Lee County residents already know how dry it is out there…and county officials are reminding them that because of the dryness the burn ban is being extended again.

The Lee County Commission has issued an extension to the current burn ban. The burn ban will now continue until at least next week. County officials, along with the Fire Chief Association, the division of forestry all determined things were too dry to lift the ban now. David Saniter, with lee county emergency management says recent fires, especially those near I-75, are reason enough for people to know how bad things really are.

“It’s very dry out there…the last couple of weeks for example we had five, six fires. It’s very dry out there and people should be aware about open burning and campfires…do not do that”

Saniter says the ban includes outside fires, bonfires, and campfires. For information about the burn ban and penalties for breaking the rules visit www.lee-county.com.

As South Florida’s record drought continues – the water level in Lake Okeechobee continues to fall. And some say it’s a good thing.

The water quality in Lake Okeechobee has been declining. A build-up of muck on bottom from agricultural runoff has stunted sea grass growth. Fish populations have plummeted. But now areas along the shoreline that had been under five feet water are now mudflats. Mary Ann Martin of Martins Marina and Resort says this could mean the end of the suffocating muck.

“when the heat comes on in the summer if the drought will last that long that is a wonderful solution – it’s called oxidation and the sun literally burns it up – and of course our wonderful summer winds will just blow it away and then we’ll get back to the hard sand and the limestone that is natural to this lake.”

Martin says native plants that haven’t grown along the lake’s edge in a number of year’s are coming back. She says this bodes well for fish populations – some of which haven’t spawned in several years due to the poor water quality in the Lake.

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Governor Charley Crist, Water Managers – emergency officials – all are calling on Floridians to conserve water due to one of the worst drought’s the state’s ever seen. Agriculture is threatened and ground water could be contaminated with salt. But Mary Ann Martin of Clewiston says the drought is the best thing that’s happened to Lake Okeechobee in years.

“it’s giving it a fresh breath of air – this whole ecology over here was suffocating from all the sludge the silt the dirty water that its had for the last 3 or 4 years – what has relieved it is that the water has finally gone down and the seed banks and plants are able to see the sunshine for the first time in a long time and able to germinate – now we have native growth of plants we’ve been missing for the last 4 or 5 years.”

Martin owns and operates Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston – on the shore of Lake Okeechobee. She says resurgence of grasses will benefit the entire everglades ecosystem – from snails to fish and birds and gators. And she says if the droughts lasts the lakes natural limestone sand bottom may re-appear – the sun will dry the thick muck that’s there now and the summer winds will disperse it.

The Florida Senate’s property tax reduction plan isn’t finalized, but it’s clear it will differ from the House’s proposal. Senators have not endorsed a sales tax and will not cap local spending at 2001 levels. At least they haven’t yet. As John Sepulvado reports, Florida House leadership is taking their plan to the public in hopes of pressuring the Senate to change.

Ft Myers’ Ward 2 has a new face in leadership as Johnny Streets Junior officially took office Tuesday. Mr. Streets defeated incumbent Veronica Shoemaker who had represented Ward 2 for 25 years - in the April third election. Streets says being sworn in made for a great day for his family and himself – but he says he also has a heavy heart in light of the shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech. The issue of guns and violence was a key part Streets’ campaign.

“I’m really concerned about the number of guns that are on the streets and the number of guns that are in the hands of our young people. I’m sure we’ll do all we can with law enforcement and other agencies to educate our communities and the public…and just try to get people to find other ways of solving problems besides picking up a firearm.”

Streets says the safety of the residents of ward two is the most important issue for him. The swearing in ceremony was Monday afternoon. Commissioners Michael Flanders and Thomas Leonardo also took the oath of office at that time.

The League of Women voters in Collier County believes preparing for a flu pandemic is more than just a health issue.

The group met Monday with county officials as well as a hospital official, the Red Cross, and emergency management. The topic was the impact of a flu pandemic on southwest Florida and the nation as a whole. The league’s Ann Campbell, says the point of the meeting was to determine how to help homeland security when dealing with a pandemic.

