Sgt. Wilson Remembered Just Toodles Sheriff’S Office Quietly Recognizes Anniversary of Tragedy
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THE WIRE Ocean kayak, $475 PAGE 1 In Today’s 1 )L Classifieds! AND WEEKLY Charlotte Sun HERALD JIM BRADY DIES COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF The former Ronald Reagan press secretary, shot during a 1981 With 24 days to the regular-season openers, high school football assassination attempt on Reagan, died Monday. practice begins across the area. SPORTS PAGE 1 An Edition of the Sun VOL. 122 NO. 217 AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY TUESDAY AUGUST 5, 2014 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 LIFE STORIES No goodbyes, Sgt. Wilson remembered just Toodles Sheriff’s Office quietly recognizes anniversary of tragedy oodles was conceived in a church By ADAM KREGER Operational Support Commander Wilson was a Port Charlotte High pew. STAFF WRITER Capt. Sherman Robinson often School graduate and later became a “One Sunday at church I was T drives by the portion of Veterans school resource officer there. He was looking at the flier and Tidewell Hospice was Boulevard dedicated to most recently a “Night Crawler” — looking for volunteers,” said Linda Collins, After a year of attending countless the clown’s alter-ego. his fallen co-worker. the nickname given to deputies from memorial services, charity events District 4, Squad D. They are tasked “So I called and filled and dedications, those who were “That’s another thing out the application, that will always remind with ensuring public safety while closest to Charlotte County Sheriff’s much of the community sleeps. attended the orienta- Sgt. Mike Wilson will opt for a more us of him,” Robinson tion class, not knowing said. Friends have said Wilson was al- private remembrance on the somber ways smiling, and had a passion for what I really wanted first anniversary of his slaying. Wilson, 42, was shot to do until two clowns and killed Aug. 5, 2013, life and his profession. He was an After all, a big to-do isn’t needed avid fisherman and skilled boater. came in.” for people to remember the 21-year WILSON while responding to a Lightbulb! domestic disturbance Wilson left behind a wife and veteran or his sacrifice. three teenage children. “And then I knew it. I call at Lakes of Tuscana apartments “We’re reminded of him every At a press conference shortly after said, that’s what I want off Veterans Boulevard in Port day because of different things that Wilson’s death, Charlotte County Steve to do.” are brought up,” said CCSO Human Charlotte. His murderer, Jay Vanko, Collins, 61, lives in Resources Director Kevin Ostrowsky. then killed himself. BAUMANN Gulf Cove with her WILSON | 6 COLUMNIST husband, Tom. He’s retired U.S. Air Force; she retired in 2010 after 23 years as a U.S. Navy Reserves corpsman working in Marine A long ride to honor Turtle Corps hospitals, including stretches during the first Gulf War and after 9/11. Now, about eight hours a month she is Toodles. nesting As such, Collins puts on her costume — a bright red Afro-style wig, purple nose, floppy hat, multicolored dress and size XXXXXXXXL shoes — and visits people at nears Tidewell Hospice’s network in Englewood, Port Charlotte and Venice. She visits nursing homes. She makes house calls and does record special requests like birthday parties and celebrations. Collins gets particular satisfac- VILL By STEVE REILLY tion visiting the Douglas T. Jacobson Veterans STAFF WRITER Home in Port Charlotte. While the whole thing may seem plain silly, ENGLEWOOD — clowning isn’t just about dressing oddly and l i t , Manasota Key is known acting the goofball. 1 7. as a prime nesting Starting out, Collins had a lot to learn. She site for loggerhead sea took a seven-week clowning class at Tidewell, turtles on Florida’s West “learning all the basics, the do’s and the Coast. don’ts.” This year could prove “One of the things they taught us was you to be a record-breaking never turn your back, you always walk out nesting season. backwards when you go out … because you “Fingers crossed want to maintain eye contact,” she said. “And the other thing they taught us was that the turtles break a that you’re never supposed to say, ‘Goodbye’ record here next week,” or ‘See you later.’” Wilma Katz said after Which stymied her until she talked it over SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS the Coastal Wildlife with Tom. Club tabulated its “And he said, ‘Well, that’s easy. In Ireland After four days, 342 miles, and 22.14 hours, the Brotherhood Riders arrived in the pouring rain at the Port nesting numbers Friday. you say, ‘toodles.’” Charlotte Elks Lodge 2153 on Monday afternoon. The Brotherhood Riders have been riding for seven years to Katz and