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Lee County Commissioners will be asked tomorrow to consider decreasing the millage rate for ad valorem taxes. This has some environmental activists concerned. A slice of property taxes in Lee County fund the land conservation program known as 20/20. Under the current millage rate – the revenue would be 40 million dollars next year. But County Manager Don Stillwell, who’s recommending the rate reduction says the program will still be very well funded.

“The least amount I’ve head is 20/20 would get 32 million dollars next year. There’s no cut. It’s a reduction in the millage rate which would reduce the number of dollars the county gets.”


Stillwell says the reduction is being considered because of the increase in property values which has translated into more tax revenues. At the current rate the county is looking at a 130 million dollar surplus – Stillwell he’d like some of that money to remain in the pockets of citizens. Funds from 20/20 have been used to purchase more than 12 thousand acres of environmentally sensitive land in Lee County.

The Senate is debating a bill that would open up more than eight million acres of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and natural gas drilling. Republican Florida Senator Mel Martinez says Florida will be protected and supports the bill. But Florida Democrat Bill Nelson is concerned the U-S House could change the legislation. From Capitol Hill, Terry Gildea reports.

After 20 years hosting the program America’s Most Wanted, John Walsh is a household name. But in 1981, Walsh was working as a hotel executive in Florida when his six year old son Adam was abducted. On the 25th anniversary of Adam’s kidnapping, President Bush signed a new law giving authorities more power to track sex offenders nationwide. White House Correspondent Corbett Daly has details.

To fertilize or not to fertilize – that is the question. A group of experts will be on hand this evening in Ft. Myers to provide some answers. Some scientists say there’s a link between runoff from nitrogen and phosphorous in fertilizer and algae blooms. Others say there a link hasn’t been proven. Experts of both sides will speak at the Fertilizer Evaluation Forum sponsored by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Horticulture agent Steven Brown will moderate -

“what we’re trying to do is lay out some of the assumptions and some of the facts and let the county and city commissioners – give them some information to chew on and let them make the difficult decision.”

The City of Sanibel is considering restricting the use of some kinds of fertilizer – so is Sarasota County. Speakers include Dr. Larry Brand of the University of Miami and Dr. Cindy Heil of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The meeting begins at 6:00 at the Lee County Extension Service on Palm Beach Boulevard in Ft. Myers.

To fertilize or not to fertilize – that is the question. A group of experts will be on hand this evening in Ft. Myers to provide some answers. Some scientists say there’s a link between runoff from nitrogen and phosphorous in fertilizer and algae blooms. Others say there a link hasn’t been proven. Experts of both sides will speak at the Fertilizer Evaluation Forum sponsored by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Horticulture agent Steven Brown will moderate -

“what we’re trying to do is lay out some of the assumptions and some of the facts and let the county and city commissioners – give them some information to chew on and let them make the difficult decision.”

The City of Sanibel is considering restricting the use of some kinds of fertilizer – so is Sarasota County. Speakers include Dr. Larry Brand of the University of Miami and Dr. Cindy Heil of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The meeting begins at 6:00 at the Lee County Extension Service on Palm Beach Boulevard in Ft. Myers.

There is a new addition at the Naples Zoo. A baby Colobus monkey was born as a part of a national program that helps protect animals.
Colobus monkeys are native to the rainforests of Africa. But today in Florida one can be seen by guests on the Primate Expedition Cruise at the Naples Zoo. The monkey is part of a national program called the Species Survival Plan, which breeds animals from different zoos to maintain their genetic diversity and increase their chances for survival. Executive Director of the Naples Zoo, David Tetzlaff, explains why Colobus monkeys, in particular, need to be protected.

“Animals like Colobus monkeys are still poached believe it or not. They have these long flowing white capes that are still used in ceremonial headdresses and so forth. Colobus monkeys are also killed for what is called the bush meat trade in Africa, where Native species are killed and their meat is sold in markets. And also Africa’s growing just like every other place in the planet and Colobus monkeys are becoming road kill in a lot of places.”

When he gets older, this new monkey will eventually be relocated to another zoo in Canada. Tetzlaff says through the Species Survival Plan the Naples Zoo helps protect other animals as well, such as the IndoChinese tiger and the African wild dog.

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A Colobus monkey has been born in the Naples Zoo. He is part of a national program called the Species Survival Plan. Executive Director of the Naples Zoo, David Tetzlaff, says the cooperative breeding program works like a computer dating service for animals.

“It matches up animals who, in this case, should be genetically compatible because you need that genetic diversity for the future species obviously in the wild but also outside the wild. Zoos kind of act like Arcs or storehouses of living genetic material outside the wild that guarantee the species will survive.”

Tetzlaff says the Colobus monkeys, native to Central Africa, are still poached there because of their fur and meat. The Naples Zoo is also helping other animals through the Species Survival Plan, such as the IndoChinese tiger and the African wild dog. When he gets older, the baby monkey will be relocated to another zoo in Canada.

Plans are moving ahead at Florida Gulf Coast University to try to find affordable housing solutions for its faculty and staff. F-G-C-U has about 800 fulltime workers and as the region’s cost of living has zoomed up, the university has had a tougher time dealing with the housing issue for its faculty and staff. F-G-C-U President Bill Merwin says he’s still very interested in an idea to build on-campus apartments and homes for employees. He envisions it as a faculty and staff village.

“With bike paths and walking paths from their homes right up to the university which would cut down on the need for parking; cut down on the need for congestion and fuel consumption and energy costs and all of those kind of things.”

Merwin spoke on Gulf Coast Live. He says the biggest obstacle is a donation of land from surrounding neighbors. Merwin says he has two FGCU staffers working on the issue on a weekly basis.

About two-thousand area Catholics filled the Epiphany Cathedral in Venice Tuesday to witness the ordination of a new Bishop. 56-year-old Frank Dewane will take over as leader of the Diocese later this year when Bishop John Nevins - now 75 – retires.
W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker prepared this report.