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FEMA Authorizes Federal Funds to Help Battle Florida Wildfires Delete 04/28/2011 at 1:12pm
FEMA Authorizes Federal Funds to Help Battle Florida Wildfires

The Sand Paper has learned that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized federal funds to reimburse costs to Florida to fight the Slope Fire in Collier County.

This authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing and controlling the fire. In addition to firefighting, eligible costs can include equipment and supplies, costs for emergency work, police barricading and traffic control.
 

The End of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve? Delete 04/27/2011 at 4:28pm
Estero Bay

The End of the Estero Bay
Aquatic Preserve?

New budget cuts proposed this week by the Florida House and Senate could have far-reaching impacts on the quality of life on this island by spelling the end of management for Lee County's most important natural resource: the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. The Estero Bay Coastal and Aquatic Managed Area (CAMA) was established in 1995 and the information it gathers is crucial to maintaining the vast 11,000 acre watershed that is home to many endangered species and serves as the cradle to our fishing industry.
 

Town Can Borrow Money for Water Utility Delete 04/25/2011 at 5:07pm

Town Can Borrow Money for Water Utility

Two recent developments may mean that the long-awaited redo of Estero Boulevard is on the horizon. This morning, a judge in downtown Ft. Myers validated the Town of Fort Myers Beach’s 2008 referendum to borrow money to fix the island’s aging water utility, and last Friday Commissioner Ray Judah announced the county’s ­­intention to spend $750,000 on planning and designing the upgrade to Estero. Both the Town and the county have expressed their desire to do the two projects simultaneously, and Mayor Larry Kiker hopes that the fact that the Town is now ready will push the county into action.
 

Fort Myers Beach Art Association Student Scholarships Awarded Delete 04/21/2011 at 4:53pm
FMB Art Assoc. Student Scholarships Awarded

Fort Myers Beach Art Association
Student Scholarships Awarded

On Sunday April 17 students, parents, teachers and members of the art association gathered for a reception and awarding of the annual scholarships given to high school seniors going on to study art at a college or university. Senior students from Cypress Lake High Schol for the Arts and Cypress Lake High Schooleach submitted 6 pieces of art work in whatever mediums they chose. They were judged via their bios and their "body " of work, not on individual pieces of art by a panel of art association members. Work was on display for a week along with work from Cypress Lake Middle School art students and Beach Elementary School students.Smaller awards and ribbons were given to the middle and elementary school students.