DIRECTORS PAGE

NEWS AT 6PM HEADLINES-SOTTOPS

***New Tonight***

Doctor Arrested at RSW

A DOCTOR IN DETROIT DURING THE DAY.

BUT AIRPORT POLICE AT R-S-W SAY SHE GOT A LITTLE CRAZY WHEN HER FLIGHT GOT CANCELLED.

IN A LIVE REPORT--

THE ARGUING, SWEARING, AND SCREAMING, THAT LED UP TO HER ARREST AT THE TICKET COUNTER.

***New Right Now***

They Let it Burn

FLAMES DESTROY A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HOME.

AND FIREFIGHTERS DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO PUT IT OUT.

WE'LL SHOW YOU WHY.

***Special Series***

Made in SWFL

FIVE THOUSAND JOBS ARE OPEN IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW.

BUT THEY CAN'T BE FILLED.

NEWS AT 6PM OPEN-CLIP

TOSS TO STEVE-2-SHT PUSH-TURN-DBX

TONIGHT, CITY LEADERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AGREE PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK IN CAPE CORAL.

GOOD EVENING, I'M KELLIE BURNS.

AND I'M PETER BUSCH.

THEY BLAME EACH OTHER FOR EQUIPMENT *FAILING IN THE MOMENTS WHICH MATTER MOST.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED WEEKS AGO--

A FIRE TANKER NEVER ARRIVED AT A FULLY ENGULFED HOME NOVEMBER 30TH, BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL ISSUES.

NBC2'S STEVE CAMPION IS LIVE WITH EXCLUSIVE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

CAPE FF BLAMED FOR BROKEN TRUCK-REM-1

ABSOLUTELY -- THE FIRE UNION QUICKLY POINTED TO TANKER FIVE AS PROOF A WIDESPREAD MECHANICAL ISSUE PLAGUED THE CITY DEPARTMENT.

CAPE FF BLAMED FOR BROKEN TRUCK-BNR-PKG

"There is a structure fire"

AS FLAMES FINISHED OFF THIS CAPE CORAL HOME ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30TH -- FIREFIGHTERS SCRAMBLED FOR RESOURCES.

"Tanker, how far are you out? Tanker 5, I could not get it to crank the battery was dead. The auto ejector ejected and the battery died again."

CAPE CORAL'S FIRE UNION FIRST BLAMED WHAT THEY CALLED THE CITY'S FAILED MAINTENANCE SYSTEM -- FOR TANKER FIVE BEING KAPUT.

John Sullivan, Cape Coral Mayor

5646 "This has nothing to do with equipment. This is human failure."

MAYOR JOHN SULLIVAN -- TELLS US HE'S DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THE UNION'S RUSH TO JUDGEMENT -- GIVEN A NEW REPORT COMPLETELY CONTRADICTS FIREFIGHTERS' ASSESSMENT.

Sullivan

5628 "Anybody who ever charged a battery on a car knows you need two wires for it to work."

IN A MEMO FROM PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR -- HE BLAMES IMPROPERLY STORED EQUIPMENT FOR DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY CHARGER ON TANKER FIVE -- WRITING "FURTHER REVIEW BY FLEET INDICATES THE ISSUE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED INADVERTENTLY BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USERS OF THIS VEHICLE."

CITY LEADERS SUGGEST FIREFIGHTERS SOUNDED THE ALARM FAR TOO EARLY.

Sullivan

5825 "I think before someone gets in front of a camera. They ought to check their facts before making blaNKET statements."

THE CITY MANAGER SAID IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO US -- HE RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENTS FULLY EXAMINE AN ISSUE BEFORE CONTACTING MEDIA.

HE'S FORMED A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FLEET OPERTATIONS.

THE CAPE''S MAYOR SAYS THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION IN THIS CASE.

Sullivan

CAPE FF BLAMED FOR BROKEN TRUCK-REM-1

DESPITE RaISING THE ISSUE -- THE FIRE UNION IS REMAINING PRETTY SILENT.

THEIR PRESIDENT TELLS US THEIR ONLY GOAL IS GETTING THE EQUIPMENT ISSUES RIGHT.

