From WINK NEWS Campaign Central – WINK will carry the following debates live:
October 19, 2010 at 7:00
The Florida Senate Debate from Nova Southeastern University
October 20, 2010 at 7:00
The Florida Gubernatorial Debate from Nova Southeastern University
For more information on these debates: http://www.beforeyouvote.org/
Video from NBC-2
ESTERO —
Estero will have to wait to taste the beers of the world.
Area officials aren’t ready to allow stand-alone bars – and residents may not change their mind.
A land use change that could have paved the way for The World of Beer to open at Coconut Point mall by early next year – or even sooner – is a no-go after so many residents opposed it.
Now, stand-alone bars are banned in Estero, meaning the only ones allowed have to be tied to restaurants. The ban is included in Lee County’s comprehensive plan, which sets the rules for future growth and development.
At a meeting Monday of the Estero Community Planning Panel, most residents said they had no interest in lifting the ban, even if it was just for the World of Beer, a growing Florida franchise that sells more than 500 beers from around the globe.
Many residents felt that by allowing the bar to come to Estero, it would open up the door for others. Estero resident Nick Batos described a proposal to make a quick land use change as unfair.
While attracting new businesses to the community is important, he said economic development shouldn’t take precedence over the quality of life in Estero.
“People don’t want this,” he said.
Residents, he said, are crying out, “Not this time. Not here.”
Dan Dronkers, another Estero resident, complained that there was already too many accidents on the road without this kind of bar. He questioned whether World of Beer would really make a big difference to the mall’s owner, Simon Property Group.
“I don’t see Coconut Point going out of business,” he said. “They seem to be doing well economically.”
The Estero Community Planning Panel has been talking about the proposed rule change for a couple of months to allow World of Beer to come to Coconut Point. Representatives from the franchise and Simon Property Group sought the change.
There’s a comprehensive plan amendment proposed for the University Highlands development near Miromar Outlets, which is scheduled for adoption by Lee County commissioners on Oct. 18. The change to the rules for stand-alone bars in Estero could have been attached to that amendment. But the panel has dropped that idea and instead will wait to discuss any changes to its community plan at a meeting next month.
Al Moscato, representing the University Highlands development, said the developer didn’t want the change allowing some bars attached to its amendment. He said the developer had worked hard to get community support and didn’t plan to have a stand-alone bar as part of its mixed-used project.
The proposed change would have only allowed free-standing bars in developments of regional impact, or DRIs, with at least 400,000 square feet of approved commercial uses in Estero. It would have required that the bars be at least 500 feet from homes located outside the boundary of the DRI.
Mike Roeder, an attorney representing Simon Property Group, argued the decision on World of Beer was “time critical,” saying that if Amendment 4 passes in the upcoming election such a land use change would not be possible without a countywide vote.
Now, it can take 12 to 18 months to get a comprehensive plan amendment approved. Opponents of Amendment 4 say it could drag the approval out even longer.
Bill Parker, who lives in West Bay Club, stood up to say that at least some of the residents in his community would support lifting the ban on bars. A quick e-mail poll found 60 percent were opposed to it and 40 percent favored it.
One resident at West Bay Club complained that when her children come to visit they’re bored and have to drive to Fort Myers Beach, adding that “nightlife is what Estero needs,” as long as it’s controlled. Another resident plans to move to Naples because there is no entertainment, Parker said.
Jack Lienesch, chairman of the Estero Community Planning Panel, said he was flooded by e-mails in opposition of allowing any stand-alone bars.
More than 60 people came to the planning meeting. Usually, few residents attend the advisory group’s meetings.
Dan DeLisi, a member of the planning panel, wanted World of Beer to come to Coconut Point, but he understood the community’s concerns about making any quick decisions and how they might hurt the community in the future.
“World of Beer, it’s going to be tough for them to come,” he said. “It’s sad. I would have loved to have them here.”
