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7:36-44 It's understandable he'd be in a depressed state but the way he handled it is very disappointing.

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL FOR A FORMER COMMISSIONER CONTINUES.

THE NEWEST CHARGES BRIAN BIGELOW IS FACING THAT WON'T HAVE HIM GETTING OUT OF JAIL ANYTIME SOON.

PLUS--

TZ SU -- "Some Cape Coral business owners can't believe what Lee county wants to do with this intersection. I'm ABC7's Steve Campion why they say the move is a direct assault on their business."

HELPING BUSINESS, HURTING YOU.

WHY SHOPPING BEHIND THAT COMPUTER SCREEN COULD SOON COST YOU MORE.

FIND OUT ON ABC-7 NEWS AT SIX --

HL1) BIGELOW ARREST-SOTVO

HL3) DEL PRADO DEBATE-SOTTOPS

HL2) INTERNET SALES TAX-VOTOPS

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

DEL PRADO LEFT TURN DEBATE-2SHOT-SS

OUR BIG STORY AT SIX--

BUSINESS OWNERS IN CAPE CORAL SAY THEY SURVIVED THE GREAT RECESSION--

BUT *CANNOT* SURVIVE A SINGLE RED LIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, I'M COURTNEY ROBINSON.

I'M JEFF BUTERA.

THEY WANT TO PUT THE BRAKES ON LEE COUNTY'S PLAN FOR DEL PRADO BOULEVARD AT SOUTHWEST 47-TH TERRACE.

TONIGHT --

THEY TELL ABC-7'S STEVE CAMPION WHY THE RED ARROW YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN --

DEL PRADO LEFT TURN DEBATE-FLY-PKG

20:28 "are you of your mind? It's totally ridiculous."

BENNETT AGRANOVE BLASTS -- THE COMING CHANGES TO THIS INTERSECTION IN FRONT OF HIS CAPE CORAL BUSINESS.

2034 "you can't get through to these people. It's bureaucracy. They don't care what they do if they have to close people down."

WITHIN THE MONTH -- LEE COUNTY PLANS TO INSTALL SIGNS OUTLAWING -- SOUTHBOUND LEFT HAND TURNS ON DEL BOULEVARD AT SOUTHWEST 47TH TERRACE.

THE MOVE LEAVES DRIVERS FORCED TO FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES -- LIKE TURNING EARLY OR TURNING RIGHT -- JUST TO GO BACK ACROSS THE ROAD.

THE DRY CLEANER'S CONCERNS ARE SHARED BY MANY ON THE BLOCK.

07:42 "people bought these properties with the idea. Traffic would flow off Del Prado."

"We're going to see just how long this change might mean for drivers. All of sudden you're forced to go straight. Finally got a green light. We're at 142. Finally, we got to the intersection. It took about three and a half minutes more

05:04 "definitely a high crash intersection."

LEE COUNTY TRAFFIC ENGINEER STEVE JANSEN TELLS US -- THE PLANNED REPAVING PROJECT INCLUDES SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS AND THE CONTROVERSIAL LEFT HAND TURN CHANGE.

JANSEN EXPLAINS -- THE MODIFICATIONS WILL LEAVE DRIVERS WITH A BETTER ROAD.

03:39 "safety is always a priority when you're considering what you're doing."

WITHOUT THE CONVENIENCE -- BUSINESS OWNERS FEAR A HIT TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE --

You're taking away part of our livelihood."

-- AND PLEAD WITH LEE COUNTY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO STEP IN AND STOP WHAT THEY CALL AN ASSAULT ON THEM.

DEL PRADO LEFT TURN DEBATE-ONCAM

LEE COUNTY MAINTAINS DEL PRADO BOULEVARD.

BUSINESS OWNERS WANT THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO WEIGH IN ON THE ISSUE.

PELICAN ELEM SIDEWALKS-VO

STAYING IN CAPE CORAL. ANOTHER BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR YOU.

LAST WEEK - ABC7 TOLD YOU ABOUT PELICAN ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FORCED TO WALK IN THE STREET BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS.

RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL AND THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE DISTRICT WANTS TO APPLY FOR A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT TO GET THE SIDEWALKS.

PELICAN ELEMENTARY IS ON SOUTHWEST THIRD AVENUE.

BIGELOW ARREST-SSTOPS-OC

ARRESTED AGAIN!

FORMER LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIAN BIGELOW

JUST CAN'T SEEM TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.

HIS SECOND ARREST SINCE LEAVING OFFICE.

HIS THIRD BRUSH WITH THE LAW IN THREE MONTHS!

ABC 7'S JOE ROETZ EXPLAINS HOW YOUR ONE-TIME LAWMAKER'S ACCUSED OF BREAKING THE LAW --

BIGELOW ARREST-PKG-BNR

Take Pkg

A fast fall from grace.

