DIRECTORS PAGE

BREAKING-BREAKING CLIP

HEADLINES---

A-B-C SEVEN ON FIRE WATCH.

WE HAVE CREWS AT A PAIR BREAKING BRUSH FIRES.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRACKING WHERE THEY ARE,

AND WHAT'S AT RISK.

A CAPE CORAL MAN IS NOW CHARGED WITH TRYING TO KILL HIS WIFE.

OFFICERS SAY HE DROVE HIS VAN INTO HIS OWN HOUSE AND BEAT HIS WIFE WITH A BASEBALL BAT.

NEW TONIGHT -- WHY *HE WAS THE ONE WHO CALLED 9-1-1 FOR HELP!

PLUS,

BUCKETS AND SHOVELS COULDN'T CUT IT --

SO COUNTY LEADERS ARE GETTING A *BIGGER BUCKET TO HELP SAVE A SUFFERING WATERWAY.

HL1) BRUSH FIRES-VOTOPS

HL2) ACEVEDO COURT HEARING-VOTOPS

HL3) CLAM PASS-VOTOPS

BERMONT ROAD FIRE-REM2 SS VO

TONIGHT A-B-C SEVEN IS ON FIRE WATCH!

BREAKING TONIGHT OUR TEAM IS TRACKING *TWO BRUSH FIRES.

FIRST, A 400 ACRE BRUSH FIRE IS BURNING IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

THIS IS NEAR STATE ROAD 31 AND BERMONT ROAD.

IT HAS ALREADY BURNT THROUGH SEVERAL TRACTOR TRAILERS AND BUILDINGS *ARE IN DANGER.

SO FAR NO ONE IS BEING ASKED TO EVACUATE.

POTENTIAL LIVE-BOXES REM 2

A-B-C SEVEN'S MATT WRIGHT IS LIVE AS FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE THIS FIRE.

ROTUNDA WEST FIRE-REM 26

CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE ALSO EVACUATING SEVERAL HOMES IN THE AREA NORTH EAST OF ROTONDA WEST BECAUSE OF ANOTHER LARGE BRUSH FIRE.

HOMES *ARE THREATENED.

THIS IS A LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW.

DEPUTIES ARE ACTUALLY GOING DOOR TO DOOR TELLING PEOPLE TO GET OUT.

THIS FIRE STARTED ABOUT THREE THIS AFTERNOON.

SEVERAL ROADS ARE BLOCKED IN THE AREA -- DRIVERS ARE ASKED TO KEEP AWAY BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS SMOKE CONDITIONS.

WEATHER CONCERNS-LIVE TOPS WX CTR

A-B-C SEVEN CHIEF METEOROLOGIST JOHN PATRICK TELLS US HE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SMOKE FROM THESE FIRES.

ACEVEDO COURT HEARING-VOTOPS SS OC

SO ANGRY HE DROVE HIS VAN INTO HIS OWN HOUSE!

NEW TONIGHT -- A-B-C SEVEN IS LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE MOMENTS THAT LED UP TO *THIS.

JOSE ACEVEDO IS CHARGED WITH TRYING TO KILL HIS WIFE.

BUT WE HAVE ALSO LEARNED ACEVEDO WAS THE ONE WHO CALLED 9-1-1.

ACEVEDO COURT HEARING-PKG

ACEVEDO'S CHILLING CONFESSION -- OUTLINED IN HIS ARREST REPORT REVEALS AN ARGUMENT OVER MONEY that escalated INTO A VISCOUS AND CRUEL ATTACK.

HE SLAMMED HIS WHITE MINI VAN INTO HIS HOUSE -- AND THEN BEAT HIS WIFE WITH A BASEBALL BACK RIGHT IN THE FRONT DRIVEWAY.

5759 "first one, Jose Luis Acevedo."

CUFFED AND SUBDUED -- A CAPE CORAL HUSBAND'S APPARENT RAGE is subdued INSIDE THIS LEE COUNTY COURTROOM.

CAPE CORAL police ARRESTED JOSE ACEVEDO -- FOR TRYING TO KILL HIS OWN WIFE -- YESTERDAY MORNING.

24 HOURS LATER -- OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF SHE WAS ALIVE.

5907 "has she passed away? It must have just happened."

