DIRECTORS PAGE

BREAKING NEWS OPEN-CLIP

TOSS TO STACEY-VTPS-2-SHT-OBX

BREAKING NEWS--

A JURY RECOMMENDS CONVICTED KILLER, ROBERT DUNN, SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDERING HIS ESTRANGED WIFE.

THE JURY CHOSE TO NOT RECOMMEND THE DEATH PENALTY.

IT WAS NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN DUNN STORMED INTO A CAPE CORAL DAYCARE, AND SHOT AND KILLED HIS WIFE AT POINT BLANK RANGE.

NBC2 ANCHOR, STACEY DEFFENBAUGH, JUST STEPPED OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM.

DUNN JURY DELIBERATIONS-REM1 LIVE

DUNN JURY DELIBERATIONS-VOWIPE

BOBBIE NOONAN FILE-VO

DUNN JURY DELIBERATIONS-SOTVO

DUNN JURY DELIBERATIONS-REM1 LIVE

OLD SANIBEL CAUSEWAY-VO

IT'S ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD.

BUT TONIGHT, WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT CRACKS ALREADY FOUND IN THE NEW SANIBEL CAUSEWAY.

AN NBC2 INVESTIGATION BACK IN 2003 REVEALED SERIOUS EROSION BENEATH PARTS OF THE *OLD BRIDGE, WHICH WAS BUILT IN 19-63.

TOSS TO LAUREN-2-SHT-TURN

OUR INVESTIGATION ACTUALLY SPARKED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRIDGE.

THE NEW CAUSEWAY OPENED IN 2007, AT A COST OF 134 MILLION DOLLARS.

BUT IT WAS CLOUDED IN CONTROVERSY.

SANIBEL DIDN'T WANT IT.

THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC POURING ONTO THE ISLAND.

THEY EVEN FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

FAST FORWARD NINE YEARS.

AND WE ALREADY SEE CRACKS IN THE NEW ONE.

SANIBEL CAUSEWAY CRACKING-BNR-PKG

Nats

AMONG THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO CROSS THE SANIBEL CAUSEWAY EACH DAY-- YOU'LL FIND SUSAN BUGARIN, LOOKING FOR SHELLS.

low and behold I swear God came down and put these shells right in front of me and they were the most gorgeous shells

RATHER THAN CROSS ALL THE WAY TO SANIBEL, THE CAPE CORAL WOMAN HANGS OUT ON THE CAUSEWAY'S ISLANDS.

there's so many birds here and the pelicans, it's just a nice place here

FIVE YEARS AGO, LEE COUNTY SPENT MORE THAN 130 MILLION DOLLARS REBUILDING THE THREE BRIDGES--

BRIDGES THAT NOW SHOW CRACKING ALONG THEIR CONCRETE BEAMS.

a certain amount of cracking is ordinary and expected, that this cracking happened so soon after the bridge construction causes a little concern

LEE COUNTY DEPUTY TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR RANDY CERCHIE SAYS THEY NEED DESIGN ENGINEERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

lauren: Is there any reason to think this bridge is unsafe? Randy Cerchie: No, not, at this point.

THE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING COUNTY LEADERS FOR 161 THOUSAND DOLLARS, TO HIRE CONSULTANTS--

TO IDENTIFY EACH CRACK-- AND MONITOR THEM FOR ONE YEAR.

it's a small price I would think, to pay, for a large investment

AN INVESTMENT, THAT IMPACTS AT LEAST 16 THOUSAND DRIVERS, ON AVERAGE, WHO CROSS THE CAUSEWAY EACH DAY.

that sounds like a very very good idea, very logical because you don't want to rush into something, unless you know it's really needed

COUNTY COMMISSIONS WILL CONSIDER THE REQUEST AT THEIR MEETING TUESDAY.

FM DEATH INVESTIGATION UPDATE-VO

WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION ON A DEVELOPING STORY WE TOLD YOU ABOUT LAST NIGHT AT SIX.

THE BODY FOUND FLOATING IN THE CALOOSHATCHEE NEAR DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY FOUND TERRY DIXON DEAD IN THE WATER NEAR EDWARDS DRIVE, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

WE'RE TOLD HE IS A TRANSIENT AND A MILITARY VETERAN.

