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Post Comments, share Views, read Blogs on CaPe-Coral-daily-Breeze.Com Even Miracle split double header CAPE CORAL with Jupiter DAILY BREEZE — SPORTS WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Friday: Partly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 48, No. 88 Thursday, April 16, 2009 50 cents Co-defendant in ’05 home invasion shooting testifies Cape man facing life if found guilty “I lost count after ten (shots).” — Elizabeth Reed By CONNOR HOLMES Hispanics to rob at gunpoint. of aggravated battery and one [email protected] That is the picture Reed painted count of attempted home invasion Dave Gaphoor, Anibal Wednesday as she took the stand robbery. charges Gaphoor is facing. Reed now faces 10 years in Morales, Christopher Neuberger, against Gaphoor in day two of his He is accused in a break-in at However, Reed agreed to testi- prison and 15 years on state proba- Miguel Pedraza and Elizabeth trial in the slaying of 25-year-old 18060 Nalle Road, North Fort fy as a state’s witness not only tion for second-degree murder and Reed spent the evening of Nov. Jose Gomez. Myers, that led to Gomez being against Gaphoor, but also in an home invasion robbery. She will 23, 2005, driving around in a Ford Gaphoor faces a life prison sen- shot through the heart and several unrelated case, in exchange for a be sentenced Monday. Expedition, sniffing cocaine, tence if convicted of first-degree others injured. lighter prison sentence — taking Initial statements Reed made to smoking marijuana and scouring murder, two counts of attempted When Reed was arrested in the death penalty or life sentence Lee County Sheriff’s detectives Lee County for a group of second-degree murder, one count January 2006, she faced the same off the table. See TRIAL, page 14A Developer offers first look at first Bills would change ‘Solar Village’ at Babcock Ranch tenure process for By LILIANE PARBOT-JOHNSON teachers in Florida [email protected] For an area developer, a child- hood spent enjoying nature is Approved by committees behind the “Renewable Energy Research Capital of the World” By MCKENZIE CASSIDY expected to be at the edge of Lee [email protected] “It was very obvious that County, amidst the “First Solar For years the teaching profession bill could’ve been killed City in the World.” was seen as a bastion of job security in that committee. Florida has long been known as where an educator rarely had to Preferably we would like the “Lightning Capital of the worry about his or her position, yet to kill that bill. It is not World,” but the possible future title two “teacher tenure” bills circulating conducive to education may well become the leader around the Florida Legislature are making and would create the earth, according to the develop- the secure career path a bit more pre- tremendous collective er. carious. bargaining problems in The 77,000-acre “Solar Those seeking a steady and reli- the future.” Village” is to emerge within able profession have traditionally Babcock Ranch. chosen law enforcement, nursing or — Dr. Wayne Blanton, The one-mile-long solar plant is teaching, but with school districts executive director to be built by Florida Power & laying off hundreds of employees of Florida School Light, and construction is expected and legislators attempting to change Board Associations to begin at the end of the year. the tenure process, the assumption is Already, the permit for the being turned on its head. Development of Regional Impact Senate Bill 2458 and House Bill service contract. Teachers hired has been issued. 1411 modify the structure of the after July 1 will have to work five The project was a vision of for- tenure process and the professional See BILLS, page 14A mer pro football player Syd Kitson, who turned developer. Kitson and others involved in the project wel- comed a gathering of media repre- Authorities: Realtor sentatives, officials from Lee and Charlotte counties and others Wednesday for a presentation of his plans and a tour of the property. owes $1.6M in taxes Kitson is the chairman and chief executive officer of Kitson & Partners Communities, which — with Lee and Charlotte counties — U.S. attorney indictment purchased the sprawling ranch. By CHARLIE WHITEHEAD Tom Danahy, president of Special to the Breeze “The only thing this is Kitson Babcock, welcomed the about is his wilfully not LILIANE PARBOT-JOHNSON A high-profile Southwest guests shorty after 10 a.m. as the Florida Realtor stood before a paying income taxes.” clouds above were moving away. Ernie Cox, foreground right, shows maps Wednesday of judge Wednesday afternoon “I am glad the sun came accused of illegally avoiding — Managing assistant because we are depending