DIRECTORS PAGE

HEADLINES

RIGHT NOW AT SIX --

JUSTICE IN A SICKENING CASE OF ANIMAL ABUSE.

WEEKS AFTER A DOG'S BRUTAL DEATH-

TONIGHT, HOW HIS OWNER IS FINALLY PAYING THE PRICE.

-PLUS-

What's the cost verses the benefits and do we want another layer of government?"

IT'S A BIG CHOICE.

SHOULD ESTERO BECOME ITS OWN CITY.

THE BATTLE'S HEATING UP.

WHY SOME ARE FOR IT --

SOME AGAINST IT.

A NEW THREAT FOR MANATEES.

HOW A DEBATE BETWEEN CAPE CORAL AND LEE COUNTY

COULD PUT THE GENTLE GIANTS IN DANGER.

HL1) ANIMAL ABUSE-VOTOPS

HL2) ESTERO CITY FIGHT-SOTVO

HL3) MANATEES-VOTOPS

BREAKING OPEN-CLIP

ALLEY CRASH-VO

JUST INTO THE A-B-C SEVEN NEWSROOM --

WE HAVE A NEW REPORT ON THAT TRAGIC CRASH CRASH ON ALLIGATOR ALLEY.

THE CRASH KILLED A MOTHER AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS.

TONIGHT -- THIS REPORT JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM SHOWS NO ONE IN THE CAR WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT.

CECILIA DOUGLAS -- AND HER DAUGHTERS RYLEE AND MADISON DIED AFTER HER LEXUS HIT A TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER -- SENDING HER OFF THE ROAD --

AND INTO A CANAL ALONG THE ALLEY AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN INTO A CANAL.

ALSO NEW TONIGHT --

INVESTIGATORS SAY WEATHER PLAYED A PART IN WHY DOUGLAS DID NOT SEE THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER IN TIME TO STOP.

THEY BELIEVE SMOKE, SMOG AND FOG PLAYED A ROLE.

GULF COVE SWAT SITUATION-POP-SS-VO

WE START WITH BREAKING NEWS AT SIX.

WE'VE BEEN TRACKING WHAT BEGAN AS A SWAT SITUATION IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

IT'S HAPPENING IN THE GULF COVE NEIGHBORHOOD AT KNEELAND TERRACE AND MOORE COURT.

HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONFIRMS THIS WAS A DRUG RAID.

SWAT TEAMS WENT IN TO THIS HOUSE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE SUSPECTS MIGHT HAVE WEAPONS.

THE SWAT TEAM HAS NOW LEFT.

WE HAVE NOT.

WE HAVE CREWS ON SCENE.

ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGES-SOT-TCMON VO-SS

"It's very disturbing to know somebody wouldn't take care of their animal that needs medical attention."

THIS DOG WAS BEATEN SO BADLY IT HAD TO BE PUT DOWN.

TONIGHT AT SIX -- ABC7 LEARNED OF A SECOND ARREST IN THIS CASE OF ANIMAL ABUSE.

THIS MAN WAS HARDER FOR DEPUTIES TO TRACK DOWN.

ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGES-PKG

SLAY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN THREE YEARS OLD - BUT SCARS ALL OVER HIS BODY SUGGEST IT WAS A ROUGH FEW YEARS.

"not only did he have the open wounds, but he had scar upon scar from previous altercations." Reannon Juergensen, Animal Control

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER REANNON JUERGENSEN FIRST SAW THE PIT-BULL LAST JULY AT THIS TROPICAL GULF ACRES HOME.

"He was in pretty bad condition when I found him on the porch." Reannon Juergensen, Animal Control

A NEIGHBOR CALLED ANIMAL CONTROL AFTER SEEING THE DOG WANDER DOWN THE STREET.

JUERGENSEN SAYS JAMES MCNEALLY ANSWERED THE DOOR AND TOLD HER HE WAS SLAY'S CARETAKER AND THAT THE PIT BULL HAD BEEN IN A FIGHT WITH ANOTHER DOG.

"It's very disturbing to know somebody wouldn't take care of their animal that needs medical attention." Reannon Juergensen, Animal Control

JUERGENSEN TOOK THE DOG AND WHILE EXAMINING HIM DISCOVERED SCARS ALL OVER HIS FACE, LEGS AND CHEST.

SHE PREPARED CASES AGAINST MCNEALLY - WHO WAS ARRESTED LAST MONTH - AND THE DOG'S OWNER CLEVELAND DUBOSE.

