Photos from May 19, 2006

  • A 21-gun salute honored the fallen Lee County Sheriff officers during the Wednesday morning memorial gathering. The ceremony also included an honor guard and the performance of 'God Bless America' and 'Wind Beneath My Wings' by Adanita Ross.
  • Emotions, and tears, were close to the surface Wednesday after the memorial ceremony as Melissa Shostak viewed the permanent memorial to the seven fallen officers now located in the main hallway of the sheriff's headquarters on Six Mile Cypress Parkway.
  • Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, left, accepts the proclamation declaring the week of May 14 through May 20 as Police Week from County Commissioner Robert Janes, right.
  • Left to right, Capt. Ron Brandich, along with his wife Carla and daughter Allison, attended the Lee County Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Day ceremony with Melissa Shostak. Shostak is the widow of Deputy Michael Shostak who was killed while on duty Nov. 8, 2001.
  • Araba Shrine Pipe Band members, left to right, George Cook, Jim Alvord and Ad Augusta honored the seven Lee County Sheriff officers killed in the line of duty during Wednesday's Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Day ceremony.
  • Batteries and flashlights are just a few items residents can purchase tax-free from May 21 through June 1.
  • Home Depot in Bonita Springs asks residents to plan ahead with hurricane panels.
  • Mark Bransfield, Sunshine Ace Hardware floor manager, left, and Andy Albert, sales, prepare for the state's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which begins Sunday.
  • Braves coach Shannon Rhodes addresses his players during infield practice.
  • Octavio Torres of the Bonita Springs Junior League's Braves eyes a groundball during practice on Wednesday.
  • Twins starting pitcher Travis McAfee allowed three hits and struck out six Mets.
  • James Whittle of the South Fort Myers Little League's Twins asks for time out while North Fort Myers' Mets shortstop Josh Moody looks for the umpire's call in the first inning of Monday's Lee County Tournament championship game. The Mets captured the title 6-2.
  • Halden Lee Casey
  • Christopher Wager
  • Dagoberto Palenzuela
  • Immokalee High School principal Manny Touron performed at the school's Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5, 2006. The celebration, which included dancing, singing, poem recitation, and accordion playing was put on by students and faculty at the school.
  • Coach Dave Tollett with his 8-year-old twins, Cal, and daughter McKenna, showing off their 2nd place San Carlos Little League trophies.
  • Casey Coleman high fives his teammates after pitching the last inning.
  • Short stop Patrick Garrido scores the first of 5 runs for Florida Gulf Coast University in the 6th inning.
  • FGCU third baseman Jason Louwsma takes a second look ooks at Lynn’s Nicolas Boisvert after Boisvert was caught stealing by catcher Craig Smith during the 2006 season.
  • Casey Coleman, a freshman from Cape Coral, breaks for home to score FGCU’s first run after Graig Smith’s single got past Lynn shortstop Jimmy Bacon in the fifth inning Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Region baseball tournament at the University of Tampa.
  • Casey Coleman, with ball, turns a double play with shortstop Patrick Garrido in the fourth inning against Lynn University on the first day of the Division II South Regional baseball tournament, played at the University of Tampa.
  • South Fort Myers High School graduated their first-ever senior class on Thursday at Alico Arena on FGCU's campus.
  • South Fort Myers High School 2006 graduate Keshon Major, 18, is congratulated by good friend Jasmine Williams, 18, in the lobby of Alico Arena Thursday after the commencement of graduation ceremonies for the high school.
  • It's a last minute cap check for Katie Glovas, 17, left and Jessica Vaillancourt, 19, right, under the watchful eye of South Fort Myers High School mascot 'Fang.'
  • South Fort Myers High School seniors are reflected in the helmet of an ROTC guard before the start of the first graduation ceremonies at the new school on Thursday. Kristen Bobb, 18, background left, and Jessica Yourell, 16, right, embrace.
  • Tylea Gilmer, 18, left, Katie Glovas, 17, center, and Jenifer Milbrodt, 18, right, step out of line for a quick picture before the start of graduation ceremonies for South Fort Myers High School on Thursday.
  • Graduating senior Christopher Gibson waves with both arms as he and the rest of the first graduating class at South Fort Myers High School walk through Alico Arena Thursday.
