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HEADLINES------------

I find it pretty shocking that there's somebody trying to follow little girls home."

BUT FOUR 9-YEAR-OLD GIRLS FROM NAPLES SAY IT HAPPENED TO THEM ON THE WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL.

NOW AT 6 --

THE HUNT FOR THE SHADY-LOOKING MAN IN A BLACK S-U-V --

AND THE TOOLS POLICE ARE USING TO TRACK HIM DOWN. PLUS--

"I love him like a brother and just miss him alot."

HIS BEST FRIEND IS FIGHTING TO SURVIVE TONIGHT --

AFTER FLIPPING HIS A-T-V IN COLLIER COUNTY.

HOW THE TEENS HEALTH CHANGED TODAY.

bracelets, rings, necklaces- a little bit of everything."

AND THEY LEFT A MESS BEHIND!

SEE THE STUNNING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO IN LEE COUNTY --

FROM A SMASH-AND-GRAB BURGLARY WITH A STOLEN CAR.

EXTREME MAKEOVER, BEACH STYLE--

HOW FORT MYERS BEACH PLANS TO LURE PEOPLE TO TOWN --

BY CHANGING THEIR APPEARANCE.

HL1) Naples suspicious incident-SOTVO-WIPE

HL2) ATV crash-SOTVO-WIPE

HL) jewelry burglary-SOTVO-WIPE

HL3) Times Square makeover-VOTOPS

STORMWARN 7 OPEN-CLIP

FIRST WEATHER-WXWALL

An extremely robust weather system made its way up the east coast yesterday, and I'm sure you heard about the severe weather it produced across the Southeast. It spun up tornadoes from Arkansas to the Carolinas, and wind damage was widespread as well.

That same system had a direct impact on our local weather, too. It pushed a cold front over the area, and we are feeling the effects now. The afternoon on Thursday was chilly as was the wee hours of Thursday.

… It'll get a little chillier too.

Through the evening, temperatures will fall pretty quickly under clear skies with most of the area in the middle 40s first thing Friday. It's even possible to see a few areas fall to near 39 degrees deeper inland and across our far northern communities.

High pressure has built into the area behind the aforementioned cold front. It's the reason we are seeing a tranquil weather pattern.

BREAKING NEWS OPEN-CLIP

SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT-SSTOPS-VO

ABC7 CONTINUES TO FOLLOW NEWS WE FIRST BROKE TO YOU AT FIVE.

A SCHOOL BUS CRASH IN TICE.

HERE'S THE NEWEST INFORMATION.

ONE STUDENT WAS ON THE BUS HE IS OKAY AS IS THE DRIVER.

BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE - AT SIX O'CLOCK. BUCKINGHAM ROAD IS CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT THE INTERSECTION WITH PARK ROAD.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE BUS DRIVER TO CRASH.

ATLANTA SCHOOL SHOOTING-VO

A TEENAGER SHOT AT A SCHOOL IN ATLANTA TODAY --

SHOULD SURVIVE.

THAT 14-YEAR OLD WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER STUDENT INTO CUSTODY.

THEY SAY HE TARGETED THE VICTIM.

OUR AFFILIATE IN ATLANTA REPORTS THE VICTIM IS SITTNNG UP IN HIS HOSPITAL BED.

A TEACHER ALSO SUFFERED MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUISES.

NAPLES SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT-OC-SS-VOFLY

AN ALERT FOR NAPLES.

FOUR NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRLS SAY A MAN TRIED TO FOLLOW THEM HOME FROM SCHOOL.

THE GIRLS SAY HE WAS IN A DARK S-U-V.

NEW AT SIX -- THIS IS A SURVEILLANCE PICTURE OF WHAT THE SUV MAY LOOK LIKE.

THE GIRLS LAST SAW IT NEAR LAKE PARK SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

TONIGHT THE SCHOOL IS SENDING OUT AUTOMATED CALLS TO ALERT PARENTS.

NAPLES SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT-PKG

TAKE PKG

Richard Wagner, Lake Park Parent

4028 "First time, I heard about it really surprised."

SHOCK DESCENDS ON LAKE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENTS -- AS POLICE STEP UP PATROL AND SEARCH FOR A SUSPICIOUS MAN.

Wagner

4143 "People shouldn't be going after the kids obviously. That is concerning."

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON -- OFFICERS SAY A MAN DRIVING THIS OLDER MODEL BLACK SUV FOLLOWED FOUR YOUNG GIRLS AS THEY WALKED HOME FROM

SCHOOL.

