The islands' newspaper of record Andrew Congress and Kayia Weber Week of July 29 - August 4, 2004 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 31, NUMBER 31 20 PAGES 75 CENTS Sanibel resident killed by 12-foot alligator By Kevin Duffy Meisek was air-lifted to Lee Memorial tern. Staff Writer shortly after police received a phone call Morse said that even a seemingly from a neighbor at 12:41 p.m. Wednesday, harmless activity, such as feeding ducks, A Sanibel resident attacked by an alli- informing them of the emergency. can present problems as well because gator on Wednesday has died, and city Officers discovered two persons in the ducks are part of an alligator's staple diet. officials say they wiil scrutinize existing water at the pond's edge attempting to "An alligator does not differentiate regulations to better safeguard people. assist Meisek, who was floating face up between the chef and the waiter, v/hose Janie Meisek, 54, a landscaper who and saying she was caught in vines. The being served or the meal," he said. "It rec- was dragged into a pond while tree-trim- officers, soon assisted by fire and EMS ognizes patterns of behavior, and if there ming behind a house at 3061 Poinciana personnel, took up the struggle, but could are ducks nearby, and you are feeding Circle, died at 9:16 a.m. Friday from com- not see the alligator despite Melsek's them, you are now part of the scenario. plications due to extensive injuries, offi- claims that it had her in it's jaws. She then "Therefore, you are now food." cials with Lee Memorial Health System came free and rescuers pulled her to Morse said it is essential to never feed said. shore. any animal along the water's edge, or to "She sustained devastating soft tissue The alligator, which appeared soon walk the family pet alongside freshwater injuries," Dr. Drew Mikulaschek, director after about 15 feet offshore and began to bodies. of Trauma Services at Lee Memorial, said swim toward the assisting party in an Sanibel Mayor Marty Harrity said that during an afternoon press conference at aggressive manner, was shot and killed. council will look at existing policies with the hospital. "By far and away, the more Officers measured its carcass at 12 feet regard to alligators during it's August 3 significant and serious injuries were sus- three inches. public hearing and see what can be done tained to her trunk itself." Gary Morse, spokesman for Florida to make them safer. Mikulaschek wouldn't say how long Fish and Wildlife, said necropsey results '"It's unfortunate, a sad course of Meisek spent on the operating table, citing on the 457-pound creature showed no evi- events."' he said. privacy regulations. He did say that loss dence of it having been fed by man. Councilman Steve Brown said that the of blood was not the overriding factor in Feeding alligators is a violation of state island's policy regarding •'nuisance" alli- her death. janie Meisek law because it can alter their behavior pal- gators may need !o be tightened to more "Her wounds, in and of themselves, closely mirror statewide policies. although devastating, were not fatal,"' he "They have to show aggression,"" he said. said. "If it's in someone's pool or garage, Meisek. Mikulaschek said, died of our policy is if they are not aggressive — Systemic Inflammatory Response if it tries to get av-ay or is timid -•- we will Syndrome -— essentially the body work- relocate it." ing overtime to try to cope with a trau- State policy is to kill die anima* l! it matic event. LTXCC'.-II'.. iour 1'ect ir. ler.gr'i. S:>.;ir-c! k;\v is "The wounds were deep in her tissues. to relocate the animal if it is up to eight and were compounded by being in pond feet in length. water for at least 10 minutes." he said. "There will definitely be a re-evalua- Pond water is typically contaminated tion.'" Brown said. with micro-bacteria and other organisms, '"Ultimately we do have to follow siatc Mikulaschek said, which triggered her law," Sanibel Chief of Police William body's reaction to the event. Tomlinson said. "She required extensive surgery to con- Morse said that selective removal or trol the onset of infection," he said. destruction of eggs in nests, in order to •Melsek died on the operating table, keep alligator populations in check, is not Mikulaschek said. currently state policy. Some eggs are "She was sick from the get-go, bui she removed in order to stock commercial rallied quite well," he told the media. Photo by Mary Hickey, Sanibel Fire & Rescue aliigator farms, where the animals are "There are just some things that we can't The alligator was shot by Sanibel Police after it turned on them following its attack raised for their hides and meat. fix." on Janie Meisek, "It is very difficult to successfully nest Island Reporter that "'Janie was just a total free spirit, a remarkable woman. She was very spiritual, veiy psychic. A community remembers Janie Meisek She had a wonderful soul. We're just devalued. She'll leave a huge \oid. She'll be greatly missed." By Jenny Burnham DeBord attempted to rescue iV!