February 7, 1996 to April 24, 2002
The headline is sure to stir some emotions in N. Ft. Myers and county government. Some will be celebrating the fact of the Examiner closing, others will be sad, still others will find it a bittersweet announcement.
This will be the last edition of the Lee County Examiner. Some will want to say we could not compete, wrong. Some will say readership was lagging, wrong. Some will say we just gave up to the forces of corrupt government with no justice in sight, which may be partially correct.
The Lee County Examiner is closing for the simple reason that the owner is moving. Simple, to the point. No buyer came forward, it is time that I move on. The Examiner's first issue set the tone for the next six years. Our first headline was the resignation of N. Ft. Myers Fire Chief Ray Alvarez. We printed he resigned after a week long of rumors and immediately received a letter from Alvarez's attorney.
The second issue headline's were of toxic dumping in N. Ft. Myers and the infamous Community Redevelopment Agency. The toxic dumping (PCB's) led to our first threatening late night phone and the CRA remained a hot topic for several years.
Soon thereafter, Florida Cities Water Company asked for a rate increase. Residents in their service area already were paying the highest water and sewage rates in the area. The Examiner not only reported on the residents fight with FCWC and Florida Public Service Commission, we joined it. Later the County bought the utility, bailing Avatar out at taxpayers expense.
The tone was set for the way the Lee County Examiner reported the news. We supported the Palmona Park Civic Association's fight to keep their traffic light at Stockton Road when local developers tried to move it to Diplomat Parkway to improve their property.
We were there for the Widen 78 Now! campaign that got it moved to the number one priority on the Metropolitan Planning Organization list. And we have now watched and reported how the MPO and our county commissioners found ways to build other roads while we still wait for 78 to be widened.
When Sheriff McDougall was fighting with county commissioners to raise his budget, we were the only news source to print his actual budget...for several years. The Examiner did a comparison of Sheriffs Offices from across the United States, finding his budget request was not out of line.
During the elections in 1996, the Examiner was inundated with political ads, impressing even us with how local politicians viewed the force of readership.
The Examiner co-sponsored the North Fort Myers Citizen of the Year for six years. Recognizing and rewarding residents of N. Ft. Myers who went the extra mile to make this a "better place to be." The winners were: Ruth Garcia (actually she won when the Caloosahatchee Beacon sponsored the award), Betty Blanchette, Forest Wilt, Bobbie Dewey, Tom Mere, Joe Devine and Howard Silverman.
The awards were expanded to include a Deputy of the Year and a Merchant of the Year when the N. Ft. Myers Merchants association became the co-sponsor the second year. The Lee County Examiner was proud to be selected the 1999 Merchant of the Year. The Lee County Examiner was the first locally to print the story of Pacific Corporation suing Barnnett Banks and placed the entire lawsuit on our website. Another first for the Examiner, we were on the internet almost two years before any other Southwest Florida newspaper.
We were a founding member of the N. Ft. Myers Merchants Association. Which, in its short lifespan rid the N. Tamiami Trail of prostitutes, decorated the N. Tamiami Trail for the holidays, initially with made decorations then with the banners you saw this year. It was the first organization to research incorporation and with the Examiner as co-sponsor, had political debates here in N. Ft. Myers.
The Examiner was first to report the accusations of wrong doing at the Bayshore Fire District and continued till the District was on its fifth Chief.
The Examiner had a long standing storyline of trying to define County Manager's Don Stilwell's "Core Level of Service" and what it meant to taxpayers. We close still not having a true definition.
The Examiner did a comparison of parks in Lee County, showing the disparity between them. We just finished a comparison of Lee County schools, to other school districts in the state and dollars spent at each school along with printing the budget.
When our county government was concerned over Y2K, County Manager Stilwell was ready to spend $4 million for preventive measures. Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson said his people could do it for less than a million. It was only the Examiner which pointed out that ex-county employees who had quit working for Stilwell and were then working for the Property Appraiser who actually fixed the Y2K problem.
