Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from November 1997, page 9

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from November 1997

DRIVER SENTENCED TO PRISON, PROBATION; JAMES LEE PORTER OF ENGLEWOOD MUST ALSO PAY RESTITUTION TO THE TWO MEN INJURED IN THE JUNE 1995 ACCIDENT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Patricia Walsh STAFF WRITER Casey Triplett of Port Charlotte lost his left leg and partial use of his left arm because he crossed paths with a drunken driver. He was in the Charlotte County courthouse on Thursday to see that...

RESIDENT PLACED ON PREDATOR LIST.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... A Bradenton man convicted of a sexual battery charge has been placed on a statewide registered sexual predator list. John Francis Clayton, 33, 1400 block 14th St. W., is one of 500 registered sexual predators in the state. People placed...

FREE FORUM TONIGHT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Families seeking legal advice about naturalization, veterans' benefits and other issues may attend a free forum tonight in the Full Service Family Center at Harllee Middle School, 6423 Ninth St. E., Bradenton. At 7 p.m., Manatee County's...

SKATING ARENA PLANS ADVANCE; AN ADVISORY BOARD VOTES 6-0 TO RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE THE PROPOSAL.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Dale White STAFF WRITER A Manatee County advisory board OK'd plans Thursday for a domed ice-skating arena behind an outlet mall in Ellenton. If J.P. Igloo Skating Inc. gets the consent of the county commissioners,...

RESIDENTS CITE CONCERNS ABOUT REZONING; THEY SAY A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD OVERLOAD THE STREETS AND JEOPARDIZE WILDLIFE.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Stephen G. Reed STAFF WRITER Residents of Sorrento East argued Thursday against a proposed rezoning that would allow construction of 190 homes adjacent to their neighborhood. They told the Sarasota County Planning Commission...

BRADENTON COUPLE WIN HAWAII TRIP ON TV SHOW.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: John DeSantis STAFF WRITER Mary Castellina was annoyed when her telephone rang Thursday morning. She was, after all, waiting to find out who won a free trip to Hawaii on the Regis and Kathy Lee show. "Isn't that...

SHOPS, THEATER ON ONECO LAND GAIN INITIAL OK; THE PLANNING BOARD OKS THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF U.S. 301 AND STATE ROAD 70.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Dale White STAFF WRITER A shopping complex with a 15-screen movie theater might be built at the site of the historic Reasoner's Nursery in Oneco. On Thursday, Manatee County's planning commissioners voted 5-1 in favor of...

CARE CENTER GETS ZONING BREAK; THE ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITY ON AVENIDA DE CIRCO WILL NOT BE FORCED INTO COMPLIANCE.(A SECTION)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Greg Retsinas STAFF WRITER For the second time this year, a former Venice building inspector is being blamed for incorrect building plans, but in this case, the property owner is not being forced to pay for the error. Unlike...

STUDENT FAILS TRAINING EXERCISE; PLANE CRASHES AT FLIGHT SCHOOL.(A SECTION)
November 21, 1997... Byline: David Green STAFF WRITER An 18-year-old flight student from Tunisia crash-landed her plane during a training exercise Thursday in rural Charlotte County. The plane flipped over and came to rest upside-down, but the pilot suffered...

MOM WHO ABUSED CHILDREN RECEIVES 5 YEARS' PROBATION; DEBRA DOTTS WILL SERVE HER SENTENCE IN HER HOME STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: John DeSantis STAFF WRITER A Bradenton woman convicted of abusing her two young children pleaded no contest to the remaining charges against her Thursday, drawing a sentence of five years probation that will be served in...

FARMER NAMED 57TH MEMBER OF HALL OF FAME.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: STAFF REPORTS The late Tom Reeder, founder of Reeder Farms, was inducted into the Manatee County Agriculture Hall of Fame on Thursday. He is the 57th person named to the hall. The son of a Baptist minister, Reeder was...