TOSS TO JOELLE-2-SHT-MUG-DBX

TONIGHT, A DOCTOR WHO WORKS IN DETROIT IS STRANDED HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SHE GOT INTO SOME TROUBLE AT R-S-W.

ON THE LEFT IS HER PROFESSIONAL PHOTO.

AND ON THE RIGHT, IS HER NEW MUG SHOT.

NBC2'S JOELLE PARKS IS LIVE AT THE TICKET COUNTER WHERE THE WOMAN GOT INTO A SHOUTING MATCH OVER A CANCELLED FLIGHT, AND ENEDED UP GETTING ARRESTED.

AIRPORT ARREST-CELL-REM

IT ALL STARTED WHEN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALLED IN SICK FOR A SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT.

CAUSING A FLIGHT TO DETROIT TO BE CANCELLED.

NOT ALL PASSENGERS TOOK THE NEWS WELL.

AIRPORT ARREST-PKG

KAITLYN AND KOLLIN KERR CAN ONLY DESCRIBE THEIR DAY LIKE THIS-

sot kollin Kerr, traveler

Very aggravating."

IT STARTED EARLY-

Sot kaitlyn

I woke up at about 3 am this am, got ready, got to the airport, waited in a line for a little bit then the lady told us our flight was cancelled."

THEIR BEST OPTION- TAKE AN AFTERNOON SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT TO DETROIT INSTEAD.

Sot kaitlyn

We're just wanting to see our dad, we had plans that had to get cancelled."

ANTHER PASSENGER ON THEIR FLIGHT DIDN'T WANT TO CANCEL HER DAY AT WORK AS A DOCTOR.

ACCORDING TO THE LEE COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY POLICE REPORT- NANA MIMURA AND HER HUSBAND WERE ARGUING WITH A TICKET AGENT ABOUT THE DELAY.

WHEN POLICE ARRIVED THEY SAY HER HUSBAND BACKED OFF, BUT MIMURA REFUSED TO LEAVE THE TICKET COUNTER.

POLICE SAY SHE CONTINUED YELLING AND SWEARING AT THEM AND THE SPIRIT ARLINES EMPLOYEE, ALL WHILE TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THE STAFF WITH HER IPHONE AFTER BEING ASKED TO STOP.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR SPIRIT AIRLINES TELLS US "'The customer and her husband requested a refund rather than waiting until this afternoon's flight, which we provided. She then started causing a disturbance. When police were called in, she was escorted away.'

MIMURA WAS ESCORTED TO THE LEE COUNTY JAIL.

THIS BROTHER AND SISTER- SAY THEY EXPRESSED THEIR ANGER IN A DIFFERENT WAY- BY CALLING SPIRIT AIRLINES CORPORATE.

Sot kollin

AIRPORT ARREST-CELL-REM

MIMURA IS CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING AND RESISTING ARREST WITHOUT VIOLENCE. I DID GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER AND SHE TOLD ME SHE SAVED PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT THAT SHOW HER SIDE OF THE STORY.

COLLIER HOUSE FIRE-MAP-PIC-VO

TONIGHT, WE HAVE VIDEO SHOWING FLAMES DESTROY AN ABANDONED COLLIER COUNTY HOME.

IT HAPPENED

USED TO BE A GROW HOUSE

A COLLIER COUNTY HOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES BURNS TO THE GROUND.

VO

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO OF A TWO STORY HOUSE ON THE 48HUNDRED BLOCK OF 4Th AVENUE SOUTHEAST IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES.

THE HOMES WAS SO FAR BACK IN THE BRUSH IT WAS INACCESSIBLE TO FIRE CREWS-- SO THEY HAD TO LET IT BURN.

A BRUSH TRUCK WAS SENT IN TO KEEP THE FLAMES FROM SPREADING TO THE SURROUNDING TREES.

THE HOME IS ABANDONED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED.

TOSS TO CHARLIE-OC

Focus: A DJJ detention officer is accused of throwing a cup of coffee and side-swiping a car during a road rage incident last night in Port Charlotte. Tonight we hear from the family who says Tamiko Ellen started yelling at them after they honked at her for drifting into their lane. When the family thought the incident was over, they say Ellen threw her coffee cup at their car, sped up and ran into them. The family followed her onto the highway while talking to dispatchers and trying to get her license plate number. Deputies eventually tracked her down. The family had their one year old baby in the back seat the whole time. Ellen is still working for DJJ in Fort Myers, but is not having any contact with youth while the investigation is underway.