Lee county deputies cuffed and carted former lee county commissioner Brian Bigelow from his fathers fort Myers home early this morning.

According to an arrest warrant - Bigelow failed a random drug test - showing use of cocaine.

7:24-6

Frank Mann

This is a very sad situation.

It's the third time Bigelow has been connected with drugs.

In November - the 49 year old was pulled over with 19 year old David Henley driving his car.

Deputies said Henley had cocaine on him - He told them it belonged to Bigelow.

Then just last month - Fort Myers police caught him in this apartment complex with Markis Avila.

They say Bigelow had the cocaine on him that time.

Before he goes to trial - he agreed to random drug tests.

A test the court says he failed.

Nats knocking

No family was home when we went looking at both Bigelow and his father's homes this afternoon.

7:36 - 44

It's understandable he'd be in a depressed state but the way he handled it is very disappointing.

County commissioner Frank Mann worked alongside Bigelow for 6 years.

7:45-55

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

County COmmissioner Cecil Pendergrass took Bigelow's seat.

Pendergrass

FORT MYERS CRIMES IN 2012-(2)SS CG

WE HAVE ALSO BRAND NEWS NUMBERS ABOUT CRIME IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IT'S DROPPED IN FORT MYERS BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

OVERALL CRIME DIPPED 18 PERCENT LAST YEAR --

ALTHOUGH MOST OF THAT WAS NON-VIOLENT CRIME.

VIOLENT CRIMES ONLY FELL TWO PERCENT.

CHIEF DOUG BAKER'S WORRIED ABOUT THE MURDER RATE THOUGH.

TWO DOZEN LAST YEAR.

HE'S OFFERING REWARD MONEY FOR INFORMATION IN THOSE CASES AND OTHER CASES.

THE BREAKDOWN --

FIVE GRAND FOR TIPS LEADING TO AN ARREST IN GUN AND ROBBERY CASES.

NOVEMBER FM MURDER ARREST-(2)SS-VO

A THREE MONTH LONG MURDER INVESTIGATION IS FINALLY SOLVED TONIGHT IN FORT MYERS.

OFFICERS ARRESTED THIS MAN. ANTWOND ROBERTS EARLIER TODAY FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HE SHOT MARKEISH CORBETT THEN STOLE HIS CAR.

IT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER IN FRONT OF A CONVIENCE STORE ON M-L-K AND PARK DRIVE.

LEE SCHOOL SECURITY-VIDBOX-RVL

NEW AT SIX -

MORE SECURITY CHANGES ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THIS AFTERNOON, SECURITY OFFICIALS OUTLINED WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

THEY WANT TO ADD 43 ADDITIONAL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR.

THEY'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING MORE SECURITY TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES

AND ADDITIONAL DRILLS FOR STUDENTS.

NAPLES ARSON ARREST-VO WIPE

THREE NAPLES BOYS CAN'T EVEN CALL THEMSELVES TEENAGERS YET.

BUT DEPUTIES CALL THEM ARSONSISTS TONIGHT!

IT'S TWO TEN-YEAR-OLDS AND A NINE-YEAR-OLD!

WITNESSES SAW THEM IN THE WOODS OFF SITTERLY LANE FRIDAY --

WITH A GASOLINE CAN AND A LIGHTER.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY STARTED A FIRE --

NAPLES ARSON ARREST-(2) SOTVO

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

15:27:57 "It was like a big shock - it was unreal."

THREE YOUNG GIRLS ALSO WATCHED THIS HAPPEN.

INTERNET SALES TAX-VO WIPE

FLORIDA LAWMAKERS HAVE INCHED CLOSER TO A NEW LAW --

THAT WOULD HELP FLORIDA BUSINESSES BUT HURT YOU.

TODAY A SENATE COMMITTEE PASSED A BILL-

REQUIRING "OUT-OF-STATE" INTERNET BUSEINSSES TO COLLECT SALES TAXES ON ANYTHING YOU BUY.

RIGHT NOW, BUSINESSES LIKE AMAZON DON'T HAVE TO --

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN FLORIDA.

BUT FLORIDA-BASED BUSINESSES DO --

MEANING YOU PAY SIX TO SEVEN PERCENT MORE FOR THEIR ITEMS THAN THE NATIONAL STORES.

INTERNET SALES TAX-SOT VO

"The world has changed and it really is e-fairness. It's tax reform. It's just new, new, new. We have to look at things in a whole new way and I think we've come up with a perfect blend to have a different kind of tax and then have that money generated back to job creation."

REMEMBER, THOUGH --

THAT WOULD MEAN YOU WOULD PAY SIX PERCENT MORE ON ANYTHING YOU BUY FROM AMAZON OR A NATIONAL CHAIN.

THIS BILL STILL MUST PASS THREE MORE COMMITTEES--

CAPE VS ANIMAL CONTROL-VO WIPE

THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL IS CONSIDERING A PLAN TO SEPARATE FROM LEE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES.