DROWNING VICTIM FEARED FOR HIS LIFE; ALFRED GLOOR REPORTEDLY HAD PLANNED TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE, WHO IS CHARGED WITH MURDER.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Laura Higgins STAFF WRITER In the weeks before Alfred Gloor mysteriously drowned in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the wealthy retiree confided to a friend that he feared for his life. He had growing suspicions about the...

MISSION HARBOR BUY CLOSE TO DONE DEAL.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... The purchase of Mission Harbor is inching along. On Thursday the Wynnton Group approved some minor changes to the agreement that the Sarasota City Commission made late Wednesday night. All that remains is for the principals to sign the...

CHURCHES TO WRAP GIFTS AGAIN FOR FREE.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Sarasota's Fellowship of Believers for a third year is offering free holiday gift-wrapping at Sarasota Square Mall, starting Saturday. Volunteers from Grace Baptist and Palm Grove Mennonite churches of Sarasota and Manasota Christian...

BOOKS NEEDED.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... The police officers on the city's Community Resource Team are collecting books for the children of the Cohen Way housing projects. Sarasota police officers Kenny Castro and Robert Mocase recently started patrolling the apartment buildings...

UNBELTED DRIVERS TO BE TICKETED.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Starting today, Highway Patrol officers are no longer giving warnings to motorists who aren't wearing seat belts. They'll be slapped with fines for failing to buckle up. "If they are ever stopped by a state trooper and are not properly...

POLICE ARREST MURDER SUSPECT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Kellie McMaster STAFF WRITER Police say 19-year-old Steve Gibbs was murdered because he had no money and no drugs to offer his killer. On Thursday, police arrested the 20-year-old man they say pulled the trigger. Marvin...

MUSEUM ADVOCATES WANT TO RENOVATE CITY BUILDING;.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Dale White STAFF WRITER Organizers behind the proposed Manatee County Agriculture Museum hope to renovate an abandoned city building in Palmetto and convert it into a showcase. They unveiled the concept Thursday before about...

`BEAR' BARRED FROM COURTROOM; AN ATTORNEY IS FIGHTING TO HAVE THE CRUSADING BEAR PRESENT DURING THE SENTENCING IN A CHILD-ABUSE CASE IN MANATEE COUNTY.(A SECTION)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Kellie McMaster STAFF WRITER ******** CORRECTION ********The following correction was published on Saturday, November 22, 1997. Debra Dotts was sentenced to five years' probation after pleading no...

CONFERENCE MEETS TO BACK PRESERVATION.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Victor Hull REGIONAL REPORTER Florida's unprecedented program for buying and preserving environmentally sensitive land expires in the year 2000, and if the state doesn't extend it, dozens of rare plant and wildlife species will...

DEL TORO ARRESTED IN MEXICO.(A SECTION)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Darragh Johnson, Jose Luis Jimenez and Lou Ferrara STAFFWRITERS Jose Luis Del Toro, the man accused of killing Sheila Bellush, was arrested in Mexico on Thursday, bringing an end to a 10-day international manhunt. It was the...

OBITUARIES.(LOCAL/STATE)(Obituary)
November 21, 1997... CHARLOTTE COUNTYRonald Campbell Ronald Campbell, 63, Port Charlotte, died Nov. 18, 1997. He was born May 9, 1934, in Monessen, Pa., and came to Port Charlotte 11 years ago from Belle Vernon, Pa. He served in the Marines and was a...

A REFRESHING RAIN.(TICKET)(Review)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Bill Kelley MOVIE CRITIC What could be a more natural premise? A Tennessee law school grad, fresh from passing the bar exam, unexpectedly finds himself running Memphis's newest law firm - and butting heads with the slimiest,...

THE STROKE OF `MIDNIGHT'; CLINT EASTWOOD BRINGS TO THE SCREEN A SILKY ADAPTATION OF THE BOOK `MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL.'.(TICKET)
November 21, 1997... Byline: George Meyer MOVIE CRITIC If you're one of the few who hasn't yet read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," you should. And if the film version doesn't provoke you to buy (or borrow) a copy, then you're just not...

