DIRECTOR PAGE

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

TSA) GRIZZLY BEAR LOOSE-VIDBOX TOPS

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BIG STORIES NBC2 IS TRACKING AT 5:30 --

DEPUTIES ARE SEARCHING *RIGHT NOW*--

FOR A "GRIZZLY BEAR" CUB!

IT RAN AWAY FROM A HOME IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES.

TSB) CAPE BARRICADE-VIDBOX TOPS

A SWAT SCENE IN CAPE CORAL.

POLICE SAY A 16-YEAR OLD BARRICADED HIMSELF INSIDE A HOUSE--

WITH A 15-YEAR OLD GIRL!

IT ENDED SAFELY JUST BEFORE FOUR OCLOCK. BOTH ARE OK.

AT SIX--

TSC) LION FISH CAUGHT-VIDBOX TOPS

A COLD-BLOODED KILLER!

NOW LURKING OFF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S COASTLINE, THREATENING OUR ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.

NBC2 TALKS TO THE MAN WHO CAUGHT THE VERY FIRST LIONFISH IN THE WATERS OFF COLLIER COUNTY -- NEAR VANDERBILT BEACH -- AT SIX.

TOSS TO STEVE-2 SHOT

BIG PLANS IN CAPE CORAL HIT A SNAG TONIGHT --

THE CITY WANTS TO IMPLEMENT A NEW MILLION DOLLAR SYSTEM TO SAFEGUARD FUEL AND MAINTAIN VEHICLES.

TONIGHT -- WE'RE TRACKING YOUR TAX DOLLARS AS THE CITY TRIES TO GREASE THE WHEELS AND MOVE FORWARD.

NBC2 STEVE CAMPION JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR CAPE CORAL MOBILE NEWSROOM TO BREAK DOWN THE DELAY.

TTD: COSTLY CAPE PROGRAMS-LIVE

CITY LEADERS TELL US -- THE HUGE INVESTMENT MARKS A TURNING POINT FOR A CITY WHERE EMPLOYEES WERE ONCE ACCUSED OF STEALING GAS FROM STATIONS LIKE THIS ONE HERE.

TTD: COSTLY CAPE PROGRAMS-PKG

CONDUCTING CAPE CORAL'S CITY BUSINESS ON THE ROAD -- CAN BE COSTLY AND CONTROVERSIAL.

John Sullivan, Mayor

4314 "It's archaic in comparison to this system."

MAYOR JOHN SULLIVAN TELLS US WITH THE CITY'S MASSIVE FLEET OF VEHICLES -- THEY WANT A WAY TO INSTANTLY SEE IF ANY FIRE ENGINES, SQUAD CARS, OR OTHER CAPE CORAL TRUCKS NEED WORK.

John Sullivan, Mayor

4214 "It's like having a car and not changing the oil sooner or later it's going to cause problems."

THE CAPE BOUGHT TWO NEW PROGRAMS -- COSTING ALMOST ONE POINT TWO MILLION DOLLARS -- TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

McGrail

5351 "This system allows our city to move into the future."

COUNCIL MEMBER KEVIN MCGRAILS EXPLAINS HARDWARE ISSUES DELAYED THE SYSTEM.

HE SEES TREMENDOUS SAVINGS AHEAD -- AND A SURE FIRE AND TECHY SAVVY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A DARK CHAPTER IN THE CITY'S PAST.

Kevin McGrail, Council Member

5242 "It literally turned our city upside down. When you're accusing employees of fuel theft that puts a tremendous cloud over our city. This solves that unequivocally."

THE SOFTWARE TRACKS EVERY FUEL TRANSACTION IN REAL TIME AND SCHEDULES WHEN A VEHICLE NEEDS SERVICE.

Marty McClain, Cape Coral Council Member

0312 "It's a lot of upfront money."

COUNCIL MARTY MCCLAIN CALLS THE EXPENSE NECESSARY AND ISN'T WORRIED GETTING IT ONLINE WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL OCTOBER.

McClain

TTD: COSTLY CAPE PROGRAMS-LIVE

CITY LEADERS EXPLAIN -- THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO TRACK FUEL EFFICIENCY SO IF A VEHICLE ISN'T GETTING ITS TYPICAL MILES PER GALLON THEY'll KNOW.

