DIRECTORS PAGE

ELECTION SPECIAL OPEN-SOTTOPS

"We are and forever will be the United States of America!"

"I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction."

ELECTION DAY HANGOVER, FLORIDA THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION STILL NOT DECIDED.

"The only other ballots I will have to read are provisional ballots, and that'll be done on Thursday and Friday."

AND IT COULD BE DAYS BEFORE WE KNOW.

TODAY LEE COUNTY'S SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS MADE A TEARFUL APOLOGY FOR ALL THE MISHAPS.

"Moving forward, I will do whatever it takes to ensure that this does not happen again in Lee County."

BUT VOTER ANGER OVER LONG LINES, AND JAMMED EQUIPMENT LINGERS.

"Steve: you're message to the supervisor of elections tonight? Too bad she wasn't on the ballot."

TO ADD TO IT ALL. THE POST ELECTION STOCK MARKET TAKES A BIG HIT.

IS IT A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?

NEWS AT 6PM OPEN-CLIP

FLORIDA LONELY SETUP-2-SHT-FSS

NEARLY 24 HOURS AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED, FLORIDA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HASN'T DECIDED A WINNER IN THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT.

GOOD EVENING, I'M KELLIE BURNS.

AND I'M PETER BUSCH.

WE'RE STICKING OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB TONIGHT.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TELLING IMAGE.

YOU SEE ALL THE RED AND BLUE STATES.

TOSS TO STEVE-2-SHT-OBX

WE'LL GET TO THE REASON WHY IN A MINUTE.

BUT FIRST, IT IS AN EXPERIENCE THOUSANDS OF LEE COUNTY RESIDENTS WILL NEVER FORGET.

STANDING IN LONG LINES FOR HOURS, SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH FELLOW FRUSTRATED VOTERS.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE, FOR SOME, THE VOTING PROCESS WAS A NIGHTMARE.

MANY OF YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.

AND TONIGHT, WE HAVE ANSWERS STRAIGHT FROM THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

NBC2'S STEVE CAMPION IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE ELECTION'S OFFICE, WHERE TODAY, SHARON HARRINGTON MADE A TEARY-EYED APOLOGY AND ASKED FOR HELP.

HARRINGTON'S APOLOGY-REMLIVE

RAW EMOTION OVERWHELMED SHARON HARRINGTON THIS MORNING.

HARRINGTON'S APOLOGY-BNR-PKG

Sharon Harrington, Supervisor // 0959 "Moving forward, I will do what ever it takes to ensure this never happens again in Lee County."

TEARS FOLLOW AN AGGRAVATING AND AGONIZING ELECTION DAY -- FOR SHARON HARRINGTON.

MANY VOTERS BLAME -- THE WOMAN AT THE TOP -- FOR WAIT TIMES AS HIGH AS 7 HOURS.

Voter: "what would you say to the supervisor? Too bad she's on on the ballot."

Voter: "I can tell you one thing is certain we'll have a new supervisor of elections come next time."

AS DEMANDS FOR HER RESIGNATION INCREASE -- SHE TELLS US -- SHE'LL STAY AT HER POST.

Harrington / 1244 "I don't believe I'm going to resign I don't think we did anything intentional. We didn't try to sabotage the vote. We didn't try to suppress voters.

HARRINGTON BLAMED BROKEN SCANNERS, POORLY TRAINED POLLING STAFF, AND A 4 PAGE DOUBLE-SIDED BALLOT FOR THE HUGE LINES.

Harrington // 1640 "Steve: As a supervisor when you see wait times reach 6/7 hours and voters walk away.This is an extreme failure is it not? I don't know if I'd use the word failure. Maybe in some people's eyes it might have been. It was totally of of my control."

HARRINGTON PROMISED THINGS WILL CHANGE.

AND AFTER ALL HER YEARS OF SERVICE -- MANY VOTERS CALLED YESTERDAY A CRYING SHAME.

HARRINGTON'S APOLOGY-REMLIVE

HARRINGTON TELLS US -- HER NEXT STEP IS LOBBYING THE STATE TO EXPAND EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND ASK LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR MORE MONEY -- SO ONE SCANNER AT MOST PRECINCTS ISN'T THE NORM.