`ICE STORM': AN ASPECT OF THE '70S UNFROZEN.(TICKET)(Review)
November 21, 1997... Byline: Bill Kelley MOVIE CRITIC Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm" presents further evidence that the 1970s pose an irresistible, if not especially compelling, target for '90s filmmakers. Set in the posh suburb of New Canaan, Conn., in 1973,...

FORGET REALITY, `ANASTASIA' IS EARNEST FUN.(TICKET)(Review)
November 21, 1997... Byline: George Meyer MOVIE CRITIC The real Anastasia was the daughter of Czar Nicholas II, the last Romanov ruler of Imperial Russia. When Bolshevik revolutionaries killed the royal family in 1917, they also slew the young princess. ...

UP FRONT; RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR FUN.(TICKET)
November 21, 1997... ******** CORRECTION ********The following correction was published on Saturday, November 22, 1997. The price of tickets for the 8 p.m. performance of "Sacred Music, Sacred Dance for World Healing" - presented...

MARINES CELEBRATE 222 YEARS OF THE CORPS.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Aubrey Stadtler The Charlotte Symphony League held a fund-raiser on Oct. 9 at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. Everyone enjoyed the wonderful dinner and concert presented by the Charlotte High School Jazz Ensemble, followed by...

STYLE SHOWS FEATURE HOLIDAY AND CASUAL WEAR.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Judy Huskey What to wear to those holiday parties will be no problem for the hundreds of women - and a handful of men looking for gift ideas - who were in the audiences of some half-dozen fashion shows held in the past few weeks....

WOMEN'S ART SHOW KICKS OFF FUND-RAISER.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: YVETTE KIMM Start your holiday shopping season on Saturday at Sarasota Square Mall and visit the Center Stage for a 1-day art exhibit featuring the works of Sarasota-Manatee members of the Women's Caucus for Art. The...

COMIC FINDS MATERIAL, ROMANCE IN SARASOTA.(FLORIDA WEST)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Marjorie North Drew Hastings flew into Sarasota last week from L.A. to be one of the Comedy Fest headliners, but the tall, lanky comedian has another tie to Sarasota besides his love for schtick. His mom, Pamela Hastings, is a...

KIDS CAN TAKE WINTER VACATION IN THE PARK.(FLORIDA WEST)
November 20, 1997... The Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department will offer Winter Vacation in the Park for first through sixth graders Dec. 22-23, 26-31 and Jan. 2 at several Sarasota County locations, including the Englewood Recreation Center, 101...

BRUCE WILLIS HAS HIS DAY IN `THE JACKAL'.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Lynn Huff In `'The Jackal," Bruce Willis stars as a hired killer who plans to knock off a U.S. government official on behalf of the Russian mob. Sidney Poitier is an FBI man who joins forces with a Russian army officer (Diane...

FLORIDIAN FOLK SINGER RETURNS TO CHARLOTTE.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Linda Fudala Florida offers all kinds of fodder for folk singers. From colorful characters and sunsets to legendary storms and sharks. Mark Smith is a fourth generation Floridian who picked up a guitar at age 12 and began...

AREA SWIMMERS DIVE IN TODAY; CLASS 5A OPENS STATE MEET TODAY, 6A SWIMS FRIDAY AND 4A COMPETES SATURDAY.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Phil Denis CORRESPONDENT Autographed photos of Olympic gold-medal winners such as Matt Biondi, Pablo Morales and Janet Evans greet people as they walking into the lobby of the Central Florida YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando. ...

GIRLS BASKETBALL SCOUTING REPORTS.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... * With the season just two weeks old, Venice, Riverview and perhaps Southeast have established themselves as the girls basketball teams to beat in the area. However, Lemon Bay, Palmetto, Bradenton Christian, Port Charlotte and Cardinal Mooney...

BEST-EVER AREA TEAM GAME SHOT.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: BILL HERALD And the beat goes on . . . Todd Kirchman finished with a 214 game in the Aqua Services Men's League at Sarasota Lanes last Friday night . . . and each of his four Elite Towing teammates beat him by 40 pins or...