TUESDAY, DUBOSE WAS AT THE COURTHOUSE FOR AN UNRELATED CASE, WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED ACCUSED OF ANIMAL CREULTY AND ABUSE.

"I know mr. Dubose was a difficult individual to find, I believe he was living in Jacksonville." Reannon Juergensen, Animal Control

UNFORTUNATELY, ANIMAL CONTROL HAD TO PUT SLAY DOWN. THE ABUSE MADE HIS BEHAVIOR TOO UNPREDICTABLE TO BE ADOPTED.

NOW JUERGENSEN SAYS THESE TWO MEN ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

LEHIGH HOME INVASION-POP-VO WIPE

NEW AT 6 --

A LEHIGH ACRES COUPLE IS RECOVERING TONIGHT --

AFTER A VIOLENT ROBBERY.

THE ATTACKERS BEAT AND HELD THAT COUPLE FOR 2-HOURS IN THEIR OWN HOME.

THEN THEY RANSACKED THE PLACE.

THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BELIEVES THIS CRIME WAS RANDOM.

IT HAPPENED ABOUT 7 LAST NIGHT ON WANATAH AVENUE SOUTH.

DEPUTIES SAY 4 MEN FORCED THEIR WAY INSIDE THE HOME.

THEN, THEY MADE THE COUPLE SIT ON THEIR COUCH WHILE

THEY WENT ROOM TO ROOM, TAKING JEWELRY AND ELECTRONICS.

LEHIGH HOME INVASION-SOT VO

7:18 "this is very unfortunate- i think it's the luck of the draw and i wouldn't want that to happen to anybody- we need to look out for everybody."

THIS CRIME HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK AGO-

AND LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE NOW PLEADING WITH THE PUBLIC FOR CLUES.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION- CALL CRIMESTOPPERS.

DR GREKOS NEW INFO-SS-VO

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE --

TWO OF HIS PATIENTS EVEN DIED.

TONIGHT. A BONITA SPRINGS DOCTOR WILL LIKELY NEVER PRACTICE MEDICINE AGAIN.

THE STATE ACCUSES DOCTOR ZANNOS GREKOS OF PERFORMING UNNECESSARY MEDICAL PROCEDURES.

LAST OCTOBER, HE WENT ON TRIAL AFTER TWO OF HIS PATIENTS DIED AFTER THEY GOT STEM CELL TREATMENTS AT HIS OFFICE.

THE STATE SUSPENDED HIS MEDICAL LICENSE.

NEW AT SIX - THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WANTS IT REVOKED AND FOR HIM TO PAY 40-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

POST OFFICE CHANGES-POP

LIFE AT THE MAILBOX IS ABOUT TO CHANGE!

THE POST OFFICE IS DROPPING SATURDAY SERVICE --

DESPERATE TO CUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THEIR BUDGET AS THEY BLEED MONEY.

NEW AT 6 --

POST OFFICE CHANGES-PKG

Nats

Since the 19th century, Americans have enjoyed mail service six days a week. But that could change this August.

Take sound

Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General, USPS

"We'll continue to deliver mail to p.o.boxes on Saturday, which is very important for a number if businesses. Mail delivery will occurMonday through Friday and we will not deliver not collect mail on Saturday."

But Saturday service will continue for packages. In the last two years, Donahoe found a 14% increase in package deliveries due to people purchasing more online.

Take nats or mos

There won't be any layoffs, instead,

employee hours will diminish by 450 million, according to Donahoe's plan that would cut costs by $2 billion. Donahoe says a survey showed 7 out of 10 Americans favored mail delivery five times a week but unions call this a disastrous idea.

Take gfx

A statement from the National Association of letter carriers condemns the postmaster general's plan and even calls for his removal, stating he has lost the confidence of the men and women who deliver for America every day.

Local unions believe this plan would not only put more of a burden on employees, but for customers as well.

Take sound

Sam Wood, President of Local 1279 APWU

RISING GAS PRICES-CG VO WIPE

ANOTHER ISSUE IMPACTING ALL OF US.

PRICES TO FILL UP.ARE UP.

THEY'RE SKYROCKETING.

THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A REGULAR GALLON IS THREE DOLLARS 63 CENTS A GALLON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THAT'S 15 CENTS MORE THAN LAST WEEK.

AND IT'S UP 24 CENTS FROM LAST MONTH.

SO THE EXDPLANATION???

THE IMPROVING ECONOMY.

EXPERTS TELL US DEMAND IS ON THE RISE. AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL HIGHER.

RISING GAS PRICES-SOT VO

everything kind of fell into place to see this increase. the timing of it was likely perfect storm.