THEY PLACED AN AMERICAN FLAG OVER HIS BODY.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IS STILL WORKING TO FIND OUT HOW HE DIED.

MEDSTAR AUDIT RELEASED-ONCAM

WE FOUND OUT TODAY--

LEE COUNTY HAS REFUNDED NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO PATIENTS WHO WERE INAPPROPRIATELY BILLED FOR USING THE COUNTY'S MEDSTAR HELICOPTER.

THE NUMBERS CAME OUT IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S AUDIT OF THE FORMER COUNTY FUNDED HELICOPTER PROGRAM.

THE CLERK SAYS THE COUNTY NEEDS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OVER THE PLAN TO PRIVATIZE AT LEAST PART OF THE PROGRAM.

VR LABS NEW INFORMATION-VTPS-OC

LEE COUNTY'S ATTORNEY TOLD BONITA SPRINGS BASED V-R LABS HE STILL WANTS MORE INFORMATION FROM THEM.

A FEW WEEKS BACK -

ATTORNEY MICHAEL HUNT ASKED THE HERBAL PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY WHEN IT WILL HAVE ITS NEW PRODUCTION FACILITY UP AND RUNNING.

HUNT ALSO WANTED TO KNOW THE SALARIES OF NEW EMPLOYEES AND HOW MUCH MONEY THE COMPANY HAS INVESTED IN JOB CREATION.

V-R LABS GOT A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR COUNTY INCENTIVE TO HELP CREATE JOBS.

DANIELS PKWY. WORK THIS WEEKEND-VBX

STARTING TOMORROW AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING--

CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL CONTINUE ON DANIELS PARKWAY IN LEE COUNTY, AT THE EYE 75 OVERPASS.

WE'RE TOLD DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT AT LEAST ONE EASTBOUND LANE TO BE CLOSED, AS WORKERS REMOUNT THE OVERHEAD SIGN, REPAIR LIGHTING, AND REPLACE THE GUARDRAIL.

TOSS TO JOELLE-OC-SOT-SS-DBX

TONIGHT, THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION CALLS THE EXPLODING BEAR POPULATION IN LEHIGH ACRES A "CHRONIC ISSUE".

Take sot-3 sec

Angeline Scotten, Fwc Wildlife Assistance Biologist " take a donut verses palmetto berries, the donuts going to win every time."

EASY ACCESS TO FOOD IS WHY FWC BELIEVES 83 PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SEEING BEARS IN LEHIGH THIS YEAR.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER FOR AN URBAN AREA IN THE STATE.

THE RED AND ORANGE DOTS ARE WHERE THE REPORTS WERE FILED.

NBC2'S JOELLE PARKS IS LIVE IN LEHIGH, WHERE OFFICERS SAY TRAPPING THE BEARS IS NOT THE SOLUTION.

FWC LEHIGH BEARS-REM2 LIVE

It's the best of both worlds!

A nice shady place to sleep and a readily available garbage supply in one place.

FWC LEHIGH BEARS-BNR-PKG

Peggy Benstine calls Lehigh Acres home,

But she's got lots of company.

Sot Peggy Benstine, Lehigh Acres resident " raccoons, panthers, a bear."

The sightings- are often.

Sot Peggy

Joelle-"when was the last time you saw a bear?"

Peggy- "my husband saw the bear last night when he was walking the dog."

While dogs are people usually aren't threatened by bears, Florida fish and wildlife still advises people take precautions.

Sot officer Demian McColgin, FWC

" it's just for their safety and the safety of the bear."

If you see one-

Sot Angeline Scotten FWC Wildlife Assistance Biologist "If you come face to face with one don't run away, make as much noise as you can, you want to scare the bear away. They're generally easy to scare off. You can yell at them, throw things at them, clap your hands together if that does work you want to back off very slowly to give the bear an exit strategy."

Then take measures to make sure it doesn't come back.

Sot Angeline

"Secure your trash, keep it in an area where the bear can get to it, also put out trash the morning of trash day instead of the night before and that will reduce conflicts as well."

That's exactly what Peggy's family did.

Sot Peggy

" my husband built a platform to put them on then bunge cords the lids."

And even though bear sightings are common, They haven't had any problems.

