The Naples Daily News from Naples, Florida • 3

Naples Daily fonts Saturday October 16 1999 3AMC RouceIBeati Hurricane Irene Collier County: Southwest Florida gets lucky as Irene heads east Continued from page 1A Just to Collier County south wind gusts registered up to -108 mph as the storm soaked much of Florida's southern peninsula except for its southwestern tip Irene was expected to plod its wet course across Lake Okeechobee and make its exit near Cape Canaveral forecasters said guess we're one lucky said Tim Revard of Naples as he picked up palm fronds in front of his apartment complex before heading to the beach to watch the non-waves least for In Naples where stores and restaurants stayed open while the storm stayed away folks shopped ate and scoffed and shrugged at the weather this is rough" said Tom Barrington visiting from Maine as he sat in a beach chair not for from the Naples Pier Naples only scored a few downed power lines from Irene weak wrath but the locals did take to the beach to see the storm Instead they saw peeks of blue skies know you come to Florida to see the beach but this wasn't our said Nils Vlansen of Great Britain Naples police ready with barricades to block off streets around the city as the floodwaters moved in from Port Royal to Golden Gate Parkway were left on dry land All their preparations were for naught pretty happy that everything went Naples Police and Emergency Services Chief Kevin Rambosk said we are getting some good practice and In Immokalee fields and crops were in danger should Irene decide to make an inland path through the forming community Residents there prepared for the wind and rain by cutting down tree branches Rey Duran didn't have a chainsaw or an ax Instead took a machete to one of the trees in the front yard branches were hanging over some of the vehicles so I thought we should just get rid of Duran said was blowing so hard that some of the roots were coming up through the In Lee County Irene made the same no-show Winds of up to 40 mph whipped through the Bonita Springs area but the hurricane warning was lifted at 6 pm About 2 inches of rain was recorded in Bonita Springs Damage in southern Lee County was limited mostly to downed palm fronds and uprooted trees emergency managers said A heay streetlight at a Bonita Beach Road parking lot did come loose and fall landing on a truck authorities said Though Irene lingered in the Gulf longer and turned east earlier than expected sparing Lee County much of the flooding that swamped Miami emergency management officials said they were pleased with precautions that were taken Early in the day residents of mobile home and RV parks were told to evacuate we made our decision to evacuate at that point Lee County was the bullseye on the target Consequently I think our action was Lee Emergency Management spokesman Booch DeMarchi said were lucky the storm ran away from us that's always good Numerous flights both arriving and departing at Southwest Florida International Airport were canceled Friday after noon and Lee County government offices closed for the day as they did in Collier Collier schools had their third unscheduled closing this year but Lee schools were closed because of a previously scheduled in-service day Many businesses including banks shut down and unlike during Floyd or Harvey some mandatory evacuations were ordered in Lee About 720 people took shelter at TECO Arena in Estero The mandatory evacuation order was lifted at 6 pm and most evacuees started heading home soon after American Red Cross officials said they would keep the shelter open throughout the evening have not heard of any damage to homes but I do think it better to be safe than said Donna Marcotte of the Lee County Red Cross Before Irene path shifted preparation for die storm had folks especially veterans of the Bonita Springs floods headed for hotels or just higher ground At the Manna Christian RV frailer Park residents packed belongings and children in cars and drove off to hotels or the TECO Arena which had opened as a shelter going to stay Carlos Perez said canals are already frill of water I'm sure its going to Damage in southern Lee County was limited to palm fronds and uprooted trees emergency managers said In a breezy drizzle Lee officials were relieved Faced with a potential for more than 10 inches of rain and 75 mph winds residents had been advised to take hurricane warnings and flood watches seriously Along many streets stores and houses were closed tightly with sheets of plywood nailed over doors Some homes had rows of sandbags stacked carefrilly against foundations Tired of sitting inside at home or in the arena the more adventurous turned out at Bonita Beach to marvel at the circular expanse of gray clouds that spun overhead To the north the edge of Irene was marked by a swath of bright sky over Sanibel Island The Associated Press and staff writers Jay Stapleton and Jeff Clemens contributed to this report reports trim viqi suspicious activity in Cofear County call thc Niptes POt ica and Emorfency Services Department at 434-4846 ths CoHir County Sheriff's Office 774-4434 report information atout dnac acfivSjiL cal toe sheriff IT775-T1PS fcu do not have tu (jvoyournamt report icrimv any suspicious activity in Lm County cal too Lm County Sheriff's Offics 4 477-1200 or you can remain anonymous and call CreneStop at 332-5555 or 1-800-780-TIPSt COWER SHERIFFS OFFICE School vandaOsm A 15-year-old boy was arrested Thursday on charges of criminal mischief for vandalizing school property Several walls doors and mirrors at Lely High School were -defaced with a permanent market according to the Sheriffs Office The Sheriffs Office has not released the name of the boy because of his age Drug arrest A Fort Myers man was arrested Thursday at Red Rooflnn in Naples and charged with possession of narcotic paraphernalia and controlled substances with the intent to sell Kelein Lamar Johnson 20 of 6202 Demery Circle Fort Myers is accused of having possession of 40 to 50 pieces of crack cocaine The manager of the Red Rooflnn 1925 Davis Blvd called the Sher-ifTs Office after observing