may have a $2,000 claim, but somehow you're going to find that other $8,000 claim and once you hit the 10, now you're going to sue," said Dannenhauer.

He says staged accidents are the heart of the problem.

"That problem is a Dade County, Broward County, sometimes in Tampa, not often. And so many times the east coast, the southeast coast, drives our coverage," explained Dannenhauer.

State Senator Garrett Richter sponsored a bill last session to reform PIP and stop fraud.

"By stopping the fraud, reduce premiums that are paid that our Floridians and consumers in Florida pay for their auto insurance," said Senator Richter.

But until the legislature comes up with a plan, insurers aren't sure how PIP reform would affect rates.

Hollywood man accused of printing fake $20 bills

Two months after authorities say they found uncut sheets of $20 bills at his home, a man with a lengthy criminal history has been indicted on charges of counterfeiting money.

Mark David Block, 54, was indicted by a federal grand jury last Thursday on one count each of making counterfeit money and possessing it, records show. If he is convicted, he could be punished for each crime by up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Block has spent time in Florida prisons several times since the late 1980s, in cases of grand theft, forgery and fraud, state recDuring questioning by authorities in June, Block admitted producing an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 and circulating it across South Florida in recent months, according to a criminal complaint.

But the charges against him were limited to $1,880 in fake bills allegedly found at his residence, federal records show.

The investigation of Block began on June 10, when Hollywood police responded to a domestic dispute call at his residence and saw the uncut sheets of fake money, according to a criminal complaint. The complaint doesn't specify where Block was living.

Police called the U.S. Secret Service, whose agents determined the sheets totaled $960 in uncut counterfeit currency, the complaint said.

After Block consented to a search of his home, an additional $920 in fake money was found, the complaint said, and a Hewlett-Packard Office Jet All-In-One printer was confiscated.

Block was arrested on unrelated felony arrest warrants and held at a Broward jail.

He was sentenced on June 21 to nearly four years in prison in unrelated cases of trafficking in stolen property, aggravated assault and grand theft, state records show. He is serving his prison term at Dade Correctional Institution in Florida City.

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AUGUST 23, 2011

Irene tracks through the Bahamas

The forecast guidance this morning continues to track Hurricane Irene east of Florida this week. The storm is currently gaining strength and now has 100 mph winds located north of the Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Warnings and Watches are now posted throughout the Bahamas as the storm is expected to make a turn toward the northwest over the next two days.The latest forecast guidance shows that most models now predict the bulk of the hurricane will affect the Bahamas and not our side of Florida.

The forecast cone of movement does encompass all of the east coast of Florida and the inland counties north and south of Lake Okeechobee. Over the past 24 hours this forecast cone has been adjusted to the east, and the west side of Florida is not officially in the cone of projected movement.

I'll finish with a word of caution. The forecast cone could shift west again if Irene does not turn as expected. If that occurs then we will see windy and wet weather starting Thursday and lasting all day Friday.

As of this morning, this scenario is not predicted, but it would be wise to keep checking the latest track to make sure the storm makes the turn and stay east of Florida. Remember, "fringe" effects of a hurricane can still be very noticeable, so stay in touch with the weather this week.

Two arrested for child neglect at Chuck E. Cheese

Two Port Charlotte residents were arrested at a Fort Myers Chuck E. Cheese on Sunday after they were found under the influence and unable to care for a young child with them.

An employee of the establishment called Fort Myers Police after receiving several complaints from other patrons that 26-year-old Sandy Diehl and 40-year-old Brian Frederick were nodding off at a table and neglecting a young child in their care.

Andres Ponti, a witness, says he became concerned for the young child's safety when he witnessed Diehl and Frederick falling asleep at the table. Ponti asked the employee to call authorities.

Two officers responded and observed Frederick in a booth with the child. According to police reports, he was having difficulty keeping his head up and he was slow to respond when the officers attempted to speak with him.

According to the police report, Diehl was found walking around the parking lot in a disoriented manner. Officers say her eyes were bloodshot and she appeared to be under the influence.

Another witness, Jacqueline Aponte, showed officers cell phone video of Frederick nodding off at the table while Diehl was outside. He is seen attempting to stand up and nearly falling over before leaving the child at the table alone.

"They were falling asleep in their food. They were sticking the forks in their cheeks," Aponte said.

A search was conducted of Diehl's purse and officers recovered thirteen Roxicodone pills, four Xanax pills, and a blue straw with white residue on it.

Diehl and Frederick were both transported to the Lee County Jail. The child was taken to the Fort Myers Police Department and released into the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Diehl and Frederick are both charged with child neglect, and Diehl is additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and drug paraphernalia.

Sarasota man slaps police horse, thrown in jail

A Sarasota man was arrested this morning after authorities say he slapped a police horse, prompting the equine to lunge into a crowd on a sidewalk.

No one was apparently injured.

Prem Cox, 28, was charged with doing injury to or killing a police horse. His bail was set at $150, and he was released from the Pinellas County Jail shortly after he was booked.

Cox is accused of slapping Brooklyn, a horse assigned to St. Petersburg police officer Ron Try, at about 2:45 a.m., in the area of First Avenue North and Second Street, said St. Petersburg police spokesman Mike Puetz.

An arrest affidavit indicates Cox was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Cub Scout awarded for saving choking grandma

 A quick-thinking Panhandle Boy Scout is being recognized for saving his choking grandmother.

Germainye Hudson received a special recognition this month when his troop earned various merit badges.

The 11-year-old saved his grandmother in February when she began choking on food while watching the Super Bowl. The Northwest Florida Daily News reports the boy used the Heimlich maneuver, which he learned during his scout training.

For his correct response, Hudson earned the Cub Scout Achievement Medal and the Boy Scout National Medal of Merit.

Deputies: Shortchanged in drug deal, man calls 911

Donald M. Hughes told a Pasco sheriff's deputy he'd been robbed. He was paying off a $5 debt to a woman when she "jerked" his $20 bill from him and ran away.

But the woman, named Tammy Lucas, said Hughes actually wanted to pay the $5, get $5 worth of Xanax pills and $10 in change, according to a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report. Lucas said after she gave Hughes the pills, she forgot to give him his change.

When he returned later for it, Lucas said she woke from a nap to Hughes screaming and demanding his money — or more pills.

Hughes, 45, of 10631 Oakhill Drive, was arrested and charged with filing a false report. He was released from jail Sunday.

The cost to investigate the entire incident, according to the Sheriff's Office: $78.

Police get to bottom of accused naked woman, man incident in PSL

The revelation to Port St. Lucie police came about 8:15 p.m. Aug. 15 after an officer went to an address on Southeast Palm Beach Road "in reference to a male and female naked on their back patio," a recently released police report states.

The officer found the two sitting au naturel on the back screened in patio. They were told to get dressed and go to the front door so the officer could speak with them and apparently get to the bottom of the situation.

They said "on occasion they go out on their back patio, nude, and have a couple of drinks," the report states.

"They didn't think it was a problem because it was dark outside and they were on their property," the report states.

Their beverage of choice was not listed, nor was it mentioned whether they enjoyed engaging in a recreational activity, such as foosball or Gin rummy, on the patio.

They said they didn't know anyone could see them, saying they'd get blinds.

Their daughters -- ages 15 and 13 -- said they knew their folks go naked on the porch "and they just give them their space and they stay inside the house," the report states.

The naked parents were warned and "informed of the legal ramifications," the report states.

 

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August 22, 2011

675 lionfish captured by divers in Keys derby

675 invasive lionfish were removed from Florida Keys waters on Saturday during the Second Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Series in Key Largo.

Nineteen teams of divers competed for $3,350 in cash and prizes in the event, organized by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).

Team Strategery of Key Largo won the largest prize of $1,000 for capturing 289 lionfish.

Team Key Dives of Islamorada won $500 for capturing the largest lionfish, measuring 14.6 inches, while Conch Republic Divers of Tavernier won $500 for the smallest lionfish measuring 2.75 inches.

Tissue samples were taken from the lionfish by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey to learn more about the species and its impact on native marine life.

The lionfish is known to impact native reef fish communities. They have no known predators and consume commercially and economically important fish species.

The final 2011 Florida Keys lionfish derby is schedule for November 5 at Hurricane Hole Marina in Key West.

8 peacocks killed, left on side of road

A woman in North Fort Myers says several of her peacocks were shot to death and then left to rot on the side of a road.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office say the case could be considered animal cruelty, but it depends on where the birds were killed.

"This one was shot with a rifle," said Joeanna Bristol.

She says seven of the peacocks she says were hers. One was a neighbor's.

"Disgusting. Kill my pets. They're pets. They're not wild," she said.

On Saturday, neighbors say they heard gunfire near Bristol's home on Matt Road in North Fort Myers. 

"There were so many shots. It didn't sound like they were trying to kill one thing," said neighbor Lark Campisano.

"I kept hearing shots and shots and shots, just wondering what in the heck they were shooting at. That's the answer -- that's what they were shooting at," Bristol said, pointing at the peacocks.

It wasn't until Sunday, when Campisano was going for a ride on her horse, that she spotted the birds in this ditch off Lost Lane.

Residents think the culprit must have thought the peacocks were a nuisance, killed them, then dumped off. 

The sheriff's office says if the peacocks were shot on Bristol's property, it would be considered animal cruelty. But if it happened on someone else's property, there's not much deputies can do about it.

Bristol is planning to bury her peacocks, while the sheriff's office is investigating exactly what happened and if a crime was committed.

"For someone to shoot 'em and throw them out like trash really bothers me," she said.

Woman charged with trying to sell child

A Tampa Bay area woman has been charged with trying to sell her 5-year-old son for $2,000.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports that 28-year-old Jessica Marie Beers was arrested Saturday and charged with sale of parental rights and violation of probation for grand theft.

Authorities say a Tampa couple had been helping Beers financially after meeting the mother through their church. The man told deputies Beers had a prescription drug problem and was leaving the boy with them more and more.

Last week, authorities say Beers offered to sell her parental rights to the couple, but they suspected she wanted the money for drugs. That's when the man contacted deputies and set up a controlled exchange with the mother.

After Beers' arrest, the child was taken into state custody.

The Helptook the weekend box office  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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August 19, 2011

Cape residents fed up with trashy fishermen

Residents along Old Burnt Store Road in Cape Coral say their neighborhood is being trashed. And in most cases, they say fishermen are to blame. It has become such a problem; the residents are turning to the city for help.

Cape Coral homeowner Becky Marsteller has a trash problem.

"We just cleared this up and there's trash already. This is what I just picked up today," she described. "We clean up a bag full every couple of weeks."

Her house sits along a bridge on Old Burnt Store road. She says the bridge and the area underneath it are popular places for fishing.

"They don't take their trash. They throw it in the canal," Marsteller explained.

And she says the problem is not exclusive to the bridge near her house. According to Marsteller, it happens at many of the bridges along Old Burnt Store.

"I'd prefer that they weren't fishing here," she said.

The litter along the bridges is just part of the problem. The vacant lots have already become a popular dumping ground for people's trash and residents end up picking up the litter themselves.

"At one point, we saw a car just throw out a TV and just let it smash on the side," said Cape resident June Scoffil. "Pick up after yourself. Your mom doesn't live here."

Cape police do patrol the area, but residents say the problem is becoming so bad - it's hard to keep up.

"Right now, the movement is to put up signs," said Cape Coral Councilman Kevin McGrail.

McGrail says he hopes signs will help enforcement - signs like no littering, no trespassing and even a sign to ban fishing on these bridges.

"The problem is people are ruining it for everybody," he said.

Fisherman Ken Chase says the he agrees the trash can be a problem.

"I don't know why people do that. Take it home with you or bring a trash can. There's no reason just to throw it," he said.

But officials we spoke to say unless the litter bugs can learn to clean up, all fishermen could be permanently banned from these bridges.\

Deputies: Public masturbator tackled by neighbor

Lee County deputies arrested a man accused of masturbating in the bushes near a Fort Myers school bus stop.

Deputies won't release his identity. But the woman who called 9-1-1, who did not want to give her name, says her young daughters saw too much.

"She came straight home from the bus stop. I was cooking hamburgers and she said, ‘Mom there was a guy playing with himself. He was being really nasty in the bushes,'" the 9-1-1 caller explained.

She says it's not what a mother of three expects to hear from her young daughter - just back from a day at school.

"The nine-year-old one was the one who knew it was bad. The five and six-year-old don't understand," said 9-1-1 caller explained.

This mom says when she called 9-1-1, she explained there was a man masturbating near the bus stop.

But when deputies arrived, they couldn't find him

Another resident in Page Park, Tom Smith, says he also had a more than awkward encounter.

Smith:Soliciting me, wanting to find people - dudes and girls.
NBC2:He was propositioning you for sex?
Smith:Yeah and other guys and just anybody.

Thursday morning, the mother says the man made another appearance, trying to touch himself in front of at least three young girls - once again - at the bus stop located near the intersection of Center Road and Second Street

"She came out, ‘Oh that's him.' So I was like, I'm going to pick up a stick and hit him if I can catch him," the 9-1-1 caller said.

But, she says, her husband got to the man before deputies arrived.

"The guy reached behind him pulled him down got him in the middle of the street got him in a headlock and held him until deputies got there," neighbor Bob Lowden described.

"Then we looked came down the street more and it's my husband holding the guy," the 9-1-1 caller said.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says the suspect was taken into custody under the Baker Act.

According to the FDLE sex offender/predator registry, there are 12 registered sex offenders living within one mile of the incident.

Woman accused of basil attack during meat flap jailed in PSL incident

Accused herb hurler Andrea Antoine-Pierre, 52, was jailed on a battery (domestic) charge Monday following an apparent culinary confrontation with her spouse at their home in the 600 block of Southwest Curtis Street in Port St. Lucie.

Antoine-Pierre's 60-year-old husband told Port St. Lucie police he was in the kitchen preparing food when his wife got home.

"They then began to argue about what type of meat was supposed to be cooked," the report states.

The report didn't specify whether the meat was beef, poultry, pork, fish or some sort of crustacean.

As the husband walked away during the dispute, Antoine-Pierre stands accused of throwing a potted basil plant at her husband's back, hitting his left shoulder.

Basil, an aromatic herb often associated with Italian and Thai cuisine, is not often used as a weapon.

Antoine-Pierre's husband got past his wife. While outside, Antoine-Pierre reportedly got rocks from the garden and tossed them at her husband, but the rocks didn't hit him.

Antoine-Pierre told police she argued with her husband over dinner. She said he called her mom a liar.

"Upon hearing this Ms. Pierre admitted to picking up the plant and throwing it on the ground not on her husband," the report states.

Asked to explain how dirt got on her husband's back, Antoine-Pierre said "it must have bounced off the ground."

Antoine-Pierre also said she lobbed rocks in her husband's "general direction" but didn't hit him.

Antoine-Pierre's 26-year-old stepson said Antoine-Pierre threw a plant in his father's direction but couldn't determine whether it hit him. 

 

 

 

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AUGUST 18, 2011

$432,000 found stuffed in TV, propane tank

A traffic stop resulted in nearly a half-million-dollar discovery for Rosenberg, Texas police, officials said Tuesday.

Investigators said an officer stopped a vehicle Thursday.

A canine officer searched the exterior of the vehicle.

The dog alerted the officer to a front door seam and a large cardboard box containing a gas grill and propane tank in the truck's bed, police said.

After a search, officers seized almost $432,000 in currency hidden in a 32-inch television on the front seat and in the propane tank, officers said.

Police said it's probably a case of money laundering.

