|
News Archive Index
04-29-2005
One southwest Florida zoologist says he’s “ecstatic”… after learning the Ivory-billed woodpecker is still alive. Dr. Jerry Jackson is a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and author of the recent book, “In Search of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.” The bird was thought to be extinct—until several experts recently confirmed sightings in the Big Woods region of southern Arkansas.
The large woodpecker depends on expanses of old-growth forest. Dr. Jackson says if there’s one bird, there are very likely others. And he notes the key to their survival is land preservation.
“The biggest thing we can do is to provide them habitat. Right now, protecting the habitat that we have—and allowing that habitat to mature. This is a bird that probably requires six or seven square miles or more of bottom-land forest hardwoods.”
The Ivory billed woodpecker may also be alive in southwest Florida. Dr. Jackson says in the last 5 years, there have been three reported sightings of the bird at the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve in Collier County. He’s says he simply can’t discount those sightings.
04-28-2005
Three cabinet members were in southwest Florida Wednesday to discuss Governor Jeb Bush’s growth management plan. The secretaries of Environmental Protection, Community Affairs, and Transportation took part in the forum at WGCU. They also fielded questions from local elected officials, environmentalists, and planners. Ryan Warner reports. (AUDIO)
04-28-2005
Public health officials in Sarasota have issued an advisory for the old railroad corridor north of Little John Trail and east of McIntosh Road—after finding elevated levels of arsenic there. They’ve alerted nearby homeowners and a middle school. Officials found higher than normal arsenic levels in groundwater near the surface and in soil along the old railroad. They suspect it’s the result of pesticide use. The county was testing the area—hoping to use it for preservation and storm water storage. Now it can’t. The Sarasota County Health Department is issuing a precautionary advisory to avoid the area. McIntosh Middle School is restricting access across the property to students and is notifying parents. Health Department engineer Rob Bolesta says homeowners should take care in working outdoors.
“If they are mowing, as a precaution they should wear dust masks because they would be kicking up dust. We’ve also talked to some of the commercial lawn services there and recommended that they wear them as well. In addition after being out there in the back of their properties they would want to wash their hands, make sure their children wash their hands with soap and water before they eat or anything like that just to avoid any type of ingestion.”
Although arsenic is relatively stable and doesn’t typically travel from a contaminated site, crews will test nearby homes over the next few days—to determine the extent of the affected area. Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic may cause cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney, as well as skin pigmentation changes and thickening. The homes were built in the area in the mid-1980’s.
04-28-2005
An effort to more closely monitor registered sex offenders is underway in Punta Gorda. Police dub the new program “Adopt an Offender”. It links individual officers with sexual offenders and sexual predators… there are currently 4 sex offenders, and 1 sexual predator within Punta Gorda city limits. Police Chief - Chuck Rinehart – says recent, high-profile events got his department talking…
“We reviewed our process after the Jessica Lunsford case and asked ourselves were we doing enough, and could we do it better. And we found out we probably could do more, and we could definitely do it better.”
Under the Adopt an Offender Program – all new sexual offenders or predators who move to the city will be assigned an officer. Police will create an offender profile, which includes specific facts of the crime. The officer will notify the neighbors…and distribute fliers to schools and day cares.
Lastly, assigned officers will personally contact the offender at least once a month. Rinehart says his department has already gotten emails from other agencies – as far away as Texas – that are interested in the program.
04-27-2005
Bills that would provide funding to replant Sanibel Island’s public parks and beaches with native plants and grasses are up for consideration in the State House and Senate appropriations committees. Local officials are counting on the funds to help repair damage from Hurricane Charley. Valerie Alker has more. (AUDIO)
04-27-2005
With hurricane season just a few months away, J.N. Ding Darling wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island is still cleaning up debris left from Hurricane Charley. Volunteers spent a Saturday neck deep in water and plant debris. The clean up is part of the refuge’s Mangrove Recovery initiative. Janette Janero visited the refuge and has more in this report. (AUDIO)
04-27-2005
A group called Floridians United to Protect Social Security rallied on the steps of the Sarasota Courthouse today… then marched single-file to U.S. Representative Katherine Harris’ office. This rally was one of more than 35 such events taking place across the country—in opposition to President George W. Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security. They coincided with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s first hearing on Social Security reform. Philip Compton of the Florida Consumer Action Network led 75 people on the march to Representative Katherine Harris’s office… where he spoke with her District Director, Sally Tibbits.