WITH FUEL PRICES HIGH -- THEY SAY IT'S A GREAT WAY TO CUT DOWN ON ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST COSTS.

LANCE ARMSTRONG FALLOUT-ON CAM

LANCE ARMSTRONG DENIED IT FOR YEARS--

ADAMANTLY CLAIMED HE NEVER CHEATED.

NOW WE KNOW HE DID.

IN A TELL-ALL INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH WINFREY--

THE ONE TIME KING OF CYCLING--

CONFESSED!

LANCE ARMSTRONG FALLOUT-PKG

THE NEWS THAT LANCE ARMSTRONG USED PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS DURING HIS

STORIED CYCLING CAREER ISN'T A SURPRISE TO ANYONE WHO COVERED HIM OR

FOLLOWED THE SPORT.

BUT IT'S HIS PERSONAL ADMISSION - AND THE TIMING - THAT HAS PEOPLE SHOCKED

I never thought armstrong would come out and confess

FOR YEARS ARMSTRONG DENIED IT ADAMANTLY

I have never taken performance enhancing drugs

I have never doped

BUT SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS THAT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH WINFREY THAT WILL

AIR ON HER OWN NETWORK, ARMSTRONG DOES A 180.

TODAY WINFREY TOLD CBS THIS MORNING THE INTERVIEW WAS "DIFFICULT."

Did not come clean in the manner that I expected

ARMSTRONG WAS LEGENDARY FOR HIS SUCCESS ON THE ROAD - AND IN HIS FIGHT

AGAINST TESTICULAR CANCER.

BUT HIS LEGACY TURNED INTO RUINS.AFTER AN EXTENSIVE REPORT LAST YEAR BY

THE US ANTI DOPING AGENCY.

STRIPPED OF HIS SEVEN TOUR DE FRANCE TITLESBANNED FROM THE SPORT FOR LIFE

BETSY ANDREU'S HUSBAND FRANKIE WAS A TEAMMATE AND FORMER FRIEND OF ARMSTRONG

.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO PUBLICLY ACCUSE THE CYCLING STAR OF DOPING AND

SAYS THE KEY QUESTION NOW IS - WILL ARMSTRONG NAME NAMES?

he did not do this on his own, he was aided and abetted by people

THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY SAID TODAY THAT ARMSTRONG'S INTERVIEW WITH

WINFREY ISNT ENOUGH - HE MUST CONFESS UNDER OATH IN ORDER TO GET A REDUCTION

IN HIS LIFETIME BAN FROM SPORTS.

everything that has been happening in the last week is self serving and it

LANCE ARMSTRONG FALLOUT-TAG

KAREN TRAVERS REPORTING.

NOW MANY FORMER SPONSORS ARE LOOKING INTO WHETHER THEY CAN GET THEIR MONEY BACK.

FACEBOOK ANNOUNCEMENT-VO

FACEBOOK LAUNCHED A NEW *SEARCH* FEATURE TODAY.

"GRAPH SEARCH" LETS USERS SEARCH THEIR SOCIAL CONNECTIONS--

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE, INTERESTS, PHOTOS AND PLACES.

UNTIL NOW--

FACEBOOK USERS COULDN'T SEARCH FOR FRIENDS WHO LIVE IN A CERTAIN TOWN--

OR LIKE A PARTICULAR MOVIE.

ZUCKERBERG SAYS THE SEARCH FEATURE IS "PRIVACY AWARE".

ST LOUIS SHOOTING-VO

A GUNMAN WALKED INTO A BUSINESS SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN SAINT LOUIS TODAY--

SHOT AN ADMINISTRATOR IN THE CHEST BEFORE SHOOTING HIMSELF.

BOTH MEN ARE IN SURGERY--

NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED--

GUN DEBATE-VO WIPE

ONE STATE ISN'T WAITING FOR THE FEDS TO ACT ON GUN CONTROL.

WITHIN THE LAST HOUR -- LAWMAKERS IN NEW YORK STATE PASSED THE NATION'S MOST RESTRICTIVE GUN LAW -- THE FIRST PASSED SINCE THE SANDY HOOK MASSACRE.

THE BILL CALLS FOR A TOUGHER ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN--

GUN DEBATE-SOTVO, CG

It addresses some of the criminal penalties/It addresses protecting our first responders.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS VOWING TO TAKE ACTION TOO--

WITH OR WITHOUT CONGRESS.

