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News Archive Index
08-31-2006
The Lee Memorial Health System has been recognized by the AARP as one of Best Employers one of the best employers in the country of workers fifty and older. Of the fifty employers named – Lee Memorial ranked 2nd in the way it treats older workers. About 35 percent of the health care providers’ workforce is 50 or older – that’s about 24 hundred employees. Human Resources Director Jon Cecil says that includes 14 employees over the age of 80. These folks work part-time as patient sitters.
“They sit with patients that need additional attention while they’re in the hospital so when the nurse isn’t in the room someone is with the patient all the time.”
Cecil says its win-win position for the workers – who get a little bit of income – and also get of the house and into a stimulating environment. Lee Memorial also provides flex time and job sharing for older workers. Part-time employees are also eligible for health-care and pension benefits.
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Lee Memorial Health Care is one the best places in the country to work for people aged fifty or older. That’s according the AARP which began making the annual designation six years ago. Human Resources Director Jon Cecil says Lee Memorial is very pleased by the AARP’s endorsement. And he says older employees are a valuable resource.
“We see an exodus of a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge wisdom and maturity, and these are individuals that were typically serve as mentors and coaches for our younger force – so anything we can do to retain that older workforce is very important and vital to our ability to provide the highest quality patient care.”
The AARP selected Lee Memorial as one the top employers of workers 50 and older because of its flexible work options, job sharing, phased retirement and employee health and pension benefits. The Hospital system has 14 workers over the age of 80.
08-31-2006
Tropical Storm Ernesto did little or no crop damage in Southwest Florida. Growers are breathing a sigh of relief. That’s according to Gene MacAvoy – the vegetable extension agent for the University of Florida. They were fearing a category one or even two hurricane. MacAvoy says a storm of that magnitude could have been devastating.
“A lot of our growers have been impacted the last few seasons by gene, fran, charley – the whole alphabet soup of hurricanes that has hit south florida and we’ve had some freeze events and in the past year and poor market prices so a lot of them are economically stretched really thin and could ill afford any kind of major catastrophe”
Growers in Southwest Florida began planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash about two weeks ago. MacAvoy says Ernesto’s gentle rain and light winds will do no harm to fields.
Growers in Southwest Florida are breathing a sigh of relief – Tropical Storm Ernesto did little if any damage to newly planted crops. In fact, Gene MacAvoy, vegetable extension agent for the University of Florida, says the storm may have benefited some growers.
“a lot of areas were still kind of on the dry side so we could – even if we get another inch or two of rain before the storm moves off most places will be able to accommodate that with no problem, just miss a day of work and get on with business.”
Growers have just started planting the fall crop of tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and squash. Southwest Florida is leading producer of these vegetables staples.
08-31-2006
Tropical storm Ernesto turned out to be little more than a rainy day for most Floridians. Ernesto's fizzle illustrates the difficulty forecasters face predicting the intensity of tropical storms -- a science that lags far behind figuring out where a storm will go. State emergency management director Craig Fugate says he’s concerned that it’s often such a mystery to forecasters why hurricanes sometimes develop so quickly…
“That was never in the forecast for Ernesto, but much of the science is the same. Why do some storms develop when others don’t? Why do storms strengthen? Why do they strengthen rapidly? Why do they sometimes weaken rapidly?”
Technological advances have enabled forecasters to cut their error rate in half since 1990 for predicting where tropical systems will go.
National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield describes the process as a "jigsaw puzzle with a million pieces." Fugate says he hopes there’s more research funding to give forecasters better tools to predict storm intensity.
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Ernesto surprised forecasters by failing to strengthen before reaching the southern tip of Florida, where it delivered drenching rain but none of the heavy winds or damage that had been expected. State officials say their biggest concern in advance of Ernesto were the more than 30-thousand people in Florida still under blue tarps from past hurricanes. But they say even those people in most cases had no trouble weathering the storm. Craig Fugate is Florida’s Emergency Management Director.
“For those people who feel that this was an inconvenience, we understand. But would you rather have had the damages associated with a land-falling hurricane, versus being prepared and being spared the damage and misery from a storm?”
Fugate says most of the heaviest rain fell over the Everglades in Collier & Glades Counties. But even in those areas flooding was minor – and wind damage nearly non-existent.
