50 fears and counting '"', 1 IT Klaudts celebrate golden anniversary Since 1981 Stfii first on Sanibeland Capisva islands VOL. 33, NO. 25 TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1994 3 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES 50 CENTS Items examined at city workshop •••'••I 'i\-''f,'-- -^ * "• ** Council gets first look at '94-95 budget By Steve Ruediger Islander staff writer Some preliminary cuts were made Wednesday, Sanibel June 15, as the Sanibel City Council got its first look at the proposed city budget for the upcoming fiscal sunrise year. A slope mower and a plan for Dunlop Road were While on a dawn sea turtle chopped. No final decision was made but the council beach patrol at the Sani- members seemed to have primarily negative reac- bel Lighthouse recently, tions to a plan to spend $95,000 for additional space Islander staffer Tracey for the Sanibel police. Markwaiter, an amateur Salary discussions took up some time. A graph photographer, captured this postcard-like view of was presented which showed that Sanibel city the sun slowly rising in salaries in the top few pay grades are above pay the east. Accompanying ranges for positions with the same title in other the patrol group, for a Florida cities under 10,000 in population. short stretch, was a great The council was also presented a preliminary five- blue heron, shown wading through the shallows of year financial plan. It was not" discussed and it was the bay. emphasized the numbers in it were very preliminary. The budget workshop allowed the council to work its way down a list of budget items and hear from department heads why each felt the requested items were necessary. City Manager Gary Price said the list had been compiled after he had already cut some items requested. Price said the items on the list stand out as particularly expensive or as items the council members might have questions about. The intent Wednesday was more for the council members to be informed about the items for later decision making than for them to decide on cuts at that time. Spokesmen for the organizations explained to the council why they felt Sanibel should donate $1,000 to the Coalition for a Drug Free Lee County and $4,000 for the Community Coordinating Council. Price pointed out to the council that $8,000 is bud- geted for the 1995 Fourth of July fireworks. He said the fireworks display used to be financed by private Ortiz indicted for murder donations but that they have been dropping off leav- By Steve Ruediger Wood and the other was on Sheriff Sgt. Steve Ford. ing the city to pick up the bill. Islander staff writer Dahmer was a popular island bartender who hap- The budget contains $35,000 for a new photocopy Matthew Allen Ortiz, 21, was indicted by a Lee pened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A machine for City Hall. Assistant City Manager Bill County grand jury Friday, June 17, for first degree sheriff's spokesman has said that Ortiz just wanted to Mills explained the current machine is two years past murder in the May 31 death of Jory Dahmer on see what it would be like to kill somebody with the Captiva. its expected life and has made over 3 million copies. 9mm Beretta he had purchased after coming of legal Ortiz was also indicted on two counts of aggravat- Please see BUDGET, page 5A ed assault. One of the alleged assaults was on Sarah Please see ORTIZ, page 11A sssssss Progress Arts & Leisure 5B Business Briefs 8B Construction under way at Shell Museum site Cityside 8A By Anne Bellew First in place was the redesigned access to the site. The contract was ini- Classifieds 5C Islander Staff Writer $41,000 septic system located between tially let last year to Wright Commentary 1C After eight years of planning, fund the building and the east property line. Construction, also of Fort Myers, but a raising and hearings before the city's ; Completed in less than a week, the sys- planners and council members, plus lengthy delay due to the design changes Crossword 6C tem complies with new state regulations Police Seat 2A navigating the convoluted channels of in the septic system led to the amicable federal, state, county and city permitting " which quintupled the estimated cost of cancellation of that contract and the Sports Shorts 7A processes, clearing the site and even the septic facility. renewal of interest in Parker's bid. After Weather Watch 4A installing a bridge, work on the Bailey- The contractor for the museum is some necessary revision in the original What's Playing 68 Matthews Shell Museum site actually now George Parker Inc., of Fort Myers, began May 6,1994. - the