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noW thrEE Days a WEEK * * * Post CoMMEnts at on CaPE-Coral-DaIly-brEEzE.CoM Another CAPE CORAL crack Mariner reaches District 4A-11 final against Fort Myers BREEZE —SPORTS MID-WEEK EDItIon WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Friday: Chance of rain — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 18 Thursday, February 11, 2010 50 cents Glimmer of hope? Foreclosure filings down in January 2010 could be beginning of a turn around for struggling with those economic conditions. Realtor reaction mixed as to what new numbers mean the real estate industry. “If you’re the out-of-state buyer with cash, But one local real estate executive is still this is a fantastic time for you. But if you’re a By DREW WINCHESTER closure. being cautious, saying the number might local trying to make a living, it’s a lot differ- [email protected] The Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area instead represent a tale of two different ent,” Diaz said. The number of foreclosure filings in still ranks in the top 10 in the nation, with 1 worlds. Like most people, Diaz is hoping the Florida decreased for the month of January, in every 121 homes currently in foreclosure. Dave Diaz, chief operating officer for worst of the real estate crash has passed on, according to statistics released by RealtyTrac, With prices at all time lows, (Lee County Carney Properties and Investments Inc., but looking six months ahead he thinks an online resource for foreclosure properties. was recently recognized as having some of thinks that while affordability is positive, the there’s another major wave of foreclosures Florida still ranked fourth in all 50 states, the most affordable home prices in the world) economy hasn’t improved to the point where with 1 in every 187 homes currently in fore- and foreclosures seemingly on the decline, that affordability is helpful to the person See FORECLOSURES, 9A Road repaving proposed Crime Stoppers dealing with budget shortfall Cutbacks at the state level mean smaller rewards for tipsters By TIFFANY REPECKI $3.5 million out of the Crime [email protected] Stoppers trust fund, where all Tipsters who call the state programs get their Southwest Florida Crime funding,” she said. “We were Stoppers can expect a smaller n o t reward than in previous years informed as the organization battles a of this funding cut of about 40 per- until the cent. start of Crime Stoppers received this fiscal $259,615 in grant money year. from the state at the start of “They the fiscal year, which began had done in October. Trish Routte, it in coordinator for the program, January, Scott said the group received more and it took than $400,000 in funds the until Oct. previous year, which trans- 14 until we were made aware lates into a budget cut of of that,” Routte said. “Two about 40 percent. weeks into the fiscal year.” “Long story short, the State Legislature had raided See SHORTFALL, 9A Charges levied in MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral District 6 Councilmember Kevin McGrail has proposed a $500 one-time, special double fatality crash assessment to fix roads like this one, Northwest 11th Court which connects Northwest 24 Terrace to Kismet Parkway. McGrail plans to introduce the assessment to council to pave 120 Cape man charged with DUI manslaughter miles of roads that he says need attention. He is currently collecting citizen input, which can be e-mailed to [email protected] following collision that killed two nuns; State Attorney’s Office continues to review case By TIFFANY REPECKI review of [email protected] the facts Fund set up to help family whose The charges against a of the North Fort Myers man c a s e , ” accused in the deaths of two S a m - nuns could change depend- a n t h a home suffered heavy fire damage S y o e n , ing on information the State spokes- smelling smoke, then seeing smoke age to the kitchen, as well as heavy-to- Attorney’s Office has yet to By TIFFANY REPECKI receive. w o m a n [email protected] coming from the eaves of the home, city significant smoke and water damage in Michael G. Hickman, 60, for the Hickman A fund has been created for a Cape spokeswoman Connie Barron reported. other areas of the home, according to S t a t e The home was unoccupied at the Barron. A building official red tagged of 1069 La Paloma Blvd., Coral family whose home sustained was arrested and charged heavy damage in a fire Monday after- time of the fire, which originated in the the structure, deeming it unlivable. Attorney’s Office for the kitchen as a result of unattended cook- The damage to the home and its con- Tuesday on a warrant for