Recent heavy rains have caused flooding on some Southwest Florida roadways. That has authorities warning about driving and using well-water in flooded areas. State Road 31 near the Charlotte/Lee County line is underwater. Glades County is still dealing with flooded roads and now officials are warning about flooding in Collier’s Golden Gate Estates. Many roads in that rural area are up to one foot under water. And homeowners like Marci Hofman are panicking as their property floods.

“We’ve got waterfront property. My main concern is because I have horses and I’m worried about them because we only have one spot that’s dry to feed them. And like I say our feed box, which is quite big, just floated by.”

Collier Emergency management spokeswoman Jaime Sarbaugh says authorities are doing what they can to drain the water.

“Some people have water in the swales in front of their homes and things like that. The canals are pretty high right now but we’ve been told by water management and south Florida water management district that their weirs are open and they are working to move that water.”

Motorists shouldn’t drive on roads that are underwater. Also, water can be contaminated from flooded septic tanks, backed-up sewers, animal feces or may contain hidden sharp objects.
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Flooding is so bad in Collier County’s Golden Gate Estates, some livestock owners are searching for dry land to house their horses. Marci Hofman is one of those folks. She says there is knee-high and higher water around her property and she says the water is still flowing. Hofman says this is the worst it’s ever been during her two years in the area.

“We’ve never had flooding. Oh we’d have a puddle here, a puddle there but not to the point I have to worry about my animals. And I walked out the front door and by the front door, because everything else is flooded around, I got snakes crawling all over. Our septic tank is in front of the house where we had to put the horses because it was the only place that was high enough so that we could feed them atleast.”

The Collier County Health Department advises residents with private wells to take precautions if their well head has been covered with standing water. A flooded well head means your water may contain disease-causing organisms and may not be safe to drink, according to Collier emergency management spokeswoman Jaime Sarbaugh.

“That water can be contaminated because of the flooding. They will be notified when the boil water has gone away. They need to wait until after the water recedes and they can test their water.”

Until flooding subsides residents should boil their water for one minute, disinfect it with 8 drops of plain bleach per gallon or use bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and washing areas of skin that have been cut or injured.
AFTER the standing water subsides, residents should disinfect their wells.

Republican Charlie Crist faces Democrat Jim Davis in November to become Florida’s next governor.

In the race for Florida Attorney General Skip Campbell faces Bill McCollum in November.

In the race for Chief Financial Officer Republican Tom Lee faces Democrat Alex Sink in November.


In State Legislative Races that cover Southwest Florida:

In State House District 69 Laura Benson wins.

State House District 73 Republicans John Albion and Nick Thompson each got nearly 50% of the vote. A run-off or recount will be decided on Monday 9/11/06. The winner takes on Democrat Pete Burkert in the general election.

Republican Michael Grant won State House District 71.

In State House District 70 Democrat David Shapiro faces
Doug Holder in November.

In House district 77 Republican Incumbent Denise Grimesley faces Democratic challenger Thomas Zane in the general election.

House district 76 has Incumbent Dudley Goodlette term limited out. In the General Election Republican Garrett Richter faces Ken McPherson with the Constitutional Party.


There are 7 circuit judge races:
In group 9 Circuit Judge Meg Steinbeck won re-election.
In group 28 Naples attorney Beth VanArsdale Krier won.
In group 26 Fort Myers attorney Joe Simpson won.
In group 14 Former State Representative Bruce Kyle won.
In group 31 Fort Myers attorney Keith Kyle won.

Two races will run off in November –
In group 29 Lynne Dailey faces Miguel Fernandez
In group 30 Frank Mann Junior faces Liz Adams.


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In Lee County:

Republicans Frank Mann won John Albion’s former Lee County commission district 5 seat.

The Lee County commission district 4 seat has Republican incumbent Tammy Hall re-elected.

Brian Bigelow beat incumbent Doug St. Cerny in District 2.

In the Lee County judgeship race Diane Dramko and Tara Paluck face off in November.


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In Charlotte County:

Charlotte County Commission seat for district 2 has incumbent Republican Adam Cummings re-elected.

