THREE DAYS A WEEK POST COMMENTS AT CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM Moving CAPE CORAL up field Mariner tangles wih South Fort Myers in preseason game BREEZE — SPORTS EARLY-WEEK EDITION WEATHER: Partly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Wednesday: Partly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 50, No. 131 Tuesday, November 1, 2011 50 cents Homeowner’s remibursement request rejected who thinks they have a valid case wasn’t comfortable retroactively Wanted repaid for permits related Chinese drywall remediation prior to the trigger date … I fear approving Tronchet’s request. By DREW WINCHESTER the permits, hoping to take advan- those fees was shot down with a the flood gate this might open,” “Going back in time is not [email protected] tage of Resolution 13-11, which deadlocked 4–4 vote. Several on Councilmember Marty McClain wise for this council to do,” City Council denied Monday allows for a waiver of those fees council worried that approving said. McGrail said. reimbursement for a permit relat- for homes built between Tronchet’s petition would set an Councilmember Kevin Tronchet said he was a respon- ed to Chinese drywall remedia- 2005–2008 with defective unfair precedence as his home McGrail agreed despite sympa- sible homeowner who did not tion for Ryan Tronchet, a Cape Chinese drywall. was built outside of the time thizing with Tronchet and home- abandon his home and instead Coral homeowner. Council approved Resolution frame covered in the resolution. owners like him. He said those fixed the problem. He felt that all Tronchet was looking to 13-11 this year. “We’re going to have to open homeowners have had their recoup $467.89 for the price of Tronchet’s request to waive this council to every individual “Florida dreams crushed” but See PERMITS, page 6A Council approves purchase of software Enjoying for fuel and fleet the ride Lexie De management system Jesus, 4, was By DREW WINCHESTER versy surrounding the city’s fuel all smiles on [email protected] use that had been ongoing for Saturday at Cape Coral City Council nearly a year. Jaycee Park approved waiving the bid process City Manager Gary King said while taking a to buy $331,000 worth of soft- the process related to fuel man- free pony ride ware for fuel and fleet manage- agement has been an effort to pro- during the ment systems Monday, although tect the city’s assets and not to 14th Annual the “FASTER” fleet management circumvent any of the city’s laws. Kids Festival, system was the only portion to “We’re trying to put a fuel sys- organized by require a waiver of that process, tem in place we can trust, that’s the Harney according to city staff. all were doing,” he said. The “FASTER” software car- The vote was approved with a Point Kiwanis ried a price tag of $148,700, with 5–3 vote, with Councilmembers Club. a recurring annual cost of Derrick Donnell, Kevin McGrail $17,150. and Marty McClain dissenting. DREW Purchase of software for the Those on the losing end of the WINCHESTER city’s fuel management system vote felt that putting the fuel man- — at a total cost of 132,577.76 agement system portion out for with an additional annual recur- bid was not only the prudent thing ring cost of $49,909.64 — pre- sumably puts to rest the contro- See COUNCIL, page 6A Grandson a ‘person Jaycee Park packed for of interest’ in elderly man’s disappearance 14th Annual Kids Festival By TIFFANY REPECKI ments to people present at the [email protected] pool hall that gave rise to concern By DREW WINCHESTER for the welfare of his grandfather. [email protected] “We want to give families the opportunity to spend time The Cape Coral police have Hundreds of families flocked together and educate their kids.” classified a 24-year-old man as a The Volvo bears the Florida “person of interest” in the recent tag A057QX. to the 14th annual Kids Festival, — Harney Point Kiwanis President Scott Turner a celebration of free activities, disappearance of his grandfather. On Sunday, Cape police education and entertainment, at Garrett Kern and his grandfa- searched Caloosa Lake and the Jaycee Park Saturday. Turner said the fun, and edu- and the Cape Coral Fire ther, James Arthur, 80, both of wooded area surrounding it on Co-sponsored by the city of cation, were the focal points on Department, to name a few. 3519 S.W. 29th Ave., were last foot. They used cadaver dogs and Cape Coral and organized by the Saturday. Meghan De Jesus and her seen Thursday when Arthur searched the lake with boats. The Harney Point Kiwanis Club of “We want to give families the daughter Lexie, 4, were enjoy- reportedly drove Kern to a proba- state preserve area adjacent to the Cape Coral, the festival has