This is the last of the separate Lee County School District Department Budgets, $23,693,332 is spent bussing children to Lee County schools. It involves 831 employees. 561 bus drivers, 163 Education Paraprofessionals, 43 mechanics, 13 clerks, 10 Supervisors, 9 data entry, 6 Route Specialists, 6 Assistant Supervisors, 5 Foremen, 4 accountants, 4 Custodians, 1 Coordinator, 1 Equipment Operator, 1 Secretary, 1 Specialist, 1 Driver trainer, 1 Program Administrator and 1 Director.
This to manage 489 bus routes traveling across Lee County. On average, this comes to $392 per student or $2.18 per student per day. Remember, not all children ride the bus.
Educational Paraprofessionals are individuals hired to ride a school bus to help the driver control the children on the bus. For bus drivers and riders cost tax payers $11,721,449 per year in salary, not including insurance, social security or benefits. Group insurance cost taxpayers $2,437,550 for the Transportation Department or $2,933 per employee per year.
The Lee County School District, like most around the country, was under a federal desegregation order for most of the past 40 years. Lee County is no longer under the auspices of a Federal judge, part of the settlement agreement was School Choice. School Choice divides the county into three districts, students may pick from any school in their district to attend, no matter how far away, or how many other children from their neighborhood choose to attend that school.
School bussing has become more like a taxi service than a bus service. If one child from a area selects to go to a school at the opposite end of the district, a bus will run for them. If one sits in front of a school and watches the buses come and go, few are full or even close to capacity.
Another burden on the taxpayer for bussing is Courtesy Bussing. Lee County School District is only required to provide transportation for students living two miles or farther from their school. Our elected school board officials have not been keeping that standard. The District receives no matching federal funds for those on Courtesy Bus routes, currently, 2,700 students are Courtesy Bussed.
Parents have been known to get up in arms when the District speaks of stopping Courtesy Bussing. In other counties, entrepreneurs have provided the bussing service inside the two mile limit, with parents who do not want to drive their children or have their children walk hiring the bus service.
The cost of transporting students has skyrocketed with the growth of the county and with School Choice. Bus routing is almost a science upon itself, using the same busses for transporting students at different schools with different starting times. Add to that, students of the same age, living in the same neighborhood, going to different schools.
As we have seen in other areas of the school district budget, cost does not seem to be a detractor of how services are provided. Lack of strong leadership has opened a cornucopia of tax dollars spent trying to please everyone. Just following federal guidelines would eliminate almost 50 of the 489 current routes.
The Federation of Mobile Home Owners District 7 met on February 8 at Blue Heron's Pine in Charlotte County. Don Gary, the Section Leader, said District 7 had the largest membership of the state. He is only taking the position for a year, and membership is his number one concern.
Gary went on to say there was no consistency between the districts and very little communication. He is suggesting that each district spend fifteen minutes of its monthly meeting discussing state-wide problems. It was mentioned that problems which may be affecting one area today, will be affecting others tomorrow.
Gary stressed the importance of membership, especially during legislative sessions. The more people the FMO represents, the more the legislators have to listen to them. The park owners have their lobbyist in Tallahassee also, touting campaign contributions as opposed to votes in November.
The guest speaker was Kenny Watson from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department. His topic was Safety Precautions, he started with the Scams and Cons which are prevalent in Florida.
"Not one Sheriff in Florida will call your home and ask for money from you," Watson started, "calls saying they represent your local Sheriff, police department or fire district are from social organizations, not your local safety department!"
"Do not feel pressured into giving, no state trooper is not going to give you a ticket because of a sticker on your windshield or tag on your car." Watson said. "Florida's sheriffs do sponsor Youth Ranches, however, they solicit through the mail, not using the telephone."
"Less than 33% of the money one gives to telephone solicitors goes to the fraternal organization which they say they represent, the rest goes to the company making the calls. And, if you give, your name and phone number will be sold as a "giver" to other phone soliciting companies," according to Watson.