two noon. felony counts of DUI 20th Judicial Circuit, said. The Cuevas Family Fund was ing. Barron said Denis Cuevas had left tents is estimated at $60,000. “The warrant was signed off the home to pick up his 8-year-old “No one can live in it until significant manslaughter, one felony recently opened at Fifth Third Bank, count of DUI with serious by a judge.” According to according to bank spokeswoman Jama daughter from Caloosa Elementary repairs are made,” she said. Syoen, the charges filed School. His wife, Ada, who is seven Barron added that the Lee County bodily injury to another and Dock. Anyone who wishes to help the one misdemeanor count of against Hickman are only the family can visit any Fifth Third Bank months pregnant, was also not home at Electric Cooperative has cut power to initial charges. The State the time. the home by removing the meter, and DUI second offense or more. branch location and make a donation to “Late Friday we approved Attorney’s Office is waiting the fund. Firefighters did rescue three dogs the American Red Cross was called on additional materials from and four puppies from the garage. upon to assist the family. a warrant for his arrest after At about 2 p.m. Monday, Cape Coral completing part of our fire units responded to a report of a Cuevas told authorities that he had Colin Downey, spokesman for the See CRASH, 9A house fire at 1316 S.E. 28th Terrace. A been cooking prior to leaving the home. American Red Cross of Lee County, The home sustained heavy fire dam- next-door neighbor called 911 after See FIRE, page 10A Proposed interchange for ‘Hands Across The Sand’ to protest drilling Del Prado / I-75 debated By BOB PETCHER lation that would allow oil drilling [email protected] as close as three to 10 miles off the To go Some North Fort Myers residents unhappy Opponents of offshore drilling Florida coastland, according to What event coordinator Pat Titterington. By DREW WINCHESTER the 70 or so households that are organizing a protest on beaches “Hands Across The Sand” comprise her neighborhood across the state this weekend. Titterington, who is an energy [email protected] consultant for Fafco Solar Energy, demonstration Lark Campisano’s neigh- made an appearance at the “Hands Across The Sand,” an Monday meeting. event to raise awareness about will be on Fort Myers Beach and Where bors voiced their displeasure encourages the public to join him. Sanibel: Bowman’s Beach with the proposed Del Prado She said people were pending legislation to allow drilling happy to have their ques- in nearshore coastal waters, is set He hopes the line extends from the Captiva: Andy Rosse Lane / I-75 interchange at a com- Lee County fishing pier to Lani Kai, munity meeting early this tions answered at the meet- for Saturday, Feb. 13, at 1:30 p.m. Beach Access ing, but most left wondering Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel but would like to see it longer. He week, but she fears their can be reached by e-mail at When numbers weren’t enough to what, if anything, comes and Captiva Islands are among the next. areas where protests are planned. [email protected] or by calling Saturday, Feb. 13 repel what she believes 424-0097. 1:30 p.m. would be the inevitable She added that most still Many state Gulf-side communi- felt as if their voices weren’t ties as well as towns on the east “From the pier to the Lani Kai we chaos the proposed project will be there at 1 p.m.,” said For more information could one day bring to rural being heard. coast of Florida also are expected to “I still feel like it’s hard participate to show opposition and Titterington. “At 1:30 p.m., we will Amanda Bryant, 472-3984 North Fort Myers. convince Gov. Charlie Crist and Campisano said people state legislators to oppose any legis- See PROTEST, page 10A who make up the majority of See DEBATED, 10A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE AREA NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Iwo Jima Memorial set Mayor’s Scholarship fund The Pfc. Paul F. Ison Detachment Marine theater fund raiser Thursday Annie’s Mailbox......12A Horoscopes......12A Corps League will have a Memorial Service (AP) — The Cape Coral Mayor’s Classifieds.............1-6B Obituaries..........9A Florida on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. for the 65th Scholarship Fund will benefit from tickets anniversary of the landing on Iwo-Jima, Feb. Comics.............10A Police Blotter......2A sold to a special performance of “Kiss Me Lottery 19, 1945. Kate” at Cultural Park Theater Thursday. Crossword........10A Sports.........14-15A CASH 3: The landing was on Feb.

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