Longtime southwest Florida news anchor Harry Horn has died. He’d suffered from ALS—or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He spent most of the summer at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral. In May of last year, Horn traveled to Washington— hoping to secure more funding for research on the disease that would eventually take his life.

“I made my living giving the evening news. And now it’s very hard for me to talk. But, as long as I’ve got legs and some kind of a voice, I hope you’ll listen.”

Horn’s wife Toni Mattison will continue that mission. She will direct a new Southwest Florida Chapter of the ALS Association. She hopes to establish clinics at local hospitals. The closest treatment options are in Miami or St. Petersburg. A memorial service for Harry Horn will be held on Sunday at 2:30 at Faith Presbytarian Church in Cape Coral. He was 61. WGCU–TV will air programs produced by Harry Horn Tuesday night starting at 9:00.

Florida Gulf Coast University President – Dr. Bill Merwin – gave his “state of the university” address Friday. Merwin spoke to university faculty and staff – outlining progress made at FGCU - which begins its 9th academic year today. Rapid growth might be an understatement – as FGCU continues to add students, faculty, academic programs and buildings. President Merwin says when he was hired 6 years ago – he was given a goal of 10-thousand students, by 2010. He says on its current trajectory – FGCU will far exceed that mark.

“The state of our university is in excellent condition…it just is. And we’re way ahead of any place that they thought we would be at this moment in time. Today we are at 7,000 students…and I fully anticipate that by 2010 we’ll be at 14,000 students.”

FGCU now offers 62 degree programs – up from 28 when Merwin came aboard. President Merwin says based on current projections – they’ll be 20,000 students at FGCU by 2015…requiring twice the space now used on the university’s 760-acre campus. He says it’s time to start building larger, taller buildings to accommodate what lies ahead. Additionally – Merwin says more classes will be taught off-campus.

Lee County Port Authority staff is preparing for the move to the new Midfield Terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport. Valerie Alker reports. (AUDIO)

Collier County has established an Internet Safety Consortium…made up of school, government, law-enforcement and private organizations. Its purpose is to raise awareness about ‘net safety.

Approximately 1 in 5 children online is sexually solicited – that’s according to a study by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Collier County has teamed up with the Center in offering NetSmartz – an Internet safety program using interactive 3D animation – and real-life stories - to teach kids rules for online safety.

Tracy Carrier is Spokeswoman for the Netsmartz Workshop…

“We’re very pleased with what Collier County is doing because they’re doing a comprehensive effort educating the kids at home, and then as well educating the parents thru education nights involving law enforcement where they talk about what these dangers are. They’ve involved schools, they’ve involved community organizations, and just letting people know that this program is available.”

The Netsmartz program is aimed at several age groups. Animated characters give younger kids lessons on ‘net safety. Older kids can hear real-life stories about other teens who have been victimized.

Carrier says the program also teaches kids it’s important to get away from the computer sometimes to do other fun things.

The program is also free to anyone with an Internet connection at www.NetSmartz.Org…that’s Smarts with a Z.

Lee County is seeking applications for its new Advisory Committee on Multicultural Affairs.

The committee was created back in June. It will advise the Board of County Commissioners on quality of life issues such as decent housing, employment and healthcare.

The committee will work closely with the county’s Black Affairs & Hispanic Affairs Advisory Boards.

County Spokeswoman - Shirley Carney – says the new multi-cultural board should reflect the county’s growing diversity.

“The Commissioners felt that because the growth in our area from other races and other groups that they saw a need to expand it. Because everyone is faced with difficulties under those categories like housing and employment – not just the Black Affairs or Hispanic Affairs Boards. So they just felt there was a need for it.”

Anyone interested in serving – or recommending someone else to serve – should visit Lee County’s website for an application…click on “Advisory Committee”.

People in Arcadia turned out Tuesday to bid farewell to area National Guard troops on their way to Iraq. About one hundred fifty soldiers from the Arcadia National Guard Unit were deployed. They come from all over south Florida – but a good many are from DeSoto County. There was a big send off at the Arcadia National Guard Armory and community support will continue. Sara *Spas works for the DeSoto County School District, grew up in Arcadia and went to school with two of the deployed soldiers. She says the school district supports the troops – many of whom are former students.

