*- K^*^^^™^-^^ Very special luncheon honors Cabbage Patch kids and 'parents' 168 Vol. 24, No. 3 Tuesday, January 15,1985 Two sections, 60 pages 25 cents Murder suspect arrested Realtors take steps By Cindy Chalmers to prevent further tragedy Sanibel police are crediting "overwhelming cooperation from the public" for the arrest of a 1^ Mark Jolinsim suspect less than three days after real estate agent With I wo murders ot Soutlr.vrs.1 Florida real Sheila Lankin was murdered in a model home on the estate agents, one cm Sanibel last week and the Island last week. other lai-! month in Sara.soU, area realtors have Cape Coral resident Markham William Dowell, 29, been reminded how uiluorablc they are while was arrested on charges of first degree murder and showing property lo chenfii, vobbery late Friday night, Jan. 11. Lankin,"who With Ihe shooting death ul" Sanibel realtor .vurked lor Riverbend Realty of Fort Myers, was Sheila Lankiii still fresh in Oin'r lninds. many - found dead in a model home in Seagull Estates off island real Citato firing an- changing their West < Julf Drive around mid-afternoon Wednesday, policies dt-ahng with model h<«Tifs and open Jan. <i. A three-carat diamond ring had been taken houses, two major sales tools. from her hand and two gold chains removed from "We have lalkpfi about improved security in around her neck. our models before, but it reall> iiits home when Dowell is being held without bond in Lee County i) i a crime' happens across the si reel fm>a one Jail. of your models." said Mike Kobidcau, director Sanibel Sgt, Lew Phillips said the arrest was of sales lor John Nauirumn and Associates. greatly facilitated by one witness who was in the All four of N'aunuinn ^ model home offices model home with Lankin and Dowell shortly before closed Thursday after Ihe Lankin shooting, and Lankin's body was found and by the overwhelming response from the real estate community with infor- ,.continued page 23A mation about Dowell1 s other visits to area model homes. "It appears as though he just hangs out at model homes," Phillips said, adding that Dowell admitted to sometimes using a false name and address when Registering at models. Above: Murder But Dowell used his real name and his Cape Coral suspect Miirkhasn address when he visited one model home on Sanibel Dowell left (hc> SuniM the day before he visited The Egret in Seagull Police Department Estates. shortly after midnight The agent who was working at the model Tuesday Friday for the trip to recognized Dowell from the description provided by the Lee County Jail. On the witness who was in the home with Dowell and Dowell's right is Sgl. Lankin on Wednesday. That agent notified police, Jack Primin, and on who found Dowell's name and address in the his left is Officer Rick Above: "The Egret" in Seagull Kstales, tin- registration book at the home he had visited Kennedy. Photo by model hoihe where Sheila Lankin was shot Tuesday. Mark Johnson. Left: twice in the back at point blank range. Photo continued page 21h Victim Sheila Lankin. by,Mark Johnson. Manatee alert Biologists fear power plant shut-down will further endanger the gentle sea cow Scott Martell week were predicted to drop below April. with one unit closed until April for Last Friday manatee researcher freezing. Last week an aerial survey spotted maintenance and the second unit down Kipp Frohlich prayed that a prolonged Frohlich and other wildlife experts 142 manatees in the area — most of because the energy is not currently cold front would not move into the are concerned because the Florida them up the Caloosahatehee River. needed. area. He felt such a cold front could Power and Light power plant in east More of the endangered sea cows are Last January six manatees died in prove disastrous for local manatees. Fort Myers — which has provided a likely headed this way, seeking the ar- Lee County waters due directly to the That same night a cold front moved warm water sanctuary for the en- tifically warm waters generated by record-setting cold weather experienc- into Florida. Temperatures for the dangered specie — shut down recently the power plant. weekend and the early part of this and expects to be out of operation until But the plant operation is shut down, continued page 30A Winterbotham's resignation leaves third Planning Commission vacancy By Barbara Brundage have indicated their Commission since its in- time. man last year, resigned With last week's unex- desire to serve as com- ception in 1974 and its When it was sug- pected resignation of in early December with missioners. They are: chairman for seven gested that she had two years left in his se- veteran Planning Com- Dr. Eleanor Goldbloonii years, was appointed to "paid her dues," missioner Ann Winter- cond term on the Alice Kyllo, Jack a fourth term