TAKE SOTS

Lyn Hunter, Lake Park Elementary Parent

"I find it pretty horrifying. This is a pretty quiet neighborhood. We all know each other kids especially the ones who are close enough to walk so I find it pretty shocking that there's somebody trying to follow little girls home."

INVESTIGATORS TELL US - THE GIRLS SPOTTED THE MAN AND RAN FOR SAFTEY AT A FRIEND'S HOME.

POLICE OFFICERS CALL THE REACTION A PERFECT MOVE.

Lt John Barkley, Naples Police Department

"They did the absolute right thing. They were walking in a group which

is very smart and as soon as they thought there might have been danger

nearby they stayed together and went to seek safety as quickly as possible."

AS THEY OFFICERS INCREASE THER PRESENCE NEAR AND AROUND THE SCHOOL -- THIS MOTHER EMBRACES HER maternal INSTINCT.

Hunter

4349 "we're all in the neighborhood together and it would be good to keep an extra eye on the kids."

WHILE THIS FATHER HOPES POLICE CATCHE UP WITH THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRIVER."

Wagner

NAPLES SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT-ONCAM

NAPLES POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR AN OLDER MODEL BLACK S-U-V --

ATV CRASH FOLO-trxSOTVO-OC

"It's pretty tough, you never think it could happen to him and it just did"

17-YEAR OLD JOHN BOOT IS NOW IN SERIOUS CONDITION --

AFTER HE FLIPPED HIS A-T-V WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HE LOST CONTROL WHEN HE TRIED TO AVOID HITTING A DOG.

HE CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX BEFORE BEING THROWN OFF.

ABC 7'S RICK RITTER SPOKE WITH BOOT'S FRIENDS TODAY --

PLUS COLLIER COUNTY LEADERS --

ATV CRASH FOLO-PKG

4:54 "I love him like a brother and just miss him alot."

AN EMOTIONAL GROUP OF FRIENDS.

2:19 "it's pretty tough, you never really think it could happen to him and it just did."

ALL BECAUSE OF A TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES - ONE THAT HAS NAPLES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT JOHN BOOT IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

0:40 "Its kind of hard to believe."

THE 17-YEAR OLD'S A-T-V ACCIDENT HAD HIM AIRLIFTED TO LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - AFTER SUFFERING SEVERE HEAD INJURIES.

NOW UPGRADED TO SERIOUS CONDITION - JOHNS CLOSEST FRIENDS ARE COPING WITH THE TRAGEDY.

3:46 "It's very dull, you can tell its affecting everyone in the whole school body."

WE REACHED OUT TO COUNTY OFFICIALS AFTER THE ACCIDENT - TRYING TO SEE WHERE COLLIER STANDS ON ADDING AN A-T-V PARK -SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

0:55 "There's a group right now that's working with the board of coutny commissioners and looking for possible sights in Collier County."

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE AROUND THREE MILLION DOLLARS SET ASIDE TO INVEST IN A PARK- BUT FINDING A LOCATION HASN'T BEEN EASY.

1:26 "Collier County is made up with a lot of state and federal preservatories or preserved land rather, so finding a suitable land

BOTH SIDES ARE EXPECTED TO MEET AGAIN IN MID FEBRUARY TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS - HOPING TO HELP BRING AN END TO THESE TRAGIC ACCIDENTS.

DEVELOPING NEWS OPEN-CLIP

HORIZONS APT CHILD DEATH INVESTIGATION-VO-WIPE

TONIGHT ABC 7 IS STILL WORKING TO FIND OUT WHY FORT MYERS POLICE WON'T SAY HOW A TWO YEAR OLD GIRL DIED INSIDE HER MOTHER'S APARTMENT.

NEIGHBORS ARE GIVING US MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION.

THEY TELL US THE GIRL WAS FOUND DEAD YESTERDAY MORNING.

THEY ALSO TELL US ANOTHER CHILD WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A GASH ON ITS LEG.

HERE'S WHAT OFFICERS WILL SAY.

HORIZONS APT CHILD DEATH INVESTIGATION-SOTVO

What happened to the child? What provoked the incident? Was she sick. We need answers- not only for me but for the community."

ABC7 DID TRY TO TALK WITH OTHER AGENCIES.

INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

AL CHILD HOSTAGE STANDOFF-BNR-VO-WIPE

NEGOTIATORS IN ALABAMA ARE TALKING TO A MAN HOSTING A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY HOSTAGE --

THROUGH A P-V-C.

