Today’s weather: High 86 Low 71 Heavy CHARLOTTE SUN t-storms SUPREME COURT MAKES SPORTS BETTING A POSSIBILITY NATIONWIDE Pulitzer Prize winner The Supreme Court on Monday gave its go-ahead for states to allow gambling on sports across the nation, striking down a federal law that 2016 barred betting on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states. See Sports Tuesday, May 15, 2018 VOL. 126 | NO. 135 www.yoursun.com AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY $1.50 AN EDITION OF THE SUN Sarasota, Former chief files 2nd complaint North Port discussing 2016 Knowlton shooting By ANNE EASKER officer Lee Coel with live In an email to Chief Pam Coel appears to wave the gun officials STAFF WRITER wadcutter rounds. Davis, Lewis states he remains around as he speaks to Nahra He and the other officers “dismayed at how some through the open window. PUNTA GORDA — Former believed the gun was loaded aspects remain uninvestigated; “Had Norm Nahra addressed Punta Gorda Police Chief with blanks. one of those aspects is that of Lee Coel’s reckless actions, talk roads Tom Lewis has filed a second Both Lewis and Coel were (interim Capt.) Norm Nahra.” Mary Knowlton would still be personnel complaint related to fired from the department due Lewis states Nahra, then a alive,” Lewis states. By LAUREN COFFEY the Aug. 9, 2016, death of Mary to their involvement in the lieutenant on the force, failed He goes on to discuss Nahra’s STAFF WRITER Knowlton during a community incident. Lewis was initially to address Coel’s “reckless personal relationship with demonstration at the police charged with culpable negli- handling” of the same firearm Internal Affairs investigator Lt. VENICE — Sarasota County department. gence but was acquitted in a that killed Knowlton. Terry Cochran, suggesting it officials and North Port City During a role-playing jury trial last summer. He attached video clips from resulted in a lack of investiga- Commission rehashed several exercise before members of Coel is scheduled to face the surveillance footage, in tion into Nahra’s oversight. big-ticket agenda items at a joint the Chamber of Commerce, a jury trial in October for a which Coel can be seen hold- “It is clear that Lieutenant meeting while looking forward to Knowlton, a 73-year-old retired charge of negligent manslaugh- ing the gun in his right hand as new projects. librarian, was shot by former ter with a firearm. Nahra drives up in a patrol car. The two commissions met COMPLAINT | 8 Monday afternoon at the R.L. Anderson Administrative Building in Venice. The joint meeting had four topics on the agenda: an update on River THE BOTTOM LINE Road, the Myakkahatchee Creek A look at the complicated relationship Greenway Trail, the new Atlanta Street safety no between cars, bicyclists and pedestrians. This Braves Spring Training stadium and a is the second of a three-part series tied to new Interstate 75 access point. National Transportation Week, which runs North Port staffers worked with the Florida Department through Saturday, and May 10’s 125th anni- of Transportation regarding an versary of the Federal Highway Administra- interchange at I-75 and Yorkshire walk in the park tion. This is also National Bike Month. Boulevard. By RUSTY PRAY Page 4: Lower speed limits could be coming “The interstate is very important SUN CORRESPONDENT to provide a point of access and right Page 4: Bike quiz now it’s only two (interchanges): It was 1:30 on a Thursday Coming Thursday: The vehicles of the future Toledo Blade and Sumter,” said Jerry afternoon. It was a warm, Traverson, engineering divisions sunny day in Punta Gorda. manager. “That’s 12 miles, so if an There was no fog, no rain, no accident happens on I-75 the detour wind to speak of. Mother’s would be very extensive. This would Day was the only thing on help not just North Port but northern the horizon. Port Charlotte and that area in Traffic wasn’t awful at the general.” intersection of Henry and Sarasota County Commissioner Shreve, a four-way stop with Nancy Detert said while no action a right-turn yield from Shreve could be taken at the joint meeting, onto Henry and a pedestri- the interchange would be brought up an/bicycle crosswalk. at their next meeting so they could A car attempted to make a SOURCE: NHTSA FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM vote on writing a letter of support for left from Shreve onto Henry. the project. Suddenly, the driver put allowed the pedestrians to thinking? Were the pedestri- “We could vote for a letter of on the brakes. There for all cross. ans really paying attention? support because it makes pretty to see – except maybe the Add the element of a bicy- They may have had the right good sense,” she said. “Frankly you driver – were two pedestrians clist to that squall, and there of way, but they risked hospi- have two counties supporting you would have been the perfect talization while asserting that because I think Charlotte County in the crosswalk. The vehicle storm of traffic turmoil. could do the same (in writing of stopped in the middle of the What was that driver SAFETY | 4 letter of support).” intersection and correctly Simple updates were given on the ROADS | 8 CORRECTION Founders of the annual Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim had to make changes SUN PHOTO BY SCOTT LAWSON in regards to their launch points due to construction of the Harbor Walk project. A traffic signal beams the don’t walk light in An article in Monday’s Sun stated North Port. otherwise. BY THE NUMBERS $10,374 - Cost of operating a car in 2013 CHARLIE SAYS ... 