Watson went on to warn about water softener companies which try to rent owners water purification systems by using faulty or not truthful water testing equipment. "If you have been drinking your water and not tasting anything foul or see it changing colors, odds are you do not need an expensive water system," said Deputy Watson.
The meeting moved on to legislative issues. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reorganized last year and did away with the Bureau of Mobile Homes. House Bill HB1179 and a companion bill in the senate, will reestablish the Bureau of Mobile Homes inside the DBPR. All FMO members were encouraged to contact their state legislators and ask them to vote for this bill.
If a park owner tells renters they must move, the owner has to help pay the cost of relocating your manufactured home. It is happening more in other parts of the state, the park owner can make more money by selling the park as developable land as to remain a park. These owners now must pay to relocate the homes in that park.
Two parks from each district can qualify for retrofitting of tie-downs used on the manufactured homes. To qualify homes must be built before 1974 and 60% of the residents of the park must participate in the program. The new tie downs meet the new codes written since Hurricane Andrew hit Dade County. The new straps are stronger and also have arterial straps to cross-buckle side to side. Contact the FMO if your park wants to participate, the state has $3.5 million to spend this year.
Attorney Louis St. Laurent spoke next. St. Laurent comes to each meeting to answer legal questions pertaining manufactured home parks owner/renter relations. Most of the questions asked St. Laurent refer back to the park's prospectus, the prospectus spells out the rights of the renter and what the owner is responsible for.
St. Laurent was asked if renters have the right to view the owner's books? According to St. Laurent, the renters may only view the parts of the owner's financial statements (books) if the owner is using the increased cost as a reason to raise their rent, otherwise, renters have no rights to see the owner's books.
Rents can be raised one of three methods, Cost of Living, profitability gone, or to bring the rent up to market value. Other items may be passed though for the renter to pay, such as taxes, or a one time charge for an improvement. (This may vary park to park according to the prospectus.) Parks may only use one of the three methods for increasing rent, not all three.
A new issue that did surface, a site plan of the park is a part of the prospectus which must be on file with the DBPR in Tallahassee. The site plan stipulates how many and where each rent lot is located and its size.
The North Fort Myers Fire Control and Rescue Service District held its monthly board meeting last Tuesday, February 19. All commissioners were present.
Sherry Young gave the Treasurer's Report, the district is 34% of the way through the budget year and has spent 33% of its expenditures while collecting 59% of its revenues. The district has an annual budget of $4,423,629.45 with $1,078,227 in reserves. Chief Pye was next with his report. The district ran 597 calls in January, 516 (86%) were EMS calls, 45 (7.5%) were false alarms or system malfunctions, 26 (4.5%) were fire related and the rest were miscellaneous calls.
Chief Noble and Captain Alvarez went to Ocala for the first inspection of the new fire truck, several items were changed after their inspection. They will return the last week of March for a final inspection.
Marie Hagan, Public Education Officer, new van has arrived and is in service. The new air-packs have arrived and the men are being trained in their use. The new air-packs replace the 15 year old ones. The MSA's are high pressure tanks which carry a 45 minute air supply. The district purchased 18 of them, each man will be issued his own face mask to wear with the air-packs.
The MSA's have many new safety features, such as an alarm if one is running low on air or is in an area where the temperature may be getting to hot. The air-packs are computerized and store up to 30 hours of use information. The packs also come with "buddy tubes," which allow the tanks to be connected, then balances the air between the two tanks. They can then be unconnected, allowing both fireman freedom to move.
The 18 new MSA's and all the gear which goes with them cost the district $66,663, which was budgeted for this year.
Rick Jones, Fire Marshal, report was next. His department did 359 inspections (Jones-48, Reynolds-104, Rivers-207), went to 24 meetings (Jones 17, Reynolds 3, Rivers-4), did 10 waterflow tests, handled 3 complaints, spent 12 hours in training, did 2 plan reviews and 10 public relations calls in 600 payroll hours.