IT LEADS DOWN TO AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER WHERE 65 YEAR OLD JIMMY LEE DYKES IS HOLED UP WITH THE BOY.

THE STANDOFF STARTED THREE DAYS AGO AFTER AUTHORITIES SAY DYKES PULLED THE BOY OFF A SCHOOL BUS AND KILLED THE DRIVER.

THE POLICE CHIEF SAID TODAY THEY DO NOT THINK THIS WAS A HATE CRIME.

AL CHILD HOSTAGE STANDOFF-SOTVO

"He believed that government is here only to take our things and suppressor rights that government is the great satan.

POLICE MINISTERS & DOJ MEETING-VO-WIPE

NEW AT 6 --

THE HIGH NUMBER OF UNSOLVED MURDERS IN FORT MYERS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

TODAY D-O-J MEMBERS CAME TO TOWN WITH ONE MISSION: HELPING SOLVE CRIME.

SO FAR THIS YEAR THERE'S BEEN ONE MURDER IN FORT MYERS.

LAST YEAR SET A RECORD FOR MURDER IN THE CITY -- 24!

19 REMAIN UNSOLVED.

POLICE MINISTERS & DOJ MEETING-(2)SOTVO

Eugene Schneeberg/ U.S. Justice Dept. / 11:24:17 I believe you may all have set a record last year for the number of homicides. 11:24:19

Chief Doug Baker / 11:27:44 We're looking for additional training in a number of fields. We're looking for training for the community which is extremely helpful. 11:27:51

THE D-O-J WORKERS LISTENED TO THE CITY'S CONCERNS.

THEY'LL COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO OFFER POLICE MORE TRAINING.

TEVAN GANT ARRESTED-SS-VO-WIPE

NEW AT 6 --

A FORMER CAPE CORAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER IS FACING CHARGES TONIGHT --

OF BEATING A POLICE OFFICER IN MINNESOTA.

BUT HIS FAMILY TELLS ABC-7 THERE'S MUCH MORE TO THIS STORY.

TEVAN GANT PLAYED QUARTERBACK AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

BUT IN DECEMBER OF 2011 --

HE SUFFERED A MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL.

ACCORDING TO HOSPITAL STAFF -- HE KNOCKED A POLICE SERGEANT DOWN AND PUNCHED HIM.

TEVAN GANT ARRESTED-(2)SOT-SS

1:01:08 we all are emotional at losing an officer. Especially one on the department. This was his profession the employment he loved to do 1:01:20

if he had been in his right mind he would have never never attacked a police officer

GANT'S FAMILY SAYS HIS MENTAL ISSUES COULD BE RELATED TO A SERIES OF CONCUSSIONS HE SUFFERED ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

BEER BURGLAR-(3)SS

ONE MAN'S CRAVING FOR BEER COULD LAND HIM IN JAIL.

CRIME STOPPERS HOPES YOU KNOW THIS MAN.

THEY SAY HE STOLE TWO 18 PACKS OF BUDWEISER FROM THE FORT MYERS CIRCLE-K ON ORANGE RIVER BOULEVARD.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HE AND A GETAWAY DRIVER TOOK OFF IN THIS WHITE CROWN VICTORIA.

ALL DEPUTIES NEED IS A NAME TO GO WITH THE FACE.

JEWELERY SMASH & GRAB-VOTOPS

YOU SHOULD SEE THIS!

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES WANT TO KNOW IF YOU KNOW THE MAN IN THE MASK.

HE RAMMED A STOLEN CADILLAC INTO THE FRONT DOOR OF PROVIDENT JEWELRY STORE OFF U-S 41.

ONCE INSIDE HE SMASHED UP A NUMBER OF SHOWCASES,

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY HE WAS ONLY INSIDE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

BUT HE GOT WAY WITH ABOUT 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF JEWELS.

PARVO WARNING-ONCAM

PET OWNERS LISTEN UP.

GET YOUR DOG VACCINATED AGAINST PARVO.

LEE COUNTY DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES SAY ITS SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF CASES.

THE VIRUS IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS, EXPENSIVE TO TREAT, AND CAN BE DEADLY EVEN IF IT'S TREATED.

GOV. SCOTT STATE BUDGET-CGR-WIPE

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT UNVEILED HIS BUDGET LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

IT'S A RECORD 74-BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND INCLUDES A LOT OF CASH FOR EDUCATION.

