16-week-old fetus found in south Fort Myers

09. August 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Health, News · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

5:03 P.M. UPDATE — University of Florida law professor Bob Dekle said detectives would have to determine first through DNA who the parents of the fetus are to identify a possible suspect.

If they could prove the fetus could breathe, they could pursue a homicide charge. A medical examiner should be able to determine if it had air in its lungs.

Florida statutes state: ?a fetus is viable when it becomes capable of meaningful life outside the womb through standard medical measures.?

So, even if it couldn?t sustain life on its own, it is considered a victim by Florida law if it could be kept alive through ?standard medical measures.?

?That?s one of the things they look at,? Dekle, a former prosecutor, said of the fetus breathing. ?That?s how you?d make a homicide case.?

But even if detectives couldn?t prove a homicide, the state could pursue charges relating to the disposal of bodies or not reporting deaths.

1:28 p.m. update

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fetus found Friday on top of a sewage recycling grate at the Lee County Waste Water plant on San Souci Drive in south Fort Myers.

The 16-week-old fetus was found by a worker at the plant, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Tony Schall.

James Gabrick told investigators he was checking for overflow in the sewage recycling area when he observed the fetus on the grate, according to a sheriff’s office report.

Gabrick told investigators the grates are checked every few hours.

It is not known where the fetus came from.

The sewer plant receives raw sewage from areas from the river to U.S. 41 and from College Parkway to Summerlin Road, according to the report.

The fetus appeared to be almost fully developed, according to the report.

Fetuses cannot survive outside the womb until they have developed at least 23 weeks, according to medical staff at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at HealthPark Medical Center.

“This 16-week old fetus would not have been viable,” said Sally Jackson, a spokeswoman for the Lee Memorial Health System.

The sheriff’s office Major Crimes Until is investigating the incident.

This is a developing story. Check news-press.com for updates.

16-week-old fetus found in south Fort Myers

Police Beat: July 19, 2010

19. July 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Drugs, Health, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Collier County arrests 07-19-10

Lee County felony arrests 07-19-10

Crime Incidents Database with Map

Search by crime, date, neighborhood and day of the week for criminal incidents reported by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office during the first six months of 2009.

To report a crime or suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the Naples Police and Fire Department at 213-4844, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 774-4434, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office 239-477-1000 or the Marco Island Police Department at 389-5050.

? Shooting empties Tex-Mex club

? Homeless couple charged with stealing $50,000 Viper sports car

? Naples man charged with battery after wife locks son, self in public restroom

Drug arrests

? Federico de Jesus Montejo Castillo, 37, of the 2100 block of 41st Street Southwest, Golden Gate, was arrested Saturday by Collier deputies and charged with possessing cocaine, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, indecent exposure, and having an open container of alcohol. Deputies say he was holding a beer can and urinating outside a convenience store on Collier Boulevard. When he was searched, deputies found cocaine in his pocket.

? Amber Lynn Johnson, 24, of the 27000 block of Wisconsin Street, Bonita Springs, was arrested Friday by Lee deputies near Briarcliff Road and U.S. 41 South in Fort Myers. She was charged with distribution of a synthetic narcotic, smuggling contraband (cocaine) into a detention facility, possession of cocaine and driving while license suspended/habitual offender.

? Nicole Lee DeGrasse, 24, of the 300 block of Lake Shore Lane, Fort Myers, was arrested Friday by Lee deputies. She was charged with trafficking in opium and selling a fake drug.

DV battery

? Antoine Demettrius Brightmon, 36, of the 1100 block of Wildwood Lakes Boulevard, East Naples, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies and charged with domestic violence battery after deputies responded to Visions Nightclub in North Naples. Witnesses told deputies he slapped a woman’s face several times, then shoved her against a car.

? José Daniel Dimas, 34, of the 1800 block of Seacrest Avenue, Immokalee, was charged with domestic violence battery and criminal mischief totaling more than $1,000. Dimas’ common-law wife told deputies she asked him to leave, they argued and he bit her, shoved her to the floor and smashed her eyeglasses and computer while their three children were inside.