08-30-2006
All garbage, yard waste, and recycling collections are suspended today in Lee and Collier counties. The city of Fort Myers is collecting yard waste.
There’s no school in Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry and DeSoto Counties.
There is school today in Charlotte county. Collier County Parks and Recreation offers a No School Fun Camp today at
• East Naples Community Park
• Golden Gate Community Center
• Vineyards Community Park
• Veterans Community Park
• Max Hasse Community Park
• Immokalee Community Park
Florida Gulf Coast University is closed today, including satellite campuses.
Some flights at Southwest Florida International airport have been cancelled this morning. Check with your airlines.
The Collier County Public Utilities Division’s after-hours answering service is available for residents to report Collier County public utility issues, inquire about water service, wastewater service and hurricane-related debris removal. 239- 403-2380.
Collier County Government will operate normal business hours today. Employees should report to work. However the Collier County Clerk of Courts operations at the Collier County Courthouse will be closed to the public.
Classes at the Nova Southeastern University in Cape Coral are cancelled.The Cape Coral Small Business Development Center is closed. City hall is open. Parks and rec programs are cancelled today in the Cape.
Lee County Government offices are open today.
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida stores are closed from 8 until noon today.
The Conservancy of SWFL is closed today but its wildlife rehab center will accept any native animals impacted by the storm.
All City of Fort Myers Government offices are closed. The three public meetings about the future of the City’s parks and the Skatium have been canceled. They will be rescheduled for September 12, 13 and 14. Sand and bags are available at Fire Station One on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. downtown and in Dean Park.
Bonita Springs city offices are closed until noon.
Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union branches will be closed in Collier, LaBelle and Lehigh Acres today.
Charlotte County Parks and rec closed all athletic fields and pools today.
The Fort Myers VA Outpatient Clinic and the Naples and Port Charlotte VA Primary Care Clinics have cancelled their patient appointments and are closed today. If veterans have a medical emergency the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Pete will be open.
All four of Edison Community College campuses are closed today.
Sunstate Academy classes are cancelled today.
08-30-2006
Tropical Storm Ernesto surprised forecasters by failing to strengthen yesterday before reaching the southern tip of the state. The decaying system made landfall at 11:30 last night on Plantation Key with 45 mile-an-hour winds.
Only about half an inch of rain fell at Miami International Airport. One of the highest wind gusts recorded was 58 miles-an-hour in Key Biscayne.
It's expected to continue over Florida as a weak tropical storm. Its top sustained winds decreased to 40 miles-an-hour.
Forecasters say Ernesto could weaken to a tropical depression later today, but rainbands with strong, gusty winds will continue throughout the day.
The center is about 75 miles southwest of West Palm Beach moving north near eight miles-an-hour.
08-29-2006
Motorists across South Florida have clogged gas stations Monday to fill up their vehicles in advance of Ernesto’s arrival. Governor Jeb Bush says he’s pleased people are preparing in advance. But he also says the state is in NO danger of running out of fuel. He says Florida’s ports have more than 295-million gallons of gasoline—the highest ever recorded in the state:
“There’s ample fuel. It’s getting out of the ports. The ports are still open. There’s not going to be a shortage so people don’t need to overreact. They just need to make sure they have enough fuel to take care of their families.”
State officials also warn residents to be on the lookout for price gouging. They say any suspected instances of being overcharged should be reported to authorities.
08-29-2006
State meteorologist Ben Nelson says residents shouldn’t dwell on the storm’s projected track because weaker systems are more difficult to forecast.
“Don’t focus on that skinny black line, the track, again this is a weak tropical storm at the moment. Those are often much more difficult to forecast than some of the bigger storms we’ve had over the past couple of years – and it’s very important for folks not to get fixated on that skinny black line.”
Nelson says heavy rainfall will be the biggest threat – as Ernesto moves onshore sometime this afternoon. He says strong currents and tornadoes are also possible in the coming days throughout South Florida.
08-29-2006
Collier County’s tourism bureau has activated its emergency Hotel Hotline, providing information on which Naples hotels have rooms available.
Based on a telephone survey Monday, there are currently more than 3,000 available rooms available for the next four nights.
If Ernesto continues on its more easterly path, it’s expected that Southeast Florida residents may choose to evacuate here. If local residents are thinking of relocating to an area hotel, now is the time to call for reservations.
