Charlotte Balks at DJJ Bill
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11’ Kayak, $425 In Today’s Classifieds! AND WEEKLY HERALD THECharlotte WIRE Sun PAGE 1 OPPONENTS TAKE AIM AT CRIST DRIVER STRUCK ON TRACK DIES Opponents say Charlie Crist can’t be trusted because of his Tony Stewart pulls out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in political conversion from Republican to independent to Democrat. Watkins Glen, N.Y., 12 hours after a fatal crash. SPORTS PAGE 1 An Edition of the Sun VOL. 122 NO. 223 AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2014 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 HACKIN’ AROUND Pardon me Charlotte balks at DJJ bill By GARY ROBERTS detaining young offenders, Charlotte is among “post-disposition.” The two STAFF WRITER saying the county is being 23 counties mounting sides remain far apart on for asking … overcharged. Charlotte a Florida Association of how to define those and MURDOCK — Charlotte also is seeking to recoup Counties administrative other key terms. County officials are refus- $1.3 million in over-pay- challenge against the DJJ. For example, the counties rimary election day is just around ing to make a mandatory ments already made to the The dispute centers on argue that the DJJ misinter- the corner, school is set to begin, payment to the Florida DJJ. the DJJ’s handling of a 2004 preted the funding formula college football teams are practic- P Department of Juvenile “There’s a great potential law that requires counties by requiring them to pay ing and predicting conference or NCAA Justice for detention care. for us overpaying again,” said to help pay for “pre-disposi- for detaining juveniles who championships, and County commissioners assistant county attorney tion” — costs associated with violated probation and I’m thinking about unanimously voted on Dan Gallagher. “We’re kind of juveniles waiting for their by counting those days of that final summer July 22 to not pay a $48,000 back in the same situation, cases to be resolved in court. vacation coming up monthly bill for its share of only in a deeper hole.” The state pays the costs for soon. BILL | 5 It is a busy time of the year. The last gasp of summer. It all has my head spinning. So, if you’ll pardon me for John asking: • Am I the only HACKWORTH one who thinks Holy matrimony EDITOR a wave pool is a good idea for North Port? Can’t we build a 50-meter pool for the high school but incorporate a wave machine to draw customers from near and far and make it a profitable situation? Maybe even build it at Warm Mineral Springs and make that spot a real tourist destination — for those with aches and pains and young families too. • Have you figured out who you’re voting for? If you need help, the Sun voter guide will be published Friday. • Which is tougher nowadays: qualify- ing for a home loan or finding a house to rent? • After attending the Summer Ball to support the Fred Lang Foundation a week or so ago, I found myself wonder- ing if Cort Frohlich is as good an MC as his wife, Tammy, is a dancer, or is his wife as good a dancer as he is an MC? • Has anyone seen the super neat chair/thrones/benches Sun cartoonist Ron Bates makes? He recently had one on display at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda. My favorite is one that pays tribute to Roy Rogers. • Is anyone still wondering about things to do in the summer in Charlotte County? If so, all they had to do was PHOTO PROVIDED come down the weekend of July 26-27. The Revs. James and Jo Popham are married and serve as priests at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Englewood and St. Nathaniel’s Episcopal The Pirate Ball sold out and more than Church in North Port, respectively. 100 would-be pirates had to be turned away. Every hotel room in town, we understand, was filled, and the Summer Ball drew the biggest crowd in its history. The restaurants were hopping. Married priests share calling What a busy weekend. • How much money is too much money to put into fixing up a 30-year- By STEVEN J. SMITH “I just came on board July 1st at St. Orleans. They were both formerly mar- old car with only 44,000 miles on it? SUN CORRESPONDENT Nathaniel’s,” Jo said. “My predecessor, ried to other people and maintained • When your lawn guy goes on vaca- Jean Hite, took a job in Bonita Springs custody of all of their five children, tion, do you crank up the push mower, The Rev. Jo Popham, the new priest after serving here for two years. I’ve which they raised jointly. let the grass grow or call on a bench at