102-year-old celebrates birthday at the gym By Nicole Papageorge Story Created: Mar 11, 2010 at 10:51 AM EST Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 10:51 AM EST EAST NAPLES – This is no ordinary day. This is Francis Smith’s 102nd birthday and he’s celebrating, at his gym. Smith works-out at Planet Fitness on Tamiami Trail East three times a week. “The chance to get out and move around,” says Smith. Although Smith credits the gym with some of his longevity he says living in Southwest Florida helps too. “We don’t have to shovel snow down here and we have really nine months where we can move around comfortably,” says Smith. The whole party was a surprise put on by what he calls his second family. “I think it is a marvelous gesture of kindness,” says Smith. Smith has three sons, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Planet Fitness also gave him another birthday present, lifetime passes for him and his wife. Next article “Operation Winter Snow” gets drug dealers off SWFL streets
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“Operation Winter Snow” gets drug dealers off SWFL streets By WINK News Story Created: Mar 11, 2010 at 8:41 AM EST Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 8:41 AM EST Right now officers with Fort Myers Police Department, Cape Coral Police Department, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are wrapping up a joint 6-month drug investigation. The operation is dubbed “Operation Winter Snow” and is aimed at getting cocaine and other drugs off the streets of Lee County. A mobile command post is set up along McGregor Boulevard and Victoria in Fort Myers so that officers can quickly arrest alleged drug offenders. As of 8:40 a.m. already 8 people had been arrested. Next article Economy may drive gas prices up
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Economy may drive gas prices up By WINK News Story Created: Mar 11, 2010 at 6:35 AM EST Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 6:35 AM EST Americans haven’t see three-dollar gas since before the recession started… but that may change by Memorial Day. Gas prices typically climb as summer approaches and this year’s… no different. Gas rose about a dime over the last two weeks to a national average of two seventy-three a gallon that’s almost 80 cents more than a year ago. And analysts predict the average could hit three dollars a gallon by next month. But it’s the shaky economy that may keep many Americans OFF the road. So is this spring time surge a preview of what’s to come? While some analysts say gas could reach three twenty-five a gallon by July… prices are expected to fall again as summer winds down. Previous article “Operation Winter Snow” gets drug dealers off SWFL streets Next article Foreclosures up in SWFL 31% from last month
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Foreclosures up in SWFL 31% from last month By WINK News By Associated Press Story Created: Mar 11, 2010 at 5:36 AM EST Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 5:36 AM EST WASHINGTON (AP) – The foreclosure crisis isn’t over, but the pace of growth may finally be slowing down. RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday that the number of U.S. households facing foreclosure in February grew 6 percent from the year-ago level, the smallest annual increase in four years. More than 308,000 households, or one in every 418 homes, received a foreclosure-related notice, the Irvine, Calif.-based foreclosure listings company reported. That was down more than 2 percent from January Still, fears remain about the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who are still being evaluated for help under loan modification programs. Many analysts say most of those borrowers will eventually lose their homes, sparking a new round of foreclosures later this year. “It’s premature to declare victory just yet,” said Rick Sharga, a RealtyTrac senior vice president for RealtyTrac. He did, however, allow that, “If this is the beginning of a slowdown in growth rates, that would be a good thing.” Banks repossessed nearly 79,000 homes last month, down 10 percent from January but still up 6 percent from February 2009. The RealtyTrac report follows an encouraging report last month from the Mortgage Bankers Association. It said the percentage of borrowers who had missed just one payment on their home loans fell to 3.6 percent in the October to December quarter, down from 3.8 percent in the third quarter. While that was a surprising piece of positive news, foreclosures were still at record high levels. The number of borrowers who have either missed a payment or are in foreclosure was at 15 percent. A record 2.8 million households were threatened with foreclosure last year, RealtyTrac said, and the number is expected to rise to more than 3 million homes this year. The foreclosure crisis forced the federal government and several states to come up with plans to prolong the process so delinquent borrowers can try to find help. But those efforts have barely dented the problem. Case in point: The Obama administration’s $75 billion foreclosure prevention program has helped only 116,300 homeowners in the past year. Foreclosed homes are typically sold at steep discounts, lowering the value of surrounding properties. Cities lose property tax dollars from homes that sit empty and lower property values. Economic woes, such as unemployment or reduced income, are expected to be the main catalysts for foreclosures this year. Initially, lax lending standards were the culprit, but homeowners with good credit who took out conventional, fixed-rate loans are the fastest growing group of foreclosures. Among states, Nevada posted the nation’s highest foreclosure rate, though foreclosures there were down 7 percent from January and down more than 30 percent from a year earlier. It was followed by Arizona, Florida, California and Michigan. Rounding out the top 10 were Utah, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia and Maryland. The metro area with the highest foreclosure rate in February was Las Vegas. Though one in every 90 homes there received a foreclosure filing, foreclosures were down 9 percent from a month earlier. Foreclosures in the No. 2. metropolitan area, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area in Florida, were up 31 percent from a month earlier. Also topping the list of foreclosure hot spots were the California metro areas of Modesto, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario and Stockton. Next article Stomach virus spreads quickly in Southwest Florida