The number is 1-800-785-8252.
08-29-2006
Collier County recommends visitors and tourists should evacuate. Authorities say the so-called voluntary, precautionary order is needed in case ‘Ernesto’ takes a more northerly path and strikes Southwest Florida. Collier County Emergency Management coordinator Jim Von Rinteln says the evacuation recommendation would give people maximum time to leave the area.
“That’s for people who don’t desire to be here during a hurricane or tropical storm event or have medical conditions that power outages could affect. Often they’re people who just have the ability to go visit friends or take a mini-vacation. This is a good time to do it if you don’t want to be around for bad weather and potentially a hurricane.”
Collier County’s Emergency Operations Center will be fully staffed beginning this morning. Commissioners have also declared a state of emergency.
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The Collier County Commission declared a state of emergency Monday because of Ernesto. Authorities also changed their recommendation for residents living west and south of U-S 41. They no longer need to evacuate. But visitors and tourists should leave. Collier Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Von Rinteln says the so-called voluntary and precautionary order is a smart one because the storm has been unpredictable.
“Just because it’s been tending to show a easterly track, we shouldn’t fixate on that center line. You know it’s the cone of vulnerability is the thing you want to focus on and if you look at that right now, all of the peninsula is under potentially a hurricane watch or warning conditions. So people need to watch this one very carefully.”
The Collier Emergency Information Hotline has been activated for hurricane related questions. The number is 774-8444 or 311.
Officials say people should ensure they have important papers, medications and enough hurricane supplies to last at least three days.
Schools in Collier, Lee and Charlotte County are open today.
08-29-2006
The state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee is operating at its highest level in response to Ernesto. Emergency managers in all 67 counties are taking part in a constant round of conference calls and briefing sessions. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker paid a visit Monday to the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center where planning for the worst and hoping for the best --- is business as usual.
08-28-2006
Florida’s primary election is a week from tomorrow. But early voting began a week ago. And so far election officials in Southwest Florida say they’re surprised by the low turnout. Voters in Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties haven’t yet taken full advantage of early voting. A total of just 45-hundred people have cast ballots, far below some estimates of tens of thousands who might choose to vote early. Every county in Florida is required to set-up designated sites for people to cast ballots up to two weeks in advance. Lee County Elections Supervisor Sharon Harrington is baffled by the low response.
“I don’t know if people aren’t really getting into this election enough or they may not be aware of it. We’re trying to let everyone know. But I don’t know. It’s interesting because I thought for sure we would have had a whole lot more people coming out because there’s so much that’s going to be determined in this primary election.”
Several county commission races will be decided in the primary. Voters are also choosing a slew of newly-created circuit judge positions and, of course, picking their party’s nominee for governor.
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Election officials in Southwest Florida are keeping their fingers crossed that more people will choose to vote early for next week’s primary election. Early voting across Florida started last week. So far, in this region, people have NOT turned out in droves. Collier County Deputy Elections Supervisor Gary Beauchamp says they’ve set up eight locations around the county and about 16-hundred people have taken advantage of early voting.
“It allows people additional time and time that’s convenient to them to exercise their right to vote.”
In Lee County, elections supervisor Sharon Harrington describes early voting as ‘slow but steady’ and she hopes more people will turn out.
“So there’s an awful lot for everyone to vote on regardless of party. You don’t have to be a Republican or a Democrat. If you are no-party or a member of one of what we call the minor parties, there is still a lot on that ballot for people to vote on.”
Voters will choose their party’s nominee for governor, U-S Senate and a host of county commission, school board and judicial races.
08-28-2006
A hurricane watch continues for all the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas including Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West.
Monroe County Emergency Management says the National Hurricane Center forecast indicates Ernesto should not exceed Category 1 strength, if the tropical cyclone passes over the Keys late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning as forecasted. Keys tourism spokesman Andy Newman says that means things are quite calm.
“It seems with the last couple of forecasts that the tracking of the storm seems to be shifting to the east so perhaps we might get lucky here. But still people are taking it seriously because we are responding to a category one storm it means that the procedure dictate that there’s not going to be a need for any type of mandatory general resident evacuation.”
