DIRECTORS PAGE

HLB LIGHTNING FIREBALL-TRX-NATSTOPSVO

nats of pop fireball and oh s**t

LIGHTNING LITERALLY FLASHED BEFORE HER EYES!

HLC TOXIC TOAD KILLS DOG-TRX-VOTOPS

WET WEATHER IS BRINGING OUT A DANGER TO YOUR PETS.

HLA MEDSTAR MESS HAWES ASKED TO RESIGN-TRX-OC

A SURPRISE TWIST IN TODAY'S LEE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING.

ANOTHER CALL FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER TO STEP DOWN IN THE WAKE OF THE MEDSTAR SCANDAL --

5PM OPEN-CLIP

MEDSTAR MESS HAWES ASKED TO RESIGN-2SH- SS-OC

THE CALLS ARE GROWING TONIGHT FOR THE LEE COUNTY MANAGER TO STEP DOWN.

GOOD EVENING I'M PETER BUSCH.

AND I'M KELLIE BURNS.

TODAY IT ALL CAME TO A HEAD --

COMMISSIONER FRANK MANN TOLD KAREN HAWES SHE NEEDS TO RESIGN.

GROWING FRUSTRATIONS OVER THE GROUNDING OF LEE COUNTY'S ONLY MEDICAL HELICOPTER -- ALREADY FORCED TWO OTHER MANAGERS TO RESIGN.

MEDSTAR MESS HAWES ASKED TO RESIGN-TRX-PLASMA

PRETTY HEATED, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR KAREN HAWES.

FOR WEEKS NOW -- WE'VE HEARD COMMISSIONER BRIAN BIGELOW ASK FOR HAWES TO RESIGN.

MEDSTAR MESS HAWES ASKED TO RESIGN-SOTVO

3:08:33 it is my hope.particularly considering ms hawes exemplary record for 25+ years that she might consider stepping aside under these circumstances 52

MANN DIDN'T ASK FOR HER RESIGNATION TODAY -

HE'LL MAKE A FORMAL MOTION FOR ENDING HER CONTRACT AT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING.

MEDSTAR MESS HAWES ASKED TO RESIGN-SOTVO

I really cant.voluntarily stepped down

IF TAKEN OUT OF HER POSITION AS COUNTY MANAGER -- HAWES WOULD BE THE *THIRD TOP ADMINISTRATOR OUT OF A JOB FOLLOWING A SERIES OF NBC2 INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE MEDSTAR SHUTDOWN.

EMS CHIEF KIM DICKERSON RETIRED FRIDAY.

MEDSTAR MESS HAWES ASKED TO RESIGN-PLASMA

A HANDFUL OF CURRENT E-M-S EMPLOYEES ADDRESSED COMMISSIONERS THIS MORNING --

SOME OF THEM ASKING THE BOARD TO *KEEP* HAWES.AND GIVE HER A CHANCE TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT.

SANDUSKY SENTENCING-VO

JERRY SANDUSKY WILL SPEND AT LEAST 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

A JUDGE SENTENCED THE FORMER PENN STATE ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH TO 30 TO 60 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

HE WON'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE UNTIL HE IS 97.

IN COURT TODAY --

SANDUSKY SENTENCING-SOTVO

"In my heart I know I did not do these alleged, disgusting acts." /

"His statement today was a master piece at denial self delusion and completely unteathered from reality and without any acceptance of responsibility."

SANDUSKY WAS CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING TEN BOYS OVER 15 YEARS.

CHARTER SCHOOL REPLACEMENT SEARCH-OC-TURN-BOXES

THE TOP EDUCATOR IN THE CITY RUN CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CAPE CORAL IS STEPPING DOWN.

DOCTOR LEE BUSH WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

CHARTER SCHOOL REPLACEMENT SEARCH-REM-LIVE

CHARTER SCHOOL REPLACEMENT SEARCH-trx-PKG

-councilman kevin mcgrail/charter school board member

-Dr. Lee Bush / Administrator

After 36-years in education, doctor lee bush is calling it quits.

-lee bush/administrator-"it is time for me to move on and do other things in my life."

At the end of this school year, bush will be retiring as head of the cape coral municipal charter school system.

A system which includes four schools and some 3-thousand students.

-bush-"we've grown tremendously over the years."

The search is on to find bush's replacement.

-board member saying something.