In Charlotte commission district 4 Matt DeBoer is leaving office.
Republicans Richard Loftus takes his place.

For Charlotte County judge Paul Alessandroni takes the bench in January.
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In Collier County:

Collier County Commission District 4 has incumbent Frank Halas facing Michael Lissack in November.

For County Judge Mike Carr appears to have won.

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In Sarasota County:

Commissioner District 2 Joe Barbetta was elected.


In Glades County: (results unknown)

In Glades county voters will be asked if they want to levy a one cent sales surtax to fund infrastructure and public utilities.

Glades voters will also be asked if they want to grant property tax exemptions to new and expanding businesses.

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In Congress:

In District 13 – the race for outgoing U.S. Representative Katherine Harris’s seat Republicans Vern Buchanan faces Democrat
Christine Jennings in November.

In District 14 – Connie Mack faces Robert Neeld in the general election.

In the U.S. Senate Katherine Harris faces Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson in the General Election.

In District 16 Incumbent Republican Mark Foley faces Democrat
Challenger Tim Mahoney and Emmie Ross – with No Party Affiliation in the General Election in November.

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Lee Memorial Health Systems Board of Directors voted Thursday to buy Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center and Gulf Coast Hospital from H-C-A. Board Chair Linda Brown says the 250-million-dollar purchase will benefit Southwest Floridians by improving the quality of health care and keeping costs down. The acquisition gives Lee Memorial a virtual monopoly on hospital care in the county. But Smith says in the health-care industry competition DOES NOT necessarily benefit consumers.

“ It does in most areas but in health care it’s proven to increase the cost the cost of health care because when each hospital buys the same piece of equipment to be competitive and that equipment costs millions of dollars its not more affordable – its more expensive. that equipment then has to be paid for by charging patients.”

The purchase will be finalized by the end of October. Lee Memorial will extend job offers to all employees at Southwest Florida Regional and Gulf Coast.

A new survey finds Floridians aren’t all that confident about the state’s economy. The University of Florida monthly consumer confidence report fell in August to its lowest level in more than 13 years. U-F Economist and Survey Research Director Chris McCarty cites soaring energy costs, stock market swings and most notably: a housing slowdown.

“A lot of people like with the dot-coms really did not believe that there could be a downturn in housing and I think what we’re now seeing is obviously that does happen and has happened before. I think there’s cause for concern in some markets that are overvalued.”

McCarty singles out Naples, specifically. He says real estate investors bid up that housing market to unsustainable levels. When consumer confidence is low, people don’t spend as much money. McCarty has also predicted this sagging of consumer confidence for several months and was surprised it didn’t show up sooner.
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University of Florida economists say consumer confidence in the state has dipped to its lowest level in more than a dozen years. The August survey found the decline was broad-based. People cited concerns over high energy costs, uncertainty over the national economy and a housing slowdown. U-F Survey Research Director Chris McCarty says the decline in consumer confidence was most pronounced in people younger than 60. He says that’s not surprising because those are the people who had been using their homes as cash machines.

“They would be more in the market to be selling their homes. And that’s where we’re really seeing an impact. There’s been an incredible increase in the inventory of homes. They’re just not moving nearly as fast as they have been over the last several years.”

McCarty expects Florida’s housing market to remain unsettled for the rest of this year and into the early part of 2007. And he expects coastal communities will continue to see further housing slowdowns beyond that.

Tropical Storm Ernesto is history in Southwest Florida, but rainfall associated with system is still causing problems in Glades County. Precipitation flooded homes in the community of Palmdale. Area residents are advised to evacuate. The Muse Community Center has opened as a shelter. Angie Osceola is Glades County’s Director of Emergency Operations.

“Most of it is a lot of low lying areas and the rain we’ve gotten before this storm came along and the water is running but got no where to run to”

Fisheating Creek is also overflowing its banks and is expected to crest on Sunday. Palmdale is hamlet of about 300 people in Glades County. About 30 homes have been flooded. Floodwaters could rise through the weekend. Some roadways are also underwater. People are asked to avoid flooded roads and areas.