BEST-EVER AREA TEAM GAME SHOT.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: BILL HERALD And the beat goes on . . . Todd Kirchman finished with a 214 game in the Aqua Services Men's League at Sarasota Lanes last Friday night . . . and each of his four Elite Towing teammates beat him by 40 pins or...

DEVIL RAYS WIN WITH LATE RALLY.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Chris Anderson STAFF WRITER PHOENIX -- Well, there you have it. A real-live baseball team, one that will play against the Yankees and the Orioles and the Braves and the Marlins. Finally, a real-live baseball team. So what can...

SURE-FIRE QB STILL UNDER GUN.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Tom Balog STAFF REPORT TALLAHASSEE -- Far from Heisman Trophy consideration, Thad Busby was lucky to get a standing ovation the last time he left a home game as Florida State's quarterback. Even that was a reach in front of...

CHEAP SHOTS OR TRICKS?(SPORTS)(Column)
November 20, 1997... Byline: TOM SPOUSTA Steve Spurrier sure makes it easy to dislike him, doesn't he? The late hits started early this time. Unlike last season, when Spurrier didn't whine until after Florida State beat Florida, the Gators' coach figured...

AREA WRAPUP; PORT CHARLOTTE POUNDS FORT MYERS.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: STAFF REPORTS Jesse McDowell and Melissa Grindley combined for 32 points to lead Port Charlotte to a 76-32 girls high school basketball victory over Fort Myers Wednesday night at Port Charlotte High School. McDowell scored 19...

BOOKER DEFEATS PALMETTO 41-35.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: STAFF REPORTS Visiting Booker improved to 4-2 with a 41-35 win over Palmetto on Wednesday in a Class 4A-District 13 game. Tiffany Shelly led Palmetto with nine points. The Lady Tigers host DeSoto tonight at 7:30. Port...

BOLTS' NO-WIN STREAK ENDS.(SPORTS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Jody Royce STAFF WRITER TAMPA -- Well, we can forget calling the Tampa Bay Lightning by a different name - like, frightening - especially when a team goes nearly seven weeks between wins. The Bolts said goodbye to a 10-game...

A HOUSE DIVISIVE.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
November 20, 1997... More than one public opinion poll in the last few years has found voters in this country tolerably satisfied with a divided federal government - a president of one party and a Congress controlled by the other party. One explanation...

THE RIGHT DECISION.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
November 20, 1997... Circuit Judge Deborah Ford-Kaus made the proper decision in taking a leave of absence while facing charges filed by the Judicial Qualifications Commission. Among the charges are that Ford-Kaus, while in private practice last year and...

MERIT IN THE EFFORT.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
November 20, 1997... A whale is rescued; dozens of people put their hearts into saving the animal. Six weeks later, it dies. A depressing story? Not entirely. It's a shame that Abbey, the pygmy killer whale beached on Casey Key, succumbed last Friday to...

THANKS TO THEM, THE BEAT GOES ON.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
November 20, 1997... Byline: THOMAS LEE TRYON / Applause for the marching bands Saturday morning, we'll fill the trunk with tailgating gear and drive to the parking lot that has been our destination for the last four years, whenever the University of Central...

SARASOTA TELEVISION STATION SEEKING RELEASE FROM PURCHASE AGREEMENT.(BUSINESS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Matthew Sauer STAFF WRITER No one bid for Sarasota television station WBSV-Channel 62 at a New York bankruptcy auction Wednesday. The station will file a motion in court to free it from an agreement to be purchased by Global...

FIRM TO BUILD OFFICE; INTERMART, WHICH OWNS THREE LOCAL RADIO STATIONS, PLANS TO BREAK GROUND NEXT MONTH ON A 1.75-ACRE SITE ON U.S. 41.(BUSINESS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Tom Matrullo STAFF WRITER Powered by country music and conservative talk radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Intermart Broadcasting Corp. will build its new headquarters on the site of an old Charlotte Harbor eyesore. ...