It was the Examiner which first reported the improprieties of J. W French, then an Assist. County Manager, in his dealings with illegally shutting down package sewer plants and working with private utilities.
We were first to report Lee County's true billion dollar budget when other sources were still reporting just the operating budget. Also the 3 billion dollar debt our county commissioners have taken us into, the good Republicans they are. We used these facts to help defeat the one cent sales tax initiative which current County Commissioner Andy Coy supported. (Please remember that when you vote in September.)
The Examiner supported the N. Ft. Myers Civic Association and its causes. We were a founding member, ran free ads for them. Last summer, the Examiner co-sponsored N. Ft. Myers first 4th of July Parade.
Its been a long six years. We tried our best to bring you the news which effected your life. The Examiner became a part of the community, its owner and most the staff lived in N. Ft. Myers, so what we reported effected us also.
Back when the Merchants Association started, we all shared our goals, ours was to bring N. Ft. Myers together as a community and have people begin to identify themselves as living in N. Ft. Myers. Well, the holiday decorations were first, the start up of the N. Ft. Myers Civic Association came next, then the first 4th of July Parade. More and more folks are saying N. Ft. Myers.
We have saw a lot of questionable things occur in our government over the past six years, from the Y2K fiasco to the sewer plant purchases. County Manager Don Stilwell has surrounded himself with department heads which are little more than "yes men" to do his bidding. Department heads whom have been caught in mis-truths and deceit yet are still employed. Yet the commissioners keep him.
County Commissioners rezone the land above our aquifers for golf courses then make us ration water. Land which was once to remain pristine, by the County's own Comprehensive Land Use Plan (passed into law by these same commissioners earlier) is changed to be developed.
Our elected officials, who claim to be Republicans, are passing more useless laws than wagon full of Jimmy Carter democrats. We have laws on how to trim trees, where to park you truck, Lee County is becoming a gated community upon itself.
This county spends more on landscaping than it does on mental health, giving one a clue as to what our elected officials priorities are.
Smart Growth Task Force, an oxymoron of larger degree than Military Intelligence. Wayne Daltry, who allowed developers free rein over Southwest Florida in his previous job, now heads up this committee. A committee which elected officials will hide behind when land use issues arise.
The Examiner is the last independent newspaper in mainland Lee County (The Boca Grande newspaper is still privately owned). Gannett (News-Press) and Ogden (Breeze/Shopper) will be the only newspapers left in Lee County. If one questions the motivation of the News Press, just count the real estate sections in Sunday's paper, they outnumber the news sections.
Well...it's been fun. We have shaken the rafters of government a few times, called a spade a spade, made a few friends and a few enemies. We hope you enjoyed reading our little paper.
Good-bye and Good luck to all.
The FMO District 7, held its final meeting of the season last week at Jamaica Bay, over 130 people were in attendance, the next meeting will be in October.
State Representative District 72 Lindsay Harrington was the guest speaker. He opened by commending the folks there on their involvement, "Commending ya'll on what you're doing." Harrington went on to say how well respected the FMO is in Tallahassee.
"Individuals are holding things up" was Harrington's opening statement on what the legislature session was like. He went to pledge he would not vote to raise any taxes. According to Harrington, a poll was taken and 74% of Floridians believe taxes are fair. The House of Representatives has shown that it can be responsible. They voted to spend another $1 billion for education, doubling the money going to schools and "have out paced growth in funding education," according to Harrington.
He commended the legislative arm of the FMO in making the Bureau of Mobile Homes be reestablished. The bill which would set two meetings between park owners and residents for rent negotiations is on the Governor's desk.
On redistricting, Harrington expects it to go to court. Two cases on the east coast have already been filed. He is pleased with his newly re-shaped district, losing Hardee County and picking up more of N. Ft. Myers and Lehigh Acres. He was not happy about the senatorial district which will run from Sarasota to north Lee County (as it currently does).
