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News Archive Index
05-31-2006
The last private piece of a 125-acre island in Estero Bay will soon get another chance to become part of the Koreshan State Historic Site.
A subcommittee of Lee County’s Conservation 2020 will get a new environmental review on Mound Key next week. The county’s land preservation program wants to buy the archaeologically significant site but the brothers who own it are still exploring their options, while asking for 15 million dollars. resident of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Andrew McElwaine, says they’d love to see the site preserved but the asking price is very high.
“What you’d hope is that the owners would be cognizant of a couple of things, one is the unique value of the resource. The second is the tax consequences of taking all that money. Where with a bargain sale or if they really can justify that it’s worth that much, if they sell it at less than that they could reap significant tax benefits.”
Archaeologists believe the island was the capital of the Calusa Indian empire that dominated Southwest Florida for thousands of years. It was also the site of the first Jesuit mission in North America in 1567.
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The island that was the first Jesuit mission in North America in 1567 and the capital of Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians has one last piece of private property on it. Three Fort Myers brothers whose family bought the land in 1896 have offered it to Lee County’s Conservation 2020 program for 15 million dollars – or they could build as many as 6 homes on it. But Conservancy of Southwest Florida President Andrew McElwaine says the brothers should consider other pricing methods.
“Work with 2020 to take it in a series of payments and things of that nature, donate a portion of it – sell the rest. You know the tax consequences would be enormous for selling at that price where they could do the right thing and reap some real tax benefits by doing so.”
Lee County wants to buy the 9-acre tract to add it to the Koreshan State Historic site. A new county report gives the property high marks for native plant cover and for the presence of mangroves and island hammock. It’s also home to two major Calusa Indian mounds and it’s home to the Grand Canal dug by the Calusas more than 500 years ago.
05-30-2006
Numerous ceremonies in Southwest Florida Monday commemorated Americans who have died in the service of their country. WGCU’s Valerie Alker was at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens which was awash in flags and flowers.
05-30-2006
Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah was the key speaker at a ceremony marking Memorial Day yesterday in Ft. Myers. The Commissioner praised all of those who have served their country. But he also took his time at the podium to remind those in attendance not to take the freedom others have fought and died for – for granted. He urged them to vote.
“Iraq was an example. For those who have an understanding of what Iraquis had to go through in terms of trying to maneuver around land mines, maneuver around snipers, so that when they finally had the opportunity to cast their vote they took that opportunity with great zeal. I can only hope that we will learn from that.”
Judah noted that in his last run for county commission in the fall of 2004 – only 25 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast ballots.
05-30-2006
Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne won Senate approval as Interior secretary on Friday. His confirmation heairngs highlighted the administration's pro-development policy on offshore energy exploration. Though the confirmation was never in doubt, he was challenged by two democrats.
Florida Democrat Bill Nelson stood on the Senator floor emphasizing why he opposed Kempthorne - because of the nominee’s strong support for putting oil and gas rigs off Florida.
“During my three decades of public service, that I have held fast to a promise to fight to keep big oil away from Florida’s coastlines – to keep that industry from soiling our home; and, from ruining our economy. In Florida, a clean, healthy environment is the infrastructure of our tourism-driven economy and, it is the source of sustenance for millions of residents and visitors, alike.”
Administration policy calls for opening 3.6 million acres of the central Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. The Senate confirmed the Idaho governor as the 49th interior secretary, replacing Gale Norton. Senator Mel Martinez, the Florida Republican, was one of the 85 who voted in favor.
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Idaho governor and former Senator Dirk Kempthorne won senate approval Friday as the next Secretary of the Interior despite opposition from key Democrats, including Bill Nelson of Florida.
Dirk Kempthorne becomes the 49th Interior Secretary. He succeeds Gale Norton, who served from 2001 until her resignation in March. He worked to develop consensus on management of Idaho's and the West's natural resources. He helped develop an historic bipartisan agreement for returning salmon runs. And he worked with western governors and federal officials to change the approach to forest health and wildfire management. But Florida Senator Bill Nelson doesn’t believe in how Kempthorne might treat his region – by being lenient on adding oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
“And in America, where we have only three-percent of the world’s oil reserves, our addiction to black gold will not be broken by more drilling, but by mounting an aggressive effort to fully exploit greater efficiencies and alternative fuels. As a part of my promise to Florida, I have said I could not support an interior secretary who would advance this administration’s willingness to acquiesce to the oil lobby and its ever-increasing desire for greater profits beyond even the recent, record levels.”“
Administration policy calls for opening 3.6 million acres of the central Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. Nelson was one of only 8 senators who voted against Kempthorne’s nomination. Senator Mel Martinez Republican of Florida voted in favor of Kempthorne.