POLICE OFFICERS ASSURE US --

SHE'S STILL in the hospital -- STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM SEVERE INJURIES.

ACCORDING TO ACEVEDO'S ARRRST REPORT -- after crashing into the house-- HE STORMED INSIDE, GRABBED A ALUMINUM BASEBALL BAT, AND CHASED HIS WIFE OUTSIDE TO THE FRONT DRIVEWAY.

THERE -- HE SWUNG AND HIT HER IN THE SKULL.

LATER HE TOLD COPS -- HE BROKE HER HEAD AND STUFF STARTED COMING OUT.

IN THAT TERRIFYING MOMENT -- THE HUSBAND RECALLS HIS WIFE SCREAMING OUT STOP IT, I LOVE YOU, DON'T KILL ME.

HE BREAKS DOWN, CARRIES HER TO THE SOFA INSIDE, AND calls 911.

A CALL WHICH LANDED HIM IN THE SLAMMER.

5809 "good morning. Buenos Dias."

TAKE LIVE

There was also an incident at the couple's home on Saturday.

WE GOT OUR HANDS ON that INCIDENT REPORT -- WHEN COPS LEFT -- THEY SAID THE TWO WERE PEACEFUL.

TONIGHT -- WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TRIGGERED THE VIOLENT attack.

their young son -- WHO WITNESSED EVERYTHING IS NOW LIVING WITH OTHER RELATIVES.

DANIEL BALL-SS VO

NEW TONIGHT --

DANIEL BALL HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR *THREE BANK ROBBERIES IN LEE COUNTY LAST WEEK.

BALL IS CHARGED WITH ROBBING TWO FIFTH THIRD BANKS,

ONE LAST MONDAY -- THE OTHER FRIDAY.

HE'S ALSO CHARGED WITH ROBBING THE EDISON NATIONAL BANK IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS LAST THURSDAY.

HE WAS ARRESTED LAST FRIDAY IN LEHIGH ACRES FOLLOWING THE THIRD ROBBERY.

COSTELLO VERDICT-NATSVO

NEW TONIGHT -- A JURY HAS CONVICTED RYAN COSTELLO IN THE DEATH OF HIS INFANT SON DARWIN.

count one, the defendant is guilty of manslaughter

CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER, BUT NOT SECOND DEGREE MURDER.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED --

AFTER COSTELLO DROPPED THE 11-WEEK OLD OFF AT THE HOSPITAL HE WENT BACK HOME TO CLEAN UP A MARIJUANA GROW ROOM.

COSTELLO WAS ALSO CONVICTED ON ONE COUNT OF CHILD NEGLECT AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE.

COSTELLO VERDICT-SOTVO

we're very pleased with the work that the jury did. They obviously put a lot of thought into it, they took their time, they considered the evidence. This was a very difficult case for everyone involved, and we're very pleased with the outcome.

11:57:50 it still is going to result In a major sentence for Ryan Costello, and we're saddened by that. 58

COSTELLO'S ATTORNEY TELLS US HE PLANS TO APPEAL THIS DECISION.

FOR NOW. SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL.

CHAR CO DRUG BUST CRACKDOWN-VO-WIPE

WITH A NEW SHERIFF AT THE HELM -- CHARLOTTE COUNTY'S NEW DRUG BUSTING SUPER UNIT IS SEEING RESULTS.

'

OUR CREW WENT FOR AN EXCLUSIVE RIDE WITH THE NEWLY EXPANDED STREET CRIMES UNIT.

JUST TODAY DEPUTIES MADE TWO MARIJUANA BUSTS MAKING TRAFFIC STOPS.

IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE OFFICE HAS MADE NEARLY 50 PERCENT MORE DRUG RELATED ARRESTS COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

CHAR CO DRUG BUST CRACKDOWN-SOTVO

"if we hit crime at the root of the problem which I believe is the drugs, we're going to see a decrease in our property and violent crime." Sheriff Bill Prummell, Charlotte County

COLLIER MURDER SUSPECT SEARCH-SS

COLLIER COUNTY DEPUTIES HAVE LAUNCHED A MANHUNT TONIGHT --

FOR A GUY CHARGED WITH GUNNING DOWN TWO PEOPLE AS THEY SAT IN A CAR.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS MAN -- GENS CADETE -- IS TONIGHT.

