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News Archive Index
05-29-2007
Many southwest Floridians enjoyed some time off Monday in honor of Memorial Day. Some went boating or beaching or shopping, or to the movies. Many others turned out at numerous Memorial Day services to honor the nation’s fallen soldiers. Hundreds of people – many aided by walkers, wheel chairs and canes – attended the annual day of Remembrance at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens. Producer Valerie Alker was there and prepared this audio postcard.
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We heard from Dorian Gullage, Janine Deems, Bob Scott, Clem Concadora, Mary Lou Lock, Ralph Coltman, Chaplain David Goins, Jonathan Frantz and Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott. Lori Jerabeck sang the National Anthem.
05-28-2007
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS
The Veterans Council of Collier County is holding a ceremony at 9:30 am Monday at Naples Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery at 525 111th Avenue in North Naples. 239-298-7935.
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The Lexington Country Club Veterans Association is celebrating at 10:30 am Monday at 16225 Willow Crest Way. 239-437-1442.
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American Legion Post 323 and VFW Post 4174 will have a service at 11 am Monday at Lee Memorial Park on State Road 82.
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A field of nearly 3500 white crosses will be erected starting at 7 am Monday on the beach at Naples Pier at 12th Avenue South. Called Arlington South, the memorial remembers the soldiers killed in Iraq. At noon, taps will be played, and the soldiers’ names and ages will be read. 239-649-6863
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The Memorial Day ceremony in Bonita Springs starts at 9 am Monday at Riverside Park. 239-949-6262.
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American Legion Post 103 in Punta Gorda, and VFW Post 5690 in Port Charlotte, will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at Restlawn Memorial Gardens at 11 am Monday at 1380 Forrest Nelson Boulevard in Port Charlotte. 941-639-6337.
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American Legion Post 110 in Port Charlotte is holding a ceremony and parade Monday in front of the post at 3152 Harbor Boulevard at 10 am. 941-629-7446.
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American Legion Post 254 in North Port, and North Port VFW Post 8203’s Memorial Day service is at 11 am Monday at Memorial Park at U.S. 41 and Biscayne Drive with the North Port. 941-423-7311.
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American Legion Post 159 in Venice will hold a Memorial Day service at 10 am today at the post at 1770 E. Venice Ave. 941-485-4748 or 941-484-8118.
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The DeSoto County Veterans Service will hold a Memorial Day commemoration service to honor DeSoto County's fallen soldiers at 11 am at the DeSoto County Courthouse Veterans' Memorial in Arcadia. 863-993-4858.
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Clyde Lassen VFW Post 10178 in Englewood is holding a service at 9 am at Gulf Pines Memorial Park on 2401 Englewood Road. 941-474-7516.
05-25-2007
WGCU news concludes its series highlighting Florida Gulf Coast University students who are also recent veterans. FGCU graduate Andrea Voss tells the story of Joe Stanis – who served in the Armyu Medical Corps for 9 years, including time in the Middle East.
05-25-2007
So far this year in Lee County there are no tragic stories to tell about children drowning. That's signifcant considering southwest Florida generally ranks as one of the top counties in the state for drowning deaths of children under 14. Parents just don't think it can happen to their kids, said a Health Department official during a recent 'safe pool party' in Fort Myers. WGCU's Luis Hernandez was there and has this report.
05-24-2007
WGCU news continues today highlighting Florida Gulf Coast University students who are also recent veterans. Their stories are told by recent FGCU graduate Andrea Voss. In her second report, Voss profiles U.S. Army sergeant Tony Mercurio.
05-24-2007
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is preparing a legal challenge against Florida Power & Light’s proposed coal fueled power plant in Glades County.
Conservancy President – Andrew McElwaine – says they’re specifically appealing Glades County’s determination that the massive plant is consistent with growth management plans. And he says while he recognizes the state’s growing energy demands, this plant is not a proper solution…
“Now a smaller plant that represented the best technology like an integrated combined cycle plant I think we’d be open to discussing that with Florida Power & Light. But no this plant. This plant is really above and beyond what is appropriate for that landscape.”
