DIRECTORS PAGE

NEWS AT 6PM HEADLINES-SOTTOPS

***Developing Story***

Chilling Attack

HE WORKED ON HER HOUSE THEN BECAME OBSESSED.

42:39 "very scary- she felt very threatened from him. she couldn't sleep at night."

INVESTIGATORS SAY A LEE COUNTY MAN STALKED A MOTHER OF TWO, CALLING HER MORE THAN 100 TIMES IN AN HOUR.

AND THEN BREAKING INTO HER HOME AND ATTACKING.

TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM THE BABYSITTER WHO CALLED 9-1-1.

***New Right Now***

Boys Arrested

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCUSED OF BEING FIRE BUGS. USING GASOLANE AND A LIGHTER TO START A BLAZE THREATENING NEARBY HOMES.

15:27:42 "It went from being black, everything was black - to ashes all over the houses from the trees."

TONIGHT HEAR THE 9-1-1 CALLS FROM FRANTIC NEIGHBORS.

***Special Report***

The Secret Ingredient

AND OUR SPECIAL REPORT AT SIX.

NEWS AT 6PM OPEN-CLIP

TOSS TO JOE-TRX-OC-DBX

A FORMER LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS IN JAIL TONIGHT.

FIRST - BRIAN BIGELOW WAS ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF COCAINE.

NOW - THE COURT SAYS HE'S NOT STAYING CLEAN.

BIGELOW ARRESTED-REMLIVE

- Bigelow is still in jail tonight. He's held on no bond after a drug test revealed he was using cocaine.

BIGELOW ARRESTED-BNR-PKG

Frank Mann

It's such a sad situation

Caught in a downward spiral.

Lee County deputies cuffed Brian Bigelow and carted him from his father's Fort Myers home early this morning.

The court a random drug test showed cocaine in his system.

It's the third time Bigelow has been connected to drugs in the last 3 months.

County Commissioner Frank Mann says since Brian Bigelow left his seat, lost his run for election, and his father in such a short time - it's understandable he'd be depressed.

Take Sot

Frank Mann

7:45-55

He needs to be in a program. He told me he'd do that and hasn't done it in time. I hope that happens.

Take Sot

Cecil Pendergrass

6:43-8

BIGELOW ARRESTED-REMLIVE

- didn't suspect him of using drugs while he attended commission meetings.

-Bigelow should go before a judge tomorrow - when his new bond will be set.

TOSS TO MEAGHAN-TC MON-MAPFLY

A PLUMBER'S OBSESSION HAS A LEHIGH ACRES WOMAN FEARING FOR HER LIFE.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THE MOTHER WAS BEATEN AND BRUISED BY THE MAN SHE HIRED TO WORK AROUND HER HOUSE.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HE STALKED HER, BROKE INTO HER HOME AND ATTACKED THE MOTHER IN FRONT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.

IT HAPPENED OFF ALABAMA ROAD, NEAR HOMESTEAD.

NBC2'S MEAGHAN SMITH IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

LEHIGH STALKER ARREST-REMLIVE

LEHIGH STALKER ARREST-BNR-PKG

the young mother who lives here-

is too afraid to stay in her lehigh acres home.

*take sot* 42:39 "very scary- she felt very threatened from him. she couldn't sleep at night."

she's also too afraid to talk to us-

fearing retaliation.

the victim has been living a real life nightmare for the last few months- after lee county deputies say she hired this man- harold mitchell to do some plumbing work for her.

*take sot* 43:08 "he told her that he fixes the plumbing and that's how it all started."

after that-

detectives report that mitchell began stalking her.

*take sot* tony 47:21 "he had been showing up unannounced- making hundreds of phone calls to her."

her friend and neighbor-

evelyn santana,

was home early yesterday morning,

when the victim came pounding on her door- screaming for help.

*take sot* 41:54 "she's got a busted lip and is like- call 911- quick."

deputies say she was inside her house-

when mitchell broke in through the back sliding glass door.

she reportedly heard a noise and then looked up to see mitchell standing in her dining room.

lee county detectives say that's when he attacked her- grabbing her by the neck and throwing her to the floor.

there was a struggle-

and deputies tell us he continued to attack her- before she could get her young children and get out of the house- they ran to evelyn's nearby home- and called 911.