THEY SAY HE IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

DEPUTIES GOT A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST TODAY.

INVESTIGATORS SAY LAST MONTH CADETE HAD AN ARGUMENT WITH TWO MEN SITTING IN A CAR -- THINGS GOT HEATED AND HE OPENED FIRE.

ONE OF THE MEN DIED.

CADETE COULD BE DRIVING A BURGUNDY OR PINK FOUR-DOOR FORD -- POSSIBLY A TAURUS.

ASSISTED LIVING FIGHT IN CAPE-VO-WIPE

"NOT IN MY BACKYARD."

THAT IS WHAT A GROUP OF CAPE CORAL RESIDENTS ARE SAYING TO A DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO BRING AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

NEARLY A DOZEN PEOPLE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE FACILITY AT THIS MORNING'S PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING.

THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD A 91 UNIT FACILITY ON SOME LAND OFF SOUTHWEST 17TH PLACE NEAR TRAFALGAR.

ASSISTED LIVING FIGHT IN CAPE-SOTVO

48:26 the thought of looking out my window or having my nursery a 3 story bldg is absolutely terrible:33

THE ZONING BOARD VOTED AGANIST AN EXEMPTION FOR THE FACILITY.

BUT -- THE CITY COUNCIL CAN OVERRULE THAT IF THE DEVELOPERS APPLY FOR AN APPEAL.

CHAVEZ MOURNERS-NATSVO

THERE WERE CELEBRATIONS IN THE STREETS OF MIAMI TODAY AS WORD OF VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ'S DEATH SPREAD.

pops cork cheers

SOME POPPED CHAMPAGNE CORKS -- OTHERS HONKED THEIR HORNS OR PROUDLY DISPLAYED VENEZUELAN FLAGS.

MANY IN FLORIDA'S LARGE VENEZUELAN COMMUNITY ARE ANTI-CHAVEZ -- AND FLED THEIR HOME COUNTRY IN RESPONSE TO HIS POLICIES.

MEANWHILE -- THERE WERE TEARS AS THE FORMER SOCIALIST LEADER'S CASKET MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

POPE NEW PICS & CONCLAVE-VO

TONIGHT WE'RE GETTING A FIRST LOOK AT POPE BENEDICT SINCE HIS RETIREMENT.

AN ITALIAN MAGAZINE PUBLISHED THIS PHOTO TODAY--

SHOWING BENEDICT WALKING THE GARDENS OF THE PAPAL SUMMER RETREAT.

MEANTIME--

THE VATICAN IS GETTING READY FOR THE CONCLAVE, A SECRET MEETING WHERE CATHOLIC CARDINALS ELECT A NEW POPE.

TODAY IS A THIRD DAY OF CLOSED-DOOR DELIBERATIONS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE CARDINALS TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER --

DISCUSS THE STATE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH--

AND THE MAIN ISSUES THAT THE NEXT POPE WILL FACE.

GIFFORDS GUN CONTROL-OC-SOTVO

FORMER ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS CONTINUED HER VERY PERSONAL PUSH TO PROMOTE TOUGHER FIREARM REGULATIONS.

"Be bold. Be courageous. Please support background checks.

GIFFORDS IS ASKING SENATORS TO SUPPORT EXPANDED BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUN PURCHASES

FL GUNS LEGISLATION-VO-WIPE

AN ESTIMATED *40 PERCENT OF ALL GUN SALES IN THE U-S ARE MADE *WITHOUT A BACKGROUND CHECK.

NOW, SOME FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO PUT AN END TO THAT HERE.

THEY'VE PROPOSED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE *ALL GUN BUYERS TO UNDERGO A BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE GETTING A FIREARM.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO BAN GUN SALES TO ANYONE CONVICTED OF A CRIME,

FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE,

PEOPLE ADDICTED TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES,

FL GUNS LEGISLATION-SOTVO

---SOT--- Shelley Vana/ Palm Beach County Commissioner

" this is a no-nonsense, non-radical method of trying to rein in the terror that has been rained down upon our citizens by people who should not have had guns, doing terrible things with them."