WHILE THE PRICES MIGHT BE HIGH. WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

HOME DEPOT JOBS-CGRVL

RIGHT NOW, COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO FILL HUNDREDS OF JOBS IN

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

HOME DEPOT IS LOOKING TO FILL 225 PART TIME JOBS--

AT STORES FROM PORT CHARLOTTE TO NAPLES.

AND THREE NEW RESTAURANT LOCATIONS NEED WORKERS IN FORT MYERS

AND CAPE CORAL.

POLLO TROPICAL IS LOOKING FOR 60 TO 100 WORKERS TO FILL ITS NEW LOCATION OPENING AT FLORIDA GULF COAST TOWN CENTER.

AND DUNKIN DONUTS SAYS ITS LOOKING FOR 40 EMPLOYEES.

ALL ATTRIBUTE THE NEED FOR WORKERS ON INCREASED SALES,

TEXTING & DRIVING-VO WIPE

YOU SEE OTHER DRIVERS.

MAYBE YOU DO IT.

TEXT BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THE DANGERS ARE DOCUMENTED. AND TONIGHT POSSIBLE CHANGE.

A FLORIDA LAWMAKER IS INTRODUCING A BILL TO BAN IT FOR THE FOURTH YEAR.

FLORIDA IS ONE OF FEW STATES IN THE NATION WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.

SENATOR NANCY DETERT IS SPONSORING THE LEGISLATION.

TEXTING & DRIVING-SOT VO

Sen. Nancy Detert/ R-Florida

"People that were against seat belts, that's one thing. If you don't wear your seat belt and you project through your windshield, you only hurt yourself. Texting is totally different. You're going to take other people out so your freedom to drive your car kind of ends at my bumper."

MARY WATKINS FUNERAL-SS-CG

WE FOUND OUT TODAY --

THE WOMAN WHO WRAPPED HER CAR AROUND A UTILITY POLE MONDAY --

WILL BE LAID TO REST THIS WEEKEND.

HER NAME IS MARY WATKINS.

AND HER DAUGHTER SAYS SHE'S WELL-KNOWN IN THE CAPE.

FRIENDS THINK IT'S POSSIBLE SHE SUFFERED A HEALTH PROBLEM --

AND THAT LED TO THE CRASH MONDAY.

DESPERATE ATTEMPTS BY A CREW TO SAVE HER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

NAPLES GROW HOUSE BUST-SS

35-THOUSAND DOLLARS OF MARIJUANA FOUND IN COLLIER COUNTY. FOUND GROWING INSIDE A CHILD'S CLOSET!

RIGHT NOW AT SIX. THIS MAN. RAFAEL REYES IS FACING SEVERAL DRUG CHARGES.

HE'S A CONVICTED FELON FROM PALM BEACH.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY FOUND THE GROWHOUSE AND ROUGHLY 10 PLANTS NSIDE A HOUSE ON 52ND STREET SOUTHWEST.

CAPE 7 ELEVEN CONTROVERSY-SS VO WIPE

THE SEVEN ELEVEN CONTROVERSY ON CAPE CORAL PARKWAY

AND SKYLINE BOULEVARD IS FAR FROM OVER.

TODAY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REJECTED A PROPOSED CHANGE IN ZONING FROM COMMERICIAL TO PROFESSIONAL ON PLOT OF LAND NEXT TO THE LOT WHERE THE GAS STATION PROJECT WAS APPROVED.

THAT OUTRAGED SOME RESIDENTS -

UPSET EVEN MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COULD GO IN.

COMMISSION DECIDED TO SIDE WITH RESIDENTS.

CAPE 7 ELEVEN CONTROVERSY-SOT VO

46:04 addtional commerical property avail, increase in jobs and construction activity in this market something we rely on heavily and increase tax base and provide more money to the city:19

TODAY A MEMBER OF SKYLINE WATERWAYS SAID THE GROUP WILL APPEAL CITY COUNCILS DECISION TO APPROVE THE GAS STATION.

ESTERO CITY FIGHT-SS-VO-WIPE

MAKING ESTERO IT'S OWN CITY.

HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. A GROUP OF RESIDENTS IS MOVING FORWARD WITH ITS PLAN.

RIGHT NOW LEE COUNTY MAKES THE DECISIONS FOR ESTERO -- A COMMUNITY OF ABOUT 22-THOUSAND RESIDENTS.

COMMISSIONERS DO CONSULT WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THIS GROUP FIGHTING FOR INDEPENEDENCE IS KNOWN AS VOTE ESTERO.

