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Post Comments, share Views, read Blogs on CaPe-Coral-daily-Breeze.Com Ballgame Local teams go head to head in CAPE CORAL Bud Roth tourney DAILY BREEZE — SPORTS WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Saturday: Partly Cloudy — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 48, No. 89 Friday, April 17, 2009 50 cents Cape man guilty on all counts in ’05 shooting death “I’m very pleased with the verdict. This is a tough case. Jurors deliberate for nearly 4 hours It was very emotional for the jurors, but I think it was the right decision given the evidence and the facts of the By CONNOR HOLMES tery with a deadly weapon. in the arm by co-defendant Anibal case.” cholmes@breezenewspapers.com Gaphoor has been convicted as Morales; Jose Reyes-Garcia, who Dave Gaphoor embraced his a principle in the 2005 shooting was shot in the arm by Morales; — Assistant State Attorney Andrew Marcus mother, removed his coat and let death of Jose Gomez, 25, which and Salatiel Vasquez, who was the bailiff take his fingerprints after occurred during an armed robbery beaten with a tire iron. At the tail end of a three-day made the right decision. a 12-person Lee County jury found in which Gaphoor took part. The jury returned from approxi- trial and years of preparation by “I’m very pleased with the ver- him guilty Thursday of first-degree Several others were injured, mately three hours and 45 minutes state and defense attorneys, dict,” he said Thursday. “This is a felony murder, two counts of including Rigoberto Vasquez, who of deliberations at 8 p.m. with the Assistant State Attorney Andrew tough case. It was very emotional attempted second-degree murder state attorneys argued was shot in verdict finding Gaphoor guilty on Marcus said he believed the jury with a firearm and aggravated bat- the stomach by Gaphoor, and later all counts. See VERDICT, page 10A Area teacher retires after 30 years Cape Coral paying Last day at insurance on more Trafalgar vehicles than owns Middle Audit uncovers mistake By GRAY ROHRER By MCKENZIE CASSIDY grohrer@breezenewspapers.com “What we found was the mcassidy@breezenewspapers.com Cape Coral is paying insurance administration’s policy ... One of Trafalgar Middle on 920 on-road vehicles, 75 more we didn’t feel like it was School’s health and physical edu- than the city owns, according to a sufficient, and we didn’t cation teachers is trading in her take-home vehicle audit released feel like what we had was grade book and whistle today to last month. being adhered to.” embark on a four-month expedi- The report also states that city tionary trip to Alaska. management does not have suffi- — Dona Newman, After 30 years of service in the cient policies in place regarding the city auditor Lee County School District, use of city-owned vehicles and does Vickie Allender is retiring this not always follow the policies it week and traveling to Talkeetna, has. adhered to,” city auditor Dona Alaska, to work guest relations at “What we found was the admin- Newman told members of the audit a resort. istration’s policy ... we didn’t feel committee Thursday. Located on the base of Denali, like it was sufficient, and we didn’t There are 26 take-home vehi- also known as Mt. McKinley, the feel like what we had was being See AUDIT, page 10A village is situated near the Alaskan wilderness with opportu- nities for hiking, fishing or skiing. “It will be a fun adventure and Financial advisory something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “I’ve always want- ed to be an Alaskan girl.” Allender moved to Lee County committee’s future from New Jersey 30 years ago and started working at LaBelle Elementary. Soon she transferred MCKENZIE CASSIDY in city council hands to Suncoast Middle School, now the North Fort Myers Academy of Thirty-year Lee County veteran teacher Vickie Allender the Arts, and worked there as a plans on retiring from Trafalgar Middle School today to teacher and assistant principal for fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling to Alaska. Disband or continue on 15 years. “Suncoast was a whole differ- career and something I’ve always the wilderness. By GRAY ROHRER ent scenario,” Allender said. wanted to do since I was in the Her goal is to prodigiously grohrer@breezenewspapers.com “I’m quite OK with it “When you are an AP (assistant sixth grade,” she said. take photographs and record After the surprising resigna- operating as five, provid- principal) of discipline, anything The school district has video that can be replayed for the tion Monday of the financial ed they can all meet the can happen.” changed a lot in the pats 30 years, students