? Ali Franco Garcia, 34, of the 2700 block of 31st Avenue Northeast, Golden Gate Estates, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies and charged by with domestic violence battery. His wife said she returned home and found the garage door locked, their phone disconnected, and he grabbed her cell phone as she called for help and threw it to the ground. She said he’d grabbed her neck in the past, but she never reported it.

? Trinidad Gonzalez, 26, of the 4100 block of Southeast 15th Street in Immokalee, was arrested Sunday by Lee deputies near Columbus and Isabella Street in Lehigh Acres. He is accused of punching a female in the face.

Other arrests

? Constantine Savas Haralambus, 31, of the 800 block of East Elkcam Circle, Marco Island, was charged Sunday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and felony battery. Marco police say he used a knife to puncture his estranged wife’s tire, punched her and threw her to the ground, violating her order of protection involving herself and three children, who were home.

? Jorge Luis Lozano Palomo, 37, of the 10000 block of Illinois Street, Bonita Springs, was arrested Monday at his home by Lee deputies. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, accused of chasing his wife with a knife.

? Carissa Eccles, 24, of the 1700 block of 40th Terrace Southwest, Golden Gate, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies and charged with misdemeanor battery after she allegedly bit a security officer’s hand at Physician’s Regional Healthcare System on Pine Ridge Road. Reports say she was being abusive to staff and when a deputy responded, she also bit his hand, holding onto it for several seconds until he was able to pull away.

DUI arrests

? Michael G. Charters, 49, of the 5800 block of Glencove Drive, North Naples, was arrested Saturday by Collier deputies after a deputy saw him cut across three lanes of traffic and turn left at a no-left turn intersection on Ninth Street North.

? Yankel A. Jiminez Reyes, 26, of the 400 block of South 9th Street, Immokalee, was arrested Saturday by Collier deputies after a deputy saw him swerving and crossing the middle lane on Lake Trafford Road.

? Cynthia Ann Avalos, 50, of the 1200 block of Dupree Grade, Immokalee, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies after deputies found her vehicle in a ditch on County Road 846, near Immokalee Ranch.

? Paola Fernanda Perez, 28, of the 4200 block of Liron Avenue, Fort Myers, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies after a deputy saw her speeding, then make a right turn without stopping at the light at U.S. 41 and County Road 862. Deputies say she continued speeding and driving erratically and not immediately stopping after he turned on his flashing lights at County Road 901.

? John Alexander Cochrane, 45, of the 3600 block of Haldeman Creek Drive, East Naples, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies after deputies saw him driving erratically on Davis Boulevard. When he was stopped on Airport-Pulling Road, he said he’d been eating hot dogs while driving, but there were only potato chip crumbs in his lap. It was his second DUI offense.

? Emiliano Hernandez, 30, of the 4600 block of Orchard Lane, East Naples, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies, who stopped him at Sunshine Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway after he was driving on the wrong side of the road. He was charged with DUI with a blood-alcohol content of .15 percent or more

? Kenneth Robert Olis, 25, of Capri Boulevard, East Naples, was arrested Sunday by Collier deputies and also charged with two felony counts of possessing narcotics — oxycodone, and Xanax — after deputies responded to a call about a man passed out in a McDonald’s drive-through on Davis Boulevard.

? Kelli Walter Fiedler, 43, of the 15000 block of Sonoma Drive, Fort Myers, was arrested Friday by Lee deputies near Summerlin Road and Park Royal Drive in Fort Myers.

? Mark T. Teed, 52, of the 10000 block of Goodwin Street, Bonita Springs, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies in the 10000 block of Reynolds Avenue in Bonita Springs.

? Victoria Jane Charles, 49, of the 10000 block of Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies in the 10000 block of Reynolds Avenue in Bonita Springs.

? Lawrence Gean Koerper, 51, of the 24000 block of Production Circle, Bonita Springs, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies near Pennsylvania Street and Front Road in Bonita Springs.

? Mario Lopez Gomez, 21, of the 2300 block of Bear Creek, Naples, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies in the 10000 block of Reynolds Avenue in Bonita Springs. He was charged with DUI/more than 0.15 and driving without a valid license. His breath test measured 0.22 percent.

? Juan Arredondo, 44, of the 27000 block of Horne Avenue, Bonita Springs, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies in the 10000 block of Reynolds Avenue in Bonita Springs.