HORSE RIDERS LAND FIGHT-VO-WIPE

NEW AT 11 --

SOME RURAL HORSE RIDERS ARE UPSET WITH LEE COUNTY -

THE RIDERS WANT TO RIDE THEIR HORSES ON CONSERVATION 20-20 LAND.

BUT SAY THERE IS FENCING AND SIGNS THAT BLOCK THEM FROM GAINING ACCESS.

HORSE RIDERS LAND FIGHT-SOTVO

I hope to break him and have a place to ride. I don't have a trailer. If we could ride here it would be great.

little by little everything is fenced off and places we used to ride are now getting eaten up by 20/20 land.

THE HEAD OF CONSERVATION 20-20 SAYS IT TAKES TIME TO CARVE OUT HORSE TRAILS.

FIRST - THE DEPARTMENT MUST ANALYZE THE PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEN IT CAN BEGIN THE WORK.

RIGHT NOW - LEE COUNTY DOES ALLOW HORSEBACK RIDING AT 2 CONSERVATION PRESERVES.

PG LIGHT FOLO-VO

SOME FLASHING LIGHTS AT A NEW CROSSWALK IN PUNTA GORDA ARE COMING DOWN.

THEY LIGHTS HAVE CONFUSED DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS.

NEW TONIGHT -- THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REMOVED THE BLINKING LIGHTS AND REPLACE THEM WITH STANDARD CROSSWALK SIGNS.

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE---

STILL AHEAD TONIGHT AT SIX -- WE ARE TRACKING A PAIR OF BREAKING BRUSH FIRES.

BOTH IN COLLIER COUNTY.

THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS 400 ACRES, BOTH THREATEN HOUSES.

WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON EFFORTS TO BEAT BACK THE BLAZES.

TZ1 A CLAM PASS-VOTOPS

TZ1 B WEST PALM SHARKS-VOTOPS

FIRE CLIP-CLIP

BREAKING BRUSH FIRE-??

A-B-C SEVEN IS ON FIRE WATCH TONIGHT AT SIX --

BREAKING BRUSH FIRE-SOT

patrick mahoney

rotonda cell phone video-vo

AND WE HAVE BRAND NEW VIDEO OF NORTH EAST OF ROTONDA WEST BECAUSE OF ANOTHER LARGE BRUSH FIRE.

HOMES *ARE THREATENED.

THIS IS A LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW.

DEPUTIES ARE ACTUALLY GOING DOOR TO DOOR TELLING PEOPLE TO GET OUT.

THIS FIRE STARTED ABOUT THREE THIS AFTERNOON.

SEVERAL ROADS ARE BLOCKED IN THE AREA -- DRIVERS ARE ASKED TO KEEP AWAY BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS SMOKE CONDITIONS.

SNOW VIDEO-VO

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

TURNING COLDER TONIGHT"

After a cloudy and showery start to the day, the sun finally returned during the afternoon hours as a cold front moved across Southwest Florida. Despite wall to wall sunshine, afternoon highs remained quite cool as they peaked in the lower 70s. For the remainder of the afternoon, breezy northwesterly winds will usher in another batch of cool and dry air with temperatures hovering in the middle 60s by sunset.

Tonight, skies will go mostly clear and much colder air will filter down the peninsula. This will set the stage for another chilly morning, so it's best to keep the sweaters and jackets handy. Temperatures will start off in the middle 40s here in town, with a few inland and northern cold spots sinking into the upper 30s.

After a chilly start to the day, temperatures will warm only into the lower 70s, despite sunny skies across our part of the state. Typically, we're into the upper 70s for afternoon highs, so temps. will be a bit cool as they stay 8-10° below the average. As we head into the evening hours, temperatures will begin to drop off pretty quickly under clear skies as they bottom out in the upper 40s by Friday morning.

High pressure will be in control of our weather through the upcoming weekend providing us with plenty of sunshine and a dry weather pattern. Winds will begin to shift around to the east, which will help us to warm into the upper 70s by Saturday with lower 80s in the forecast by Sunday afternoon.

BREAKING CLIP-CLIP

CLAM PASS DREDGING-VO IN TC MON

REMEMBER THIS INCREDIBLE SCENE.

DOZENS OF LOCALS, AND PEOPLE JUST HERE ON VACATION - PITCHING IN THE DIG OUT A TROUBLED WATERWAY.

