THREE DAYS A WEEK POST COMMENTS AT CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM CAPE CORAL On the move Oasis Charter High tangles with Evangelical Christian BREEZE — SPORTS EARLY-WEEK EDITION WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Wednesday:Partly Cloudy — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 50, No. 134 Tuesday, November 8, 2011 50 cents Cape Coral voters head to the polls Harrington said. “The general Four council seats up for grabs, three charter amendments to be decided trend seems to be voting early and By DREW WINCHESTER Early voting results showed Cape voters have cast their bal- 11 percent of all registered voters not showing up to the polls on [email protected] that more people decided to lots, 928 more than did so during cast ballots during the primary election day.” Today marks the arrival of endorse candidates than they did the early period in September. election. Of the 5,268 absentee ballots Cape Coral’s general election and during the early voting period for Although the city showed an “Sometimes we think we have mailed, 2,682 have been returned voters will be asked to support not the primary election in increase during voter turnout, good turnout in the primary, that to the Election Office in Fort only four city council candidates September. Harrington didn’t offer an opin- it means the polls would be equal- Myers. but three amendments to the Lee County Supervisor of ion on whether it would carry ly busy during the general elec- Absentee ballots will have to city’s charter. Elections reported that 3,836 over to the general election. Only tion and they weren’t,” See POLLS, page 3A Signing a special Christmas card Mayor: Council needs to proceed with caution with ‘infill’ assessments By DREW WINCHESTER lots if owners decide to walk [email protected] away. Mayor John Sullivan said the “We need to really think this Cape Coral City Council, regard- out before we go forward with less of its make-up next Monday, this program … there has to be a needs to be careful moving for- tipping point where X amount of ward with an assessment on people throw their lots back at the “infill” properties, or properties city, where it becomes detrimen- that are unimproved with avail- tal not beneficial,” Sullivan said. able utilities. City Manager Gary King Sullivan said during a council assured the mayor that a vast workshop Monday that the city majority of the people who would could unwillingly become owners of millions of dollars worth of See MAYOR, page 6A Trauma survivors, MICHAEL PISTELLA Rylie McMurrain, 6, signs a Christmas card at the Lee Memorial Health System Military Support table during the 5th annual Family Health and Safety Fair Saturday at the Cape Coral Wellness Center. The cards signed Saturday will be sent to U.S. military families help raise members deployed overseas. Good information shared money for outreach By MEGHAN McCOY ment must begin within the [email protected] Golden Hour — 60 minutes — Trauma survivors, families after the accident occurs. and friends gathered at Friendship “We try to keep it here at at Health and Safety Fair Bowling Lanes Saturday after- home and keep it easy for fami- working opportunities that were In addition, those who noon to raise money for a new lies,” Trauma Outreach By MEGHAN McCOY outreach program begun by sur- Coordinator Kathy Wecher said, [email protected] available, she said. attended also could taste a slice “We had a lot of good infor- a pizza from I Ragazzi Pizza vivors and families more than a but sometimes kids have to be Although not as many people sent to Tampa depending on the attended the fifth annual Health mation,” Fasenmyer said. “It when they made a suggested $1 year ago. was a good thing for them.” donation. All of the proceeds The Trauma Center at Lee trauma. and Safety Fair Saturday after- Approximately a year and a noon as organizers expected, For the first time since the will be donated to three former Memorial Hospital treats more half ago the trauma outreach serv- those who attended received a fair’s inception, those who Mariner High School graduates than 2,000 patients per year from wealth of information. attended had the opportunity to who were injured in the line of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades ices began informally in the trau- and Hendry counties. For the “I wish we had a larger taste healthy alternatives that are duty while serving our country. See TRAUMA, page 6A turnout,” Heart & Soul Massage available at all of the hospital “The slice of pizza went real- greatest chance of survival, treat- Therapy Day Spa Office Manger cafeterias through the Fresh ly well,” Fasenmyer said about Debbie Fasenmyer said, adding Harvest program. Aalmon, the jar that was full of dollar the fair went well. along with