opportunity to spend time ing the free pony rides. Meghan tion appointment. Police had pre- lake was also searched. grown over the years to include together and educate their kids,” said her daughter really wanted viously reported that the two had “This area was searched dozens of vendors and live per- Turner said. “They learn the to see the animals, which also not showed up for the appoint- because investigators learned that formers. basics in school but when we included Alpacas. ment. Garrett Kern liked to visit this Harney Point Kiwanis bring the health and safety Lexie was smiling and hav- According to police, Kern was area recreationally throughout his President Scott Turner said early aspects, it broadens that knowl- ing fun while taking a pony ride. seen later Thursday afternoon at life,” Lt. Tony Sizemore, the rain put a damper on early atten- edge and they can use it their “This is what we came for, BA Hustlers Pool Hall on Santa spokesman for the Cape police, dance, but as the skies cleared, entire lives.” the animals,” De Jesus added. Barbara Boulevard South. He was wrote Monday in a prepared cars began lining up along It was a combination of free Emma and Jonah Rioux, ages driving his grandfather’s vehicle statement. Beach Parkway, all vying for activities and education, with 2 and 4, were busy building — a 2010 Volvo S80 sedan — “The search, however, turned premium parking spots in Jaycee representatives from the Lee but Arthur was not present with up no leads,” he continued. Park. County Public Library System See FESTIVAL, page 6A him. Kern reportedly made state- See GRANDSON, page 6A Oktoberfest draws thousands to Cape Coral over two weekends club grounds, too, or people could Even with rainy Friday, organizers estimate 34,000-35,000 attended annual event go inside the big hall for a more By DREW WINCHESTER Mills, Oktoberfest chairman, but but statewide. “The band from Austria was traditional, sit-down dinner with [email protected] he estimated that between 34,000 Spanning two weekends, incredibly good,” Mills added. friends and family. Day-long rain Friday brought to 35,000 people enjoyed Oktoberfest is also known for And speaking of beer, What ever course attendees flooding to the German American German culture, drank adult bev- importing a European band that Oktoberfest had no shortage of plotted for their evening, they all Club off Pine Island Road, but it erages, sampled the cuisine and plays authentic German favorites, beverages, as domestic offerings came away with the same result did little to stop thousands of rev- danced to non-stop live entertain- which lights up the crowd under- were paired up with imported — a grin on their faces, their elers from checking out the sec- ment. neath the big tent. German beers and sold all over belly full of good food and their ond weekend of Oktoberfest, the “Overall, it was a really suc- Austrian band D’Hirscheggar the German American Club’s legs tired from all the non-stop most popular festival in the city of cessful year,” Mills added. had people jumping up to do the grounds. dancing. Cape Coral. It was the 26th year for the “Chicken Dance” all weekend Foods like bratwurst, knock- “The numbers were down Final numbers were still being festival, which draws attendance long amid shouts of “We want wurst and potato pancakes were tallied Monday, according to Paul not only from around Lee County more beer!” available at various booths on the See ANNUAL, page 6A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE 5th annual Family Health Holiday Fantasy Land to Annie’s Mailbox ..14A Editorial ..........4-5A & Safety Fair Saturday open Nov. 5 at Mann Hall The 5th annual Family Health & Safety The Southwest Florida Symphony Cape Fare..........4B Horoscopes........9A CASH 3: Fair will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 from Society will present a dazzling festival of Cape Life ..........7A Obituaries ..........2A 7-5-6 / 5-9-5 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Wellness Center, trees for the 2011 Holiday Season. located at 609 S.E. 13th Court, Cape From Nov. 5 through Dec. 4, the Community ........8A Police Blotter ....6A PLAY 4: 0-3-6-1 / 3-8-2-9 Coral. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall will Classifieds........1-3B Sports ........12-13A Fantasy 5 A special presentation by Cape Coral host a wonder of holiday delight. On dis- Comics ............10A Tides ..................2A 6-23-28-30-34 Police Sgt. Allan Kolak has been added to play for the public will be 30 to 40 themed Lotto this year’s fair. Kolak will address issues and fantasy decorated trees and wreaths by Crossword........10A TV Listings ......11A 3-8-12-28-34-48 of substance abuse.