“It could be a hurricane…it could be terrorism, but the flu pandemic is something that brings every county agency into play. So we thought that would be a good way to demonstrate the county’s ability to prepare for homeland security.”

Campbell says the county health department is already working to get the word out about issues with a pandemic. She adds, one of the biggest lessons learned at the meeting was the widespread effect a pandemic would have on the community as well as the economy.

State officials are looking for a few good ideas to battle the problems with red tide. And they are willing to lend money for the best idea or plan.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission along with Solutions to Avoid Red Tide, or START, are ready to distribute up 850-thousand dollars in grants to find good ideas in fighting red tide. Leigh Zimmerman is the outreach coordinator for START, and she says there are people out there who don’t have the support of a large agency or company but they may have a great idea.

“The people who are helping to run this start program are really hoping that people see this as a good opportunity and will hopefully get a really great range of idea…so fingers crossed.”

Red Tide causes respiratory problems in humans, kills fish and marine mammals and makes beaches unpleasant places to be. The deadline to submit a proposal for the grant is May 15th. Zimmerman says the grant is not for recovery efforts or compensation. Visit www.start1.com for more information.

U.S. Representative Tim Mahoney was in Charlotte County Friday. Mahoney is the first Democrat to represent District 16 since it’s creation in 1973. He switched parties shortly before challenging incumbent Mark Foley…he told us the switch didn’t represent change on his part – but rather in the GOP.

The issues of cutting emissions and protecting the environment will take to the steps of the old Lee County Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers this weekend. And the group hosting the event called, “Step it up 2007” will have a major player on hand to lend his support.

John Edwards is coming to Ft Myers for the national campaign “step it up 2007.” The event is an attempt to bring more attention to emissions that are damaging the environment as well as a need to reduce them by 80-percent within the next 40-years. Edwards’ campaign contacted Carol Newcomb-Jones who’s coordinating the event. But she says, it’s not political …the environment involves everyone.

“This is non-partisan as far as I’m concerned. You know, we didn’t seek him out, they wanted to attend a step it up rally and if it had been a republican looking for a step it up rally and they chose Ft Myers, I’d say absolutely, you’re more than welcome to come.”

The rally will run from one until four this Saturday afternoon on the steps of the courthouse. Edwards is expected to present his speech around three. Newcomb-Jones says people attending can also expect a number of exhibits and tips aimed at helping them take better care of the environment.

When Floridians see and hear Craig Fugate, they think Hurricane. But the presence of the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Craig Fugate at Thursday's South Florida Water Management District Meeting emphasized the severity of the on-going drought.

Craig Fugate was on hand to discuss the extreme water shortage and its’ impacts, especially on agriculture. And to announce yet another increase in water use restrictions. Some of those include; an extreme water shortage declaration for the Everglades agricultural area and a severe water shortage declaration for areas in Lee, Collier and Hendry Counties. Fugate says residents and businesses can help by simply following the rules.

“We’re talking about your drinking water system going dry…It doesn’t have to come to that, but if you don’t head conservation, you don’t restrict your use of water voluntarily, you don’t follow the water restrictions, ultimately bad things we don’t believe can happen, will happen to our community.”

The water management district says the recent rains are only a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. And they warn that further tightening of the restrictions may be necessary if the drought continues.

City and County officials need to do more to increase enforcement of water use restrictions…that’s the word from the South Florida Water Management District.

Water managers held a workshop with officials from Lee and Collier County to share some ideas on just how best to go about enforcing the rules. Officials say this years’ drought is becoming one of the worst in the states history. And catching those who are using too much water is one way to help alleviate the problem. Susan Sanders, spokeswoman for the water management district says enforcing these restrictions falls on the local governments.

“The water management district by statute does not have the authority to…enforce restrictions on the consumer level. We deal with the large permitted projects. So that basically falls upon the jurisdiction of the local governmental entities.”

Sanders does say many people are not purposely breaking the rules, they just may not know what they are. She says one challenge local governments are facing when it comes to better enforcement is manpower and money.