Sot Peggy

FWC LEHIGH BEARS-REM2 LIVE

MORE BEARS IS GOOD NEWS FOR. HE DWINDLING POPULATION, IT'S JUST NOT GOOD HERE, NEAR HUMANS.

IF YOU SEE ONE OF THESE ANIMALS- CALL FWC.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KEEP TRACK OF THE BEARS AND TAG THEM SO THEY KNOW IF ONE IS GETTING A LITTLE TOO COMFORTABLE.

FWC BEAR BREAKOUT-OC-BNR

IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID A RUN-IN WITH A BLACK BEAR, YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO WE POSTED FROM THE F-W-C.

COLLIER IMMIGRATION CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM-ONCAM

NEW RIGHT NOW: THE A-C-L-U JUST ASKED SENATORS BILL NELSON AND MARCO RUBIO TO END COLLIER COUNTY'S CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION PROGRAM.

THE 2-8-7 "G" PROGRAM ALLOWS TRAINED LOCAL DEPUTIES TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS. AND JOB NORMAL DONE BY FEDERAL AGENTS.

IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF DEPORTATIONS IN COLLIER COUNTY.

IT'S SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

PINE ISLAND FLUORIDE VOTE-VOTOPS-OC

PEOPLE ON PINE ISLAND VOTED AGAINST INCREASING FLUORIDE LEVELS IN THEIR WATER.

JUST 60-VOTES SEPARATED THE TWO SIDES.

IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL YET, THOUGH.

CAPE VA CLINIC DEDICATION-VO

A NEW CAPE CORAL VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING PATIENTS IN TEN DAYS.

TODAY, CITY AND STATE LEADERS DEDICATED THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING-- WITH MEMBERS OF THE ARMED SERVICE AT THEIR SIDE.

HUNDREDS WERE AT TODAY'S RIBBON-CUTTING.

THE NEW 220-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS LOCATED OFF DIPLOMAT PARKWAY.

TOSS TO SARA-TRX-2-SHT-OBX

TONIGHT, DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS HAS A NEW LOOK, AND PLENTY OF PEOPLE ARE CHECKING IT OUT.

THE RIVER BASIN PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE.

NBC2'S SARA MILES IS LIVE NEAR THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

FM RIVER BASIN OPENS-REM7 LIVE

FM RIVER BASIN OPENS-NATSVO

HUNDREDS CAME OUT HERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING TODAY - WHICH MARKS THIS SITE AS OFFICIALLY OPEN TO EVERYONE.

THE PROJECT COST ABOUT 5.3 MILLION DOLLARS AND BEGAN CONSTRUCTING THE RIVER FRONT BASIN IN MARCH.

THE BASINS SERVE AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION - COLLECTING STORM WATER RUNOFF AND FILTERING IT BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

FM RIVER BASIN OPENS-SOT-OC

FM RIVER BASIN OPENS-REM7 LIVE

SOMETHING INTERESTING IS IF YOU WERE TO WALK AROUND THE BASIN THREE TIMES THATS EQUIVALENT TO ONE MILE.

IF YOURE COMING TO ART WALK TONIGHT - COME CHECK THIS OUT.

TEASE ONE-ONCAM

THERE IS A NEW SCAM THAT IS CATCHING PEOPLE OFF-GUARD TONIGHT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BY PULLING AT THEIR HEART STRINGS.

THE NBC2 INVESTIGATORS INFORMED SOMEONE TODAY, THEIR HOME WAS BEING USED BY A BAD GUY TRYING TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE'S MONEY.

IN A SPECIAL REPORT--

THE WARNING SIGNS TO AVOID BECOMING THE NEXT VICTIM.

TZ1 A) EBAY CAR SCAM-VOTOPS

TZ1 C) FORECAST TEASE-STC

STOCKS BUMP-CGTOPS

BREAK ONE

MISSING CAPE MAN-ONCAM

CAPE CORAL POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MISSING, ENDANAGERED 71 YEAR OLD MAN.

POLICE SAY BENJAMIN HILL SUFFERS FROM SERIOUS MEDICAL AND MENTAL PROBLEMS.

HE WAS LAST SEEN EARLY THIS MORNING WALKING AWAY FROM HIS HOME ON NORTHWEST 7TH PLACE.