"Rolls of money stuffed inside the propane tank -- it's not normal to see someone with that much cash. It's usually for drugs, etc.," said Lt. Colin Davidson with the Rosenberg Police Department. "Highway 59 is a drug corridor from the south to the north."

The case is under investigation and charges could be filed, police said.

Rosenberg police said it's up to a court to award the money back to the police department.

In that case, it would be used for equipment, training and other necessities, but not salari

Bi-weekly beach testing begins in September

Because of budget constraints the Collier County Health Department will test the water at local beaches once every other week instead of once a week and will discontinue testing at three beaches.

The beaches are one of the biggest reasons people visit the Sunshine State, but do you know what's in the water?

"It's hard to say because the water looks clear," said Ginny Saverborn.

It looks clear and is tested weekly by the Collier County Health Department, but that will soon change.

"We would test every other week and drop from 14 sites to 11," said Deb Millsap of the Collier County Health Department.

Those sites or beaches that will no longer be tested are Hideaway Beach on Marco Island, Pelican Bay Beach and Barefoot Beach.

"We've had healthy beaches for over 10 years. We've only had to put up beach advisories on one or two beaches in all that time," said Millsap. "We looked at the past results. Have they been healthy beaches and if the beaches didn't come up with poor water quality, we'll probably drop one of those beaches versus one that spiked."

None have spiked in the last 10 years in Collier County. But both Lee and Charlotte counties just lifted swimming advisories because of contaminated waters at four local beaches.

That's something that has Collier County visitors concerned.

"This is such a beautiful beach it would be a shame that we couldn't trust it," said Dee Tolson, beach visitor.

"We come here every year so we'd love to see the testing continue," said David Nason, beach visitor.

Millsap says most people won't notice the difference once they stop testing the three beaches.

Teen accused of hatching school bomb plot

Police in Tampa say they uncovered a 17-year-old's catastrophic plot to blow up an area school. Jared Cano is accused of trying to kill former teachers and schoolmates.

Inside this Tampa apartment, police found materials to make pipe bombs and a diary allegedly written by Cano that had minute by minute details on blowing up Freedom High School on the first day of classes next week.

"There were two individual faculty members that were specifically targeted. And then he also mentioned his desire to cause more casualties than were suffered in Columbine," said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.

School officials we spoke to said they got a tip about the manifesto from someone in the community.

Faculty just had school safety training the day before

"Once I found out and saw the pictures taken from the apartment complex I think that is when the reality and fear set in -- that this was a real situation," said Freedom High School Principal Chris Farkas.

Tampa police say Cano has a lengthy criminal record and has been on police radar before.

He has been arrested on a burglary charge in which a firearm was stolen. Cano has also been expelled from school since March of 2010.

That is why school officials say his plot to kill wasn't realistic to carry out.

"The minute he was on campus someone would have said, ‘Jared Cano's on campus,' because everyone knows he has been expelled for a year-and-a-half," said Farkas.

Meanwhile on Cano's Facebook page, there are photos of the teen drinking alcohol and holding a large knife.

He wrote in a status post late Tuesday night that he, "just did the dumbest thing ever."

Tampa police say if the plot had been carried out, it would have been a catastrophic event.

Cano's great grandfather lives in North Fort Myers.

He wouldn't speak on camera but said, "We dont see him often, but he always seemed sneaky and I don't like that."

He really stressed that he didnt see his great grandson much. But he says that when he did sim him, "You can't look straight in his eyes, he looks away."

We are still attempting to reach out to family and friends who can tell us more about Cano.

Cano is now facing multiple felony charges and school officials say they will beef up security when students return for classes next Tuesday.

Strip club pops up next to charter school

The school bell will soon ring at Jacksonville, Florida's Duval Charter School, where Katherine Gheerow just enrolled her daughter Brianna in kindergarten.

While signs at the school point to orientation, it's another sign that got Gheerow's attention.

"I was like 'Wow!' and then I'm like 'Really, they're opening up a gentlemen's club next to the school?'," said Gheerow.

Cars on Atlantic Boulevard whiz by a new business, Stillettos Gentlemen's Club.

It sits right in front of Duval Charter, in plain view of school administrators and students.

"I think it's inappropriate," said Gheerow.  "I'm definitely surprised.  I figured the city would say look there's a school there, open up in another location."

So how did a gentlemen's club with the name Stilettos get a building permit to open so close to a school?

"That project was first permitted as a restaurant," said Tom Goldsbury, chief of the Jacksonville Building Inspection Division.

Goldsbury said the original application back in spring was for a business by the name of "Maria's Steak and Spirits."

"They have since come back and submitted plans for stages, poles, so forth and the seating of the restaurant is now gone on the plans," said Goldsbury.

The new plans came three days after the final inspection for a restaurant. 

Goldsbury said new plans mean different rules when it comes to fire codes and distance requirements to schools.

"He asked my code guy 'What happens if I open up Friday night like this?' and we told him, 'Well, we're going to shut you down if you do'," said Goldsbury.

Goldsbury said he'd have to deny an application because the business doesn't have the appropriate permits to build stages and poles.

It also doesn't have the required amount of fire sprinklers.

Code enforcement has been told stages have already been constructed.

Goldsbury said if this is true, the business will be cited for unsafe structure.

"I think they should go somewhere else. I think it's ridiculous," said Gheerow.

The company that oversees Duval Charter School issued the following statement:

"We have concerns about any inappropriate businesses that could compromise the safety and well-being of our students. We will support the city in enforcing any ordinances or laws that will promote a healthy environment for our students."

The owner of Stilettos did not want to comment.

 

 

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Father saves son's life after lightning strike

A man was literally knocked off his feet by a bolt that witnesses say came out of no where. It happened Monday while they were roofing a home in Port Charlotte.

It was a beautiful day in Port Charlotte. But the blue sky is the last thing Jesse Maxwell remembers before a flash of lightning went through his body.

"I still thought I was dreaming. I felt like I was coming out of a real deep sleep," Jesse said.

He was on the roof of a two-story condo complex with four other workers.

Jesse's his father watched from his metal ladder as an instant flash came from the sky and caused Jesse and the four men to jump at the same time.

The other four men got up. But Jesse was lifeless on the roof.

"He fell back, and his eyes were straight up for about a second, and then all I could see were the whites of his eyes. It was awful, it was a parent's worst nightmare," said Jesse's father, Dan Maxwell.

With no time to think, Dan says he just acted. A former instructor of CPS, he immediately began performing the life-saving technique on Jesse.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I think that I would need it, let alone on my son," Dan said.

After three minutes - and what would seem like eternity to Dan - Jesse showed his first signs of life.

"He spit up in my mouth and his legs stiffened up and I turned his head sideways so he could dispel it and his eyes came back into his head. And so what was an awful, awful day, turned into a very joyous occasion," Dan described.

It was just 15 minutes after the lightning strike that Jesse was alive and able to talk.

Tuesday, he is still in ICU with a blown out ear drum.

"I owe my life to him already and I owe my life to him again. Any parent would do that, I'm glad of that. I love him to death," Jesse said about his dad.

Second dog stolen from Lehigh Acres

LEHIGH ACRES, FL -

A family in Lehigh Acres says their dog was stolen right from their front yard. The American Kennel Club says there has been an increase in the number of dogs stolen, but is the same trend happening in Southwest Florida?

Max, an 80 pound Australian cattle dog, was stolen from Heather Cox's front yard in Lehigh Acres.

"We came out and Max was missing," said Cox. "On Tuesday, I go across the street to get my mail and I find Max's collar, unbuckled, which is very hard to get unbuckled."

Cox says there's an invisible electric fence that lines her home. If Max ran across it with his collar around his neck, Cox says she would have heard the alarm go off.

"It's really sad that someone would do this to a family," said Cox.

Less than five miles away, at the Mirror Lakes community, another dog was stolen.

The owner of that dog posted a picture of him on a Craigslist ad.

"To know that someone else's dog was taken, my heart goes out to them because I know what they're going through first hand," said Cox.

Nationwide dog thefts are up 32-percent according to the American Kennel Club.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says locally they are not.

The American Kennel Club says stolen dogs are almost always resold, sold to laboratories or used in fights.

"We give them our love and to think Max is being sold for someone's enjoyment or he's being put in a fighting ring -- it really breaks my heart," said Cox.

Cox is hoping max will return home safe and sound

"This dog has a big impact on our family," said Cox.

Deputies: Student brought weapons to school

A Lee County high school student is under arrest after a search of his vehicle revealed an electronic weapon and a BB gun – one deputies say had the appearance of a semi-automatic handgun.

Officials at South Fort Myers High School received a tip that a student there had weapons in his car, which was in the school parking lot.

The student, Austin Craig, was asked about a confrontation that occurred with other people off campus and asked if he had any weapons in his vehicle. 

Craig said that he had an electronic weapon in his car that he carries for protection. 

With reasonable suspicion, the assistant principal conducted a search of the car while the School Resource Officer stood alongside Craig for safety concerns. 

The search yielded a non-dart firing electric weapon in a black case, laying on the center console in plain view. 

The BB gun was discovered under the driver's seat.

Craig was arrested after the search.

Couple charged after nearly 700 cats seized

 A High Springs couple accused of hoarding 692 cats have been arrested.

Pennie and Steven Lefkowitz, the owners of Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary, are each facing 35 counts of animal cruelty. They have bonded out of jail.

Alachua County Animal Services removed the cats from the sanctuary in High Springs in June in what is the biggest case of cat hoarding the Humane Society of the United States has ever participated in and is in the top three of the largest cat hoarding cases in U.S. history.

The cats were put in a warehouse that became a makeshift shelter. About 100 of them had to be put down.

The rest have been receiving treatment and are being spayed and neutered by University of Florida veterinary students. They will be put up for adoption in the coming weeks.

Alachua County Animal Services said the agency received calls from people who needed to get rid of their cats and left them at Haven Acres.

The agency said residents thought they were taking their cats to a "country club environment."

Police: Man Crashes through Waffle House Trying To Kill Wife

A man crashed through the Panama City Beach Waffle House while trying to run over his wife, who is

a waitress at the restaurant, police said.

Panama City Beach police said Charles Patrick O'Bryan called Waffle House Monday evening and told

an employee he was going to "run his truck through the building and kill everyone."

O'Bryan's wife, Danielle Gibbons, was hit by the vehicle and taken to a hospital with what authorities described as injuries that are not life-threatening.

 

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AUGUST 12, 2011

Suspects sought in multiple Cape car burglaries

Eleven cars were broken into in Cape Coral overnight on Tuesday. From jewelry to money, thieves took everything they could get their hands on.

Police say they believe some of the burglaries are connected. But we found out a false sense of security may have led to easy pickings for the thieves.

The burglaries happened on the following streets:

- SE 16th Place
- Coronado Parkway
- SW 6th Lane
- SE 17th Street
- Coral Avenue
- SE 23rd Place
- Coral Drive
- SE 10th Avenue
- SE 47th Terrace

It just takes a little push with your finger, but police say a string of car robberies in the south Cape can be blamed on the car owners not locking their doors.

And police also say the robberies could be related

"Stupid for not locking my car but we do lock our cars now," said victim Richard Jones.

Richard and Beth Jones had all three of their cars broken into or had the doors opened. They say the vandals got away with CDs and GPS devices.

"Glove box, open CD cases, open center console, open and papers - all over the place," Richard said.

"Now it's all locked up," Beth said.

The couple just moved down from New Hampshire and say they're not used to locking up anything.

"Lock everything up lock everything up it's not a good feeling rather disappointed," Beth said.

Victim Steve Hess said he did some police work of his own.

Whoever broke into his truck, got away with his coins held in a purple Crown Royal bag.

On a hunch, he headed down to the convince store on the corner to see if anyone paid with his coins and he got a lead at the 7-Eleven.

"I said, ‘Was it Royal Crown purple sack?' She said, ‘Yeah, yeah,'" Hess explained. "Of course it was a bad move, but should you have to lock your door for someone not to come on your property to take your stuff?"

Police ask people to remember that the difference between being a victim and not being a victim could be as simple as a push of a button.

If you know anything about the burglaries, you're asked to call the Cape Coral Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

Deputies: Teen used knife in middle school fight

Lee County deputies arrested a 13-year-old boy they say brought a knife to Oak Hammock Middle School and then used it during a fight.

Kaleb Banasiak, of 1414 Scenic Street in Lehigh Acres, has been arrested and charged with:

- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon without intent to kill
- Possession of a Weapon on School Property
- Disruption of a School Function

Thursday at 12:15 p.m., the School Resource Officer at Oak Hammock Middle School was called to classroom after hearing about a student fight that involved a knife.

The investigation revealed Banasiak had been taunting another student and making comments to get him into a fight. 

Officials say Kaleb ran to the other student, punched him, and continued fighting until the teacher could pull him off. 

After the teacher pulled him away, the SRO reported that Banasiak said, "If I am going to ALC, I might as well make it worth my while." 

Then, deputies say, Kaleb went to his book bag and pulled out a long wooden handled knife with a 6" blade from a leather sheath. 

He then ran at the other student with the knife extended towards him in a threatening manner. 

The teacher and another student grabbed chairs and used them as shields to protect the other student.  

A school security specialist was able to recover the knife and no one was injured.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office urges students to notify their School Resource Officer of any unusual activity and to notify them if they ever see or know of any weapons on school property. 

Students who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS

Boil water notice issued on Fort Myers Beach
A precautionary boil water notice was issued for portions of Fort Myers Beach.

Officials we spoke to say due to a water break servicing a fire hydrant, service will be interrupted beginning at 2 a.m. Friday for residents and businesses in the following area:

- 6640 Estero Blvd to 8402 Estero Blvd on the Gulf side
- 6645 Estero Blvd to 8403 Estero Blvd on the Bay side. 

Side Streets included in this boil water notice are as follows:

- Albatross St
- Fairview Blvd
- Palmview Blvd
- Sunview Blvd
- Clearview Blvd
- Lennell Rd
- Bay Beach Lane
- Buccaneer Dr
- Lagoon Rd
- Redfish Rd
- Tarpon Rd
- Estrellita Dr

Once water is restored, there will be a precautionary boil water notice in effect.

So those affected are advised that all water used for drinking or cooking be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient.

This "precautionary boil water notice" will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows the water is safe to drink. 

You can check the town's web-site at www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov for updates

Tax free holiday runs through the weekend

Florida's sales tax holiday for back to school items begins at midnight Friday and runs through Sunday. But you may have to look closely at the labeling to find out if it's a tax free item.

The general rule regarding the school supplies is if it's less than $15, it'll be tax free. But we found out it's not quite that simple.

There are a few exceptions - like staplers, white out, and computer paper – that will not be tax free.

And figuring out what will be tax free and what will not only got more confusing when we walked into Bartley's Sporting Goods store Thursday afternoon.

Officials there explained while you won't pay taxes on school backpacks, equipment bags are a little more ambiguous.

The Florida Department of Revenue says duffel bags, luggage and suitcases are taxable.

Other sporting sports-related items like helmets, shin guards, gloves and baseball mitts are still taxable.

But we found out you could save on football pants or baseball pants because all clothing, up to $75, is tax free.

Tiffanie Davis explained her son is playing youth football this year. She says football gloves are an essential back-to-school item and should be included in the tax holiday.

"Especially if the pants and stuff are going to be included, then I think the sporting goods, the accessories should too because that's a big part of the football," she said.

Footwear like ballet shoes and even the matching leotards and legwarmers are tax-free.

So for the sales tax holiday, it seems that it's better to be on the dance team than on the football team.

Davis says she doesn't think that's right.

