Five-Car Crash Closes U.S. 41 Business
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
City sued 3A Relief Part 2 4A By a thread 6A Steve Milo takes Venice to court Legislators pledge further cuts The Reds stadium deal lives on Miles and Miles The El Patio Hotel is a family business 1B GoLOCAL NEWSnd COVER TO COVERoli FLORIDA’Ser NO. 1 WEEKLY S NEWSPAPERun 50 CENTS VOLUME 62 NUMBER 132 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY EDITION, JAN. 23-24, 2008 AN EDITION OF THE SUN County Five-car crash closes U.S. 41 Business cuts 16 more jobs Reacting to ever-increasing bud- get constraints, Sarasota County laid off 11 employees and elimi- nated five vacant positions Tuesday. BY STEVEN J. SMITH STAFF WRITER Sarasota County officials announced the elimination of 16 more positions Tuesday: 11 employees and five currently vacant positions that will not be filled. Cuts were made in the office of financial planning, administration, communica- tions and human resources, according to Warren Richardson of the county’s com- BY BOB MUDGE munications department. More could EDITOR come in March, he added. “We hate it,” said County Commission An SUV headed southbound on U.S. Chair Shannon Staub. “I’m sure this is going 41 Business Tuesday crossed into north- to put a real load on the others (who bound traffic and caused a five-car remain).” crash, according to Venice Police. County employees learn- The road was closed for several hours ed the ax was poised over at after the crash. least some of them on Jan. Lt. Eric Hill said the crash scene 8 during a sobering budget extended about 150-200 yards, and presentation before the some of the occupants of the vehicles County Commission by suffered serious injuries. Because the Deputy County Adminis- crash is still under investigation, Hill trator David Bullock and said he could not give out any further Chief Financial Planning information. Citing privacy rule, Venice Officer Jeff Seward. Staub Regional Medical Center spokesperson Potentially severe sce- Kathy Turner declined to comment. narios were discussed at the time, which Witnesses say the driver of the dark could drastically reduce county income. green SUV was traveling southbound on “We are looking at possible position U.S. 41 Business when he veered off into reductions,” Bullock admitted then. oncoming traffic, striking four vehicles Each terminated regular status employ- before stopping. ee will receive two weeks of pay in lieu of The SUV drove into a car with two notice. The county will also provide special elderly passengers, a male and female, workshops to help laid-off employees according to witnesses — and then con- sharpen their resumes and start new job tinued traveling southbound into searches. oncoming traffic. The passengers were SUN PHOTOS BY JEFF TAVARES, [email protected] Staub said the situation was obviously rescued from the damaged vehicle “not easy and will not get any easier” on Top, according to Venice Police, the driver of an SUV was at fault in a five-car crash Tuesday on using the fire department’s jaws of life U.S. 41 Business near Avenida del Circo that resulted in serious injuries. Bottom, an envelope on Please see JOBS, 5A . Please see CRASH, 5A the driver’s seat of the SUV reads: “Happy 18th Birthday.” King charged with murder City stand on Amendment 1 falls short BY GREG GILES BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN alone in their cribs. By 3:44 edly managed to call 9-1-1, NEWS EDITOR STAFF WRITER p.m., the first unit arrived apparently using King’s cell on the scene. phone. Venice City Council’s Michael Lee King, in jail They soon found a The NPPD police report split vote over Amendment on charges of kidnapping neighbor, Jennifer Eckert, said the Sarasota County 9- 1 fell one vote short of pass- Denise Amber Lee last who reported seeing a green 1-1 Center recorded a call in ing Tuesday. Thursday, has now been Camaro in the Lees’ drive- which a female voice said, Members voted 3-2 in charged with first-degree way around 2:30 p.m. “I’m sorry, I just want to see favor of adopting a resolu- murder. No bond was set. At 5:02 p.m. — more than my family. Please let me go.” tion against the property Zavodnyik Lang Tacy Simmonds Lee’s husband first re- an hour before the first 9-1- She identified herself as reform measure, but that ported her disappearance 1 call — North Port issued a Denise Amber Lee and wasn’t enough to guarantee properties.” “I think it’s appropriate from their Latour Avenue “Be On The Lookout” bul- could be heard crying and passage. Resolutions take Amendment 1 doubles to express our concerns,” home at 3:20 p.m. Thursday. letin for both Lee and the asking the perpetrator to let four affirmative votes to the $25,000 homestead tax Lang said. “It’s not appro- Her body was discovered by green Camaro. her go. pass, according to city rules. exemption adopted in 1992, priate for our city to use authorities Friday night in a Police were able to iden- The news even surprised provides portability for the these tactics … to intimi- burial site off Toledo Blade First 