DIRECTORS PAGE

HL1) BOY HIT BY LIGHTNING-SOTVO

the lightning bolt hit him directly in the heart."

TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM THE FATHER OF A BOY STRUCK BY LIGHTNING EARLIER THIS WEEK AT FOOTBALL PRACTICE.

HL2) FMB SEWER LINE-VOTOPS

A SMELLY PROBLEM NEAR FORT MYERS BEACH.

CREWS ARE WORKING TO REPAIR A SEWER LINE BREAK --

HL3) i75 CRASH-VOTOPS

AND WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW BREAKING NEWS OUT OF SARASOTA --

DOZENS OF PEOPLE RUSHED TO FLORIDA HOSPITALS AFTER A PILE-UP ON I-75.

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

FIRST WEATHER-WX WALL

BREAKING CLIP-CLIP

i75 CRSH-LIVETOPS LIVE SS

HERE'S THE NEWEST INFORMATION ON BREAKING NEWS.

EMERGENCY CREWS ARE TACKLING A 47-CAR PILE-UP ON I-75 THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE..

IT HAPPENED IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANES ON THE SARASOTA - MANATEE COUNTY BORDER.

STATE TROOPERS TELL US 52 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL

PARAMEDICS AIRLIFTED THREE PEOPLE FROM THE SCENE.

TWO PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED IN THEIR CARS.

SO FAR NO FATALITIES.

IT COULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL ESTIMATES THE INTERSTATE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THREE OR MORE HOURS.

WE ALSO HAVE A TRAFFIC ALERT.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE HEADED THIS WAY FROM THE NORTH --

TROOPERS ARE ASKING DRIVERS HEADING SOUTHBOUND TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AT STATE ROAD 70 -- AND THEN GET BACK ON AT FRUITVILLE ROAD.

BOY HIT BY LIGHTNING SETUP-SS OC

JESSE WATLINGTON REMAINS IN A COMA TONIGHT -- HE IS STILL IN A TAMPA HOSPITAL TWO DAYS AFTER BEING HIT BY LIGHTNING ON A FORT MYERS FOOTBALL FIELD.

TONIGHT JESSE'S PARENTS ARE OPENING UP -- TAlKING ABOUT THE DAY THAT CHANGED THEIR LIVES -- AND THEIR SON'S FOREVER.

BOY HIT BY LIGHTNING-PKG

still in a coma-

still in critical condition-

12:38 "he's by the grace of god lucky to be alive."

wednesday,

11 year-old jesse watlington's life changed.

12:40 "he was struck in the chest by lightning- the bolt exited out of his left foot and his right leg. the lightning bolt hit him directly in the heart."

his parents open up about the day that changed everything.

jesse- a 6th grader at southwest florida christian academy was running out onto the field that afternoon with his friends and fellow teamates for football practice-

when out of nowhere-

lightning struck him.

15:46 "they looked back to yell for him and he was lying on the floor."

his mother- alda-

is too heartbroken to talk.

his father- chuck is asking everyone to pray for their child.

14:20 "jesse is in god's hands right now and we ned all the possible prayer we can get and we ask for a continued prayer and for him to regain consciousness and from that point on- what kind of health issues we're going to have."

all his parents know right now is that their son will have heart damage.

they aren't leaving his side-

and are staying at the ronald mcdonald house- taking turns sleeping,

so that one of them is always with their precious son.

TOSS LAUREN-SS BOXES

100-THOUSAND GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE FLOWING ONTO A MAJOR ROADWAY ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

IT HAPPENED AFTER A PIPE BROKE EARLY THIS MORNING.

TONIGHT AT SIX -- MAIN STREET REMAINS CLOSED BETWEEN FISHERMAN'S WHARF AND SOUTH STREET.

A-B-C SEVEN'S LAUREN DISPIRITO JOINS US LIVE FROM FORT MYERS BEACH --

FMB SEWER LINE-REM-LIVE 26

FMB SEWER LINE-VO-WIPE

CREWS GOT THE CALL ABOUT THIS BREAK AROUND 8:00 THIS MORNING.

COUNTY UTILITIES WORKERS TELL US THE PIPE'S AGE-- 25 YEAR OLD-- CAUSED THE BREAK.

THE PIPE CONNECTS TO THIS SEWAGE LIFT HOUSE, THAT PUMPS THE SEWAGE FROM FORT MYERS BEACH TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEARBY.

