Showing Thanks Sunshine Lake Dredge Extended by BRENDA BARBOSA Which the County Has Staff Writer Granted
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THE WIRE Census: Income stagnant in Florida PAGE 1 Deal of the Day Dirt Devil hand-held, $2 In Today’s Classifieds! Charlotte4'n Sun AND WEEKLY HERALD THE WIRE RIVALRY RENEWAL POPE CRITICIZES CHURCH PAGE 1 1 n QB Brennan McGill leads Charlotte against Pope Francis said the Catholic Church had become obsessed by Venice today. SPORTS PAGE 1 “small-minded rules” regarding abortion, gays and contraception. AN EDITION OF THE SUN VOL. 121 NO. 263 AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 Charlotte High principal out District cites ‘personal reasons’; interim could be named today By IAN ROSS said Shafer “hasn’t broken any a personal decision,” Riley Board Chairman Lee Swift principal in Lee County for about STAFF WRITER laws,” is not under investiga- said. is confident Milstead will a decade, started his career at tion, and took an Whittaker couldn’t be “provide great support to Charlotte High in the beginning PUNTA GORDA — Charlotte unpaid personal reached for comment everybody, both the existing of 2012. He initially worked High School Principal Richard leave rather than Thursday. assistant principals, (and) alongside the former principal, Shafer left his position for a paid adminis- Darrell Milstead, director of the interim (principal), and Barney Duffy, for a couple of personal reasons this week and trative leave. secondary education, is over- give that person the support months before taking over. will not return to the school, “He and seeing Charlotte High until an they need to be successful. Swift, who followed his career, according to district officials. (superintendent) interim principal is appointed, Hopefully it will be as smooth said Shafer “was intense in Charlotte County Public Doug (Whittaker) which could happen today. of a transition as it can be.” Schools spokesman Mike Riley SHAFER talked and it was Charlotte County School Shafer, who had worked as a PRINCIPAL | 11 Showing thanks Sunshine Lake dredge extended By BRENDA BARBOSA which the county has STAFF WRITER granted. “The new contract Charlotte County end date will be Jan. 1, officials confirmed the 2014,” Vernon told cleanup of Sunshine Charlotte County Lake, scheduled to wrap commissioners during a up next month, has workshop Tuesday. been extended by three Under the original months. contract, ProLime had The job is now 270 days to complete expected to be complete the job. But the compa- by early next year. ny was slowed by large According to county pieces of debris buried engineer Joanne Vernon, in the lake that have Prolime Corp., the impeded its ability to Michigan-based compa- suction out the muck. ny hired to dredge the Crews have been algae-infested lake, hit working five days a some unexpected snags, week, 10 hours a day, and about a month ago requested an extension, LAKE | 11 SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, [email protected] Duffy New Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity homeowner Catherine Lausier receives a hug from Patricia Harris of the Daughters of the American Revolution/Charlotte Bay Chapter after being presented with an American flag, one of many gifts donated during a home-dedication ceremony Tuesday in Port Charlotte. More photos on page 12. requests Local home sales steady payment of By ADAM KREGER According to Sharon Neuhofer, — an increase from 56 in August STAFF WRITER president of the Punta Gorda-Port 2012, but a slight dip from 75 in Charlotte-North Port Association July. legal fees Nationally, August home sales of Realtors, and a Realtor with “Those numbers are still pretty soared to their fastest pace Coldwell Banker Morris Reality in good,” Neuhofer said. By BRENDA BARBOSA be paid as they become since February 2007, while local Punta Gorda, “There is nothing to The area median single-fam- STAFF WRITER due. single-family sales for the same worry about at all.” ily home price for August was On Aug. 23, Charlotte month remained virtually un- The association reported 290 sin- $132,250 — down slightly from County resident Robert changed from a year ago, and were gle-family homes sold in August, $132,750 in July, but way up from MURDOCK — Harriman filed a com- down about 10 percent from July. which is on pace with 292 $109,950 at the same time last year Charlotte County plaint with the ethics But at all levels, homes are being a year ago, and down slightly from — a 20.3 percent surge. Commissioner Tricia commission that alleges sold at significantly higher median 318 last month. For condos and townhouses, Duffy has petitioned the Duffy misused her au- prices than a year ago. The median Townhouses and condo sales, the median price in August was county to pay for legal thority to benefit an or- price is that level at which half the