Naval crews from some Caribbean and Latin American countries will soon do part of their training here in southwest Florida…thanks to a collaboration between the U-S Department of Defense, and the Lee County School District. The new program is called Operation Enduring Friendship. The Defense Department contracted with Naples Yacht, and ‘Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats of Cape Coral’ to build 8 interceptor ships. They’ll be used by the militaries of several Caribbean & Latin American countries to combat smuggling.
Lee Schools spokesman - Joe Donzelli – says once built, the vessels will need crews to maintain them…and that’s where the district comes in…

“We were approached because of the programs we have in place – specifically the facility at High Tech Central, which is located right here in Fort Myers. We were asked if we could provide the training component for this program…and we couldn’t jump at it quick enough.”

Donzelli says the new partnership comes with little cost to the district.
The first class gets underway in January with a crew from Panama. Another one from the Dominican Republic will follow after that.

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The Lee County School District’s High Tech Central will soon be home to a training program for naval crews from Latin American and Caribbean countries. The U-S Defense Department has tapped two local companies – Naples Yacht, and ‘Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats of Cape Coral’ –to build 8 military vessels.

District spokesman – Joe Donzelli – says they’ll provide the ships – and Lee County Schools will provide a place to teach their crews how to maintain them…

“As far as the military procedures that’ll all be done by the militaries of the respective countries. The training that’s going to be going on here is to make sure that those boats can operate so these individuals can do their job.”

Naples Yacht will hire specialized instructors…and pay for tools needed for the training.The first crew will come from Panama…and will get started in January. Next it’s the Dominican Republic and other countries after that.

GOP Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist stumped in Southwest Florida yesterday -- promising tax relief for homeowners if he wins in November. His challenger, Democrat Jim Davis, promises the same. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker reports.

A group of national experts is in Fort Myers Tuesday to hold a discussion about the sustainability of this nation’s food supply. They’re expected to touch on big topics like the globalization of food and also some simple things consumers can do to make a difference. Rick Clugston is executive director of Earth Charter U-S-A. He says Americans need to reexamine their food priorities.

“Part of it is, it’s a question of what’s a better way to get our food. What’s a better way to eat...something that makes us healthier, something that makes the planet healthier, something that makes a better life for animals, a better life for workers, a better life for rural communities.”

A group of national experts is in Fort Myers Tuesday to hold a discussion about the sustainability of this nation’s food supply. They’re expected to touch on big topics like the globalization of food and also some simple things consumers can do to make a difference. Rick Clugston is executive director of Earth Charter U-S-A. He says Americans need to reexamine their food priorities.

“Part of it is, it’s a question of what’s a better way to get our food. What’s a better way to eat...something that makes us healthier, something that makes the planet healthier, something that makes a better life for animals, a better life for workers, a better life for rural communities.”

A weeklong action dubbed “Operation Return to Sender” has resulted in the arrests of 163 illegal immigrants in Lee and Collier counties. The operation involved local sheriff’s departments and U-S Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or ICE. Operation “Return to sender” was aimed primarily at illegal immigrants who had ignored deportation orders and were on the lam. Twenty-six of the people detained had previously been convicted of violent crimes. Robert Weber of ICE was the special agent in charge.

“We have zero tolerance for these individuals who terrorize our community and we will use every law enforcement tool available to protect the law abiding citizens of our country”

The people arrested come from 11 different countries - primarily the Caribbean and Latin America. About sixty percent of the arrests happened in Collier County – with the rest in Lee. It’s estimated there are nearly a million illegal foreign nationals living in Florida.

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Sheriff’s deputies from Lee and Collier Counties joined forces last week with agents from U-S Immigration and Custom Enforcement to arrest illegal aliens. At a press conference Monday in Naples – they announced “Operation Return to Sender” netted 163 arrests. Twenty six had previously been convicted of violent crimes. And Collier Sheriff Don Hunter says illegals are having a big impact on crime in his county.

“We looked at our jail – we determined that on the average and in the main we’re running about 22 to 26 percent of our jail population is foreign nationals, illegally present, self admitted – illegally present in the united states.”

Furthermore Hunter says, out of 17 outstanding warrants for murder, at least 10 suspects are also foreign nationals. 84 of the people arrested were dubbed criminals by virtue of violating immigration laws. Operation “Return to Sender” was the largest number of arrests ever made by federal immigration authorities in Southwest Florida.

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Several beaches on Sanibel and Captiva remain closed because of an increase in bacteria. Lee County Health officials say the bacteria may have come from animal droppings and human waste carried to the Gulf of Mexico in storm water runoff. Advisories are posted saying the area is unsafe for swimmers. Health officials say the bacteria could cause skin infections, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau’s Nancy Hamilton says she’s not hearing many complaints.

“I’m sure some of our guests are disappointed. I know that hoteliers are sort of pointing out other options to people, which are move to some of the other beaches or of course most of the resorts have swimming pools and kids love to play in those too.”

Workers discovered the high levels during testing at Blind Pass
Beach on Captiva and Bowman's Beach and Tarpon Bay Park Beach on Sanibel. Poor conditions also exist at the Cape Coral Yacht Club and at Lynn Hall Park on Fort Myers Beach. Testing will be done again this week.

