More than 50 years have passed since Brown vs. the Board of Education and many Floridians can’t remember a time when the state’s schools weren’t integrated – or the struggles that took place to bring integration about. But historians are working to create an oral history of those turbulent times – and preserve it for posterity. Earlier this month the DeSoto County Historical Society held a panel discussion on the desegregation process there. Valerie Alker was there and has this report. (AUDIO)

Lee County Commissioners today honored the crane operator who died in April during a construction accident on the Sanibel Causeway. Crane operator Kent Cra-pelle was driving a concrete piling near the Sanibel Causeway’s drawbridge and tollbooth plaza when the crane collapsed—killing him and injuring another. Lee County Commissioners passed a resolution in Crapelle’s honor.

“The failure of the concrete pile made the crane unstable. Mr. Cra-pelle displayed the presence of mind, quick thinking and proficiency with the crane to warn his co-workers by blowing an air horn and steer the falling concrete pile and crane in a way to minimize the danger to nearby motorists and bridge construction workers. Only one person other than Mr. Crappell suffered injuries due to that accident. And whereas in performing this selfless act, Mr. Crappell sacrificed his own life as he was thrown from the crane’s cab.”

Crapell is being honored during National Public Works week. The county also presented his family with a plaque. It resembles a bronze one to be placed on the new Sanibel Bridge in his honor. In addition, the Sanibel-Captiva Trust Company gave his widow money being collected in Crapell’s honor. A Sanibel Island resident started the collection.

Vonzell “Baby V” Solomon stepped foot in her hometown Fort Myers for the first time in over 2 months on Friday. She’s survived weekly eliminations to claim Top 3 standing in the popular reality talent show American Idol. As part of the show, each of the final contestants get to visit his or her hometown, and Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers was packed with fans. Kathleen Moye was there. (AUDIO)

No woodstorks fledged this year at the National Audubon Society’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County. Valerie Alker reports. (AUDIO)

Residents of a housing community for people with mental illness and substance abuse problems are suing Sarasota County… for alleged housing discrimination. A Washington-based attorney filed a federal lawsuit Monday—on behalf of residents at the Renaissance House. It claims the county has violated both the Fair Housing and Americans With Disabilities acts. The suit claims the county is using zoning codes to shut down the facility…which has operated at its current location since 1997. When Renaissance House recently applied for permits to add 2 more houses – the county first approved, then reversed its decision… saying, instead, the facility would have to shut down all but one of its 6 houses. The suit alleges the reversal was due to pressure from neighbors. Lead attorney in the suit – Steven Polin says while the action seeks to keep the facility open…it also seeks to educate the community.

“One of the ultimate goals that we’d like to accomplish in this lawsuit besides insuring that Tammi House and its residents can continue to live where they are and continue to do what they’re doing in terms of providing a safe place to live for people who have substance abuse and mental health history is educate the community.”

Under both the ADA & Fair Housing acts it is unlawful to deny housing because of a handicap.
The lawsuit also names a couple that lives adjacent to the facility for allegedly harassing residents. The county – which could not be immediately reached - has 20 days to file an answer.

Carpooling – public transportation – bicycling –telecommuting…ALL are ideas being put forth this week in Sarasota & Manatee counties. Commuter Choices Week is a yearly effort to promote alternative transportation. Two events are scheduled. Wednesday from 11 to 1:00 at the Lemon Avenue Mall in downtown Sarasota - then again Thursday morning from 7 to 9 at the Manatee County Area Transit Bus Station. There will be informational booths & giveaways – all encouraging people to leave their cars at home. Dominick Locascio is Sarasota-Manatee Commuter Assistance Coordinator.

“The key thing is to get single occupant vehicles off the road and try and reduce some of the traffic congestions. Walking, telecommuting…anything like that…anything that would free up the vehicle and leave it at home. So many people take their cars when they really don’t need to.”

Locascio says rising gas prices, and more traffic make alternative transportation more desirable.
He also says VANpooling is becoming more common. That’s when a group of workers ride to work together in a van—provided by their employer. There may be tax incentives for employers who adopt such programs.

Water managers say Marco Island needs to cut back on water use. The city of Marco has one of the highest per-capita water consumption rates in the region. Now it wants to pump more. But managers say before they grant any permits, Marco Island must come up with a conservation plan. Valerie Alker has more. (AUDIO)

A Collier County Public School teacher has been named National Title 1 Migrant Teacher of the Year. Tom Pipher is a Reading intervention specialist at Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee. He recently traveled to San Francisco to be honored by the National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education. Title 1 is a federal program that directs money to high poverty schools. Pipher teaches reading to migrant students in the 1st and 2nd grades…at school, and in their homes. He says the program serves a great need.

“I won’t say it’s unique but it is very successful. Migrant children are receiving additional support…throughout the nation there are over half a million migrant students in the county. Collier County has over 4800 students in school, and many more…almost 4000 out of school that the migrant program serves.”

Pipher’s 35-year teaching career concludes this year with his retirement. He was also recently honored as Florida Migrant Teacher of the Year.

Florida's Senior United States Senator, Democrat Bill Nelson say the people of Florida's support of the military worked in the state's favor when Pentagon recommendations for base closings were Friday. None of Florida's major military installations would be closed under the Pentagon's plan to shut down dozens of bases in the United States. Instead, the state stands to gain more than 2700 uniformed and civilian jobs. Senator Bill Nelson says the people of Florida clearly support the U.S. Military - and the military views Florida as very important to National Defense, especially in the war on terrorism.

"its role has been strengthened especially as we see more and more training taking advantage of our natural assets which is the weather and the restricted airspace that we have of both coasts which is absolutely a national asset where the military can come and train.”

Two Florida installations are on the chopping block; the Defense Finance and Accounting Services in Orlando, and the Naval Reserve Center in St. Petersburg. That would amount to a loss of just over 200 jobs. The Pentagon's plans are only a recommendation to the president
and Congress.

A number of forces have come together to create a booming job market in Charlotte County…at least for certain types of jobs. There’s a new WalMart distribution center in nearby DeSoto County – 2 new Home Depots – several hundred new government positions created in the wake of Hurricane Charley – and even more construction jobs, also due to Charley.

“So if you put all of those jobs together that’s well over 1000 positions that weren’t here in this county a year ago. And you’re looking at a county that has a population that’s not as big as Cape Coral.”

That’s Tom Halsey with the Charlotte County Career Center. He says right now he can’t fill all the job orders he has. But, he says, it’s not necessarily all kinds of jobs…

“Charlotte County was pretty devastated by Charley and the building industry is just booming. If you’re in the construction industry you can pretty much write your own ticket…I mean an electrician, a plumber or experienced carpenter you can pretty much walk down the street and get 2 or 3 job offers in the same day.”

Halsey says salaries have also risen as employers fight over workers. He says wages are up approximately $2 an hour from where they were a year ago. Halsey encourages anyone looking for a job in Charlotte County top come by the Career Center on Toledo Blade Blvd. to see what they’ve got to offer.