? Joseph Thomas Nuzzolese, 26, of the 7700 block of Georgian Bay Circle, Fort Myers, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies near Daniels Parkway and Fiddlesticks Boulevard in Fort Myers.

? Armando Cruz, 49, of the 8400 block of Matanzas Road, Fort Myers, was arrested Saturday by Lee deputies near East Terry Street and Imperial Parkway in Bonita Springs. He was charged with DUI more than 0.15 percent after deputies said his breath test measured 0.22 percent.

Grand theft

? An iPod valued at $300 was reported stolen Sunday from Three Oaks Community Park, 18215 Three Oaks Parkway, Fort Myers.

Police Beat is compiled and written by the Naples Daily News staff/ contributors from oral and written reports by Naples police, Collier Sheriff‘s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Marco police and other agencies. Arrests indicate suspicion of crime, not guilt.

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Police Beat: July 19, 2010

Fort Myers man, who confessed to beating infant to death, formally charged with murder

17. July 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Health, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , ,

Ryan Costello LCSO

Ryan Costello LCSO

A 31-year-old Fort Myers man who confessed, “I killed my kid,” has been formally charged with murder in the beating death of his nearly 4-month-old son.

Ryan Costello will be arraigned Monday morning by Lee Circuit Judge Ramiro Mañalich on a second-degree murder charge and child neglect in the death of Darwin Costello. Costello has been held without bond in Lee County jail since his June 13 arrest.

The State Attorney’s Office filed formal charges Friday afternoon. Costello’s girlfriend, Whitney Simonsen, 24, the baby’s mother, was charged with possession with intent to sell Oxycodone.

“Those are initial charges based on the facts and evidence we have so far, but we’re still reviewing evidence and more charges may be possible,” said State Attorney’s Office Spokeswoman Samantha Syoen.

Costello’s attorney, Wilbur Smith of Fort Myers, couldn’t be reached Friday evening.

Lee County Sheriff’s reports say Costello attacked Simonsen in their Portofino Springs Boulevard home on June 13, after she returned from a bar. She found her baby lying on the couch, severely injured and laboring for breath. They rushed him to HealthPark Medical Center and he was flown to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, where he remained brain dead, on life support for four days.

Costello’s arrest report says he told Simonsen he was a murderer, admitting, “I killed my kid.” The report says she repeatedly asked what he’d done, but he kept giving her different stories. Neither has an adult felony record.

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Fort Myers man, who confessed to beating infant to death, formally charged with murder

Police Beat: July 13, 2010

13. July 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Drugs, Health, Money, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Collier County arrests 07-13-10

Lee County felony arrests 07-13-10

To report a crime or any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 477-1000 or you can remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at 332-5555 or 1-800-780-TIPS.

? Heads up housekeeper tip leads to major drug bust

? Bonita Springs man busted for prostitution in March claims exotic dancer stole debit card

Assault of a law enforcement officer

? A 19-year-old Naples woman struck a Collier County sheriff’s deputy, screamed profanities and grabbed the radio from a second deputy’s pocket before she could be handcuffed, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Candice Lakeye Burgess, 19, of the 2000 block of 10 Ave. NE, Golden Gate Estates, was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer Monday, according to reports.

After she was placed in double-lock handcuffs and put in the back of the police cruiser, she slipped the handcuffs around her legs to the front of her body. Officers had to place a hobble strap around her legs after securing her arms behind her a second time, according to reports.

Deputies earlier had been dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of 55th Terrace SW where a man was in the back lanai packing belongings and a woman was inside. The suspect was heard screaming from the rear of the house at someone inside. When approached by a deputy, she screamed profanities and broke free from the officer’s grasp. She struck the deputy in the lower lip with a small purse. She also grabbed the radio microphone from a second deputy’s shirt.

Domestic assault arrests

? A 19-year-old Naples woman struck a police officer, screamed profanities and grabbed the radio from a second officer’s pocket before she could be handcuffed, accoridng to Collier sheriff’s office.