FMB SEWER LINE-SOT SS

SOT: PATTY DIPIERO, LEE COUNTY UTILITIES

08:33:46 right now our customers will not see anything different when they go ahead and they run the water dor flush the toilet, none of that is going to be effected 33:54

SOME SEWAGE SPILLED INTO STORM DRAINS AND OUT INTO THE BAY--

SO THE COUNTY IS ASKING YOU NOT TO SWIM OR FISH IN THE WATER BETWEEN THE COAST GUARD STATION AND THE END OF SAN CARLOS DRIVE ON THE ISLAND.

FMB SEWER LINE-REM-LIVE 26

CAPTIVA RED TIDE-VO-WIPE

AN UPDATE TONIGHT TO THE RED TIDE BLOOM ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S COAST.

SMALL PATCHES OF RED TIDE HAVE NOW BLOOMED AROUND CAPTIVA AND SANIBEL -- BUT SO FAR NO SIGNS OF A FISH KILL LIKE THE ONE WE SAW YESTERDAY IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

YOU CAN SEE THE WATER TODAY OFF SANIBEL IS NOW A REDDISH BROWN COLOR --

NORMALLY ITS BLUE.

THAT'S FROM A WATER RELEASE FROM LAKE O,

AND FROM ALL THE RAIN WE HAVE GOTTEN RECENTLY.

CAPTIVA RED TIDE-SOTVO

Take sot

Dr. Bruce Neill

Sanibel Sea School

9 sec

" one of the neat things about red tide is that it's kinda patchy so if you hear that there's red tide here in swfl there's almost always a place that's unaffected by red tide."

BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DEAD FISH WASHING UP ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA -- THE MOST HARMFUL EFFECTS OF RED TIDE -- LIKE PROBLEMS BREATHING -- AREN'T HAPPENING THERE.

SFM BODY FOUND-VO

NEW AT 6.

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES NOW KOW THE IDENTITY OF A MAN FOUND DEAD IN A POND IN SOUTH FORT MYERS.

THEY SAY IT'S 23-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL HAMPTON.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WORK-ON CAM

NEW AT 6--

A BRIDGE IN COLLIER COUNTY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES --

BUIT --

AFTER CONCERNS ABOUT THE BRIDGES SAFETY -- THE COUNTY IS TEARING IT DOWN TO BUILD A NEW ONE.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WORK-PKG

PKG

After years of traveling to work over the main canal bridge, Stephanie Ross is happy to finally see it go.

Stephanie Ross/10:55:58 "New is good, yes."

Ross is just one Golden Gate estates resident who used the bridge frequently to get around town. After collecting wear and tear since the 1960's, county officials made the decision to tear it down.

Stephanie Ross/East Country Store/10:55:21 "I'm sure everyone will feel safer going over an up to date bridge."

The demolition and rebuilding process is part of a 2 bridge, 4 million dollar project. The funds came from gas taxes, while the idea was from a safety standpoint.

Connie/10:47:25 "It was becoming more apparent that that the deficiencies were getting to the point where bridge needed to be replaced."

And instead of sending local residents through a lengthy detour throughout construction, county officials kept traveling simple for drivers.

Connie/10:45:58 "People are appreciative of the fact that a temporary bridge is in place, so they don't have a major detour which could be 10 miles out of the way."

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WORK-OC

THAT WAS RICK RITTER REPORTING.

AS LONG AS EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY,

PROJECT MANAGERS TELL US THEY COULD BE DONE WITH THIS PHASE OF THE PROJECT AFTER SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

YVYV-CLIP

VOTE 2012 JOBS REPORT-VO-WIPE

IT'S YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE 20-12.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL BELOW EIGHT PERCENT.

THE NEWS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

UNEMPLOYMENT FELL TO SEVEN POINT EIGHT PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER.

UNLIKE PREVIOUS MONTHS WHEN THE RATE DROPPED BECAUSE PEOPLE GAVE UP LOOKING FOR WORK -- THIS WAS DUE TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT.

VOTE 2012 JOBS REPORT-(2)SOTVO

SOT Obama today

"Today's news is not an excuse to talk down the economy. it's reminder that

this country has gone too far to turn back now."

"Now we can do better. We don't have to stay on the path we've been on. We can do better.

EDISON JOB FAIR-HSCG

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE EDISON MALL IS HOSTING A JOB FAIR FROM 11-A-M TO TWO P-M.