IN AUGUST, THE CITY MUST DECIDED WHETHER THEY WANT TO RENEW THEIR 900 THOUSAND DOLLAR CONTRACT --

OR START THEIR OWN SERVICES. WITH CITIES LIKE BONITA AND FORT MYERS BEACH.

CITY LEADERS BELIEVE THEY AREN'T GETTING THEIR FAIR SHARE FROM THE MONEY THEY GIVE THE COUNTY.

CAPE VS ANIMAL CONTROL-SOT VO

because unincorporated lee county uses 62.2 percent of services. We need to get better service, better return on our investment. Dog barking nats

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

PYTHON CHALLENGE-ONCAM

50 BURMESE PYTHONS KILLED SO FAR IN THE EVERGLADES AND HUNTERS HAVE JUST FIVE MORE DAYS TO BAG MORE.

THIS IS PART OF THE STATE'S PYTHON CHALLENGE TO TRY AND REDUCE THE INVASIVE SPECIES.

HOMELESS COALITION HELP-VO WIPE

NEW NUMBERS OUT TODAY --

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASKING FOR HELP AT THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION HAS GONE UP.

AT THE SAME TIME --

DONATIONS HAVE FALLEN OFF.

HOMELESS COALITION HELP-SOT VO

John Fanning, Charlotte Co. Homeless Coalition 7 seconds

"More people need to be educated that it's an ongoing process. Hunger doesn't take a holiday."

TODAY --

PUNTA GORDA LAUNCHED A FOOD DRIVE TO HELP OUT.

YOU CAN DROP NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS OFF AT FIVE LOCATIONS ACROSS

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE

PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH ON THE BEACH.

WHAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS DOING ABOUT RED TIDE --

THAT THEY HAVE *NEVER* DONE BEFORE.

RIGHT NOW --

THIS PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN NAPLES SITS EMPTY!

WHAT ONE ARTIST IS RALLYING TO DO WITH IT --

AS HE TRIES TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM PEOPLE HE CALLS GREEDY DEVELOPERS!

TZ1 red tide alerts-VOTOPS

TZ1 grand central park-VOTOPS

FIRE SEASON PREPS-VO WIPE

LIVING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --

YOU PROBABLY HAVE A HURRICANE PLAN.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A BRUSH FIRE PLAN?

YOU SHOULD.

WE'RE HEADING INTO THE DRIEST PART OF THE YEAR.

AND LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE ROLLING OUT A WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN CALLED, "READY, SET, GO!"

THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A CHECKLIST OF WHAT YOU CAN DO TO *READY* YOUR HOME, LIKE CLEARING BRUSH 30 FEET AROUND IT.

THEN, GET *SET* IF A BRUSH FIRE IS APPROACHING.

AND *GO* ---

FIRE SEASON PREPS-SOT VO

this is a great program for Southwest Florida because we already are so ingrained in hurricane preparedness this is just taking it to the wildfire preparedness so we can protect as many lives and property as we can.

THE PROGRAM ROLLS OUT NEXT MONTH.

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

NOAA RED TIDE ALERTS-TCMON

RED TIDE HAS LINGERED OFF OUR COAST FOR MONTHS --

POSING A BIG DANGER TO YOUR HEALTH.

BUT NOW --

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME --

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL SEND RED TIDE ALERTS DIRECTLY TO YOU.

NOAA RED TIDE ALERTS-PKG

Take pkg.

Sot

1138

Are there a lot of dead fish? Is it safe to go out? 1144

When it comes to red tide, Fishing guide Dave Andrews gets just about every question you can think of.

1129 there's 2 stages when I know it's here and when everybody knows its here 1134

Like many boaters on pine island, he gets his information about where the harmful algal blooms are, first hand, on the water. But for many others, information about red tide comes when it causes hundreds of dead fish to wash ashore.

0935 in my business red tide sometimes conjures up images of thousands of dead fish when it might only be a sneeze or a cough 0943.

For the first time, the national weather service is including daily information about red tide from Sarasota to lee counties in its hazard statements, the same way the service would let you know about rip currents.

People can now listen to the alerts over radio broadcasts.

Phoner sot

306 what this will do is push the information a little more sending it out to anyone that looks for a forecast 0315

The alerts go out only when red tide levels are high enough to cause symptoms like throat itriation..Information that's particulary important for people with chronic respiratory problems.

Michael

1716 she has that so if she was unaware it could hurt her 1721

Some people on Sanibel island say it will help them decide when to avoid beaches.

1752 I think they're becoming proactive instead of reacting to a situation. 1754

FMB ACCESS POINTS-SS-VO

MAKING IT EASIER TO GET TO THE BEACH.