05-30-2006
A Naples 8th grader has become the first child in Southwest Florida to benefit from video conferencing technology that allows him participate in classroom activities from home. Benjamin McDonough is too “medically frail” to attend regular classes at Oak Ridge Middle School - but now he can thanks to a broadband inter-net connection WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.“This story was produced with support from the Independent Television Service and the Lance Armstrong Foundation as part of local activities for “A Lion in the House”. The PBS program profiles five children with cancer over a span of six years. It airs June 21st, 22nd and 25th on WGCU-TV.
05-29-2006
Memorial Day is when thousands of Floridians will take out their boats and hit the water. But officials warn abandoned crab traps are increasingly becoming more of a problem. Years of hurricanes have cut lines to crab traps and left some of the wooden or metal boxes just below the water line. Others have been abandoned after season ends. The leftover traps can wreak havoc on propellers and engines. Betty Staugler is a marine extension agent with the University of Florida’s Charlotte County office. She says Florida recently grabbed the top spot in terms of the number of boaters on local waters.
“The water’s not growing but the people navigating on the water is and it’s something we’re going to have to be aware of so that we can all enjoy our water resources safely.”
It’s against the law for anyone except the crabber to remove a trap...because of poaching concerns. Staugler says, as a result, area waterways can be clogged by abandoned traps.
Today is a day off for most people. Many choose to spend Memorial Day at the beach or on a boat. University of Florida marine experts say time on the water is relaxing and fun. But it can also be dangerous. They’re warning boaters to watch out for abandoned crab traps, which can rip up propellers and damage engines. Betty Staugler is a marine specialist with U-F’s Charlotte County office.
“What happens where they become navigation hazards is when they lose their buoy or they lose their line and the crabbers can no longer find them or if they become abandoned at the end of their livelihood by a crabber.”
Florida now has the highest number of boats in the country. Staugler says area waterways are becoming increasingly crowded and that’s helping exacerbate the problem. She says unattended traps also attract wildlife that swim or crawl inside...and then starve.
05-26-2006
Storm experts from Florida delivered a pre-hurricane season briefing to members of the state’s US House of Representatives delegation on Thursday. As we hear in this report from Bob Costantini, the now- famous face of the nation’s chief Hurricane tracker appeared in person:
THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER’S POINT MAN, MAX MAYFIELD TOLD MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA DELEGATION AND STAFFERS THAT AT LEAST FOUR SEVERE STORMS ARE BOUND TO FORM IN THE ATLANTIC.
HE BOASTED THE CENTER’S TRACKING MODELS ARE GETTING BETTER EACH YEAR:
“The reason for that is improved observations, faster computers and much improved computer models. We’ve been very honest with people in saying that where we need help is with the intensity forecasting.”
MAYFIELD PUT IN A PLUG FOR A NEW INTENSITY-SPECIFIC STUDY CENTER WHICH COULD BE IN FLORIDA.
AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENATIVE MARK FOLEY OF PORT CHARLOTTE—WHICH WAS SLAMMED BY CHARLIE IN 2004 - IS STRESSING HIS CONSTITUENTS LISTEN TO MAYFIELD WHEN HE HITS THE AIRWAVES:
“I want people to first and foremost pay attention to his warnings. Understand we all have to be better prepared with water and things in our own homes—self reliance.”
IN THE WAKE OF KATRINA, OFFICIALS WITH FEMA SAY THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED THIS YEAR, FOLLOWING A MAJOR UPHEAVAL AT THE AGENCY.
FOR WGCU, I’M BOB COSTANTINI ON CAPITOL HILL.
