U.S. Soldier Pleads Guilty to Murders of Three Afghans
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THREE DAYS A WEEK POST COMMENTS AT CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM Prep CAPE CORAL round-up Ida Baker boys take on Estero BREEZE — SPORTS MID-WEEK EDITION WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Friday: Mostly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 50, No. 36 Thursday, March 24, 2011 50 cents Northwest Cape re-paving project under way By DREW WINCHESTER In total, the price of the two phases will [email protected] cost roughly $1.2 million. Many of the streets in northwest Cape “We’re aware of the bad streets up here, Coral are pockmarked with large potholes believe me,” said Vincent Zura, from the “These neighborhoods, because of the empty and crumbled pavement. city’s Public Works Department. “You homes and the condition of the roads, I’m afraid While a complete fix for the 75 miles of have to start somewhere and utilities won’t our city will blight if we don’t address it.” paving needs are still not an option for the be up here for another 10 to 20 years.” city’s coffers, a partial fix is under way on The first phase of the repaving projects — Councilmember Kevin McGrail, some of the roads. addresses streets with eight or more homes, whose district includes the northwest Cape When it’s all said and done, roughly 20 while the second will address some of the miles will have smooth, new blacktop, and streets with seven or fewer homes. funding for a second, smaller phase could The project’s contractor for the first phase, S.T. Wooten, has 90 days to com- plete the job but is expected to complete it be approved by city council next week. See RE-PAVING, PAGE 3A Students, police, team up for anti-drug message U.S. soldier pleads guilty to murders of three Afghans Soldier from Cape Coral among those accused of taking part in one slaying JOINT BASE LEWIS- tialed at Joint Base Lewis- MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) — A McChord south of Seattle, where 22-year-old U.S. soldier pleaded he pleaded guilty to three counts guilty Wednesday to the murders of murder, and one count each of of three Afghan civilians, telling conspiracy, obstructing justice a military judge “the plan was to and illegal drug use in exchange kill people” in his coordinated for a maximum sentence of 24 conspiracy with four fellow sol- years in prison. diers. Morlock is a key figure in a Spc. Jeremy Morlock of war crimes probe that implicates Wasilla, Alaska, was court-mar- See PLEADS, page 6A First round in student MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral police officer and School Resource Officer Lenny Salecki handcuffs Ida assignment lottery complete Baker High School sophomore John Strealy during a mock arrest at the annual Drug House Odyssey Wednesday. By MEGHAN McCOY Letters will be sent out by [email protected] mail Friday to inform The School District of Lee County had 15,100 students par- parents if they received their ‘Drug House Odyssey’ highlights ticipate in the first round of the first school choice, along student assignment lottery this with identifying what school year. their child has been Student Assignment Director assigned to attend. consequences of poor decisions Leila Muvdi said the district received 717 more applications cent received one of their top three By MEGHAN McCOY System and Lee County Emergency Medical this year than last, which she choices. [email protected] Services. believes is due to the small amount Muvdi said those who did not Students were guided through six scenes “Every major public service is here,” Comella of growth the county has had than receive their first school of choice Wednesday morning at Cape Christian said. “It is unbelievable the amount of communi- in prior years. will automatically be placed on the Fellowship regarding what good and bad deci- ty support we get.” The district processed 5,067 waiting list for that first choice. sions could do to a teenager’s life when drugs She said she is amazed by the number of applications in the east zone, She asked parents to be patient and alcohol are thrown into the mix of things. those who are passionate about the health of 5,050 in the south zone and 4,985 with the system because the dis- Lee County Coalition for a Drug Free children in Lee County. applications for batch one of the trict has a high mobility rate and, Southwest Florida Executive Director Deborah The idea behind Drug House Odyssey is to student assignment lottery in the in most cases, the students will be Comella said they have held Drug House make the message of not drinking and driving a west zone, which includes Cape moved into their first choice Odyssey for six years at Cape Christian part of a larger discussion between parents and Coral. school before school starts. Fellowship as a prevention event for