RIGHT NOW HE'S GOING OVER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY VICE-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

AMONG THEM--

STRONGER BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL GUN PURCHASES--

A BAN ON HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINE CLIPS--

AND A RENEWED BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

AN ABC NEWS POLL FINDS THE COUNTRY WANTS BETTER GUN CONTROL.

88 PERCENT OF THOSE POLLED SUPPORT GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECKS.

SANDY AID VOTE-VO WIPE

LAWMAKERS FROM THE NORTHEAST ARE GOING HEAD-TO- HEAD WITH CONGRESS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH A 51-BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE--

TO HELP VICTIMS OF HURRICANE SANDY. IT HIT NEARLY THREE MONTHS AGO.

SOME REPUBLICANS WANT TO MAKE SPENDING CUTS TO PAY FOR RECOVERY EFFORTS.

SANDY AID VOTE-SOT, ON CAM

We are asking,. we are pleading and we shouldn't have to beg for money for the Northeast to be able to survive this tragedy that hit us.

THE SENATE PASSED A 51-BILLION DOLLAR RELIEF BILL LAST MONTH.

AUSTRALIA WILDFIRES-VO

AUSTRALIA IS SCORCHING RIGHT NOW.LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

HUNDREDS OF WILDFIRES ARE BURNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY--

MANY STILL OUT OF CONTROL.

ONE OF THE FIRES KILLED A FIREFIGHTER--WORKING ALONE IN A RURAL AREA.

IT IS HOTTER THAN 120 DEGREES RIGHT NOW IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

CHINA SMOG ALERT-VO

CHINA'S SMOG PROBLEM IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH!

HOSPITALS ACROSS BEIJING ARE SWAMPED WITH PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

SCHOOLS ARE KEEPING CHILDREN INDOORS.

THE POLLUTION LEVELS THERE ARE THE WORST ON RECORD!

THE GOVERNMENT ORDERED FACTORIES TO SCALE BACK EMISSIONS--

AND SPRAY WATER AT CONSTRUCTION SITES--

WTC SPIRE-VO

ANOTHER SIGN OF PROGRESS TODAY AT NEW YORK'S ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

CONSTRUCTION CREWS INSTALLED PART OF THE 408-FOOT SPIRE--

THE CENTER IS ALREADY THE TALLEST BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY.

THE SPIRE MAKES IT THE TALLEST STRUCTURE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE!

IF THE PROJECT STAYS ON SCHEDULE--

CHARLIE GREEN REPORTABLE-ON CAM

LEE COUNTY'S FORMER CLERK OF COURT HAS A NEW POSITION.

CHARLIE GREEN WAS APPOINTED TO THE COUNTY'S CONSERVATION 20-20 PROGRAM.

CONSERVATION 20-20 BUYS LARGE PLOTS OF LAND--

AND PRESERVES THEM FROM DEVELOPMENT.

LEE COUNTY TDC-HALF GFX

LEE COUNTY PLANS TO CHANGE THE WAY IT MAKES UP ITS 9- MEMBER TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

FOR YEARS--

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CAPE CORAL HELD A PERMANENT SEAT ON THE T-D-C.

WHILE OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES ROTATED A SPOT.

TODAY THE COUNTY APPROVED TO REMOVE CAPE CORAL FROM THAT PERMANENT SEAT--

AND GIVE IT TO WHICHEVER CITY OR TOWN GENERATES THE MOST TOURISM TAX DOLLARS.

SANIBEL CURRENTLY CLAIMS THAT TITLE.

FAMU BAND PROBLEMS-VO

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY WAS SUPPOSED TO NAME ITS *NEW* BAND DIRECTOR TODAY--

BUT AT THE LAST MOMENT--

CANCELLED THE EVENT.

THE MARCHING 100 REMAINS ON SUSPENSION--

AS A RESULT OF THE HAZING RELATED DEATH OF DRUM MAJOR ROBERT CHAMPION.

HIS BEATING DEATH LED TO CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 12 STUDENTS--

THE RETIREMENT OF LONGTIME BAND DIRECTOR--

THE RESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENT--

AND STRICT NEW RULES FOR BAND MEMBERS.