MALL RETAILERS ARE LOOKING TO FILL MORE THAN 150 POSITIONS.

THAT INCLUDES FULL-TIME, PART-TIME AND SEASONAL WORK.

DUNN IN COURT AUDIO TAPES-VO

IN COURT TODAY - "THE DUDE DEFENSE."

A OVER WHETHER AN ACCUSED MURDERER SAID "DO I NEED A LAWYER?" OR "DUDE - I NEED A LAWYER!" WHEN BEING QUESTIONED BY POLICE.

ROBERT DUNN IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS ESTRANGED WIFE IN A CAPE CORAL DAY CARE CENTER IN JANUARY 2008.

THE STATE'S CASE AGAINST DUNN IS SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

BUT TODAY - HIS ATTORNEYS ARGUE JURORS SHOULDN'T HEAR HIS STATEMENTS TO AUTHORITIES BECAUSE HE HADN'T WAIVED HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS AT THE TIME OF QUESTIONING.

RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY LAST DAY-VO-WIPE

SCHOOL IS OUT EARLY FOR ONE GROUP OF LOCAL STUDENTS.

AS THEIR SCHOOL PREPARES TO CLOSE.

LAST MONTH THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY SOUTH'S REQUEST TO CLOSE THEIR CHARTER SCHOOL IN BONITA SPRINGS.

THE REASON -- FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND LOW ENROLLMENT.

RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY LAST DAY-SOTVO

It's really sad. We were like, we thought that because we had only been here a couple of months, like a month and a half we thought that we would have longer time.

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE---

WE ILL BRING YOU AN UPDATE ON BREAKING NEWS IN SARASOTA -- A 47 CAR PILEUP ON I-75.

TZ1 A HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE-VOTOPS

TZ1 B SCHOOL SHOES-VOTOPS

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

HIGHER RAIN CHANCES THIS WEEKEND

Pretty remarkable way to end the work week! Highs were in the lower 90s, and there was enough sunshine to make us believe we were still in summer. Apparently mother nature hasn't gotten the memo that fall started two weeks ago.

Yes you had to dodge a shower or two today, but by far the heavier and more widespread rains stayed to our north. That's where the deeper tropical moisture sits, and you guessed it - that moisture and the accompanying storms will be advancing in our direction this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday will not be gloomy, and it most certainly will not be a washout. We'll simply see a few more clouds to mix with the sun, and a slight increase in areal rain coverage.

Our mornings will start out dry. After daybreak we start warming up, and thanks to the heat combined with the sea breeze - we will see scattered storms each afternoon. If you plan to be outside, carry on with your schedule. Just be aware you may encounter some heavy rain at times.

Overall we'll only see heavy rain; however, one or two of these cells could become strong. What to expect with those? Powerful winds, excessive lightning, and a quick burst of rainfall. Rain totals could be up to 3 inches.

Remember, lightning can travel many miles in advance of a storm. So when the thunder roars, go indoors!

We quickly see our sky conditions improve after Sunday. We'll keep partly sunny skies in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday with some late day storms. It'll seem like we're back in August by the end of next week. It'll be hot, completely sunny, but there will hardly be a drop of rain.

High pressure will dominate our weather late next weekend, and hot, rain free weather is pretty normal with high pressure systems.

Our temperatures will be above average during the next 7 days. Keep the water handy!

BREAKING CLIP-CLIP

PILEUP i75-2SHOT

52 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL --

47 CARS STILL LINING INTERSTATE 75.AFTER A PILE-UP NEAR SARASOTA.

TONIGHT THERE IS A MAJOR BACKUP IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF I-75.

REPORTER MATT WINITZ IS LIVE ON THE SCENE.

PILEUP i75-LIVE

max winitz

BREAKING UPDATE-LIVE TOPS OR VOTOPS

IMMOKALEE HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE-VO-WIPE

A SIGN OF THE TIMES --

SO FAR NEARLY 500 PEOPLE HAVW REGISTERED FOR HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE WITH THE SALVATION ARMY.

'

TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY FOR FAMILIES TO SIGN UP FOR THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

OUR CREWS FOUND A LINE ALL THE WAY OUT THE DOOR OF THE IMMOKALEE SALVATION ARMY.

IMMOKALEE HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE-SOTVO

"The people need help, they won't be able to do christmas without the help and support of collier county."