*take sot* evelyn 42:10 "in very bad shape- she had bruises all over her body and arms and a cut on her lip."

deputies caught and arrested mitchell-

the victim told deputies she met him while working as a cashier at a local business- and they began discussing a leak in her bathroom.

*take sot* evelyn 43:40 "he said he knew how to fix it and he came over to fix it."

and after that-

deputies say the stalking began-

with mitchell, who isn't a licensed plumber, calling her 126 times in one hour.

the woman got a restraining order-

but because mitchell is homeless-

he'd hadn't been located yet to be officially served.

LEHIGH STALKER ARREST-REMLIVE

STALKER ARREST BREAKOUT-CG-RVL

A REMINDER, WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE FOR WORK AROUND YOUR HOUSE.

ASK FOR REFERRALS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

ALSO, MAKE SURE THE WORKER OR COMPANY HAS A LICENSE.

CRIME NO.'S COLD OPEN-TRX-SOT

NEW RIGHT NOW--

THE NUMBERS ARE IN.

OVERALL CRIME IS DOWN IN LEE COUNTY.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE WHEN IT COMES TO MURDER IN THE COUNTY. OR THE CITY OF FORT MYERS.

TC:03 NATS OF AMBULANCE

THE PAIN FROM TWO DOZEN UNSOLVED MURDERS IN A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR.IS STILL FRESH IN THE MINDS OF VICTIMS' FAMILIES.

yelling and walking away from camera

TOSS TO MATT-1-SHT PUSH

WE WANT TO GET RIGHT TO NBC2'S MATT WRIGHT.

FMPD CRIME NUMBERS-CAM-99

FMPD CRIME NUMBERS-BNR-PKG

PERCEPTION OF SAFETY DEPENDS LARGELY ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

NEW STATISTICS PAINT A CLEARER PICTURE OF CRIME IN FORT MYERS.

THE CRIME RATE DROPPED BY 18 PERCENT.

BURGLARY. AND THEFTS WERE A BIG FACTOR. DOWN 14 PERCENT EACH.

BUT MURDERS JUMPED TO 24 LAST YEAR. AN ALL TIME HIGH.

CHIEF DOUG BAKER SAYS THAT'S A CONCERN.

SO HE BROUGHT IN THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ASSESS THE DEPARTMENT'S STRATEGIES.

HE SAYS NEW EFFORTS LIKE FOOT PATROLS IN DUNBAR SHOULD REVERSE THE RISING TREND.

GERMINE LAWRENCE. WHO LIVES IN DUNBAR. CAN ATTEST TO THAT.

SHE HEARS GUN SHOTS OFTEN.

FMPD CRIME NUMBERS-CAM-99 BNR

WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WAS HERE LAST WEEK THEY MET WITH MINISTERS AT THE CITY'S CHURCHES.

AGENTS WITH THE DOJ PLAN TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO OFFER THE POLICE MORE TRAINING.

LEE CO CRIME NUMBERS-OC, FSS, OC

IN LEE COUNTY THERE WERE TWO MORE MURDERS IN 2012 THAN IN 2011.

BUT THE OVERALL CRIME RATE FELL BY 12 PERCENT IN 2012. TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES AND LARGE SCALE THEFTS WERE ALSO DOWN DOUBLE DIGITS.

AND WHILE BUSINESS BURGLARIES WERE DOWN OVERALL. THEY MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES SANIBEL. CAPTIVA AND PINE ISLAND.

LEE CO CRIME NUMBERS-SOT OC

"we are like everywhere else USA, we are going to have thefts and drugs and burglaries. the key is to try to suppress that with the precious limited resources we have."

ONE RESOURCE THAT *YOU HAVE -- WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OR COUNTY.

A CRIME MAPPING TOOL SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT KINDS OF CRIMES ARE HAPPENING IN THE AREA WHERE YOU LIVE.

CAPE CORAL CRIME STATS-ONCAM

AND A QUICK LOOK AT THE STATS IN OUR LARGEST CITY.

IN CAPE CORAL THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES, LARCENIES AND ROBBERIES ALL DROPPED.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, AGGRIVATED ASSAULT AND SEX OFFENSES WENT UP ONLY SLIGHTLY.