FAMU WANTED TO NAME ITS NEW BAND DIRECTOR THIS MORNING--

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

APPLE HAS LONG BEEN THE ENVY OF EVERY TECH COMPANY.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

ANALYSTS SAY APPLE IS NOW ON SHAKY GROUND WITH CONSUMERS.

AND A NEW PLAYGROUND OPENS IN LEE COUNTY--

NO BIG DEAL, RIGHT?

WRONG.

TZ1 A) APPLE COOL-VO WIPE

TZ1 B) PLAYGROUND RIBBON-VO TOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

HAS APPLE LOST ITS COOL-ON CAM

IS APPLE LOSING SOME OF ITS "COOL"?

ITS STOCK PRICE IS FALLING--

INVESTORS SAY ITS "TOO PRICEY".

THEN YESTERDAY--

HAS APPLE LOST ITS COOL-PKG

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE COOLEST BRAND ON THE PLANET, WITH ITS COOL STORES AND COOL PRODUCTS.

"This bigger screen goes from Here to Here!"

.IS STARTING TO LOSE SOME COOL?

ONE OF ITS BIGGEST COMPETITORS CERTAINLY WANTS CUSTOMERS TO BELIEVE IT.

"Is this what adultery feels like? Samsung? Pretty big display! It's the next thing, man!

TURNS OUT, WALL STREET IS ALSO WONDERING ABOUT APPLE:

APPLE'S STOCK, NOW AT $502, HAS DROPPED $200 SINCE SEPTEMBER.

THE 3.5% DROP ON MONDAY CAME AFTER THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTED THAT APPLE HAD CUT ORDERS FOR PARTS ON ITS iPHONE-5 BECAUSE OF WEAKER-THAN-EXPECTED DEMAND.

"We look at it as uh a bit of a letdown obviously, its not, not great that this has happened. We thought this device uhh would be the biggest seller."

IT IS A VERY TOUGH FIELD!

ASK BLACKBERRY!

THE SHELF-LIFE FOR ANYTHING TECH "COOL" IS ABOUT 3-6 MONTHS.

AND GLOBALLY, SAMSUNG IS EXPECTED TO SELL MORE SMART PHONES THIS YEAR THAN APPLE.

"I would say that Samsung is achieving a level of cool that they haven't before. Whether they are really able to steal Apple's thunder remains to be seen."

WHEN IT COMES TO SMART PHONES, AMERICANS HAVE DIVIDED LOYALTIES:

APPLE versus THE ANDROID SYSTEM:

"Apple is just a lot easier to use for me."

"I have Samsung Galaxy-2. I love it."

"I'm more into the Google phones."

HAS APPLE LOST ITS COOL-TAG

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

CLAM PASS HAS BEEN CLOGGED FOR MONTHS.

WE SAW LOCALS AND EVEN TOURISTS PICK UP SHOVELS TO HELP SAVE PRECIOUS MANGROVES AND WILDLIFE.

IT WAS MORE OF A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.

BUT WE FOUND PLANS TO FIX IT FOR GOOD FINALLY GAINING STEAM!

TZ2 A) CLAM PASS-VO WIPE

TZ2 B) HARRINGTON ON ELEX-VO TOPS

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.

COOLER WEATHER ON THE HORIZON

One more day of 80 degree weather is in the forecast tomorrow, and some weather changes are on the way starting Thursday. I expect partly cloudy skies tonight with a low of 62 degrees by tomorrow morning. There will probably be another round of fog forming in the morning - mainly inland. The daytime forecast for Wednesday looks partly cloudy with a high of 82 degrees once again. This will make for 14 days of 80 degree weather this month!

CLAM PASS UPDATE-VO

IT TOOK THE SIGHT OF TOURISTS WITH SHOVELS.

AND NOW THE EMERGENCY PLANS TO DREDGE CLAM PASS ARE MOVING FORWARD.

CLAM PASS UPDATE-PKG

THE DIG IS DYING DOWN--

FEWER PEOPLE ARE ON HAND HELPING TO SHOVEL OUT SAND FROM THE CLOGGED UP CLAM PASS--

STILL, THE MESSAGE THIS DITCH SENT IS CLEAR-- HURRY UP AND DREDGE.

"People work hard here doing this and it doesn't seem like the bureaucratic powers to be are very concerned about this, they keep just going in circles."