last Winterbotham com- commission. botham, the Sanibel Ci- Samler, John December. mented, "You could say ty Council now must fill Seabrooke, Dr. Bill Commissioner Mary Last week she submit- that." Wegmuller, named in three vacancies on the Webb, John Weinzettle ted her resignation to advisory board. Commissioner Larry January 1984 to fill Emi- and Mark "Bird" the City Council effec- Simon, who succeeded The three will be Westall, ly Barefield's unexpired tive immediately. She Winterbotham as chair- term and appointed for chosen from a list of Winterbotham, a cited no reason for her Ann VVinterbotham seven Islanders who member of the Planning stepping down at this continued page 31A '-:•• 2 A Tuesday, January 15, 1985 The ISLANDER Community church needs ISLAND SHORTS rummage sale donations Sanibel Community day before the sale. Community news Church will hold its an- One local shop owner nual rummage sale has already donated and announcements about from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. many items for the sale. Saturday, March 2. Take a look around and your friends and neighbors Anyone who has see what you have that clothes, brie brae, fur- you no longer need or niture, etc., to donate to use. Then call Gladys the cause should contact Anderson to make sure Gladys Anderson, Sanibel Community 472-2429, to make ar- Church benefits from rangements for pick-up your unwanted Anniversary celebration brings and storage if the items household items. cannot be held until the Icelanders to family on Captiva Jack and Bo Seager of band., Eysteinn "Wodka Steini" - for Island restaurant joins the battle Jensen's Twin Palms on Nikulasson, and son obvious reasons. "The Captiva had the sur- Jon. mosquitoes in the against heart disease prise of their life right It was the first trip to Everglades loved Steini before the Christmas the United States for — they got dead stoned The Thistle Lodge restaurant at stresses dishes low in calories, holidays. The surprise Eysteinn and Jon. at every little sip," he Casa Ybel resort is continuing its cholesterol and fat. Several samples of wasn't their 54th wed- Laufey has made laughed. series of Winevents with a kick-off the style will be served at the Wine- ding anniversary several trips as a ships The visiting celebration of February as Heart vent, including chill apple bisque, celebration, but rather stewardess aboard the Icelanders returned to Month on Sunday evening, Jan. 27, chicken egg drop soup, vegetable stuf- the unwrapped gift that Eimskip, an Icelandic Reykjavik, Iceland, last with the American Heart Association. fed mushrooms, chicken Sylvester and came with it. Steam Company ship. Friday. But Seager said The Winevent will feature the strawberry margarita pie. Stepping right up to Seager said the family they vowed to return — tasting of six wines from the Chateau The Thistle Lodge has reserved its the door of their abode enjoyed the visit, which despite the fact they St. Michelle Winery of Washington entire first floor for the evening that was their Icelandic included a trip to the found it too hot here on State served with hors d'oeuvres will begin at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the daughter, Laufey Everglades. the Islands. especially prepared in the new $20 per person admission will help the Jonsdottir, and her hus- He called Eysteinn "Lodge-ically Lean" method approv- American Heart Association in its ed by the heart association. fight against heart disease and stroke. "Lodge-ically Lean" cuisine On your mark, get'set....go shelling! The annual shell count sponsored by takes place around Christmas every the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club will year. Population trends are noted. take place at low tide this Friday mor- Each year new species are added to ning, Jan. 18. the list. Everyone is invited to participa te by In addition the count also indicates collecting one specimen of as many where people go to collect shells on the different species of shells that can be Islands. Trends show most gather found that morning. Shells can be col- their specimens along the gulf beaches lected from any of the shores or waters and that few venture to the bay side of of Sanibel and Captiva. the Islands. Take your collection to the Sanibel Experts believe more than 300 Community Association hall between 9 species of shells inhabit our area. In and 11 a.m. that same day for iden- the 1962 count 109 species were tification and registration. Free coffee registered; in 1984 that number was and doughnuts will be served. 132. Left to right: Eysteinn Nikulasson, Laufey Jonsdottir, Bo Seager, All participants will receive a The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Clu] Jack Seager, Kimmie Seager (the family cat) and Jon Einar membership card.