Marie Hagan had another busy month, putting on 24 presentations to school children and being interviewed by WINK news.
Much-a-do over nothing is the best way to describe the discussion concerning Inventory Disposition. Conversation almost became heated over the use of the word obsolete pertaining to old equipment the district still has in inventory. It was tabled for the next meeting and the ChiefÕs instructed to use new nomenclature in the descriptions of status of the equipment.
The Lee Memorial Auxiliary awards four new scholarships annually to qualifying high school seniors or those presently enrolled in a school of higher learning. The scholarships are for $2,000 per semester for tuition and books, up to eight semesters.
Scholarship criteria includes enrollment in a Lee County School, entering a program or presently in a program in the medical field, financial need, minimum grade point average of 3.0, community service, ability to communicate and curriculum.
Applications can be picked up at Lee Memorial Hospital, Cleveland Ave., in the south end of the building near the Wellness Center.
For more information call 334-5388.
For only $15 the Arthritis Foundation Golf Book will allow you to play at over 300 Florida golf courses at free or reduced green fees. The Golf Book is valid from May 1 through October 31, 2002. When you buy three Golf Books you one free. By purchasing the Arthritis Foundation Golf Book you are joining the battle to find the cure for arthritis.
Call 1-800-741-4008 or 941-739-2729, or send a check or money order made out to the Arthritis Foundation to: Arthritis Foundation, 6221 14 Street. W., Suite 305, Bradenton, FL 34207 to order your books.
Lee County Administration announced today that Wayne Daltry, executive director of the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, will be the county's new Smart Growth Director.
Daltry has been executive director of the Regional Planning Council for 20 years and has worked for the agency for 27 years. He is a graduate of The Citadel and has a master's in planning from Florida State University.
The council serves the six-county region with a mission to protect and improve the region's physical, economic, and social environment. It also provides staff support to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Daltry chairs and serves on numerous local boards, committees and task forces and is chairman of the Everglades Restoration Working Group. "There is no better person than Wayne Daltry to lead Lee County's Smart Growth effort," said County Manager Don Stilwell. "Having a regional perspective is key in this position. He is intimately familiar with our community, has a proven record of results and brings a wealth of knowledge about the balance we all want to strike between growth and environment."
Daltry is retiring from the Regional Planning Council in April, but will split his time with the county until then.
The goal of Smart Growth is to achieve a good balance between community livability, economic viability, and environmental sensitivity. One of its keys is proactive, inclusive, community-supported growth management. During last year's budget process, the Board of Lee County Commissioners authorized the creation of a county Smart Growth Department. The department's director will report directly to the County Manager.
Smart Growthis an initiative started by developers which has been bitterly opposed by the environmentalist and Civic Associations in Lee County. After the original concept was blasted in the media, this is the rebirth of a wolf hidden in sheep's clothing.
The Board also created a 17-member Smart Growth Advisory Committee, with each Commissioner appointing three members. School Board Chairwoman Jane Kuckel and County Commission Chairman Bob Janes also are committee members, and County Manager Don Stilwell is an ex-officio member. The Board set aside up to $340,000 in the countyÕs Fiscal Year 2001-02 Budget to spend on the Smart Growth initiative, and will review its progress annually to determine continued funding.
The members of the Smart Growth Advisory Committee are: Carol Hudler, Dennis Gilkey, Brian Griffin, William F. Hammond, Lee Ford, Arnold Rosenthal, Ellen Lindblad, Ed Houck, Steve Maxwell, John Witt, Tim Kenny, Kate English, Jack Eichenberg, Robert Fowler, Kuckel, Janes and Stilwell. Daltry had been appointed to the committee by Janes, who will now appoint someone else.
Beginner's Computer Class
Monday's March 4-March 25 (4 classes) 10am-11:30 am Thursday March 7-March 28 (4 classes) 10am-11:30 am Call for info 652-6002 To Register call 461-7440 Two New Preschool Classes
Tiny Tots Arts, Crafts and & Ball Skills
This new class offers arts and crafts projects to take home and different ball games to be learned and played each week. We will focus on small and large motor skills and learn good sportsmanship as well. Your children will have a great time interacting and sharing with other children and enjoy a snack after class. Limit is 8 children per class.