IT WAS A HEROIC EFFORT - AND TODAY, THE COUNTY CALLED IN THE CAVALRY.

CLAM PASS DREDGING-PKG

NAPLES PIER CAMERA-VO-WIPE

FLORIDA'S WEST COAST IS IDEAL FOR WATCHING THE SUNSET -- AND FOR NOW, YOU'LL ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO THE BEACH TO SEE IT.

NAPLES CITY LEADERS SHOT DOWN A PLAN TO RE-INSTALL A WEBCAM ON THE NAPLES PIER.

WILMA BLEW THE ORIGINAL ONE AWAY IN 2005.

SUPPORTERS SAY A WEB CAM LOOKING OFF THE PIER WOULD HELP PROMOTE NAPLES AND TOURISM.

WEST PALM SHARKS-VO

PEOPLE HEADING TO THE BEACH IN WEST PALM ARE BEING TOLD TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER.

THIS IS THE REASON WHY--

HUNDREDS OF SHARKS ARE FILLING THE SOUTH FLORIDA COAST.

MARINE BIOLOGISTS SAY THE SHARKS ARE MIGRATING NORTH AFTER GOING SOUTH FOR THE WINTER.

COMING UP NEXT OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO-POP

WITH MARCH. COMES MADNESS. THE MADNESS HERE FOR THE FGCU MEN AND WOMEN. CONFERNCE TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

TZ2 SPORTS-VO

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TZ 7 1) BREAKING FIRE-VOTOPS-WIPE

RIGHT NOW ON ABC-7 --

WE'RE STAYING ONTOP OF A BREAKING SITUATION IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

TWO BRUSH FIRES ARE FORCING RESIDENTS FROM THEIR HOMES -- AND HAS PROMPTED OFFICIALS TO CLOSE NEARBY ROADS.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

FGCU MEN-POPMON

FGCU MEN-VOTOPS

LET'S GO TO MACON, GEORGIA. EAGLES TAKING ON NORTH FLORIDA.

LATE SECOND HALF. BERNARD THOMPSON. PUT THE EAGLES ON HIS BACK. FROM DISTANCE. THAT IS GOOD. EAGLES UP 6.

NEXT TRIP DOWN. THOMPSON. SNEAKING IN THE BACKDOOR FOR 2. AND THE WHISTLE. EAGLES BACK UP 6.

HOW ABOUT THOMPSON. ONE MORE TIME. WHY NOT. FADE IN THE PAINT DROPS. THOMPSON WITH 18. 10 IN THE LAST 4 MINUTES.

FGCU MEN-SOTTOPS

EAGLE WOMEN-POPMON

EAGLE WOMEN-VOTOPS

ASUN PLAYER OF THE YEAR. SARAH HANSEN. AND THE EAGLES TAKING ON KENNESAW STATE

FIRST HALF. SARAH HANSEN. STRAIGHT DOWN BROADWAY FOR 2. EAGLES UP. 8.

2ND HALF EAGLES IN A BATTLE. JOYCE IAMSTRONG. KNOCKS BACK A 3. SHE HAD 24 EAGLES UP JUST 7.

BUT THEN THEY HIT OVER-DRIVE. HANSEN. WORKING THE PAINT. SHE HAD 12. EAGLES UP 13.

THE WENT ON A 21 TO NOTHING RUN. TO BURY THE OWLS. THEY WIN 73-47.

EAGLE WOMEN-SOTTOPS

RORY MCILROY-POPMON

RORY MCILROY-SOTTOPS

TWINS PUERTO RICO-VOTOPS

THE PUERTO RICAN NATIONAL TEAM AND IT'S HIGH ENERGY FANS. IN HAMMOND STADIUM TAKING ON THE TWINS.

AARON HICKS. CONTINUING HIS GREAT SPRING. LEADS OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST WITH THIS SOLO SHOT. TIES THE GAME AT ONE.

PUERTO RICO'S ROSTER. LOADED WITH MAJOR LEAGUE STARS. SEVEN-TIME ALL-STAR CARLOS BELTRAN WITH THE GREAT GRAB IN RIGHT FIELD.

TWINS PUERTO RICO-SOTTOPS

RED SOX PIRATES-VOTOPS

GOODBYE-4SHOT

END TIME