05-26-2006
Home sales in Southwest Florida continued to flatten out last month. The latest figures from the Florida Association of Realtors show prices remaining virtually unchanged...but home sales continue to drop precipitously. The median home price in Naples last month was 503-thousand dollars. It was 280-thousand in Fort Myers, Punta Gorda checked in at 223-thousand and Sarasota was 302-thousand dollars. The median is the price where half the homes sell above that amount and half below. But continuing a months-long trend…Naples saw a 45-percent drop in the number of homes sold compared to April of last year. Fort Myers declined by 28-percent, there were 33-percent fewer homes sold in Punta Gorda and 44-percent in Sarasota. Economists attribute the drop to rising mortgage rates and an increase in the number of homes for sale. Statewide, the median home price last month was a quarter-million dollars. Five years ago, it was half that.
05-25-2006
For the first time in more than a decade, customers of Lee County Electric Co-Op will NOT get rebate checks. L-C-E-C serves more than 180-thousand electric customers, mainly along the coast including Marco Island, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Pine Island, North Fort Myers and parts of Lehigh Acres. The non-profit, member-owned utility had been able to do more with less over the past years…and it sent those savings on to customers. L-C-E-C spokeswoman Karen Ryan says after two years of devastating hurricanes and more people moving to Southwest Florida the utility needs to expand.
“As the area grows also the need for infrastructure grows. So new poles and wires to areas that are growing...additional substations and additional improvements for reliability.”
L-C-E-C’s inability to send checks this year will cut into the bottom line of some users. A handful of commercial customers like Lee County government had received refunds in the past of tens of thousands of dollars.
05-25-2006
The magnitude of the number of people killed in the holocaust has been brought to life for a group of Lee County middle schoolers. Their class embarked on a Remembering the Holocaust project to visually show the enormity of the tragedy. It took three months, but the 8th grade Language Arts class at Calusa Middle School managed to create six million yellow paper stars to symbolize people killed during the Holocaust. Students found it hard to believe that the world would not intervene in the catastrophy. So teacher Darya Grote sought to show the enormity of the Holocaust in a way the Cape Coral students could understand.
“We were honoring and remembering and trying to make sure that kind of intolerance and injustice doesn’t happen again. They were reminded every day that all of us are different and we’re all individuals and it was just a way for them even with all their differences and with all of the different types of students that we had they all came together to reach a common goal.”
Other students, schools and community members contributed time and supplies to create the 6 million stars. Grote hopes to work with the Holocaust Museum in Naples to display them. And next year, she plans to focus on a project that highlights the 1.5 million children killed during World War II.
A Lee County 8th grade language arts teacher has brought the enormity of the numbers of people killed in the Holocaust to life for her students. The Calusa Middle School class, with help from other schools and the community, made 6 million yellow stars from paper this semester.
Darya Grote patterned the project after a Tennessee school, which collected six million paper clips to symbolize those killed. She also conducted a project with food to show how little the prisoners had as well as one with the book of poems titled “I Never Saw Another Butterfly”. She plans to continue such lessons next year.
“I’m really thinking about doing the 1.5 million butterflies to represent all the kids, the children that perished because I think they relate a lot to it because out of the 150 that went through Terrazine the less than 100 that survived were all the age of my students.”
Grote’s students have studied the Holocaust in their history, reading and language arts classes. They’ve watched a movie about Anne Frank and heard from a survivor. Grote hopes to get their 6 million dollars put on display at the Holocaust Museum in Naples.
05-24-2006
When the National Hurricane Center predicts a hurricane, many forget that its winds can spread out for many miles in all directions. To overcome the public’s obsession with the skinny black forecast line, the center is adding a new graphic.
The skinny black line and the cone of uncertainty will remain but a new graph is being added. Hurricane Specialist Richard Knabb says it will list the exact probability of where tropical storm or hurricane force winds will threaten a specific area within a 24 hour period. Folks can then plan accordingly.
“If I were to decide to put up my shutters first I’d look at that first probability and if its high enough for me to be concerned then I’d look at next probability number which says when will the tropical force winds be here because I don’t want to handle those shutters if those winds are here.”
Local weather forecasters, emergency managers and the public will have access to the full-color graphic which will be updated along with the forecast. The information will be posted on the front page of the National Hurricane Center’s website.
Planning how to respond to an approaching Hurricane could be easier this year. The National Hurricane Center has added a new graphic to its forecast information – which lets residents know what the chances are for tropical storm or hurricane force winds where they live – and when to expect them. Hurricane Specialist Richard Knabb (nab) says its an important new tool.
“So if you have an approaching storm you see the exact track, you see the cone of uncertainty but you’ll also see this new wind speed information project and get a piece of information from that product that specifically applies to your location that tells you what the chance are those winds occurring and when those winds are most likely to start.”