19.5 percent: Percentage of a typical Trips to the Hard Rock may get a little more household income that goes to ownership of interesting. one motor vehicle $308: Cost of operating a bicycle for a year 260 gallons: Gasoline saved annually CALL US AT in usual two-person home in a walkable 941-206-1000 community Free: Walking FIND US ONLINE Source: AAA, American Community Survey, www.yoursun.com League of American Bicyclists, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center INSIDE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Groundbreaking today for new Punta Gorda Charlotte Library THE SUN: NEWS WIRE: Comics/Puzzles .........5-7 By DANIEL SUTPHIN south county area, includes refers to a framing stage that have to return until the roof is Obituaries ...............5 STAFF WRITER the main library area, meeting includes placing pipes, water completed. Police Beat ..............8 Nation ...................... 8 rooms, Friends of the Punta lines, electric wiring, duct work “All the (remaining) water Viewpoint ............6-7 State ........................ 3 Construction begins today Gorda Library area, youth and and gas lines. piping is overhead,” said for the new library in Punta program space, computer “We are putting in the Jacobson, “so we won’t come Stocks ......................4 Gorda. The ribbon-cutting area with instructional classes sanitary underground,” said back until the roof is on.” OUR TOWN: Weather ................... 2 ceremony for the Punta Gorda and about 1,000 square feet of Jacobson, “before they pour the The $7.8 million library is Charlotte Library is set for archive space. (concrete) slab.” funded by proceeds from the Calendar ..................5 World .....................2 8:30 a.m. at 401 Shreve St. in The total project budget is Jacobson said electricians 1-percent local option sales Crosswords ..............5 Punta Gorda, adjacent to the $7.1 million with an estimated and air-conditioner technicians tax approved by voters in Local News ........1-6,8 SPORTS: History Park. end date of summer 2019. are usually on site in this phase November 2014, according to Representatives from the While the ribbon-cutting is as well. the county. Local Sports ........... 2 Lotto .......................2 county and the city are expect- commemorating the start of the “Usually electricians and Development of the foun- ed to attend. construction, the groundwork air condition (companies) get dation began April 9. The land “All five county commis- is already underway. their stuff in underground at was donated to the county by sioners will be in attendance,” Aqua Plumbing, out of this point … chiller pipes, the the City Council. The library is Daily Edition $1.50 said county spokesman Sarasota, has had a team on chiller system.” Jacobson said being built by Willis A. Smith Brian Gleason. “City council site for the rough-in phase of they should finish placing the Construction. Engineering members are also expected to the facility’s construction, said plumbing by the end of the and design was performed by attend.” Danny Jacobson, a plumber week. They have been working Harvard Jolly Architecture. The 20,100-square-foot and technician with the on the site since May 7. Once 7 05252 00025 8 facility, which will serve the company. The rough-in phase completed, the company won’t Email: [email protected] Page 2 E/N/C www.yoursun.com LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWS The Sun /Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Green Street Church readies for its move By STEVE REILLY the move of the church our permits, we can call The historical society decided to move the on two lots at Magnolia STAFF WRITER from its present loca- the moving company,” raised $104,000 — in- Green Street church Street. The church was tion on the 400 block of Hicks said. cluding grants from from its present lo- built with volunteer ENGLEWOOD — The West Green Street one But that’s not to say the Sarasota County cation — property labor and also served Lemon Bay Historical mile east to the historic the 89-year-old church Alliance for Historical the historical society as a community center Society expects to have cemetery on South will be ready for its Preservation and leased from the and a hurricane shelter.