RISCORP IS CURRENT IN SEC FILINGS; THE DELAYED FINANCIAL REPORTS SHOW IT WAS IN THE BLACK FOR THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS BUT LOST MONEY IN THE THIRD.(BUSINESS)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Michael Pollick STAFF WRITER Riscorp Inc. finally released its delayed financial reports for 1997 on Wednesday, showing a company that, while battered, still retains $161.9 million in book value. The figure, which works out...

CITY CONSIDERS HALT ON BUILDING DOCKS; THE PUNTA GORDA CITY COUNCIL SAYS IT WANTS TO REVIEW CITY POLICY THAT REGULATES THE STRUCTURES.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Chris Davis STAFF WRITER Punta Gorda City Council members hinted Wednesday that they may take steps to stop boat docks from being built in the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor. Concerned that the harbor could start "looking...

BRADENTON MAN CHARGED WITH ABUSE.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Deputies arrested a 27-year-old Bradenton man Tuesday on charges of having sex with a 15-year-old girl, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff's Office report. Donald Ray Chavis, 1140 block Carlton Arms Circle, was charged with sexual...

TROT TO BENEFIT NEEDY FAMILIES.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... The downtown merchants of Punta Gorda are planning a Thanksgiving holiday event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. The idea for the Harvest Turkey Trot, which benefits needy families, originated at Rachelle's Sunwear Boutique. Patrons of...

MARCHING BAND WINS FIRST PLACE.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... The "Pride of Port Charlotte" marching band wrapped up its 1997 competitive season Saturday with an award-winning performance at the Santaluces Marching Chiefs Marching Festival in West Palm Beach. The Port Charlotte High School marching...

CORRECTIONS.(LOCAL/STATE)(Correction Notice)
November 20, 1997... * The last day of the Symphony of Trees is Dec. 7. but the gala will be held Nov. 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. Because of a reporter's error, the schedule was misstated Wednesday. * Brian Paul Laskowski, 25, of 100 Boundary Blvd., Rotonda, died...

SCHOOL'S CAFETERIA, BALL-FIELD WORK OK'D; BOTH PROJECTS AT CHARLOTTE HIGH SHOULD BE FINISHED BY AUGUST, OFFICIALS SAID.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: James Roland STAFF WRITER Construction of a new cafeteria and the relocation of a softball field at Charlotte High School could begin as early as January. However, Charlotte County Schools Superintendent Max Schmidt said the...

BUSINESSMAN CHARGED.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... The owner of a Charlotte Harbor dry-cleaning business was arrested Tuesday on charges of transporting hazardous waste, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff's Office report. Abel Michael Starkman, 73, 2000 Jamaica Way, was also charged...

WOMAN REPORTS ASSAULT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... A 44-year-old Punta Gorda woman told authorities Sunday that an elderly man attempted to sexually assault her Friday afternoon, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff's Office report. According to the report: The woman had a quarrel...

PONCE DE LEON PARK: AN OASIS FOR WILDLIFE AND NATURE LOVERS; IT'S REAL PEACEFUL HERE,' SAYS ONE VISITOR.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Deborah Orazi STAFF WRITER In a county full of pretty, scenic spots, Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda must be among the loveliest for walkers. And the most historic. Some historians claim this is the location of the...

CORAL CREEK BRIDGE: `STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT'; PILINGS FROM '51 WEARING OUT THE COUNTY'S WORST BRIDGE IS NOT ABOUT TO COLLAPSE, BUT REPAIRS ARE NECESSARY.(A SECTION)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Bryan Long STAFF WRITER A steady stream of traffic drives over Coral Creek Bridge in Placida. Family cars. Dump trucks. Gas tankers. Pickup behind pickup, with boats in tow. Drivers streak past chipped concrete corners...

SOIL IN U.S. 41 MEDIANS MUST BE REPLACED BEFORE TREES ARE PUT IN; THE SOIL LEFT BY THE ROAD'S BUILDER IS UNSATIS-FACTORY FOR GROWING TREES, A COUNTY OFFICIAL SAYS.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Stephen G. Reed STAFF WRITER As any good gardener knows, all dirt isn't the same. That's why workers must replace the soil in the medians on newly widened U.S. 41 in South Venice before trees can be planted there, a county...