Tease video

Dent on the car

Coffee stains on the car

Family showing me the damage.

Tease bites:

All from Steve Ruthven.

"It was Hard enough to where it almost pushed me to where I was almost going into oncoming traffic."

"it sounded like a huge rock or something hit the window, it was very loud."

"she drove like a mad woman trying to get away from us."

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-REM-7

STEVE RUTHVEN SAYS THE ROAD RAGE STARTED WHEN HE DROVE ACROSS THIS INTERSECTION LAST NIGHT.

TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, HE HONKED AT TAMIKO ELLEN WHO HE SAYS WAS DRIFTING INTO HIS LANE.

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-BNR-PKG

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

"it sounded like a huge rock or something hit the window, it was very loud."

NOT A ROCK - BUT A FULL COFFEE CUP.

ACCORDING TO CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES TAMIKO ELLEN THREW IT AT STEVE RUTHVEN'S CAR.

NATS

MOMENTS AFTER THE HOT COFFEE SPLATTERED ACROSS HIS SUV, RUTHVEN SAYS ELLEN SPED RIGHT BY HIM, CLIPPING HIS CAR WITH HER JEEP.

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

"next thing I know I see her speeding up and she cuts and hits the front of my vehicle and I'm like holy cow she just hit my vehicle. Then she sped off."

RUTHVEN KNEW THE SIDE SWIPE DID DAMAGE, SO HE FOLLOWED ELLEN DOWN HARBORVIEW HOPING TO GET HER LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

"she drove like a mad woman trying to get away from us."

ON THE PHONE WITH DISPATCHERS, RUTHVEN FOLLOWED ELLEN UNTIL DEPUTIES PULLED HER OVER AND ARRESTED HER.

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

"it was definitely road rage."

NEITHER RUTHVEN, NOR HIS GIRLFRIEND OR SON WHO WERE RIDING IN THE CAR WERE HURT, BUT THE DRIVER SAYS THE CRASH NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

"yes it was so totally avoidable."

A DAY LATER, LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE, RUTHVEN SAYS THINGS COULD HAVE ENDED A LOT WORSE.

Steve Ruthven, Port Charlotte

DJJ OFFICER ARRESTED-REM-7

WE TRIED REACHING ELLEN TO COMMENT ON THE STORY, BUT COULDN'T TRACK HER DOWN.

SHE WORKS AT THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON SAYS SHE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AT THE CENTER WHILE THEY DO AN INVESTIGATION.

SHE'S CHARGED WITH HIT AND RUN AND THROWING AN OBJECT INTO A VEHICLE.

PORT CHARLOTTE POI-VO

Charlotte County Sheriff's detectives are asking the public for help in identify a man and a woman who are persons of interest at this time wanted for questioning in connection with grand theft cases in the Port Charlotte area.

CCSO detectives released three surveillance photos taken of the couple in a Port Charlotte store on Dec. 20. Specific details about the grand theft cases are not being released at this time according to detectives.

STOLEN WEAPONS-VOWIPE

RIGHT NOW, LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES NEED HELP FINDING THREE THIEVES.

THE MEN IN THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ARE ACCUSED OF STEALING 30 WEAPONS FROM A NORTH FORT MYERS HOME.

THEY INCLUDE HIGH-POWERED ASSAULT RIFLES AND HANDGUNS.

THE BAD GUYS BACKED UP TO THE HOUSE IN A DARK TOYOTA CAMRY AND SMASHED A WINDOW TO GET INSIDE.

STOLEN WEAPONS-SOTVO

"I really hope that they get all the guns, you know, even if we don't get them back. At least get all the guns off the streets because that's very unsafe for the children. There could be drive-bys and accidental killings and it's real bad. I feel horrible about it."

THE GUN OWNER IS A COLLECTOR WHO RESTORES AND SELLS GUNS FOR A LIVING.

TOSS TO DAVE-TRX-1-SHT

AN UPDATE NOW TO A STORY THAT NBC2 HAS BEEN FOLLOWING FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

TODAY WE LEARNED THAT LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS HAS PAID AARON EDWARDS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF HIS 15 MILLION DOLLAR CLAIMS BILL.

