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 Fort Myers Beach Election Returns
(Mouse over image for caption, Click to enlarge)22.8%, or 1,152 of the island's 5,052 registered voters went to the polls this yesterday, fighting through thick season traffic to participate in the the Town of Fort Myers Beach's election for two seats on the council. Candidates Larry Kiker, seeking re-election, and long-time LPA member Alan Mandel won against Joe Kosinski who, despite being a relative political newcomer, managed to pick up 25% of the vote. Total election results are as follows:
Alan Mandel: 837 votes (39%)
Larry Kiker: 784 votes (36%) Joe Kosinski: 534 votes (25%) Read more... | |
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County Accepts 20 Acre Donation for Wildlife Corridor
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During Tuesday's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), the commissioners were pleased to approve a revamped recycling program that will be less expensive to residents, and accepted a donation of land to complete a wildlife corridor along State Road 82.
Chairman Hall began the meeting with a ceremonial presentation honoring the Girl Scouts. "March 12th marks the 98th anniversary of the formation of the Scouts, and since that time 50 million girls have participated - growing strong, learning leadership skills and realizing their potential,” she said. Read more... | |
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Good Samaritans Help Kayak Racer
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At about 10:30pm Sunday night, Jan and Randy DeWise were watching the surf from their patio at Villa Del Mar when Jan noticed an odd light approaching from the water. The couple, vacationing from Michigan, ran out to the beach where they encountered retired Marine Steve Isaac, dripping wet and pulling his 17-foot kayak onto the shore. It turns out that Isaac, who hails from Cleawater, had capsized in his tiny vessel less than 24 hours into a 1200-mile kayak race that circumnavigates the state of Florida. "My husband and I saw his headlamp heading in, and we figured it was someone who needed help,” Jan told us. They helped the hypothermic paddler to shore and helped him warm up. Read more... | |
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Indictment of 'Jihad Jane' shows terrorism evolved
The self-described "Jihad Jane" who thought her blond hair and blue eyes would let her blend in as she sought to kill an artist in Sweden is a rare case of an American woman aiding foreign terrorists and shows the evolution of the global threat, authorities say. The suburban Philadelphia woman, Colleen R. LaRose, is accused in the indictment filed Tuesday of actively recruiting fighters, as well as agreeing to murder the artist, marry a terrorism suspect so he could move to Europe and martyr herself if necessary. LaRose is "one of only a few such cases nationwide in which females have been charged with terrorism violations," said U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Dean Boyd.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Class-action lawsuits could cost Toyota $3B-plus
Toyota owners claiming that massive safety recalls are causing the value of their vehicles to plummet have filed at least 89 class-action lawsuits that could cost the Japanese auto giant $3 billion or more, according to an Associated Press review of cases, legal precedent and interviews with experts. Those estimates do not include potential payouts for wrongful death and injury lawsuits, which could reach in the tens of millions each. Still, the sheer volume of cases involving U.S. Toyota owners claiming lost value — 6 million or more — could prove far more costly, adding up to losses in the billions for the automaker.
Monday, March 08, 2010
JFK condolence letters published for 1st time
Among the 1.5 million condolence letters sent to President John F. Kennedy's widow after his assassination in 1963 were more than two dozen from Jane Dryden, a dogged and dramatic 11-year-old who churned out a letter a week for six months straight. "I know that you hate the whole state of Texas. I do to," she wrote to Jacqueline Kennedy from Austin in January 1964. "I wish I lived in Washington, D.C. where maybe I could maybe see you standing on your porch. I am determined to move there as soon as I can. I would feel safer there."
Friday, March 05, 2010
Gunman killed after shooting 2 Pentagon police
A California man killed in a shootout with Pentagon police drove cross-country and arrived at the military headquarters' subway entrance armed with two semiautomatic weapons, authorities said Friday. The shooter apparently left behind Internet postings resentful of the government and airing suspicions about the 9/11 attacks. Investigators have found no immediate connection to terrorism, and the attack that superficially wounded two police officers at the massive Defense Department headquarters appears to be a case of "a single individual who had issues," Richard Keevill, chief of Pentagon police, said in an early morning press conference Friday.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
No is no: More men file sexual harassment claims
John Pilkington's boss wouldn't take no for an answer. During more than two years as a food runner at an upscale steakhouse in Scottsdale, Ariz., Pilkington says his male supervisor groped, fondled and otherwise sexually harassed him more than a dozen times. Now Pilkington, a married father of two, is the star witness in a federal lawsuit against Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and one of a growing number of men claiming they are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. From 1990 to 2009, the percentage of sexual harassment claims filed by men has doubled from 8 percent to 16 percent of all claims, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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VOTE! Polls Open Tuesday for Local Election
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`On Tuesday, March 9th, the Town of Fort Myers Beach will hold it's sixth election – this one for the two seats open on Town Council being sought by Larry Kiker (seeking re-election), Joe Kosinski and Alan Mandel. While it is important for every citizen to vote, it should be noted that it has only been a short time that the citizens of Fort Myers Beach had the opportunity to vote for their own local leaders. For the benefit of our newcomers as well as the memory of those who have been here a long time, the Sand Paper decided to present a history of the elections - including our incorporation in 1995 - followed by Editor and Publisher Carl Conley's endorsements for this year's Town Council
Incorporation Efforts
Before the last attempt succeeded in 1995, there were many attempts to incorporate Fort Myers Beach. The first one, in the mid '40's, failed by just six or seven votes. A second try later in the '40's lost by a larger number, but not overwhelmingly so. Another, in November 1953 was so poorly handled that the proponents pulled out before the referendum date. An entirely new charter was drawn up in 1957 which stipulated that not more than two mills could be assessed without special referendum, and incorporation came up for another vote. Again it was defeated, this time by a margin of 88 votes. The same charter was used in the winter of 1960 and lost by 50 votes. Feeling ran strong, naturally, and the voting was heavy. Those who worked for incorporation were tired of government by remote control and felt we were ready for home rule. The opposition feared that once enacted, incorporation would mean a continual raise in taxes. Read more... | |
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| Charlie Whitehead - Island Journalist | |
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 Charlie Whitehead - Island Journalist
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At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Charlie Whitehead cuts an imposing figure... when he walks into a room, you know he's there. If you don't see him, certainly you'll hear his deep, resonant voice in conversation with someone, distinctive enough to hear over a fairly good-sized crowd - or a ball field.
President of the Fort Myers Beach Little League for the past four or five years - he couldn't say for sure - Charlie has been involved in Little League on the Beach since the late '80's. (For more on this story read The Island Sand Paper) | |
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| Hard News on Water Quality | |
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 Hard News on Water Quality
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The administrator and senior officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) met with members of the Florida Delegation yesterday to discuss the agency's proposed new numeric standards for water quality. Following that meeting, the Island Sand Paper immediately conferenced with those officials and learned that the EPA plans to extend the period for the public to make a comment by 30 days and to have three additional public hearings in cities on Florida's west coast – all scheduled for the week of April 12th. (For more on this story subscribe to the Island Sand Paper) | |
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