Today the charter school advisory boards heard presentations from three search firms.

-search firm making pitch

All promising to find the board the best candidate - for a price.

-councilman kevin mcgrail-"the problem when you try and save money is are you getting the best candidate."

The firm of Carney sandoe charges anywhere from $18-thousand to $30-thousand dollars for its client search. That price *doesn't include any travel or advertising."

-ray & associates making pitch

Ray and associates charges a flat fee of $14,500. That price does *not include any candidate background checks or advertising.

-hazard, young & associates making pitch

Hazard, young and associates charges $19,500 for its search services - plus any expenses.

Bush will play a role in selecting his successor, but is looking forward to his new role of retiree.

-bush-"were going to be traveling in an RV. We have kids all ove ther country. We have friends we'd like to spend time with."

CHARTER SCHOOL REPLACEMENT SEARCH-REM-LIVE

LEHIGH CHIEF RESIGNATION-OC

IT WILL BE AN EARLY RETIREMENT FOR LEHIGH ACRES FIRE CHIEF DONALD ADAMS.

UNDER SCRUTINY AMID ACCUSATIONS THAT HE WATCHED PORNOGRAPHY AT WORK --ADAMS ANNOUNCED HE WILL RETIRE AFTER JUST SIX YEARS ON THE JOB.

LEHIGH CHIEF RESIGNATION-PKG-BNR

14:50 "My heart, and my soul, my passion is the fire service." Adams

BUT EVEN THAT WASN'T ENOUGH TO KEEP LEHIGH ACRES FIRE CHIEF DONALD ADAMS FROM SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

20:42 "It's not how good of a job I've done and what this organization has gone through in trying to keep it together it's the fact that there's a lot of pressure there from people trying to tear my name down." Donald Adams, Chief LAFD

HE SAYS IT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT FACTORED IN HIS DECISION TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT.

THE OTHER IS-- IT'S JUST TIME.

11:36 "It's been like a roller coaster so to speak been some ups and downs." Adams

THE UPS.APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVING TWO FEDERAL GRANTS TOTALING ABOUT 15 MILLION DOLLARS.

MONEY FROM THE SAFER GRANTS SAVED SEVERAL JOBS.

THE DOWNS.ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN UNFOUNDED ADAMS USED WORK TIME TO BROWSE INAPPROPRIATE WEBSITES.

20:37 "It's just a constant from some people trying to tear my name down that's disheartening to me." Adams

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND UNION ARE STILL IN THE WORKS.ADAMS SAYS HE'D RATHER NOT HAVE A HAND IN IT.

BOARD MEMBER JEFFERY BERNDT SAYS IT'S NOT AN IDEAL MOVE.

29:37 "I would imagine that it would probably be better for all parties involved that if he would stay involved in it but I can't imagine that's going to happen." Jeffery Berndt, Chairman, Board of Fire Commissioners

BERNDT SAYS THE ANNOUNCEMENT ISN'T A TOTAL SURPRISE AND DESPITE PAST DISAGREEMENTS HIS PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED.

32:15 "I think when everything comes out in the wash the district will miss him to."Berndt

THE BOARD WILL MEET TO DECIDE ADAMS' LAST DAY AND WHO HIS REPLACEMENT WILL BE.

DECISION 2012 OPEN-CLIP

LAST DAY TO REGISTER-HLFSCREEN

27 DAYS TILL ELECTION DAY --

AND TODAY IS THE LAST DAY YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE.

WE'VE PUT THE APPLICATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE N-B-C DASH TWO DOT COM.

JUST CLICK ON NEWSLINKS.

THEY CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT ANY SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ELECTIONS OFFICE.

LEE COUNTY VOTERS WHO REQUESTED ABSENTEE BALLOTS SHOULD BE GETTING THOSE THIS WEEK.

THE LAST DAY TO GET A MAIL IN BALLOT IS OCTOBER 31ST.

OBAMA IN MIAMI-OC-REM-LIVE

PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL BE IN MIAMI ON THURSDAY FOR SEVERAL CAMPAIGN EVENTS.

RIGHT NOW THE PRESIDENT IS IN ANOTHER CRUCIAL SWING STATE --

OHIO.

THIS IS A LIVE LOOK FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS ABOUT TO SPEAK. HE'S TRYING TO RALLY THE YOUTH VOTE.