Ages 3-6 years old.
Friday's- 10:00-11:00 AM
Dates March 15-April 12, Cost $10.00
Contact Christine Schirmer 652-6002 or 461-7440 to register
Tumbling (pre-school)
Let your little ones tumble off their extra energy. Children will learn the basic skills of forward rolls, crab walk, and balance. This class will help them develop coordination through games and skills. Enjoy a snack after class and socialize with friends. Ages 3-6 years old. Limit 6
Tuesday's-10:00-11:00 AM
Dates March 19-April 16 Cost $15.00
Contact Christine Schirmer Call 652-6002 for more information Call 461-7440 to register
Afterschool Program
Free Afterschool program till 6pm daily. Call 652-6002 after noon for more info
Walk For Fitness
NFM Community Park is offering an exciting new class called Walk for Fitness. Grab your neighbor and a friend for a morning walk. This is an ongoing program that you can start at anytime. Wear your walking shoes and a smile. This program is FREE and meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-11am at the NFM Community Park under the Pavilion. Call 652-6002 for more information. First walk will be on Monday February 4th at 10 am sharp.
Sue Grafton, a mystery novel writer who has been published in 28 countries, has agreed to appear at the Lee County Reading Festival on March 9th.
Grafton is known for her alphabet murder series starting with "A is for Alibi" and leading up to "P is for Peril" her current novel about private investigator Kinsey Millhone. A character Grafton says is much like herself...only younger, smarter and thinner.
Don't miss your chance to meet Sue Grafton at the Lee County Reading Festival on March 9th in Centennial Park in Fort Myers. She will be speaking in the Harborside Convention Center and will be among dozens of authors signing books and meeting readers. The festival also includes plenty of entertainment for children. There will be puppet shows, crafts, face painting and a story book character parade.
So mark your calendar for March 9th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m...and CELEBRATE THE POWER OF READING!
In December, Florida's Energy 2020 Commission submitted their final report about their vision for an energy plan and strategy for Florida. Among the report’s more than 100 pages was a listing of electric utility rates for Florida's 55 utilities.
LCEC is proud to announce that its customers are paying lower rates than most power customers in the state of Florida. Only 10 electric utility companies in the state have rates lower than LCEC’s. "Our rates are lower than any of the surrounding utilities,"LCEC Controller Don Schleicher said.
Schleicher attributes LCEC's low rates to extensive cost control and efficiency on the part of LCEC employees. "In addition, we’ve been proactive with our power supplier to ensure costs are kept as low as possible for our customers," he said. LCEC has not had a base rate increase in 20 years.
Residential Rate Comparison Per 1,000 kwh.
LCEC..$79.60
FPL.$79.63
TECO.$85.87
Florida Power Corp. $91.07
Peace River.$95.00
Glades.$98.50
*Rates effective December 2001
Residents of Buccaneer Estates were out picketing in force last week showing their disgruntlement with Manufactured Homes Corporation (MHC) once again. The residents want MHC to begin bargaining on their rent, even though the current contract is good for another two years.
According to Ron Ludington, a board member of the Homeowners Association, issues which were being raised concerning the rent a few years ago, were forgotten during the sewer fiasco with N. Ft. Myers Utility and MHC. The legal battle over sewer connection fees, whether NFMU had the right to hook-up the residents, and how much the sewer service would cost residents took precedence over rent at the time.
After months or wrangling and the Public Service Commission holding meetings locally, the sewer issue was finally resolved through negotiations with then HOA President Joe Devine.
ÒThe purpose of the picketing is to bring MHC to the negotiating table,Ó said Ludington. "MHC hasn't responded to any of our letters. Rents in this park are high. They (MHC) are charging as much here as they do for parks which have golf courses. Some rents in Buccaneer Estates will be over $400 per month in two years."