"They're getting a break as our little football players are not," Davis said.

 

 

AUGUST 11, 2011

Deputies: Man found with 9 cloned credit cards

Lee County deputies arrested a man they say had cloned credit cards on the first day of his probation.Armada was arrested and has been charged with several felonies for the credit cards and also for violating his brand new probation. 

The case will be turned over to the Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit for further investigation.Local 6 News asked the TSA how "Our officers intercept several guns every day at checkpoints across the United States. In Orlando, last year we intercepted 28 guns that passengers brought to the checkpoint and year-to-date we have kept 19 guns from being carried in the cabin of planes leaving from Orlando," said Sari Koshetz, TSA spokeswoman. "Passengers need to remember that the last time they might have used a suitcase was for a road trip, and that they need to carefully inspect the contents of all luggage before coming to the airport. Our m

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AUGUST 11, 2011

Deputies: Man found with 9 cloned credit cards

Lee County deputies arrested a man they say had cloned credit cards on the first day of his probation.

Wednesday, just before 2:30 p.m., a detective with the Lee County Sheriff's Office Highway Interdiction Unit stopped a 2002 Ford Explorer on I-75 at mile marker 143 in North Fort Myers. 

The SUV had excessively dark windows and was seen traveling under the posted speed limit for over two miles. 

Inside the SUV were two adults and two children. 

During the traffic stop, detectives had conversations with the adult male driver and the adult female passenger and found out the two had conflicting travel plans.

The driver, Ricardo Ignacio Pulido Armada, of Miami, had been placed on probation earlier in the day Wednesday and was coming from a probation appointment in Pinellas County for a credit card cloning case. 

A consent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of nine counterfeit/cloned credit cards that were hidden inside Armada's shoes. 

These false credit cards contained the information of victims of credit card fraud and identity theft in the magnetic strips.

Armada was arrested and has been charged with several felonies for the credit cards and also for violating his brand new probation. 

The case will be turned over to the Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit for further investigation.

Pulido Armada was booked into the Lee County Jail. 

Parents call childrens book 'pornographic'

Parents are speaking out against a controversial book on the shelves of Lee County's libraries. The book "It's Perfectly Normal" is meant to give children real answers about sex and their changing bodies. But the illustrations in the book are turning heads.

The book is so controversial that it's ranked number 12 on the American Library Association's Most Challenged Books in the country.

And in 2007, it made national headlines when a woman in Maine checked out every copy of the book in her hometown and refused to return them, calling it "pornographic."

But it's now at every Lee County library branch on the bottom shelf of the children's section.

Jennifer McGuire's four-year-old daughter loves visiting the Cape Coral library. She'll roam every aisle, plucking out book after book.

"She's definitely hungry to learn so she's quick to pick up things that draw attention, like colorful books," she said.

Luckily, McGuire says, her daughter hasn't picked out "It's Perfectly Normal."

"It's not appropriate for young kids," she said.

"It's Perfectly Normal" is causing local controversy after a six-year-old picked the book up in the 12 and under children's section.

Her mom requested the book be moved.

But after a careful review, a library committee said it is appropriate for kids.

"It's written clearly for children within the age range of the children's services department. It's very highly regarded by teachers and librarians," said Sheldon Kaye, Director of the Lee County Library System.

The book is about as honest as it gets - featuring drawings of couples engaged in sexual intercourse. It also contains explanations as to why sex feels good, illustrations of masturbation.

"Those illustrations belong in the adult section," said parent Steven McGuire.

But at least one mom wishes she'd had the book when her kids were young.

"Kids are going to ask questions. You got to give them answers," said Deborah Hawkins.

Kaye says it's too difficult for them to distinguish what's appropriate for youth or teens. She says that's the parents' job.

And when the new edition of the book comes out next year, the libraries plan to shelve it too.

"It's knowledgeable and it's open minded," Kaye said.

We have a question set up on the NBC2 Facebook page about the book. Let us know what you think. Some of your

City manager: Show me the money

Cape Coral's City Manager Gary King just received $17,500 in incentive pay for meeting this year's goals. Now he's preparing his list of goals for next year – and they would be worth $27,500.

Some of the objectives Gary King set for himself include:
Save money at Sun Splash and the city's golf course.
Maintain the city's fleet of cars
Make getting a permit to build easier.

"The objectives are focused on areas that need improvement," said Cape Coral City Councilman Bill Deile.

But the objectives are tied to money.

If King meets them, his pay grows at the end of the year.

For example, if the city manager balances the budget he gets $3,000.

If he develops the veteran's investment zone and brings jobs to the city he gets $3000

There are eleven goals in all worth a total of $27,500.

"That's a concept that I think government should look at because it drives out inefficiency and it rewards people that perform well," said Deile.

Not everyone agrees with the idea of a bonus for Gary King.

"You're legally bound to have a balanced budget and you're wanting $3000 more to do your job?" said council member Marty McClain.

The city manager is no stranger to the controversy. Just 3 weeks ago, city council voted to give King $17,500 for last year's goals.

At the same time, he asked workers, like the city's police officers, to take a 3 percent pay cut.

McClain says it's a bad way to lead.

"You lead by example, by golly you better be the example," said McClain.

King addressed the issue on his blog. He said, "If I were to give back the performance incentive, I would be paid nearly 20 percent less than the previous city manager and I would be giving back income that I have already earned."

Despite the controversy surrounding it, the city council has to decide.

First they'll look at whether they want to give King any opportunity at a bonus at all. And if so they'll have to agree on the 11 goals.

Police: Playboy Playmate Had Loaded Gun At Airport

Shanna Marie McLaughlin, a former Playboy Playmate and University of Central Florida graduate student, was arrested Monday evening at the Orlando International Airport when she tried to pass through a security checkpoint.

According to an arrest affidavit, McLaughlin placed her duffel bag into the X-ray machine and a Transportation Security Administration worker "saw what appeared to be a handgun on the screen." The affidavit said the worker discovered a Ruger SAA .45 long colt, loaded with hollow point bullets.

According to the report, McLaughlin "spontaneously stated the gun was her boyfriend's, and she did not know it was in there." She also told the worker that she has a concealed weapons permit, which he verified, the report stated.

Police arrested McLaughlin and charged her with a misdemeanor -- carrying a firearm in a place prohibited by law. Her mugshot was taken at the Orange County Jail on Monday night. She later posted bond of $250.

Local 6 News asked the TSA how many incidents like this have occurred at OIA.

"Our officers intercept several guns every day at checkpoints across the United States. In Orlando, last year we intercepted 28 guns that passengers brought to the checkpoint and year-to-date we have kept 19 guns from being carried in the cabin of planes leaving from Orlando," said Sari Koshetz, TSA spokeswoman. "Passengers need to remember that the last time they might have used a suitcase was for a road trip, and that they need to carefully inspect the contents of all luggage before coming to the airport. Our mission is to keep you safe and we do that every

  

 

 

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AUGUST 9, 2011

Student misses bus stop, family criticizes district 

The first day of school turned into some frightening moments for one Lee County family. A sixth grader wound up on a bus ride that lasted two hours longer than it should have. Family members say they don't think the district respond as urgently as it should have.

This year, Maria Ringer is at a new school and she has a new bus stop.

"Finally figured out I missed it and it was the second stop I didn't know where to go," said student Maria Ringer.

Maria was supposed to get off at her Cape Coral bus stop at 4:05 p.m.

But her mom, Lisa Ringer, explained, "The kids got off and she didn't get off."

Bus number 2756 came and went and the sixth grader was no where to be found.

"Panic, mess - I didn't know where she was," said Lisa.

Lisa said she immediately headed over to Challenger Middle School for some answers.

They told her to call the transportation department. But when she did that, all she got was a bunch of automated responses.

We spoke to Transportation Director Robert Morgan Monday night, who says the first couple days of school are a challenge. In fact, there were as many as 10 people answering questions over the phone.

"I was just scared. I was shaking," said Maria.

Eventually, Maria's aunt, Linda Lewis, said she reached someone who was able to contact the bus driver to bring the girl home.

NBC2: Did they give an explanation?
Linda Lewis:No. No.

In a statement from Transportation Director Robert Morgan he said:

"It's regrettable what happened. And I don't have all the details at this time. I feel for the parents and I assure the child was never left alone. If it's found the bus driver was at fault then they will be found accountable."

"We're going to try it again. I don't know why, but we'll try it again," said Maria.

Morgan says the Transportation Department hopes to have the kinks worked out in the next few days.

We called the Lee County Public Schools Information Officer Joe Donzelli and he said:

Unfortunately, I do not have any information on this situation. I would hope the parent contacted their child's school or the district if they had an issue with transportation today. That should be their first call whenever something arises that involves their child's school.

Boy, 11, charged with breaking mom's arm

Deputies arrested an 11-year-old Fort Myers boy after he reportedly broke his mom's arm during a fight at their home Saturday.

Matthew Dunn was booked into the Lee County Jail on a charge of felony battery.

Dunn's mother said the boy became upset when she and her boyfriend began talking about Dunn's father at the dining room table Saturday evening, according to an arrest report.

The boy reportedly stood up from the table, threw it over and then started striking his mom as she tried to calm him down.

Dunn's anger escalated, prompting his mother and the rest of the family to run out of the home, the report said. That's when the boy reportedly followed her, threw a rock at her and then twisted her arm.

The woman's boyfriend intervened, and as she ran back inside Dunn threw a golf ball through the window of the home, deputies said.

He then began to take his anger out on himself, hitting his head against a tree, according to the report.

EMS arrived on scene and determined the woman had sustained a broken arm. She was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Tampa Woman Accidentally Shot While Husband Cleaned Gun

A southwest Florida woman has been hospitalized after her husband told police he accidently shot her.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies answered a 911 call in Tampa Friday night. When they arrived at the couple's apartment, they found Robin Martin suffering from a gunshot wound to her stomach. She is listed in stable condition.

Oscar Dean told authorities he was cleaning his revolver when one round discharged.

While interviewing the couple, authorities found the house was infested with insects and there was little food. They determined it was an unfit home for the couple's six year-old child. The child is now in state custody.

Dean was arrested on one count of child neglect. Martin may face a similar charge.

The shooting appears to be accidental but police are still investigating

Deputies: Alleged Shooting, Standoff Was Hoax

Volusia County deputies shut down a neighborhood because of a possible standoff and shooting on Sunday night.

Deputies said they received a call that one person was possibly dead. But later that night, deputies confirmed that it was all a bizarre hoax that tied up county resources for hours.

The hoax happened on Lynnhaven Street in Deltona after the call someone made to the sheriff's office.

For two hours, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said they blocked off five blocks surrounding Lynnhaven Street.

The sheriff's office helicopter and SWAT team responded, along with ambulances, and multiple deputies. The situation was so dire that the sheriff himself came out to the scene, officials said.

The 911 dispatchers said they received a teletype message that someone in a house was shot.

“You have to treat it as though a real call. Its tied up my helicopters, my SWAT personnel,” said Sheriff Ben Johnson.

The people in the house ended up being a mother and her two adult sons, according to deputies. They were questioned, but let go.

Sheriff Johnson said he wants to go after the caller.

“We are going to actively investigate it. Actively go after who did this hoax and if we do find out we're going after any expenses to the sheriff's office,” said Johnson.

The sheriff's office said they still have to add up how much personnel was on scene and how much the hoax cost taxpayers.

Thieves steal copper valves from Fort Myers plaza

Thieves hit a Fort Myers business plaza for the copper valves there. But it wasn't just water valves that were stolen. They also took something that could have done some serious damage.

The thieves cut through a gas meter, the gas line, and then the plaza's water meters. And they did for the copper.

At least three stores in a plaza at Gladiolus and Winkler Road were left with no water. It was all discovered when one of the businesses - a dry cleaners - was alerted to a gas leak.

"If the gas line would have sparked or fired, my shop would have been rubble, dust," said Daniel Cichowicz, owner of a shipping store in that plaza.

That leak was quickly shut off. But store owners soon discovered that their water meters had been cut too.

"So, we knew that we were hit again," said Cichowicz.

Less than a month ago, thieves ripped them off the exact same way.

Next door to Cichowicz, at the Coast Guard Exchange, Alan Weissman is feeling his pain.

"I said, ‘What's wrong with the bathrooms?' And they said, ‘The water meters had been stolen,'" Weissman described.

We learned that on the night of the theft, deputies caught three people behind the plaza next door with burglary tools, and a ripped open AC unit.

Right now, those three haven't been charged with this crime, but deputies believe they could be involved.

The water was eventually restored after crews worked all day to repair the meters.

Diana Nyad ends 2nd attempted swim from Cuba to Florida

 

Marathon swimmer Diana Nyad ended her second bid to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys about halfway through her journey early Tuesday.

Elaine Lafferty, who was on the boat according to Nyad's blog, posted on Twitter: "It's over." Lafferty said "the combination of factors was too much to safely continue."

According to the Twitter feed, Nyad was pulled from the water early in the morning after swimming for 29 hours. The swim was expected to take 60 hours to cover at least 103 miles (166 kilometers).

The Twitter account reported she decided to end the swim herself, after "realizing the conditions of 5 to 10 knot winds and less than ideal currents." An online chart plotting the swim's track showed the Gulf Stream currents pushing Nyad to the east of the intended course. Nyad had hoped to end her swim at the Southernmost Point in Key West, Fla.

According to the Twitter feed, Nyad was on a support boat after ending the swim and wrapped in blankets.

In her second attempt, Nyad tried to accomplish at 61 years old what she failed to do at 28 in 1978. This time, she even attempted the swim without a shark cage, relying instead on an electrical field from equipment towed by kayakers to keep them at bay.

In her first attempt in 1978, she quit after being in the water for 41 hours and 49 minutes due to strong currents and rough weather that banged her around in the shark cage.

Had the latest attempt been successful, Nyad would have broken her own record of 102.5 miles (165 kilometers) for a cageless, open-sea swim, set in 1979 when she stroked from the Bahamas to Florida.

Before the swim, Nyad told journalists she hopes her swim will inspire others her age to live active lives. She said she also hopes it can help improve understanding between Cold War rivals Cuba and the United States, even if just symbolically 

 

 Student misses bus stop, family criticizes district 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 8, 2011

Back to school for Lee, Charlotte counties

LEE COUNTY -

It's back to school for students in Lee County and Charlotte County on Monday morning.

Families across Southwest Florida flocked to the stores on Sunday to grab last-minute basics before heading back to class.

The National Retail Federation says families with children from Kindergarten to 12^th grade will spend an average of $603.63 on clothes, school supplies, and electronics. That number is actually down $3 from the 2010 average.

"I probably looked for more sales, coupons, and went to consignment shops and things like that to make it less painful," says parent Carla Hennings.

But Carla says despite the sales, she still plans to spend around $1,000 on her three kids.

Teachers like Gatia Kampmeyer are also spending quite a bit of money at the last minute.  

 "I find it more stressful because I'm a teacher as well. My method is to try and make a list of everything that I need and get to the least amount of places as possible and get it done," she says.

Lee County and Charlotte County Schools are ‘high performing' so they qualify for a waiver that allows them to start earlier. This allows the districts to finish end-of-semester tests before the two-week winter break. It also gives teachers and students more time to get ready for standardized tests – including AP, IB, and FCAT.

Deion Sanders emotional during Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement

Deion Sanders is officially a Hall of Famer.

The North Fort Myers graduate was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday night as part of a seven-member class that includes Marshall Faulk, Shannon Sharpe, Richard Dent, and NFL Films creator Ed Sabol.

Sanders is the first athlete from Southwest Florida to enter a Hall of Fame in any of the four major professional sports.