at Trafalgar. advisory committee’s chair- requirements.” Working as an assistant princi- Allender said, from a place where Allender said that in the future man, and one member calling pal was difficult, she said, and schools could not hire enough she would like to volunteer for the for the committee to disband, — Mayor Jim Burch after earning her master’s degree teachers to the economic downfall John Halgrim Foundation by Mayor Jim Burch wants to from Florida Atlantic University, of the past two years. teaching children in Africa. shore up the status of the trou- replacing two members in the she went to work at Trafalgar “This is a bleak moment in Halgrim, who passed away bled board. midst of an arduous budget Middle School as a health and time for Lee County,” she said. from cancer in 2007, asked the “We don’t want it hanging process would be difficult. physical education teacher. “When I first came in we were Make-A-Wish foundation to help in limbo,” he said. Neither Peppers nor Foye “I decided to work at the num- flourishing, but overall in my 30 struggling students in Nairobi, When Michael Foye could be reached for comment ber one school in Lee County,” years of experience I believe Lee Kenya, by founding an orphan- resigned the seven-member Thursday. she said. “It’s like a full circle, I County will rebound.” age. committee was already short Councilmember Dolores started in PE and ended in PE.” Allender emphasized that it Vickie’s husband, Bob one member, following Gloria Bertolini mentioned disbanding Over the last three decades was the dedication of her adminis- Allender, is a sixth-grade teacher Baron’s move to the East Coast the committee as an option dur- Allender has impacted the lives of trators and fellow teachers that at Trafalgar Middle and will retire earlier this year. ing Monday’s council meeting, 26,000 students who have grown helped her succeed and prevail in two years. Committee member Cheryl but stated that it is not her pre- up to enter the real world as throughout her career. “It is wonderful to know that Peppers suggested dissolving ferred course of action. lawyers or nurses. Unlike some Once she arrives in Alaska she this is not the end to a successful the board in a memo to council “I brought it to the council’s who may have left the profession plans on taking expeditions to the career, but a beginning to move members Wednesday. attention because of what I burned out or bitter, Allender said Arctic Circle and across the on to fulfill other lifelong dreams, She claims that the commit- heard Monday,” she said, refer- she has no regrets. Denali National Park, as well as adventures and endeavors,” he tee’s advice is not used much ring to Foye’s resignation. “It has been a very fulfilling embark on her own trips through said. by council members, and that See COMMITTEE, page 10A Cape C.A.R.E.S. to host annual 30 Days of Hope “The reason we chose this time of year is because sui- Raise awareness of center’s services cide is highest in the springtime. At the end of all this we want the community to know that C.A.R.E.S. is here. We By MCKENZIE CASSIDY Awareness in Recognizing and time of year is because suicide have the resources, and they have a place to go.” mcassidy@breezenewspapers.com Educating on Suicide, said sta- is highest in the springtime,” Cape Coral C.A.R.E.S. will tistics show that the number of Cervasio said. “At the end of — Virginia Cervasio, executive director of the Community kick off today the 2009 30 suicides increase during the all this we want the community Awareness in Recognizing and Educating on Suicide Days of Hope, an event com- spring season. to know that C.A.R.E.S. is memorating those who have Today’s event from 7-9 p.m. here. We have the resources, committed suicide or survived at the Cape Coral Yacht Club and they have a place to go.” A person who is contemplat- On May 2 at Grace Church an attempt. will let people know the center The Cape center is the only ing suicide and visits the center Center, C.A.R.E.S. is hosting a Virginia Cervasio, executive is available to help. suicide-related organization in will receive support, education concert by Miami-based artist director of the Community “The reason we chose this Southwest Florida. and referrals to mental health professionals. See CARES, page 10A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Car wash for Special Pops Cape boat ramp to close Annie’s Mailbox ....9A NASCAR..........18A A fund-raiser car wash to benefit Special The Cape Coral Yacht Club boat ramp will Florida Populations will be held from 9 a.m.-noon be closed for maintenance beginning Business ................7A Nation ................6A Saturday at Freida B.