FPL calls the proposed plant -quote “clean coal technology” – because it would burn powdered coal at super-high temperatures.
McElwaine says no matter what you call it…the plant would still emit nearly 200 pounds of mercury a year, in an environmentally sensitive area that’s already under mercury advisories. Glades commissioners…and many residents…support the plant – pointing to the economic benefit it would bring to the rural county.
A state administrative judge will be in Moore Haven beginning June 5th to hear from challengers and defenders of the proposed plant, which would sit about 5 miles from the small, rural town on the edge of Lake Okeechobee.
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The massive coal burning power plant proposed by Florida Power & Light for rural Glades County continues to draw fire from environmental groups.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida says the plant is inconsistent with state and local growth management plans – and will be among the challengers at an administrative hearing set to begin June 5th in Moore Haven.
Conservancy President - Andrew McElwaine – says FPL’s proposal is the wrong choice.
“Glades County wants the power plant and I understand why, and we’re not against a power plant per se…we are against a 1.9 gigawatt pulverized coal plant that is not the latest technology.”
Called clean-burning by FPL…the plant would burn powdered coal at extremely high temperatures. It would be the biggest of its kind in the U-S.
McElwaine says clean-burning or not, it would still add roughly 200 pounds of mercury a year to a local ecosystem that’s already under mercury advisories.
In addition to the administrative hearing next month in Moore Haven the project also awaits sanction from the Florida Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities. Governor Charlie Crist and his cabinet have the final say on the matter.
05-24-2007
The on-going drought is taking its’ toll on Florida, especially Lake Okeechobee. But Water Management officials say there is a silver lining in this dark cloud.
The water level in Lake Okeechobee is at an all time low due to the drought. Areas that are normally three or four feet below water are now bone dry. South Florida Water Management District officials are taking advantage of this. Water managers along with the Environmental Protection Agency, are removing muck. That’s nutrient rich soil that has settled on the lake bed with disastrous consequences. It kills fish and underwater vegetation. There are six sites around the lake where workers are removing muck before the water levels come back up. Spokesman Randy Smith says the process shouldn’t take too long to finish.
“It’s a massive project but it goes relatively fast with the heavy equipment. We think a couple of months of work and we will complete this phase of restoring the lake bottom to its’ natural state."
Michael Shellen is a resident of the lakeside town of Buckhead and fisherman. He says this is a great project that will help the area.
“When they’re done the water will come back up…the natural plants that are supposed to be growing in this lake will come back…the fish will come back…the fishing is still terrific in this lake."
This phase of the clean up will pick up more than 500-thousand cubic yards of muck…enough to fill Joe Robby stadium. The cost is around eleven million dollars.
05-23-2007
Southwest Florida’s housing market is in a slump – but recovery is just around the corner. That’s according to housing analyst Mike Timmerman who spoke to members of the Urban Land Institute Wednesday in Estero.
Mike Timmerman of Hanley Wood Market Intelligence told a group of about 100 realtors, builders and others the housing market moves in 36 month cycles – and the region is now in the 20th month of a downward trend. He says housing has taken a hit in Southwest Florida because of the large proportion of second homes and investment properties.
“where there’s employment based housing need, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville – the area’s where the housing is there for workers – those areas haven’t done as poorly as markets which are second home investors places...pricing didn’t increase as much so we didn’t have as many investors and speculators therefore they didn’t get as far ahead of the game as we did in Southwest Florida.”
Overbuilding in Southwest Florida has led to oversupply and Timmerman says right now builders are unloading units at or below cost. But he says it’s a buyers market right now - for those who can afford the taxes and insurance that comes with being a home owner. He’s hopeful state lawmakers will legislate a cure for those high costs in the upcoming special session. As for the over-abundance of housing stock, Timmerman says in-migration will eventually take up the slack.
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Southwest Florida’s housing slump is only temporary. That’s according to Housing analyst Mike Timmerman who spoke to members of the Urban Land Institute Wednesday in Estero. Timmerman told the group’s members that ups and downs are part of the housing cycle, but in the end, the region’s building industry and housing market are poised to do well.