AARON EDWARDS RECEIVES MONEY-PLASMA

KELLIE --

14-YEAR-OLD AARON EDWARDS SUFFERED SEVERE BRAIN INJURIES AT BIRTH DUE TO MISTAKES MADE AT HEALTHPARK HOSPITAL.

HIS FAMILY ORIGINALLY WON A 30-MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST LEE MEMORIAL.

AARON EDWARDS RECEIVES MONEY-BNR-PKG

IT WAS A FIVE YEAR BATTLE THAT CAME TO AN END LAST MARCH.

MITZI: 44:58 I'm ecstatic. I'm so happy that the house and the senate came to the same agreement. :05

A MOMENT OF JOY FOR AARON EDWARDS AND HIS MOTHER MITZI AS HIS CLAIMS BILL PASSED THE FLORIDA SENATE.

SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR - THE LEGISLATION FORCED LEE MEMORIAL TO PAY AARON 15-MILLION DOLLARS FOR INJURIES HE SUFFERED AT BIRTH.

IN AN EMAIL TO NBC2; THE FAMILY SAYS THE FIRST 10-MILLION DOLLARS ARRIVED CHRISTMAS EVE.

MITZI TELLS US QUOTE: "THE NEW YEAR WILL GIVE AARON A FIGHTING CHANGE TO HAVE WHAT MOST TAKE FOR GRANTED."

SHE TELLS US THE MONEY WILL BE PLACED INTO A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST FOR AARON.

ONCE THAT'S SET UP - HOPEFULLY IN JANUARY - THEY'LL USE IT TO BUY HIM A NEW WHEELCHAIR.

AND THEN THEY'LL START LOOKING FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM BETTER GEARED TO HIS NEEDS.

AARON EDWARDS RECEIVES MONEY-PL-(2)CG-PL

THIS IS THE FIRST PAYMENT THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE.

THE BILL CALLS FOR ANOTHER ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.

LEE MEMORIAL TELLS US THE MONEY CAME FROM THE HOSPITAL'S GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET WITH FUNDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN USED TO PROVIDE

VITAL HEALTH SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

NEW UEP DIRECTOR-OC-MAP-OC

TONIGHT, THERE'S A NEW PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLION DOLLAR UTILITIES EXPANSION PROJECT IN CAPE CORAL.

YOU MAY REMEMBER--

BACK IN FEBRUARY, CITY LEADERS DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXPANSION PROJECT.

THE CITY MANAGER TAPPED PAUL CLINGHAN AS THE NEW PROJECT MANAGER.

NEW UEP DIRECTOR-SOT-OC

Paul Clinghan, Utilities Extension Project Manager

"90 percent of the projects I've done over the years is design, bid, build. That brings a methodical approach to getting it out to bid."

CLINGHAN'S FOCUS IS ON SOUTHWEST SIX AND SEVEN -- AN AREA NEAR TRAFLAGAR PARKWAY AND CHIQUITA BOULEVARD.

TEASE ONE-ONCAM

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW IN FLORIDA.

BUT TONIGHT, NBC2 EXPOSES WHY WE DON'T HAVE TRAINED WORKERS TO FILL THEM.

Chad: "so how do you close that so-called skills gap? education, training. as you'll see, not all schools are created equal."

WHAT'S BEING DONE TO EDUCATE WORKERS FOR JOBS AVAILABLE *NOW?

THE ANSWER IN AN NBC2 SPECIAL REPORT: MADE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TZ1 A) MADE IN SWFL PT. 2-SOT-VO

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.

CLOUDS COME BACK TOMORROW

The weather tomorrow will feature more clouds and warmer temperatures as the wind starts to shift more from the south. Tonight will be partly cloudy and another chilly evening is on the way. Temperatures will quickly drop into the 50's this evening and we will land in the 40's again tomorrow morning. Chilly mid-40's will be on the thermometers a few miles away from the Gulf and our beaches will stay in the lower 50's. As Friday afternoon rolls around you'll notice and increase in clouds and there may even be one or two isolated rain showers before sunset. Highs on Friday will climb to the mid 70's.