9-1-1 call Mayor Ed Martin, who exemption and gives busi- date voters in regards to a Boulevard. The body was At 6:14 p.m., Lee report- Please see KING, 5A voted in favor of the resolu- ness a tax break. state (referendum).” confirmed to be that of the tion along with Rick Tacy “All this does is com- “I agree with Ms. Lang,” missing 21-year-old mother and Ernie Zavodnyik. Voting pound the inequity that was said Simmonds, who called at a press conference Sun- against were Sue Lang and created with the Save Our the resolution a mishmash. day morning. John Simmonds. John Homes Act,” said Tacy. “I don’t know what the gov- Police stated that she Moore and Vicki Taylor were Martin said the measure ernor would do with this.” died from a gunshot wound not in attendance. fails to offer more than min- During audience partici- to the head. “This is counterproduc- imal assistance to business- pation, Venice Taxpayer’s “I cannot say at this time P tive,” said Zavodnyik, the res- es, and provides no real sys- League President Herb Le- if a weapon has been recov- J1 - olution sponsor. “(Amend- temic reform of taxes. vine said,“I would hope it ered,” said Detective Lt. ment 1) creates more ill will “I am one of the people passes and passes tremen- Kevin Sullivan of the North and doesn’t solve the prob- who would benefit, but this dously.” Port Police Department. lem.” is one of those cases where “It’s not everything I Member Rick Tacy, who … if we turn it down the hoped for but it is halfway BOLO worked at the county prop- Legislature might (come there. Naysayers (keep) According to the NPPD, erty appraiser’s officer for 12 back and) do a better job,” bringing up smokescreens,” Lee’s husband, Nathaniel, 47 years, called Amendment 1 he said. Levine said. first reported her missing IL detrimental. “What our organization SUN PHOTO BY MOLLY DEMPSEY, [email protected] when he returned home at He blasted the original Smokescreens is saying is let’s get this show 3:20 p.m. Thursday and Mourners attend a memorial service Tuesday for Denise Amber Save Our Homes Act, calling Lang and Simmonds on the road, and get it on found the couple’s two chil- Lee, 21, who was found dead after being kidnapped Thursday. it the “Doctors and Lawyers agreed the language con- now. This is a start. And give dren — 2-year-old Noah Her alleged kidnapper and killer, Michael Lee King, has been Waterfront Act of 1992” that tained in the resolution was and 6-month-old Adam — charged with first-degree murder. “gives breaks to wealthiest akin to scare tactics. Please see STAND, 5A FRONT SECTION OUR TOWN SECTION ALSO IN THIS EDITION COUPONS DEATHS A Barber Plus ....................5B Miriam Blackburn Good morning, ........................................ ........................................................ CLASS ACTS ....................................................7B BOB VEDDER 8A OPINION 8A AMERICAN PROFILE Buddy’s Pizza ....................6B Edwin Hayworth .......................................................... .................................... CROSSWORD ..................................................4B Gondolier Sun subscriber, LEGALS 6A POLICE BEAT 12A CLASSIFIEDS DRM Enterprises................4B Margaret Phillips ................................ ...................................................... DEAR ABBY........................................................6B LET ‘EM HAVE IT 9A SPORTS 10A Master Clean ......................8B Nancy Porter ............................................................ .................................................. GREEN SHEET................................................5B ROBERTA ZOWINE LOTTO 2A WEATHER 2A Twin Palms Chiropractic ..4A S1 .................................................... M41WI ........................................ MILESTONES 8B . OBITUARIES 12A Venice Car Wash ..............11A .liJ WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY WWW.VENICEGONDOLIER.COM FOR HOME DELIVERY, CALL 207-1300. 2A SUN NEWSPAPERS ALMANAC WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23, 2008 Florida Lottery BACK IN TIME CASH 3 PLAY 4 WARM MINERAL SPRINGS, 1960S Jan. 21.......774 Jan. 21.....5880 Jan. 20.......234 Jan. 20.....0103 Jan. 19.......694 Jan. 19.....3759 Jan. 18.......739 Jan. 18.....2290 Jan. 17.......253 Jan. 17.....3451 Jan. 16.......714 Jan. 16.....0523 FANTASY 5 MEGA MONEY Jan. 21.........9-15-17-24-34 Jan. 18.................16-23-27-40 Jan. 20.........2-18-19-28-32 MegaBall.............................21 Jan. 19.........2-19-22-32-36 Jan. 15...................5-25-30-33 Jan. 18.........3-16-20-24-36 MegaBall...............................3 Jan. 17...........3-7-16-19-34 Drawings occur Tuesday, Friday evenings Payoff for Jan. 20 Payoff for Jan. 18 2 5-digit winners:.....$96,322.27 0 4 of 4 + MB ....................$— 238 4-digit winners:......$130.50 8 4 of 4.........................$1,301 52 3 of 4 + MB...........$438.50 7,654 3-digit winners:...........$11 1,205 3 of 4..................$56.50 2-digit winners .....Quick Pick ticket 1,732 2 of 4 + MB .............$27 LOTTO Jan.