VOTING REFORM~LEE CO.-TRX-VO-OC

SOME FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE TALKING ABOUT GIVING STATE OFFICIALS THE ABILITY TO *REMOVE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS IN THERE ARE PROBLEMS ELECTION DAY.

SUPERVISORS IN FIVE COUNTIES, INCLUDING LEE, WERE ALL CALLED OUT FOR THE LONG LINES IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. PEOPLE FORCED TO WAIT HOURS TO VOTE.

I

LEE SCHOOLS SAFETY-OC

THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST RECEIVED RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE SECURITY CHANGES.

SECURITY LEADERS WANT 43 MORE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR.

MORE TRAINING AND DRILLS FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS.

ADDITIONALLY A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE RECOMMENDS ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS BE BULLET AND HURRICANE RESISTANT.

ALL THE CHANGES COME WITH A HEFTY PRICE TAG --

TOSS TO RICK-OC-SOT-OC

NEW AT SIX--

INVESTIGATORS SAY THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOYS ARMED WITH A GAS CAN AND A LIGHTER,

SET A FIRE THAT BURNED DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO HOMES IN EAST NAPLES.

"I just smelled something as I was walking over there - I looked up and there was a big black cloud of smoke."

NAPLES CHILDREN ARRESTED FOR ARSON-BNR-PKG

TREES BURNED TO A CRISP AND A TRAIL OF ASHES LEFT BEHIND.

ALL THE AFTERMATH OF A BRUSH FIRE THAT RIPPED THROUGH EAST NAPLES.

Beatriz Cuellar/East Naples/15:27:57/"It was like a big shock - it was unreal."

IT HAPPENED FRIDAY ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF SITTERLEY LANE - DEPUTIES ARRESTED A TRIO OF MANATEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS - 9-YEAR-OLD ISAEL LORA ALONG WITH 10-YEAR-OLDS REGINALD GARCON AND GREGORY JOSEPH - HOURS AFTER AN ACRE OF WOODS WENT UP IN FLAMES.

Beatriz Cuellar/15:26:53 "I looked up and there was a big black cloud of smoke."

A DESPERATE 9-1-1 CALL DESCRIBES RESIDENTS PANICKING JUST WHEN THE BLAZE BROKE OUT.

15:37:38 "How big are the flames? It's huge. Oh my gosh, it's getting big and it's moving quick."

Rick Ritter/News at 6:00/15:32:46/"Fire officials say one witness saw it all play out from her backyard - three boys allegedly had a lighter and gasoline can - burning down dozens of trees and just missing an entire row of homes."

Chief Schuldt/15:33:35 "It really did pose a great risk for us."

Beatriz Cuellar/15:28:24 "Thanks to God - nothing got harmed."

WE TRIED REACHING OUT TO ALL THREE JUVENILES.

TWO FAMILIES WEREN'T HOME - ANOTHER MOTHER DECLINED TO COMMENT.

Chief Schuldt/15:34:54 "It's problematic that we have children potentially involved with these types of things."

THE JUVENILES FACE A SINGLE CHARGE OF INTENTIONAL BURNING OF LAND.

RESIDENTS KNOW THE SITUATION COULD'VE BEEN TRAGIC - BUT ARE STILL TRYING TO COME TO GRIPS

WITH WHY ANYONE WOULD DO THIS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD?

Beatriz Cuellar/15:28:44 We all live in the same community so why would we want to harm any of our houses?"

Chief Schuldt/15:35:35 "Bottom line is - we know kids like to experiment and play, sometimes their malicious, there's a lot that can lead to these types of things."

READY SET GO FIRE DEPT. PROGRAM-VO

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS FAMILIAR WITH HURRICANE PLANS--

BUT WHAT ABOUT A BRUSH FIRE PLAN?

WE FOUND OUT TODAY--

LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE--

ARE ROLLING OUT A WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN NEXT MONTH CALLED, "READY, SET, GO!"

IT EXPLAINS WHAT TO DO TO GET YOUR HOME *READY*--

GET *SET* IF A BRUSH FIRE IS APPROACHING.

AND *GO* IF YOU NEED TO.

REMEMBER--

CAPE VERSUS ANIMAL CONTROL-VOWIPE

CAPE CORAL IS CONSIDERING A PLAN TO OPERATE IT OWN ANIMAL SERVICES.

