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Thirty Years Ago This Week: Bonitans pressed for state buy of beachfront
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Bonitans helped pack a Collier County meeting room to press for the state purchase of Barefoot Beach 30 years ago this week.
Bonita leaders, including representatives of the Bonita Beach Improvement Association, the Bonita Improvement Group and the Bonita Springs Jaycees, spoke in support of the purchase.
Bob LaPree, of the Jaycees, used the slogan "Private Greed Creates Public Need" in his presentation to the Florida Department of Natural Resources, referring to Florida's east coast, where public beach was rapidly dwindling.
William Jernigan, a DNR official, said the state would need to successfully negotiate with six owners to buy the three miles of beachfront.
"The largest landowner in the parcel is Lely Estates Inc., which has about two-thirds of the three-mile tract," The Banner reported. "Negotiations have already begun between Lely and the state and the first appraisals are due to be completed in about a month."
Lely officials, however, were continuing with plans for developing the land into private homesites until negotiations progressed.
Everglades Wonder Gardens was in the news that week because of its crocodile population. A clutch of 35 eggs was being carefully watched in hopes it would boost the world's dwindling crocodile population. The Piper family's zoo had kept crocs since it opened in the 1930s.
Banner readers were introduced to Shelly Cheatham, 1976 Miss Bonita Springs, in that issue. Cheatham, 18, was the second pageant winner in the family. Older sister Wendy, was also a Miss Bonita Springs. Cheatham, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Cheatham, owned the Shangri-La Health Spa on Old 41, hoped to be an interior designer.
In the classifieds, a Bonita Shores home was selling for $24,900. a house on the Imperial River was priced at $38,000 and a lot in Naples Park was offered for $9,000.
At the Trail Drive-In, Ron Howard was starring in what was to become an American classic, "American Graffiti," and Linda DeCaff had top billing in "Hurry Up or I'll be 30."
Out on the water, a full moon was producing fish aplenty. Redfish, trout and snapper were especially plentiful, and snook fishing was good as well.
Contact Editor Cathy Cottrill at 213-6031 or cccottrill@bonitanews.com.
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