Park owners may ask for rent increases for one of three reasons by Florida State Statute. Cost of living, profitability or to bring a park up to market value. The residents of Buccaneer feel the last increase by market value was unjust. MHC compared Buccaneer Estates with other parks they own in the area which have more amenities, such as golf courses. Now they want the rents adjusted accordingly.
Bussing, the curse of the Warren Supreme Court on America. Originally used as a way to integrate our public schools, it grew like the jelly in the B science fiction movie "The Blob." Unfortunately, we still have not figured out a way to kill it.
This year we will spend over $23 million dollars in Lee county to bus our children to schools. And, just as 40 years ago, nobody is happy about it. Lee County School District has found a way to evolve bussing into a whole new creature, School Choice. A system set up to fail.
Instead of making all schools equal, teaching the same courses, having the same equipment, they have developed a plan of each school being different and competing for students. And some schools are special Magnet Schools, having a curriculum no other offers.
This enables our School Board to bus an unlimited number of children around the county. Why have a child go to the school in the neighborhood they live in when one can bus them to the other end of the county?
Wasn't the initial integration case an attempt to make all schools equal? So that every child had an equal and fair chance at the same education. Now, instead of integration, we have a lottery which determines if a child gets to go to the school of their choice or not. Progress?
Educators have been thinking along these same lines for over 40 years now. We need some common sense in our school's administration. Instead of having over 900 courses for students to choose from, we need less. Instead of having schools compete for students, we need all the schools to offer the same education, a quality one.
Quality is not in diversity. Quality is only arrived at by having singular goals, identifiable goals, for teachers, students and administrators.
***
Just a quick good-bye to Captain Gene Sims, commander of the Sheriff's Department North District. You will be missed.
And a hello and welcome to our neighborhood to Captain Randy Crone, Sim's successor.
***
You may have noticed the lack of the N. Ft. Myers Civic Association's logo on the front of this issue of the Examiner. The Lee County Examiner can no longer supports the N. Ft. Myers Civic Association and the direction it is taking under President Cheryl Diamond. The Examiner was a major supporter of the NFMCA two years ago when Mike Tisherman started it up. We gave the NFMCA free ads, covered all their meetings and watched as the membership grow to over 400 members.
The NFMCA was involved in issues for the betterment of the citizens of all of N. Ft. Myers, not just a select few or a few groups. With Mike at the lead, we saw a new Sheriff's substation placed in N. Ft. Myers, more landscaping placed in our community, new sidewalks and plans were being made for the N. Ft. Myers first Fourth of July parade. The NFMCA co-sponsored the political debates along with the Examiner two years ago. An Incorporation Committee was started, a timely newsletter was started and code enforcement was increased. Another committee met with the Lee County legislative delegation to attempt to get N. Ft. Myers into a single state representative district instead of being divided into three.
The new direction of the NFMCA seems to be to co-sponsor events with the N. Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce and veteran affairs. Bylaws of the organization are being ignored along with the original goals.
The Examiner is not a member of the N. Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce because of differing opinions of what benefits N. Ft. Myers. The Chamber supported the decorative bricks at the intersection of Pondella Road and N. Tamiami Trail. The chamber supported the building of the Del Prado Extension. The chamber supported the one-cent sales tax initiative two years ago and the chamber has supported Andy Coy as our Commissioner.
Not only has the Examiner pulled its support for the Civic Association, I have resigned from the Board of Directors, following the footsteps of Betty Blanchette, Mike Tisherman and others in leaving the Board.
We wish those left the best of luck and we hope that someday they might get back to the original mission of the N. Ft. Myers Civic Association.
by Tom Comingore (token democrat)
I was talking with a friend of mine the other day who lives near one of the training camps that reportedly were used to train Cuban exiles in the arts of terror to be used against Castro and the Cuban government. My friend remarked how quiet the camp had been since our government had decided to fight terror in other countries. Ironically we are now housing our captured terrorist from other countries in Cuba and it looked to my friend that ourgovernment had to close up the training camps in our area.