Shaun Patrick Cassidy, 40, of the 1000 block of Clark Court, Naples, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence by sheriff’s deputies Monday, according to arrest reports. His live-in girlfriend, Deana Newton, had returned to the residence and found her belongings strewn in the bushes and a big kitchen knife stuck in the wood on the front porch. He grabbed her by the neck and she was able to break free.

DUI arrests

? Aurelie Catherine Shuleshko, 61, of the 25000 block of Ballycastle Court, Bonita Springs, was arrested Monday by Lee deputies near U.S. 41 South and Pelican’s Nest Drive in Bonita Springs. She was charged with DUI/first offense.

? Timothy Wayne Weichert, 36, of the 10000 block of Tangerine Road, Fort Myers, was arrested Tuesday by Lee deputies near Spruce Road and San Carlos Boulevard in Fort Myers. He was charged with driving without a valid motorcycle license endorsement, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon/brass knuckles.

Grand theft

? An air hammer and fishing rods with a total value of $700 were reported stolen Tuesday from an open garage in the 11000 block of Cherry Street in Bonita Springs.

Police blotter is compiled and written by the Naples Daily News staff/ contributors from oral and written reports by Naples police, Collier Sheriff‘s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Marco police and other agencies. Arrests indicate suspicion of crime, not guilt.

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Police Beat: July 13, 2010

Police Beat: June 19, 2010

20. June 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Drugs, Health, Money, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Collier County arrests 06-19-10

Lee County Felony Arrests 06-19-10

Crime Incidents Database with Map

Search by crime, date, neighborhood and day of the week for criminal incidents reported by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office during the first six months of 2009.

To report a crime or suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the Naples Police and Fire Department at 213-4844, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 774-4434, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office 239-477-1000 or the Marco Island Police Department at 389-5050.

? Woman throws coffee on Marco police officer, report says

?Mom wakes up daughter with punch in the face for missing beer

Drug arrests

? Neil Allen Perkins, 37, of the 8600 block of Saddlebrooke, East Naples, was arrested by Collier deputies on Friday following a traffic stop near his home. Perkins, a passenger in the vehicle, was charged with possession of crack cocaine, narcotics paraphernalia and concealed brass knuckles.

? Enrique J. Lopez, 29, of the 3100 block of U.S. 41 East, in the Bayshore area of Naples, was arrested by Collier deputies on Friday following a traffic stop near Jennings Street and Floridian Avenue. Deputies reported that the known gang member was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia after police say they discovered a fake gun with crack in it and a ledger of names and money owed for crack cocaine.

? Warren Robert Krupp, 20, of the 12700 block of Kedleston Circle, Fort Myers, was arrested by Collier deputies on Thursday night after a traffic stop near mile marker 95 on Interstate 75. Krupp was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, Adderall and a fake license.

DUI arrests

? Andrew J. Mendo, Jr., 69, of the 3000 block of Linwood Avenue, Naples, was arrested by Collier deputies on Friday near Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads and charged with driving with a suspended license and second offense DUI.

? Tammy Fenton Stults, 38, of the 7900 block of Fairway Preserve Way, North Naples, was arrested by Collier deputies on Friday at 961 9th St. SW., Golden Gate Estates, and charged with DUI second offense when she drove her car into the ditch, getting it stuck. Stults was arrested for DUI four times.

? Erin Esther Stevens, 20, of the 3400 block of Winifred Row Lane, East Naples, was arrested by Collier deputies on Friday following a traffic stop on I-75 near the Immokalee Road exit in North Naples.

Domestic assault arrests

? Sean P. Long, 26, of the 4500 block of Gulfstream Drive, East Naples, was arrested at home by Collier deputies on Friday and charged with battery after they say he grabbed his girlfriend as she attempted to assist him in detoxing from prescription medications. When Long grabbed her in an attempt to get the pills that she was withholding from him, the girlfriend’s 7-year-old son went to a neighbor’s house to call for help.

? Edwin A. Herrera, 34, of the 4700 block of Whistler’s Green Circle, Golden Gate, was arrested by Collier deputies on Friday and charged with intentionally causing bodily harm to another after police say he punched his girlfriend in the mouth when she acquired about an alcoholic gift given to him at work. The argument occurred in their vehicle in the area of 40th Terrace Southwest and Green Boulevard.