MADE IN SWFL PART 2-2SHOT, VID BOX, 3SHOT

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME FOCUSING ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

AROUND 8-PERCENT NATIONALLY.

BUT MORE ATTENTION IS NOW BEING PLACED ON ANOTHER NUMBER.

600-THOUSAND.

AS IN 600-THOUSAND JOB OPENINGS RIGHT NOW IN THE FIELD OF MANUFACTURING.

5-THOUSAND OF THOSE ARE IN HERE IN FLORIDA.

BUT WE CAN'T FILL THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRAINED WORKERS.

TONIGHT OUR 'MADE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA' SERIES FOCUSES ON CLOSING THAT SKILLS GAP.

NBC2'S CHAD OLIVER WENT BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.

MADE IN SWFL PART 2-1-SHOT

KELLIE AND PETER. IT'S NO LONGER JUST ABOUT READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMATIC.

THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED TO 'STEM'

SCIENCE. TECHNOLOGY. ENGINEERING. AND MATH.

90-PERCENT AMERICANS THINK MANUFACTURING IS "IMPORTANT" FOR THE U-S TO REMAIN STRONG GLOBALLY.

MADE IN SWFL PART 2-BNR-PKG

You're traditional shop class has gone away. Nobody's making bird houses and clocks anymore."

FEW FEEL THE PRESSURE OF CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP LIKE SUE ROSHON.

SHE OVERSEES SPECIALIZED CLASSROOMS FOR LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

"We realize we have to focus on having our kids prepared now."

IN THIS ROBOTICS CLASS STUDENTS DESIGN.

"Every part on here we machine ourselves."

BUILD.

"we're going for the middle."

THEN TEST THEIR ROBOT.

"There is no program that says just go put it over there."

INSTEAD OF BEING A MECHANIC, THIS FORMER 'CAR GUY' NOW WANTS TO BE AN ENGINEER.

"I like building robotics - yeah it's fun."

THE TEAM'S SENIOR CAPTAIN HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY.

"That's what my dream has been since I was a little kid, was to design my own personal ships."

THERE'S THE FOOTBALL PLAYER WITH A PROMISING FUTURE OFF THE FIELD - THANKS TO HIS PROGRAMMING SKILLS.

"no - it's fine go for the blue!"

THE GROUP FORMED AFTER THEIR TEACHER LEARNED OF 15-MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY - AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS ON COMPETITIVE ROBOTICS TEAMS. LAST YEAR THREE OF THE FOUR SENIORS ON CLYDE GRANT'S TEAM RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS THANKS TO THEIR WORK IN ROBOTICS. A FAR CRY FROM THE 'SHOP CLASS' HE USED TO TEACH.

"There was no engineering program 10 years ago."

NOW HIS STUDENTS USE INDUSTRY-STANDARD SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE.

These 12 stations cost $250,000 per school. per school."

OUT OF 13 HIGH SCHOOLS IN LEE COUNTY, ONLY *THREE* HAVE THIS SHARP FOCUS ON ENGINEERING *AND MANUFACTURING.

I don't think this will be in every high school because it's absolutely too expensive."

ROSHON SAYS FOUR OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS TEACH ENGINEERING. THE OTHERS FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY. SKILLS LIKE WEB AND DIGITAL DESIGN.

:00:53:54

The best part as far as I'm concerned is when we get to take the kids out." 59

RUSHON'S GOAL OF CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP NOW HAS HER TAKING KIDS *OUTSIDE CLASSROOMS.

THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, *ALL HIGH SCHOOLS IN LEE COUNTY ARE TAKING PART IN 'STEM AT WORK.'

STUDENTS TOUR MANUFACTURERS LIKE SHAW DEVELOPMENT IN BONITA SPRINGS.

"Some of them have come out and said I want to change my career to go into manufacturing or mechanical engineering."

MADE IN SWFL PART 2-1-SHT-2-SHT

THOSE SKILLED WORKERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.

IN THE NEXT 6 YEARS - FLORIDA WILL NEED 120-THOUSAND *NEW WORKERS IN "STEM" FIELDS.

BY THE WAY KELLIE, THOSE JOBS PAY MORE ON AVERAGE THAN NON-MANUFACTURING JOBS.

CHAD HOW MUCH BLAME OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 'SKILLS GAP' FALLS TO OUR COLLEGES?