fifth grade children, and teachers and children. Those numbers break down to “Wait for the waiting list to students to learn about good vs. bad decisions “It just isn’t a one-time thing,” Comella said. 3,816 applications for kinder- work,” Muvdi said. “They (par- about drinking and driving. In the scenario portrayed, a deadly situation garten students, 738 for first ents) just need to be patient and The six scenes will take 1,900 fifth grade stu- unfolds after “Sara,” who is home alone because through fifth grade students, give us time for the system to dents on a journey of four teenagers’ lives fol- her parents went out shopping, finds herself in a 4,641 for sixth grade, 281 for sev- work.” lowing decisions to drink, use prescription drugs party situation when her best friend “Molly” enth and eighth grade students, Letters will be sent out by mail and drive. The event was open to Lee County brings friends and alcohol to the house. Various 5,355 for ninth grade students and Friday to inform parents if they students Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and circumstances follow after the friends leave the 270 for 10th through 12th grade received their first school choice, open to the public Wednesday night. party. “Travis” and “Billy” are pulled over by students. along with identifying what school The event had more than 300 volunteers from the police, who find alcohol and prescription The online application process their child has been assigned to various participating organizations. drugs in the car. Both of them are escorted away remained the same this year due to attend. Organizations participating included the Lee in handcuffs and brought to jail, so they can be more than 4,000 families choos- The student assignment lottery, County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Coral and Fort processed for a court date. ing the option. which began in 1998 for Lee Myers Police Departments, Cape Coral and Fort After witnessing the “arrest,” fifth grade stu- Preliminary data has indicated County, will have its first senior Myers Fire Departments, Office of the State dents from The Sanibel School then sat in on a in years past that more than 80 graduating class this year. Muvdi Attorney Judicial Circuit, Lee Memorial Health percent of families receive their said these students have gone See ODYSSEY, page 6A first choice for schools and 96 per- through choice for their elemen- Fort Myers Film Festival to kick off Friday By MEGHAN McCOY County residents to the Fort Myers Film makers,” he said. Raddatz said a film festival always [email protected] Festival because “we sometimes ignore the The festival will kick off with a Short enriches the community because it makes The first Fort Myers Film Festival, smaller independent filmmakers” and focus Showcase of four 20-minute short films at people “more tolerant and more apprecia- which was founded by a Cape Coral resi- on the blockbuster films. 1 p.m. Friday at the Alliance of the Arts. tive of those surrounding us and aware of dent, will provide the community with an Raddatz said the film festival will pro- Presentations of other films will contin- where other people are coming from and opportunity to view an number of films by vide Southwest Florida with the opportuni- ue until 6 p.m. Friday, and continue from 1- their point of view.” two dozen local filmmakers Friday and ty to explore some unchartered intellectual 6 p.m. on Saturday. “These local filmmakers have the poten- Saturday. grounds. The two dozen filmmakers will “You can’t see these films anywhere,” tial of a global impact,” he said. Eric Raddatz, filmmaker, director and showcase their features, documentaries, Raddatz said. “Everything is really fresh For information, visit www.artinlee.org, film festival founder and creator who began shorts, short shorts, strictly local, faith and and raw.” www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com or call the Naples International Film Festival in spiritual and diversity Latin films. Tickets, which can be purchased at the Alliance for the Arts at (239) 939-2787. November 2009, decided to introduce Lee “We are all about supporting local film- door, are $5 per session or $10 for the day. ATAGLANCE COMING EVENT NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Southwest Florida Cultural Park Theatre Annie’s Mailbox ....9A Horoscopes........9A Symphony Youth Orchestra to present ‘She Loves Me’ Classifieds.............1-6B Obituaries..........6A The Southwest Florida Symphony Cultural Park Theatre will present “She CASH 3: Youth Orchestra will continue its season Loves Me,” March 25, 26 (two shows), 27 Comics.............10A Police Blotter......6A 0-2-7 / 0-6-0 with “Painting with Notes,” Monday, and 31; and April 1, 2 (two shows), 3, 7, 8, Crossword........10A Sports.........12-13A PLAY 4: March 28, at 7 p.m., at Faith Presbyterian 9 (two shows) and 10.