The brouhaha over School Codes has been blown way out of proportion according to Harrington. "It is a rewrite of existing laws, nothing new. The rewrite is condensing the code from about 5,000 pages to 1,700 to 2,000. The code holds people accountable for education in this state." He went on to commend the change from a cabinet seat to a state school board in helping make the state accountable for education dollars.
As far as all the press over the budget, "the state is a LOT better off than was anticipated," said Harrington. The legislature should finish the budget by early May.
Harrington sponsored a bill which was than changed to ride with another bill, which will finally place a count on Manatees, determining what is a sustainable number for the species. The bill calls for setting a number for manatees which will determine if they are an endangered species, a threatened species or a species which needs only to be watched. He used the Florida alligator as an example, it is now no longer an endangered species, but is still being watched.
As far as the telephone rate legislation, Harrington called it "Socialized telephone service." The bill would raise rates so that telephone service would be available to everyone, rates would be adjusted in a 6 to 8 year period. The legislature is attempting to make this a Florida Public service Commission instead of theirs.
The meeting continued with a discussion of a Canadian Drug Purchase program. Registration forms were available as the speaker told the group how he has saved hundreds of dollars. One must purchase a 90 day supply at a time, and not all drugs are cheaper. Some drugs have generic in Canada which they don't here. For FMO members, shipping was dropped from $18.00 to $12.95. A $10.00 per prescription charge has to be figured in to compute your savings.
The FMO attorney, Louis St. Laurent took questions from the crowd. The first was also confusing, if a board signs away rights of the renters that was in the prospectus, is it legal? According to St. Laurent, that question is in front of the court now. It seems that park owners like to negotiate during the summer months when a lot of parks are half empty and not all board members of the HOA are present.
Questions were raised about the HUD 55+ park rating. St. Laurent warned residents of not complaining to HUD unless they are sure their park is at least 80% over 55 years of age. Once the designation is lost, it is next to impossible to get back.
HUD determines the 55+ status not by owner, but by who is living in the home. He recommends that park HOA's do a door to door survey before complaining.
Once again, St. Laurent emphasized the importance of reading and understanding your prospectus for your park. The prospectus spells out both sides rights and obligations. If the park owner does not follow it, they can be sued for breach of contract. If something is not stated in the prospectus, no one has the responsibility and it needs to be addressed in a new contract.
The North Fort Myers Fire Control and Rescue Service District held its monthly board meeting on Monday, April 15. Two Commissioners were absent, Robert Hoke and Danny Ballard.
Sherry Young gave the Treasurer's Report, as of march 31, the District is half way through the fiscal year, they have received $2,899,562 or 65.5% of their revenues and spent 56.1% of the budget. The district gas $2,323,529 in its bank accounts.
Terry Pye started the Chief's Report, the District ran 634 calls, 26 which involved fire, 45 false alarms, 10 good intents, 1 police assist, 3 smoke scares, 5 system malfunctions and 536 Emergency Medical calls.
The District is looking into paying off any debts since interest rates on reserve money is down. Pye also announced that John Manson was promoted to Engineer, he topped 11 other candidates.
Rick Jones, Fire Marshal, handed out his report. He and his two employees (480 manhours) did 272 inspections, attended 15 meetings, performed 5 waterflow tests, took 26 hours of training, did four plan reviews and 38 Public Relations calls. If each took and hour, they would have spent 360 manhours. Jones explains the difference as office work, code research, computer input and other miscellaneous duties.
Marie Hagan was absent due to a broken wrist, however, she had another busy month teaching fire prevention in the local schools. According to Chief Pye, her FireStarters class has grown to five. The FireStarters Class is for youth who have been caught setting fires.
The meeting moved to the pressing issue of 2in/2out. (2in/2out means that firefighters cannot enter a burning building as a team of two until there are two firefighters outside prepared to rescue the team inside should something go wrong) Commissioner Nottingham notified the Examiner that it is already part of the Administrative Code and has to be followed. The Examiner reported last issue that it was waiting to become law. The legislature has not voted on it, but the State Fire Marshal has it included in the State's Administrative Code.
