WEEk OF mAY 1, 2024
VOLumE 62, NumBER 24
School district receives over $500M from half-cent tax By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The School District of Lee County has received $507 million so far from the voterapproved half-cent sales tax and every school has benefited. Money from the sales tax can be used for construction, safety, maintenance and technology. During an update last week before the Lee County School Board, Independent Sales Surtax Oversight Committee Chair Steve Shimp said the district has only expended $352 million, but a considerably higher amount is committed to projects. He shared some highlights of what the money has supported: ∫ 4,767 new student seats created ∫ Eight new schools being built ∫ Seven schools undergoing substantial renovations that are in progress ∫ Safety systems are in place at each school — weapons detection system, traffic See HALF-CENT TAX, page 16
Student winners named in refuge’s annual contest
O
n April 13, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) announced and awarded winners and finalists in the 10th annual “Ding” DarlingTheodore Cross High School Photography Contest at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel, following a contest judging on March 8. Sponsored by the Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation, the competition invites high school students from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties to compete
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for prizes, which this year included a Canon digital SLR camera package, one-year subscription to Adobe photography software and one-year pass to the refuge. See WINNERS, page 16 Luke Guillette took first place in the 10th annual “Ding” Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest with his entry “Swamp Puppy.” LUKE GUILLETTE
Sea turtle nesting season underway on islands with first nest By STAFF REPORT
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that a leatherback nest was found on Sanibel on April 24, marking the first sea turtle nest of the season for the islands. Leatherbacks are the largest turtle species in the world and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. “Leatherback nesting on the Florida's Gulf Coast is rare,” SCCF sea turtle biologist Jack Brzoza said. “These turtles See NESTING SEASON, page 18
The SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation's sea turtle team found a leatherback nest on Sanibel on April 24 — the first sea turtle nest of the season for the islands. SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
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