“we had a huge amount of speculation that occurred – but from an overall standpoint the demographics are very good for sw Florida, we’re expecting a huge amount of in migration because of the quality of life – so obviously the long run for sw is very good – you do have blips and that’s what this part is – a blip in the market place.”
Timmerman says the biggest challenges in the housing market right now are in selling existing homes – some are overpriced and have been on the market too long. He says high property taxes and the high cost of insurance are also turning some potential homeowners into renters instead.
05-23-2007
WGCU News is highlighting three Florida Gulf Coast University students who are also recent veterans. Their stories are being told by recent FGCU graduate Andrea Voss. In this first report, she profiles U.S. Marine Corporal Tyrone Martin. He’s also a recent graduate hoping to get into law school, while facing the potential to be called up again for service.
05-23-2007
The Florida Department of Education announced today that independent auditors will be re-scoring the entire batch of 2006 3rd grade reading tests.
Department Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg says an internal investigation found what looks like a problem with the test, and that 3rd graders in ’06 may have had it easier than their predecessors. And because of that, the entire batch will face an audit - and be rescored.
“It isn’t related to the scoring of the test, it’s an equating issue. I just want to assure you that this was not intentional or deliberate.”
Blomberg says they’re still trying to get a handle on exactly what went wrong and that more details will be available later this week.
The just-released 2007 scores will not face an audit…but Blomberg says all future FCAT tests on all levels will be audited from now on.
And she says while the intention isn’t to cause grief to anyone, the re-scoring could have an impact on the letter grades school’s received last year.
For a complete look at the reading, math and science scores released Wednesday click here.
05-23-2007
For a complete look at the reading, math and science scores released Wednesday click here.
05-22-2007
The 2007 Hurricane Season is just around the corner. But state emergency officials don’t want residents to worry about how many storms may hit.
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say 2007 could be another busy hurricane season. They predict 13-to-17 named storms with seven to ten of those becoming hurricanes. And they forecast three to five of those could become major hurricanes. But spokesman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management Mike Stone says even with all these numbers and the numerous other storm predictions being made, people should only prepare and worry about one storm at time.
“What we want Florida residents to understand is that they need to be prepared for the next storm. You hear a lot about historical activity, they put a lot of weight on the numbers. Well I’d like to remind folks that back in 92 there was a storm called Andrew that didn’t crop up until late August.”
Stone says people need to come up with a plan now for any oncoming storm. And people can take advantage of the upcoming sales tax holiday on hurricane supplies. The holiday runs from June first through the 12th.
05-22-2007
Salvation Army chapters around the country recently marked National Salvation Army Week. The focus in Lee County was on the Army's ongoing efforts to provide hope and care to communities in need. WGCU's Christine Buckley spent some time at a unique Bonita Springs site and filed this report.
05-22-2007
Governor Charlie Crist signed a bill recently that will establish a paper trail for all votes cast in Florida elections. The legislation will provide optical scan machines for counties that do not already have them, appropriating nearly 28 million dollars to buy the equipment. Touch-screen machines will still be used to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. State Representative Dave Aronberg, whose district includes parts of Southwest Florida, says it’s a first step in election reform, not the last.
“We didn’t have any confidence in our voting system. This started back in 2000, we tried to fix things by installing these electronic machines but then we found out the electronic machines were not perfect and there was no paper trail to make sure there was a backup. I just hope we can reduce the chance the of fraud to where it does not impact any elections but don’t think that we’re ever going to get rid of the possibility of it.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida applauded the law as an initial step toward comprehensive voting reform. It says in a release that the pattern of under votes – especially the 18,300 unrecorded votes in the 2006 Congressional election in Sarasota – and the inability of voting machines to allow for a recount, led to the change.
05-22-2007
More than 150 breeds of dogs were represented this weekend at the Greater Ft. Myers Dog Club's Annual Spring Show. They were accompanied by about 1200 owners and exhibitors. WGCU’s Valerie Alker was part of a crowd of about five hundred admirers, and has this report.
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