GREATER DENSITY WANTED FOR TRACT; THE DEVELOPMENT NEAR OSPREY WOULD INCLUDE 190 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ON 104 ACRES.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Greg Retsinas STAFF WRITER A proposed Palmer Ranch development near Osprey is facing objections from some of its neighbors over traffic and other concerns. The development, east of the Sorrento East subdivision and south of...

BRIDGE'S PILINGS WEARING OUT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Bryan Long STAFF WRITER A steady stream of traffic drives over Coral Creek Bridge in Placida. Family cars. Dump trucks. Gas tankers. Pickup behind pickup, with boats in tow. Drivers streak past chipped concrete corners...

CITY OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS FUTURE.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... North Port city staff members are holding a series of meetings to discuss what former President George Bush called "the vision thing." "We're looking at what we see as our needs and our vision for the next five or 10 years. The city is...

ALTERNATIVE HEALTH OPTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... A panel of six experts will discuss "Alternative Health Options for Women" from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Manatee Community College Life Fitness Center Gymnasium at the South Campus, 8000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. The presentation is free and...

SENATOR TO SEEK TOP STATE POSITION; SARASOTA IS HARRIS' SECOND STOP ON A THREE-CITY TOUR THAT INCLUDES TALLAHASSEE AND MIAMI.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Victor Hull STAFF WRITER State Sen. Katherine Harris took the stage in one of Sarasota's cultural landmarks Wednesday to launch her campaign to replace Sandra Mortham as secretary of state. The choice of the Sarasota Opera...

TONIGHT IS LAST GULF GATE MOVIE.(A SECTION)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Patricia Ann McKanic STAFF WRITER The house lights at the Gulf Gate Cinema 8 theaters will dim for the last time tonight. An employee at the theater, who asked to remain anonymous, said Wednesday that workers will be...

SHOOTING VICTIM DIES; FAMILY TO OFFER REWARD; BANOS AGOBIAN WAS GUNNED DOWN DURING A GAS STATION ROBBERY.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Kellie McMaster STAFF WRITER At 63, Banos Agobian had decided recently to go back to work to help a distant relative run the Bradenton service station he had just bought. But before he had even received his first paycheck,...

2 MEN ROBBED, SHOT IN BACKS.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Two local men were robbed and shot in their backs outside one victim's home Wednesday morning, sheriff's reports state. The two men, ages 19 and 28, were in fair condition at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, a...

FUNDING TO AID DESIGN PROJECT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... A state agency has agreed to assist Palmetto in reducing flooding at 10th Avenue and 10th Street West. The Southwest Florida Water Management District's governing board approved $350,000 for the project Tuesday. The city will fund the...

SOME AGENCIES CAN APPLY FOR CASH.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Government and nonprofit agencies in Manatee County that provide emergency food and shelter can apply for a portion of a $54,201 federal grant, the United Way announced Wednesday. Applications are due Dec. 5. Organizations should call the...

MANATEE STUDENTS TAKE FRESH LOOK AT HISTORY; THE MANATEE COUNTY HISTORY FAIR FEATURES; OLD STANDARDS AS WELL AS CURRENT-EVENTS; AND LOCAL-INTEREST PROJECTS.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Dale White STAFF WRITER Every November in Manatee County, history repeats itself. Evidently, it has a lot to say - and countless ways to say it. At the Manatee County History Fair, old stories never really age. Young talent...

PANEL VOTES TO HIRE CONSULTANT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: STAFF REPORT Bradenton's Downtown Development Authority members made no mention Wednesday of the $1 million they will receive from the city, but they did focus on finances. The DDA board, which also sits as the Community...

MONEY THERE, FOR A CHANGE.(LOCAL/STATE)(Column)
November 20, 1997... Byline: ERIC ERNST Question: What's the No. 1 excuse government offers when it can't do something the public wants? Answer: Money. Government never seems to have enough of our money to do the things we'd really like, and to hear the...

