THE WIRE Reptile enthusiasts seek to lift ban on four giant snake species PAGE 1 Pick of the Day Christmas village $25 In Today’s Classifieds! Charlotte Sun AND WEEKLY HERALD HOLIDAY HEART ATTACKS MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV DIES Studies are showing heart trouble spikes during the holiday The Russian firearms designer and inventor of the AK-47 has season, and not just in the U.S. THE WIRE PAGE 1 died at age 94. THE WIRE PAGE 1 AN EDITION OF THE SUN VOL. 121 NO. 358 AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY TUESDAY DECEMBER 24, 2013 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 LIFE STORIES Sleeping, awake, Boat crash kills 1, injures 4 watching The following column first ran in Officials: Alcohol use suspected December 2007. his time of year, there are several By IAN ROSS declined to specify who is suspected watercraft was passing the boat on commandments any savvy kid is STAFF WRITER to have been drinking at the time of its right side. The boat turned right to T careful to follow: the accident. enter the pass and the two vehicles • Thou shalt watch out. PLACIDA — A Kansas man died A report by the FWC stated that collided. • Thou shalt not cry. Monday from injuries he sustained around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, a 21-foot After the collision, a sailboat op- • Thou shalt not Sunday when his personal watercraft 2012 Nautic Star motor boat and a erator helped rescue the injured and pout. collided with a boat on Lemon Bay, 10-foot 2006 Bombardier personal brought them to Stump Pass Marina Because they know according to Florida Fish and Wildlife watercraft collided near Stump Pass. on Maryland Avenue in Englewood. why: Conservation Commission officials. According to the report, four people “We heard the noise and saw the • List. FWC spokesman Gary Morse were aboard the motor boat, which people out in the water,” Darel “Big • Checked twice. confirmed Monday afternoon that was captained by Bruce Vilardi, 43. Daddy” Burns, who was working at • Column A: Lee Hollis, 54, passed away Monday The report stated both the personal the Stump Pass Marina bait shop Naughty. morning. In an email statement, watercraft and the boat were headed on Sunday, said Monday. “There • Column B: Nice. Morse said the FWC suspects alcohol south on the Intracoastal Waterway • The latter is far was a factor in the crash. Morse toward Stump Pass. The personal preferable. CRASH | 6 For goodness Steve sake, the Christmas BAUMANN commandments are enough to turn COLUMNIST any normal kid into a mumbling paranoid, especially when What to my wondering eyes ... they’re jacked up on the sugarplums of ex- SUN PHOTO BY pectation. Being a kid is never a cakewalk, 1 . SUE PAQUIN but the pre-Christmas naughty/nice jitters can drive them over the ledge. Charlotte County It’s a lot of pressure, and children all Fire/EMS Station 12, learn the procedural requirements at an on Luther Road in early age. Deep Creek, hosted Early in the season comes the obligatory the 15th annual solicitation letter: Santa Firehouse Dear Sir: My name is (Kid). How is (Mrs. Pancake Breakfast Claus/Blitzen)? Cold enough for you up on Monday. Santa north? arrived on a fire But enough small talk. The main truck to the delight purpose of my letter is to assure you I’ve of the more than been very nice all year long. Definitely 100 children and not naughty. I cleaned my room. I walked their families who Barkie every night. I did not bother Dad came to enjoy a when he was busy watching (“Monday holiday breakfast Night Football”/“Dancing With the Stars”). and visit with Contrary to what you may have heard Santa Claus and his from other sources, I did not hit my (little helpers. Charlotte sister/brother/pet iguana) with a Tonka County Fire/EMS truck. I did not throw a fit at bedtime last staff and the event Thursday, despite unconfirmed allegations sponsor, Fawcett stating otherwise. Memorial Hospital, Therefore, I am asking for (various toys, joined together to but no clothing) this Christmas. Note make the event a especially the (most expensive toy). memorable one. In conclusion, I look forward to your visit Here, Naiara and hope your flight is a pleasant one. Espinoza-Clore, 2, Sincerely, (Kid) takes a candy cane Next, of course, comes the requisite from Santa as she personal interview: sits on his lap. More S. Claus: So, what would you like this photos on page 12. year little (boy/girl)? Kid: (Deep breath). (Various stuff). Claus: Have you been a good little (boy/ girl)? Kid: (Deeper breath). (Head nod). Smile, photo and exit. Trains transport memories The whole procedure is enough to give any kid ulcers