THE LACK OF ACTION IS THREATENING THE MANGROVES AND WILDLIFE OUT HERE--

WHICH WILL DIE OFF WITHOUT FLOWING WATER.

"It's frustrating to see that people are just arguing back and forth."

AFTER WEEKS OF COMMUNITY DIGGING--

THE POLITICAL STANDSTILL IS FINALLY MOVING FORWARD.

COUNTY OFFICIALS MET WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS--

PRESENTING A PLAN TO SUSPEND A MAINTENECE PERMIT THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR TWO YEARS--

AND INSTEAD ASK FOR A QUICKER ONE-TIME PERMIT.

"In order to get the pass re-opened were going to suspend what has been a two year effort and in less than 6 weeks try to get a short form permit to try and get the pass reopened now."

THE COUNTY ALSO DECLARED AN EMERGENCY--

SO THAT WHEN THE PERMIT IS APPROVED, WORK CAN START IMMEDIATLEY.

"We've identified some contractors who with mechanical equipment, not a dredge, with some long reach track hoes and earth-moving equipment will seek to try and reopen the pass 40

NOT USING A DREDGE WILL HELP SPEED THINGS UP--

THE HOPE IS WORK WILL BEGIN BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH--

BUT SOME WORRY THAT MAY BE TOO LATE.

"I don't think the mangroves have another six weeks."

TOSS TO HEATHER-ON CAM

TWO DAYS IN THE SPOTLIGHT --

LEE COUNTY'S SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, ANSWERING QUESTIONS AGAIN TODAY IN TALLAHASSEE ABOUT THE ELECTION MESS IN NOVEMBER. AND THE LONG LINES IN NUMEROUS PRECINCTS.

HARRINGTON ON ELECTION-TFX CTR MON

TODAY SHARON HARRINGTON JOINED A PANEL OF HER COLLEAGUES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTIONS PROCESS CAN BE IMPROVED.

HARRINGTON ON ELECTION-VO WIPE

HARRINGTON WAS NOT SLATED TO TESTIFY -- BUT SHE DID ANSWER QUESTIONS - AND LOOKED COMFORTABLE DOING SO.

HARRINGTON ON ELECTION-SOTVO

TC 44:41-59

sharon Harrington/Lee County Supervisor of Elections - we look at maps first, populations, people registered in that area, facilities.which in most cases is limited.

HARRINGTON ON ELECTION-TFX CTR MON

THOSE IN CHARGE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GIVE AS MANY PEOPLE POSSIBLE THE OPTION TO VOTE EARLY -- WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE BUSINESS HAPPENING AT THOSE EARLY VOTING FACILITIES.

SECOND DREAMLINER LEAK-VO

JAPAN AIRLINES SAYS IT FOUND A *SECOND* LEAK--

ON THE 7-87 DREAMLINER THAT LEAKED FUEL IN BOSTON LAST WEEK.

THIS ONE WAS ON THE PLANE'S LEFT WING.

THE ONE LAST WEEK IN BOSTON WAS ON THE PLANE'S BELLY.

ANOTHER AIRPLANE SPOTTED THE PLANE LEAKING FUEL--

JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF.

THE DREAMLINER IS UNDER SCRUTINY--

AFTER A STRING OF RECENT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

TEASE THREE-2SHOT

THIS NEXT STORY ASKS "HOW LOW CAN YOU GO"?

HE'S AN 84-YEAR OLD VETERAN--

LIVING ON DISABILITY.

WELL SOMEONE JUST STOLE HIS IDENTITY!

WE TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE PUNCH IN THE GUT.

AND ALL NEW AT SIX--

TZ3 A) VET DISABILITY STOLEN-VO WIPE

AHEAD AT 6-BANNER

A) JOE ROETZ STANDUP TEASE-SOT

PLAYGROUND RIBBON CUTTING-NATVO WIPE

THERE IS A LIFE SAVING ADDITION TO THE PLAYGROUND AT RAYMA C. PAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SOUTH LEE COUNTY.

"1,2,3, cut!!! wooooh!!!"

STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FACULTY JOINED THE PASSION FOUNDATION--

DEDICATING A SHADE STRUCTURE THAT NOW COVERS THE S PLAYGROUND.

