noW thrEE Days a WEEK ••• Post CoMMEnts at on CaPE-Coral-DaIly-brEEzE.CoM ‘Dogs and CAPE CORAL ‘Hawks Ida Baker drops Cape in city showdown BREEZE —SPORTS MID-WEEK EDItIon WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Cloudy • Friday: Mostly Cloudy — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 3 Thursday, January 7, 2010 50 cents Mayor proposes fee to help cover utility costs And with utilities inevitably least five total council members headed for the north sometime in must buy into the ideology before Payments for those not yet using city water the near future, he said eventual it becomes a reality. By DREW WINCHESTER being paid by current rate payers, and used to offset a portion of rate payers in the north are getting Sullivan said, too, that resi- [email protected] and help to pay down the debt of their utility impact fees when the the savings now in impact fees if dents will have to buy into the Mayor John Sullivan is pro- the North RO Water Plant, impact fees come due in the his plan comes to fruition. idea, but realizes the plan could posing a plan that would charge according to Sullivan. future.” “It’s like loaning the city be viewed as a new tax, when its property owners who have not In a memo to city council He added during an interview money,” he said. “What the city nothing of the sort. paid impact fees for being hooked dated Jan 4, Sullivan wrote that Wednesday that the plan could will do is credit them against “They can call it what they up to city water roughly $300 - “Each property that pays into this help to pay off the RO plant in future impact fees for utilities ... want to, but the point is, this is $400 a year, per property. fund would be credited for a like four to five years, which, he said, each person will be credited for amount and each property would has been estimated to cost any- The annual charge would help what they pay in.” See MAYOR, page 3A to offset the monthly utility rates be given credit for the payments where from $140 - $215 million. While the plan is Sullivan’s, at Painting the Cape Jury selection continues in Cash Feenz trial Kemar Johnston facing murder charges By TIFFANY REPECKI napping and aggravated battery [email protected] with a deadly weapon in the 2006 As jury selection goes into its double murder of Alexis and third day today in the murder trial Jeffrey Sosa in Cape Coral. If of alleged Cash Feenz defendant convicted, he faces life in prison Kemar Johnston, the presiding without parole or possibly the judge is considering pulling a sec- death sentence. ond panel of jurors. Over the past two days 76 At the close of Wednesday’s jurors have been questioned by proceedings, 20th Judicial Circuit Assistant State Attorney Bob Lee Judge Thomas S. Reese said he and defense attorney David A. may bring in another panel of Brener of Fort Myers about how jurors next week. Reese first much they know of Johnston’s wants to work through the case and about their personal view remaining jurors from the first of the death penalty. Of the 76, pool pulled Tuesday before mak- 60 jurors have been dismissed ing a decision. while 16 remain. Johnston, 23, faces two counts each of first-degree murder, kid- See CASH FEENZ, page 3A MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral artist Paula Eckerty paints on the Cape Coral Yacht Club beach Wednesday. Eckerty is participating in Paint the Cape, a multi-day artistic competition Open house for and art exhibition benefiting the Cape Coral Community Foundation. Artists are paint- ing outside this week at designated areas in the city. An awards ceremony and preview reception, catered by Rumrunners restaurant, will be held at the Cape Harbour pavil- Chiquita widening ion Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, at the Harbour View Gallery or by calling the Cape Coral Community Foundation at 542-5594. Paint the Cape artists’ work will be available for sale Friday and throughout the weekend at the project Tuesday pavilion. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. By DREW WINCHESTER [email protected] To go Pastor Dennis Gingerich from What: Chiquita Boulevard Circus brings ‘Illuscination’ Cape Christian Fellowship Widening Project Church has watched as the Cape Open House has grown by leaps and bounds. to Germain Arena this weekend While it took more than 20 years for his church to take shape Where: Abiding Love on Chiquita Boulevard, the city Lutheran Church, Performances to feature renowned magician David DaVinci took shape around him and his 3205 Chiquita Blvd parishioners. By DREW WINCHESTER is “Illuscination.” That’s why he isn’t phased at According to DaVinci, he When: Tuesday, Jan. 12, [email protected] To go all by the thought of a widening 6 - 8 p.m. Circus lovers will have some- worked closely with Ringling project on Chiquita. Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s thing shout about this weekend Ringling Bros. and “We saw that the city was when the Ringling Bros. and team to create a unique show. What: More information: Barnum & Bailey Circus going to come out this way and 707-9050 Barnum & Bailey Circus returns “This will be a unique experi- we knew there were plans for to Germain Arena. This time, just ence,” he said. “We did a good Germain Arena Veterans Parkway ... we knew don’t expect your normal circus job of making it fun and still hav- Where: that someday they were talking According to a press release, experience. ing a bit of an edge to it. It will about six-laning Chiquita,” he the open house will not have a This year’s event features entertain multiple ages.” When: Jan 7 - 10, multiple said. formal presentation, instead let- some new additions to the show, Unlike the traditional role of showtimes The city has scheduled an ting the public review the pro- namely David DaVinci, an inter- the ringmaster, DaVinci will be open house next week to present posed improvements and ask nationally renowned magician. Information: 948-7825 some of the road widening infor- The theme of this year’s circus See CIRCUS, page 3A mation to the public. See WIDENING, page 3A Make My Day Adult Day Care Monika and Gerhard Keidl, owners of Make My Day Adult Center offers variety of services Day Care, relocated By MCKENZIE CASSIDY during the day or those diagnosed from Germany in [email protected] with Alzheimer’s or dementia can March 2009. During The Make My Day Adult Day spend the day at the center. the last 25 years Care Center in Cape Coral offers “They can stay during the day in Monika has worked caregivers the chance to bring their the case of having Alzheimer’s or as a certified geri- loved ones to a safe environment for when caregivers need to go to work, atric nurse in assist- socialization, companionship and we can take care of them,” said ed living facilities in daily activities. Monika. Make My Day is licensed for 30 Germany. Make My Monika and Gerhard Keidl, own- Day is located at 534 ers and administrators of the center, clients. Some of the clients only held their grand opening Dec. 12 and spend a half-day while others can be S.E. 16th Place. hope more residents take advantage of dropped off in the short-term if the the benefits the center has to offer. MICHAEL PISTELLA Senior citizens without anything to do See MAKE MY DAY, page 9A ATAGLANCE IT’S OFFICIAL NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Neighborhood Watch Leatherback turtle rescued meeting slated for Jan. 19 in Southwest Florida Annie’s Mailbox......10A Health ................8A Florida Business ..........13A Horoscopes......10A The first quarterly meeting for 2010 for SARASOTA (AP) — A nearly 800- Lottery the Neighborhood Watch of Cape Coral pound leatherback sea turtle was rescued Classifieds ............1-4B Obituaries ..........2A CASH 3: will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m., at from an island near Bonita Springs in Comics ............12A Police Blotter ....2A 2-7-7 / 8-7-3 the new Cape Coral Police Department, at Southwest Florida, and she is in critical but Crossword........12A Sports ........14-15A PLAY 4: the corner of Nicholas Parkway and stable condition. 7-4-4-2 / 1-8-6-2 Cultural Park Boulevard. The rare, leatherback turtle was rescued Dr. Donohue........9A Today in History......9A Fantasy 5 There will be a short general meeting, Tuesday and brought to Mote Marine 2-12-16-33-35 including crime trends and an opportunity Laboratory for rehabilitation. Editorial ..........4-5A TV Highlights........11A Lotto to discuss individual neighborhood issues The female turtle was fitted with a spe- Education ..........7A Weather ............2A 2-8-14-19-22-29 Florida Powerball with representatives from the Cape Coral cial harness that allows it to swim without 20-27-29-56-58 Police Department followed by election of rubbing on the sides of the tank and is PB 31 x 2 officers and a presentation. All resident are receiving care in a controlled medical pool. welcome. The turtle has a wound on her left rear flip- For further information, call 573-3048 per, her right side and face. Mote hopes to 7 48445 46010 1 or see www.capecoralwatch.com. release her within a few days. Page 2A Thursday, January 7, 2010 cape-coral-daily-breeze.com CAPE CORAL BREEZE POLICE BLOTTER (The police blotter contains public infor- operating a motor vehicle without a valid valid license and DUI drugs or alcohol, I Thomas Andrew Schaff, 56, of 221 mation obtained from the Cape Coral Police license.