ESTERO CITY FIGHT-(2)SOTVO

Sot John Goodrich, Estero Council of Community Leaders

Were recommending that the residents not sign petitions, not make contributions to vote estero."

Sot Jim Boesch, Vote Estero

This is not about the Eccl, it's not about vote estero, it's about letting the people decide whether they want to be incorporated or not."

VOTE ESTERO WANTS THE COUNTY TO VOTE ON INCORORATING ESTERO THIS NOVEMBER.

BUT A COUNTY WIDE ELECTION ISN'T SCHEDULED UNTIL NOVEMBER 2014.

BOY SCOUTS DECISION-VO

BOY SCOUTS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE DELAYED A VOTE ON WHETHER

TO END A LONGSTANDING, CONTROVERSIAL BAN ON GAY MEMBERSHIP.

THE SCOUTS' NATIONAL COUNCIL WILL DECIDE ON THE ISSUE IN MAY.

THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUAL TROOPS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ADMIT GAYS.

LOCAL BOY SCOUTS REACTION-SS-TOPS

THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BRANCH OF THE BOY SCOUTS RELEASED A STATEMENT.

THEY TELL US-

"AMERICA NEEDS SCOUTING AND OUR POLICIES MUST BE BASED ON WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR NATION'S CHILDREN.

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE

THE SHOW WILL GO ON!

AFTER ONE OF NAPLES' MOST POPULAR COCNERT

EVENTS WAS IN DANGER OF BEING SHUT DOWN.

WHY ORGANIZERS SAY THEY'LL KEEP ROCKIN AWAY.

-PLUS--

1:40 i am afraid the manatees will lose their winter home

PLUS -- MANATEES IN DANGER. WE UNCOVER WHY A CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT IN THE CAPE COULD

POSE A NEW THREAT FOR THE SEA COWS.

TZ1 bayfront music-VOTOPS

TZ1 manatees-SOTVO

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

We had a warm and mostly sunny Wednesday which is a sign of things to come.

Why? Well let me explain…

We're tracking a cool front moving through Florida, but this front will lose its battle with an area of high pressure. It'll ultimately fade away before having a chance to make it all the way to Southwest Florida.

Without a front moving in, the result will be continued warmth and increasing humidity for us over the next several days. Don't worry I'll also add in a mix of sun and clouds.

Despite the increasing humidity, however, rain prospects will keep running pretty low with the exception of a couple stray, lonely showers Friday afternoon, but rain really won't be a factor in our forecast all the way through the weekend.

BAYFRONT MUSIC VOTE-NATS VO WIPE

NAPLES CITY COUNCIL TACKLED A NOISY ISSUE TODAY.

THE COUNCIL DECIDED BAYFRONT'S "ROCKIN BY THE BAY" CONCERT SERIES WOULD GO ON --

DESPITE COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISE.

THE CONCERTS DRAW RECORD CROWDS TO DOWNTOWN NAPLES.

BUT --

COUNCIL TACKED ON A FEW STIPULATIONS FOR FUTURE CONCERTS.

SIX WERE PLANNED.

THEY CAN ONLY DO THREE.

AND THEY CAN'T HOST MORE THAN 15 HUNDRED PEOPLE.

BAYFRONT MUSIC VOTE-SOT VO

Mayor John Sorey/City of Naples "It was the glass half full or no glass at all - so that's where we ended up."

Mike Randall/Mcquiad Marketing "Each week we had to tweak everything so it's just another obstacle to get over but we'll work through it."

BONITA FIREWORKS COMPLAINTS-VO

IT'S NOT THE FOURTH OF JULY, BUT SOME BONITA SPRINGS RESIDENTS

ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT FIREWORKS LIGHTING UP THE SKY.

NOW- THEY WANT THE CITY TO TAKE ACTION.

TONIGHT, CITY COUNCIL WILL HEAR FROM THOSE RESIDENTS.

THEY'LL ALSO FROM LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES WHO WORK

WITHIN BONITA'S COMMUNITY POLICING UNIT.

CAPE MANATEES-VO WIPE

MANATEES STRANDED AND SOME SAY THAT WOULD BE THE OUTCOME OF A CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT IN CAPE CORAL.

CITY ENGINEERS TELL US IF THE CEITUS BOAT LIFT GOES BACK IN. THAT COULD BLOCK WATERWAYS THAT MANATEES USE.

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE BREACHES IN THE CANALS, ENGINEERS SAY IT'S TOO SHALLOW.