Knabb says the information will allow home and business owners to determine whether or when they need to put up shutters or take other action. He says the graphic will also be useful to local weather forecasters and emergency officials. The information is available to the public at the NHC website, www.nhc.noaa.gov.
hur ctr
Richard knabb – hurricane specialist
:33 we will continue to put out our watch warning graphic with track forecast on it – along the black line – that’s the exact track forecast – surrounded by this cone of uncertainty which represents the average track error – that’s one graphic we have that helps convey uncertainty in track forecast
:54 this year for 2006 we have brand new operational product coming on law – these are wind speed probabilities – that’s a second product from the cone graphic
1:06 they are new text and graphic products. and they’re going to be updated with every advisory for the storm.
1:19 last year you may have seen our strike probability product – and that’s going away and being replaced by this wind speed probability product and . What this product does is for any location on the map it will tell what the chances are of tropical storm or hurricane force winds – both in terms of what are the chances its going to occur from this event at all – and the timing, when are they most likely to start. so this helps to answer two basic questions for anyone out there – one is what are the chances that this event is going to happen to me whether that be tropical storm winds or hurricane force winds – is it going to happen to me from the particular storm and that answers the question – do I need to prepare is this something I need to get my shutters up for –
2:10 second question it is answers is when is event most likely to start – so it answers the question how much longer do you have to prepare
2:20 so if you have an approaching storm you see the exact track, you see the cone of uncertainty but you’ll also see this new wind speed information project and get a piece of information from that product that specifically applies to your location that tells you what the chance are those winds occurring and when those winds are most likely to start………
categories (1,2,3,4) to difficult to forecast at any particular location –
3:42 for years we’ve been forecasting what the extent of hurricane force winds will be surrounding the system and now we’re putting up probabalities for that – but we can’t put a probability or number on what the chances are for cat 2,3 at any one specific location. but in our forecast product we will still talk about what the chances are that the system overall could be stronger than what we’re forecasting.
at least cat 1………..
4:48 specific preperations that people make will vary from location to location – when we’re putting out the forecast we can’t give out that kind of recommendation because they have to decide because we don’t know speicifics – each person has to think through how long they need to make their preparations and also pay attention to advice from local officials – but also look
5:26 if I were to decide to put up my shutters first I’d look at that first probability and if its high enough for me to be concerned then I’d look at next probability number which says when will the tropical force winds be here because I don’t want to handle those shutters if those winds are here –
6:21 we hope they do a couple things. help people to better understand the uncertainty in the forecast – because the cone of uncertainty just gives you the uncertainty in the track forecast at the center of the storm – this new product will give you the chances of certain weather conditions at your location – and so its more information about the uncertainty in the forecast.
6:42 and also we’re hoping people will be able to use it for the purposes you were just getting into – that is to understand what the chances are that something’s going to happen and how much longer they have to prepare for that so that people have more information upon which to make their own decisions about what prep to make
7:05 emergency managers and officials in everyones area will be looking at these products and they’ll be using it to help make recommnendations for the public in the area in which they live.
7:10 it will be updated with every new forecast –
front page
www.nhc.noaa.gov
front page
05-24-2006
The Senate Intelligence Committee today approved Air Force General Michael Hayden as President Bush’s pick as the next head of the Central Intelligence Agency. Our Capitol Hill Reporter Todd Zwillich caught up with former Florida senator Bob Graham, the committee’s one-time chairman to discuss the nomination, which has made some Democrats uncomfortable.
05-24-2006
Lee County commissioners Tuesday voted for a plan that will let them approve any road related improvements and figure out how they’ll be paid for, before any part of Babcock Ranch is developed.
That’s one of the stipulations in the road plan agreement with Kitson & Partners that county commissioners approved at a public hearing. The agreement was important because while the majority of the new town will be in Charlotte County, it will impact Lee’s roads the most, says Lee County attorney David Owen.
”What’s key for you here is the fact that Mr. Kitson has agreed with this county and will agree with us in this agreement that he will not, he will not, proceed with any development until such time as we reach agreement with respect to the transportation models.”
Developer Syd Kitson, who plans to build a city for 45,000 people on part of the ranch said he would pay for all road improvements that are an impact of his development.