? Jean Alias Delorme, 21, of the 5300 block of Holland Street, Naples Manor, was arrested at home by Collier deputies on Friday and charged with slapping his sister in the face when he asked her to clean and she said she already had cleaned.

? Juan Ramirez, 29, of the 100 block of West Dixie Avenue, Immokalee, was arrested by Collier deputies at his home on Friday and charged with punching his wife of nine years in the face and scratching her neck and arms after he returned from the bar.

? Inosente A. Abundez, 44, of the 5200 block of Warren Street, Naples Manor, was arrested at his home by Collier deputies and charged with battery on Friday. Police said he slapped his wife in the face, causing a loose tooth and mouth laceration while accusing her of sticking her finger in his friend’s butt.

Police Beat is compiled and written by the Naples Daily News staff/ contributors from oral and written reports by Naples police, Collier Sheriff‘s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Marco police and other agencies. Arrests indicate suspicion of crime, not guilt.

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Police Beat: June 19, 2010

Qualifying week: Check here for a list of local candidates who have qualified for 2010 election

14. June 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Health, naples, News · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The qualifying period for state, county and special district offices runs from noon, Monday to noon, Friday. The Daily News will update this list throughout the week.

COLLIER COUNTY

County Commission

County Commission District 2 Charles ‘Chuck’ Roth III

County Commission District 2 Joseph Foster

County Commission District 2 Gina Downs

County Commission District 4 Lavigne Ann Kirkpatrick

County Judge

Michael J. Provost (Incumbent, unopposed)

School Board

School Board District 1 Patricia Carroll

School Board District 1 Rosanne Winter

School Board District 3 Barbara B. Berry

School Board District 5 Mary Ellen Cash

School Board District 5 Joe Whitehead

School Board District 5 Roy Terry

Mosquito Control

Mosquito Control District Seat 1 Linda B Berthelsen

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 2 Robert D. Geroy

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 2 David C. Randall

Collier Mosquito Control District Seat 3 Jackie Fresenius

Soil and Water Conservation

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 1 Bruce Reichert

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 3 Dennis P. ‘Duke’ Vasey

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 4 Tom Cravens

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 4 Laurie Mitchell

Soil & Water Conservation District Seat 5 James Lang

Fire Districts

Big Corkscrew Island Fire District Seat 1 Christopher Crossan

Big Corkscrew Island Fire District Seat 3 Loretta Marie Blanco

Big Corkscrew Island Fire District Seat 3 Paul Plamondon

East Naples Fire District Seat 2 Richard Gibbons

East Naples Fire District Seat 4 Robert ‘Rob’ Boyer

East Naples Fire District Seat 4 Kyle J Jameson

Golden Gate Fire District Seat 1 Kevin Gerrity

Golden Gate Fire District Seat 3 David B. Stedman

Immokalee Fire District Seat 1 Albert Lee

Immokalee Fire District Seat 1 Edward “Ski” Olesky

Immokalee Fire District Seat 3 Terrie Aviles

North Naples Fire District Seat 2 John O. McGowan

North Naples Fire District Seat 4 J. Chris Lombardo

Port of the Islands CID Seat 2 Chuck Custer

Port of the Islands CID Seat 2 Gopal Motwani

Port of the Islands CID Seat 4 Ted Bissell

Port of the Islands CID Seat 4 Yolanda DeBartolo

Community Development Districts

Lely CDD Seat 2 Robert Fisher

Lely CDD Seat 2 Bill Lee p>

Lely CDD Seat 4 Al Ramirez

Lely CDD Seat 4 Paul F. Sullivan ( Active-)

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 2 Gordon Walker

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 3 Gary Gorran

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 3 Don Hill

Pelican Marsh CDD Seat 4 Frank Garofalo

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 1 James Curland

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 1 Richard O. Peterson

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 2 Gerald D. Bergmoser

Fiddlers Creek CDD Seat 2 James Robertson

Naples Heritage CDD Seat 3 Peter V. Ramundo

Naples Heritage CDD Seat 4 Gerald G. James

Naples Heritage CDD Seat 5 Kenneth R. Gaynor

Cedar Hammock CDD Seat 2 Frank J Vaselewski

Cedar Hammock CDD Seat 3 Tom Cook

Mediterra South CDD Seat 1 Dallas Wayne Luby )