however, continued their roller- fees arising from two ganization her husband homes sold for more, half for less. coaster ride, totaling 71 in August SALES | 11 separate complaints volunteers for when recently filed against she voted two years her with the state ago to approve funding Commission on Ethics. for the revitalization of Heavy rains possible At a preagenda Parkside, a densely pop- meeting Thursday at the ulated section of Port County Administration Charlotte that houses Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Building, County two of the county’s Attorney Janette three major hospitals, Knowlton presented a By CHRISTY FEINBERG possible 2- to 3-inch rainmaker from the National Weather Service. as well as thousands of letter to commissioners small businesses and SENIOR WRITER Sunday through Tuesday. The official recording site at the written by Duffy re- “We’ll deal with it. It’s going to be Sarasota Bradenton International questing her legal fees PAYMENT | 11 A tropical system near Mexico in wet,” Charlotte County Emergency Airport reported 5.05 inches of the Gulf could affect weather here Management Director Wayne rain so far this month — which is beginning Sunday. Sallade said. “This is the tropics.” .05 above normal. Since Jan. 1, 43.66 CORRECTION A combination of factors involving And in the tropics, it rains … a lot. inches have fallen at the airport — For tickets and information about Autumn Nights, a fundraiser event the tropical system and an expected Though this year has seemed only .33 inches above normal. for the Hearing Impaired Persons of Charlotte County and Visually cold front could produce a large rain- particularly wet in some neighbor- The Punta Gorda Airport record- Impaired Persons of Charlotte County on Sept. 28, call 941-743-8347 maker for the Florida peninsula. At hoods, the monthly and annual ed 3.56 inches from Sept. 1 through or 941-625-8501. An article in Thursday’s Sun contained an incorrect this point — again, it’s still a few days rainfall amounts thus far are number. away — local officials are expecting a historically average, according to RAINS | 11 INDEX | THE SUN: Obituaries 5 | Police Beat 7 | Viewpoint 8 | Opinion 9-10 | THE WIRE: Nation 2,8 | State 3 | World 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 This year’s savings to date ... CALL US AT CHARLIE SAYS … SUN COUPON Wait … does today’s - 90 70 941-206-1000 I' I I'' IIU I VALUE METER $71,060 I forecast actually say “dry”? 7DII 05252 00025MD 8 Mostly dry Our Town Page 2 C www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun /Friday, September 20, 2013 Breakfast toast to teachers SUN PHOTO BY DONNELL BATES Walmart in Punta Gorda showed its appreciation to the teachers at East Elementary School on Wednesday by giving them a celebration breakfast and had a raffle giving away 20 $50 gift cards to purchase classroom supplies and or nutritious snacks. Here, store manager Dale Barghausen joins Jennifer The teachers, staff and Walmart associates pose for a picture after the appreciation breakfast. Thompson, Cathy Ezell and Jamie Joslin, who all work on the Teachers’ Award program. Third-grade teacher Samantha Ulrich receives one of the $50 gift cards from At left: Teachers Walmart store Victoria Cheatham, manager Dale Renee Mooney and Barghausen. Jason Learnard are seen here during the appreciation breakfast provided by Walmart. COUNTY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS agency is to implement the policies, projects and programs contained in the Punta Gorda Downtown Redevelopment The Charlotte County Commission is seeking Plan. Submit request for appointment to Diane Gant, County volunteers for the following appointments: Commission Office, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room 536, Port • Marine Advisory Committee: three volunteers to Charlotte, FL 33948, or call, 941-743-1300, fax 941- serve in the capacity of members at large. These terms 743-1310, or email [email protected]. are effective Jan. 1, 2014, and shall expire Dec. 31, 2016. Please call Pam Alexander at 941-764-4909 for an appli- • Rotonda West Street & Drainage Advisory cation form to turn in with your résumé, or email her at Committee: one volunteer to serve a three-year term [email protected], or fax your request for from the date of appointment. Applicant must be a form to 941-764-4108. resident of Charlotte County and reside within the unit. • Punta Gorda Community Redevelopment Submit application to Public Works Department, 7000 Agency: seeking one member who must be a Charlotte Florida St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950, call 941-575-3600 or PTO president Lisa Giammo, who helped orga- County resident to serve a four-year term. The purpose of the email [email protected]. Getting ready to head into class is fifth-grade nize the breakfast for the teachers, introduces teacher Kristina Kelch.