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Stomach virus spreads quickly in Southwest Florida By WINK News Story Created: Mar 11, 2010 at 1:32 AM EST Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 1:32 AM EST FORT MYERS, FL – Florida is seeing a big increase in the number of people getting sick from Norovirus. It’s a highly infectious bug that causes vomiting, fever and serious stomach pains. Just ask Matt Palmateer. The normally active 31 year old believes the virus kept him running between his bedroom and bathroom for two days. “I woke up and I immediately had to vomit,” said Palmateer. “It felt like I got hit with a truck.” This was no truck; Palmateer was likely hit by the Norovirus. The illness is quickly making its way through Southwest Florida. Epidemiologist Dr. Robert South says symptoms usually last between 24 to 72 hours. “It gives you nausea, vomiting and explosive diarrhea.” The Florida State Health Department has seen a 50 percent increase in the number of cases. South says the Norovirus spreads quickly because it’s actually more contagious than many other illnesses. Germs can hide on phones, computer keyboards, door knobs, and — as gross as it sounds — in the smell of an infected person’s vomit. “If you smell the vomitous odor, you’ve probably picked enough particles to make you ill,” said South. Close contact means the illness is a particular threat to schools. Across the state, clusters of students have gotten sick. In Southwest Florida, the problem is in nursing homes. Seventeen facilities have reported outbreaks and four have temporarily stopped accepting new patients until the Norovirus passes. The best way to keep yourself healthy? “Wash your hands,” says Dr. South. “It’s the number one thing you can do to stop 90 percent of illnesses. Next article Tickets for texting in Florida?
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Unemployment up sharply, Governor Crist seeks to create jobs By WINK News Story Created: Mar 10, 2010 at 8:46 PM EST Story Updated: Mar 10, 2010 at 10:21 PM EST FORT MYERS, Fla. – Getting Floridians back to work brought Governor Charlie Crist to Fort Myers on Wednesday. Crist made a series of stops across the state for a ceremonial signing of a bill that postpones payment of unemployment compensation taxes. His visit came the same day that staggering new unemployment numbers were announced for the state: 11.9% statewide in January 2010. The jobless rate was even higher in Lee County, at 14.1% (up from 13.4% in December); 13.8% in Charlotte County, and 12.7% in Collier County. But Crist says businesses can afford to hire again, after Florida lawmakers unanimously agreed to wait two years to increase the unemployment tax. “To save 474,000 businesses over a billion dollars in money they’d be paying in taxes, affecting 6.1 million people, that’s a great first step,” Crist said. Critics say it delays a big problem, but many of the unemployed in southwest Florida say they just want to work. “We were hiring up until September and all of a sudden the bottom fell out,” said Jeremiah Corbitt, out of work for the last six months after being cut from a job in the construction industry. On top of the difficulty in finding work, now he’s also facing with problems with his unemployment claims. “I’m caught in this system where everything in the future is just a big question mark,” Corbitt said. Corbitt is one of the nearly 70,000 people unemployed in Southwest Florida in the latest numbers that run through January, after holiday jobs ran out. Companies in health and hospitality have been hiring since, but career advisors say its not enough. “A lot of those numbers don’t make a dent in the unemployment rate because so many people are affected,” said Barbara Hartman with the Fort Myers office of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The delay in the unemployment tax only lasts until 2012, when the planned increase will kick in. Crist says the state is also accepting $200 million new federal dollars to create up to 25,000 additional jobs. He says he’s also like to see additional cuts to help Floridians. “I’m advocating another $100 million dollar tax cut this year and a reduction in the corporate income tax in Florida, but also the back-to-school sales tax holiday, to reignite that so when families are going back to school for their children, they have chance to get the necessities they need without paying any taxes at all,” Crist said. “All of these things will add up.” Crist’s chief rival for the GOP Senate nomination, former House Speaker Marco Rubio, says the high unemployment numbers only show that Crist’s policies and support of the federal stimulus failed. Many of the unemployed, like Jeremiah Corbitt, are willing to take any job, just to get a paycheck again. “Anything right now, its all about survival right now. It’s all about dropping the pride, getting the bills paid,” Corbitt said. Previous article Punta Gorda 9-1-1 Investigation Next article Community comes together to help San Carlos little league
