Thursday, 03 August 2006 01:00
Sarasota County Sued
The Department of Justice and a nonprofit organization called Renaissance Manor are suing Sarasota County over group homes for people in recovery. Stephanie Westendorf has more.
Published in
WGCU News
Wednesday, 02 August 2006 01:00
Mail for the Homeless
A mailing address is now available to homeless people in Lee County. People struggling to make the transition from homelessness to a home of their own face many challenges – not the least of which is no mailing address. Now if they choose – they can have one. Mail will be delivered to the individual in care of the Soup Kitchen on MLK Boulevard in Fort Myers. Robert Stryker directs the Lee County Homeless Coalition.
“One of the nice things about being able to do that is the person doesn’t have to put down john smith – soup kitchen – and the address. the just put down their name and address and folks don’t necessarily know that they’re homeless which is good if you’re applying for a job and you don’t want folks to know you’re in-between places to sleep at night.”
On any given night there are about two thousand homeless people in Lee County. The Homeless Coalition is working with Community Cooperative Ministries to provide the mail service. Counselors will also be on hand to help people apply for social security or other entitlements complete the process.
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Homeless people in Lee County have a new tool to help them make the transition into the mainstream: a mailing address. They can use the address of the Soup Kitchen on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Fort Myers – and pick up their mail there Monday through Saturday. Robert Stryker of the Lee County Homeless Coalition says being able to receive mail is a good thing.
“One of the things we’ve been addressing through the lee county homeless coalition is the importance of people who are transient or homeless that may be applying for a job may be applying for entitlements such as social security or V.A. benefits – or just needing to stay in touch with family.”
Lee County’s homeless population is estimated at around 2 thousand – and more during the winter months. The mail will be sorted into pigeon-hole slots. People picking up mail at the Soup Kitchen will need to have some kind of identification.
“One of the nice things about being able to do that is the person doesn’t have to put down john smith – soup kitchen – and the address. the just put down their name and address and folks don’t necessarily know that they’re homeless which is good if you’re applying for a job and you don’t want folks to know you’re in-between places to sleep at night.”
On any given night there are about two thousand homeless people in Lee County. The Homeless Coalition is working with Community Cooperative Ministries to provide the mail service. Counselors will also be on hand to help people apply for social security or other entitlements complete the process.
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Homeless people in Lee County have a new tool to help them make the transition into the mainstream: a mailing address. They can use the address of the Soup Kitchen on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Fort Myers – and pick up their mail there Monday through Saturday. Robert Stryker of the Lee County Homeless Coalition says being able to receive mail is a good thing.
“One of the things we’ve been addressing through the lee county homeless coalition is the importance of people who are transient or homeless that may be applying for a job may be applying for entitlements such as social security or V.A. benefits – or just needing to stay in touch with family.”
Lee County’s homeless population is estimated at around 2 thousand – and more during the winter months. The mail will be sorted into pigeon-hole slots. People picking up mail at the Soup Kitchen will need to have some kind of identification.
Published in
WGCU News
Wednesday, 02 August 2006 01:00
Mail for the Homeless
A mailing address is now available to homeless people in Lee County. People struggling to make the transition from homelessness to a home of their own face many challenges – not the least of which is no mailing address. Now if they choose – they can have one. Mail will be delivered to the individual in care of the Soup Kitchen on MLK Boulevard in Fort Myers. Robert Stryker directs the Lee County Homeless Coalition.
“One of the nice things about being able to do that is the person doesn’t have to put down john smith – soup kitchen – and the address. the just put down their name and address and folks don’t necessarily know that they’re homeless which is good if you’re applying for a job and you don’t want folks to know you’re in-between places to sleep at night.”
On any given night there are about two thousand homeless people in Lee County. The Homeless Coalition is working with Community Cooperative Ministries to provide the mail service. Counselors will also be on hand to help people apply for social security or other entitlements complete the process.
----
Homeless people in Lee County have a new tool to help them make the transition into the mainstream: a mailing address. They can use the address of the Soup Kitchen on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Fort Myers – and pick up their mail there Monday through Saturday. Robert Stryker of the Lee County Homeless Coalition says being able to receive mail is a good thing.
“One of the things we’ve been addressing through the lee county homeless coalition is the importance of people who are transient or homeless that may be applying for a job may be applying for entitlements such as social security or V.A. benefits – or just needing to stay in touch with family.”
Lee County’s homeless population is estimated at around 2 thousand – and more during the winter months. The mail will be sorted into pigeon-hole slots. People picking up mail at the Soup Kitchen will need to have some kind of identification.
“One of the nice things about being able to do that is the person doesn’t have to put down john smith – soup kitchen – and the address. the just put down their name and address and folks don’t necessarily know that they’re homeless which is good if you’re applying for a job and you don’t want folks to know you’re in-between places to sleep at night.”
On any given night there are about two thousand homeless people in Lee County. The Homeless Coalition is working with Community Cooperative Ministries to provide the mail service. Counselors will also be on hand to help people apply for social security or other entitlements complete the process.