same firm that installed the bridge Please see MUSEUM, page 3A 2A THE ISLANDER Tuesday. June 21.1994 Tuesday. June 21.1994 THE ISLANDER 3A Sgt. Betty Weir POLICE Car stereo equipment was stolen June 16 from a Plenty of Fourth of July fun awaits on Sanibel car in a home driveway on Rue Belle Mer. By Christopher Strine Islander editor mentioned "friends and neighbors" of the islands, Rounding out the weekend will be the 15th Annual retiring from SPD Car stereo equipment was stolen June 16 from a will step off at 9:30 a.m. at Jerry's Shopping Center. Chamber of Commerce Road Rally, which is set to BEAT There will be plenty of fun-time activities this The route runs along Periwinkle Way, to Palm Ridge By Steve Ruediger car in a driveway on Wilton Lane. begin at 1 p.m. from the parking lot at The Dunes. Islander staff writer Fourth of July weekend, thanks to the Sanibel- Road, onto Wooster Lane and ending at Sanibel City Participants will travel the islands roads looking Captiva Chamber of Commerce, the city of Sanibel, Hall. Sgt. Betty Weir is All of the following Information came directly from A woman reported Wednesday, June 15, that her for clues and answering a creative list of questions. retiring Friday, July 8, Sanibel Police Department reports. "friends and neighbors of Sanibel and Captiva" and Over the past three years, the Sanibel-Captiva The winner will be determined by the number of cor- grandchildren were locked in a resort apartment on The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club. from the Sanibel Nerita Street. The keys were locked in the apartment Association of Realtors has hosted an Independence rectly answered questions, the time it took to travel Gary Lawrence Dean of Sanibel was arrested On Sunday, July 3, the city is sponsoring the annu- Day parade. This year, however, the Realtors decided Police Department. Thursday, June 16, on charges of loitering and prowl- with the children. A locksmith was called. the course and the number of miles travelled. She wanted a quiet al fireworks display. At dusk, fireworks will illumi- to move their parade back to November, to coincide ing, possession of marijuana under 1.5 grams, posses- The road rally is NOT a race. The time and num- retirement, however, nate the sky over the bay. The fireworks will be with the city of Sanibel's 20th anniversary. To fill the ber of miles it will take to navigate the course have sion of drug paraphernalia and possession of a sus- The burglary of a shed behind Papa Joe's launched from the site of the Old Bailey Store. The void, a group of islanders, friends and neighbors of others would like to Restaurant was reported June 15. Stolen were a com- been estimated. Those teams travelling too many or wish her well and pended driver's license. At 1:25 a.m. Thursday, a best vantage points are any of the bay-area beaches the late Don Bissell, who as president of the Realtors woman on Fitzhugh Street reported a man in her yard mercial meat slicer and six chafing dish sets. Papa too few miles, or arriving back at The Dunes too express appreciation and along the Sanibel Causeway and at Punta Rassa. association, originated the idea for the first parade, quickly or too slowly will be penalized. for her years of ser- looking into her window. A short time later Dean was Joe's was shut down by a fire several weeks ago. For additional information about the fireworks, call have organized the new July 4 parade. arrested nearby. The woman identified him as the The entry fee is $20 per vehicle. The fee covers a vice. City Hall at 472-3700. Entries are still being sought for the festive event. driver, a navigator and as many other team members man who had been at her window. After his arrest, a John Cornell Tracy of Sanibel was charged June Then on July 4, Monday, The Dunes will hold its The fee is $25 for commercial entries and $10 for pri- She joined the bag of marijuana and a pipe were found on him. 15 with possession of drug paraphernalia. A suspi- that you feel are needed. Each entry receives a T- Sanibel police force annual Red, White and Blue golf tournament. The vate entries. Organizers indicate the the parade will shirt, specially designed for the rally by Harlequin cious vehicle was reported at the Casa Ybel resort. shotgun-start, four-man scramble will begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 13t 1975, the year be very informal and individuals or businesses can Graphics. James L. McLennan of Fort Myers was charged Looking into the vehicle, police saw a small purple The $55 per person entry fee covers 18 holes of golf, come up with their own themes for their entries.