BIG BIRD AD-NATSVO

MEANWHILE --

AN UNLIKELY STAR, NOW THE FOCUS OF A NEW AD FROM THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN, IS SPARKING CONTROVERSY.

one man has the guts to speak his name. Big bird big bird big bird. It's me big bird. Big yellow a menace to our economy. But romney knows it's not wall street you have to worry about it's seasme street.

SESAME WORKSHOP IS ASKING TO OBAMA CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE THE AD.

ROMNEY CAMPAIGN TODAY-VO

AS FOR ROMNEY --

HE JUST LEFT A FARM IN IOWA --

MOCKING THE PRESIDENT ON THAT BIG BIRD AD.

TODAY -

HE PROMISED BETTER TAX POLICIES FOR RURAL AMERICANS.

AND ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT OF NOT ADDRESSING SERIOUS ISSUES BY CONTINUING TO BRING UP THE BIG BIRD COMMENT FROM THE DEBATE.

PAUL RYAN MOM MAKING CALLS-NATSTOPSVO

"Can Mitt Romney and my son Paul Ryan count on your support?"

EVEN THE CANDIDATES FAMILIES ARE GETTING INVOLVED NOW THAT ELECTION DAY IS SO CLOSE.

PAUL RYAN'S MOTHER MADE THE NINE MILLIONTH CAMPAIGN CALL IN FORT LAUDERDALE TODAY.

VP DEBATE-SSTOPS

AS FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES --

THEY ARE PREPARING TO FACE OFF ON THURSDAY.

WHILE V-P DEBATES DON'T TYPICALLY MATTER MUCH --

THIS ONE COULD BE AN EXCEPTION.

PANTHER DEATH-TRX-OC

ANOTER PANTHER DEATH TO TELL YOU ABOUT. THE THIRD IN THREE DAYS IN COLLIER COUNTY.

A CAR HIT A THREE MONTH OLD ENDANGERED PANTHER THIS MORNING NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE FAIR GROUNDS ON IMMOKALEE ROAD.

FAMU HAZING-VO

NEW DEVELOPMENTS TONIGHT IN THE FAMU HAZING SCANDAL -

A 'NO CONTEST' PLEA FROM THE FIRST OF MORE THAN A DOZEN DEFENDANTS CHARGED.

23-YEAR-OLD BRIAN JONES ISN'T ADMITTING OR DENYING GUILT IN THE CASE.

NAPLES AIRPORT EXPANSION-VO

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EFFORT TO BRING A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE TO THE NAPLES AIRPORT.

OUR NEWS PARTNER, THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS, IS REPORTING OFFICIALS FROM THE NAPLES AIRPORT TRAVELED TO JET BLUE HEADQUARTERS FOR A MEETING.

JET BLUE WANTS TO COME TO NAPLES --

ESTERO GARAGE FIRE-VO

A CHARGER FOR A SMART CAR IS BEING BLAMED FOR A BIG FIRE IN ESTERO --

IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AT A HOME ON MONTESSA COURT - OFF CORKSCREW ROAD.

FIREFIGHTERS SAY THE CHARGER FOR THE ELECTRIC CAR -- WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE -- CAUGHT ON FIRE.

ELECTRIC CARS THREAT-VOTOPS

MEANWHILE A NEW STUDY FINDS THOSE ELECTRIC CARS MAY BE DAMAGING THE ENVIRONMENT.

A REPORT SHOWS FACTORIES THAT MAKE THE CARS EMIT MORE TOXIC WASTE THAN CONVENTIONAL CARS.

THAT'S BECAUSE PRODUCING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CARS REQUIRES A LOT MORE CHEMICALS.

STILL, RESEARCHERS SAY ELECTRIC CARS CAN MAKE SENSE IN THE BIG PICTURE,

COLLIER BUS BOY HONORED-VO

THE STUDENT FROM COLLIER COUNTY CREDITED WITH BRINGING HIS BUS TO A STOP AFTER HIS DRIVER PASSED OUT WILL BE HONORED THIS WEEK.

THE GOLDEN GATE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL ARE RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF JACKSON BONAR ON FRIDAY.

JACKSON BROUGHT HIS BUS TO A STOP AFTER THE DRIVER SUFFERED A MEDICAL CONDITION. HE THEN CALLED HIS MOTHER, TO CALL 9-1-1.