Chief Noble told the board he had sent the paperwork to the State asking for N. Ft. Myers District to be exempt from the law. He and Chief Pye went on to explain that they are hoping to set up enough Mutual Aid and Automatic Response agreements with neighboring districts to be able to comply with the law. They are writing new Operating Procedures to cover the new code.
Chief Pye stated that the Fire Chiefs of Lee County's seventeen districts and two cities, are working on Borderless Response. The closest station to a reported fire would respond to the call, regardless of district or city lines. This would speed up response times, especially if a district is already has several stations on calls.
The Examiner asked Pye if this would have a financial burden on the district? He said it would not, the men are already on duty, trucks are paid for, and in the past, if North has had to help other areas, they replace any material used, such as foam or gas.
Commissioner Mere asked how many districts statewide would be able to comply to the 2in/2out, Chief Noble answered not many by themselves.
The meeting closed with the commissioners inspecting the new fire engine.
ECHO, in N. Ft. Myers needs full or part time volunteers to work in the tropical areas of the farm or to help in the office or library areas. Hours are flexible, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. For more information contact Mary Lou Foster at 543-3246 ext. 211.
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.
Meals On Wheels of Lee county has an urgent need for new volunteer drivers to deliver meals to people in our community who are unable to shop and/or prepare meals for themselves. They have had a 50% increase in the number of meals delivered over the past year, without a corresponding increase in drivers.
Meals On Wheels specifically needs drivers in North Fort Myers and East Fort Myers. The time commitment is approximately two hours (from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.). All that is required is an automobile, valid drivers license, insurance and the desire to help people in your community.
Some may volunteer as a regular one day a week driver, as a back up driver when the regular is unavailable or through the Adopt A Route program where one shares a regular route with others. The Adopt A Route program is a great idea for any individual who doesnÕt have the time every week or for groups and organizations to share one day a week commitment and alternate drivers.
For more information, contact Leslie Jander at 337-1055.
Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers in a variety of positions from building on over 20 sites located throughout Ft. Myers, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres to working in the thrift store and office facility located at 1288 N. Tamiami Trail. Habitat crosses all denominational, social and cultural lines to provide safe, decent homes to families in need.
If you are interested in helping eliminate poverty housing in Lee County and want to volunteer to become a part of an organization that is dedicated to helping people help themselves, call Becky Sanders at 652-0434 ext. 217 or stop by the Habitat office.
Girl Power! seeks to encourage 9- to 14-year-old girls to make the most of their lives. Its message is to support and nurture girls in order for them to be confident, fulfilled, and true to themselves. Girl Power! provides opportunities for girls to increase their competence in decision making, problem solving, and communication. National, State, and local organizations across the country implement the skill-building programs.
GirlPower! is having a Parent/Daughter ice skate at the Skatium on May 11th from 1-3pm Cost is $3 per person Come find out what GirlPower! is all about and how your girl (age 9-14) can get involved. Call Kim at 541-9003 or Kathy at 652-6002 for more information.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Lee County announces a Family-to-Family education and support program for families/caregivers who have loved ones who are diagnosed with a mental illness. The 12-week course starts Tuesday, April 16 at the Community Health Association Building, 9 Beth Stacey Road, Lehigh Acres. The course meets once a week from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The course is taught by trained family members. The course discusses the clinical treatment of mental illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that loved ones need to cope with persons who have been diagnosed more effectively. There is no cost for the class or materials. Registration is necessary, call 278-0981.
The Board of Lee County Commissioners last week unanimously approved adding two North Fort Myers neighborhoods to the county's Neighborhood Districts Program. The two neighborhoods are Palmona Park and Suncoast Estates. The existing districts are Charleston Park, Dunbar, Harlem Heights, Page Park and Pine Manor.
The Neighborhood Districts Program - which is administered by the countyÕs Department of Human Services - was established in 1995 to develop strategies for revitalizing neighborhoods with affordable housing, improved living conditions and expanded economic opportunities. District committees of local residents help plan their communities' needs and come up with a program for meeting those needs.
