THE WIRE Despite boom, higher costs push Big Oil into slump PAGE 4 Deal of the Day Electric griddle, $5 In Today’s Jt;t 'VI V Classifieds! THE WIRE PAGE 1 Charlotte Sun AND WEEKLY HERALD RUSSIA SHIELDING SNOWDEN BENNETT RESIGNS THE WIRE PAGE 1 The White House is “extremely disappointed” in Moscow’s defiant Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett resigned decision to grant temporary asylum to the NSA leaker. amid a controversy from his former job in Indiana. AN EDITION OF THE SUN VOL. 121 NO. 214 AmericA’s Best community DAily FRIDAY AUGUST 2, 2013 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 Officials dive into muddy problem By BRENDA BARBOSA “The group changed their their frustrations with that which not only has become a Palm Island, and Truex asked Staff Writer shirts, took off their shoes and parking lot and the potholes,” nuisance, but also the potential Charlotte County staff to take rescued my car. And they did Charlotte County Commissioner safety hazard. them to the stadium to see if One soggy Saturday night so with happy, smiling faces,” Tricia Duffy said at a recent “I think we need to look at they had any recommendations last month, Virginia Burns of Burns wrote in a letter to the commission meeting. “Well, it’s trying to improve that parking for the parking lot. Port Charlotte exited Charlotte Sun last week. not actually potholes. I don’t area a little bit because it is very “That’s a whole different Sports Park and walked to the But not everyone is smiling at know what you’d call it when it’s difficult to trek through,” Truex beast,” said Public Works parking lot only to find her car the conditions of the grassy lot, just ditches of mud and water.” said. Director Alan Holbach. “Not firmly stuck in mud. which has become a veritable Commissioner Bill Truex said A group of consultants from only do you have to consider Lucky for her, a gaggle of mud trap. he too has received calls from Penn State University will be the cost of a solution, but you park employees managed to “I have heard from a lot of people complaining about the looking at materials other get her out. people in the community and conditions of the parking lot, than asphalt for roadways on MUDDY | 4 State shutters Gatorz Local bar and grill closes r1 ,r after inspection finds roaches By GARY ROBERTS Gatorz had failed a Staff Writer second inspection and SORRY was still closed, although PORT CHARLOTTE the owner hoped to get — Gatorz Bar & Grill, a approval to open some- longtime destination for time today. nightlife on U.S. 41, was “(An inspector) saw shut down Wednesday by a lot of improvement state inspectors, citing (on Thursday). He saw live and dead cockroach- six exterminators in the es on the premises. building,” Carnelli said. Bar owner Frank “We’re trying to get rid of Carnelli said someone (the roaches). It’s Florida.” reported the violation In its July 31 inspection to the Charlotte County report, the Division of Health Department, Hotels and Restaurants leading to an inspection for the DBPR cited Gatorz Wednesday morning by for several “high-priority” the Florida Department violations for live and SUN PHOTO BY GARY ROBERTS of Business & Professional dead cockroaches found Regulation, which imme- at the wait station, on State inspectors closed down Gatorz Bar & Grill on Wednesday for health violations. Bar owner Frank Carnelli hoped his establish- diately closed the doors. ment would get approval to reopen by Friday. By Thursday afternoon, ROACHES | 5 Sentencing delayed in child sex case By DREW WINCHESTER child pornography case involv- with family, or a complete set of 1 Staff Writer ing a 2 ⁄2 year-old girl known to charges against Hanifan. SUN PHOTO BY ADAM KREGER him — charges that included the Scotese, too, said he was out of SARASOTA — An incomplete transmission of child porn, child town for an extended period of Lt. Joseph Gaudette oversees the hydroponics program at the pre-sentencing investigation post- cruelty and sexual battery, the time and only received a copy of Charlotte County Jail. He explains inmates do all the required poned former North Port resident latter of which is a capital offense the investigation via email, which hands-on work to grow vegetables used for their meals. Anthony Hanifan’s fate Thursday at that could land Hanifan in jail for landed in his spam folder. Gaudette says it’s a huge money-saver. the Sarasota County Justice Center, the rest of his life. Hanifan refused to answer a decision that forced 12th Judicial But it was Hanifan’s attorney, questions posed by the investiga- Circuit Judge Donna Padar Berlin Public Defender John Scotese, tor, Scotese said, and he feared it to apologize to the family of the who felt his client shouldn’t face a worked against his client in the Inmates victim for the delay. life sentence following a pre-sen- final copy of the investigation Hanifan, 38, was found guilty tencing investigation that lacked report. on June 14 of 10 separate counts personal background and socio- harvesting associated with his homemade economic information, interviews CASE | 4 Sea turtle mystery on Knight Island unique skills By STEVE REILLY state permit holder for more resemble neither those of logger- By ADAM KREGER hand-watering crops Staff Writer than 20 years — turtle patrols head nor green sea turtles. Could Staff Writer while learning through documented 233 loggerhead nests those tracks be from a hawksbill or the hydroponics pro- ENGLEWOOD — Brenda and 15 green sea turtle nests, a hybrid sea turtle — either way, PUNTA GORDA gram as an inmate at the Bossman, like others overseeing seven more green turtle nests than a very rare occurrence for local — Megan Relyea, 22, Charlotte County Jail. local volunteer sea turtle nesting seen in previous nesting seasons. sea turtle nesting? Bossman is spends most of her days “I think it’s a great pro- patrols, is reporting a good season Bossman also said 11 turtle nests consulting with Florida Fish and outside mastering the gram for the inmates,” for loggerhead and green sea turtle have hatched so far on the islands. Wildlife Conservation Commission unique skill of hydro- she said. “It gives them nesting. Female sea turtle species leave researchers to unravel the mystery. ponics — a method used a chance to learn new She also is trying to unravel a somewhat distinctive tracks when When those nests hatch, to grow plants and crops things that they prob- sea turtle nest mystery on Knight they crawl up onto Gulf beaches Bossman said she intends to send without soil. ably wouldn’t do on the Island. to lay their eggs. And that’s the any unhatched eggs to the FWC for Since June, she has outside.” So far on the bridgeless Don mystery. DNA analysis. been assisting with A 7,200-square-foot Pedro and Knight islands — where Knight Island sea turtle patrols planting, transplant- greenhouse constructed Bossman has been the principal have come upon tracks that MYSTERY | 4 ing, harvesting and SKILLS | 5 INDEX | THE SUN: Obituaries 5 | Police Beat 7 | Viewpoint 8 | Opinion 9-10 | THE WIRE: Nation 2 | World 3,8 | State 5 | Business 6-7 | Weather 8 | SPORTS: Lotto 2 | CLASSIFIED: Comics 9-12 | Dear Abby 12 | TV Listings 13 Daily Edition $1.00 Look inside for valuable coupons High Low SUN COUPON This year’s savings to date ... 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