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

A COLLIER COUNTY WOMAN CAPTURES INCREDIBLE VIDEO OF A DANGEROUS LIGHTINING STRIKE --

nats of lightning strike and pop

NBC2 TRACKS DOWN THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CAMERA.

PLUS - TOXIC TOADS CAN KILL YOUR PETS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES --

AND THEY ARE ALL OVER SOUTH FLORIDA.

TZ1 A) LIGHTNING FIREBALL-NATSVO

TZ1 B) TOXIC TOAD KILLS DOG-VOTOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

MARKET CLOSE-CGTOPS

ROBERT WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

REFRESHING CHANGE TO OUR WEATHER

Did the title get your attention? I'm sure it did. Refreshing is synonymous with exhilarating, rejuvenating, reinvigorating, and reviving.

Pick the term you want to use. It's how we can explain the pattern change coming to our weather this week.

A cold front has been teasing us from the north for several days now. It's finally going to move far enough to our south tonight that a little touch of dry air will invade south Florida. That dry air will greatly decrease our rain chances, clear out the skies, and lower our humidity levels.

This means it won't feel so oppressive every afternoon! Oh, and as for the mornings - We will see lows dropping as far down as 68 over the next seven days.

Refreshing.

Here's what will happen. Wednesday morning will be partly cloudy, and there will be a patchy fog around daybreak. Lows will be around 73. The sunshine will zap all the fog, and we see highs get close to the 90 degree mark. With the lower humidity rolling in it will not feel as uncomfortable. We'll also be dry tomorrow afternoon.

Thursday through Saturday is when you'll really feel the change. Lows will be in the upper 60s, and it'll simply be a great start to the day. We'll see mostly sunny, dry weather. Just gorgeous!

TOXIC TOAD KILLS DOG-VOTOPS-2SH-TURN-OC

TAKE A GOOD LOOK --

THESE TOADS CAN BE DEADLY TO YOU PETS AND YOUR CHILDREN.

AND THE RAINY SEASON IS MAKING THINGS WORSE.

THEY ARE CALLED BUFO TOADS.

AND THEY'RE POISONOUS.

THEY ARE NOT NATIVE TO FLORIDA, BUT YOU CAN FIND THEM JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE.

TOXIC TOAD KILLS DOG-PKG

"I knew he had gotten into some creature because I could hear him shaking it." "I'm accustomed to him hunting down creatures out here."

BUT WILLIE, THE JACK RUSSELL HAD TASTED A FATAL BITE.

"I would say from 3 to 5 minutes. He started to stiffen up."

THE SEIZURES STARTED. HIS OWNERS KNEW TO RUSH HIM TO THE VET.

"he died along the way - didn't even make it there.": "I would say. From the time he encountered the frog and his death. Was about a half hour."

DEBORAH BARRETT WOULD LATER FIND A BUFO OR CANE TOAD LIKE THIS ONE.

"willie had bitten it in its rear and it was dead so I was able to see it and it was large. It was big enough to fit into both palms of my hands. You could fit it on a salad plate."

DOCTOR PAUL LANGSTON SAYS THE TOADS HAVE MOVED INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE BAY AREA. TOXIC skin-gland secretions CAN IRRATE HUMANS EYES WHO HANDLE THEM. BUT ARE DANGEROUS TO ANIMALS.

"especially in a small dog - sometimes the toxic exposure could be within a matter of 15 minutes to half an hour where it could be lethal."

"when you have a young dog full of life and in a half hour they're gone - it's very shocking."

TOXIC TOADS IN SWFL-VO

THE BUFO TOAD CAN BE FOUND IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IF YOUR PET COMES IN CONTACT WITH ONE OF THESE TOADS --

FLUSH THEIR MOUTH OUT WITH WATER IMMEDIATELY -

THEN TAKE THEM TO THE VET.

POST YOUR PINK-SS

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

N-B-C TWO IS A SUPPORTER OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AFFILIATE OF SUSAN G KOMEN FOR THE CURE.

SO WE ARE ASKING OUR VIEWERS TO "GET YOUR PINK ON" THIS MONTH, POST YOUR PICTURE ON OUR WEBSITE - AND YOU MAY BE FEATURED ON ONE OF OUR NEWSCASTS.

UPLOAD YOUR PICTURES TO NBC-2.COM AND CLICK ON SEE-SHOOT-SEND.