LOCALLY--

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO GIVE EDISON STATE COLLEGE 4-POINT-3 MILLION DOLLARS.

HE PLANS TO GIVE NERLY 5-MILLION DOLLARS TO FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY IN LEE--

44-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR CHARLOTTE COUNTY--

AND 42-THOUSAND FOR COLLIER.

GOV. SCOTT STATE BUDGET-SOTVO

"This budget is aimed at making strategic, targeted investments to keep our economy on track and moving. I want to stress again that eliminating the sales tax on manufacturing equipment and our historic investment in education, which is heavily tied to the $2,500 teacher pay raise, are my two top priorities this year."

FL BUSINESS BRAND-VO

FLORIDA IS SHOWING OFF THE STATE'S FIRST-EVER BUSINESS BRAND.

TODAY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT AND "ENTERPRISE FLORIDA" C-E-O GRAY SWOOPE SHOWED OFF THE NEW LOGO.

THE SLOGAN IS, "FLORIDA: THE PERFECT CLIMATE FOR BUSINESS."

THE STATE WANTS TO LURE MORE BUSINESSES BY PLAYING UP ITS ADVANTAGES:

NO PERSONAL INCOME TAX,

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE------------

THAT NASTY WINTER STORM HAS NOW SPAWNED DEADLY PILE-UPS--

AND LEFT THOUSANDS SHIVERING IN THE DARK.

NEW AT 6 --

WE'LL SHOW YOU VIDEO OF A 125-MILE-AN-HOUR TORNADO!

here, I think, daytime, this is the place to be

FORT MYERS BEACH IS SPRUCING UP ONE OF ITS BUSIEST AREAS.

TZ1 severe storms-VOTOPS-WIPE

TZ1 times square makeover-SOTVO

SEVERE STORMS-TCMON-VO-WIPE

SEVERE STORMS HAVE SPUN OFF AT LEAST 23 SUSPECTED TORNADOES IN SIX SOUTHERN STATES OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS.

IN GEORGIA, OFFICIALS ASSESSED THE DAMAGE AFTER A MONSTER TORNADO DEMOLISHED HOMES IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

THIS HOME VIDEO SHOWS A TWISTER WITH WINDS ESTIMATED 125-

MILES-PER-HOUR. SENDING RESIDENTS RUNNING FOR COVER.

SEVERE STORMS-SOTVO

SOT: "I couldn't get out. I was so scared. It just picked me up and sling me

three times. I was trying to get that door to close./ It sounded like a tractor train inside that trailer. it was awful."

IN WASHINGTON, D-C. THIS MORNING RESCUE CREWS PLUCKED A DRIVER FROM HIS FLOODED CAR.

FIERCE WINDS KNOCKED OUT POWER TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN

THE NORTHEAST.

AND IN DETROIT A SUDDEN SNOW STORM CAUSED A MULTIPLE PILEUP THAT LEFT AT LEAST 4 DEAD.

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

An extremely robust weather system made its way up the east coast yesterday, and I'm sure you heard about the severe weather it produced across the Southeast. It spun up tornadoes from Arkansas to the Carolinas, and wind damage was widespread as well.

That same system had a direct impact on our local weather, too. It pushed a cold front over the area, and we are feeling the effects now. The afternoon on Thursday was chilly as was the wee hours of Thursday.

… It'll get a little chillier too.

Through the evening, temperatures will fall pretty quickly under clear skies with most of the area in the middle 40s first thing Friday. It's even possible to see a few areas fall to near 39 degrees deeper inland and across our far northern communities.

High pressure has built into the area behind the aforementioned cold front. It's the reason we are seeing a tranquil weather pattern.

After our chilly start to Friday we'll contend with plenty of sunshine. Highs will stay in the lower 70s and humidity levels will be rather low making it feel very comfortable during the day.

So it's setting up to be a really nice start the weekend.

FMB TIMES SQAURE MAKOEVER-VO-WIPE

THE FORT MYERS BEACH TOWN COUNCIL IS LOOKING TO MAKE NEARLY TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF UPGRADES ON THE BEACH.

THE PROPOSED MAKEOVER INCLUDES REPLACING THE SQUARE'S ORGINAL PAVEMENT WITH A NEW, MORE DURABLE SURFACE.

THEY'LL ALSO LOOK AT ADDING A GAZEBO FOR PERFORMANCES.