"We have decided at the district office every Friday for the month of August – we have designated it red days and what the means is each department encourages its employees to wear red for Fridays in honor and support of the troops."

The 150 soldiers make up part of the 3rd Battalion 116th Field Artillery. A National Guard Spokesman says they’ll spend about two months training in logistics, security and police work at Fort Dix in New Jersey before going to Iraq and Kuwait. Another 150 national guard troops from Plant City National Guard Unit will be deployed in about a week.

In southwest Florida—and throughout the country—candlelight vigils are planned tomorrow night - in support of Cindy Sheehan. She’s the woman camped out in front of President George W. Bush’s Texas ranch.

Sheehan’s son - Casey - was killed in Iraq last year. She’s been in front of Mr. Bush’s Crawford ranch for several weeks…hoping, she says, to ask the President when US troops will come home.

The liberal political group - MoveOn.Org – is promoting the vigils through its website.

MoveOn member - Beverly Mesch of Cape Coral – is hosting one in Fort Myers. Mesch says she got word from MoveOn, but didn’t see a vigil listed for southwest Florida, so decided to volunteer to host one herself.

She says the event isn’t political…but a chance for people with the same questions as Sheehan to come together.

“There’s not going to be any speeches. This is not a political rally. This is a chance for people to do something with their pain…and with their fear…because so many of our children have died, and so many more will die before we get out of there. And then we don’t know when we’re going to get out of there…and we don’t know if there’s going to be another there after this one is over.”

At his ranch last week in Crawford, President Bush said he grieves for every death, but now’s not the time to withdraw from Iraq.

“This is America – she has a right to her position. And I’ve thought long and hard about her position. I’ve heard her position from others…which is get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run if we were to do so.”

The candlelight vigil starts tomorrow night at 7:30 in downtown Fort Myers’ Centennial Park.

Nile Monitor Lizards have been hanging around Cape Coral for some time. They came to the region as pets, were released, and have multiplied. Now, there’s been a documented sighting on Sanibel. Wendy Humphrey reports.

While many researchers focus on obesity in children, one Florida professor is looking at obesity among the elderly. Dr. Sandra Reynolds— an aging expert at the University of South Florida—poured over 5 years of data. In this month’s issue of “The Gerontologist,” she finds that people ages 70 and older—who are also obese— are more likely to have trouble with the tasks of daily life. Therefore, Reynolds says, a strong link exists between obesity among the elderly and their quality of life.

“For example, the ability to feed yourself, clothe yourself, bathe yourself, go to the toilet by yourself—without help from somebody else. The ability to carry out one’s own personal care—day to day—has something quite important to do with quality of life.”

Dr. Reynolds estimates between 13 and 14 percent of the “over 70” population is obese. That’s not as high as the general population. But, she believes this area of research is crucial—given the large population of aging baby-boomers.

Reynolds says—even for people in their 80’s and 90’s—increased activity and improved diet can make a difference. The challenge may be convincing those folks to change their lifestyles.

Sarasota County is in the midst of updating its comprehensive plan.
The state requires counties to revise their “Comp Plans” every 7 years… to respond to changing trends and conditions in growth and development.

Residents of Sarasota County can get any questions answered this coming Saturday. This weekend’s “mini-expo” is just one step in an ongoing process. The County first held a series of public workshops last year to solicit changes. Those proposed changes then went before the County Planning Commission – which also held a series of public meetings.

Spokesman for Sarasota County – Warren Richardson – says this next step is an opportunity for face-to-face questions about specific changes.

“Residents can come up to a table and meet with a county staffer who’s in charge of a particular chapter in the Comprehensive Plan. It’s going to be a very informal session. It gives the public a chance to see what’s being proposed before the Board of County Commissioners begin their public hearings on the document in September.”

Staff members representing different chapters in the Comprehensive Plan – such as Historic Preservation, Watershed Management, and Housing & Transportation – will be on hand to answer questions.

The “mini-expo” is Saturday from 2 to 5:00 at Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road in Sarasota.