COLUMBUS DAY PET ADOPTION EXTENDED-VO

SPECIAL RATES IN HONOR OF COLUMBUS DAY ARE BEING EXTENDED AT LEE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE SHELTER IS OVERCROWDED --

AND IS DROPING RATES TO 14-92.

THAT INCLUDES SPAY/NEUTERING AND VACCINATION.

DEALS ARE GOING ON ALL MONTH.

DURING DOGTOBER --

PET ADOPTIONS ARE HALF OFF --

AND EVERY SATURDAY --

ENGLEWOOD LIBRARY CLOSED

A HEADS UP FOR ANYONE WHO USES THE LIBRARY IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION WORK IS SET TO BEGIN ON THE ENGLEWOOD CHARLOTTE LIBRARY ON NORTH ACCESS ROAD.

IT WILL AFTER THIS SATURDAY.

TEASE TWO-2SHOT

THE POWER OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE.CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

NATS OF STRIKE

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WOMAN HAS A NEW OUTLOOK ON THE IMPORTANCE OF STORM SAFETY.

TZ2 A) LIGHTNING FIREBALL-NATSVO

ALL NEW TONIGHT AT SIX OPEN-CLIP

TZ2 B) CHRISTINA STANDUP TEASE-SOT-TOPS

LIGHTNING FIREBALL-NATSVO-2SHOT-TURN-BOXES

IT IS THE STORM ONE WOMAN IN COLLIER COUNTY WILL NEVER FORGET.

LIGHTNING HITS A NEIGHBORS TREE --

CREATING A FIREBALL IN HER BACKYARD.

AS YOU JUST SAW AND HEARD --

IT WAS ALL CAUGHT ON CELL PHONE VIDEO.

N-B-C TWO'S RICK RITTER IS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE VERY TREE WHERE THE LIGHTNING HIT--

LIGHTNING FIREBALL-REM-LIVE

LIGHTNING FIREBALL-PKG-BNR

PKG

Rita Krill/Naples = 0:21

Dan Summers/Collier County Emergency Management = 0:58

RITA KRILL MOVED TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FROM CALIFORNIA AND QUICKLY DEVELOPED A NEW HOBBY.

RITA KRILL/NAPLES

6:37 "We never experienced this sort of weather."

KRILL QUICKLY FOUND HERSELF FASCINATED BY THE INTENSE LIGHTNING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE 53-YEAR OLD STARTED TO SIT OUTSIDE AND WATCH THE CLOUDS ROLL IN.

RITA KRILL

5:52 "We love thunderstorms, so we sit out here sometimes until the lightning gets real close."

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT IS WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 5TH. KRILL WAS CAPTURING A STORM ON HER CELL PHONE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN

LIGHTNING STRUCK RIGHT IN HER NEIGHBORS BACKYARD, CREATING A FIREBALL.

RITA KRILL/7:00 "I've never been involved with anything like that."

THE STRIKE SENT KRILL RUNNING BACK INSIDE--

WHEN IT WAS OVER, KRILL FOUND THE BARK SHREDDED OFF HER NEIGHBORS TREE, AND NEARBY ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNED AWAY.

RITA KRILL/7:43 "It's just frightening as can be."

COLLIER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGERS TOOK A LOOK AT THE AMAZING VIDEO AND TELL ME THE FACT KRILL WASN'T INJURED IS AN EVEN BIGGER SURPRISE.

DAN SUMMERS/COLLIER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2:02 "This individual was very lucky, thankfully she was just inside the doorwell."

A REMINDER TO ALL, SEEK SAFE SHELTER, ANYTIME LIGHTNING'S IN SIGHT.

LIGHTNING FIREBALL-REM-LIVE

NEW AT 530-BNR-2SHOT

CONFUSION OVER ABSENTEE BALLOTS!

NEARLY 40-THOUSAND BALLOTS SENT TO VOTERS--

TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO--

ARE *WRONG*!

TONIGHT NBC2 IS LOOKING INTO WHAT HAPPENED--

AND IF IT WILL AFFECT NEXT MONTH'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS!

AND THIS IS SO NASTY ON SO MANY LEVELS.

A FLORIDA MAN IS DEAD--

AFTER EATING DOZENS OF COCKROACHES!

WHAT'S EVEN MORE BIZARRE IS *WHY* HE WAS DOING IT!

A) ABSENTEE BALLOTS-VO-WIPE

B) ROACH EATING CONTEST-VOTOPS