INDEX- Arts & Leisure 1QP What's going on around the islands At Larae 5A Business 51 Citvstde 11A Classifieds 9C Commentary 3C Pines Gala gathering Crossword 9C Police Beat 2.A Old island Chamber raises Remember When 4A Scuba Scoop 3A trees saved funds at annual Weather Watch 3A by the council dinner, auction IB Since 1961 Still first on Sanibel and Captiva VOL. 31, NO. 12 TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1992 THREE SECTIONS, 44 PAGES 50 CENTS BFI offering optional second Reflections trash pickup A calm, blue pool of water acts as By Frances Adams the perfect mirror Islander staff writer for this common For those of you who have found it too inconvenient egret as it wades having only one trash collection day now can have an- through trie shal- other, provided you are willing to pay for the extra ser- lows in search of vice. " food. The common Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI), Sanibel's franchised egret is one of the waste hauler, is offering an optional second-weekly trash * ^largest wading •f birds found on the pickup for an additional $l.3& per weei; or $3538 for Islands. six months. The additional service is for curbside pickup only, with aKimit of two cans or four bags. The $1.38 weekly charge is based on BFI's breakeven cost for providing the service to 300 customers. During the six-month trial period the cost will remain stable, whether or not 300 homes actually choose to subscribe. Larry Wynberg, BFI's district manager, explained that all customers will be receiving letters inviting them to sign up. Although customers will be required to sign up I Sanibel bicyclist killed for the entire trial period, they also will be allowed to sign up at any time during the six months, so the company By Steve Ruediger bike path. However, he turned into the side of a car will pro-rate the cost. Islander staff writer driven by an Ohio woman, who witnesses said did ev- At the end of the trial period in the fall, BFI will decide & 65-year-old Sanibel man bicycling on Sanibel- erything possible to avoid him. what the cost should be for the optional service, based on Captiva Road was killed Wednesday, March 18, when The bicyclist rolled onto the windshield of the Ohio realistic data. Because of a proposed increase in tipping he rode his bike into the side of a passing car. woman's car, cracking the windshield, and he later came fees at the landfill, the company will likely be applying The bicyclist was riding east on Sanibel-Captiva to rest on the pavement. for a rate increase at the same time for providing the regu- Road, even though there is a bicycle path along the The deceased cyclist was not wearing a helmet. lar service. opposite side of the road. No charges have been filed in the accident. Police are The new subscriber service was unanimously approved Witnesses told the investigating police officers that continuing their investigation. March 17 by the Sanibel City Council, but not everyone after two cars passed the cyclist, he turned his bicycle The family of the deceased have requested that his was entirely pleased with the new or old arrangement. as if trying to cross Sanibel-Captiva Road to get to the name not be printed in the newspaper. Please see BFI, page 15A Island activist Maxene Michl dies Frances Adams "She was a grand lady, extremely bright, and totally and der staff writer completely honest," said long-time friend Bert Jenks, who Retired U.S. Army Col. Maxene Baker Michl died of in the early years along with Michl battled the fledgling cancer Friday, March 20, at her Lake Murex home on city over controversial matters. "When she spoke, people Sanibel. She was 72. knew she had researched the issues, and she believed in Col. Michl came to live on Sanibel in the 70s, after minimizing government. Hers is a voice that will be having served 30 years in the U.S. Army. She is most missed." known for having given her wholehearted support at one Despite having taken stands not popular with the city time or another to just about every island group or organi- government, Michl earned many city officials' respect, af- zation, including Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife, fection and appreciation for her spirit of fairness. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, American "She has been a very good friend of mine for years," Business Women's Association, Concerned Property said Mayor Mike Miracle. "Her death is surely a loss for Owners of Sanibel, Committee of the Islands, The Retired Sanibel because she was such a dedicated volunteer in so Officers Association, Save Our Bridge Committee and, many things." most recently, the Sanibel Municipal Reform Committee. "We were often on opposite sides of issues, but I'm go- "She never flagged in her total involvement to CROW," ing to miss her balanced opposition," said City Manager said Jan Egeland, fellow emeritus director and friend from Gary Price. CROW. "The amount of time, energy and enthusiasm she "She was an extraordinary woman," said close friend gave is inestimable ... her dedication was phenomenal. Maggie Greenberg, a fellow member of what the colonel She single-handedly kept us going through some rocky affectionately.called "the loyal opposition." Greenberg said times. In many ways she is CROW. We'll miss her." it had been a "rare privilege to share her life for 11 years. From Day One, Michl also became involved with Sani- Hardly a day went by that I didn't learn something from Maxene Michl only six weeks ago received bel's inner governmental structure by becoming a City her." from Sanibel Mayor Mike Miracle a resolution Council "watchdog," an ever-faithful guardian of the rights Michl's interests were varied and intense. honoring her for her generous contribution of the citizens. She always believed in giving people a of time and her involvement in community af- chance to vote on things that affect their lives. Please see MICHL, page 9A fairs. •£' All the following information was taken di- Music was turned down at a home on Ardsley Way after rectly from Sanibel Police Department reports. POLICE police received an 11:30 p.m. noise complaint Saturday, March 21. A tractor trailer truck drove off the side of the scales on BEAT UJ Q the Sanibel Causeway Monday morning, March 23, leav- A field rat was removed from a garage on Isabel Drive •Z ing the cab of the truck hanging, tilted sideways. A spe- by police March 21. cial wrecker was called because of the size of the tractor CO trailer truck. The driver of the truck was charged with care- back at 2:30 p.m. to report he had found his wallet in the A dog owner promised to quiet his barking pet Saturday less driving. The scales did not appear to be broken but glove compartment of the car. night, March 21, on Murex Drive. will be tested to make certain, police said. Bifocal glasses were found on the beach at Blind Pass CM Missing beach chairs from Song of the Sea were found John Michael Hall, 40, of Sanibel was charged with March 22 at The Moorings, and there was no explanation March 21. 85 careless driving March 23 hi a one-car accident on Sanibel- of how they got from one place to the other. CaptivaRoad. A large bobcat was reported in a yard sunning itself A case of Miller Lite beer was stolen March 22 from March 21 on Middle Gulf Drive. It had gone into the An Airedale dog was found Sunday, March 22, wander- the Pick Kwik. Shelby Creagh of Captiva was later bushes when police arrived. ing around at the West Wind Inn. charged with the theft. The store clerk told police that two men picked up the case of beer at 1:45 a.m. and, when Steven A. Beck of Sanibel was charged March 21 with A New York man reported at 1 p.m.liundayrMarch 22, they were told a city ordinance forbade the sale of beer failure to yield the right of way at the four-way stop sign that his wallet had been stolen from the center console of after midnight, they walked out without paying for it, to a at Tarpon Bay Road and Sanibel-Captiva Road. his unlocked car parked at The Dunes. He called police car driven by a woman. Police at 5:10 a.m. found a man and a woman arguing Rocks were dropped on a lot owned by Sanibel Estates, in the parking lot of Lime Tree Center. The man, the it was reported March 21. The rocks had been arranged on woman and the car all fit the description of the ones in- the lot. However, Sanibel Estates did not order the rocks Correction volved in Th&i)eer theft. The clerk identified the man, and did not know who placed them on the lot. < Creagh, as one of the men who took the beer. The woman A Police Beat report in last week's Islander (3-17- told police she thought they had paid for the beer. Both Police removed a small possum from a garage on Glory 92) incorrectly identified the driver of an auto involved the man and the woman smelled strongly of alcohol, ac- Circle March 21. in an accident on Palm Ridge Road. While Mary S. cording to police. ' v ' Norris was the owner of the vehicle involved, it was Denise Ann Rieck of Auburn, Pa., was charged March being driven by Ruth W.