FMB TIMES SQAURE MAKOEVER-SOTVO

it's good, it's overdue, they should redo stuff you know, keep it up to date

TO KEEP ONE OF THE BEACH'S BUSIEST SPOTS OPEN FOR BUSINESS,

DON'T EXPECT ANY CHANGES UNTIL SUMMER, AT THE EARLIEST.

NAPLES WINE FESTIVAL 911 CALLS-OC-SOTVO-WIPE

AFTER LOUD BOOMS SENT SOME PEOPLE SCRAMBLING IN NAPLES,

TONIGHT WE'RE HEARING SOME OF THE 9-1-1 CALLS.

Dispatch: 911 whats your emergency?

Caller: "There's some kind of terrible explosion on gulfshore blvd. theres lights and fire. Dispatch: it's fireworks

Caller: I don't think so officer. 14

THE PHONE LINES LIT UP AT THE NAPLES POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING THE GRAND FINALE FIREWORKS SHOW AT THIS WEEKEND'S NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL.

THE FIREWORKS STARTED AT 10 O'CLOCK.

NAPLES WINE FESTIVAL 911 CALLS-SOTVO

Caller: "I know There's a plane flying over that's been making a lot of noise. The noise is still going on, I went outside, I don't know what it is.

Dispatch: it's fireworks, maam.

Caller: Oh thats what it is.getting calls from all these residents. 16

COMING UP NEXT OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO-POP

PHIL MICKELON LOOKING TO MAKE A LITTLE HISTORY AT THE PHOENIX OPEN. THE FLORIDA GATORS. HAVE BEEN SHOWING NO MERCY ON THE SEC. BILLY DONOVAN TELLS WHY

TZ2 SPORTS-VO

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN

ALL NEW AT SEVEN,

IT'S NOT LONGER JUST THE SUNSHINE STATE.

SAY HELLO TO THE 'BUSINESS' STATE?

LEADERS IN FLORIDA WANT TO PUSH MORE THAN TOURISM.

AND THIS IS ONE LUCKY MAN!

HOW PEOPLE HELPED HIM --

WHEN HE FOUND HIMSELF ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS.

TZ 7 1) FL BUSINESS BRAND-VOTOPS-WIPE

TZ 7 2) MAN FALLS ON TRAIN TRACKS-VOTOPS

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

PGA TOUR-POP

PGA TOUR-CGTOPS-WIPE

INSTEAD. MICKELSON. JUST MISSED A BIRDIE ON THE FINAL HOLE TO FINISH WITH A 60. AND LEADS THE PHOENIX OPEN BY 4 STROKES

PGA TOUR-SOTTOPS-WIPE

RICKY KNAPP-VOTOPS

FROM PITCHING WEDGES. TO PITCHING ARMS.

FGCU PITCHER RICKY KNAPP HAS BEEN NAMED PRE-SEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR. IN THE ATLANTIC SUN CONFERNCE

LAST YEAR THE JUNIOR FROM PORT CHARLOTTE LED THE CONFERNCE IN WINS AND WAS SECOND IN EARN RUN AVERAGE.

FGCU MEN-POP

FGCU MEN-VOTOPS-WIPE

THE FGCU MEN BACK IN ACTION TONIGHT. AS THEY TRAVEL TO NORTH FLORIDA.

THE EAGLES BEAT NORTH FLORIDA EARLIER THIS YEAR. BY TWO.

FGCU MEN-SOTTOPS-WIPE

FLORIDA GATORS-VOTOPS-WIPE

I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO THE FLORIDA GATORS. BUT THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYING THE SEC.

LAST NIGHT SOUTH CAROLINA WAS THEIR LATEST VICTIM. HANDING THE GAMECOCKS A 39 POINT BEATDOWN.

FLORIDA GATORS-SOTTOPS-WIPE

SUPER BOWL 47-VOTOPS-WIPE

WHEN IT COMES TO SUPER BOWL 47. THE QUARTERBACKS COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT.

RAVENS QB JOE FLACCO HAS A BIG ARM AND SLOW FEET. AND ADMITS HE IS A RATHER DULL PERSON.

SUPER BOWL 47-SOTTOPS-WIPE

DAN MARINO-VOTOPS

MIAMI DOLPHIN GREAT DAN MARINO. MAKING THE NEWS FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

THE NEW POST REPORTS. MARINO HAD AN AFFAIR WITH A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT. AT CBS. AND THAT THE TWO HAVE A CHILD TOGETHER.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE PAPER. MARINO SAYS HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILTY FOR HIS ACTIONS.

GOODBYE-4SHOT