Many years ago (in the spring of 1967) I was in a Bible study class in Dayton, Ohio, and were were invited to a Jewish Synagogue for one of their regular services. During the sermon the Rabbi asked all members to contribute to the Jewish war fund to help in the up coming war efforts of Israel against Palestine. I sat there and had no idea what the Rabbi was talking about. No one in our group was aware of any war at that time in that area and I was a little puzzled by a leader of a religious service asking for money to fight a war. When the service was over the Rabbi came back and talked with our group to explain any part of the service we did not understand. Someone in the group did ask him what he was talking about when he mentioned the war fund. He explained that through the Synagogue was the way historically they passed on news to each other.
In a few days there was a war in that area and six days after it began it was declared over with Israel as the winner! . Thirty-five years later the fight between Israel and Palestine still goes on and on and on. Israel leaders say they want peace but refuse to deal with Palestine leaders and when the government of Israel officially bombs the Palestine they wonder why the Palestine bomb back and vise a versa.
We have trained the terrorist that attacked Cuba here in Florida, Much money was raised here for the Jewish wars and training, several white supremacist group have trained here in our swamps, and even several of the men that crashed into the twin towers were trained right here in South West Florida.
Our country declared WAR on terrorist and yet when we capture them our government says we do not have to treat them as prisoners of war! Does that mean we will round up the terrorist here in Florida and keep them from attacking Cuba anymore? Will we quit sending financial aid to Israel to fight the Palestine wars? How much financial aid will we send to the Afghanistan area to buy off the different War Lords in that area?
No one knows better than I, that a rose by any other name would smell the same and it is pretty obvious that when our government leaders speak it is hard to tell which side of their mouths they are speaking from.
Does the Emperor have any clothes on?
You can Email Tom TComin1551@aol.com
Tom Comingore:
In an article you wrote on Jan. 30. 2002, "Do sidewalks really improve the quality of life for people who don't have food or medical care?"
ABSOLUTELY! The people who have been killed walking or riding bicycles along Laural Drive, between US41 and Gage, do not need food for medical care anymore. But it would definitely have improved their lifestyles, if there had been a side walk along side, like we have on Laural Lane, between Gage and Hart.
The side walk that has been installed along Hart and along Laurel, has definitely been and improvement to the lifestyle to my wife & I.
It is sensless for us to have to drive to the Park, to be able to walk safely.
Harold Plunkett
Suncoast Coast Neighborhood Task Force
(editor: Tom Comingore did not write the editorial reffered to above, it was the Examiner's position. Also, the editorial concerned the fact that Human Services of Lee County government goes into economically depressed areas, puts in a few sidewalks and covered bus benches and considers it a job well done. Never truly addressing the problems of the area. Small issues like education, parks, food, and reducing crime are not addressed. However, as Harold Plunkett states, if sidewalks is all it takes to make them happy, sidewalks will be all they ever get)
February 8 N. Tamiami Trail and Littleton Rd., Arturo Jaquez was arrested for DUI. River Road, James Morgan Guy was arrested for an open container. 545 Pine Island Rd., Katy Lynn Hume was arrested for retail theft. February 9 1823B Atlantic Ave., Kenneth Hubert Smith was arrested for domestic violence/assault. Swanee Road, Jack Alvin Evans was arrested for DUI. February 10 2388 Case Lane, Steven Matthew Hoffman was arrested for battery/domestic violence. February 11 1031 N. Tamiami Trail, Jay Leslie Keithline Jr. and Deloris Murphy Lewen were arrested for loitering and prowling. Ebson and Laurel Lane, Edward E. Kautmann was arrested for DUI. February 12 Woods off Brook Road, Patrick A. Tighe, William J. Williams, David Allen Kerburg, were arrested for trespass after warning. 5329 Staley Road, Joshua Sauthworth and Daniel Kelly were arrested for burglary to a conveyance and grand theft auto. Yankee Beach, Marl Lebel was arrested for an open container and two warrants. Yankee Beach, Daniel Robert Krasnecky was arrested for an open container. Mayfair Lounge, Jiri Rengola was arrested for trespass after warning. Crescent Lake Dr., Ronnie Alvin Cox was arrested for DUI and failure to appear. 