Circuit Judge (Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte)

Lauren L. Brodie (Incumbent, unopposed)

Jim Shenko (Incumbent, unopposed)

Ramiro Mañalich (Incumbent, unopposed)

Jay B. Rosman (Incumbent, unopposed)

Alane C. Laboda (Incumbent, unopposed)

John W. Dommerich (Incumbent, unopposed)

Nick Thompson (Currently a state representative, unopposed)

State Attorney (Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte)

Steve Russell (Incumbent, unopposed)

Public Defender (Collier, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte)

Kathy Smith (Incumbent, unopposed)

LEE COUNTY

County Commission

County Commissioner 1 Carla Johnston

County Commissioner 2 Cecil Pendergrass

County Commissioner 2 Dick Ripp

County Judge

County Judge Group 3 Robert J. Branning

County Judge Group 3 Miguel Fernandez III

County Judge Group 3 Frank Mann Jr.

County Judge Group 3 David Shestokas

County Judge Group 4 Eric P. Feichthaler

County Judge Group 4 Archie B. Hayward Jr.

School Board

School Board 1 Mary B. Fischer

Lee Memorial Health System

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Diane Champion

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Gary L. Eidson

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Joann Conti Ellis

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Chris Hansen

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Frank LaRosa

Lee Memorial Health System 4 Dawson C. McDaniel

Lee Memorial Health System 5 Donald A. Brown

Lee Memorial Health System 5 Bill Silverman

Soil & Water

Lee Soil & Water 2 Ron Skrutski

Mosquito Control

Lee Mosquito Control 2 Joseph H. Burgess

Lee Mosquito Control 2 Sarah Larsen

Lee Mosquito Control 4 Richard H. Pritchett III

Lee Mosquito Control 6 Thomas B. Hart

Community Development Districts

Bay Creek CDD 2 Robert D. Pritt

Bay Creek CDD 5 Nelson S. Glueck

Bay Side CDD 2 T. Marvin Hancock

Bay Side CDD 4 Bernie Cramer

Brooks I CDD 4 Rollin H. Crawford

Brooks I CDD 5 James C. Ward

Brooks II CDD 3 James Frank Strecansky

Brooks II CDD 4 Jack Meeker

Brooks II CDD 5 Joseph R. Bartoletti

River Ridge CDD 1 George T. Schoenheider

River Ridge CDD 2 Bob Schultz

Fire Districts

Bonita Springs Fire 1 Edward P. Fitzgerald

Bonita Springs Fire 1 ALexander “Alex” P. Grantt

Bonita Springs Fire 3 Evans M. Conforti Jr.

Bonita Springs Fire 5 Frank W. Liles Jr.

Estero Fire 1 Richard J. Cavuto

Estero Fire 1 Freddy Berry Partin

Estero Fire 3 Bruce Philp

Estero Fire 5 David Davenport

Estero Fire 5 Sean C. James

Second District Court of Appeal

Marva L. Crenshaw (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Patricia Kelly (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Nelly N. Khouzam (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Robert Morris (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Stevan T. Northcutt (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Craig C. Villanti (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Douglas A. Wallace (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

State Representative

District 101

Matt Hudson (Rep)

Larry Wilcoxson (No Party Affiliation)

District 112

Johnny G. Farias (Dem)

Robert Van Name (NPA)

Jeanette Nuñez (Rep)

LEE COUNTY

District 71

Ken Roberson (Rep) (Incumbent)

District 72

Paige Kreegel (Rep) (Incumbent)

District 73

Matt Caldwell (Rep)

District 74

Gary Aubuchon (Rep) (Incumbent)

Supreme Court Justices

Charles T. Canady (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Jorgé Labarga (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

James E. C. Perry (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Ricky L. Polston (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Second District Court of Appeal

Marva L. Crenshaw (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Patricia Kelly (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Nelly N. Khouzam (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Robert Morris (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Stevan T. Northcutt (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Craig C. Villanti (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Douglas A. Wallace (Non-Partisan, incumbent)

Governor

Peter L. Allen (Independent Party of Florida)