Some of the improvements include:
3 neighborhood parks, 2 community centers and 1 activity building
More than 14 miles of sidewalks
30 homes constructed by various non-profit organizations and the county
1 full-time code enforcement officer and full-time sheriff's coverage for each neighborhood (joint partnership with Lee County Sheriff and neighborhood at no cost to neighbors)
Part-time Resident Coordinator in Charleston Park.
Financial assistance for non-profit social service organizations to provide after school tutoring, mentoring, summer camp, teen pregnancy prevention classes, adult fitness classes, juvenile programs and recreational services.
Over the next year, Human Services will work in partnership with the residents of the two new neighborhoods to design a revitalization strategy - a neighborhood plan representing its vision and priorities. The neighborhood plan will serve as a Òroad mapÓ and planning tool for each community. Each neighborhood - Suncoast Estates and Palmona Park - will receive $100,000 ($200,000 total) to begin the neighborhood building process.
by Thomas Leo Ogren
1. Don't plant any male trees or shrubs. These are often sold as "seedless' or 'fruitless" varieties but they're males and they all produce large amounts of allergenic pollen.
2. Do plant female trees and shrubs. Even though these may be messier than males, they produce no pollen, and they actually trap and remove pollen from the air. There is also some very good all-female sod to use for pollen-free lawns. As an added bonus, these female lawns stay low and require less frequent mowing.
3. Plant disease-resistant varieties: mildew, rust, black spot and other plant diseases all reproduce by spores and these spores cause allergies. Disease resistant plants won't get infected as much and the air around them will be healthier.
4. Use only trees and shrubs well adapted for your own climate zone. Plants grown in the wrong zone will often fail to thrive. Because they are not healthy, they will be magnets for insects. Insect residue, "honeydew," is a prime host for molds and molds produce allergenic mold spores. Often native plants will be the healthiest choices.
5. Be careful with the use of all insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Accidental exposure to all of these chemical pesticides has been shown to cause breakdowns in the immune system. Sometimes one single heavy exposure to a pesticide will result in sudden hypersensitivity to pollen, spores, and to other allergens. This is as true for pets as it is for their owners. Go organic as much as possible.
6. Diversity is good. Don't plant too much of the same thing in your landscapes. Use a wide selection of plants. Lack of diversity often causes over-exposure. Use lots of variety in your gardens.
7. Wild birds are a big plus because they eat so many insects. Plant fruiting trees and shrubs to encourage more birds. Suet also attracts many insect-eating birds. Insect dander causes allergies and birds consume an incredible amount of aphids, whiteflies, scale, and other invertebrate pests.
8. Use pollen-free selections whenever possible. There are many hybrids with highly doubled flowers and in many cases these flowers lack any male, pollen parts. Formal double chrysanthemums, for example, usually have no pollen. Another example would be almost all of the erect tuberous begonias. These have complete female flowers, but their male flowers have nothing but petals, making them pollen-free.
9. If you simply must have some high-allergy potential plants in your yard, just because you love them, then watch where you plant them. Don't use any high-allergy plants near bedroom windows or next to patios, well-used walkways, or by front or back doors. Place the highest allergy plants as far away from the house as possible and downwind of the house too. Remember: the closer you are to the high-allergy tree or shrub, the greater is your exposure.
10. Know the exact cultivar name of a tree or shrub before you buy it. Don't buy any that are not clearly tagged with the correct cultivar (variety) name and the Latin, scientific name. Compare the exact name of the plant with its OPALS/TM allergy ranking. With this scale, 1 is least allergenic, and 10 is the most allergenic. Try to achieve a landscape that averages at OPALS #5, or below.
11. If you have a tree or hedge that has high allergy potential and don't want to remove it, consider keeping it heavily sheared so that it will flower less. Boxwood, for example, has allergenic flowers but if pruned hard each year, it will rarely bloom at all.
12. Get involved with your own city's tree and parks departments, and encourage them to stop planting any more wind-pollinated trees. There are thousands of fine choices of street trees that do not cause any allergies and we should be using these instead. Working together we can make a healthy difference, and we'll all breathe better for our efforts.