ISLAND LEADERS: LIMIT OPENING OF BRIDGES; THE OFFICIALS PLAN TO SEND A LETTER TO U.S. REP. DAN MILLER TO REQUEST A TRAFFIC STUDY.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Tom Spalding STAFF WRITER Facing more cars - and traffic jams - than ever this tourist season, Anna Maria Island's three cities, and Longboat Key, may push for less frequent openings of the drawbridges on Manatee Avenue and...

PLANNING BOSS SIGNS JOB PACT; BRADENTON'S MAYOR HAS OFFERED JOB CONTRACTS TO DEPARTMENT HEADS.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Tom Spalding STAFF WRITER Bradenton Planning and Zoning director Jerry West has signed a five-year contract, becoming the first department head to take advantage of Mayor Bill Evers' offer of job security. West, a 20-year...

DEPUTIES SAY MOM NEGLIGENT WITH GUN; CHERYLL HARTSOE'S 13-YEAR-OLD SON FACES CHARGES OF SHOOTING ANOTHER STUDENT WITH A GUN HE GOT FROM HOME.(A SECTION)
November 20, 1997... Byline: John DeSantis STAFF WRITER The mother of a Palmetto middle school boy charged in the shooting of a fellow student last month faces criminal charges in connection with the incident, court papers show. Manatee County sheriff's...

POLICE CHARGE WIFE OF VICTIM; THE DEATH OF MARIA SELMA SODRE'S HUSBAND "WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT," AUTHORITIES SAY.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Laura Higgins STAFF WRITER When the body of Alfred Gloor was found floating in the surf off Cocoa Beach in May, the 61-year-old Sarasota man appeared to have been the victim of an accidental drowning. Authorities now say his...

MOTHER OBJECTS TO IMAGE ON BUS.(LOCAL/STATE)(Column)
November 20, 1997... Byline: TOM LYONS Angela Smithson was driving from Selby Library, in downtown Sarasota, with her young son and a nephew when she saw the bus. She turned to evade it, but it was too late. Her evasive action wasn't an attempt to avoid...

ATTORNEYS AWAIT QUESTIONNAIRES TO BE RETURNED; THE 600 LENGTHY QUESTIONNAIRES WILL BE STUDIED BY ATTORNEYS IN THE LUCAS CIAMBRONE MURDER CASE TO HELP IN THE JURY SELECTION.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: John DeSantis STAFF WRITER Deputy court clerks in Manatee County folded, stuffed and labeled more than 13,000 sheets of paper Wednesday night, racing to beat a 5 p.m. deadline for mailing questions to prospective jurors selected...

TOUR CALLS ATTENTION TO GLOBAL WARMING; ENVIRONMENTALISTS WARN THAT SIESTA AND LONGBOAT KEYS WILL BE ENGULFED AS THE SEA LEVEL RISES.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Victor Hull REGIONAL REPORTER If you're in the market for Gulf-front property, here's a hot real estate tip from scientists and environmentalists: Buy inland. Global warming is causing levels to rise, they say. If it continues...

MISSION HARBOR PROJECT GETS VOTE FROM CITY COMMISSIONERS; THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT STILL HAVE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE WYNNTON GROUP FOR ITS APPROVAL BEFORE THE DEAL IS FINALIZED.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Yolanda Rodriguez STAFF WRITER The Sarasota City Commission signed off on the agreement for the sale of Mission Harbor Wednesday night. The vote was unanimous. But only three commissioners were present: Jerome Dupree, Nora...

POLICE: CARJACKER GOT LOST IN CITY; A HIALEAH MAN WAS CHARGED WITH TAKING A RENTAL CAR AND $700,000 IN JEWELRY. OFFICIALS SAID HE GOT LOST AND TRIED TO TAKE A BUS TO THE AIRPORT.(LOCAL/STATE)
November 20, 1997... Byline: Lou Ferrara STAFF WRITER A carjacker knocked David Spivak to the ground and drove off in his rented car containing $700,000 in jewelry. But the getaway was as flawed as a $2 diamond: Detectives say the carjacker got lost in...