High 90 Low 68 25 percent CHARLOTTE SUN chance of rain ROD ROSENSTEIN SUBMITS LETTER OF RESIGNATION TO TRUMP Pulitzer Prize winner Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein submitted his resignation Monday, ending a two-year run defined by his appointment of a 2016 special counsel to investigate connections between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. See The News Wire Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Vol. 127 | Issue No. 120 www.yoursun.com AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY $1.50 AN EDITION OF THE SUN North Port eyes hospital after Punta Gorda man charged with certificate of manslaughter in deadly stabbing need vote Police: Fight occurred over domestic dispute in Port Charlotte Senate, House need By ANNE EASKER stabbing. visibly injured and was soon when the two of them arrived STAFF WRITER The victim’s transported by Charlotte at the home on Midway on to reconcile bill before identity has not County Fire & EMS to Fawcett Sunday evening. She went PORT CHARLOTTE — A been released Hospital, before being taken inside, ignoring the two as they going to governor Punta Gorda man was charged due to Marsy’s to the Lee County Trauma began exchanging words. with manslaughter Monday Law. Center, where he was later A few minutes later, Robbins By TOM HARMENING after fatally stabbing another According pronounced dead. came in and told her they had STAFF WRITER man Sunday evening, the to a news A female witness told detec- to leave. She said things were Charlotte County Sheriff’s ROBBINS release, deputies tives she was the victim of a chaotic, and she quickly drove NORTH PORT — The Florida Offi ce stated in a report. responded to recent battery, when Robbins away. As they were driving, Senate on Monday struck down Rondale Aukeem Robbins, the 19000 block of Midway struck her in the face. Robbins allegedly said: “I think the need for communities to 29, of the 3200 block of Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. The stabbing victim wanted I stabbed him.” have Certificates of Need before Rosemary Road, Punta Gorda, Sunday. to confront Robbins about the constructing hospitals, and is accused in the deadly The victim was in the road, battery and came to the car FIGHT | 4 North Port officials are moving ahead with plans to build the city’s first facility. “This is humon- gous for the city of North Port,” Vice Mayor Debbie Lights out for sea turtle nesting McDowell said. “Now that the Senate has finally gone along with the Official House to toss out MCDOWELL the CON require- ment, we can move ahead.” sea turtle North Port has long argued that Sarasota County’s largest city should have a fulltime, full season starts service health care facility. Currently, the city only has a few clinics and one Emergency Wednesday Department, operated by Sarasota Memorial Hospital. By STEVE REILLY Commissioner Jill STAFF WRITER Luke said there was dancing in North ENGLEWOOD — The time is Port City Hall when here for local beaches to go dark. the news of the vote Sea turtle nesting season was received. offi cially begins Wednesday and “This is a extends to Oct. 31. Turtles don’t game-changer for carry watches and have already LUKE North Port,” she started nesting on beaches on said. “We are no Manasota Key and other barrier longer a suburb of other nearby islands. cities.” This time of year, it’s important She cautioned that small dif- for people to make sure lights are ferences between the House and out at night, so nesting female Senate bills needed to be ironed turtles — and later their hatch- out and the bill must be signed lings — don’t become confused by Gov. Ron DeSantis. and disoriented. FILE PHOTO PROVIDED BY LINDA SODERQUIST Both Sarasota and Charlotte “But we are close,” she said. A loggerhead turtle decides to nest in the early morning on Little Gasparilla Island. counties have sea turtle “I think it’s time, we tell Generally, loggerheads nest at night. Nesting sea turtles can be disrupted by the Sarasota Memorial to step up to TURTLE | 4 fl ashes from smart phones. the plate and provide us with a full hospital,” said Sam George, the head of the community advocacy group Community Hospital Action Team. “Building TIPS TO PROTECT NESTING SEA TURTLES AND HATCHLINGS Turn off or block outdoor lights visible beaches at night. federal and state protections, including including HOSPITAL | 4 on the beach, including indoor lights, Do mini-cleanups of trash on the their nests. Violators can face up to dead or injured from May-October. beach that might hinder nesting turtles five years in prison or a $5,000 fine for adult sea turtles Close curtains and blinds after dark. or hatchlings. Food scraps can attract disrupting or destroying a nest under and disoriented CHARLIE SAYS Don’t use flashlights, tiki torches, raccoons and other predators. Florida law. The intentional disturbance hatchlings