THAT'S THE REASON GOVERNOR SCOTT WANTS TO REFORM HIGHER ED.

LAST MONTH HE SAID HE WANTS TO GET RID OF ONE-TUITION-RATE-FOR-ALL.

INSTEAD - HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE STUDENTS GET LOWER TUITION IF THEY MAJOR IN A 'STEM' FIELD.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

QUEEN OF THE PALMS-VO IN PLASMA

IT MAY NOT HAVE THE FAN FOLLOWING OF THE CITY OF PALMS CLASSIC. BUT THE QUEEN OF THE PALMS CLASSIC IS PRETTY SPECIAL IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

THE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS TOURNAMENT. STARTING TODAY. WITH 64 TEAMS TAKING THE FLOOR.

SEVERAL LOCAL TEAMS ARE IN THE TOURNAMENT.

QUEEN OF THE PALMS BEGINS-VOTOPS

GAMES WILL BE GOING ON UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING. WITH LOTS OF SCHOOLS HOPING TO SEE THEIR NAMES ADVANCE IN THE BRACKETS.

THE TOURNAMENT IS BROKEN UP INTO EIGHT DIFFERENT DIVISIONS. EACH NAMED AFTER A GEMSTONE. SO THERE ARE LOTS OF TROPHIES TO BE HANDED OUT.

AVERY JOHNSON FIRED-VOTOPS

AVERY JOHNSON DIDN'T GET TO SPEND MUCH TIME IN BROOKLYN. AND HE'LL SPEND THE NEW YEAR LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB.

THE NETS FIRED THEIR HEAD COACH TODAY. AFTER BROOKLYN LOST TEN OF ITS LAST 13 GAMES.

COLLEGE HOCKEY CLASSIC-ONCAM

FOR THIRTEEN YEARS. TOP TIER COLLEGE HOCKEY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SPENDING PART OF THEIR HOLIDAY SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THIS WEEK'S FLORIDA COLLEGE HOCKEY CLASSIC SHOULD BE ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

COLLEGE HOCKEY TEAMS IN TOWN-VOTOPS

CORNELL AND MAINE. COMPLETING THE FEARSOME FOURSOME. AND BOTH OF THOSE TEAMS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE ICE TO GET IN SOME PRACTICE TIME BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT BEGINS.

THE BLACK BEARS WON THE CLASSIC LAST SEASON. BUT THE BIG RED MAY BE THE FAVORITE COMING IN. WITH CORNELL RANKED 11TH IN THE NATION.

HOCKEY CLASSIC SCHEDULE-CGTOPS

HERE'S YOUR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE.

CORNELL AND FERRIS STATE PLAY THE OPENING GAME FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT FOUR-OHH-FIVE. FOLLOWED BY MAINE AND MINNESOTA-DULUTH AT SEVEN THIRTY-FIVE.

THE CONSOLATION GAME IS SATURDAY AT FOUR-OHH-FIVE.

DOLPHINS PREPS FOR FINALE-VOTOPS

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ARE FINISHING THEIR SEASON STRONG. AND COULD FINISH THE YEAR AT EIGHT-AND-EIGHT IF THEY CAN KNOCK OFF NEW ENGLAND ON SUNDAY.

MIAMI WAS ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION WITH CINCINNATI'S VICTORY ON SUNDAY.

TANNEHILL BUSH REAX-SOTTOPS

SPORTS CLOSE-ONCAM

AND FORMER RED SOX CATCHER CARLTON FISK HAS PLED GUILTY TO A MISDEMEANOR DRUNK DRIVING CHARGE.

FISK WAS SENTENCED TO A YEAR OF COURT SUPERVISION. AND MUST UNDERGO DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING.

EAGLE CAM-MITTO

A COUPLE OF BALD EAGLES HAVE CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF MANY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

HERE'S A LIVE LOOK AT THE "EAGLE CAM" IN NORTH FORT MYERS.

THE EAGLES ARE NAMED OZZIE AND HARRIET.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO WELCOME SOME NEW CHICKS.

IN FACT, THE EGGS COULD HATCH ANY DAY.

THE EAGLE'S NEST IS NEAR BAYSHORE ROAD.

CLOSE-4SHOT