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American Patriot Delete 07/23/2012 at 10:07pm

Robert W. DePuy"American Patriot” Retires
after 20 Years of Service

It started like any other day in July 1992 when Robert W. DePuy joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Like many others, he started with a safe boating class and found that it looked like fun while helping others at the same time. So began a journey that lasted 20 years.

Bob’s service began in the Navy where he served for 4 years plus another 26 years in the reserve from 1958 thru 1988 in the dental corps reaching the rank of Captain. During his 20 years with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, he collected many accolades including the 2008 George W. Bush Presidential Volunteer Service Award. He also received awards for Auxiliary Meritorious Service, Operational Excellence, Meritorious Team Commendation, Auxiliary Public Education, Department of Transportation Outstanding Unit and an Auxiliary Commandant Letter of Commendation.
 

Illegal Alcohol Sales Delete 07/13/2012 at 12:43pm

Top O' MastTop O Mast Owner Arrested
for Illegal Alcohol Sales

Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (DABT) agents arrested Steven Strauss, owner and licensee of the Top O Mast Lounge, 1028 Estero Blvd, on Wednesday, July 11 at the bar.

The arrest report, obtained from DABT, indicates that DABT Agent Sandy Hillard visited Top O Mast on June 20th and met with Strauss. She showed him the licensed premise sketch that is on file with the DABT showing that the licensed premise includes the building, deck and 19 feet of beach coming off the back deck. She issued Strauss an Official Notice advising him of the legally licensed premises. She also advised the owner that a violation could result in criminal charges, as it’s a 2nd degree misdemeanor to sell alcoholic beverages in a manner not permitted by the license. Patrons on the beach would be in violation of the open container ordinance and could be cited.
 

Golden Dozen Award Delete 07/03/2012 at 4:53pm

Sand Paper Editor Earns
Golden Dozen Award

The Island Sand Paper’s Editor Missy Layfield was honored last week with a Golden Dozen Award by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE). She also was awarded the Houstoun Waring Scholarship by the ISWNE Foundation, named for one of its founders.

Meeting in Bellingham, Washington, the organization, consisting of 250 editors and publishers of weekly community newspapers located around the globe, was represented by representatives from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the United States.

ISWNE was founded in 1955 to help weekly newspapers improve standards of editorial writing and news reporting and to encourage strong, independent editorial voices.

The Golden Dozen Award is earned by twelve ISWNE editors each year through a blind judging process. The awards are given to those editors whose work meets the standards of the ISWNE:
 

USS Mohawk Delete 07/02/2012 at 10:22pm

USS MohawkMighty Mohawk
to be Artificial Reef

In what marked an unprecendented event for Lee County, the WWII ship - the USS Mohawk - sunk beneath the gentle Gulf waves Monday afternoon just before 1pm. The sinking was the result of a joint effort between Lee’s Marine Resources Program and Reefmakers, LLC, a Key West company responsible for the successful scuttling of another WWII-era ship - the USS Vandenburg - off the Conch Republic in 2009.

The Sand Paper accompanied Lee County officials - including Natural Resources’ Steve Boutelle and Commissioner Ray Judah - on board the Great Getaway to witness the sinking, which will make the Mohawk into an artificial reef and veteran’s memorial. The Mohawk is the first such ship to be turned into a reef in Lee’s waters, and Boutelle gave credit to Weatherby’s team for a job well done and also told us that the ship is already generating business in the form of scuba divers scrambling to get a chance to be among the first to dive on the historic vessel.