and disruption of nests, fishing lanterns, flash photos or fireworks Do not allow pets on the beach. of a sea turtle nest is punishable as a call the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Save the on or near beaches. Unleashed dogs can frighten nesting third-degree felony. Under the Federal Commission, Division of Law Enforce- hatchlings! Enjoy building sand castles, digging turtles, dig up nests or harm hatchlings Endangered Species Act, violators can ment, at 888-404-3922, or visit www. holes or other play on the beaches, but or shorebird chicks just by being near. face a year in prison and fines up to Myfwc.com/ law/Alert. refill any holes before you leave. Turtle If nesting turtles or hatchlings $100,000. To report harassment, violations or hatchlings and shorebird chicks can get emerging from nests are spotted, remain Sarasota and Charlotte counties have poaching of sea turtles or hatchlings, trapped. quiet and at a distance and in the dark. additional ordinances to protect sea call Florida Marine Patrol at 800-342- CALL US AT Remove canopies, chairs, toys and All species of sea turtles are classified turtles. 5367 or Florida Resource Alert at 941-206-1000 other potential obstructions from as endangered or threatened with For marine wildlife emergencies, 800-342-1821. FIND US ONLINE www.yoursun.com Burglar leaves fake help wanted ad in window INDEX THE SUN NEWS WIRE Suspect breaks into business, watches porn, Crosswords .............8 Comics/Puzzles ....5-7 Obituaries ..............5 Nation ................. 3 drinks a wine cooler, and posts ad for secretary Police Beat .............5 State ................... 2 By ANNE EASKER Viewpoint ..............6 Stocks .................. 4 received a call from business on Sunday and STAFF WRITER his employees around found the suspect had Opinion ..................7 World .................. 2 PHOTO 1:30 p.m. Saturday after entered the business at PROVIDED OUR TOWN SPORTS The Charlotte County they came in to punch 8 a.m. Sheriff’s Offi ce is out their time cards and The suspect allegedly The burglary Calendar ...............7B Local Sports ........ 3 searching for a man found all the cabinets checked the cabinets suspect Business News ..1-5,8B Lottery ................ 2 who allegedly broke open. A truck at the and lock boxes but caught on Sports on TV ........2 into a Port Charlotte back of the business found no money, as the surveillance Weather .............. 8 business Saturday, had also been entered business owner does camera. where he watched porn, through the unlocked not keep cash on site. DAILY $1.50 drank a wine cooler, driver’s side door, they The suspect then went and posted a sign in the told him. to the offi ce on the left window advertising for The owner, who was side of the business, a secretary. in Sarasota for his wife’s where he watched porn According to an inci- surgery at the time, 7 05252 00025 8 dent report, the owner came to the check the BURGLAR | 4 Page 2 E/N/C www.yoursun.com LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWS The Sun | Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Pickleplex delayed to June ‘It’s going to get done when it gets done’ By DANIEL SUTPHIN “The foundation STAFF WRITER was hard on (the contractor’s) equipment. PUNTA GORDA — It took so much time Despite delays, the first that it put the whole phase of PicklePlex at project on hold, but this the Florida Southwestern is normal stuff that you State College campus in run into when dealing Punta Gorda is officially with developments.” set to open by June 1. There was never The first 16 courts a definite schedule were originally slated to open the courts, to open in February according to Kegeris. SUN PHOTO BY DANIEL SUTPHIN on Airport Road “It’s going to get done Progress continues at the Pickleplex of Punta Gorda at Florida Southwestern University. June 1 is the target date for the first land leased from when it gets done,” he 16 courts. Florida SouthWestern said. State College, but Whenever it opens, cutting for the new phase of their lease,” to the FSW campus at facilities promoting construction issues the first 16 sanctioned complex is tentatively Kegeris said. 26300 Airport Road was exercise and competitive slowed development. courts will be open from scheduled for mid-June, “I think FSW is happy leased by the PicklePlex sports. “No later than June 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. according to Carmen. that we are putting this foundation. On April 18 and April 1” is now the latest “We will have The organization in because their kids are PicklePlex will 19, asphalt was laid. projected opening bleachers, picnic behind PicklePlex wants able to use the courts provide a “positive That has to sit for 30 date, according to Sue tables and umbrellas,” to show FSW that they as part of their athletic environment for the days before any more Carman of PicklePlex.