->. Meisek before police and The Native Plant Nursery wa» closed on Friday after- Staff Writer EMTs armed, noon. Anholt spent his morning working around the Michael Hannan, Janie's neighbor, worked part time for Janie Meisek. 54. died at Lee Memorial Hospital on Firehouse and participating in a training exercise. After he her for about five months three years ago. "Tropical storm Friday. July 23. of injuries she sustained when she was heard the news of Ms. Melsek's death, he shook his head. Gabrielle had just blown through." he said, "and she need- attacked by a 457 pound alligator on Wednesday. July 21. ""There's nothing that can be said now." he stated. ed help cleaning up the debris the stoim had chopped on Word of Ms. Melsek's death spread quickly on Sanibel. "He's taking it very hard." confided his daughter, her clients' property." leaving island residents stunned and saddened. Morganna Beth. "Harder than he's letting on." It was only five months, he added, bui when you work Jim Anholl. one of the three men first on the scene of At the Sanibel-Capii\a Conservation Foundation, right next to someone digging holes and planting, you get Wednesday's attack, began his day among his fellow vol- where Ms. Meisek purchased the native plants she used in to know that person. unteer firefighters at Sanibe! Firehouse One. "lt"s just her landscaping, the staff gathered to share their feelings "Most obituaries detail measurable achievements: CEO beginning to catch up with me," he said of the emotional with one another. of this, president of that. Janie's achievements were less effect of the incident, in which he. Jack David, and Roger After their meeting, Marty Bryant of the SCCF told the tangible, but certainly no less admirable and no less human. She overpaid me; she planted only native vegeta- tion — she could have made a lot more m'oncy planting INO! exotics — and she cared for Sanibel. "My wife Gloria and Janie would take trips to the • LEITLKS page 6 Lee might sue Plans moving Faxing up the islands north of here; they went out for Thai food togeth- Sanibel ahead place? er; sometimes they shared a plate of French fries: they • DATELINE page 7 watched movies together, sharing popcorn," said Hannan. Jennifer Lessinger, her mother Judy Workman, and her • REAL ESTATE page 10 brother Michael Workman, were all close to Ms. Meisek. County threatens suit . City gets grant to help Lots of companies are here "She was fun and fabulous," said Jennifer. "She was • SPORTS page 12 unless city drops theirs. move the building. to help, even when owners generous and giving, giving of herself, of her time. She Planning Commission are up north. was one of the most positive people I ever knew, and very • TV LISTINGS page 13 approves. strong." She paused. "I'm afraid I'm not doing her justice. • POLICE BEAT page 16 You should talk to my brother Michael." See MELSEK — See page 8 — See page 5 — See page 16 • CLASSIFIEDS page 17 page 2 2 • Week of July 29 - August 4, 2004 • ISLAND REPORTER and hatch alligators in captivity," he said. "A very large alligator isn't afraid of "Plus nature takes care of itself." anybody, whether it's been fed or not," he Alligators are more than carnivores, said. Morse said. They are also cannibals, Melsek, who was listed in critical con- oftentimes preying on their young. dition, had her right arm amputated below Melsek became the 335 documented the elbow. She pleaded with rescuers to alligator attack in the state and the 14th cut it off during her struggle with the alli- fatality since 1948, when records began gator. being maintained. Ybanez, the lead trauma surgeon who Jane Keefer, 70, a seasonal Sanibel res- attempted to save Melsek, said her proba- ident, escaped with a broken thumb and bility of survival would have been greatly deep wounds in April when an alligator reduced had she not been brought to a pulled her into a shallow pond while she facility with a trauma center. worked on a seawall in her backyard. "She'd have died anyway, but her Robert Steele, 81, lost his life on chances would have been much much September 11, 2001, the victim of an alli- less," he said.