A visitor evacuation continues for all the Florida Keys. Those with immediate future travel plans to the Keys must postpone trips until the risk has passed.
The evacuation of special needs patients to the Monroe County shelter at Florida International University began at 6 a.m.
Mobile home and boat dwellers, as well as residents residing in low-lying areas prone to flooding, should leave. Monroe County schools are today.
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Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for the southern peninsula of Florida as Tropical Storm Ernesto grows closer today. Ernesto has maximum sustained winds of 50 miles-per-hour but forecasters cautioned that the storm could regain hurricane strength before its anticipated arrival today on Cuba's southeastern coast.
The watch was issued from Deerfield Beach near Boca Raton southward on the east coast and from Chokoloskee southward on the west coast. A hurricane watch is in effect for all of the Florida Keys. Keys tourism spokesman Andy Newman says this storm hasn't provided much warning time and has been eratic.
“It’s a strange thing how it’s tropical storm Ernesto, became a hurricane, then the mountains of Haiti really chewed it up and now it’s a tropical storm again and the forecasters are really puzzled about this storm and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” :12
Visitors were ordered to leave the Keys yesterday and Governor Jeb Bush issued a state of emergency because of the possibility that Ernesto could threaten much of the state.
At 8 a-m, the storm had top sustained winds of 45 miles-an-hour, moving northwest at 12 miles-an-hour. It was centered 515 miles southeast from Key West.
08-28-2006
Southwest Florida was a top spot for training pilots for action in World War II. After the war some of the servicemen returned to the area and some married local girls and made it their home. Bill Smith senior came from Tennessee to learn to be a pilot. He washed out of flight training school in Arcadia but stayed in the area during the war years - assigned to an Air Sea Rescue Unit. Here's his story:
Hear more about the fly boys and others who learned to soar over the skies of Southwest Florida on Untold Stories: A Wing and a Prayer - a production of WGCU pbulic television.
08-28-2006
A Bird Flu scenario will be played out tomorrow in Lee County. The Lee County Health Department is the lead agency in the exercise that will measure response to the impending presence of bird flu in the community. Law enforcement, hospital staff, fire and rescue and other private and public agencies will also take part. The Lee County Emergency Operations Center will be the command post. Steven Fetner is Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for the Health Department.
“What we’re doing is testing our ability to communicate with each other to integrate our services and to sort of be on the same page as to how we would gear up to respond to an event like this“
Officials with the World Health Organization have warned it may only be a matter of time before there is a deadly bird flu pandemic. Other municipalities around the country are going through similar exercises to prepare for that possibility. Collier County has already staged one drill. Charlotte County will hold one in January. Valerie Alker, W-G-C-U News.
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An exercise to test the handling of a bird flu alert will be played out tomorrow in Lee County. World Health Officials fear bird – or avian – flu could become a pandemic. To prepare for that possibility, healthcare workers and others will be tested on their response to an unrehearsed scenario. Steve Fetner of the Lee County Health Department says the purpose is to facilitate a smooth response to the real thing.
“What they will do is sort of run through a rolling scenario that brings it here to lee county and injects all kinds of situations – what would you do if? Hospitals what are you going to do if you run out of bed space, things of that nature. We want people to react as if it were a real situation so they have no preconceived ideas about what they would do.”
If the worst-case scenario plays out and bird flu becomes a pandemic – one quarter of people living in the U-S might become infected. Collier County has already had a bird flu exercise – Charlotte plans one for January.
08-25-2006
School starts Monday for Ave Maria University Students. Right now classes are taught at a temporary campus in Naples. But next year students will be on their own campus, now being built near Immokalee. Construction managers say Ave Maria University – and the town of Ave Maria - are well on course to welcome students and residents next fall. Blake Gable is with Barron Collier Corporation, which donated land for the Catholic University and is building the town.
“Our plans are for the town center to begin to open in June and July with a couple of retailers and uses, moving forward to complete the town center toward the end of the fall, early winter. Obviously when the students come out we have to have some stuff open.
Gable says some homes should be built by April or May. The metal frame of the hundred-foot high church that will anchor the campus is well underway. The wastewater and water treatment facility will be complete in about a month. Buildings are rising up – in various stages of completion. Ave Maria University is largely funded by Tom Monahan – founder of the Dominos Pizza Chain, and a devout Catholic.
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