"God bless them for what they're doing."

IF YOU NEED HELP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON,

E NAPLES SCHOOL SHOES-VOTOPS

TODAY THE FOURTH GRADERS AT AVALON ELEMENTARY IN EAST NAPLES ALL RECEIVED A BRAND NEW PAIR OF SHOES-- A GIFT TO BOOST MORALE AND EXCITEMENT.

"THE AVALON AT PELICAN BAY" COMMUNITY DONATED THE MONEY..

E NAPLES SCHOOL SHOES-SOTVO

SOTS- 16 seconds total

DAnielle Dubois, Avalon Elementray fourth grader "now I got my new shoes I wanna ace the fcat and try my best."

Omar Gutierrez, Avalon Elementray fourth grader "I want to thank all these people for giving us these and give them a great big hug."

Edie liszewski, Avalon at pelican bay resident "I'm just thrilled I'm so glad ice today it's just beautiful."

MATLACHA BRIDGE REEF-VO-WIPE

WITH THE FUTURE OF THE BRAND NEW MATLACHA BRIDGE HANGING IN LIMBO - ONE GROUP IS CELEBRATING THE DELAY.

THE SWITCH FROM THE OLD BRIDGE TO THE NEW ONE IS STILL IN THE WORKS. BUT AN ISSUE WITH THE OPERATING MECHANISM MEANS IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

A GRASSROOTS GROUP WANTS TO TURN THE OLD MATLACHA BRIDGE INTO AN ARTIFICIAL REEF.

THE DELAY BUYS THEM TIME TO RAISE MONEY.

MATLACHA BRIDGE REEF-SOTVO

we know it's better for the community the sooner it is done and we hope it does get done soon. But that extra time, whether it is a little or a lot, really does help us.

poeple had to travel over it. Then moving it out here would create awareness of our reefs

SO FAR THE GROUP'S RAISED 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

COMING UP NEXT OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO-POP

DOLPHINS WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN HARTLINE WENT FROM THE OPERATING TABLE TO NFL LEADER. FLORIDA STATE HAS A BIG DISADAVATAGE THIS SATURDAY

TZ2 SPORTS-VO

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TONIGHT AT 7 O'CLOCK---

TONIGHT ARTISTS IN FORT MYERS ARE EXPRESSING THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS WITHOUT *SAYING A WORD.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND, YOU KNOW THE SONG, YOU KNOW THE DANCE -- BUT A LOCAL WEST POINT STUDENT WHIPS UP HIS OWN **GANGNAM STYLE.

TZ 7 1) politics in art-VO-WIPE

TZ 7 2) local gangnam style!-VOTOPS

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

ALEXANDER-VOTOPS

LET'S KICK THINGS OFF WITH A LITTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. AND WHY NOT.IT'S FRIDAY.

TODAY IMMOKALEE DEFENSIVE BACK. MACKENSIE ALEXANDER HAS BEEN SELECTED IN THE US ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL.

IT'S THE ABSOLUTE BEST PLAYERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

GUYS LIKE SAMMY WATKINS AND AARRON LYNCH PLAYED IN THIS GAME A COUPLE YEARS BACK.

ACCORDING TO ESPN. ALEXANDER IS THE 6TH BEST RECRUIT IN THE NATION.

FLORIDA STATE-POPMON

FLORIDA STATE-SOTTOPS

MIAMI DOLPHINS-VOTOPS

STICKING WITH FOOTBALL. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DOLPHINS.

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW. FINS WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN HARTLINE LEADS THE LEAGUE IN RECEIVING YARDS. AND IS 9TH IN CATCHES.

MIAMI DOLPHINS-SOTTOPS

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL-POMON

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL-VOTOPS

SPEAKING OF BASEBALL. THE PLAYOFFS ARE UNDERWAY. BRAVES AND CARDINALS. PLAYING RIGHT NOW IN A ONE GAME PLAYOFF.

LATER TONIGHT THE ORIOLES ARE IN TEXAS TAKING ON THE RANGERS.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL-SOTTOPS

NHL LOCKOUT-VOTOPS

IT'S DAY 20 OF THE NHL LOCKOUT. BUT THERE MAY BE SOME HOPE.

NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN MET WITH THE HEAD OF THE PLAYERS UNION TODAY IN TORONTO. AND TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

GOODBYE-4SHOT