unusual amount of pedestrian traffic and phone calls to Johnson's room Domestic violence arrests Kenol Marc 36 of 5421 26th Place SW Naples was arrested Thursday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill Marc was arrested after his wife told deputies that she had been beaten by Marc in front of their two children David Brian Angbrandt 38 of 534 106th Ave North Naples was arrested Thursday and charged with battery after allegedly pushing his wife Fabian Raul Morales 31 of 4508 Coral Palms Naples was arrested Thursday and charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony after allegedly punching and choking his girlfriend Ben Cannistraci 32 of 1561 Chesapeake Ave Naples was arrested Friday and charged with batterydomestic violence after allegedly grabbing and twisting his arm in an attempt to grab car keys Burglaries and thefts Lely Barefoot Beach North Naples Stolen Thursday a wallet sunglasses and purse from the trunk of Eugene O'Doherty car 2200 block of Arbour Walk Circle North Naples Stolen Tuesday or Wednesday a compact disc player and wallet from Pete Duryca's car 3200 block of Golden Gate Blvd Golden Gate Stolen Wednesday or Thursday 52 pieces of drywall air conditioner duct work and tubing and four windows from a house under construction 3800 block of Coconut Circle East East Naples Stolen Thursday $400 in coins from Thomas bedroom DUI arrest Joshua Miles Hinman 23 of 4888 Davis Blvd Naples was arrested Thursday by Naples police at Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street South LEE SHERIFFS OFFICE Motorist cited A Bonita Springs man was charged Wednesday with driving without a license Juan Gomez Lopez was cited for having no driver license when he was stopped at Bonita Beach Road near the Fort Myers-Naples Greyhound track Police Beat it compiled and written by the Naples Daily Newt staff from oral and written reports by Naples Police the Collier County Sheriff Office and other agencies Arrests indicate suspicion qf crime not guilt Courtney Sidbury of Naples center shields her face from windswept sand with her cousins Lauren Tremblay 6 left and Jacqueline Tremblay also 6 at the Naples Pier on Friday Visitors where allowed to stand at the pier entrance but access was blocked over the Gulf of Mexico Dan WagnerStaff Rey Duran cuts branches from a tree In Immokalee to prevent It from hitting his house and car due to strong winds from Hurricane Irene Watching are his cousin Pope Yslas 7 his brother Joshua 9 and his cousin Valentin Syluria KapuscinskiStaff Day off: Residents learn to reason with hurricane season are we going to hide under a big she asked Continued from page 1A inspirational words in the Sweat the Small section lywood 20 movie theater in North Naples on Friday already have cabin fever so we came to see a movie before the worst of said Linda Myer who arrived in Naples from Cincinnati Ohio Thursday night to visit her father Myer went to see Story of which opened around the country When weather doesn't permit for a day at the beach where do you go? The movies Even with the threat of Hurricane Irene dozens of people made their way to Hol James Plachinski and Harold Block were out fishing at the beach near the Naples Pier on Friday They were undaunted by the dark clouds and the wind which kept blowing their equipment away been through a couple of said Plachinski who moved here a month ago from Chesapeake Ya none as direct as this This is my first one here in Naples" Block who has lived here for three and a half years described Irene as a hurricane were bored of sitting around the said Block of their decision to trek to the beach Tourists and locals alike gathered at the closed Naples Pier but not for long as boredom soon set in Rex Owns a 13-year old surfer said of the waves off the pier not good They were a lot better during (fropical Storm) Jennifer frujillo 22 was dragged out to the beach Friday afternoon by her friends Joanne Pizzo 25 and Denise Mumper 45 to experience Hurricane Irene close-up is my first said frujillo who just moved here from New York is just crazy never felt a breeze like this in New Mumper and Pizzo whoVe lived here for several years are more comfortable with the inclement weather They sat on the bench at Lowdermilk Park enjoying a day off from work at the nearby Mediterranean Grill love the Mumper said so frujillo carrying a camera had a different opinion of the strengthening winds and darkening clouds She was spooked by the bending and crackling of the palm trees and was worried about being out in the open FPL waits for winds to weaken before making electrical repairs MIAMI About 14 million people were without power during Hurricane Irene but had no chance of gei-ting their electricity back until at least Saturday because Florida largest utility grounded its repair crews sort of the nature of the said Florida Power Light Co spokeswoman Kathy Scott think we're seeing a lot higher winds than most people expected" By late Friday more than 400000 homes and businesses were without power including an estimated 250JXX) in Dade County 120000 in Broward County and 50000 in Palm Beach County could take several days" Scott said By policy FPL doesn't send out crews when winds exceed 35 mph and forecasters expected those winds to last into today Collier County schools were closed Friday which left lots of schoolchildren with nothing to do Many youngsters in North Naples enjoyed a free day roaming the streets on in-line skates Children used the wind to their advantage by catching gusts in umbrellas and pillowcases to propel them John and Domenic Apperti tossed a football around with their fother Edward and two friends on 106th Avenue not too concerned with Edward Apperti said i Compiled by staff irritm Rochelle Bott and Laura Schulak Robert Merrlcks 16 waits for a wave at Vanderbilt Beach on Friday Merricks who traveled to North Naples from Fort Myers to skim board with two friends was disappointed about the lack of surf from Hurricane Irene waves should be good but they're he said need bigger waves so we can ride lisa KrantyStaff i iifl if4ifiriiuintaiwi i irt 'i umr ii.