HARRINGTON TRUTH TEST TZ-OC-BNR

HARRINGTON HAS APOLOGIZED.

SHE HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY.

AND SHE PROMISES TO MAKE SURE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS FOR GOOD?

WHAT ABOUT THE LACK OF BALLOT SCANNERS?

MORE POLLING PLACES?

NBC2 INVESTIGATOR DUG DEEPER INTO THE ISSUE.

TOSS TO HEATHER-1-SHT PUSH

SO WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH FLORIDA AND WHY ARE WE THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HASN'T CALLED THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE?

NBC2 ANCHOR, HEATHER TURCO, IS LIVE AT THE INTERACTIVE CENTER TO EXPLAIN.

FLORIDA NOT FINISHED-TRFC CTR

PETER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ANSWER BEHIND ME.

FLORIDA NOT FINISHED-CG-RVL

IN MIAMI-DADE, THE LARGEST COUNTY IN FLORIDA, MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND VOTERS TURNED IN THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS LATE.

IN PINELLAS COUNTY, MORE THAN 9-THOUSAND ABSENTEE BALLOTS RECEIVED ON ELECTION DAY HAVE TO BE COUNTED.

FLORIDA NOT FINISHED-TRFC CTR

IF THE MARGIN NARROWS, THE STATE OF FLORIDA COULD BE HEADED FOR A RE-COUNT.

STOCKS PLUNGE-OC-SOT-OC

ONE DAY AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RE-ELECTION, STOCKS TANKED MORE THAN 300 POINTS.

nats of numbers crashing

IT'S THE WORST ONE-DAY LOSS OF THE YEAR.

PUNDITS LINK IT DIRECTLY TO AMERICA'S CHOICE.

BUT INVESTORS ARE WORRYING ABOUT TAX INCREASES AND SPENDING CUTS THAT COULD STALL THE ECONOMY, UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS.

AND IN EUROPE, LEADERS WARN UNEMPLOYMENT COULD REMAIN HIGH FOR YEARS.

TOSS TO KELLY-TRX-DBX

DEVELOPING TONIGHT AT SIX--

A MAJOR TRAFFIC ALERT FOR DRIVERS WHO USE DANIELS PARKWAY.

A CRASH AT THE I-75 OVERPASS WILL CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HEADACHES.

AND TONIGHT, WE'RE LEARNING THOSE HEADACHES COULD LAST UNTIL THANKSGIVING OR EVEN LATER.

NBC2'S KELLY CRESWELL IS LIVE ON DANIELS, NEAR THE INTERSTATE.

DANIELS OVERPASS FOLO-REMLIVE

DANIELS OVERPASS FOLO-BNR-PKG

DANIELS OVERPASS FOLO-REMLIVE

TOSS TO CHRISTINA-OC-DBX

TONIGHT, THERE'S A WARNING FROM THE LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SPOTTY PATCHES OF RED TIDE ARE SHOWING UP ALONG BUNCHE BEACH, NEAR THE SANIBEL CAUSEWAY.

NBC2'S CHRISTINA LUSBY IS LIVE FROM THE SHORE, WHERE HEALTH EXPERTS WANT YOU TO WEAR SHOES.

LEE RED TIDE RETURNS-REMLIVE

LEE RED TIDE RETURNS-VOWIPE

LEE RED TIDE RETURNS-SOTVO

LEE RED TIDE RETURNS-REMLIVE

TOSS TO GEORGE-1-SHT PUSH

A HISTORIC LAKE IN LEHIGH ACRES IS CLOSER TO BECOMING COUNTY OWNED.

"LEHIGH SPRINGS" HAS BEEN ON THE COUNTY'S RADAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE HOPE IS THE PROPERTY IS AN ARCHEOLOGICAL GOLDMINE.

LEHIGH SPRING PURCHASE-BNR-PKG

JUST OFF THE BEATEN PATH.A HIDDEN TREASURE THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR YEARS.

Ruth Anglickis."it's just part of old Florida heritage that we are just so pleased to see preserved " 46:57

ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE A JUST A SINKHOLE, THIS BODY OF WATER JUST OFF OF JOEL BLVD IS NOW REFEREED TO AS LEHIGH SPRINGS.