Thomas Ogren is the author of Allergy-Free Gardening, from Ten Speed Press. More than 3,000 plants are individually allergy-ranked (OPALSTM) in this book. Tom does consulting work on landscape plants and allergies for the USDA and the Canadian and American Lung Associations. He has appeared on HGTV and The Discovery Channel. He has an MS in Agriculture/Horticulture and he writes for such diverse publications as New Scientist, Earth Island Journal, Landscape Architecture, American Rose, Pacific Coast Nurseryman, Alternative Medicine, Women's Day, and Wild Ones Journal. He can be reached through his website at www.allergyfree-gardening.com
My condolences to those who own property in what is considered Suncoast Estates and Palmona Park, real estate values for your home just plummeted. Why? The few people who make up the Suncoast Task Force just got your area designated the same as Harlem Heights, Dunbar, Charleston Park and Pine Manor, all to grab at a few government dollars to "improve" the area.
Who is in charge of how the money will be spent? Commissioner Coy would have you believe a committee made up of residents will. In reality, it will be Don Stilwell, Karen Hawes and Elly McKuen, all county employees.
How do I know this? Elly McKuen is infamous in N. Ft. Myers for twisting the truth, ask any business owner along the N. Tamiami Trail about her CRA days. Keeping with the CRA, ask any member of the Local Redevelopment Planning Committee if Elly McKuen and county employees accomplished anything they were directed to?
Ms. McKuen, then directed by Janet Watermeier, hired unlicensed contractors, ignored directions given by the LRPC and we ended up with the marvelous decorative bricks on the N. Tamiami Trail.
The LRPC back then, when they had millions to spend, try to build sidewalks in Suncoast and Palmona Park. County officials kept steering funds back at the N. Tamiami Trail. The one thing Ms. McKuen was going to do fro Palmona Park, the residents didn't want. The residents of Palmona Park got so fed up with the CRA they formed their own Civic Association and went about solving their own problems.
Well folks, she's back again, to lie to you and cheat you. In a year measure what has been accomplished, was it worth it?
***
This being my last issue, I would like to take the time to correct a clear up a few items. The Lee County Examiner, Inc., for the past six years, has had one stockholder, me. No other person has owned any stock nor made any loans to this company. The editorial decisions have been mine, and has cost me a few advertisers over the years.
I sought to bring the people of N. Ft. Myers the facts, not the facts as seen by Andy Coy or other elected officials. I printed budgets, like when Sheriff McDougall was arguing with commissioners over it. We printed the county budget, and this year the School District budget, no other news source did.
The Examiner has covered parts of government no other news source does, mainly the fire districts. I have had papers stolen from racks and boxes, threatened with law suits and had my name drug through the mud. Most of this was done at night, showing the bravery of those who did it.
Bayshore Fire Commissioner Clyde Bowles went to my advertisers at night taping envelopes to their doors asking them not to advertise with the Examiner. HeÕs now campaigning for County Commissioner. (I have him on film doing it, by the way, he didn't sign the document either).
The Examiner survived.
I am shutting it down now to move to be with my fiance'. A harder decision I have not made in the past six years. Through all the trials and tribulations of running this paper, this was the most difficult decision.
Thanks to Tom Comingore, our token democrat, for his contribution each issue. I want to thank all the advertisers who supported the Examiner, it wouldn't have existed for six years without your support. I'd like to especially thank Dana McGrath of Gem Real Estate and Preferred Financial, not only for the advertising, but being a good friend. Other advertisers like Carl's Automotive, Hair Connection, Tangles, Advanced Quality Transportation, William Edy, Community Insurance, Jamar, Trans Terra Insurance, North Point Dental, Don's Barber Shop and Tracy's Florist who have been with me from the beginning.