HE'S ABOUT 5-8, 200 POUNDS -- WALKS WITH A CANE AND HAS A HEAVY SOUTHERN ACCENT.

THIS MORNING HE HAD ON CAMOFLAGE PANTS AND A LONG SLEEVED SHIRT.

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.

The warm afternoon and increased humidity will lead to a few showers again tonight and tomorrow. Patchy fog will likely form again tonight - especially where some of the isolated showers are occurring now.

As we start this next weekend in December we are still looking at 82 - 84 degrees each day. You might also notice that the humidity has been creeping up, and this weekend it will feel a lot more like pre-summer weather than "winter" weather in Florida.

A few showers are popping up on radar this evening and tomorrow we will likely track isolated or scattered showers in the afternoon as well. Our sea breeze will kick in by midday and help with the formation of some clouds and the errant shower on Saturday. I would plan on about a 30% chance for showers to develop tomorrow.

The weather maps look a little quieter for us on Sunday, but it will still be warm. The high will hit 84 degrees to end out the weekend.

Looking into next week we see a cold front arriving on Tuesday. In advance of this front we will see increasing clouds and a chance for showers both Tuesday and Wednesday. It doesn't appear that this next front will cool us off, but the chance for showers does go up. It's been a very dry stretch of weather here since November, so the arrival of any and all rain showers should be welcome news!

TOSS TO DAVE-TRX-2-SHT-3-SHT

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BUYING A USED CAR AS A GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS EXPECTED TO BE THE HIGHEST IN FOUR YEARS.

AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY USE EBAY AND CRAIGSLIST TO FIND THE CAR.

BUT THAT BE A BAD IDEA.

EBAY CAR SCAM-3-SHT-1-SHT

THIS LATEST SCAM WE'RE EXPOSING USES A LEHIGH ACRES ADDRESS TO MAKE YOU THINK IT'S REAL.

BUT EVEN IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE BAIT SIMPLY LOOKING AT IT ONLINE COULD CLAIM YOUR COMPUTER.

EBAY CAR SCAM-PKG

04:38:22 Well we all want a deal!

LIKE THIS 2005 HONDA HYBRID WITH JUST 48k miles for $1800 IN LEHIGH ACRES.

04:21:18 It was an unusually good deal obviously.

A VIRGINIA AREA COUPLE TELLS LEE COUNTY FRAUD INVESTIGATOR BETH

SCHELL THEY RESPONDED TO THE AD.

THE OWNER REPLIED SAYING SHE RECENTLY LOST HER SON AND HUSBAND

IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

04:22:01 We're very sorry to hear about her loss, but we're absolutely interested

in the vehicle. 04:22:04

SHE GOES ON SAYING THIS IS MY CHILD'S CAR AND BRINGS ME A LOT OF

MEMORIES THAT MAKE ME SUFFER AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SELL IT.

THE COUPLE ASKS TO TALK BY PHONE ABOUT THE SALE.

04:22:28 The plot thickens by her saying she can't speak 04:22:32

CLAIMING SHE HAD THROAT SURGERY THE COUPLE SUSPECTED FRAUD.

beth Schell/Fraud Investigator // 04:41:52 This particular victim was aware

of the first scam but then fell victim to the second part of the scam. 04:42:00

CLICKING ON LINKS THE SUSPECT SENT IN THE EMAILS.

04:24:56 That's when my laptop went down and whatever the virus was it

destroyed the hard drive.

THE EMAILS CLAIM TO BE COMING FROM THIS LEHIGH ACRES ADDRESS.

WE VISITED THE HOME.

04:49:03 1104 Morton Street east! OH! Lehigh acres.

AND CLEARLY THE OWNER WAS SHOCKED THAT

SCAMMERS WERE USING HER ADDRESS.

EBAY CAR SCAM-1-SHT-2-SHT

NOW INVESTIGATORS TELL ME THE AD WAS FIRST SPOTTED ON CRAIGSLIST, BUT THE SCAMMER THEN SENDS YOU AN EBAY INVOICE TO MAKE IT APPEAR MORE

CREDIBLE.

DAVE DO INVESTIGATORS HAVE ANY IDEA WHO IS BEHIND THIS?

NO!