Connect with Laura Layden at www.naplesnews.com/staff/laura_layden.
No beer buzz: Estero council flattens stand-alone bar proposal
Posted in Entertainment, Home, News
Tagged bars, children, entertainment, florida, miromar-outlets, News, planning, time, world
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is reporting the death of a Florida panther in Collier County.
FWC says the remains of a 3 year old female panther was found Friday on U.S. 41 near Monroe Station.? Officer say it appears the panther was hit by a vehicle.? The remains will be sent to a research lab in Gainesville for a necropy, then archived at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
FWC says this is the 15th panther death in Florida in 2010.? Twelve of those deaths have been the result of a vehicle collision.
Posted in News
Tagged been-the-result, death, female-panther, florida, florida-fish, florida-museum, gainesville, News, panther-death, remains, research-lab, result, then-archived
ESTERO, Fla.- Governor Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek still face an uphill battle against Republican Marco Rubio in the polls for the U.S. Senate race. Saturday, the Former Florida House Speaker brought his campaign to Southwest Florida.
A warm welcome for Republican Marco Rubio- Southwest Florida supporters packed an Estero restaurant to listen in on the candidate’s outlook on the Senate race.
“This election is literally a referendum on the our identity as a people, and our identity as a country,” Rubio said Saturday.
Rubio talked to the packed house about one of the toughest issues facing Florida and the nation: unemployment.
“Jobs and economic growth is created by everyday people, who start a business or expand an existing business. The job of government is to create an environment where people are encouraged to do that, where we make it easier for people to grow businesses, not harder,” Rubio said.
Some protestors also showed up for the rally, voicing their concerns on Rubio’s tough stance on U.S. border control. But supporters say Rubio has what it takes to tackle the tough issues.
“I’ve been laid off twice, so I know exactly where people are coming from. We need someone who will fight for us and fight hard,” Rubio-supporter Mary Gagnon said at the rally.
Rubio says that’s exactly what he plans to do.
“This election’s a pretty straight forward one. If you like the way things are going in Washington, I’m probably not your candidate. But if you want your next US Senator to be someone who will go to Washington, DC stand up to the direction their taking our country and offer an alternative, I’m the only one running who will do that,” Rubio told WINK News.
Marco Rubio will continue campaigning in Southwest Florida on Saturday. After the Estero event, his campaign planned a stop at the Fort Myers Gun Show at the Lee Civic Center.
Republican Marco Rubio makes campaign stop in Southwest Florida
Posted in Environment, News
Tagged campaign, democrat, estero, florida, house, house-speaker, News, polls, rubio-supporter, senator
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A new Florida law cracking down on ‘pill mills’ that dispense powerful prescription painkillers is being challenged in federal court.
A company operating pain clinics in South and central Florida, two doctors and a patient sued the state this week in Tallahassee.
They want a federal judge to block the law before it goes into effect Oct. 1.
The suit alleges the law is discriminatory because it bars patients from getting more than a three-day supply of drugs if they don’t have insurance and violates free speech rights by limiting clinic advertising.
Another claim is that various provisions are unconstitutionally vague.
A Department of Health spokeswoman had no immediate comment Friday.
Tagged alleges-the-law, bars-patients, because-it-bars, before-it-goes, department, florida, Health, Law
? TALLAHASSEE, Fla.? – Florida’s 1.6 million veterans can turn to a new job-hunting site in their search for a job.
????? Governor Charlie Crist and other state leaders have ?announced the creation of Employ Florida Vets.? The site provides easier access to job postings already on the state’s employment site and helps veterans find jobs that match the skills they learned in the military.
????? There’s also advice on how to write a resume and information about tax incentives for local businesses.
????? For more information visit: veterans.employflorida.com.
?