The list of those that helped the Examiner is too long to write. However, there are a few I'd like to mention, John and Pam May, Ron Holder, Jim Johnson, Red and Betty Blanchette, Brian Griffin, Kathy Malone, Mike Jackson, Mike Tisherman, Forest Wilt, Hank Henry, Cheryl Walla and Harry Green.
Most of all, a big thank you to all the readers. Without your support the Examiner would have folded a long time ago. Many of the advertisers have been told you saw their ad in the Examiner.
Good-bye and God Bless you all....
Charles H. Liedtke
by Tom Comingore (token democrat)
Best Wishes To All
For the last several years I have enjoyed writing COFFEE CHATS and especially enjoyed the extra title Chuck gave me of "token Democrat". This being the final publication I certainly want to thank all of our regular readers and especially those of you that have written or called me either agreeing or disagreeing with me over the years. Certainly much has changed over the life of the EXAMINER here in our area as well as the nation but one place where things do not seem to change is in the Middle East.
Sixty years ago a daring raid took place when Jimmy Dolittle led eighteen bombers over Japan to drop their bombs in a great morale booster raid for the United States. There are still a few of his raiders alive today but most of the population today were born after the raid and most have no first person memories of that period. Jimmy did some of his training at the Purdue University airport and made himself popular in the area by taking the manager of the airport and several others up for rides in one in one of his practice planes. He was not famous then but was highly regarded by all that knew him. One of his guest passengers that I knew died last year and when I heard about his death I had to smile as I thought about his ride with Jimmy.
A new generation is taking over as they should with other new and exciting times coming up in their futures. I will be seventy-one years old at the end of this month and can truly say I certainly have had a fantastic life and think ! I have lived in the best of times.
I am somewhat sad about writing this last Coffee Chat but at the same time I am very happy for Chuck as he starts off in a great new adventure of his life.
BEST WISHES TO ALL ,
TOM
You can Email Tom TComin1551@aol.com
April 6 8356 Suncoast Lane, Duffy Reid McCallister was arrested for battery/domestic violence. N. Key Drive, Ricardo Rodriguez-Lasquez was arrested for no drivers license. April 7 7886 Barthlolmew Dr., Patrick Michael Hannafius was arrested for battery/domestic violence. Bayshore & Samville Roads, Dominic G. A. Macchioni, Braiden Michael Fraser and Micheal T. Hall, Jr. were arrested for criminal mischief. April 8 Pine Island Road, Sarah Green Heins was arrested for DUI and DUI property damage. April 9 Betmar and Pondella Road, Roger Bennie Griffin was arrested for DUI. US41 & Pondella Road, Travis G. Beechler was arrested for driving without a license. Days Inn, Katie Mae Levatt was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Days Inn, Ronnie Cody was arrested for possession of cocaine. 7525 Mcdaniel Dr., Michael A. Aleci was arrested for violation of probation. 302 Pleasent View, Margaret Smith Cannon was arrested for trespass after warning. April 10 N. Cleveland Ave., David M. Black was arrested for DUI and an open container. 14195 Werner Circle, Michael M. Watkins was arrested for battery/domestic violence and aggravated assault. April 11 13620 N. Cleveland Ave. Joseph Zarzycki was arrested for an open container. April 12 2234 Tucker, Richard H. Sharar was arrested for a warrant, revoking pretrial release. 2234 Tucker Lane, Shawn Anthony Tisdell was arrested for a felony warrant. Lee County Civic Center, David Earl Reed was arrested for disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon. Hart road & Zoysia, Wesley M. Gutierrez was arrested for failure to pay fine and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. 2039 Ebson Dr., David W. Kirkwood was arrested for violation of parole and driving while drivers license was suspended. April 13 Yankee Beach, David Paul Ziegler was arrested for DUI and driving while license was suspended seven times. 78 Triplett Road, Allen Leroy Vangundy was arrested for battery/domestic violence. 