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

NORMAN BIRDIE AT SHOOTOUT-VO OFF TOP

WITH SOME OF THE BEST GOLFERS IN THE WORLD IN NAPLES THIS WEEKEND. LOTS OF GREAT SHOTS TO SEE.

NOT A GREAT DAY FOR TOURNAMENT HOST GREG NORMAN. BUT GIVE HIM THIS LONG BIRDIE AT THE SEVENTH.

SHOOTOUT BEGINS-ONCAM

AND WITH THAT. THE THREE-DAY FRANKLIN TEMPLETON SHOOTOUT. IS UNDERWAY.

FRANKLIN TEMPLETON SHOOTOUT RD 1-VOTOPS

THE TEAM OF CHARLES HOWELL THE 3RD AND RORY SABBITINI PLAYING WELL. HOWELL THE BIRDIE HERE ON 9. THEY ARE TIED FOR 3RD PLACE.

AS IS THE YOUNG TEAM OF BUD CAULEY-RICKY FOWLER. FOWLER ALSO BIRDIES AT THE TURN. BUT THE DUO STALLS ON THE BACK 9.

THE DEFENDING CHAMPS. KEEGAN BRADLEY AND BRENDAN STEELE. DROP A BIRDIE ON 9. BUT SHOT ONLY A 67.

THE FIRST GROUP OUT TODAY. SEAN O'HAIR AND KENNY PERRY. SOLID THROUGHOUT. GREAT APPROACH BY O'HAIR ON 18. PERRY JUST MISSED THE BIRDIE PUTT. BUT AN 8 UNDER 64. JUST OFF THE LEADERS.

LEADERS REAX-SOTTOPS

SHOOTOUT LEADERBOARD-CGTOPS

LOVE THE THIRD AND SNEDEKER LEAD BY TWO.

THERE'S A THREE-WAY TIE FOR THIRD AT SIX-UNDER.

THE DEFENDING CHAMPS. KEEGAN BRADLEY AND BRENDAN STEELE. FIVE SHOTS BACK.

HS FOOTBALL FINAL FOUR-ONCAM

YOU CAN'T CALL NAPLES OR IMMOKALEE CINDERELLA STORIES.

WE KNEW AT THE START OF THE SEASON THAT BOTH TEAMS HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO MAKE THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STATE FINAL FOUR.

NAPLES AND IMMOKALEE STILL ALIVE-VOTOPS

IMMOKALEE. WHICH FACED INJURIES AND INCONSISTENT PLAY THROUGHOUT THERE YEAR. HAS AMPED UP ITS PLAY AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND PLAYS AT MIAMI JACKSON. ALMA MATER OF ONE LEE CORSO.

KRAMER ACKLEY REAX-SOTTOPS

SPORTS CLOSE-ONCAM

AND DEION SANDERS'S PRIME PREP ACADEMY HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE CITY OF PALMS CLASSIC.

PRIME PREP WITHDREW FROM TEXAS'S UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE. CAUSING TECHNICALITIES THAT FORCED PRIME PREP TO BE DROPPED.

PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL-VOWIPE

71-YEARS-AGO TODAY, THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR THRUSTING AMERICA INTO WORLD WAR TWO.

THERE WERE SEVERAL CEREMONIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TODAY.

THIS ONE WAS ON FORT MYERS BEACH-- AT THE ESTERO BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB.

FLAGS ARE FLYING AT HALF STAFF TODAY.

BUT THIS ONE IS SPECIAL.

PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL-SOTVO

Jim Clawson, WWII Vet

"I'm very appreciative of people recognizing and remembering because somethings tend to drift away and are forgotten."

THAT WAS JIM CLAWSON, A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN.

THE FLAG WILL FLY FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

THE GIVING TREE-VTPS-FSS

WE ARE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR THE NBC2 GIVING TREE.

INSTEAD OF TONIGHT, YOU NOW HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT TO RETURN YOUR WRAPPED GIFT TO ANY PERKINS RESTAURANT.

THIS IS VIDEO WE SHOT TODAY, INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE WHERE GIFTS ARE STORED.

WE'RE ABOUT 22-HUNDRED GIFTS SHORT OF OUR GOAL.

TO HELP US OUT, TAKE A TAG OFF THE TREE AT ANY PERKINS.

CLOSE-4SHOT