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Community comes together to help San Carlos little league By WINK News Story Created: Mar 10, 2010 at 7:55 PM EST Story Updated: Mar 10, 2010 at 7:55 PM EST Thousands of dollars in cash, food and medical supplies are stolen from a San Carlos little league snack bar. It’s just more bad luck for a league that had seven thousand dollars stolen two years ago. Fourteen year old pitcher, Jessica Palmer couldn’t believe it when she heard the money she raised for San Carlos little league – had been stolen! Monday morning a park worker discovered the shutter of the concession stand at Three Oaks Community Park was pried open. A cash register and a safe containing thousands of dollars was stolen. Also taken, thousands of dollars worth of food. Coach Mike Mugavero says, “I was shocked and dissapointed. Who could possibly do this?!” THe money was supposed to go towards players uniforms and equipment. Vice President Lisa Holton says, “It took them a month. Thirty one teams to raise that much money.” After hearing the little leaguers were looted, people are coming out of the wood work to help. Holton says, “It’s been a wild twenty four hours.” League officials say that a local radio station held a benefit for the team while Wednesday morning. People haven’t stopped donating since. That means Jessica can do what she loves most- play ball. “I really like softball.” Previous article Unemployment up sharply, Governor Crist seeks to create jobs Next article Cones removed, beach-goers return
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Tickets for texting in Florida? Legislature quickly moving bill to banning text By Renee Stoll Story Created: Mar 10, 2010 at 10:55 PM EST Story Updated: Mar 10, 2010 at 10:55 PM EST FLORIDA – Whether you’re typing out a text or just reading one, Florida law makers are moving quickly to pass a bill that will make it illegal, and so far it’s getting the green light. If the bill passes you’re first offense would be a non-moving violation with a $30 fine plus court costs. Second offense in five years and the fine doubles to $60 plus court costs. If you’re texting causes a crash, you’re looking at six points on your license. The goal is to cut down on lane weaving, but the problem may lie in enforcing this bill if it passes. Reading and writing texts would be considered a secondary offense, which means police would need another reason before they could pull you over and write a ticket for the text. The new bill doesn’t have anything against being parked while reading and writing texts. And, there are exceptions. Those would be for police, firefighters and other emergency rescue workers. Plus, anyone using text to report and emergency or crime would be excused. Next article Punta Gorda 9-1-1 Investigation
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Punta Gorda 9-1-1 Investigation A 9-1-1 operator delays dispatch of an ambulance. By WINK News Story Created: Mar 10, 2010 at 9:05 PM EST Story Updated: Mar 10, 2010 at 10:43 PM EST PUNTA GORDA, Fl – Punta Gorda police are investigating why there was a 14 minute delay in the dispatch of an ambulance after a 9-1-1 call from a senior living facility. Investigators say 91 year old Josephine Henry was in full cardiac arrest. Minutes after the 9-1-1 call came in, police and fire officials, including paramedics were on scene. But it took an additional 14 minutes for the ambulance to be dispatched. Josephine Henry died. Punta Gorda’s chief of police wants to know if the delay played a role in the woman’s death and why the lapse happened in the first place. Results from the chief’s investigation are expected later this week. Stay tuned to WINK News for the latest. Previous article Tickets for texting in Florida? Next article Unemployment up sharply, Governor Crist seeks to create jobs
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Government blames high gas prices on increasing unemployment; Fort Myers oil company blames government By Christina Hernandez, WINK News Story Created: Mar 10, 2010 at 4:07 PM EST Story Updated: Mar 10, 2010 at 6:42 PM EST LEE COUNTY, Fla. – It’s your money and gas prices are slowly inching toward three dollars a gallon. Right now, you’re paying about 83 cents a gallon more than you were at this time last year – and experts predict that number will keep rising. Some people say we’re paying about twice as much as we should. The government is blaming high gas prices on unemployment, but a local oil company is blaming the government. Filling up on gas is never fun…especially when the prices on signs continue to grow. “I’m usually spending about 60 dollars a week on gas.” Robert Rodriguez isn’t looking forward to paying more either. “I spend like 10 bucks a day just to go from Bonita Springs to Coronado High School. 10 bucks a day is a lot of money just to go to school.” According to USA Today, the cost of fuel is increasing because unemployment is increasing, so people aren’t driving like they used to… but Patrick Eakins, Vice President of Edison Oil Company, said that doesn’t make sense. “When demand is low and supply is high – prices go down, and that’s what happening right now.” But the prices keep going up. Instead of the unemployed, Eakins blames big businesses. “…who have leased super tankers and are buying both crude and refined product and storing it – manipulating the market up and then dumping it onto the market. Then you have commodity traders who are trading nothing but paper and not ever taking any kind of possession of the product itself.” He said the supply may appear to be low – but it’s all an illusion. His advice to lawmakers: “Limit trades so that we have real trading and not the speculative trading that creates all of the havoc.” Havoc – costing you at the pump. “They’re stock hoarding it just in case.” Experts said this trend should last until the 4th of July. Previous article City declares impasse in negotiations with FMPD Next article Man Dead after Barricaded Inside Home
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