IT'S ALSO A SITE SOME HOPE PUT LEHIGH ON THE MAP:

4636 "Great potential not only just for a park area but because of the archeological and paleontological that they will find at that with hopefully one of the leading universities that gets involved." Anglickis

GS: Although its hard to see through the vegitation, this spring is actually 400 feet in diameter and 187 feet deep. It's also one of 3 springs in southwest Florida.

SOME COUNTY LEADERS HAVE BEEN ITCHING TO BUY THE SPRING WITH MONEY FROM THR COUNTY'S PRESERVATION PROGRAM, CONSERVATION 2020.

EARLIER THIS WEEK COMMISSIONERS TOOK THE FIRST STEP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WHEN THEY APPROVED THE PROPERTY'S APPRAISAL TO SET THE STAGE FOR AN OFFER.

SOME ESTIMATE IT WILL COME CLOSE TO 2 AND HALF MILLION.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS READY TO DIVE INTO THE PURCHASE.

CONCERNS OVER CONTAMINATION FROM RUNOFF FROM THE OLD GOLF COURSE NEAR THE LAKE HAS RAISED CONCERNS.BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

"They were worried about how to do the upkeep and whether or not it became a park where they would find the money to do that." 4621 Anglickis

PROPONENTS OF THE PURCHASE SAY ITS SOMETHING THEY ARE ADDRESSING.

THEY HOPE ITS FINALIZED BY CHRISTMAS.

TOSS TO JULIAN-1-SHT

EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF ITEMS TAKEN AWAY FROM AN ORAGNIZATION KNOWN FOR GIVING BACK.

AND THE GROUP BELIEVES THE CROOK WAS ONE OF THEIR OWN WORKERS.

STOLEN SALVATION ARMY-MINIPKG

OFFICIALS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY IN FORT MYERS SAY THEY DISCOVERED THE MISSING MONEY DURING AN AUDIT.

A TOTAL OF EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ITEMS TAKEN.

THEY SAY BY AN EMPLOYEE.

MAJOR THOMAS LOUDEN, SALVATION ARMY: very surprising to us anytime someone takes something from the Salvation Army it’s a shock to us

OFFICIALS SAY THE EMPLOYEE DIDN'T STEAL CASH.

BUT DID TAKE SEVERAL THINGS FROM THEIR RECYCLING PROGRAM WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SOLD FOR CASH TO HELP THE NEEDY.

MAJOR THOMAS LOUDEN, SALVATION ARMY: Anytime someone takes something from the Salvation Army its actually taking something from the community and it impacts everyone especially those in the most need

THE EMPLOYYE WAS IMMEDIATELY FIRED.

LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOW INVESTIGATING THE THEFT.

TEASE ONE-2-SHT

WE ARE ON TOP OF THE STORY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT-- THE PROBLEMS THOUSANDS OF LEE COUNTY VOTERS FACED AT THE POLLS.

THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS APOLOGIZED TODAY.

IN A SPECIAL REPORT--

THE NBC2 INVESTIGATORS FIND OUT WHY THERE WEREN'T MORE BALLOT SCANNERS. AND WHY SHARON HARRINGTON RETURNED NEARLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS OF HER BUDGET BEFORE THE ELECTION.

TZ1 A) HARRINGTON TRUTH TEST-VOTOPS

TZ1 C) FORECAST TEASE-STC

ROBERT VAN WINKLE FORECAST 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.

"A FEW CHILLY NIGHTS AHEAD"

You could definitely feel a change in the airmass today as highs peaked only into the lower to middle 70s, which kept us a good 10° below the norm for this time of year. For the remainder of our Wednesday afternoon we will see a few clouds mixing in with our sunshine, as a northwest wind continues to usher in some cooler air that's rushing in over the relatively warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

That will more than likely keep a few patchy clouds in the forecast tonight with the possibility of a sprinkle or two. You'll also notice a more dramatic drop in our temperatures by morning as they settle into the middle 50s along the urban corridor with a few upper 40s deeper inland. Slightly milder conditions will be felt along our coastal and beach locations with temperatures in the upper 50s to 60°.