“We need to talk in terms of principles. So this is a pledge that we’re going to give to you to give to Rep Harris. We want her to oppose any ss privatization proposal that would require cuts in guaranteed benefits to pay for private accounts, that would weaken the system by diverting money from the ss trust fund that Pres. Reagan set up to cover us baby boomers to pay for private accounts, anything that would increase the federal deficit to pay for private accounts. Has Rep Harris authorized you to give us a response? Just that she will consider your concerns along with other constituents in the district and continue a dialogue with you as organizations and individuals and other organizations in the district that are communicating with her on the issue of ss.”
Floridians United to Protect Social Security also presented a new report by a Washington based economic research group on how the Bush privatization plan would affect Florida’s economy. It claims $34 billion flow into the state’s economy from social security every year… And about 14 billion would be eliminated through privatization. The group is calling for a private meeting with Representative Harris as well as a town hall meeting with her.
04-27-2005
Using data collected after Hurricane Charley, researchers at the University of South Florida are looking at storm surge… or in Charley’s case… why there wasn’t more. Storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level associated with hurricanes. As Charley approached Charlotte County – emergency managers were concerned that low-lying areas would be in trouble. Even before last hurricane season, oceanographer – Robert Weisberg – had been running computer models to see what affect the size of a storm, its strength and direction have on surges. When Charley, hit Weisberg ran his earlier model… and it turned out to be quite accurate. He says there’s no single factor which determines storm surge…
“It’s not that simple…not only does the surge elevation depend upon the storm category…or how fast the winds are moving…but it also depends where the storm hits…from which direction it approaches…how fast it approaches…and also what the diameter of the eye really is.”
Weisberg says Charley’s fast moving, southerly approach made for a relatively mild storm surge - and that where it made landfall also played a role. He says if Charley had come ashore a bit further north, storm surge would’ve likely been far worse. Weisberg’s model also explains why North Captiva Island was split in two… He says when Charley approached, the sea level was substantially lower on the gulf side than on the inter-coastal side… but then as the storm blew through, that imbalance was suddenly, and forcibly reversed...
“So what happened is you have this very narrow low-lying area in North Captiva Island where this water level difference was the largest…and once the gulf water kinda overtopped the island…and just washed the sand right out.”
Weisberg says he hopes his research will help add more detail to storm surge arnings…although his department doesn’t make official recommendations. That’s up to the National Hurricane Center.
04-26-2005
A crane mounted on a barge collapsed as it was preparing to drive a 165-foot concrete piling into the water off the Sanibel Causeway Monday afternoon. The crane operator was killed, and another construction worker is hospitalized in good condition. Witnesses say the crane toppled after the piling began to crumble and break apart. Sheriff's deputy Angelo Vaughn was on the scene.
"A crane that was unloading 100 footpilings onto a barge - that's on the fort Myers side of the Sanibel causeway - the crane collapsed onto the barge..injuring one man and fatally injuring another man."
Workers and rescue crews dug through rubble to reach 54-year-old Kent Crappell of Louisiana. He was trapped inside the crushed crane cab and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Work has been halted on the 122 million dollar project to replace the deteriorating causeway. Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are expected to arrive today.
04-26-2005
U.S. Congressman Mark Foley took a whirlwind tour of Charlotte County Monday. Foley – a Republican whose district stretches from West Palm Beach to Charlotte County – calls it an informational tour. He began the day with a flight on the Air Force’s new hurricane-tracking plane. Congressman Foley later toured Charlotte High Schools’ modular campus… then was onto a sit-down with city & county officials to discuss financial reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency – or FEMA. Foley says the trip is about focusing regional, state and national attention on the needs that remain from last years’ storms…as well as for the upcoming hurricane season.