Sanders was emotional during his speech, which included a huge tribute to his mother, Connie Knight, who still lives in Fort Myers.

Sanders said he created his entire "Prime Time" image for one purpose:  to help him earn enough money so that his mother would never have to work exhausting jobs again.

Sanders pointed to a moment when he was a child when one of his peers made fun of Deion's mother, who worked a low-paying job at Lee Memorial Hospital at the time.

Sanders said he was determined from that point forward to make the most of himself as a football player and earn enough money to help his mother.

Sanders also thanked youth football coach Dave Capel and his high school football coach at North Fort Myers, Ron Hoover.

Hoover kicked Sanders off the team at one point, a move with Deion pointed to as another turning point in his life.

Sanders was a two-time Super Bowl champion, eight-time All-Pro, and two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Year during his NFL career.

He ended his speech by putting one of his famous "do-rags" on his bronze Hall of Fame bust.

 

Rise of the Planet of the Apesrise and took the weekend box office !

Marco Island man charged with five DUIs in string of hit-and-run crashes

Following a string of crashes more suited to a bumper car ride than the streets of Marco Island, Ronald Wallace, 49, was arrested by police Friday afternoon.

According to a police report, a four-door beige Toyota driven by Wallace, of the 1100 block of Mulberry Court, Marco Island, began a chain of hit-and-runs near the 700 block of North Barfield Drive when Wallace slammed in the southbound lane at a high rate of speed into the rear of a stationary Mazda, forcing the car into a tree.

Wallace made headlines earlier this summer when Naples City Manager Bill Mosssaid he sought a protective order after Wallace had threatened him.

The driver of that vehicle was transported to the hospital. The report added that Wallace then drove his car into oncoming traffic and hit a Lexus head on, pushing it back 40 feet. Three occupants in that vehicle were also taken to the hospital.

Wallace then headed south on North Collier Boulevard and sideswiped a Ford Expedition driven by Michael A. Horan, crashed into a mailbox and signage damaging $800 in property, and approached Chalmers Drive, where a red Astrovan was hit, according to the report.

Horan followed the Toyota and witnessed Wallace crash through a fence and pole, causing $500 in property damage at Allards Storage. Wallace then drove to his home. When police arrived, they observed him with blood spattered on his forehead and scalp.

“It was very apparent that he was recently involved in a crash,” a responding officer wrote in the report, and Wallace had “an incredibly strong odor of ... an alcoholic beverage.”

Wallace faces four felony charges for the four car crashes, which involved personal injuries, five misdemeanor DUI charges, and six misdemeanor charges for crashes that involved damage to vehicles or property.

At the time of Friday’s series of crashes, Wallace was out on bond for an Aug. 3 arrest. He was charged with violating a restraining order.

Wallace, the former city Streets and Stormwater Director for the City of Naples, made headlines in early July when Moss sought the protective order. The decision to seek that order was made when Wallace contacted City Hall staff members and, at least twice, threatened to “shoot Bill Moss in the head if he owned a gun,” an earlier Naples police report stated.

Moss said Saturday that Wallace’s arrest for violating a restraining order was not related to that protective order and that he had not had any incident  

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AUGUST 5, 2011

Grandfather turns in grandson for theft

Store surveillance footage captured what led to a grandson's arrest. A teen is accused of stealing his grandfather's train set. And it's the teen's grandfather who is helping to send him to jail.

Joseph Bonsky's $2,000 train collection was almost derailed after he says his grandson stole and sold the parts.

What his grandson didn't realize is that Bonsky bought the train parts from the same store he tried to sell them at.

"I got a call from the hobby shop stating that there was a young man that was trying to bring in railroad paraphernalia that I had purchased," Bonsky said. "I told him the Hobby Shop called and told me that you took stuff into the hobby shop and identified it as mine."

Bonsky says his grandson initially denied the stealing the parts.

"When he told me to my face that he hadn't done it, it was like twisting the knife because I knew he had," said Bonsky.

But there was no denying that the person seen in the surveillance video from the hobby store was his grandson, Christopher Miller. And that's why, Bonsky says, he had to alert deputies.

"I've got to tell you, I've been crying for the last two days since he's been arrested. It's very emotional. My blood pressure is up. I feel really bad that I'm the one that had to show him it was wrong," he said.

But Bonsky says he can't take all the credit.

Brian Hague, owner of the Hobby Shop, says he knew the train parts Miller was selling weren't his.

"Since he had no idea what this was, it kind of tipped me off that something was not right," said Hobby Shop owner Brian Hague.

And now miller is facing some serious felony charges.

His grandfather says he is remorseful

"I don't know if I done the right thing or not. I just wanted to teach him a lesson," Bonsky said.

By Saundra Weathers - bio | email | Facebook

Consignment store scams Cape Coral couple

CAPE CORAL--Lee and Mary Mimbs crowd in front of their computer with Four in Your Corner reporter Emily Dishnow, gushing over picture after picture of the beautiful furniture that once belonged to Mary's parents, until they both recently passed.

“My parents worked hard all their life,” says Mary, “And to me it was important to get good money for it.”

They did their homework on local consignment shops and decided on Lindsey’s Attic in Cape Coral and as a bonus, the price sounded right.

“After the owner looked over everything,” Lee says, “He thought it would be more than $6,000.”

They signed a three month contract which guarantees them half of whatever the store sells, but when Mary went back in mid June to renew her contract, she only got a sales clerk.

“She said well the owners aren’t here,” Mary explains, “They had to leave because there’s a death in the family.”

Instead, she says the sales clerk told her to sign a hand-written piece of paper as a contract. She was told that would be good through September, and to come back later. Mary did go back, three times, and was told each time, the owners were out of town. That was until her visit last week, when she caught up with the owner and asked him about the contract.

“He says no, your contract expired,” Mary explains. 

So, what does that mean?

Mary shakes her head, “He keeps everything that wasn’t sold.” Emily looks at Mary, “So he keeps it, he sells it, and you get nothing?” Emily asks, “Right,” Mary says.

Now in the kitchen, Lee is visibly shaken. “How many other people have been ripped off that way,” he says, “How many other people are going to get ripped off that way, it’s poor business practice.”

So we called the consignment shop owners to find out what gives. They declined an interview with us, saying this was now a legal matter, but they did call Mary.

Mary explains the call from the owner’s wife. “She says well I talked to my husband and there was like a little mix-up since we weren’t here, and so we'll go ahead and renew your contract.”

Sounds great right? Well it wasn’t that simple. The owners were only willing to start a new contract effective today, which means the Mimbs wouldn’t get paid for anything that has already been sold, which they believe is most of their expensive items. We’ll be staying on top of this one and we’ll keep you posted with what we find out.

Gun parts found in Tampa International Airport terminal restroom

Tampa, Florida -- Gun parts were found in a restroom Wednesday morning at Tampa International Airport.

TIA spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan says the parts belonged to several firearms and were found in a woman's bathroom in the airport's main terminal, outside the security checkpoint. 

An employee cleaning the bathroom apparently discovered the parts inside a trash can.

The items have been identified as a bolt carrier and firing pin for an AK-47, an empty 30 round magazine and four Glock model 22 slides.

"In no way could these things have been used to function as a firearm," says TIA Police Assistant Chief Ciro Dominguez. "But they were parts of a firearm that someone had discarded. Why they discarded them, we don't know."

 

Paralyzed man uses PVC pipe to drive ATV, crashes with children in vehicle

A 30-year-old paralyzed man has charges pending against him after he was involved in a wreck that injured two young children.

Shannon R. Majors of Panama City was driving a 2010 Carbide 150cc ATV along the clearing beneath a series of power lines.

Majors is paralyzed so he used a PVC pipe to operate the gas and brake pedals of the vehicle. At some point, according to a Florida Highway Patrol press release, the vehicle overturned and rolled onto the left side.

Two young boys with the man — 5-year-old Trystin T. Jones and 2-year-old Micah (whose last name was not provided) — went to search for help because the man was unable to right the vehicle or get himself out because of his handicap.

The boys found a nearby home and were able to get help for Majors.

Majors suffered serious injuries and was taken to Gulf Coast Hospital. The two boys sustained minor injuries.

Seat belts were not used by anyone in the vehicle.

The crash is still under investigation. Charges are listed as pending.

BSO jail deputy counseled for behavior toward female inmates

A Broward Sheriff's Office jail deputy is accused of inappropriate behavior toward female inmates, in a case with claims of topless, dancing inmates, an "orgy''-like atmosphere and a text-messaged photo of a penis alongside a toothbrush.

Deputy Mason Chibnick was found to have violated the code of ethics, failed to use good judgment and engaged in conduct unbecoming of a BSO employee. He was given a counseling slip advising him of the policies, and he was transferred to an all-male jail on his own request, public records say.

Chibnick didn't respond to a request for comment, but he denied any inappropriate contact or behavior in a sworn BSO statement, telling investigators that "if he were to return to his assignment with the female inmates, he would not do anything differently.''

Among the allegations made by inmates or colleagues at Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano: that he passed greetings to inmates via a colleague, watched inmates perform sex acts on each other, tracked an inmate down on Facebook after she was released, text-messaged a photo of his penis alongside a toothbrush to the sister of one former inmate, entered a closet with a female inmate, sat on an inmate's bunk bed, claimed inmates were "all over'' him after he lost 50 pounds and allowed a permissive, "wild'' atmosphere when he was in charge. Inmates said they regularly played Truth or Dare when he was on duty

Cape couple gives birth to quadruplets

It was an unexpected surprise for one Cape Coral couple when they gave birth to not one baby – but four!

Tabitha, Valerie, Lauren and Ashley were each born weighing in around three pounds, 11 ounces and they are the newest addition to the Anderson family.

"[We were] hoping for a brother or sister for our daughter and ended up with four sisters for her," said Erin Anderson.

Erin and her husband David explained they are unable to conceive naturally.

In vitro fertilization was a success six years ago with their daughter. So they tried it again and this time, got more than they expected. 

"It's not even something you consider. It's so rare that even the doctor was surprised," Erin said.

Erin was implanted with three embryos, hoping at least one would take. At her age, the odds of a successful IVF are six to 10-percent.

Turns out all three embryos were successful. And one even split, making four children.

So now they have two fraternal twins and two identical twins.

"It's more and more real, that they're ours and that they will be coming home," Erin said.

They were born on July 22. And every day the family visits the girls at HealthPark to feed and change the premature babies.

Nurses there say they haven't seen this many doubles in more than a year.

"A lot of hands to raise quadruplets plus one," said David.

But mom and dad say they are sure to get help from big sister Natalie.

"Read them books maybe, feed them the bottle," Natalie said.

Now the unexpected surprise is quickly becoming reality.

"[We're] close to having nursery done - only a few things left. It will be a busy weekend," Dave said.

Ashley is set to come home as soon as Monday. The others will be home in the coming weeks. 

 

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AUGUST 4, 2011

Beer keg burglar busted

An 18-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after investigators say he stole more than a dozen beer kegs from three Port Charlotte businesses.

Burl Cutright IV of Port Charlotte was booked into the Charlotte County Jail on charges of Dealing in Stolen Property, Petit Theft, Burglary, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Marijauna, and Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia.

According to an arrest report, Cutright took a total of 15 kegs from Joe Crackers, Gatorz Bar & Grill, and the Moose Lodge, located at 2121 Loveland Boulevard, in late June and July.

Gatorz cook Benjamin Winnkle says a dishwasher spotted Cutright and another guy throwing the kegs into a truck.

"At first, it was just shock. It was in the middle of the day time - it was light out! It's crazy to hear people are stealing in the middle of the day," Winkle said.

Investigators obtained surveillance video showing Cutright loading five kegs from Gatorz Bar & Grill into a pickup truck on July 24, the report said.

When he was arrested, Cutright was in possession of pot, oxycodone and a hollow pen used for inhaling crushed pills, according to the report.

Cutright reportedly told investigators that he sold the kegs for $15 each to support his drug habit.

Boil water notice issued on Fort Myers Beach

FORT MYERS BEACH -

A precautionary boil water notice has been issued on Fort Myers Beach. While crews were working on a two-inch service line, the connection broke off the main, causing a loss of water pressure. 

Officials we spoke to say the notice affects customers located between 6500 Estero Boulevard to 5700 Estero Boulevard. 

And the side streets included in the boil water notice are listed below:

- Curlew
- Bahia Via
- Driftwood
- Flamingo
- Mound Rd
- Noddy Tern
- Widgeon Terr
- Lanark
- Aberdeen
- Sterling
- Seminole Way
- Falkirk
- Dundee
- Indian Bayou

As a precaution, officials on Fort Myers Beach are advising that all water used for drinking or cooking be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. 

Of course, bottled water may also be used as an alternative. 

This "precautionary boil water notice" will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows the water is safe to drink.   

 

Blind woman starts dog massage business

For Janet Deluca, starting her new dog massage business is a cause close to her heart.

She is blind and uses her guide dog Elsie to get around. She says pooches can get stressed out just like humans. So she was trained and certified to massage dogs.

Starting this month, her new business "Kindred Spirits" will be up and running. 

 

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AUGUST 3, 2011

Fla. Southern ranked most beautiful campus

Florida Southern College has found out it doesn't hurt to have some of your campus' buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Lakeland-based school was ranked Tuesday as having the nation's "most beautiful campus" by the Princeton Review.

That was a bump up from last year when the school's campus only was ranked No. 9.

The campus not only has the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright structures, it also is home to buildings designed by other famous architects such as Robert A.M. Stern.

Slideshow: Crane tips over at Naples home

A 103-foot crane toppled over while it was in use at a residential construction site Tuesday afternoon.

A 9-1-1 call was made at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday about the crane accident at 779 Gulf Shore Boulevard. 

When emergency crews arrived, they were told the driver and operator of the train were in the middle of moving a palm tree around the pool area when the accident occurred. 

The crane was positioned at the southwest corner of the 32,000 square-foot house under construction, located just south of the Naples Beach Club properties. 

The crane boom was heavily damaged along with its cab.

The vehicle is a National 1800 crane with a 40 ton capacity, valued at $280,000 and operated by Harrison Crane out of Miami. 

Officials said the crane will likely have to be righted by an even bigger crane.

Man head-butts girlfriend over card game

Fort Myers man was jailed after deputies say he head-butted his girlfriend during a card game Sunday.

Richard Bailey, 27, was booked into the Lee County Jail on a charge of Battery and Violation of Protection Order.

Bailey's girlfriend told deputies that she was playing cards with Bailey and a friend at a home located at 137 Zenith Circle in Lehigh Acres late Sunday evening, when she and Bailey began to argue, according to an arrest report.

As the argument spilled onto the front porch, Bailey head butted her on the forehead, then grabbed some of his belongings and took off, the report said.

The woman suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention.

A records check later confirmed that the woman had previously obtained a permanent restraining order against Bailey, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Bailey was arrested early Monday morning and taken to jail.

Bluetooth allows for better heart attack care

In the event of a heart attack - seconds count. And now, first responders can now use technology to better treat people on the beach.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District is the first in Southwest Florida with the ability to transmit EKGs in real time.

Using bluetooth technology and special monitors, paramedics can now send the results of heart attack tests to the emergency room at HealthPark Medical Center, where the entire hospital is alerted to an incoming heart attack patient.

"So our ED physicians, ED nurses, our cath lab, radiology, laboratory, everybody is standing here, waiting for their arrival," said Cindy Brown, with the HealthPark Heart and Vascular Institute.

The real time EKGs were made possible thanks to a $3,000 grant from the Gulf Harbour Foundations.