A few clouds are still possible in the morning forecast for Thursday, however with a northerly wind developing throughout the day, that will allow some even drier and cooler air to filter down the spine of the peninsula. This will clear any of the leftover clouds out allowing for bright sunshine to return to Southwest Florida. Despite our sunny skies during the afternoon, temperatures will only climb into the lower 70s with very comfortable humidity levels.

Thursday night looks to be the chilliest of the week or even this season. Temperatures will plummet into the upper 40s to low 50s along the urban corridor with a few middle 40s across our inland and northern communities.

It will be a spectacular finish to the work week as high pressure remains in control of our weather pattern with plentiful sunshine, low humidity, and temperatures in the upper 70s. By the weekend, our winds will take more of an easterly turn, which will bring a bit of low level moisture across the state. By Saturday and Sunday, expect a few more clouds dotting the sky with temperatures recovering back into the lower 80s.

TOSS TO DAVE-TRX-2-SHT

THE LEE COUNTY ELECTION DEBACLE LEFT MANY UNABLE TO VOTE AND AS YOU HEARD FIRSTHAND AT THE TOP OF OUR SHOW: ELECTION SUPERVISOR SHARON HARRINGTON ISSUED A TEARFUL APOLOGY.

BUT WHAT LED TO THE ELECTION DAY BREAKDOWN AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN?

NBC2 INVESTIGATOR DAVE ELIAS IS GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF IT FOR US.

HARRINGTON TRUTH TEST-PLASMA

AN ELECTION NIGHTMARE IN LEE COUNTY AS MANY STOOD IN LINE TO VOTE FOR HOURS; OTHERS NEVER GETTING THE CHANCE AT ALL.

HARRINGTON TRUTH TEST-BNR-PKG

nat: 19:05:07 We do need to hear from you.

THE LEE COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE ANSWERING NUMEROUS QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE NBC 2 INVESTIGATORS ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG.

sharon Harrington // 18:33:59 We really did feel like we had adequate equipment for this election. 18:34:02

BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE. MORE VOTERS THAN ANTICIPATED SHOWED UP TUESDAY AND THERE WERE ONLY 167 TABULATORS FOR 125 PRECINCTS - MEANING MOST PRECINTS HAD JUST ONE.

HARRINGTON SAID BASED ON SUPPLY - THOSE PRECINCTS WITH MORE THAN 3500 VOTERS GOT TWO TABULATORS.

18:35:04 That was that four page ballot it really bogged the works down. 18:35:08

SO MUCH SO THAT SOME OF THE MACHINES STARTED BREAKING DOWN.

I ASKED HER WHY HER OFFICE DIDN'T HAVE MORE MACHINES ON STANDBY WITH ALL OF THE RED FLAGS.

18:38:55 If we thought we needed it I'm sure we maybe even could have rented some equipment from our vendors. That was very possible. 19:01:16

WE'VE LEARNED HARRINGTON WOULD HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT HAD SHE NOT VOLUNTARILY RETURNED $1.8 MILLION DOLLARS OF HER BUDGET TO THE COUNTY.

frank Mann // 23:24:53 I think in her zeal to save money and in the spirt of the recession and the problems we were having she accidentally shot herself in the foot. 23:35:04

I ASKED TODAY IF SHE'D TRY TO GET THAT MONEY BACK FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.

dave/sharon// 10:01:44 Is there a chance you're going to need that money back?

I asked them to ear mark it and they said no! 19:01:48

THE ELECTION COST LEE COUNTY AN EXPECTED $1-MILLION DOLLARS.

sharon// 19:02:19 It really won't have any effect on the cost of the election. 19:02:21

HARRINGTON TRUTH TEST-PLASMA

AS FAR AS ALLEGATIONS OF DELIBERATE SABATOGE OF THE ELECTION, HARRINGTON

SAYS THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. SHE ALSO TELLS ME SHE HAD 15

EXTRA MACHINES ON STAND-BY AND DISPATCHED NEARLY ALL OF THEM. SHE SAYS FIVE

MACHINES TOTALLY BROKE DOWN AND THE OTHERS WERE USED TO accommodate LONG

LINES AT CERTAIN POLLING LOCATIONS. SHE SAYS HER GOAL NOW IS TO PURCHASE MORE

TOPPLED FORKLIFT-MAP-VO

CHARLOTTE HOME BURGLARY ARRESTS-OC-SS-MAP

CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES HAVE ARRESTED TWO MEN CONNECTED WITH A STRING OF HOME BURGLARIES.