St. Nathaniel’s Episcopal Church in been interviewing for jobs for the Both declined to give their age. player? North Port, can honestly say her calling last year, because Jim came on at St. “We’re younger than we look,” Jim • Wouldn’t it be cool if offices mim- is shared with that of her husband, Jim, David’s in June of last year.” laughed. icked baseball teams and professional who has served as priest for St. David’s The couple, married for the last Victims of Hurricane Katrina, Jo and wrestling and had an intro song that Episcopal Church in Englewood for 29 years, came to North Port and played whenever an employee came over a year. Englewood by way of Canada and New PRIESTS | 5 through the door to work each day? What do you think about “Good Vibrations?” • And finally, has my friend Phil Wilson, Realtor and auctioneer extraor- Building industry responds to Charley dinaire, passed along his nursing home story to you? Phil wrote me that one By GARY ROBERTS evening he was playing his clarinet at STAFF WRITER CHARLEY the Life Care Center of Punta Gorda 10 Years Later when he was asked to serenade clients Editor’s note: The Sun is in the Alzheimer’s unit. taking a look back as we He said he was walking down the near the 10th anniversary hallway playing secular tunes and got since Hurricane Charley nothing but blank expressions — typ- roared into Charlotte Harbor. ical of Alzheimer’s patients. Then, he We’ll bring you a story each switched gears and began a rendition day, culminating in a special of an old Baptist gospel song he knew. insert in Wednesday’s paper Someone behind him began singing that you don’t want to miss! along. She knew the song word for CHARLOTTE COUNTY word. Then another patient joined in August 13, 2014 — Paul Schaefer II was and soon he was surrounded by a group www.yoursun.com of Alzheimer’s victims all clapping and raised to build homes. As a radically when Hurricane singing — and smiling. second-generation home- Charley landed in Charlotte Phil is thankful for his musical talents builder in Punta Gorda, he learned his trade by working Harbor, leaving behind a and the joy he can bring people in any SUN PHOTO BY GARY ROBERTS small way he can. Thanks, Phil, for the with his father, then contin- trail of destruction. His story. ued the family tradition of company went from build- Reflecting the turnaround in the home-building industry, Maronda John Hackworth is editor of the Sun constructing custom homes. ing about 15 new homes a Homes is adding to its River Club development off Harborview Road newspapers. You can email him at But the building industry, year before the hurricane in Port Charlotte. The new homes will meet all current regulations, [email protected] and his business, changed BUILDING | 5 including higher wind-resistant standards. THE SUN: Obituaries 5 | Crosswords 7 | Police Beat 7 | Viewpoint 8 | Opinion 9 CLASSIFIED: Comics 9-12 | Dear Abby 12 | TV Listings 13 INDEX | THE WIRE: Nation 2 | World 3, 6 | State 5 | Weather 6 SPORTS: Lotto 2 Daily Edition $1.00 Look inside for valuable coupons CHARLIE SAYS ... High Low This year’s savings to date ... For better or worse ... SUN COUPON CALL US AT 94 75 VALUE METER $76,950 941-206-1000 7 05252 00025 8 Clouds & sun with thunderstorm Our Town Page 2 E/N/C www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun /Monday, August 11, 2014 SUN PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA GHOLAR Cyclists get a word of encouragement from cycling coach Zoltan Tisza Sunday afternoon during Bike skills were the name of the game Sunday during Zotan Tisza’s (left) cycling clinic in Punta a drill run. Tisza coached a group of Peace River Riders Bicycle Club on the importance of bike Gorda. The cycling coach helped out nearly 30 members of the Peace River Riders Club during the safety and skills during a clinic he hosted. afternoon skills clinic in downtown. Bicyclists get pointers at skills clinic By SAMANTHA GHOLAR With that attitude in now, the bike gets much STAFF WRITER mind, nearly 30 riders heavier so they have to jumped on their bikes have those skills.” PUNTA GORDA — and followed two sets of Tisza’s wife, Petra Cycling enthusiasts yellow and orange cones Missurai, tagged along buzzed around cones and around a vacant parking Sunday and helped out zipped through forma- lot to test their turning during the skills-and- tions Sunday, hoping ability. Coach Tisza spoke drills clinic. to sharpen their skills to riders as they navigat- “He began racing when under the tutelage of a ed the course. he was 11 years old. He’s champion.