So far, only two Fort Myers Beach ambulances are equipped to send the results en route, and hospital officials say it would cost about $2-million to $3-million to upgrade all of Lee County EMS with the technology.

Panty Thief Busted At Florida Outlet Store

An employee saw a man "conceal women’s underwear in his shorts" on Friday and informed an officer who happened to be at the Bealls Outlet store.

Detective Ken Brewer confronted Kennedy after seeing a "pair of pink women's under wear partially hanging out of the Defendant's left front pocket.” Kennedy, 57, told the cop there was “nothing there.”

When attempting to arrest an uncooperative Kennedy, Brewer observed numerous pairs of women’s lingerie in his shorts.

As can be seen in the above police evidence photo a subsequent search of Kennedy revealed a colorful cache of panties in various styles as well as a couple of other less interesting clothing items, all valued at $96.58.

Kennedy, pictured in the Polk County Sheriff's Office mug shot at left, was charged with misdemeanor retail theft, as well as two felonies for resisting an officer and battery. He remains jailed on $15,000 bond. (2 pages) 

 

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AUGUST 2, 2011

Watching Tropical Storm Emily

Tropical Storm Emily is located in the far eastern Caribbean, and this morning we now have a projected patch for the storm on the weather maps.

There is still a great deal of uncertainty about where this storm will go by the weekend. Most computer models take Emily over Haiti/Dominican Republic on Wednesday. This, historically, is a track that weakens storms, so the question will be what happens to Emily as it moves northwest on Thursday/Friday.

The official forecast track for Saturday takes Emily close to the east coast of Florida, not to our side of the state. There will likely be many changes to this projected path over the next few days, but it does appear that South Florida, in general, should prepare for the possibility of heavy rain and windy weather this coming weekend.

If Emily swings farther to the east this weekend, it is also possible we won't get a drop of rain. This may sound a bit frustrating to you this morning; however, this is the reality of long-term weather forecasting - it's not an exact science, and it will be a few more days before the forecast is more certain for our immediate area.

Now is a good time to remember that Tropical Storms are NOT just "a point on the map". The influence of bad weather can spread out for miles from the center of a storm.

If you have weekend plans, it will be wise to keep up to date with the projected path AND the changes in the forecast for Tropical Storm Emily.

The day-to-day weather for the balance of the week ahead will feature afternoon storms and hot, humid weather. Our best chance for storms will likely be inland this afternoon.

However, the prevailing winds today will come off the Gulf of Mexico and this could wash-in some downpours or brief thunderstorms this morning as well.

The rain activity this morning is isolated and not for everybody before noon. High temperatures will continue to be in the 90s each day this week.

Eleven arrested in underage alcohol sting

Fort Myers Police arrested 11 people during an undercover operation targeting alcohol sales to minors at businesses including nightclubs and convenience stores.

The sting targeted 31 Fort Myers businesses. Police say 11 didn't pass.

Police sent a 19-year-old into convenience stores and downtown clubs like Space 39, Hideaway Bar and Level nightclub.

"We did use someone underage to go in and purchase alcohol from places," said Shelly Flynn, with the Fort Myers Police Department.

Many of the places targeted, police say, didn't even ask for ID.

"Alcohol in the hands of minors can lead to serious crimes - DUIs and tragedies that no parent should have to experience. This is proactive policing," Flynn said.

The 11 locations that police say sold alcohol to that minor include:

- Hess – 2208 Cleveland Avenue
- Circle K – 3308  Cleveland Avenue
- Red Rock Saloon – 1^st Street
- Level Night Club – Hendry Street
- Marti Market – 2938 Fowler Street
- Superstop – 3485 Fowler Street
- Cowboy Up Saloon – Hendry Street
- Sunoco – 2907 Cleveland Avenue
- 7-Eleven – 1688 Colonial Boulevard
- Space 39 – Patio De Leon
- Hideaway Sports Bar – 1418 Dean Street

Fort Myers Police still expect to make two more arrests in that sting and say they are already planning to stage more.

Man arrested after trying to light deputy on fire

A Bonita Springs man was arrested after trying to light a Lee County Sheriff's deputy on fire, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports.

Early Saturday morning, the deputy responded to a home on Our Court in Bonita Springs for a call related to a suspicious person trying to light things on fire, reports said.

When the deputy arrived, he spoke with Juan Castaneda, who told the deputy he had been drinking and wanted to smoke outside.

He became belligerent and was asked to go back inside the house.

Castaneda tried to stand, but fell and said he was too drunk and wanted to stay outside.

Castaneda told the deputy he hated cops and verbally abused the deputy, reports said.

Then Castaneda tried to light the lighter in his hand and tried to put the flame on the deputy's uniform. When the deputy stepped back, Castaneda threw the lighter at the deputy, according to reports.

Castaneda was arrested for resisting arrest without violence and disorderly intoxication.

Peeping tom arrested in Naples

The Demonico family was watching a movie at their east Naples home when 11 year old Taylor spotted a shadow lurking outside the glass door.

"He looked at me but I couldn't really see what he looked like and then he got up and he kind of fell back and then he got up and ran," Taylor said.

Terrified for her family's safety, Cheri Demonico went outside to see what was going on.. that's when she found a tear in the screen on her lanai and the door unlocked.

She believes the man had been watching her home for hours before her daughter spotted him.

"The girls were in the computer room that's where he started seeing and watching them and then once the lights went out and we came out here to watch TV he was in our lanai. So he was watching us in the house," she said.

Deputies later arrested convicted sex offender Leslie Brewer. He faces a slew of charges including voyeurism and trespassing. It turns out the Demonicos were not alone..

Just down the block Ann Kaverman's daughter spotted who she says is the same man looking through her window.

"It's really scary you feel very invaded to think that somebody's standing there staring at you," Kaverman said.

Since then, neighbors have installed motion activated spotlights in their trees and taken extra security precautions around their home.

"We're locking screen doors at night, my daughter usually takes the dogs out in the morning when she gets up at five. She won't go outside alone anymore because you worry about what's around or who's around and it never was like that before," Kaverman continued.

Brew did bond out of the Collier county jail on a $25,000 bond.

Brew worked at a bike shop in Naples when he was arrested. No word on whether he still has his job now that he is a free man.

Deputies: Ear chunk bitten off during Fort Pierce attack

FORT PIERCE Two brothers from Fort Pierce were in the St. Lucie County jail on Sunday after St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office deputies say one bit off a chunk of a man's ear and the other had illegal drugs.

Walter Parks, 34, was charged with aggravated battery after a man being treated in the emergency of a local hospital told deputies that Parks "sucker punched" him from behind, put him in a bear hug, and bit off a piece of his left ear, according to the arrest report.

The alleged attack took place on Saturday afternoon at a home in the 100 block of Southeast Banyon Drive.

Deputies stopped a car driven by Perry Walker Parks, 33, in which Walter Parks was a passenger, at Emil Avenue and U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce. They charged the younger brother with felony drug possession after finding a pill they thought to be ecstasy, plus misdemeanor possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana 

 

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AUGUST 1, 2011

Captain America: The First Avengeris the number one movie

Vet: Toads' poison able to kill pets

Pet owners-beware. An invasive toad species is in Southwest Florida - putting anything that comes into contact with it at risk of death. We found out what you need to know to protect your pets.

It may seem like a harmless, ugly creature but the bufo toad - also known as a marine, giant or cane toad - had Danielle Flanders' dog clinging for life.

"She saw it before I did and got as hold of it. Instantly she started foaming at the mouth," said Flanders.

Flanders' dog is just one of many suffering from contact with a bufo toad.

"If your dog or cat, usually they're dogs bites the toad, licks the toad, even paws at the toad and licks his paw they can ingest this toxin," said Veterinarian Dr. Laura Braun.

Dr. Braun says the toads were originally brought to Southwest Florida to keep bugs under control. But the species is overproducing this rainy season. 

Veterinarians all over the area saying the toads are causing more extreme illnesses and deaths this year.

"Typically, the dog will start salivating; you'll see thick, ropey saliva from its mouth. And since it's painful, some will paw at their face and even cry," Dr. Braun explained.

At home, the first thing you can do is get your pet to water - a sink or hose will work to get the toxins out.

"Flushing their mouth from side to side is the best way to do this," said Dr. Braun.

Then, you should get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

"Internally they can suffer from cardiac arethmias. It can actually be strong enough to stop their heart in a matter of minutes. It's also very common for them to have seizures and their temp goes up dramatically as well," Dr. Braun said.

Without an antidote, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms. It's a scary situation for pet owners like Flanders.

"We had to do IVs and charcoal to absorb the rest of the toxins. She ended up surviving and did very well," said Flanders.

From now on, Flanders says she'll follow her vet's advice.

"Make sure you're with them at all times when they're outside and second when they're inside go out and patrol your yard," Braun said.

She says that's because the yard could be littered with these toads and the consequences of an encounter can be costly.

"That would have been my dog's life and they're my kids," Flanders said.

The toads' poison can also be fatal to humans if ingested, but these cases are less common than dog related illnesses.

Sunbather run over by Beach Patrol truck in Fla.

Vet: Toads' poison able to kill pets

 

Pet owners-beware. An invasive toad species is in Southwest Florida - putting anything that comes into contact with it at risk of death. We found out what you need to know to protect your pets.

It may seem like a harmless, ugly creature but the bufo toad - also known as a marine, giant or cane toad - had Danielle Flanders' dog clinging for life.

"She saw it before I did and got as hold of it. Instantly she started foaming at the mouth," said Flanders.

Flanders' dog is just one of many suffering from contact with a bufo toad.

"If your dog or cat, usually they're dogs bites the toad, licks the toad, even paws at the toad and licks his paw they can ingest this toxin," said Veterinarian Dr. Laura Braun.

Dr. Braun says the toads were originally brought to Southwest Florida to keep bugs under control. But the species is overproducing this rainy season. 

Veterinarians all over the area saying the toads are causing more extreme illnesses and deaths this year.

"Typically, the dog will start salivating; you'll see thick, ropey saliva from its mouth. And since it's painful, some will paw at their face and even cry," Dr. Braun explained.

At home, the first thing you can do is get your pet to water - a sink or hose will work to get the toxins out.

"Flushing their mouth from side to side is the best way to do this," said Dr. Braun.

Then, you should get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

"Internally they can suffer from cardiac arethmias. It can actually be strong enough to stop their heart in a matter of minutes. It's also very common for them to have seizures and their temp goes up dramatically as well," Dr. Braun said.

Without an antidote, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms. It's a scary situation for pet owners like Flanders.

"We had to do IVs and charcoal to absorb the rest of the toxins. She ended up surviving and did very well," said Flanders.

From now on, Flanders says she'll follow her vet's advice.

"Make sure you're with them at all times when they're outside and second when they're inside go out and patrol your yard," Braun said.

She says that's because the yard could be littered with these toads and the consequences of an encounter can be costly.

"That would have been my dog's life and they're my kids," Flanders said.

The toads' poison can also be fatal to humans if ingested, but these cases are less common than dog related illnesses.

2 masked teens mistaken for robbers

Fla., say McDonald's customers mistook two dressed-up teenagers for robbers.

City police said the boys' appearance -- dressed in black from head to toe, including black masks -- scared patrons at the fast-food restaurant into calling 911, Orlando's WFTV-TV reported Friday.

"We saw two masked men walking into the McDonald's; their faces were completely covered with black masks," one person told a 911 operator.

Police surrounded the restaurant while the boys were still ordering their food and at least eight officers waited with guns drawn for the boys to come out.

"They had all types of guns out; AK-47[s] and stuff, it was crazy," said a witness.

Police did not expect to see two teenagers coming out of the restaurant, with food in hand.

"They said they just wanted to have fun. These kids came out with masks on and we had guns drawn and it could have gone in a bad direction. Luckily things worked out," said Sgt. Kirk Zilke.

The two 17-year-olds could have been charged with misdemeanor wearing a mask in public, but the police decided not to, saying this was all just a big mix-up, and released the teens to their parents. 

 

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JULY 22, 2011

Man working to be a world record blood donor

A Fort Myers man is hoping to break a world record by giving the gift of life, while also raising awareness to the need for blood donations. We found out why hospitals are experiencing a shortage and how you might be able to save a life.

It only takes John Sheppard a few minutes to donate blood and it could add decades to someone else's life. That's why it's been his mission for the last 60 years.

"About 10 years ago I started getting these certificates and from Lee Memorial, but I never thought about any record or anything," he said. "When I walk out of here, every time I'm on a high because I just feel so good - you've done something worthwhile."

Sheppard is attempting to make the Guinness Book of World Records for the most donations ever. Thursday's donation marked a total of 315-pints or 39-gallons.

He's also hoping to inspire others to give the gift of life.

The trauma center at Lee Memorial serves five counties in Southwest Florida. Ideally, the refrigerators there would be full. But they're not and the hospital needs your help to fill them.

"Usage is up by 26-percent and donations are low. We've had multiple traumas come in that have used a lot of blood products," said Nancy Hedrick, with Lee Memorial.

Hospital officials say donations drop every summer because people aren't around to donate. They say all blood types are needed.

"If just a half percent more of people who are eligible to donate blood did so we wouldn't have a blood shortage," said Sheppard.

Sheppard knows the pint he gave Thursday will help to save three lives. And if you total all of Sheppard's donations, he's likely saved nearly 1,000 people.

FL agency sells drivers’ license information

As if waiting for hours in line to get a drivers' license isn't already aggravating enough, Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles makes about $62-million a year selling your drivers' license information to private companies.

Some of that information includes: your full name, address, date of birth, motor vehicle history and driving restrictions.

Drivers we talked to at a FORT Myers DMV were unaware the state sold their information.

"I want it to stay private," said Erwin Moskowitz.

"I really don't know what to think. I'm kind of shocked to hear that," said Christopher Dennis.

Companies can re-sell the data, but have to promise not to harass people.

TLO, a Florida based security firm, buys the information. It uses it to help track down criminals and find missing children.

But, there's a chance your information could fall into the wrong hands.

NBC2 has learned Florida sold information to a company called ChoicePoint - a company that does background checks for employers. In 2005, their system was breached.

The company claims that several scam artists broke into their database and stole personal information from thousands of consumers, CNN reported when it happened.

In addition to TLO and Choice Point, here is a list of the third party vendors the state sells its driver license and motor vehicle data to for resale

1. Acxiom Information Securities Service, Inc
2. Choice Point (took over Database Technologies)
3. E-Funds
4. Explore Information Services
5. LexisNexis
6. Line Barge, Goggan, Blair, & Simpson, INC.
7. SC Services
8. ShadowSoft
9. TLO LLC
10. West Services Inc

Earlier this year, the courts ruled that selling your information is legal.

"Whether it's legal or not, under present law, it's a bad idea for the state to be distributing massive amounts of data wholesale," says Doug Wilson, ACLU's Collier County Chapter President.

In an email, Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says "it takes its responsibility to protect motorists' information very seriously, and we have safeguards in place to ensure our compliance with both federal and state driver privacy protection laws."

"That's just one step closer to national registration, big brother and anyone can have all of your information at a click of a mouse," says Fort Myers resident Mandalin Paul.

The state does not sell your social security or your driver's license number.

The only way the state would stop doing it is if the courts reversed its decision or through the legislature

Lake real-estate leader accused of shipping meth in Meow Mix

Once considered a prominent member of Lake County's real-estate elite, Robert Lord Morris is now sitting in jail, accused of trafficking thousands of dollars worth of drugs hidden inside a cat food bag.

