Island 3 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES REP V No Kidding Residents Look •M ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M0' 9BK:^Fl| Toward Future
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Police watch Summer storm Italian cuisine page 7 A page 3B page 1C JULY 28,1995 VOLUME24 NUMBER 30 island 3 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES REP V No kidding Residents look •m ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M0' 9BK:^fl| toward future ^^^IS^H^Hi^B^^ ^MS^^^^^^^^^M. • -nm City visioning process begins By Mark S. Krzos ed residents with the determine what those StaffWriter . opportunity to voice their visions are. Sanibel's visioning concerns and hopes for "What will the city of process began Sanibel's future. Sanibel look like in 20 Wednesday night at the Fernsler explained his years? What are our Sanibel Community firm been retained by the beaches going to be like, Association ' and city for assisting the resi- and how are we going to Thursday morning at the dents for determining deal with more and more Sanibel-Captiva Sanibel's vision for the people coming to Chamber of Commerce future. Sanibel? These are some when John Fernsler and Fernsler said there are of the questions we hope Bill Roberts of Wallace, many different visions, to answer," Fernsler said. Roberts & Todd present- and the community must •yi-:-*s •please see page 2A !ft£SH£aSMBi*MW«di Officer sent to driving school Reprimanded for San-Cap Road accident that sent teen to hospital By Matthew Miller quency of Officer Dustin passed to the Sanibel StaffWriter Lynne Worth, 25, were Police Department to When Fort Myers resi- not questioned. The determine the disci- dent Jeremy Charles Florida Highway Patrol plinary sanction against Stewart, 18, flew into the (FHP) investigated the Worth in accordance with woods from his motorcy- accident and conclusive- a judicially recognized cle when struck by a ly reported Worth sped in process, "progressive dis- Mary Johnson of Lehigh drinks appreciatively from a fountain speeding Sanibel Police response to a routine cipline." that has been mysteriously and obviously labeled for. all to see. Department officer July back-up call which Worth must attend a 18, Sanibel's finest con- caused his car to slide Police Vehicle Operation ducted an immediate out of control on a wet course currently in ses- Obvious sign a mystery internal investigation. Sanibel-Captiva Road. The fault and delin- The ball was then •please see page 2A By Mark S. Krzos the stickered sign on the drinking StaffWriter fountain." A mystery sign appeared recently According to Price there are many on a drinking fountain in front of the such drinking fountains around ATF joins fire investigation Quarterdeck Restaurant on Sanibel and each cost the city $140 Periwinkle Way. The sign reads nearly 10 years ago. By Mary Akashah Representatives from investigation. "DRINKING FOUNTAIN." The "Apparently it was someone other Special to the Island the Federal Bureau of The State Fire mystery is not why someone would than the city who put the sign there," Reporter Alcohol, Tobacco and Marshal's Office, the • put such an obvious sign on what is Price said. "I asked Dick Noon Several federal agen- Firearms, U.S. Customs, lead office in the investi- quite clearly a drinking fountain, but [Parks and Recreation Director] cies have joined the state and the U.S. Coast Guard gation, refused to release rather who put it there. about the signs and he said he had no and local task force met with agents of the any information on the The sign seems to have everyone idea how the sign got there. investigating the recent State Fire Marshal's meeting or the agencies stumped, from Mayor Wally Kain to The plot thickens. fires that destroyed three Office, Florida Marine involved. City Manager Gary Price. Mayor Wally Kain said he knew fish houses in three Patrol Officers, and "I cannot confirm or "That drinking fountain has been nothing about the sign and seemed weeks in the Charlotte Sheriff's deputies from deny that report," said there for about eight to 10 years," surprised that a sign advertising a Harbor/Pine Island Lee and Charlotte coun- Phil Roman, an investi- Price said. "I have no idea who put •please see page 7A Sound area. Arson is sus- ties in Fort Myers on pected in the incidents. Wednesday to discuss the •please see page 2A Y'7 i 2A Q JULY 28, 1995 • ISLAND REPORTER -VISION •from page 1A said. "It will be great for Sanibel's ' t "But we need the help of the communi- economy, but might not sit too well ty to determine how we can arrive at an with those who want to see the island answer to all these questions." remain as it is." Femsler said that one of Sanibel's Roberts said by planning for the goals 20 years ago was