05-23-2006
Law enforcement officials are asking Southwest Floridians for help in catching a man they’ve dubbed ‘The Band Aid Bandit’. The bandit and his accomplice are being sought in at least 40 bank robberies across Florida since 2000.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has even created a Band Aid Bandit Task Force to combine efforts to nab the men. FDLE Special Agent Steve Davenport says they’ve had few leads from where the robberies have occurred – so he’s coming to areas like southwest Florida to cast a wider net.
“The reason we want the southwest Florida community to be aware of this bank robber is we know that serial bank robbers oftentimes live in one part of the state and commit their crimes in another part of the state. It provides them some anonymity.”
The pair has robbed banks in 9 counties…as far north as Alachua - and as far south as Sarasota. Davenport says the FDLE is STEPPING up efforts to find the men because the robberies have become increasingly violent. Besides the band-aid on his cheek – authorities believe the man…who’s described as heavy set and Hispanic…has a skin condition called Vitiligo that causes skin splotching. Go to www.bandaidbandit.com for more information.
05-23-2006
Sarasota may be getting greener. County Commissioners are expected to order a switch to time-released fertilizers for use in parks and other public property at their Wednesday meeting. Environmentalists say time-released fertilizers add fewer nutrients to the environment than traditional water soluble products. Commissioner Jon Thaxton says it’s up to the county to lead the way.
“It’s important to us to act responsibly. We’ve been trying to do it from a leadership position so the county does it first and then asks through education and initiatives for the citizens of the county to follow the example.”
The county already landscapes using native plants – and uses water, pesticides and fertilizer sparingly. An ordinance requiring use of time-released fertilizers county-wide could follow.
Sarsota County Commissioner are expected to order landscaping staff to begin using time-released fertilizers in parks and other public property.
Time released fertilizers are considered more environmentally friendly than traditional water soluble products. And Sarasota County is gaining a reputation for going green - erecting green buildings and purchasing hybrid vehicles. Commissioner Jon Thaxton, who backs the change says it’s a continuation of that policy.
“What we’re looking for in Sarasota is a community that has a sustainable mindset so the generation that’s in town now is not cosuming resources and causing debt to future generation.”
Commissioners will discuss the move to time released fertilizer at Wednesday’s meeting. Thaxton says he and others believe fertilizers used on lawns and gardens degrade water quality and contribute to red tide.
best management practices
1:30 the time released product is designed to release the mineral phospjerous and nitrogen only when its released by the plants – and the typical water solubule product will immediate dump all of its phosphorous, nitrogen, etc – into the soil at the first rain and the plants can’t absorb it all so the rest finds its way into surface water and ultimately into our bays and estuaries causing algal blooms, etc.
2:19 the idea is a time released will only release the amount of nutrients that can be absorbed by the plant at that particular time
2:55 people like to phrase this in terms of green lawn or brown lawn – you can have nice lawn and still reduce the amount of fertlizers
3:17 green lawns consume a great deal of nitrogen and a lot of other runoff so they’re not inherently bad – its just that when you’re caring for them and the care isn’t proper you’re basically overcaring for the lawn so its unable to absorb all the nutrients your putting on it –
no ordinance
4:43 more than likely the board will give instructions to staff to begin implenmentation of these best management practices which include the type and timing and amounts of fertlizers used on public property because we have all the jurisdiction to make that decision and we may nor may not give staff instructions on a proposed ordinance that would then be advertised that the board takes public input…
broadcast application….of various fertilizer
5:55 golf course ordinances………………….
6:16 the fertlizers ordinance could possibly have a golf course component
6:38 one of the problems with lawns is proximity to waterwaysa..
6:58 what we’re looking for in Sarasota is a community that has a sustainable mindset so the generation that’s in town now is not cosuming resources and causing debt to future generations and its important to us to act responsbilly –
7:24 we’ve been trying to do it from a leadership position so the county does it first and then asks through education and initiatives for the citizens of the county to follow the example –
7:34 we’ve had bpm practices in place for the county for many years. we’ve been landscaping with natives for many years, our watering and fertilizer and pesticide application has been following a pretty strict bmp code – and now we’re attempting to institutionalize that county-wide and hopefully extend a portion of our ethic to privately owned land
8:30 you have to understand empirical evidence that shows links…
9:11 we do now that increased flow of phosphorous into our rivers bays and estuaries is causing utrefication and other water quality parameters to be degraded….
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