St. Lucie News Tribune from Fort Pierce, Florida • 13

INSIDE tr THURSDAY OCTOBER 172002 Obituaries 3 State 4 Business 6 TRIBUNE wmmamm Minsky Valicenti tackle tough issues Mayoral opponents debate topics such as accountability residents being displaced by a Turnpike project tunity to rebut Of the more than 100 people in attendance about two-thirds of the crowd seemed to support Valicenti often cheering his responses At one point during a rebuttal a woman shouted my when Minsky offered to explain the See DEBATE B2 By Robin Campbell staff writer PORT ST LUCIE Mayor Bob Minsky and challenger Anthony Valicenti squared off Wednesday night In a one-on-one wide-ranging debate designed to give the public more of an idea of the candidates positions on the issues and their cool under fire The first of its kind this campaign season the all-mayoral candidate debate was hosted by the Spanish-American Community Club at the Port St Lucie Community Center A four-member panel asked several hard-hitting specific questions giving the candidates their first real chance to go head-to-head on some important issues with plenty of oppor- Although neither mayoral candidate went out of their way to attack one another Minsky hammered away at some of broad ideds and math Valicenti meanwhile struck more at the entire City Council which he said is of touch with the He called for a new council and a better way to inform city residents 4 f- i 4- Valicenti Minsky THE PLANKS PSL police crack down on alarming situation By Teresa Wood staff writer PORT ST LUCIE The Port St Lucie Police Department is cracking down on enforcing the alarm ordinance to prevent officers from wasting time on false alarms Officers respond to about 350 alarms a month and about 90 percent of those are false alarms said Lt Steven Claus community programs commander been looking at ways to Improve so we have less of a burden on our officers on the Claus said the city has grown the demand for services is Claus said each false alarm ties up two officers for at least 15 minutes sometimes more The alarm ordinance allows police to fine businesses if they have more than three false alarms in one year The fines begin at $50 At least three local businesses have racked up more than $1000 in charges so Claus decided time to make sure they pay He sent a letter to each business informing it of the debt The owners have to pay the fines within 30 days or face a court appearance Claus said need to be a little mor'e responsible with their Claus said If the alarm is set off because of thunder or lightning which occasionally happens Claus said the officer typically does not fine the business owner Technical problems with the alarm itself can be another reason the fine is waived he said Two of the business owners who received the letter said the problem rests with their alarm companies equipment was installed by the original alarm said James Moore who manages a local antique store alarm company has accepted full responsibility for the Hawk Levy who owns a local jewelry store said the false alarms occur for several reasons the most frequent one being the alarm itself He also said his alarm company is going to pay the fines However Levy said he thinks the fines are exorbitant far as I can see they do anything for you if having technical he said i ft 0 ft i I 4 i Official: Scenic Highway is likely By Eve Modzeiewskl staff writer ST LUCIE The picturesque sections of Indian River Drive A1A and US 1 have a strong chance of becoming a Florida Scenic Highway a state official said Wednesday think you've got a really good candidate here and I see any reason why you get said Richard Young scenic highway coordinator for Florida Department of Transportation The Corridor Advocacy Group an alliance of local citizens and officials met Wednesday to discuss what points of interest should be included along the estimated 35-miles of scenic roadway and to gear up for its application for the state program The group which formed in August has named the corridor the River Lagoon Scenic Highway Treasure It would include the entire length of A1A in St Lucie County a portion of US 1 in downtown Fort Pierce and the stretch of Indian River Drive from Seaway Drive to Martin County The state directly fund its scenic highways but Young said the designation could attract grant money and other fluids to maintain restore and improve the roads and surrounding areas The designation also would attract more tourists he said people see on a map that your highway is a scenic drive more people will go there stop and have lunch There are other Young said Since the state program started in 1997 eight corridors have been named Florida Scenic Highways including parts of A1A and US 1 in Indian River and Brevard counties Members of the Corridor Advocacy Group have said they hope the corridor will eventually become a National Scenic Byway which could flmnel dollars into the county The federal government grants about $24 million a year to its National Scenic Byways The advocacy group is hoping to get the state designation in 14 to 18 months said Karen Butcher the staff appointee The group voted Wednesday to recommend the County Commission approve a Scenic Highway Welcome Center to be run by the Marine Resources Council curtains for the Sabal Palm By Maggie Large staff writer FORT PIERCE After being open less than a year the Sabal Palm 6 movie theater closed Tuesday Its operators cited poor attendance Rosie Lee property manager for the Sabal Palm Plaza in Fort Pierce said the SunStar Theatres Sabal Palm 6 locked its doors and closed down for good may have had some operational issues like any new business but the bottom line is that the community support the Lee said SunStar Theatres a small chain of neighborhood movie theaters based Coral Springs first announced last See THEATER B2 EMC HAIERT ataff photofraphcr Jesus Garza a facility maintenance worker for the City of Fort Pierce Public Works prepares to weatherproof wood planks that will be used to replace the walkway along the south side of the Fort Pierce South Beach Boardwalk Wednesday on South Hutchinson Island The project is expected to take several months to complete HORNING UP FOR COMPETITION Property appraiser files tax lawsuit against hospital By Eve Modzeiewskl staff writer ST LUCIE COUNTY The battle over Lawnwood Regional Medical property tax bills took a nqw twist Wednesday when Property Appraiser Jeff Furst filed a lawsuit against the hospital After months of dispute Furst asked the 19thClrCuit Court to reverse a ruling that would reftind the hospital $298850 in back taxes from 1998 1999 and 2000 A mediator called a special master in June sided wfth the Fort Pierce hospital agreeing lt was overassessed by $45 million in 1998 and more than $2 million in 1999 and 2000 Last month the St Lucie County Value Adjustment Board confirmed the ruling line Is we overpaid our taxes and we are due a refund and they should let it Lawnwood spokeswoman Beth Tuttle said Wednesday "We have gone through all due process provided for by the she said special master which is an independent arbitrator agreed with our position The value adjustment board then ratified that posi- See LAWNWOOD B2 JUAN DUX BROWN Raff photoraptwr Fort Pierce Westwood High School band member Roger Jacobsen plays the french horn Wednesday afternoon in preparation for an upcoming competition Saturday in Vera Beach mf T- vt 1 asagr i.