Posted in News
Tagged advice-on-how, creation, employ-florida, employment-site, florida, governor, job-postings, military, new-job-hunting, News, skills, state, state-leaders, veterans-find
Video from NBC-2
At least 600 roosters were seized earlier Tuesday at 17130 Kentara Way in Lee County, with two people in custody in the largest cockfighting ring in Lee County history – and possibly one of the biggest ever in Florida and the U.S.
Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Shelly said an eight-month-long investigation ended with the arrests and seizure.
Authorities were removing the birds from the house in rural Lee, south of State Road 82 near Lehigh Acres and a few miles east of Southwest Florida International Airport. They were filling up a large truck with hundreds of cages containing the roosters.
One neighbor said she saw her neighbors at the Kentara Way home come and go but never suspected anything.
“Nobody gets in anyone’s business,” said Linda Head, who lives across the street on Kentara. “That’s why you live out here.”
She also said she never heard any roosters or chickens. She said she heard her neighbors’ Chihuahuas and children but no birds.
The roosters’ owners voluntarily relinquished them to Lee County Domestic Animal Services.
Another 52 birds were seized at 1530 Apollo, Fort Myers.
Continue to follow this story at naplesnews.com.
POSTED EARLIER FROM NBC-2
Deputies have reportedly seized about 1,000 roosters in what authorities say is a large-scale cock-fighting ring.
There are two scenes, one on Apollo Drive near Ortiz Avenue in Fort Myers and one on Kentara Way, south of SR-82 near Lehigh Acres.
Deputies have also set up an area at the sheriff’s office to handle the roosters with the help of the ASPCA and Lee County Animal Control. There has been one arrest so far, but deputies have not identified that person yet.
VIDEO: More than 600 roosters seized in Lee cock-fighting bust, the largest in state history
Posted in News
Tagged apollo-drive, bonita_news, county, county-animal, florida, kentara, lehigh-acres, neighbors, News, seized-at-1530, street
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The early voting period for Florida’s primary election has ended.
Early voting locations closed in Lee County on Saturday afternoon.
A final tally shows well over 13,000 voters in Lee County showed up early to cast their ballot.
??? ?
Elections officials say the numbers show a significant uptick from years past.
“For the last gubernatorial, we had 6,000, and for the presidential primary, we had 8,000,” said Carol Meyer with the Lee Co. Elections Supervisor’s office.? “So it is encouraging.”
The regular primary election is Tuesday.? Polls will be open from 7am until 7pm.
Posted in News
Tagged carol-meyer, early-voting, florida, News, numbers, officials-say, regular-primary, saturday, shows-well, supervisor
LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Many Floridians are hoping to get a recently-approved benefits extension; but instead, they find themselves getting disconnected on the state’s unemployment hotline.
“It’s been about a week and I call every day and I cannot get through,” said Robert Reese.? He and his wife have been looking for work every day after they both lost their jobs in the past year. ?
His wife’s unemployment checks recently ran out, but they can’t get through to the state to get an extension.
“It says cannot take your call now because we have high call volume, try back later, and they end your call,” Reese said.
It’s not the first time the state hotline has been overwhelmed.? Cliff Gilman of Cape Coral ran into the same problem when he was laid off at the height of the construction industry decline in 2008.
“I just couldn’t get through, there would be too many calls going through,” Gilman said.
When his wife later lost her job too, he says they went online to apply for benefits.
“I think internet was the easiest, because they didn’t have the problem I had with the telephone,” Gilman said.
But Robert Reese says his internet messages aren’t getting a response right now either, with the high demand for the expanded benefits.? Now his family is running out of time.
“Things are getting really tight right now and I’m getting at the end of the rope,” Reese said.? “I don’t know where to go from here.”
In addition to the main claims hotline at 800-204-2418, the state of Florida also has these numbers for checking and filing unemployment claims: 866-778-7356 and 800-732-8204.? The state also operates Florida Unemployment Internet Direct Now at www.fluidnow.com and www.floridajobs.org.