The top Florida official of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday the agency needs to do a better job keeping residents informed. The Corps has come under fire for its past Lake Okeechobee water releases and its efforts to restore the Everglades. Colonel Paul Grosskruger has just signed on for a three-year stint to head the Army Corp’s Florida division. He takes over amid worries that Lake Okeechobee’s aging dike could collapse, environmental concerns about freshwater releases out of the lake and striking a balance between growth and conservation. Speaking on Gulf Coast Live, Grosskruger said he plans to have an open dialog with all involved.

“I think we need to move forward and ensure that we together with a team and communicate effectively. I think communication is two ways. We need to hear what’s being said and we need to listen and we need to communicate what is being decided upon.”

Grosskruger says the Army Corps plans to hold a series of meetings next month to discuss their Lake Okeechobee water release schedules. Many residents, government leaders and environmentalists say those releases have fouled the Caloosahatchee River and its estuary.

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The U-S Army Corps of Engineers plans to hold a series of meetings next month on their Lake Okeechobee water release schedules. In past years, the Corps has sent lake water down the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers to ease pressure on the lake’s dike. Those releases of nutrient-rich water have led to environmental problems. Colonel Paul Grosskruger is the new Florida commander of the Corps. He says so far this year, they haven’t released any lake water to the west.

“We want to manage it at a smart level that addresses any fluctuations that we may have with a wet year and coupled with that, we also want to have it at a level that precludes from having water supplies in a dry year.”

Grosskruger made the comments on W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live. He says he’s already met with Sanibel’s mayor to discuss the release schedule and soon the Corps will hold public hearings to listen to residents’ concerns.

The top Florida official of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday the agency needs to do a better job keeping residents informed. The Corps has come under fire for its past Lake Okeechobee water releases and its efforts to restore the Everglades. Colonel Paul Grosskruger has just signed on for a three-year stint to head the Army Corp’s Florida division. He takes over amid worries that Lake Okeechobee’s aging dike could collapse, environmental concerns about freshwater releases out of the lake and striking a balance between growth and conservation. Speaking on Gulf Coast Live, Grosskruger said he plans to have an open dialog with all involved.

“I think we need to move forward and ensure that we together with a team and communicate effectively. I think communication is two ways. We need to hear what’s being said and we need to listen and we need to communicate what is being decided upon.”

Grosskruger says the Army Corps plans to hold a series of meetings next month to discuss their Lake Okeechobee water release schedules. Many residents, government leaders and environmentalists say those releases have fouled the Caloosahatchee River and its estuary.

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The U-S Army Corps of Engineers plans to hold a series of meetings next month on their Lake Okeechobee water release schedules. In past years, the Corps has sent lake water down the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers to ease pressure on the lake’s dike. Those releases of nutrient-rich water have led to environmental problems. Colonel Paul Grosskruger is the new Florida commander of the Corps. He says so far this year, they haven’t released any lake water to the west.

“We want to manage it at a smart level that addresses any fluctuations that we may have with a wet year and coupled with that, we also want to have it at a level that precludes from having water supplies in a dry year.”

Grosskruger made the comments on W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live. He says he’s already met with Sanibel’s mayor to discuss the release schedule and soon the Corps will hold public hearings to listen to residents’ concerns.

Tropical Storm Ernesto dumped plenty of rain on Florida as it moved across the state earlier this week. It didn’t do much widespread damage, other than knocking down a few trees and flooding some streets. That was a relief to federal and state emergency authorities who were on standby in case the storm intensified.

Federal response to hurricanes is the subject of an investigative documentary that airs tonight at 9-30 on WGCU-Television. For 15 months, a team of reporters and editors at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale detailed FEMA’s handling of the 2004 hurricane season. What they found was that the agency wouldn’t be ready to handle a major disaster. Something that became apparent after Hurricane Katrina last year.

Joe Demma is the Sun-Sentinel’s investigations editor. He tells
W-G-C-U’s Russell Lewis that FEMA awarded more than a half-BILLION dollars after the 2004 season to people who had little or no hardship.