1599 Marx Dr., Carl E. Smith was arrested for battery on a pregnant female. N. Cleveland Ave., Gerald Allen Quick was arrested for DUI and DUI property damage. 545 Pine Island Rd., Cicily S. Walton was arrested for retail theft. Orange Grove Blvd., Duane Brian VanGelder was arrested for driving while license was suspended. February 13 6351 Bayshore Road, Marilyn K. Bueleson was arrested for violation of probation. February 14 N. Tamiami Trail and Laurez, John Patrick Casey was arrested for DUI. February 15 8081 Arceze Dr., Jackie Caldwell was arrested for domestic violence/battery, failure to pay fine and criminal mischief. 254 Santa Barbara St., Craig M. Wtmer was arrested for burglary. February 16 7858 Breeze Dr., David Rosert Cerhigh was arrested for battery/domestic violence. February 18 River Road, Kelvin Neil Addison was arrested for failure to register as a sexual offender. 8086 Heck St. #31, Victoria Regina Gaudet was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. February 20 2830 Garden Street, Karl Edward Parreant was arrested for battery/domestic violence. 1029 N. Tamiami Trail, Michael Hayes Reid was arrested for battery/domestic violence. 48 Oak Street, Richard Lewis Barrett was arrested for obstruction of justice. February 21 1475 N. Tamiami Trail, Jeanette Smith Morris was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). Yankee Beach, Karen Marie Primeau was arrested for DUI. 9391 Westcreek Cir., Jose Antonio Bernabe and Jose Guillermo Marrero were arrested for burglary to a dwelling.
Captain Gene Sims, Commander of District 1 (North District) of the Lee County Sheriff's Department was transferred to Commander of Special Operations for Sheriff Rod Shoap. Sims replaced Captain Mark Durling in 1998 when Durling was promoted to Major and Watch Commander. Current Sheriff Rod Shoap was also Commander of District 1 for then Sheriff John McDougall.
Captain Sims was presented with a copy of the painting "Bound to Glory" by artist Kern Baxter. Baxter gave a copy to Gov. Bush and to state Representative Jeff Kottekamp. Kottekamp gave a copy to all his fellow state representatives which caused a small stir at the beginning of the legislative session. Captain Sims collects eagle statues and art.
Captain Crone began his career with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 1985 as a Certified Deputy. During his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office he rose through the ranks working in various capacities including road patrol, Major Crimes, Robbery/Auto Theft, Auto Theft Multi-Agency Task Force, and most recently as the Captain of Special Operations since 1999. He will begin serving as the District 1 Commander on February 18, 2002. He has a degree in criminology and is working on a Bachelors degree. In addition, he will be attending the Southern Police institute for an intensive three-month executive management course. He is a Lee county native and is married with 1 child.
Don Gill - E-mail VFVflorida@aol.com
Military Funeral Honors
ÒHonoring Those Who ServedÓ
The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff assist with military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries.
On January 1, 2000, the Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000.
"Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to veterans who have defended our Nation. While military funeral honors are a long-standing tradition within the Armed Forces, this DOD program is in response to the new law governing funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least one a member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. Veterans organizations may assist in the provision of military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.
Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to the address listed below. A military funeral honors web site is located at www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil.
Military Funeral Honors,
9504 IH-35 North, Suite 320,
San Antonio, TX 78233-6635
To arrange military funeral honors, contact your local funeral home.
The North Fort Myers Lions Club meet the first and third Mondays of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Visually Impaired Persons Center located at 35 W. Mariana Road, just west of the N. Tamiami Trail.
The Caloosa Rare Fruit Exchange will meet on Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. on the rear porch of Terry Park, 3406 Palm Beach Blvd.