Zoe Bass are Name set. And well-matched. honor their fallen brothers and sisters, including Charlotte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Wilson, who died one the state principal Collins-Toodles, who works with a partner year ago today after being shot in the line of duty. See more photos on Page 12. permit holders over- named Birdie, is one of Tidewell’s dozen seeing CWC volunteer Caring Clowns. She finds it satisfying. sea turtle patrols on Take the time when she got a home visit Manasota Key. request. As of Friday, CWC “When Birdie and I walked into the room, Charlotte Idol reported 3,098 logger- the whole room was surrounded with clown head nests on Manasota figurines.” Key. The record count The woman collected clowns, Collins was 3,156 nests in 1998 said, “and her last wish was to be visited by returns to the stage for the entire nesting clowns.” season, which runs “It is wonderful, because it brings smiles By AL HEMINGWAY Punta Gorda. from May 1 to Oct. 31. to people. SUN CORRESPONDENT Committee member Besides the logger- “It’s a nice memory to the loved ones Darcy Woods said they heads, the CWC report- because you always want to remember CHARLOTTE COUNTY have more than 40 ed 26 green sea turtle someone at their best. And seeing someone — For all those aspiring contestants but the cut- nests and two Kemp’s with a smile on their face, even though they singers who wanted to off will be 50 because of ridley nests, which is l know their time’s limited, lifts the family as be on “American Idol,” time constraints. among the most en- well as the person that we visit.” but could not make “We opened up the dangered of sea turtle One more story: it, the Charlotte Idol competition by dropping species. “When I went to the Veterans Home not singing competition is the age from 16 to 15 so Katz hesitated to too long ago there’s a little lady always right returning. more individuals can give reasons why she at the entranceway, and she said, ‘You, Beginning at 5:30 p.m. participate,” she said. thought nesting is high you’ve been here before.’ Friday, local singers, Returning judges this season. However, “I said, ‘Yes I have.’” age 15 or older, can Kathleen Candales, besides “a little luck,” “And she said, ‘I know who you are. You’re showcase their talent artistic director and she credited the the spirit-lifter.’” at Audition Night to founder of Higher Endangered Species Act Exactly. be held at the Cultural Ground Performing Arts and other conservation “So you hear things like that, and, you Center of Charlotte Studio and Performing efforts for the protec- know, it does my heart good,” Collins said. County, 2280 Aaron St., Company in Port tion of sea turtles and “I’m just so happy to be able to put a smile Charlotte, Al Holland, Port Charlotte. nests. on someone’s face. Brighten up their day a former member of Auditions are free Knight, Don Pedro little bit. The Platters singing for the performers. and Little Gasparilla “Because, unfortunately, nursing homes group, and Chris Porter, Admission fee is $5 for islands are also seeing a are lonely and if we can break up their rou- executive editor of the visitors with a cash bar. SUN FILE PHOTO banner year. tine it takes them away from their worries.” Sun, will select the three Approximately 20 per- “We haven’t had this Hospice is always looking for more people winners. An overwhelming operatic performance willing to don the big nose and fright wig. formers will be chosen won then-16-year-old Marcella Brown the many nests on (Little “We score on the Gasparilla Island) since For more information, call Lynette Melchior to proceed to the next complete package,” title of “Charlotte Idol” and $1,000, at last at 941-548-2336 or email her at cmelchior@ round of competition April’s inaugural competition at the Char- 2001 season,” said Candales said. “The Linda Soderquist, who tidewell.org. on Finals Night, which pitch, style and range of lotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Stephen Baumann is a member of takes place Aug. 22, at Punta Gorda. Auditions for this year’s event is the state permit hold- the individual’s voice, er overseeing sea turtle the Sun’s editorial board. Contact him the Charlotte Harbor their performance, if will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Cultural at [email protected], or call Event and Conference Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St., 941-681-3003. Center, 75 Taylor St., IDOL | 6 Port Charlotte. TURTLE | 6 THE SUN: Obituaries 5 | Legals 8 | Crosswords 9 | Police Beat 9 | Viewpoint 10 | Opinion 11 CLASSIFIED: Comics 9-12 | Dear Abby 12 | TV Listings 13 INDEX | THE WIRE: Nation 2,8 | State 3 | World 5 | Business 6-7 | Weather 8 SPORTS: Lotto 2 Daily Edition $1.00 Look inside for valuable coupons CHARLIE SAYS ..