IT'S CALLED "SOPHIA'S PLAYGROUND"--

NAMED AFTER SOPHIA FUGATE.

PLAYGROUND RIBBON CUTTING-SOTVO

"It was just timing, the least we could do. When someone passes, naming a playground isn't big on our end, but it's big for the family and it's big for the legacy. All the kids that go to school here will remember her now when they come out to play."

THE PASSION FOUNDATION WAS CREATED BY JOHN PARLA AND HIS LATE WIFE--

TO BUILD STRUCTURES OVER LOCAL PLAYGROUNDS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE SUN.

THIS STRUCTURE WILL KEEP THE PLAYGROUND 20-DEGRESS COOLER.

BATTLE OF THE BULGE-NATVO WIPE

TODAY PEOPLE ON SANIBEL HONORED VETERANS--

OF ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOW BATTLES IN AMERICAN HISTORY--

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.

AMERICAN FORCES FOUGHT OFF 200-THOUSAND GERMANS--

EFFECTIVELY ENDING HITLER'S CHANCES TO WIN WORLD WAR TWO.

nat sound of taps

MOST OF THE SURVIVING VETERANS ARE IN THEIR 90'S.

DICK WILLIAMS WAS IN GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY.

IT RESPONDED TO THE ATTACK--

BATTLE OF THE BULGE-SOTVO

"I felt sorry for them, because they were out in the same cold as we were and they were surrounded, so they needed help in the worst sort of way."

19-THOUSAND AMERICANS DIED DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.

85-THOUSAND GERMANS.

VET DISABILITY STOLEN-2SHOT

AN ARMY VETERAN IN HIS 80'S IS NOW BATTLING THIEVES.

SOMEONE STOLE HIS IDENTITY- AND THEN RIPPED HIM OFF BY OPENING UP CREDIT CARDS IN HIS NAME.

THEY EVEN RE-ROUTED HIS MAIL TO TRY AND STEAL HIS V-A DISABILITY CHECK.

VET DISABILITY STOLEN-PKG

HE FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY-

AS PROUD MEMBER OF THE US ARMY, AND LATER AIR FORCE.

54:48 "i lost my hearing and some problems with my legs."

AT 84 YEARS-OLD-

DISABLED VETERAN HUGH MCLINDEN IS FIGHTING ANOTHER BATTLE.

53:46 "you feel violated."

SOMEONE-

SOMEHOW,

STOLE HIS IDENTITY,

AND MANAGED TO RE-ROUTE HIS MAIL, ULTIMATELY TRYING TO STEAL HIS VA DISABILITY CHECK.

52:40 "i put the 2 together and said wow- somebody got something that belongs to me."

AFTER THAT-

IT ONLY GOT WORSE.

52:31 "then i noticed my social security check wasn't deposited."

THE VETERAN SAYS THE IDENTITY THIEF THEN USED HIS INFORMATION TO OPEN UP NUMEROUS CREDIT CARDS-

AND EVEN APPLY FOR A STUDENT LOAN.

52:50 "ever since then- it's been a nightmare."

THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S IS INVESTIGATING.

57:02 "if somebody gets your social security number, date or birth and your name- there's a whole lot they can do."

DEPUTIES SAY WHILE YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER UNLESS YOU HAVE TO-

DAMAGE CONTROL IS KEY.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CREDIT.

58:40 "do a credit check- you can get free credit reports."

HUGH DID GET ANOTHER DISABILITY CHECK FROM THE VA-

AND IS WORKING WITH COPS ON CATCHING THE CULPRIT.

55:01 "whoever stole my identity- i hope they don't cross my path because they're will be trouble"

SELL THE 6PM-2SHOT

IN THE LAST TWENTY MINUTES NBC2 HAS GOTTEN A PICTURE OF WHAT COULD BE THE GRIZZLY BEAR THAT HAS ESCAPED IN COLLIER COUNTY.

-- NEXT AT SIX WE'RE LIVE WITH THE SEARCH.

PLUS WE'RE ON THE SCENE IN CAPE CORAL.GETTING NEW DETAILS AFTER POLICE SAY A TEENAGER BARRICADED INSIDE A HOME.HOLDING ANOTHER TEEN HOSTAGE.

THAT SITUATION ENDING JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO.

A LOT HAPPENING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TONIGHT