ABC7 CONTINUES TO REPORT TO YOU ON THE ONLGOING DEBATE OVER THE BOATLIFT.

THAT HEATED DEBATE BWETEEN THE CAPE AND COUNTY.

THE COUNTY WANTS IT --

CAPE MANATEES-SOT VO

1:40 i am afraid the manatees will lose their winter home every winter they seem to come out and have babies there is so much life i would hate to see it die off:53

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY'LL TAKE THE WILDLIFE HABITAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE COUNTY AND CITY ARE SET TO DISCUSS THIS AGAIN IN THE COMING WEEKS.

COMING UP NEXT OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO-POP

HUGE DAY IN THE WORLD OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL IT IS NATIONAL SIGNING DAY. FIND OUT WHERE ARE LOCAL STARS ARE HEADING.

TZ2 SPORTS-VO

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TZ 7 1) CAPE TEEN ARREST-SOTVO

1804 "I am surprised. I am shocked. He's my grandson

AND TONIGHT POLICE ARE CALLING THIS 17-YEAR OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT A DANGER TO SOCIETY.

TZ 7 2) HARRINGTON IN BONITA-VOTOPS

AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM THE ELECTION NIGHT DEBACLE--

LEE COUNTY'S SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IS ANSWERING QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG.

WE HAVE CREWS AT THAT BONITA MEETING--

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

IMMOKALEE SIGNINGS-NATSVO

TAKE SOUND UP FULL:08 SECONDS

MACKENSIE ALEXANDER IS GOOD AT KEEPING SECRETS. THE IMMOKALEE STAR KEPT EVERYONE GUESSING UNTIL TODAY

HE CHOSE CLEMSON. AND HE DID SO ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. MACKENSIE IS THE 4TH RANKED RECRUIT IN THE NATION

WHILE MACKENSIE IS GOING TO CLEMSON. HIS TWIN BROTHER MACKENRO WILL BE GOING TO AUBURN.

IMMOKALEE SIGNINGS-SOTTOPS

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY-POPMON

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY-VOTOPS

IT'S ALSO A BIG DAY FOR THE ATLETES AS WELL CHOOSING WHERE THEY WILL BE PLAYING COLLEGE FOOTBALL. FOR THE NEXT 4 TO FIVE YEARS OF THEIR LIVES.

ANOTHER BIG DAY. AT SOUTH FORT MYERS.

AMONG THE BIG SIGNEES. JAYRON KEARSE. WHO WILL JOIN MACKENSIE ALEXANDER AND FORMER SOUTH FORT MYERS GREAT. SAMMY WATKINS. AT CLEMSON.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY-SOTTOPS

ISLAND COAST-VOTOPS

OVER AT ISLAND COAST. TJ JOHNSON IS PACKING HIS BAGS AND HEADING OUT WEST TO PLAY FOR THE ARIZONA WILDCATS.

TJ IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GUYS IN THE COUNTRY RUNNING A 4.3 40

ISLAND COAST-SOTTOPS

FORT MYERS-VOTOPS

SIGNING DAY. ALWAYS A BIG DAY AT FORT MYERS. 8 STUDENT ATHLETES. SIGNING LETTERS TODAY.

INCLUDING TJ DOUGLAS. THE GREEN WAVE QUATERBACK. IS NOW A DUKE BLUE DEVIL.

FORT MYERS-SOTTOPS

NAPLES FOOTBALL-VOTOPS

THE NAPLES FOOTBALL TEAM MADE IT TO THE STATE SEMI FINALS. THANKS IN LARGE PART TO RUNNING BACK. MANNY MORGAN.

DESPITE. RUSHING FOR MORE THAN 2-THOUSAND YARDS. MORGAN. DID NOT GET A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM THE BIG SCHOOLS.

NAPLES FOOTBALL-SOTVO

continue vo

FOR MORE OF THE LOCAL SIGNEES. GO TO OUR WEBSITE. ABC-7.COM

FLORIDA GATORS-POPMON

FLORIDA GATORS-VOTOPS

ACCORDING TO ESPN.COM. FLORIDA HAS THE NUMBER ONE RECRUITING CLASS IN THE NATION. SIGNING 28 RECRUITS TODAY.

FLORIDA GATORS-SOTTOPS

TOP 25 CLASSES-VIDBOX

MEANWHILE THE FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES HAD A PRETTY GOOD DAY AS WELL. SIGNING 22 RECRUITS. HEADLINED BY 5 STAR LINEBACKER. MATTHEW THOMAS. OUT OF MIAMI.

GOODBYE-4SHOT