to maintain a future now will ensure that Sanibel casual island lifestyle. stays as close to its original state as "Is that still our goal," Fernsler possible. asked. "Some would say that it is and Fernsler then highlighted several others would say Sanibel has changed areas of concern to many residents into an upscale country club atmo- including beach preservation, improve- sphere." ments to scenic roadways, the character Bill Roberts said Sanibel residents of development, the impact of day trip- should expect change in the future. pers and the character of public spaces. "Sanibel is going to change a hell of One of the biggest concerns is the a lot in the next 20 years," Roberts impact of tourism and day trippers. said. "Your children will not grow up to "How are we going to deal with traf- see the same Sanibel that you see fic?" Fernsler asked. "Do we want or today, just as people who've been liv- need a transportation system or do we ing here for 20 years see a different just continue to deal with gridlock?" Sanibel today." Although no one seemed to have a Sanibel residents gathered at the Sanibel Community Center According to Roberts, this part of definite answer, some said combining Wednesday to discuss the future of the city. the country is being marketed aggres- the trolleys and adding a lane for high One resident said building a parking "They promote us as their jewel and sively by the tourism industry. capacity traffic might reduce the vol- garage to support the trolley system then build outlet malls right across the "Sanibel is going to be seeing more ume of traffic. would be a good idea. But the question causeway," she said. "So people come and more tourists every year," Roberts of cost and where to place the structure from all over Lee County down -OFFICER still remained unanswered. Summerlin, stop at the outlet mall, •from page 1A we determined this is the accidents involving a Fernsler asked if residents thought shop, spend money and then come to sion at the Fort Myers proper reprimand." Sanibel Police officer. day-trippers contribute to Sanibel's Sanibel's beaches and don't spend a Police Academy. He Following the inci- "We have never had local businesses. The answer was an dime on the local economy." received a written repri- dent, Worth took four anything like this before almost unanimous no. Two more meetings will be held mand from Sanibel pre-scheduled days off except for minor acci- "People are coming to Sanibel for its today at the Sanibel-Captiva Police Chief Richard H. and spent two days in the dents, but no one was eco-tourism and its beaches, not its T- Conservation Foundation at 10 a.m. Plager, which Plager office before returning to ever hurt," Plager shirt shops," one resident said. and the Sanibel Public Library at 1 explained, will remain a the streets this week. explained.- According to one resident, Lee p.m. permanent mark in the Worth has no previous County is to blame. officer's record. Worth smudge on his record, continues to report to his save a missed suppres- —ARSON shifts and patrols Sanibel sion meeting while at the was burned. Several days stopped issuing permits tion is being offered as an officer. Progressive police academy. He has •from page 1A gator with the Fire later, a piling house near for their construction. regarding the June 30 discipline never required accumulated 13 letters of Captiva Rocks was According to Port fire. Rewards of $1,000 Worth's suspension for recommendation during Marshal's Office, when asked about the inclusion burned. Charlotte developer each are being posted by any period of time. his 7 1/2 year career. The first and third Bucky McQueen, a con- the Florida Advisory Plager and Sanibel of federal agents in the "He's had a very fine investigation. He would houses to burn were sultant to the Charlotte Committee for Arson record with us," Plager Police records supervisor among 12 in the County Historical Prevention and Jennifer Wilson were say only that his office explained. "Following was involved in a joint Charlotte Harbor-Pine Preservation Board, to Crimestoppers for infor- regular police procedure, unable to find any Island Sound area that the best of his knowl- mation leading to an records involving serious effort to coordinate activities." are listed in the National edge, the old fish houses arrest and indictment. However, a Register of Historic in the Charlotte Harbor Anyone with informa- spokesman for Florida Places. They were built area are the only ones in tion should call Weather Marine Patrol confirmed in the 1920s and served the entire state of Florida Crimestoppers at 1-800- High Low Rain that ATF, Customs and as ice houses where fish- that are in the national 780-TIPS, the Fire July 20 84 74 1.2 the Coast Guard were ermen stored their catch.