on the the future Solar Village, following a 12-mile tour of the paying taxes. U.S. Attorney Doug Molloy sun, obviously,” he said, bringing Babcock Ranch. Managing assistant U.S. laughter from the audience. Attorney Doug Molloy said cash into his personal accounts. Danahy said he has known and became amazing. Kitson to accept his project were not too Tom Daugherty is facing tax Between November 2002 and Kitson — who is nicknamed “the explained that an agreement with encouraging in the early stages. evasion charges. April 2008, he bought more visionary” — for 10 years, and he the state of Florida led to the cre- “The frustrating part to me was Daugherty, 53, of Fort than 200 cashiers checks worth explained how he became involved ation of a private/public partner- to get somebody to listen,” Kitson Myers, is charged with evading more than $2.1 million. with the developer of the Solar ship for the ranch operation. recalled. $1.6 million in taxes from During those years, Molloy Village. “It is working and not asking Today, many agree the Solar 1998-2005. The indictment said, Daugherty paid nothing in “I was attracted by his vision of for taxpayers money,” he said. Village will greatly benefit Lee and claims he concealed his income taxes. the future,” Danahy said. The new city will work hand in Charlotte counties by creating jobs by making false statements to “The only thing this is about When Kitson took his place at hand with the environment, accord- because companies with green the Internal Revenue Service is his wilfully not paying the microphone, he recalled his ing to the developer. Only truly technology are already interested in and by hiding money and prop- income taxes,” said Molloy. first mention in 2005 of his plan- renewable energy will be used, moving to the area. erty under corporate names and He said defrauding the IRS ning a sustainable community. such as solar, wind and geothermal Kitson said he wants to see his those of other individuals. does not merely take money “Green, back then, was not cool (coming from the ground), and it vision followed around the world, The indictment claims from the “tax man.” ... many people still don’t under- was found that the best source so it was the reason he first pre- Daugherty converted commis- “Sometimes people make stand what green is,” Kitson said. would be solar. sented his project in Washington, sion payments to cashiers that mistake,” Molloy said. Regardless, the support grew His first efforts to bring people See BABCOCK, page 14A checks and cash, depositing See INDICTED, page 6A Club to host 20th annual children’s fishing derby area children. Kiwanis provide kids with rod and reel But with a limited number of To go available spots — only 375 — What alike. Local club members Joanne said, “We’re hoping at Joanne warned that youths who Kiwanis Kid’s By DREW WINCHESTER want to participate should show [email protected] hope to inspire the youths with least one child wants to keep Free Fishing Derby fishing, giving them another fishing and stay out of trouble.” up early. She said a line of Get ready kids, the Cape eager children starts to form When Coral Kiwanis Club’s annual option in the future when faced All participating youths will Saturday, April 18, with difficult decisions. receive a free rod and reel for before the 8:30 a.m. start time. free fishing derby returns this “They don’t have to start at 8:30 a.m. weekend for another year of “It gives them some other showing up, and they are activity to think about doing,” allowed to take the equipment camping out at 2 (a.m.), but if Where angling excitement. they show up between 7:30 and Cape Coral Yacht Club Entering its 20th year, the said Joanne Laumeyer, wife of home. organizer Wally Laumeyer. The rod and reel, along with 8, they should have a spot,” derby has become a tradition Joanne said. and free bait can add up quick- for children and the Kiwanis Wally was unavailable for a host of other free prizes, are comment Wednesday, but part of the event’s draw for While the rods, reels, prizes See DERBY, page 2A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Native plant sale planned Foreclosure solutions Annie’s Mailbox........8A Nation ................5A The Annual Spring Native Plant Sale will Florida be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Rotary workshop set for public Classifieds ............1-6 B Obituaries ..........2A Park Environmental Center, 5505 Rose A foreclosure solutions workshop will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Comics ............10A Police Blotter ....2A Lottery Garden Road. For details, call 549-4604. CASH 3: Saturday at Edison State College audito- Crossword........10A Sports ........11-13A 1-9-9 / 1-0-5 rium in the Richard H.