Floridians getting disconnected on state unemployment hotline
Tagged construction, Family, florida, internet-direct, jobs, robert-reese, telephone, the-state, wife
Provided by Rick Scott for Governor
Florida gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott said people started suggesting he run for governor after hearing him speak out about how the federal government needed to stay out of health care.
“He was a fairly hands-on CEO,” said John Schilling, a former reimbursement supervisor in the Fort Myers division office. “He should have known being CEO of a multibillion-dollar company. He should have known what is on his balance sheet.”
“You’re over-lawyering this,” Nashville attorney Jerre Frazier recalled Scott telling him. “He’s an optimistic kind of guy. He doesn’t like bad news.”
NAPLES —
A whistleblower in the Columbia/HCA fraud case said Rick Scott should have known of billing practices at his hospitals that cheated the federal government out of millions of dollars.
“He was a fairly hands-on CEO,” said John Schilling, a former reimbursement supervisor in the Fort Myers division office. “He should have known being CEO of a multibillion-dollar company. He should have known what is on his balance sheet.”
A Nashville attorney brought in for his auditing acumen remembers talking to Scott about significant compliance problems.
“You’re over-lawyering this,” Jerre Frazier recalled Scott telling him. “He’s an optimistic kind of guy. He doesn’t like bad news.”
These former corporate insiders are bewildered by Scott’s candidacy for Florida governor, let alone his dramatic rise in the polls.
Voters are seemingly discounting Scott’s forced resignation in 1997 shortly after the FBI began widespread raids of Columbia/HCA offices. Ultimately, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the United States paid a record $1.7 billion in criminal and civil fines for Medicare fraud.
In television ads and on the campaign trail, Scott has repeatedly said he takes responsibility for what happened at the company and says he learned from it.
“Initially when I first saw he was running, I didn’t give him much chance,” said Schilling, 48, who has lived in Naples since 2001. “You can buy your way into the candidacy.”
Schilling didn’t know Scott also lives in Naples until he began research for his 2006 book, Undercover, detailing his life as an FBI informant in the case. The two have never run into each other in Naples.
“He’s putting on what people want to hear,” Schilling said of Scott’s candidacy. “People are always frustrated at inefficiency of government.”
Schilling was hired at the company’s Southwest Florida division offices in 1993 as a reimbursement manager. Six months into the job, he sensed something was wrong. A Medicare auditor had made an error that resulted in a $3 million gain at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte.
District executives conspired to keep the mistake under wraps and keep the ill-gotten gain. He soon found other record irregularities going back at least 10 years.
“I exposed a double set of books,” he said, adding that one set was inflated cost reports for the federal government and the second was for internal purposes.
“The second was stamped confidential and don’t show to Medicare auditors,” Schilling said. “We estimated alone in 10 years over a billion in overpayments to the chain.”
“I exposed a double set of books,” Schilling said, adding that one set was inflated cost reports for the federal government and the second was for internal purposes. “The second was stamped confidential and don’t show to Medicare auditors. We estimated alone in 10 years over a billion in overpayments to the chain.”
In time, Schilling joined forces with James Alderson, an accountant at a Montana hospital, in a whistleblower case against Columbia/HCA.
Scott’s way of doing business was to have his chief executive officers at regional offices play hardball with acquisitions of other hospitals, doctors’ practices and bottom-line profits.
“If you didn’t cut the mustard, you were let go, if you didn’t meet budget goals,” Schilling said. “That is the way Rick Scott ran the company. He gave goals on notecards. He created a culture that the individual pushed the limit. Bonuses were 50 percent or more of a salary.”
* * * * *
Frazier, the Nashville attorney brought in to troubleshoot compliance issues, recalls Scott as always polite and personable.
“He was not a tyrant,” said Frazier, who now lives in Houston. “He stood in line in the cafeteria.”
The same day he was ousted as CEO, Scott didn’t flee the corporate premises _ instead he shook hands with employees.
