(Continued on page 2)

  Commissioners Sponsor Rezoning

      On 3/12 The Lee County Board of  Commissioners decided to sponsor rezoning from TFC-2 to CF-1, for the property on Pine Island which currently houses the Pine Island Library and the Museum of the Island, located in the old Pine Island Library building at 5728 Sesame Drive, Pine Island Center and authorize the Division of Planning to act as the County's agent for the rezoning.
     The current zoning, TFC-2, does not include "museum" or "library" as permitted uses, making the current uses of the new library and old Pine Island Library building as museum both non-conforming and unable to expand. Rezoning to CF-1 will legitimize the library and the museum use of the property, allowing expansion of both uses. Commissioner Coy moved approval, seconded by Commissioner Albion, called and carried.

      A 44 year old man dies April 5th in waters around Cayo Costa State Park. Robert Strickland and his wife arrived at Cabbage Key for some camping and kayaking. The authorities report the Stricklands decided to take one last kayak trip early that
morning in two separate kayaks they owned. They were planning to leave the next day and return to their summer home in Coca Beach, Florida. After a few hours Strickland and his wife returned to the island for some lunch. After which Robert returned to the water alone. Within an hour of Strickland returning to the water another boater reported seeing a 16ft capsized kayak . The kayak was empty and had been located in the channel, flipped over with no body immediately apparent around it. The Marine Patrol and Chuck Reger, from Tow Boats, USA was called to assist in the search. Stricklands body was eventually located about a mile away from his kayak. The body was brought into Pineland Marina around 4 PM. Lt. Steve Meyers from the Marine Patrol reported that Strickland was not wearing his life jacket and that the accident may have been alcohol related.