before they hit age 5. By AL HEMINGWAY We lived in Elm City in those days To feed this anxiety, my wife found SUN CORRESPONDENT on 5 Willow St. Every day I would eh:rf n.: race across State Street to Blatchley /1 something new for the grandchildren this i/WE' M! CHOO- year. It’s called Elf on the Shelf. The concept There is something about trains that Avenue, run across the bridge, and SOUNDS OR POWER! " is sublime: A cute doll is placed around the fascinates people — especially little peer through the thick glass oval house throughout the month of December. boys. When we purchased our grand- windows situated around the building Each night, he moves to a new spot. Every son Ryan a train set for Christmas, he to look at the Christmas displays. morning, kids hunt for him. tore open the wrapping and squealed There was only one window that I When my grandson Aidan, 4, first with delight, “It’s a train!” would stare into — the one that had encountered The Elf, he ran off into the Just watching him scurry around on the American Flyer train set. kitchen screaming and refused to come the living room floor and putting the The founder of the Gilbert Toy PHOTO PROVIDED BY AL HEMINGWAY out. Apparently, he thought he was being tracks together took me back to 1958. Co., Alfred Carlton Gilbert, was an stalked by “Chuckie.” It was the year I received an American Olympic athlete who established A photo from a 1950s A.C. Gilbert Co. catalog His two cousins adapted quicker. Flyer train set from the A.C. Gilbert showing a steam locomotive pulling cars They live in a big house and every morn- Toy Co. in New Haven, Conn. TRAINS | 6 similar to the one I had. ing the two girls race to find the errant Elf. One day, he was on a ceiling fan, and granddaughter Ella, 4, thoughtfully posited he had gotten stuck there while flying from fireplace to dining room. Groups work to improve case management Aidan’s initial reaction notwithstanding, independent consultant with ex- HMIS, which is data collection software the whole thing can be a lot of fun. Still, By SCOTT LOCKWOOD given the pressure for all involved, the STAFF WRITER pertise in master case management used to compile information on the possibility exists for parental Elf abuse. and the Homelessness Management homeless. Thaxton said discussions My daughter-in-law admitted last week SARASOTA COUNTY — On the Information System, or HMIS. Lee has have taken place on improvements to that when Ella refused to finish dinner heels of a suggestion in Dr. Robert experience working with the homeless the HMIS, who is going to be charged recently, she was reminded of the om- Marbut’s recent report on homeless- and case management in St. Louis and with owning the system, and who will niscient Elf looming above. Ella thought ness in Sarasota County, the Gulf Coast San Antonio in Texas. be responsible for real-time data input. about it for seven seconds, then picked up Community Foundation has brought GCCF director of community in- One of the main objectives of the HMIS her fork again. in another national expert to review vestment Jon Thaxton said a private is to eliminate duplicate counting and After finishing, she walked over and and help come up with a master case meeting hosted by the foundation data of the area’s homeless population. announced, “Tell Santa Claus I ate all my management system to streamline last week with Lee had more than 40 Ellen McLaughlin, Sarasota YMCA dinner, Mr. Elf.” services for the county’s homeless. people who provide services to the Schoolhouse Link program director Nice, kid. Really nice. On a recommendation from home- homeless in attendance. Lee discussed and homeless liaison for county Stephen Baumann is a member of less expert Marbut, the foundation the two main aspects of master case schools, said the meeting with Lee was the Sun’s editorial board. Contact him contacted Shaun Lee, who visited management: the actual personnel an overview of the work he’s done in at [email protected], or call with several service organizations that work with the homeless and how 941-681-3003. late last week in the role of an they work with their clientele; and the IMPROVE | 6 INDEX | THE SUN: Police Beat 4 | Obituaries 5 | Legals 8 | Viewpoint 10 | Opinion 11 | THE WIRE: Nation 2,8 | State 3 | World 5 | Business 6-7 | Weather 8 | SPORTS: Lotto 2 | CLASSIFIED: Comics 9-12 | Dear Abby 12 | TV Listings 13 Daily Edition $1.00 Look inside for valuable coupons High Low This year’s savings to date ... CHARLIE SAYS ... SUN COUPON CALL US AT THERE’S ONLY ONE MORE SLEEP 71 51 VALUE METER $84,148 941-206-1000 TILL CHRISTMAS!!!! 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