a few sides, were pre- bills. Everyone who attended pared and served for attendees to seemed pleased with the net- try. See FAIR, page 6A Cole Huff rolls the ball during Tickets still available for Cape Royal the Lee Memorial Hospital’s Community Foundation Charity Ball Trauma Center’s Bowl- scholarships for students in Lee By MEGHAN McCOY a-thon at [email protected] To go County, along with donating There are approximately 30 $80,000 to charities in Lee Friendship Who: Cape Royal Bowling Lanes tickets still available for the Cape Community Foundation County. Royal Community Foundation The foundation provides in Cape Coral Charity Ball this weekend at the What: Charity Ball $15,000 in scholarships every Saturday. German American Social Club. year, including two $5,000 schol- Cole’s aunt When: Saturday, Nov. 12, Tickets are $40 per person, arships and two $2,500 scholar- Denise Lynch which include dinner and enter- 5:30-10:30 p.m. ships. is a trauma tainment by the Del Prados on Where: German American Hughes said the organization’s survivor. Nov. 12 from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Club, Cape Coral members are quite proud of rais- Tickets can be purchased by call- ing money for students and chari- MICHAEL ing Phyllis Mills at (239) 283- Tickets: $30 ties. PISTELLA “Everyone’s heart is into it,” 4011. Information: 283-4011 “This is our biggest fund-rais- she said. er,” Cape Royal Community The theme for this year’s ball Foundation President Marie formed in 2002 to take care of the is “A Hollywood Red Carpet Hughes said. “Our goal is to raise needs of the residents. Since its Celebration of Stars.” Hughes $30,000.” inception, the foundation has said they consider everyone She said the foundation was raised more than $100,000 for See TICKETS, page 6A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE AREA NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Sobriety checkpoint Cole Bros. Circus of the Annie’s Mailbox ....9A Editorial ..........4-5A planned for this weekend Stars coming to the Cape A DUI sobriety checkpoint is scheduled Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars will Cape Fare..........4B Horoscopes........9A CASH 3: for this weekend, beginning Friday, Nov. appear in Cape Coral Monday, Nov. 21, Cape Life ..........7A Obituaries ..........2A 8-9-1 / 4-3-4 11. The operation will take place at an through Wednesday, Nov. 23, hosted by undisclosed location in Lee County as the city of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Community ........8A Police Blotter ....3A PLAY 4: 6-4-6-3 / 3-1-8-4 Sheriff’s Office continues its commitment Department, and in Bonita Springs on Classifieds........1-3B Sports ........12-13A Fantasy 5 to getting impaired drivers off our road- Thursday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. ways and in support of education efforts Comics ............10A Tides ..................2A 7-9-20-22-28 27. The all new, 2011 edition of the Lotto such as the national “Drive Sober or Get “World’s Largest Circus, Under the Big Crossword........10A TV Listings ......11A 1-4-5-37-38-51 Pulled Over” campaign. Top,” continues the tradition of entertain- Dr. Donohue ........9A Weather ............2A X 5 Checkpoint emphasis is placed on the ing families for more than a century. Florida Powerball following: remove impaired drivers from Advance tickets are on sale at Pets 2-33-39-40-43 the roadway, reduce the likelihood PB 26 X 3 Universe, 4506 Del Prado Blvd., Cape impaired drivers will operate their vehicles Coral City Hall and the Cape Coral Youth on our roadways, heighten awareness. and Center at Four Freedoms Park. You can educate the public on the dangers of drunk also purchase tickets at tickets.com or by 7 48445 46010 1 driving. calling 1-800-332-5200. Page 2A Tuesday, November 8, 2011 cape-coral-daily-breeze.com CAPE CORAL BREEZE OBITUARIES Russell E. Garrison She worshiped the Lord. Her family and friends always he is survived by his children, J.T. (Lisa) Rieves of Russ E. Garrison, 93, who was born May 29, 1918, came first before herself. She was a very strong woman Mableton, Ga., and Laura B. (Nate) Petel of Fort Myers; and passed away Oct. 28, 2011, spent his working life in who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. and his grandchildren, Max, Elizabeth and Cooper. Rochester, N.Y., and lived in Cape Coral for the past 30 Memorial services will be held today, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m., A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, at years. at Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 1630 Pine Island Road. The 11 a.m., in the Beach United Methodist Church, 155 Bay He was predeceased by his wife family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m., at the funeral Road, Fort Myers Beach.