----
Homeless people in Lee County have a new tool to help them make the transition into the mainstream: a mailing address. They can use the address of the Soup Kitchen on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Fort Myers – and pick up their mail there Monday through Saturday. Robert Stryker of the Lee County Homeless Coalition says being able to receive mail is a good thing.
“One of the things we’ve been addressing through the lee county homeless coalition is the importance of people who are transient or homeless that may be applying for a job may be applying for entitlements such as social security or V.A. benefits – or just needing to stay in touch with family.”
Lee County’s homeless population is estimated at around 2 thousand – and more during the winter months. The mail will be sorted into pigeon-hole slots. People picking up mail at the Soup Kitchen will need to have some kind of identification.
Published in
WGCU News
Wednesday, 02 August 2006 01:00
Preacher Arrested
The Fort Myers Police Department has arrested a former local preacher alleging he molested children who were in his care.
Police charged 53-year-old Russell Brown with three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery. He was a preacher for the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in east Fort Myers. Investigators say he resigned in May after sexual abuse allegations prompted by several church members.
Fort Myers police spokeswoman Shelly Flynn says detectives are investigating six instances of sexual molestation that occurred between 1999 and 2005.
“We’ve learned that there are approximately six children, ages 10 to 11 years old when the crimes occurred. And recently one of the victims who is an adult now came forward and alerted us.”
The crimes allegedly occurred at Browns’ home where he watched the children after school. Southwest Florida Crimestoppers called Brown one of its top fugitives in Lee County. Officials thought he might have fled Florida but his attorney coordinated his surrender Monday night. Flynn says he faces three life sentences if convicted.
Police charged 53-year-old Russell Brown with three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery. He was a preacher for the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in east Fort Myers. Investigators say he resigned in May after sexual abuse allegations prompted by several church members.
Fort Myers police spokeswoman Shelly Flynn says detectives are investigating six instances of sexual molestation that occurred between 1999 and 2005.
“We’ve learned that there are approximately six children, ages 10 to 11 years old when the crimes occurred. And recently one of the victims who is an adult now came forward and alerted us.”
The crimes allegedly occurred at Browns’ home where he watched the children after school. Southwest Florida Crimestoppers called Brown one of its top fugitives in Lee County. Officials thought he might have fled Florida but his attorney coordinated his surrender Monday night. Flynn says he faces three life sentences if convicted.
Published in
WGCU News
Tuesday, 01 August 2006 01:00
High School Sports Age
The Collier County Public School System unveiled new rules Monday to crack down on over-age students playing sports. The move comes after several adults played soccer and football at Immokalee High School. Before Collier public school athletes take the field this year, they must be able to prove their age with an original birth certificate or an official copy issued by an authorized agency. If they don’t have one, they don’t get to play. State athletic bylaws permit foreign students to use a passport or official immigration card. Barron-Collier High School activity coordinator Joe Kemper says the district promises a good-faith effort to verify everyone.
“We want to make sure that we’re looking at the dates correctly and that we’re looking at authentic records. So to the best of our ability we’re going to ascertain the proper age of every child that represents our schools athletically.”
One Immokalee High School soccer player was 30 years old last year and another was 23. The school has since has had several district sports titles taken away and the principal received a reprimand.
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With just weeks until school starts, the Collier County school system released new guidelines Monday to prevent over-age students from playing sports. The district sent a letter to all high school athletes – requiring them to provide an original birth certificate or an official copy. If they don’t have one, they can’t take the field. The crackdown comes after several Immokalee High soccer and football players lied about their ages. Barron-Collier High School activity coordinator Joe Kemper says the new rules apply to everyone.
“In the past, I think some of the athletic departments have accepted copies of birth certificates. In order to stay in strict compliance with the letter of the law we’re now going to require a review of an original birth certificate or an authorized copy.”
Kemper says the district will use guidance office counselors to help translate foreign documents. He says administrators promise a good-faith effort to verify all student-athletes.
“We want to make sure that we’re looking at the dates correctly and that we’re looking at authentic records. So to the best of our ability we’re going to ascertain the proper age of every child that represents our schools athletically.”
One Immokalee High School soccer player was 30 years old last year and another was 23. The school has since has had several district sports titles taken away and the principal received a reprimand.
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With just weeks until school starts, the Collier County school system released new guidelines Monday to prevent over-age students from playing sports. The district sent a letter to all high school athletes – requiring them to provide an original birth certificate or an official copy. If they don’t have one, they can’t take the field. The crackdown comes after several Immokalee High soccer and football players lied about their ages. Barron-Collier High School activity coordinator Joe Kemper says the new rules apply to everyone.
“In the past, I think some of the athletic departments have accepted copies of birth certificates. In order to stay in strict compliance with the letter of the law we’re now going to require a review of an original birth certificate or an authorized copy.”
Kemper says the district will use guidance office counselors to help translate foreign documents. He says administrators promise a good-faith effort to verify all student-athletes.
Published in
WGCU News