“There were three buildings and he went around and expressed his appreciation to people,” he said.
Scott’s downfall nonetheless was the corporate culture he created that went bad, Frazier said, explaining that hospital managers and division chiefs were relentless in meeting Scott’s mission of creating a unified health-care and hospital company.
“I did not see Rick Scott act in bad faith but what I did see is the corporate culture he presided over. I did not see Rick Scott to be inclined to do anything criminal,” he said.
Photo by TRISTAN SPINSKI
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Home of Rick Scott, Naples, Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Photo by Tristan Spinski
“I did not see Rick Scott act in bad faith but what I did see is the corporate culture he presided over. I did not see Rick Scott to be inclined to do anything criminal,” Frazier said.
Still, Frazier isn’t certain how aware Scott was of the consequences of the corporate culture he created.
“I’m not sure he understood how much his lieutenants twisted arms,” he said. “People did not report bad news to him.”
Television campaign commercials in Florida, aired by supporters of opponent
Bill McCollum, may be truthful that impoverished seniors and uninsured pregnant women who were unable to pay were turned away at Columbia/HCA hospitals. But he doesn’t believe that would have happened if Scott were on the scene.
“I don’t think Rick Scott would have left someone outside, I don’t think he would have left someone to die,” Frazier said. “That is not the right thing to do and I do think he would have said it was not the right thing.”
Still, bottom-line driven hospital managers with sights sets on their bonuses were more than likely to find ways to exclude services to the poor and uninsured.
“Turn people away? It may have been a little more extreme at HCA,” he said.
Schilling, the Southwest Florida whistleblower, said he’s certain those kinds of things happened at Columbia/HCA and other hospitals.
“What I did hear sometimes in the trenches, some cost-cutting measures did have impacts on the quality and nurses were stretched thin. Patient satisfaction (surveys) showed high results. Who is compiling those surveys and how valid are those? Was there an independent source?”
For certain, when the federal investigation went into overdrive, a mountain of lawyers was retained, Frazier said.
“Three law firms were hired, each undermining each other. There was sort of mass confusion,” he said. “The lawyers did have control over who had access to Rick Scott.”
“CEOs blanket themselves with attorneys,” Schilling said. “They dodge the bullet of not being questioned. He never gave any information or assisted in the investigation.”
Although Scott has stated that he takes responsibility, Schilling doesn’t think that should satisfy voters.
“I give him credit for taking responsibility for those things but again, he stated he wasn’t aware of the fraud,” Schilling said. “I find it somewhat ironic, here you have someone running a multibillion-dollar company and he is not aware of what is going on and yet he wants to be governor. Is he going to not be aware of what is going on in state government? I just wouldn’t trust him.
“It must be an ego thing,” he added, about his theory of why Scott is running for governor. “He must need the ego of being in charge. I don’t know. It’s not for the money so it’s got to be for the ego.”
MORE DAILY NEWS COVERAGE ON RICK SCOTT
? Church co-founded, led by Rick Scott gives aid to Immokalee’s farmworkers
? Rick Scott left Presbyterian church to help found Naples Community Church
? Rick Scott for governor of Florida catches on with out-of-state donors
? PHOTOS: Rick Scott discusses Arizona immigration law in Naples
? Finance report: Scott loaned his campaign $22.9M and has spent nearly as much
? Click here for related story: For the record, do Rick Scott and Bill McCollum vote themselves?
? Click here for related story: POLL: McCollum campaigns on GOP opponent Rick Scott’s turf
? Click here for related story: Judge: McCollum can get funds to match Rick Scott
? Click here for related story: Dodgeball: Rick Scott, Bill McCollum debate about debate dates
? Click here for a Q&A with the Daily News and Rick Scott
_ Connect with reporter Liz Freeman at www.naplesnews.com/staff/liz_freeman
POLL: Columbia/HCA whistleblowers stunned Rick Scott is atop Florida governor polls