DETECTIVES TELL US JASON CHACHERE RANSACKED FOUR HOMES OVER THE PAST FIVE DAYS.

THEY SAY ANDREW SCHRAMM HELPED HIM IN ONE OF THE CRIMES.

THE BURGLARIES HAPPENED ON DORIA STREET, GUILD STREET, ALBURY DRIVE, AND GREAT FALLS TERRACE.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

SHOOTOUT PAIRINGS-ON CAM

SHOOTOUT PAIRINGS-CG-VOBOX

THIS DECEMBER'S FIELD INCLUDES THE LAST THREE WINNINGS TEAMS.

KEEGAN BRADLEY - BRENDAN STEELE.DUSTIN JOHNSON - IAN POULTER AND STEVE STRICKER AND JERRY KELLY

VIJAY SINGH PLAYING IN HIS FIRST SHOOTOUT.

SO IS CARL PETTERSSON. AS HIS BRANDT SNEDEKER AND BUD CAULEY.

LEONARD AND VERPLANK HAVE TEAMED UP IN 4 PREVIOUS SHOOTOUTS.

MARK CALCAVECCHIA'S NAME NEVER HITS ON THESE GRAPHICS. HE'S WON THE SHOOTOUT TWICE BEFORE,

CME TITLEHOLDERS-ON CAM-BNR

THE SHOOTOUT IS DECEMBER 7TH, 8TH AND 9TH. THE WEEKEND ROUNDS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE SEEN RIGHT HERE ON NBC-2.

THE BEST FEMALE GOLFERS IN THE WORLD WILL BE IN NAPLES NEXT WEEK FOR THE L-P-G-A- SEASON-ENDING C-M-E TITLE-HOLDERS. WE WANT TO SEND YOU TO TWIN-EAGLES.ALL WEEK.

BLADES MILITARY-VOTOPS

THE FLORIDA EVERBLADES ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT WILL WEAR THESE JERSEYS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TO HONOR THE MILITARY AND VETERANS.

THEN AFTER SATURDAY'S GAME.AUCTION THE JERSEYS OFF.

BLADES MILITARY-SOTVO

THE BLADES PLAY TONIGHT.HOST ELMIRA. THEY'LL DROP THE PUCK AT 7-30.

NHL LABOR TALKS-ON CAM

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE OWNERS AND PLAYERS ARE BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE.

THEY MUST BE GETTING CLOSE TO A DEAL TO END THE LOCKOUT.

SPORTS TOSS-ON CAM

AND IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED FOR US BY A SCHOOL OFFICIAL.

F-G-C-U SENIOR SOCCER PLAYER ASHLEY SIH-CELL-ZICK IS SUSPENDED FOR FRIDAY'S FIRST ROUND OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. AS FGCU - FLORIDA PLAY IN GAINESVILLE.

COLLIER 3 LEGGED CAT-VOWIPE

A THREE-LEGGED CAT IN COLLIER COUNTY THAT WAS LIKELY HIT BY A CAR NEEDS A HOME.

ANGEL IS A SEVEN MONTH OLD AMPUTEE KITTEN.

SHE WAS FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES-- WITH A BADLY INJURED HIND LEG.

COLLIER 3 LEGGED CAT-SOTVO

Sot: daniel christenbury, Collier DAS

"42:22 bc she has overcome such a grave injury she is special and you can tell she has an attitude of gratitude I think."

ANGEL NEEDS A HOME WHERE SHE CAN BE CARED FOR AS AN INDOOR CAT ONLY.

CHARCO PURPLE HEART-VOWIPE

THE FAMILY OF A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN FINALLY HAS HIS MILITARY AWARDS.

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RICHARD WILLING WAS INJURED IN ITALY FIGHTING FOR THE U-S ARMY.

HE BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR A PURPLE HEART AND OTHER MEDALS, BUT NEVER RECEIVED THEM.

SINCE HIS DEATH, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS HAVE WORKED TO GET HIM THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES.

CHARCO PURPLE HEART-SOTVO

"Personally, I just think for a lot of men it wasn't about the medal, it was about what he did."

CLOSE-4SHOT