New real estate numbers are out for Southwest Florida and they show a continued slowdown. Another month and another steep drop in the number of homes sold. Home prices in August remained basically flat or a bit lower over the same period last year. But home sales keep plummeting: 45-percent fewer sales in Naples, 29-percent in Lee County and 30-percent in Charlotte. Florida Association of Realtors spokeswoman Marla Martin says that’s just a return to real estate normalcy.

“Historically, you know going back three or four years, what you’re seeing is not really what’s happening in terms of sales. It’s just a reaction to what was probably the best year yet. Last year, the peak year.”

The median home price in Naples last month dipped to 469-thousand dollars. Fort Myers/Cape Coral was 264-thousand. Punta Gorda checked-in at 210-thousand and Sarasota 310-thousand. The median is the price where half the homes sell above that amount and half below.

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Southwest Florida’s formally red-hot housing market continues to show signs of a slow-down. New sales numbers for August released today (yesterday) show home prices remaining flat or a little lower. But the biggest statistic is a steep decline in the number of homes sold. About one-third less in Lee and Charlotte Counties...and almost a 50-percent drop in Naples. Florida Association of Realtors spokeswoman Marla Martin says this is the slowdown economists had predicted and it’s no cause for concern.

“Sales pace is slowing down. It’s becoming a more normal market which is hard for people to remember because we’ve had five years of a very fast pace of sales. And that means that buyers and sellers are more into balance.”

Martin says buyers now have more time to examine prospective homes without fear of them selling so quickly. She also notes prices continue to come down and sellers are offering extra incentives for a quick sale.

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Katherine Harris brought her campaign to Punta Gorda yesterday, where she received a warm welcome from the local GOP. A barbershop quartet serenaded Katherine Harris who arrived at Gilchrist Park after most the crowd who had gathered to rally republican candidates had left. But those who remained enveloped the candidate with hugs and warm good wishes. Harris said her reception brought a tear to her – and that Charlotte County has always been special too her.

“There’s a lot of attention in campaigns, but this was very special it meant a lot to me, but Charlotte County means a lot to me. Charlotte County is where I began my political career and they embraced me, they taught me they listened to my terrible speeches when I was terrified to stand up in front of people. I love Charlotte County.”

Harris was first elected to the state senate in 1994 – representing a portion of Charlotte County. As for her rival incumbent Bill Nelson, Harris stump speech paints him as one of the most liberal democrats in the United States. Harris rounded out her day with a stop in Ft. Myers. Today she’s back in the stump in Lake Mary where she will talk to the Florida Chapter of Ronald Regan Republicans.
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Katherine Harris brought her campaign for the U.S. Senate to Southwest Florida yesterday with stops in Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers. Her stump speech was primarily directed at criticizing her Democratic rival Incumbent Bill Nelson – who Harris painted as one of the Senate’s most liberal members. Harris also criticized the Senate version of the immigration reform bill.

“I don’t support the house bill that makes felons of those that are here illegally.What we can do is provide them with a legal temporary secure identification. And that what’s we need to do – we need to make sure people are who they claim to be.”

Harris said she looks forward to working with Florida Senator Mel Martinez to craft a guest worker program that will assure that crops are harvested in the Sunshine State – but that the border remains secure.

Wal-Mart already has competition for its new generic drug discount program. Minneapolis-based Target will match the retail giant’s discounts on nearly 300 common generic drugs.
Starting last Friday consumers in the Tampa Bay area can get 30-day prescriptions of the drugs for just 4-dollars. Brad Ashwell with the Florida Public Interest Research Group calls it damage control for Wal-Mart, which tipped him off to the program several days before announcing it. But he says it’s still good news for consumers.

“I mean I still think the drug industry is really the worst of the two evils – they definitely need to reigned in. And if Wal-Mart can do it that would be great.”

Ashwell says Target’s discount matching is encouraging, too… because it could pressure Wal-Mart to extend the new program, and force other competitors to follow suit. Wal-Mart says it will offer the program across Florida in January – and nationwide after that.

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Consumer advocates say Target’s move to match Wal-Mart’s generic drug discount program comes as no surprise…but could help people even more in the long run. Both Wal-Mart AND Target now offer 1-month prescriptions on nearly 300 common generic drugs for just 4-dollars at their Tampa area stores. While many of the drugs are already available to those WITH insurance at the same price or less, the discounts will be an immediate help to the UN-insured.
Brad Ashwell with the Florida Public Interest Research Group says consumers might not feel the real benefit until later…

“They have a lot of buying power and if they and now Target can pressure the drug industry – and maybe even give the drug industry incentives to create more generics – that would be a great thing. It would lower the cost of drugs for millions of Americans, and it would lower the burdens on Medicaid and Medicare…and could have a really profound effect.”

Wal-Mart plans to offer the discount program statewide in January – and then eventually nationwide. Ashwell says Wal-Mart is still far from a model corporate citizen – especially when it comes to employee healthcare. And that Target’s response is simply about staying competitive, nothing more.