COME AUGUST, THE CITY MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW ITS 900 THOUSAND DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH LEE COUNTY --

CITY OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY AREN'T GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH.

CAPE VERSUS ANIMAL CONTROL-SOT-OC

because unincorporated lee county is 62.24 percent of animal services - we would get better service and return on our investment for our dollars.

LAST YEAR, 20 PERCENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES' CALLS CAME FROM THE CAPE.

BAYFRONT MUSIC MEETING-VO

LOOKING AHEAD--

A POPULAR EVENT IN DOWNTOWN NAPLES HEADS BACK TO CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW.

BAYFRONT'S "ROCKIN BY THE BAY" CONCERT SERIES BRINGS IN RECORD CROWDS AND SALES FOR BUSINESSES--

BUT *NOISE* COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT LOUD MUSIC PUT THE SHOWS IN JEOPARDY.

BAYFRONT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ASKING MEMBERS NOT TO GRANT A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR THE EIGHT REMAINING SHOWS.

ALL NEW AT SIX OPEN-CLIP

TZ1 C) FORECAST TEASE-STC

TZ1 A) FGCU CALOOSAHATCHEE OYSTER STUDY-SOT

TONIGHT, NBC2 FILLS YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET.

"it gives us that sweet spot that we try to aim for."

OYSTERS ARE ANSWERING CRITICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WATER QUALITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND THE STATE HAS TAPPED A GROUP OF FGCU STUDENTS TO DO THE RESEARCH.

8:10:40-44

They're actually doing something that will be applied and used very soon."

COMING UP IN OUR SPECIAL REPORT--

STOCKS BUMP-CGTOPS

ROBERT VAN WINKLE FORECAST OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

TOSS TO JOELLE-TC MON

YOU MIGHT LOOK AT OYSTERS AS TASTY SEAFOOD.

BUT WE FOUND OUT TONIGHT, THEY'RE BEING USED TO HELP THE STATE GAUGE WATER QUALITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A GROUP OF FGCU STUDENTS ARE STUDYING THE SHELLFISH UP AND DOWN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

IN OUR SPECIAL SEGMENT, ALL NEW AT SIX--

FGCU CALOOSAHATCHEE OYSTER STUDY-BNR-PKG

Today- the Caloosahatchee River is David Segal's classroom.

Sot David segal, fgcu student

You get hands on experience. It's something that you would never get anywhere else."

David- and 5 other fgcu students are studying oysters.

Sot Davi

" we're basically just measuring all of them.

Nat

It's part of study led by dr. aswani volety, an fgcu professor of marine science.

Sot dr aswani volety, fgcu professor of marine science

Oysters are stuck in one place so it's very easy to make a relationship between the health of the Oysters and the water quality around them.

The more they grow- the better the water conditions.

environmental factors like rain and temperature can't be controlled,

But things like fertilizer runoff and releases from lake okeechobee can be.

South Florida water management is funding the $60,000 study.

The results will help them make vital water quality decisions.

Sot Peter doering, south Florida water management

They're actually doing something that's going to be applied and used very soon."

the students are looking at Oysters at 4 sites up all along the river for 6 months.

Part right now during dry season- and again during wet season to see if they're growing- and helping our waterways.

Sot aswani

by filtering all this they're removing all the pollutants, algae, sentiments and So forth, so they're really clarifying the water."

Sot joelle

A cluster like this is made up of at least 10 separate oysters, all together the can filter up to 100 gallons of water per hour."

Nat water

Clean water- vital to our economy to ensure beautiful beaches,

And bountiful seafood,

Like this stone crab, found living in an oyster cluster.

Sot Peter

It's really the freshwater that provides the nutrients and also the environment for these organisms to grow up into adults that we then take advance of economically."

Their impact- extending beyond these clusters.

Sot David

I just took them all back and put them in the same bag that they were in before and put them back out."

Back out- until this group is back in a few days.

Sot David

A lot of them are growing."

GEN. MCCAFFREY IN COLLIER-VOWIPE

TODAY, JUNIOR R-O-T-C STUDENTS, FROM SEVERAL COLLIER COUNTY SCHOOLS, GOT THE CHANCE TO HEAR FROM A DECORATED RETIRED ARMY GENERAL.

GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY SPOKE TO ABOUT 300 STUDENTS AT GULF COAST HIGH SCHOOL.

GENERAL MCCAFFRETY IS A COMBAT VETERAN WITH THREE PURPLE HEARTS, AND TWO SILVER STARS.

GEN. MCCAFFREY IN COLLIER-SOTVO

"Of course, women have been in combat for 10 years, to some extent this is old news. They're all over the battle field flying carrier aircraft, they're military police troops in combat I think now we're going to say we're going to have gender neutral standards we're going to let women serve where ever they're prepared to be."

LEHIGH COMMUNITY PARK-OC-MAP-VO

WE FOUND OUT TODAY--

IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN THE WORKS FOR THE NEW ADMIRAL-LEHIGH TRAILHEAD PARK.

IT IS LOCATED AT THE FORMER "ADMIRAL GOLF COURSE" OFF JOEL BOULEVARD.

THE 11-ACRE OVERGROWN PROPERTY, WILL SOON BE OUTFITTED WITH WALKING TRAILS, PICNIC SHELTERS, RESTROOMS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN PARKING SPOTS.

THIS MORNING, LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED ONE POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP BUILD THE PARK.

EDISON MALL JOB FAIR-OC-CG

LOOKING AHEAD--

THIS WEEKEND A JOB FAIR WILL BE HELD AT THE EDISON MALL IN FORT MYERS.

MANY OF THE MALL RETAILERS AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR NEW WORKERS.

THE JOB FAIR IS SATURDAY FROM 11 IN THE MORNING UNTIL TWO IN THE AFTERNOON.

FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND SEASONAL POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

SPRING TRAINING-ON CAM

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.THE RED SOX PITCHER AND CATCHERS WILL OFFICIALLY TAKE PART IN THEIR FIRST WORKOUT TOGETHER.

RED SOX TRUCK-VOTOPS

I MENTIONED THE GUYS ALREADY HERE.BROUGHT THEIR OWN GEAR.

BECAUSE MOST OF THE ESSENTIAL ARE ON THIS 18-WHEELER THAT LEFT FENWAY PARK IN BOSTON EARLIER TODAY.

6 HOURS INTO THE TRIP.THE TRUCK IS PROBABLY IN SOUTH JERSEY.OR JUST SOUTH OF THAT.

RED SOX TRUCK-SOT

PITCHERS CATCHERS-CGTOPS

AND THE TRUCKS ARE ON THEIR WAY.BECAUSE IT'S AN EARLY START FOR THIS SPRING TRAINING.

THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC HAS PUSHED THE SCHEDULE UP A WEEK.

THE RED SOX PITCHERS AND CATCHERS WORK OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT TUESDAY.

MAUER ON STAFF-VOTOPS

THE TWINS PITHCING STAFF.WHICH INCLUDED SOME OF THE FACES IN THIS VIDEO.

GUYS LIKE LIRIANO AND PAVANO.ARE GONE.

MAUER ON STAFF-SOT

NSD WEDNESDAY-ON CAM

JOE MAUER WAS ONCE THE HIGHEST RATED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK IN THE NATION. READY TO GO TO FLORIDA STATE. HE KNOWS WHAT NATIONAL SIGNING DAY IS ABOUT.

RAVENS PARADE-NATS VO

AN ESTIMATED 200-THOUSAND FANS CROWDED THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE.TO THANK THEIR RAVENS AND CELEBRATE THE TEAM'S SUPER BOWL 47 WIN LAST SUNDAY.

RAVENS PARADE-SOT

LINDSEY VONN-VOTOPS

THE SKIING SEASON IS OVER FOR AMERICAN LINDSEY VONN.

SHE BROKE A BONE IN HER LEG.TORE LIGAMENTS IN HER RIGHT KNEE DURING THIS CRASH TUESDAY AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AUSTRIA.

SPORTS TOSS-ON CAM

VONN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.

NAT'L WX PERSON'S DAY-OC-SS

WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE A MEMBER OF THE NBC TWO TEAM.

TODAY IS NATIONAL WEATHERPERSON'S DAY.

SO WE WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO NBC2 SENIOR CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, ROBERT VAN WINKLE, FOR TRACKING AND UPDATING HIS FORECAST EVERY DAY FOR OUR VIEWERS.

CLOSE-4SHOT