Morris, 48, of Eustiswas charged with drug trafficking and resisting arrest Wednesday after he claimed a FedExpackage filled with about 260 grams of crystal methamphetamine wrapped and hidden inside a bag of Meow Mix, deputies announced Thursday.

Morris, president-elect of the Realtor's Association of Lake and Sumter Counties, boasts of $60 million in "closed volume since 2006," his online biography said.

A 1988 graduate of Brigham Young University, he has supported local charities and was a member of several professional associations, including local chambers of commerce, the bio for the father of four says.

The real-estate agent was fired Thursday from his wife's company, Morris Realty & Investments, after authorities announced his arrest. The firm has offices in Leesburgand Summerfield, which is near The Villages megaretirement community.

That month, Robert Morriswas charged with cocaine possession.

In the most recent case, Morris is accused of claiming a drug-filled package Wednesday that was delivered to a Leesburg title company, Lt. John Herrell, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said.

The package came from Arizona and it was addressed to someone in Washington D.C. But the addressee wasn't expecting it.

The company became suspicious and turned the parcel over to Fruitland Park police. Officers received permission to open the box, where they found the drugs. The Sheriff's Office narcotics detectives then took over the case.

"This amount is most definitely a distributor amount," Herrell said, estimating a $30,000 street value.

At one point during the investigation, Morris called the title company to ask whether the package had been delivered.

Then undercover detectives arranged a meeting with Morris in the parking lot of a local restaurant.

Herrell said Morris resisted momentarily when deputies took him into custody. He is being held at the Lake County Detention Center on $500,500 bond

Hacker places risqué photos of women on their Facebook pages

At least 19 women were victimized by a computer hacker who broke into their email accounts, captured risqué photographs of the women and then swapped them for the women's Facebook profile pictures, authorities say.

The hacker, Joseph Bernard Campbell, 24, of Largo, has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of cyberstalking and unauthorized access to a computer, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Tampa. He is scheduled to enter his plea Aug. 5 before U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara.

The women "were devastated," said Lt. Bill Sohl of the Belleair Police Department. "All of a sudden they were getting phone calls from their friends, saying, 'Do you know what's on your Facebook page?' "

Campbell acknowledged hacking into somewhere between 350 and 500 email accounts, added Sohl, who said Campbell knew many of the victims from a local private high school. Campbell found and used nude and semi nude photographs from at least 19 women's' accounts, Sohl said.

Campbell's plea agreement says he posted the victims' private photos and videos on various websites "to harass the victims and cause them emotional distress."

Campbell's attorney, Anne Borghetti, said she could not discuss the case.

One method Campbell used, Sohl said, was to send emails to the women saying they had received a greeting card. The email instructed the recipients to type in their email addresses and passwords, but did not lead to any greeting cards.

Campbell would use the addresses and passwords to look into the accounts, where he found photographs, Sohl said. Some of the women had sent risqué photographs to their boyfriends, who were stationed overseas in the military, Sohl said.

Campbell would then break into the women's Facebook accounts and make the risqué pictures their profile pictures, visible to all, Sohl said. He would also post a link to a website called Pinellas County Sluts, which had photographs of all of the women on it. The site was taken down early in the investigation, Sohl said. The plea agreement says Campbell also posted to a site called "Dumpster Sluts" and a forum called "Revenge."

"He was very computer savvy," Sohl said. "He worked on a computer all the time." Sohl said Campbell worked for a temp agency.

Each of the two charges Campbell has agreed to plead guilty to carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, although Campbell would likely receive a lesser term under sentencing guidelines.

The plea agreement also calls for Campbell to forfeit his laptop and desktop computers.

Sohl said the case should serve as a warning about what can happen. "This sort of stuff needs to be out there," he said, "so people understand they have to watch what they send." 

 

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JULY 21, 2011

Pizza delivery man accused of faking robbery

A 24-year-old pizza delivery man was jailed after Collier County deputies say he reported a robbery that never occurred.

Kyle Lahanse of North Naples was charged with making a false statement to a law enforcement officer. 

His boss, John Maffei, says he's mad Lahanse took the easy way out.

"He said, 'I got robbed.' I said, 'No, stop playing. What's the matter?' He said, 'No, I got robbed,'" said Maffei.

Lahanse reportedly called the Collier County Sheriff's Office July 11, saying that he had just been robbed at knifepoint while delivering a pizza to the Summer Place Apartments in North Naples.

According to reports, he said a man approached him from behind and threatened to stab him if he turned around.

Lahanse claimed the man took his cell phone, driver's license and $80 to $100 - money that belonged to New York Pizza.

The man then punched him in the face several times before running away, Lahanse said.

Several deputies, K-9 units and a helcopter responded to the scene to search for the robber, according to an arrest report. 

Deputies say Lahanse was charged on Tuesday after the investigation revealed that the robbery did not occur.

Instead, they say he used the money to pay off a debt.

"He actually ran into an individual that he owed a significant amount of money to because of a drug debt," explained Detective Blake Rising, with the Collier County Sheriff's Office. "He said during the robbery he didn't realize everything that was going to happen with the K9 units and the helicopter coming out."

Ultimately, Maffei says he fired Lahanse last week after another round of bad deliveries.

"He owed $71. He didn't have it," Maffei said.

Lahanse faces charges for making false statements to law enforcement. The sheriff's office is tallying up how much the chase for the fake suspect cost.

Soma Intimates holds bra drive

Bras are one of the most needed, but least donated items. One local company is collecting them in local stores to help women around the world.

Soma Intimates is collecting bras for a cause.

"We found out that there are thousands among thousands of women out there who are in desperate need of a bra and we just knew we had to help," said Laurie Van Brunt, Soma Intimates Brand President.

This is the third bra drive they've had since last July. 

Customers have donated more than 70,000 bras, but they say it's more than a number to them.

"Our goal is to help women across the world who need help, who are in a difficult situation in this time in their life, and we want to help them get out of it," said Van Brunt.

The bra drive helps women in need, like those at the Abuse Counseling Treatment shelter in Fort Myers.

"I got a couple of them, and I praise God for it," said one woman at the ACT shelter.

She says she went to the shelter after being abused.

"Sometime it's hard when you come, get in a predicament to where you have to come to a place like this, and you don't have any money. You're out trying to find a job and stuff like that. You need those items," the woman said.

"Most of our clients come with basically what they're wearing," said Jennifer Benton, Abuse Counseling and Treatment CEO.

Benton says the bras also go to rape victims after law enforcement officers take their clothes as evidence.

She says the donations are a big help.

"That's something we don't always have in our budget -- to purchase bras," said Benton.

Customers can donate new or gently used bras at soma boutiques at the Bell Tower Shops, Coconut Point, Waterside Shops and Miromar Outlets or through an address posted on Soma.com.

The bra drive runs through August 14th.

Plane skids off runway, ends up in swamp near Naples Municipal Airport

Emergency responders were called to the Naples Municipal Airport on Wednesday night after a pilot lost control of his small plane, skidded off a runway and ended in a swampy area nearby.

The pilot was taking off in a 4-seat Grumman Tiger around 10 p.m. when he lost control, crashed through a perimeter fence and ended up in a swampy area on the western side of the airport, said Ryan Frost, director of airport operations.

The pilot’s name was not immediately available Wednesday night. However, Frost said the plane is based at the Naples airport.

There was no fire, and relatively minor damage to the aircraft, Frost said. The perimeter fence was about 400 feet off the runway, and the plane ended up about 200 to 250 feet beyond that.

“The guy got very lucky,” Frost said. “He didn’t get hurt and he didn’t flip his aircraft and kill himself.”

Naples police, Naples firefighters, and officials from the Naples Airport Authority responded to the cra

TSA scanners now show more modest images

The Transportation Security Administration is updating its imaging software at airports as part of an effort to increase passenger privacy.

The new software will eliminate passenger-specific images.

Screeners will see a generic outline of a person's body on a monitor attached to a scanner.

The software will also detect metallic and non-metallic concealed items.

TSA officials say the new imaging software will improve the passenger experience at checkpoint, while still providing a high level of security

Protect your cell phone from hackers

A media empire hacked cell phones to get news scoops in 2002. Experts say even then, it wasn't that hard. And they say it's even easier to do today. We found out how you can protect yourself.

When Ro Bartzer has her phone, she says she literally holds her life in her hands. Her pictures, appointments and schedules are all stored there.

But her phone, like many others, is venerable to the same kind of attacks the news of the world staff used to invade lives.

"I am bitter, bitter about the whole think because I think it should be kept private. This is my phone. Go play on your own phone," Bartzer said.

IT specialist Matt Fonggrasin says many people leave their cell phones open to attack.

"There is a lot of different ways," said Fonggrasin, of IT by the Sea.

With a program that can be downloaded online and a few strokes of the keyboard, he is able to skim information on anyone's phone. He doesn't even have to touch it.

"Anyone walking around with an unsecured phone they will connect to my network and I would get any info that they are getting at that time," he said. "I can teach my daughter to do it."

That's just one way it's done.

If someone got a hold of your phone, they could clone it or download spyware and everything you send or receive the hacker will see too.

Once you're hacked, the hackers can even listen into your calls and you'd never know.

"It's really scary because all of us depend on our phones, computers, iPads," Bartzer said.

Fonggrasin says the best protection is to go to your phone's security settings and set up a lock code to password protect your voice mail.

Also, he says, don't connect to unfamiliar WiFi networks. And if you think you've been hacked, call your service provider.

Man Charged with Illegally Selling Monkey

A South Florida man faces charges after authorities say he tried to illegally sell a marmoset monkey over the Internet.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Tuesday that agents arrested 26-year-old Jesus R. Hernandez at his Fort Lauderdale home. Authorities say he was trying to sell the small South American primate for $2,700.

Officials say Hernandez did not have a permit to possess the 1-year-old monkey and held it in a cage that did not meet requirements. He was charged with several misdemeanors related to the possession, sale and caging of wildlife.

The monkey was taken to a licensed wildlife facility.

Marmosets can be bought and sold legally in Florida, but buyers and sellers must both be registered with the state.

Florida man accused of being nude, armed in forest

Authorities say a Florida man faces federal misdemeanor charges after witnesses reported seeing him wandering around a national forest campground naked and armed with a pistol.

Joseph Alfieri is charged in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City with being publicly nude and causing annoyance.

Authorities say they were called Sunday to the Cobble Rest Campground in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest near Heber City. They say witnesses reported seeing Alfieri wandering around the woods wearing nothing but a gun holster while carrying a pistol and yelling at the river.

Rangers later arrested the man and seized two pistols and a knife.

Alfieri, of North Miami, pleaded not guilty to the charges this week. He was released from custody pending trial. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.

Mother robs bank with her 3-year-old for drug money

The Pasco County Sheriff says a pill popping mom made several big mistakes when she decided she needed cash for her habit. Deputies say 24-year-old Cherilyn Jannette Lopez held up a bank, with her son in tow, in the middle of the afternoon.

The robbery happened at the Regions Bank on State Road 52 in Port Richey around 2:15 Monday afternoon.

Sheriff's deputies say when Lopez first pulled up to the bank, she left her mini-van running with her 3-year-old son in his car seat. Before she ever had a chance to rob the place, deputies tell us her son got out of the van, came up to the bank door, and got the attention of the bank manager inside. That's when authorities say Lopez opened the door, brought her son inside, and robbed the bank.

"We're not talking about an 8, 9, 10-year-old. We're talking about a 3-year-old little boy," says Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco. "She goes on and commits the robbery with him by her side and you say, 'What kind of example are these people setting?' And I'll tell you it's no example. The example is she should be put in jail."

Nocco's deputies did throw the 24-year-old behind bars just minutes after the crime, but not before they say Lopez drove her son to a nearby daycare. Afterward, authorities believe she was headed to buy prescription pills with her loot. That's when a deputy spotted her mini-van just three miles down S.R. 52 from the bank, near Athena Blvd., and arrested her.

Pasco authorities were able to catch Lopez so quickly thanks to an eyewitness. A woman sitting at a bus stop outside the Regions Bank saw the suspected robber leave and passed along a description of her mini-van to deputies.

Sheriff Nocco is pleased with the quick arrest, but is still frustrated by this mother's decisions. "It goes back to prescription pills," Nocco told 10 News. "It goes back to these addicts. They don't care about anybody but themselves. It's clear in this case this woman didn't care about nobody. She didn't care about that 3-year-old she was supposed to be taking care of. She goes out there to commit a robbery just because of her own addiction."

The sheriff wouldn't comment on Lopez's criminal history, but says his department is familiar with her, likely because of her history with prescription pills.

Cherilyn Lopez faces felony charges of bank robbery and child neglect.

Child Protective Services is working to place the 3-year-old with other  

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JULY 20, 2011

FBI arrests alleged hacker on UCF campus

An FBI cyber sweep netted more than a dozen arrests across the country, including a Southwest Florida man. Agents arrested 21-year old Scott Arciszewski at his UCF dorm in Orlando.

Arciszewski is accused of hacking into InfraGard - a website that the FBI shares with other organizations.

According to an affidavit, an FBI agent detailed how Scott Arciszewski's Twitter account led to his arrest.

On June 21, Arciszewski is accused of hacking into InfraGard, a website that shares sensitive information between the FBI and other private and public agencies, such as universities and businesses.

According to the InfraGard website, it is:

"A partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States."

Once he hacked in and caused damage to a protected computer, Arciszewski started bragging about on his Twitter account; even posting, InfraGard Tampa has one hell of an exploit."

He even instructed people to go to his website, which details how to hack into software that is similar to InfraGard.

The FBI tracked down his IP address to find him and arrested him without incident at the University of Central Florida.

Arciszewski bonded out of an Orlando jail

The FBI also arrested 14 others they say are linked to the computer hacking group, "Anonymous."

While Arciszewski is not a part of that group, he was part of the nationwide sweep.

"Anonymous" is accused of hacking into Paypal's website.

All face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the InfraGard website, it is, "a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States."

Men's sexual enhancer dietary supplement recalled

Global Wellness, LLC of Hollywood, FL has announced a nationwide recall of its product called Via Xtreme Dietary Supplement for Men.  The product comes in a bottle containing six blue-colored capsules per package.

The product does not list its active drug ingredient, sulfoaildenafil methanesulfonate, sulfosildenafil and dimethylsildenafil analogs of sildenafil, making the product a drug unapproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and creating the potential for dangerous interactions for those customers who take nitrates. 

Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. 

Customers may contact Global Wellness, LLC at (954) 922-1133 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST for instructions on the return process.

 Baby rhino born at Lowry Park Zoo

Lowry Park Zoo's population has increased by one.

An endangered Indian rhinoceros was born July 13 in the rhino barn within the zoo's Asian Gardens exhibit area.

The Indian rhino birth is the second for the zoo in two years. There are fewer than 60 animals in the managed Indian rhino population.

The gestation period for Indian rhino pregnancies is approximately 16 months. When born, calves normally weigh in the range of 75-100 pounds and will nurse throughout their first two years. They are normally able to stand just hours after being born.

The mother and calf will spend time together off exhibit for the newborn's safety and privacy in bonding. The father will be separated from the calf for the time being.

The zoo is holding a naming contest on its Facebook page, with the winning name announced

Thieves steal all 10 tires off construction crane in Bonita Springs

A North Fort Myers construction company was left in a puzzling predicament on Monday-- their construction crane was missing all ten tires and wheels.

J&W Steel crew members reported to work at their Bonita Beach Road site, to find the crane suspending from the ground only by its outriggers.

Owner Jim Henderson suspects someone within the construction industry took off with the tires. Removing the wheels and tires requires special tools. Each tire measures about 40 inches in height, and weigh in at around 130 pounds a piece.