TONIGHT AT SIX WE CAN SHOW YOU THE CHANGES THAT FORT MYERS BEACH WANTS TO MAKE.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT TOWN LEADERS WANT TO DO.

THEY HOPE TO ADD SHOWERS AND BIKE RACKS-

PICNIC TABLES-

AND CLEAR OUT SOME OF THE SIGN CLUTTER.

THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR VISION ON PAPER WITH THESE DRAWINGS.

THEY ALSO WANT THESE TO CONVINCE TOURISM LEADERS THE UPGRADES ARE WORTH THE COST.

NO WORD YET ON HOW MUCH MONEY IMPROVEMENTS WOULD COST.

ALL OF IT WOULD BE USED AT ENTRANCES ALONG ESTERO ISLAND.

GRAND CENTRAL PARK-SS-FLY-VO WIPE

19-ACRES OF PRIME REAL ESTATE IN NAPLES HAS BEEN

SITTING VACANT FOR YEARS.

IT'S AT THE INTERSECTION OF GOODLETTE FRANK

ROAD AND FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH.

A DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD ON IT--

BUT A LOCAL ARTIST HAS OTHER IDEAS.

PAUL ARSENAULT WANTS TO SEE THE LAND TURNED INTO A CENTRAL PARK.

HE HAS STARTED A PETITION WITH NEARLY 100 SIGNATURES SO FAR.

SUPPORTERS ARE HOPING DONORS WILL BUY THE ESTIMATED 25 MILLION DOLLAR

GRAND CENTRAL PARK-SOTVO

Paul Arsenault, Naples Artist

"20:22 It would poison the good will and the good responsible future of a naples that just succumb to another greedy developer 33"

NAPLES MAYOR JOHN SOREY SAYS THE PLAN IS UNREALISTIC BECAUSE OF THE PRICE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS.

HE ALSO TELLS US A DEAL IS ALREADY IN THE WORKS, AND SHOULD WRAP UP BY THE END OF MARCH.

COMING UP NEXT OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO-POP

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY IS ON WEDNESDAY. FLORIDA GATORS SITTIGN PRETTY. SPEAKING OF SIGNING DAY. ESPN MAKING THE JOURNEY TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FOR ONE LOCAL STAR.

TZ2 SPORTS-VO

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP B

TZ 7 1) LEHIGH STALKER ARREST-SOTVO-WIPE

she had bruises all over her body

INVESTIGATORS SAY A MAN STALKED HER--

THEN BROKE IN HER HOME AND BEAT HER.

TZ 7 2) FGCU OYSTER STUDY-VOTOPS

AND HOW OYSTERS ARE BEING USED TO GAUGE WATER QUALITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

RAVENS PARADE-VOTOPS

IT IS PARTY TIME IN BALTIMORE. THE WHOLE CITY TURNING OUT TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE RAVENS SUPER BOWL VICTORY.

THOUSANDS OF FANS LINED TO STREETS TO WATCH THE RAVENS WIND THROUGH THE CITY.

THE CELEBRATION ENDED WITH A RALLY AT M&T BANK STADIUM.

RAVENS PARADE-SOTTOPS

FLORIDA GATORS-POPMON

FLORIDA GATORS-VIDBOX

HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE GUYS THAT HAVE VERBALLY COMMITTED TO THE GATORS.

OF COURSE. IT AL BECOMES OFFICIAL ON WEDNESDAY. WITH NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

FLORIDA GATORS-SOTTOPS

SIGNING DAY-VOTTOPS

SPEAKING OF NATIONAL SIGNING DAY. A LOT OF LOCAL STARS WILL BE HEADING OFF TO PLAY MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

AND THAT INCLUDES IMMOKALEE STAR. MACKENSIE ALEXANDER. ALEXANDER.IS THE 4TH RANKED PLAYER IN NATION ACCORDING TO ESPN.COM.

AMONG THE SCHOOLS HE IS LOOKING AT. CLEMSON. AUBURN. AND TEXAS A&M.

RED SOX TRUCK-POPMON

RED SOX TRUCK-VOTOPS

THE SOX ARE STILL OPTIMISTIC. BUT THE MESSAGE THIS YEAR. BIG THINGS AHEAD.

TODAY THE TRUCK LEFT BEANTOWN. FOR A 15-HUNDRED MILE JOURNEY TO FORT MYERS.

HUNDREDS OF FANS TURNED OUT. TO WATCH WORKERS LOAD BOXES ON TO A MOVING TRUCK.

RED SOX TRUCK-SOTTOPS

MIAMI HURRICANES-VOTOPS

LET'S KEEP THINGS IN BOSTON. BOSTON COLLEGE TRAVELS TO CORAL GABLES TONIGHT TO TAKE ON MIAMI.

THE CANES ARE UNBEATEN IN THE ACC AND RANKED 8TH IN THE NATION.

MIAMI HURRICANES-SOTTOPS

GOODBYE-4SHOT