7529 Breeze Dr., Gregory Alan Bohnert was arrested for giving a false name to a law enforcement officer. April 14 Pine Island & Tifton, Chouise Rebecca Vuxta was arrested for a warrant. Durrance Road, Adam mark was arrested for grand theft. April 15 Crescent Lake Dr., Robert Edward Gawle Jr., was arrested for driving while license was suspended. Pine Island Shopping Center, Casey Scott Crews was arrested for driving while license was suspended. 13501 N. Cleveland Ave., James Thomas Vaughn was arrested for open container and trespass after warning. Pondella & Orange Grove, Raymond Scott Smith, Lisa Marie Williams and Kevin Lee Despres were arrested for retail theft. April 16 Island Ave & Pine Island Rd., Michelle L. Zuniga was arrested for driving on a revoked license. 60130 Tipton Drive, Russell O. Bannister was arrested for two warrants and resisting arrest without violence. N. Ft. Myers, Eric A. Baumer was arrested for capital sexual battery. April 17 9269 Westcreek Cr., Doral Douglas Bradley was arrested for violation of an injunction. 63 Cypress St., James Evans was arrested for violation of an injunction. 121 Pondella Rd., Shawn Robert Murphy was arrested for a warrant and leaving the scene of an accident. 3545 N. Cleveland Ave., Connor P. O'Neil was arrested for an grand theft. April 18 766 Pondella Road, Matthew Wyatt Corrales was arrested for failure to appear. Hurricane Harry's, Brock Michael Deniston and Erik Sandsmark were arrested for burglary and theft.
The Republican Women's Club of Cape Coral Federated regular monthly luncheon meeting will be held at Palmetto Pines Country Club, 1940 SW 9th Court, on Thursday, May 2 starting at 11:30 p.m.
The program will feature Anne Palmer on the topic of Americanism.
Members are invited to bring guests. Reservations are required. Please call Sue Skillas at 542-8275.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10127 holds its monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.. The Ladies Auxiliary to Post 10127 holds its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. on the same night. Both meetings are held at the Post located at 996 Pondella Road. For more information call 995-0230.
The Navy Seabee Veterans of America, Island X-8 in Lee County will have a non-smoking luncheon meeting on Monday, April 22 at noon at the Holiday Inn Select, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Ft. Myers.
Wives and visiting Seabees are welcome to attend.
All Seabee veterans in Lee and Collier Counties are welcome to attend and share their service experiences.
The next monthly meeting will be held at noon, Monday, May 27 at Holiday Inn Select.
Reservations for the luncheon are required. For reservations or information call Raymond reed at 731-1901.
Sierra Club Calusa Group meets every 2nd Thursday of the month (March 14, April 11, 2002, etc.) at the Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Avenue, Fort Myers, FL. Directions - 1 block west of I-75 exit 22 (Colonial Blvd.), 1st intersection turn North on Ortiz Ave. Nature Center is immediately on left.
For questions please call Connie at 941 694-8192.
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 Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium will host Shower for the Animals on Sunday, April 28 from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. Bring a gift for the animals and receive free admission to the museum and trails for the day.
Suggested gifts include: work gloves, ground turkey, unsalted peanuts, pine/cedar shavings, raw beef or chicken (frozen id fine), Friskies cat food, ziplock bags, spray bottles, bleach, Cheerios, or hand pruners.
Special events will occur all day and include: snake feeding, meet a toad, guided aviary tours and, meet a tarantula.
For more information, contact the Calusa Nature Center at 275-3425. The Center is located at 3450 Ortiz Ave., Ft. Myers.
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.
VFW Post 10127 has a buffet dinner every Wednesday night starting at 7:00 p.m., a different menu each Wednesday. Music is from 6 to 10:00 p.m..
On Friday nights, the Post hosts a dinner from 5 to 7:45 p.m. The menu will vary. Music is from 7 to 11:00 p.m.
The Post is located at 996 Pondella Road. For more information call 995-0230.
Region One of the Florida RV Trade Association returns for its seventh annual admission-free recreation vehicle show at the Lee County Sports Complex in south Ft. Myers April 26, 27 and 28.
The admission-free recreation show will open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. all three days. The Sports Complex is located on Six Mile Cypress Parkway.
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