 "They're very heavy. In a regular pickup you might be lucky to fit four of them in there. So they didn't just stack them, they either had a trailer or a big truck or they made two trips," Henderson said. 

Lee County Sheriff's deputies were unable to establish any leads while processing the crime scene. They say heavy rainfall washed away any tread marks or prints.

In the meantime, Henderson is left footing the $11,000 bill to make his crane mobile again.

Henderson asked, "You're always waiting on this, waiting on that, waiting on money and then to get hit by this, it's like, what else can go wrong?"

If you have any information about this crime, you're asked to call SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

Gold prices soar: Experts offer tips on selling

Gold hit an all time high recently at $1,600 an ounce. And while you can make plenty of money from your old jewelry, experts say there are some things you need to know.

Jim Waryu's looking to cash in on gold. With prices sitting around a record high of $1,600 an ounce, selling old coins and jewelry is big business.

"I said, ‘Well maybe now's a good time to sell it,'" he said. "I'm hoping to walk out of here with a check because I trust these people to give me a good, fair shake."

Sellers we spoke to on Tuesday say it can be hard to tell whether something you have is of any value.

Experts say that's why it is even more important to know the facts before you strike a deal.

Whether you have just an old earring laying around or an entire pile of jewelry you don't wear anymore, local experts say there some things to do – and things to avoid doing - to get the most out of your sale.

"Make sure that you go somewhere that you're not pressured into a sale. Feel comfortable to shop around. There is no reason not to," said Mark Michael, of Naples Gold and Silver.

And as far as online buyers, local business owners aren't big fans.

"There are horror stories that we get all the time. Do business with someone who can look them in the face and their character," advised David Hill, of Gulf Coast Coin and Jewelry.

Plus, goldsmith Suzie Grim says, that jewelry you have might not be what you think.

"It's plated silver. They've changed the ends to make it 14-carat. To me, that's your big thing - to make sure the gold is real," Grim explained to a potential seller.

And if you're looking for what to bring in - of course, there are the obvious choices like coins and necklaces.

But the dealers we spoke to say some people will even bring items like gold teeth.

"Anything odd that you think might have some kind of metal in it," Jill said.

Gold is getting all the headlines, but other precious metals like silver and sterling have also spiked.

Experts we spoke to say there's just no telling if prices will stay this high. 

 

 

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JULY 19, 2011

Craigslist ad leads to theft suspect’s arrest

Police say a North Fort Myers man used Craigslist to try to sell a stereo that he had stolen from a car in Cape Coral last week.

Joshua Santiago, 21, was arrested Saturday on charges of Occupied Burglary of a Dwelling, Burglary of a Conveyance, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, and Use of 2-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony.

On Friday, a Cape Coral man, Gary Hall, awoke to find that the stereo in his BMW had been ripped out of the dashboard and stolen.

The man told police that he had parked the car in his garage overnight but left the garage door open of his SE 13th Street home.

Hours later, he noticed that a stereo of the same make had been posted for sale on Craigslist.

"I decided to go on Craigslist, because I look at things on Craigslist every day," he said.

A detective then posed as a potential buyer and arranged to meet the suspect on Saturday.

Santiago was taken into custody after he tried to sell the stereo to detectives, according to police.

He later admitted that he had broken into the victim's car and stolen the stereo, a police report said.

Hall is continuing to try and track down tools that were also stolen that night.

Man accused of shooting wife in hospital arrested

The man accused of shooting his estranged wife at a hospital in Collier County is now formally charged with the shooting.

Collier County deputies say they arrested Jeffrey Moretz Monday night once he was released from Lee Memorial Hospital.

He was taken to the Collier County Jail.

Deputies say he walked into Physicians Regional Medical Center on Pine Ridge nearly two weeks ago, shot his wife and then shot himself.

Click the link in the "Related Stories" section at the right to read the original article.

Teen hosts a party with bodies of his murdered parents still in house

Tyler Hadley is charged with two counts of first degree murder for the deaths of his own parents.

Investigators say they found the bodies of Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley Sunday, around 4:20 a.m. after a "welfare check" following a tip that a crime had been committed.

Neighbors say the 17-year-old hosted a party with dozens of other teenagers Saturday evening into the early hours of Sunday.

Police say party guests probably didn't know the bodies were in the house.

A 22-inch hammer was found between the bodies. It is believed to be the murder weapon.

It could be speculated that perhaps the father was the first one that was murdered and the mother shortly after that.

Police describe the teen as "nervous" and that he lied to them during questioning.

Tyler Hadley is in custody and being held without bond.

83-year-old arrested for punching wife's elbow

An 83-year-old man who punched his wife’s elbow was arrested.

The incident began when Amil A. Fressell and his wife began arguing over a sink liner while she was washing the dishes in the kitchen, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

When the wife walked away, Fressell followed her into the bedroom where he punched her in the upper right arm, the report stated.

When questioned, Fressell said he had pushed, not punched his wife’s arm and had “done so because he was ‘angry’… ‘no doubt about it.’ ”

He was charged with battery on a person aged 65 or older.

The couple have been married for 59 years.

Trail Of Feathers Led To Stolen Swan, Arrest

Orlando police said a trail of feathers led them to the home of a man who is accused of stealing a swan.

Investigators told WFTV they rescued the swan that was stolen from Orlando’s Lake Eola Park around 1:00 a.m. on Monday.

 

hey're a symbol of a beauty…and a staple in this downtown Orlando park,” said David Allmond, of the Orlando Police Department.

Officers said someone saw the bird being snatched from the park and called 911. Police said they followed the trail of feathers to the back yard of a home on Ridgewood Street, where they found the swan, and arrested 24-year-old Geffre Smart.

Smart was charged with grand theft and cruelty to animals, according to police.  

 

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JULY 18, 2011

Former priest accused of embezzling church funds

Parishioners of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Bonita Springs are learning new details of the church's final financial reports.

It shows that $1 million went unaccounted for, and many believe the man at the center of the scandal is the church's former leader, Father Stan Strycharz.

In a letter, the Bishop of the Diocese of Venice wrote to the congregation. They say Father Strycharz was allegedly caught stealing a lot of money by an independent accounting firm.

These allegations are some of many that had him put on administrative leave.

Those expenses include approximately $665,000 of parish funds used to pay Father Strycharz' personal credit card statements, nearly $172,000 paid for tuition, and other educational expenses for the children of the former business manager.

The letter goes on to allege nepotism, saying the father of the former business manager received $45,000 as an advisor.

And the parish also paid almost $150,000 to a painting service which was owner by Father Strycharz' brother.

"Be accountable to the way a priest manages the finances of a parish and within that it was clear father Stan didn't cooperate with financial auditors," said Billy Atwell from the Diocese of Venice.

The letter from the Dioceses says the report was completed in May 2011, but Strycharz refused to cooperate and offered no explanation for the expenses.

"There are a lot of questions left because he refused to cooperate," Atwell says.

Father Strycharz has been on leave from the church since July 23, 2010. He isn't allowed to perform Mass, but he's still receiving full pay and benefits.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus in Lee, Collier

Thousands of the type of mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile virus are showing up across Southwest Florida. We found out where high concentrations of the insects have mosquito experts on the offensive.

Officials with Mosquito Control in both Lee and Collier counties are calling this the worst mosquito season in years.

And they've discovered a return of a certain species of freshwater mosquitoes which can carry the West Nile virus.

Last year, Collier had its first two cases of West Nile - one was fatal.

"I don't want to preach fear, but it's so important for people to fight the bite," said Adrian Salinas, with Collier County Mosquito Control.

The carrier mosquitoes have been found across Collier County - but are especially concentrated in Golden Gate Estates and Immokalee.

A small batch was also found in Lehigh Acres.

Salinas says the best way to avoid contracting West Nile, is to practice the 5 Ds.

- DRESSin long pants, socks and shoes
- DRAINall tarps, buckets and anything that can hold water
- DAWNand DUSKare times to avoid because mosquitoes are most active
- DEET– Experts recommend a spray with 12% DEET for kids and 25% for adults

"And don't spend the extra money. It doesn't work better if it's 25-percent or more," Salines said.

These freshwater mosquitoes can also be fatal to horses.

It's important to vaccinate your horses for EEE – or Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Last year, four horses in Collier County had to be euthanized after contracting it.

Tampa's blind movie critic to go on Jimmy Kimmel

He's believed to be the nation's only blind movie critic, and this week, Tampa's Jay Forry will be introduced to a national audience.

Forry is scheduled to appear on the Jimmy Kimmel show Tuesday night to talk about his job.

The film critic lost his eyesight to diabetes when he was 28. The former construction foreman returned to community college and wrote his first movie reviews for the school paper as a joke. He enjoyed it so much he decided to make it a career. His reviews air on radio stations around the country.

A narrator, usually his wife, accompanies Forry to screenings to describe the action on screen.

But Forry says he does a lot of research beforehand, quipping: "I'm prepared because I don't want to go in blind."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2Takes number one in this weekends box office 

 

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JULY 15, 2011

Flying Cars ruled street legal

The federal government says a flying car called the Transition is street legal. The company that makes the vehicle, Terrafugia, expects the Transition to hit the road or air late next year.

Priced at roughly $250,000, Terrafugia says they have already pre-sold 100 of the vehicles.

Richard Gersh, the V.P of Business Development for Terrafugia says Florida is one of their top states for pre-orders.

Gersh would not reveal how many people in Florida have pre-ordered one of the flying cars, only that the company requires a $10,000 security deposit.

The Transition was cleared by the FAA last year.

Terrafugia has been developing the flying car

Sheriff could nix inmate underwear due to budget

In an attempt to save money, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is proposing to do away with free underwear for inmates.

Judd, who briefed the county commission on his budget Thursday, says the jail currently provides underwear to all inmates to wear under their uniform.

Under Judd's proposal, only female inmates will be issued underwear - just not as many sets as before.

Judd's budget proposal could also include more staff cuts.

The department has cut 122 positions over the past four years.

Woman paying taxes to city she doesn't live in

A Port Charlotte woman is paying taxes in a city she doesn't live in! The county began working on correcting the issue months ago, but still has no resolution.

Joan Fischer says she doesn't mind paying taxes on a phone, internet or cable bill. She just doesn't want to pay them to a city she doesn't live in.

"As a Port Charlotte resident, as a Charlotte County resident, why is my tax dollars going to the city?" she asked.

That city is Punta Gorda and the tax Fischer is paying is a communication tax we told you about late last year when she went to county officials searching for answers.

"I questioned all the agencies over at Charlotte County - the legal department - everywhere. No one had any answers for me. I went to Punta Gorda, like wise. And no one had an answer for me," Fischer said.

County officials said Thursday that they've been working on fixing the communication tax mix up.

"We thought we had a handle on it," said Charlotte County Commissioner Bob Star.

But that handle wasn't strong enough because Fischer says her bill was never corrected.

"I still get bills with the same thing on it as other people must," she said.

And the number of Charlotte County residents paying communication taxes to the wrong city could be several hundreds.

"As far as how wide spread it is, we really don't know until we delve into it a little bit more," Star said.

That's why county officials are asking residents to take a second look at their communication tax the next time the get a phone, cable or internet bill.

"It would be an aide to us if you live in the county and you notice on your communication bill that there is some reference to revenues going to the city or vice versa, we would like to know that," said Charlotte County Administrator Ray Sandrock.

Pincher's files suit against Wendy's

There is a $2-million lawsuit over four words. Pincher's Crab Shack filed a suit against fast food chain Wendy's over the slogan, "You can't fake fresh."

It's the slogan Pincher's Crab Shack says it has been using since 2004. The local seafood restaurant believes the slogan has become a symbol of its quality goods, services and goodwill.

And they are willing to fight for it.

The 55-page complaint says Wendy's violated Pincher's intellectual property rights when it started using the slogan, "You can't fake fresh" and "You can't fake real" in recent ads.

The lawsuit claims Pincher's had the slogan first:

In the lawsuit, Pincher's Crab Shack asks the court to force Wendy's to stop using its slogan. It also seeks money damages.

Pincher's Attorney Jennifer Whitelaw says the fast food chain should have known better.

"To be, if you will, so brazen - is to venture into what many would have considered to be an unacceptable risk, and potentially colossal liability," she said.

Edison State College administrators on paid leave after course swapping scandal

Two administrators at Edison State College are on paid leave as of Thursday after a course swapping scandal.

Students at the college were allowed to graduate despite never taking some of the required courses.

According to a report from the school, students were substituting required courses for others that had nothing to do with their field

For instance, this page shows one student was supposed to take 10 business classes, but didn't take a single one and still graduated with a degree.

The violations were "blatant" according to steve atkins, Edison's vice president for academic affairs. 

A report released by the school shows less than three percent of students graduated with degrees despite taking classes that had nothing to do with their major.

For example, one student, whose name and major has been withheld, was required to take Salesmanship and Introduction to Hospitality Management to get a degree.

Instead, the student swapped to take intro to Physica Education and Intermediate Algebra.

Another took Theater instead of Accounting and Criminology instead of Business Law.

Atkins says the school will start contacting students who swapped out of required courses but their degrees will not be taken away.

If any student feels like they missed important course work, we will offer them opportunities to complete the course work.

The school has hired an independent consultant to investigate the matter further, atkins expects them to be done in the next three weeks.

WINK News expects to learn the future of those two administrators at that time.

  

 

 

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JULY 14, 2011

Phishing scam targeting Facebook users

A new phishing scam is circulating among Facebook friends. A local veteran shares how hackers drained his bank account when he thought he was simply verifying his online identity.

Wayne Ronan says he got a message through Facebook that wasn't so friendly.

It appeared to come from the "Facebook Security Team" and said Ronan's account was compromised.

It told him to provide information or his profile would be deleted within 12 hours. So he typed in his name, address, and telephone number - and his credit card information.

"Being that 90 percent of the people in the United States have those first 6 digits, I didn't think it would be a problem," Ronan said.

But it was. Within an hour, his bank account drained.

"All the sudden it popped up down here that I had a Texas Hold'em account," he explained.

But, he says, he doesn't actually have a poker account.

"That's when I became suspicious. I immediately pulled up my bank account, found out I had a zero balance and jumped in my van and ran down to the bank."

That's how the disabled veteran on a fixed income found out he'd lost $275.

"I have a couple million dollars worth of poker chips - virtual poker chips!" he said.

But those won't pay the bills.

"After a lot of lost sleep and a lot of frustration, I'm kind of numb to it right now," he said.

Ronan and his wife say the messages are rampant among their friends. They said their 11-year-old daughter got it too.

If you get a similar message, the best advice is to not click it because it's probably not coming from Facebook.

Stacey Payne, with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, says internet users need to be cautious and skeptical online.

"The simple and easy advice is don't believe anything you're seeing," she said.

It's a lesson Ronan had to learn the hard way.

"I've learned not to answer any questions that Facebook will ask me because they're not going to," he said.

Below you can read a response from a Facebook spokesman:

Man gets life for terrorizing ex-wife

A Tampa Bay area man has been sentenced to life in prison for terrorizing his ex-wife.

A Pasco County judge sentenced 46-year-old Roy David Kinard on Wednesday after being convicted last month of a variety of charges related to the May 2009 incident in New Port Richey, north of Tampa.

Authorities said Kinard abused his wife for years, even after their divorce. They say he forced his way into her home, pistol-whipped her, held a knife on her and threatened another woman and a toddler in the home.

He was convicted of armed burglary, kidnapping, aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a firearm. Because those felonies were committed within three years after Kinard left prison on other charges, he got a mandatory life sentence.