  • Mary Joseph, 17, gives South Fort Myers career specialist Nancy DeShazo a big hug after receiving her high school diploma during Thursday's graduation ceremonies held at Alico Arena in Estero.
  • The first graduating class of South Fort Myers High School toss their caps in celebration at the end of commencement ceremony at Alico Arena on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus Thursday.
  • Collier County Sheriff Don Hunter straightens a photo of a fallen officer during a service to remember deputies killed in the line of duty Thursday morning, May 18. The service was held at the Collier County Sheriff's Office Memorial at the Government Center, which is engraved with the names of eight deputy sheriff's who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • A white carnation and a deputy's hat sit on the hood of a Collier County Sheriff's Department car at a service to remember deputies killed in the line of duty Thursday morning, May 18. The service was held at the Collier County Sheriff's Office Memorial at the Government Center, which is engraved with the names of eight deputy sheriff's who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Kristi Amos, right, hugs Collier County Sheriff Don Hunter as her sister Kathy places a white carnation by a photo of their father, Investigator Arthur Amos, during a service to remember deputies killed in the line of duty Thursday morning, May 18. Amos, who died Dec. 3, 1979, is one of eight deputies remembered as part of National Police Officer's Week. The service was held at the Collier County Sheriff's Office Memorial at the Government Center, which is engraved with the names of eight deputy sheriff's who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Collier County Sheriff’s Office mounted patrol officers salute the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance to start the service to remember deputies killed in the line of duty Thursday morning. The service was held at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Memorial at the Government Center, which is engraved with the names of eight Collier County sheriff’s deputies who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Kristi Amos, from left, and Kathy Amos, daughters of Investigator Arthur Amos, and Doug Caperton, brother of Cpl. Mark Caperton, listen to the “Last Call” to remember deputies killed in the line of duty during a memorial service Thursday morning. Caperton and Amos are two of the eight officers remembered during the service at the Sheriff’s Office Memorial at the Collier County Government Center. The memorial is engraved with the names of the eight deputies who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Carlos Alves, of Miami, works on a mosaic mural at Immokalee Middle School on Thursday. Alves and his wife went to the school many times over the past six weeks to lead ceramic workshops, during which the students created hundreds of ceramic pieces for the wall. Those pieces are being combined with colored tiles to create the mosaic, work on which continues today. The project was funded by the Miracle II Project and the United Arts Council of Collier County.
  • Steve Hayes, 25, chases down his dog, Wilma, while visiting Dog Beach in Bonita Springs on Thursday morning. Hayes, a firefighter in North Naples, named his dog after Hurricane Wilma because Hayes was able to purchase the dog with money from the overtime he worked during the storm.
  • Collier County Sheriff Don Hunter gives the memorial address during a service to remember deputies killed in the line of duty Thursday morning, May 18. The service was held at the Collier County Sheriff's Office Memorial at the Government Center, which is engraved with the names of eight deputy sheriff's who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Gardy Bradley, center, performs with The Community School of Naples steel drum band during a food drive organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Pelican Bay Rotary Club, and Collier Harvest in Mission Square West on May 13.
  • General manager Bob McCurry says the shops at the Promenade at Bonita Bay give Bennigan’s outdoor bar a more upscale feel, which helps bring in affluent customers. “Plus, people just feel safe here to have a good time,” McCurry says.
  • Nightclubbing used to begin with a stop at the Circle Bar. Then many headed upstairs to dance at a Miami-style club called Aja. That club’s now gone, but young people in search of an evening of fun still stop by the outdoor bar.
  • Mark Moser, left, of Naples talks with Shariff and Celine Hassan of Estero at Bennigan’s Circle Bar. In the early evening, the outdoor bar typically serves friends and co-workers meeting after work. By about 10 p.m., though, it’s more of a place for singles to meet.
  • Bennigan’s bartender Frank Freeman gets creative mixing drinks. Although the bar staff is known to show off a bit, most weekend nights are so packed there isn’t time for pizzazz. “All we have time to do is sling drinks,” says bartender Nick Matarrese.
  • More commonly thought of as a casual-dining restaurant, the outdoor bar at Bennigan’s in Bonita Springs has become popular with singles.

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