This month's speaker will be Harry Volker, bee keeper for ECHO. Meetings are open to the public and membership in the club is encouraged.
The famous Rare Fruit Cookbook has been reprinted and will be available at the meeting. Call Bill Thompson at 731-1430 for club information.
The Democratic Party of Lee County holds their monthly meeting the second Wednesday of each month in the County Commission Chamber of the Old Lee County Courthouse. Enter the building via the 2nd Street entrance. Themeeting begins at 7:00 P.M. and is open to the public. For more information contact the headquarters at 334-0908 or e-mail LeeDems @Juno.com.
The SW Fla. Combat Infantrymen's Assn. Lunch meeting February 28 at 11:30AM at the ElK's Lodge, 4531 SE 10th Place, Cape Coral US Infanttrymen veterans from all wars who earned the Combat Infantrymans' Badge, are eligible and welcome to become members of this Elite Group of Men For information or to attend the meeting, call Dan Sankoff, Adjutant (941) 368-5006 e/mail SilverFoxx236@aol.com
Former officers and crew of the USS Georgetown (AG-165/AGTR-2) will have a reunion April 11-14 in Key West Fl. Info at ussgeorgetown.com, jmerrill@jmerrill.net (web master) Also Hank Tapken e-mail tbirdlake@aol.com or 941-945-2891.
The Florida members of the USS Coral Sea Association are having their Fourth Annual Spring Fling Reunion on March 9. Members will meet at 11:30 a.m. for lunch at Valenti's Ristorante as 1200 E. Venice, Ave., Venice FL 34292. We would also like to extend an invitation to join us to shipmates from our sister ships, the USS Midway and the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt.
For more information, contact Bud McKay at 941-371-3790 or Bill Johnson at 941-485-4360.
Calling all teens 13 years old and older, Friday nights will never be boring again! Friday nights from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Lee County Parks and recreation and the Lee County Sheriff's Department will sponsor "pick-up" basketball games at J. Colin English Elementary Schools outside basketball courts.
Everyone must sign up to play and have a signed permission slip. Pick up the permission slips at N. Ft. Myers Community Park.
For more information call 652-6002.
This year's North Fort Myers 2nd Annual Community Festival is slated to be even bigger than last years! How? By first moving the location to the North Shore Overlook Park (AKA Yankee Beach) located at the North end of the Caloosahatchee River Bridge from downtown Fort Myers. March 16th from 10 am to 8 pm with food, live music, activities, games, art, crafts and personalities!
If you want to join as a merchant, restaurant or seller of crafts, call the Chamber at 997-9111 for info. Volunteers always welcomed!
The Boy Scouts of america, Southwest Florida Council, celebrates its 35th Anniversary during an open house on Saturday, March 23, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 pm.. The celebration will be held at the council office, 1801 Boy Scout Drive, Ft. Myers.
The Southwest Florida Council serves more than 20,000 youth with 4,000 volunteers in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hendry, Sarasota and Manatee Counties. For more information call 936-8072 or visit www.swflcouncilbsa.org on the internet.
Buccaneer Estates Craft Fair will be held on Satuday, March 2 from 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at Buccaneer Estates located at 2210 N. Tamiami Trail, just north of WeaverÕs corner. Crafts, baked goods will be for sale along with a raffle and lunch at noon
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) will host their annual Farm Day on Saturday, March 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for the entire family to learn about tropical agriculture and world hunger solutions.
There will be free tours and special workshops on herbs, landscaping with edible plants and container gardening throughout the day.
ECHO is a 47 acre demonstration farm, where they show techniques for growing food in difficult conditions, such as areas where it is too dry, too hilly or too wet.
The ECHO farm is located off Bayshore Road at 17391 Durrance Road, one mile east of I-75. For more information call 543-3246.
North Shore Church, 330 W. Mariana Ave., will have a large yard sale and bake sale on Saturday, March 9 from 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at the church. All proceeds will help children and youth attend summer camp.
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