Michael E. Arth (NPA)

Farid Khavari (NPA)

Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Atwater (Rep)

Attorney General

Dave Aronberg (Dem)

Jim Lewis (NPA)

Federal government

Senate

Lewis Jerome Armstrong (NPA)

Sue Askeland (NPA)

Bobbie Bean (NPA)

Piotr Blass (Write-in)

Glenn A. Burkett (Dem)

Charlie Crist (NPA)

Bernie DeCastro (Constitution Party of Florida)

George Drake (Write-in)

William Escoffery III (Rep)

Maurice A. Ferre (Dem)

Jeff Greene (Dem)

Howard Knepper (Write-in)

William “Billy” Kogut (Rep)

Carol Ann Joyce LaRosa (Write-in)

Richard Lock (Write-in)

Kendrick B. Meek (Dem)

Robert Monroe (Write-in)

Belinda Gail Quarterman-Noah (Write-in)

Bruce Ray Riggs (NPA)

Marco Rubio (Rep)

Alexander Andrew Snitker (Lib)

Rick Tyler (NPA)

Congressional District 14

Connie Mack (Rep) (Incumbent, unopposed)

James Lloyd Roach (Dem) Unopposed

William Maverick St. Claire (NPA)

Congressional District 25

Roly Arrojo (Tea Party)

Mariana “Marili” Cancio (Rep)

Paul Crespo (Rep)

Joe Garcia (Dem)

Luis Meurice (Dem)

Craig Porter (Florida Whig Party)

David Rivera (Rep)

? 2010 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Qualifying week: Check here for a list of local candidates who have qualified for 2010 election

“Dream Homes” turning into real life nightmares for some homeowners

10. September 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Health, International, Real Estate · Tags: , , , , ,

drywall1

A dream home has become a nightmare for a Florida based couple after it was discovered that allegedly poisonous imported drywall was used in the construction phase of the renovation in 2005.

Nancy and Michael Dravis of Tampa, Florida didn’t know anything was wrong until they began having health problems a little while after moving back into their five bedroom family home in the city.

“Michael began suffering from asthma like symptoms and his nose kept bleeding,” Nancy said. “I kept getting headaches and my eyes were almost continually irritated. So much so that I had a series of tests with my optician then doctor as I thought my eyes were failing. Then we heard about other people having similar problems a little while after having homes built or renovated. A little research showed us that some construction contractors were using imported drywall because it was cheaper. People thought that it was giving off gas that smelled like rotten eggs, which is what we had in our home.”

Companies like Chinese Drywall Experts and Chinese Drywall Inc. have sprouted up to fill the void left by the poor quality of Chinese Drywall. They will, for a hefty price, come to your home and repair and replace all tainted drywall in your home.
The rotten egg smell is the result of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide gases which have been found to be emitted from the drywall. When these gases mix with oxygen, particularly in warm, humid air they produce the smell of rotten eggs. This is often the first real indicator that there is a problem with the construction materials.

The situation has left many homeowners with an uninhabitable home, builders with multiple lawsuits being filed against them, while others go into bankruptcy. All this on top of the economic situation has created a life and death situation for many construction companies in Florida. As if the construction industry wasn’t having a hard enough time as it is.

Another Tampa resident Martha Kemp is in an even worse situation than the Dravis family.

“My brand new dream house is just gone. I can’t live in it, my family can’t live in it. The dream has been shattered. I feel like just breaking down and crying. My builder has gone bankrupt, the government doesn’t seem to want to know and my lender doesn’t care, they just want the money each month. I just don’t know what to do, “ sobbed Martha.

This is a scene that is being repeated right across Florida. It is estimated that between 2004 and 2007 over thirty seven million pounds of imported drywall went through Florida docks. This material could have made its way into up to one hundred thousand homes in this state alone. Massive shipments also went to New Orleans to help with the clearing up after Katrina. There are also reports of the drywall being used in various places in Alabama. Investigations are underway in both states to attempt to discover the extent of the problem.

The full scale of this problem has yet to be determined. The Florida Health Department alone has over one hundred and fifty complaints on file at this time. This number is expected to rise as news travels and more people can identify the cause of the bad smell and any health issues it causes.

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