“There have been times when members of congress from state’s like South Dakota and all over who don’t experience hurricanes and try to cut funding…so this is an effort to both alert the public, and to prepare them for the upcoming hurricane season…it’s right around the corner, and they have to do the traditional things like buy batteries, have water, transistor radios…it’s an informational tour today here in Charlotte County.”
After visiting with local officials, Foley took part in an announcement at Edison College’s Charlotte campus… concerning a federal grant for its nursing program. After his Edison stop, he met with members of Team Punta Gorda – a private group trying to jumpstart the city’s redevelopment…
And he wrapped up his day by giving a speech at the annual Republican Party of Charlotte County’s Lincoln Dinner.
04-26-2005
A former marine wants to make sure local soldiers cherish their two-week leaves from Afghanistan and Iraq. Captain John Bunch, of Saint James City, had an idea: get businesses to donate services… from rounds of golf to fishing trips—even a wedding on the Gulf! Then, let soldiers and their families enjoy themselves. Dubbed “Operation Open Arms,” Captain Bunch says the idea is taking off… more business owners are donating products and services.
“We want to set a model in Lee County as perhaps the best place to be from if you’re an American serviceperson back on a specific leave. When you come home here, you and your family can go to restaurants. All you have to do is show your military ID, your two week specific leave papers, and you’re treated with open arms from all the angels that have involved themselves in this program.”
Captain Bunch is a fishing guide and host of a local fishing television show. The idea for “Operation Open Arms” came to him when a young Army soldier recognized him… and expressed an interest in going fishing while he was home from Iraq. Bunch obliged… then realized the concept had more potential. The concept has apparently caught the attention of Governor Jeb Bush and Congressman Connie Mack. The website—for soldiers and interested businesses—is virtuallyparadise.com.
04-26-2005
A bit of a slow start this week in Tallahassee… where many lawmakers are returning from the Passover holiday. They’ve still got some major issues on the table. Time now for our weekly discussion with News-Press political reporter and columnist, Betty Parker. (AUDIO)
04-25-2005
Efforts to attract high-tech companies to southwest Florida are paying off. Dawning Technologies Inc. is going to locate its headquarters, R&D, and manufacturing operation in Lee County. The company – currently based in New York - makes computer software used in the medical industry.
Lee County joined forces with the Governor’s office and Enterprise Florida to recruit the Dawning.
Jennifer Dunn is Communications Manager with the Lee County Economic Development Office. She says it’s a great example of the type of companies her office is trying to attract.
“We are looking to attract companies that could really locate anywhere, but that would bring in some high wage & high skills to the market. We do have a very talented workforce here, so we’re looking to bring in some of those innovative, high-tech companies.”
Dawning Technologies looks to focus on R&D – working to create connectivity solutions for end users such as hospitals, labs, and medical systems vendors. Their offices will be located off Metro Parkway in Fort Myers. Dunn says southwest Florida’s booming growth – and talented workforce – are major reasons why Dawning Technologies chose the area.
“One of the things when we talked to them as far as their decision to move here…you know they talked about how they see a growing economy here, and a positive business atmosphere…and that’s one of the reasons why they chose southwest Florida for their headquarters.”
The company was also considering Virginia, South & North Carolina and Georgia. Dunn says she thinks Lee County’s population growth is creating new opportunities…adding that the area’s starting to get a lot of regional and national recognition…and that people are beginning to realize that it’s not only a great place to live, but that it’s also got a great business climate.
04-25-2005
One Florida senator is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to explain how a costly computer system upgrade is in danger of failure. Our Capitol Hill correspondent Max Cacas reports. (AUDIO)
04-25-2005
Thomas Alva Edison is synonymous with wizardry and invention. During the late 19th century, he was one of the most celebrated people in the world. His second wife, Mina Miller also made her own lasting impression – especially in Fort Myers, where the Edisons spent their winters. To hear more about Mina Miller Edison’s life and her time in Fort Myers, watch Untold Stories “The Wizard’s Wife” tonight at 9:00 on WGCU-TV. Kathleen Moye has more. (AUDIO)
1 2 3 4 Next >
|