Phishing scam targeting Facebook users

A new phishing scam is circulating among Facebook friends. A local veteran shares how hackers drained his bank account when he thought he was simply verifying his online identity.

Wayne Ronan says he got a message through Facebook that wasn't so friendly.

It appeared to come from the "Facebook Security Team" and said Ronan's account was compromised.

It told him to provide information or his profile would be deleted within 12 hours. So he typed in his name, address, and telephone number - and his credit card information.

"Being that 90 percent of the people in the United States have those first 6 digits, I didn't think it would be a problem," Ronan said.

But it was. Within an hour, his bank account drained.

"All the sudden it popped up down here that I had a Texas Hold'em account," he explained.

But, he says, he doesn't actually have a poker account.

"That's when I became suspicious. I immediately pulled up my bank account, found out I had a zero balance and jumped in my van and ran down to the bank."

That's how the disabled veteran on a fixed income found out he'd lost $275.

"I have a couple million dollars worth of poker chips - virtual poker chips!" he said.

But those won't pay the bills.

"After a lot of lost sleep and a lot of frustration, I'm kind of numb to it right now," he said.

Ronan and his wife say the messages are rampant among their friends. They said their 11-year-old daughter got it too.

If you get a similar message, the best advice is to not click it because it's probably not coming from Facebook.

Stacey Payne, with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, says internet users need to be cautious and skeptical online.

"The simple and easy advice is don't believe anything you're seeing," she said.

It's a lesson Ronan had to learn the hard way.

"I've learned not to answer any questions that Facebook will ask me because they're not going to," he said.

Below you can read a response from a Facebook spokesman:

"We've built numerous defenses to combat spam, phishing, and malware, including complex automated systems that work behind the scenes to detect and flag Facebook accounts that are likely to be compromised (based on anomalous activity like lots of messages sent in a short period of time, or messages with links that are known to be bad).  Once we detect a phony message, we delete all instances of that message across the site.  We also block malicious links from being shared and work with third parties to get phishing and malware sites added to browser blacklists or taken down completely.  Users who've been affected are put through a remediation process so they can reset their password and take other necessary steps to secure their accounts. 

We work hard to educate users on how to be safe through our blog and the Facebook and Facebook Security Pages.  We regularly update the Facebook Security Page and its over 4.5 million fans with tips and information about new threats.  We also work with outside experts on education initiatives. 

You can protect yourself by always following a few key rules of thumb when you're online:

- Use an up-to-date browser that features an anti-phishing black list.

- Use unique logins and passwords for each of the websites you use.

- Check to see that you're logging in from a legitimate Facebook page with the facebook.com domain.

- Be cautious of any message, post or link you find on Facebook that looks suspicious or requires an

Chinese drywall settlement for the thousands!!! IN FLORIDA

Nicole Rodriguez hasn’t gotten a dime to replace her tainted Chinese drywall.

Yet, the East Naples resident is considering opting out of a proposed $54.5 million settlement agreement with Banner Supply Co., the Miami-based company that supplied the corrosive wall board discovered in her home and thousands of others across Florida.

While the proposed multimillion-dollar settlement might sound generous, some attorneys are questioning whether it’s enough money to truly help homeowners.

At the same time, the settlement is opposed by builders and installers who are facing claims because they used Chinese drywall supplied by Banner. They say they were unfairly excluded from negotiations as defendants in the class-action case.

The settlement would include attorney fees, which could eat up as much as 32 percent of the total, and it would cover other “administrative costs.” Some estimate the settlement might get homeowners only $4,000 to $6,000.

“It doesn’t seem to be a very fair settlement if it’s not going to fix our home,” said a frustrated Rodriguez, 27.

Her Coral Gables attorney, David Durkee, who represents 300 Chinese drywall victims across the state, is telling his clients they may want to opt out of the settlement as proposed because it lacks transparency and appears to be unfair to homeowners.

Homeowners have until August to decide whether to be part of the settlement.

There is a hearing on the settlement agreement before a federal judge, Eldon Fallon, Thursday in New Orleans. The proposed settlement was announced last month.

 

JULY 13, 2011

Man impersonates officer, steals woman's pills

Charlotte County detectives are looking for a man who reportedly impersonated an officer to steal a woman's prescription pills at a Port Charlotte gas station Monday.

Investigators say the woman purchased Roxicodone pills at a pharmacy on Olean Boulevard, then she and her boyfriend drove to the Shell gas station at 4395 Tamiami Trail to get something to drink.

As the boyfriend walked inside the store, an unknown white male drove up in a 200-2006 white Chevrolet Impala, got out, approached the woman, flashed a badge with a gold star, and then identified himself as a Charlotte County Sheriff's officer, according to an incident report.

The man reportedly told her that he saw her coming out of the pharmacy and wanted to verify her prescription. Detectives say he then took the pills, got back into his car and drove off.

He is described as a white male in his later 40s with dark brown or black hair and a black mustache. He's about 6-foot-tall with a slim build, and was wearing a green shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office at (941) 639-2101, or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477).

New take on old scam targets aspiring models

A Naples teen thought she was on the verge of a big break in the modeling business, but instead she was the target of a new version of an old scam.

When Danielle Steinmann's daughter got an email saying she'd been chosen for a 2-day photo shoot with Teen Vogue magazine, she was excited for the 17 year old.

"At first I was like go for it!" said Steinmann.

Then she read the e-mails her daughter received after posting a profile on a modeling website.

"They just wanted her specific size, hair color and whatnot," said Steinmann.

But they also wanted a lot of personal information including her phone number, street address, and date of birth.

"That's when this whole thing with payment started," said Steinmann.

The email stated the girl would receive a check she should cash. They asked her to keep $500 and wire the remaining amount to a supervisor in Ohio.

When the check arrived, it was for $2900 from an insurance company in Utah.

"Doesn't make any sense to me if she's going to be modeling for Vogue and this is from Utah," said Steinmann.

"That's a red flag. There's a number of red flags in this email also," said Sergeant David White of the Collier County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit.

White says some of the red flags include odd misspellings and capitalization errors in the email.

"If you look through it, you can see it's not written by anybody professional," said White.

White says it's a new version of the counterfeit check scheme intended to profit by having someone deposit a fake check, then sending real cash to a third party.

"We haven't seen that a lot, but a young lady wanting to try to get into the modeling business might be excited and run out to the bank to try to cash the check," said White.

"They looked at my profile and maybe thought I was an easy target," said the victim.

The 17 year old didn't want to speak on camera, but says she has some advice for other aspiring models.

"If you're younger, just make sure your parents are involved," she said.

When we attempted to contact the website, Model Mayhem, all we got was a recording saying the person cannot accept calls at this time.

Teen Vogue magazine representatives issued the following statement.

Teen Vogue does not ever solicit for editorial models online. We work only with reputable modeling agencies, and we never contact girls directly. We will be posting a notice on Teen Vogue¹s website and Facebook page to help clarify this.

Boil water notice issued in Charlotte County

A boil water notice is in effect after a 10-inch water main broke near Burnt Store Road in Charlotte County Monday morning.

The advisory impacts Charlotte County Utilities customers in the entire Burnt Store Service Area, including Tern Bay, Pirate Harbor, Burnt Store Colony, Burnt Store Lakes, Burnt Store Village and Burnt Store Marina.

The notice does not affect customers served by Punta Gorda Utilities.

Customers should boil their water until further notice.

Crews are working to repair the break.

Two chickens, six wings, two racks of ribs, cheeseburger apparently isn't recipe for passing DUI test

A 42-year-old man told police he ate two chickens, six wings, two racks of ribs and a cheeseburger, saying he'd pass a test to determine his blood alcohol content because he'd downed "'a ton of food.'"

He apparently was wrong, according to a recently released Fort Pierce Police report.

The case that put David James Herzog behind bars on a DUI charge began on the Fourth of July after a woman told an officer a "fat (buttocks) cracka" was on North 21st Street and Avenue G trying to buy "'dope."

She expressed concern for the man's "safety because he appeared very intoxicated and was beginning to upset the citizens by asking to buy drugs." The man was in an older model Chevrolet pick up truck, she said.

Police found a man later identified as Herzog behind the wheel of an older model Chevy pick up in the area of North 21st Street and Avenue G.

"I'm trying to get a (sexual favor)," Herzog is quoted as telling police.

He was asked to get out of the vehicle, and he stepped out.

"His blue jean shorts immediately fell to the floor, exposing his white underwear," the report states. "The driver apologized, chuckled, and said, 'Told you, I was tryin' to get a (sexual favor)!'"

The man, who police reported smelled of alcohol, provided his license, which identified him as Herzog. Herzog said he imbibed 10 to 12 Budweisers in six hours.

He said he was "'way too (impaired) up to drive'" but "'really wanted to have sex.'"

The officer asked Herzog where he'd been earlier in the evening, and he said a bar on U.S. 1.

"He advised that he picked up a prostitute at the bar, received a sexual favor in the parking lot and then agreed to drive her to a crack house that she was familiar with (near North 21st Street and Avenue G)," the report states. "Herzog stated that she promised him another sexual act in return for driving her to buy crack cocaine."

Herzog said the woman got out of his truck and didn't come back.

Herzog performed field sobriety exercises, and at one point said, "'I'm too drunk for this officer.'"

He agreed to a breath test to determine his blood alcohol content.

Herzog said he downed two chickens, six wings, two racks of ribs and a cheeseburger and would pass the test because he ate "'a ton of food.'"

The test measured his blood alcohol content as 0.211 and 0.213 -- more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Herzog, of the 900 block of Northwest Fresco Way in Jensen Beach, was arrested on a DUI charge. 

AUGUST 11, 2011

Deputies: Man found with 9 cloned credit cards

Lee County deputies arrested a man they say had cloned credit cards on the first day of his probation.

Wednesday, just before 2:30 p.m., a detective with the Lee County Sheriff's Office Highway Interdiction Unit stopped a 2002 Ford Explorer on I-75 at mile marker 143 in North Fort Myers. 

The SUV had excessively dark windows and was seen traveling under the posted speed limit for over two miles. 

Inside the SUV were two adults and two children. 

During the traffic stop, detectives had conversations with the adult male driver and the adult female passenger and found out the two had conflicting travel plans.

The driver, Ricardo Ignacio Pulido Armada, of Miami, had been placed on probation earlier in the day Wednesday and was coming from a probation appointment in Pinellas County for a credit card cloning case. 

A consent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of nine counterfeit/cloned credit cards that were hidden inside Armada's shoes. 

These false credit cards contained the information of victims of credit card fraud and identity theft in the magnetic strips.

Armada was arrested and has been charged with several felonies for the credit cards and also for violating his brand new probation. 

The case will be turned over to the Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit for further investigation.

Pulido Armada was booked into the Lee County Jail. 

Parents call childrens book 'pornographic'

Parents are speaking out against a controversial book on the shelves of Lee County's libraries. The book "It's Perfectly Normal" is meant to give children real answers about sex and their changing bodies. But the illustrations in the book are turning heads.

The book is so controversial that it's ranked number 12 on the American Library Association's Most Challenged Books in the country.

And in 2007, it made national headlines when a woman in Maine checked out every copy of the book in her hometown and refused to return them, calling it "pornographic."

But it's now at every Lee County library branch on the bottom shelf of the children's section.

Jennifer McGuire's four-year-old daughter loves visiting the Cape Coral library. She'll roam every aisle, plucking out book after book.

"She's definitely hungry to learn so she's quick to pick up things that draw attention, like colorful books," she said.

Luckily, McGuire says, her daughter hasn't picked out "It's Perfectly Normal."

"It's not appropriate for young kids," she said.

"It's Perfectly Normal" is causing local controversy after a six-year-old picked the book up in the 12 and under children's section.

Her mom requested the book be moved.

But after a careful review, a library committee said it is appropriate for kids.

"It's written clearly for children within the age range of the children's services department. It's very highly regarded by teachers and librarians," said Sheldon Kaye, Director of the Lee County Library System.

The book is about as honest as it gets - featuring drawings of couples engaged in sexual intercourse. It also contains explanations as to why sex feels good, illustrations of masturbation.

"Those illustrations belong in the adult section," said parent Steven McGuire.

But at least one mom wishes she'd had the book when her kids were young.

"Kids are going to ask questions. You got to give them answers," said Deborah Hawkins.

Kaye says it's too difficult for them to distinguish what's appropriate for youth or teens. She says that's the parents' job.

And when the new edition of the book comes out next year, the libraries plan to shelve it too.

"It's knowledgeable and it's open minded," Kaye said.

We have a question set up on the NBC2 Facebook page about the book. Let us know what you think. Some of your

City manager: Show me the money

Cape Coral's City Manager Gary King just received $17,500 in incentive pay for meeting this year's goals. Now he's preparing his list of goals for next year – and they would be worth $27,500.

Some of the objectives Gary King set for himself include:
Save money at Sun Splash and the city's golf course.
Maintain the city's fleet of cars
Make getting a permit to build easier.

"The objectives are focused on areas that need improvement," said Cape Coral City Councilman Bill Deile.

But the objectives are tied to money.

If King meets them, his pay grows at the end of the year.

For example, if the city manager balances the budget he gets $3,000.

If he develops the veteran's investment zone and brings jobs to the city he gets $3000

There are eleven goals in all worth a total of $27,500.

"That's a concept that I think government should look at because it drives out inefficiency and it rewards people that perform well," said Deile.

Not everyone agrees with the idea of a bonus for Gary King.

"You're legally bound to have a balanced budget and you're wanting $3000 more to do your job?" said council member Marty McClain.

The city manager is no stranger to the controversy. Just 3 weeks ago, city council voted to give King $17,500 for last year's goals.

At the same time, he asked workers, like the city's police officers, to take a 3 percent pay cut.

McClain says it's a bad way to lead.

"You lead by example, by golly you better be the example," said McClain.

King addressed the issue on his blog. He said, "If I were to give back the performance incentive, I would be paid nearly 20 percent less than the previous city manager and I would be giving back income that I have already earned."

Despite the controversy surrounding it, the city council has to decide.

First they'll look at whether they want to give King any opportunity at a bonus at all. And if so they'll have to agree on the 11 goals.

Police: Playboy Playmate Had Loaded Gun At Airport

Shanna Marie McLaughlin, a former Playboy Playmate and University of Central Florida graduate student, was arrested Monday evening at the Orlando International Airport when she tried to pass through a security checkpoint.

According to an arrest affidavit, McLaughlin placed her duffel bag into the X-ray machine and a Transportation Security Administration worker "saw what appeared to be a handgun on the screen." The affidavit said the worker discovered a Ruger SAA .45 long colt, loaded with hollow point bullets.

According to the report, McLaughlin "spontaneously stated the gun was her boyfriend's, and she did not know it was in there." She also told the worker that she has a concealed weapons permit, which he verified, the report stated.

Police arrested McLaughlin and charged her with a misdemeanor -- carrying a firearm in a place prohibited by law. Her mugshot was taken at the Orange County Jail on Monday night. She later posted bond of $250.

Local 6 News asked the TSA how many incidents like this have occurred at OIA.

"Our officers intercept several guns every day at checkpoints across the United States. In Orlando, last year we intercepted 28 guns that passengers brought to the checkpoint and year-to-date we have kept 19 guns from being carried in the cabin of planes leaving from Orlando," said Sari Koshetz, TSA spokeswoman. "Passengers need to remember that the last time they might have used a suitcase was for a road trip, and that they need to carefully inspect the contents of all luggage before coming to the airport. Our mission is to keep you safe and we do that every