The Internet Edition- Vol. 1 Issue 28

Excitement filled the room when some 20 young anglers filed into the Louise duPont Crowninshield Community House, Friday.

Out on the Pass earlier that morning, the youngsters managed to catch and release five tarpon with "many more hook-ups that got away," according to Melissa Steyer Joiner, organizer of the event started 22 years ago by Freddie Futch.

"My daughter, Maria Elena loved to fish and wanted to have a tarpon tournament for kids," said Futch. "So I worked on it and word got around to Bud Brown who wanted to talk to me about sponsoring it. He said if we named it after his uncle, Bob Moore, who was always called 'BOMO' for short, he'd put up the money. That was 22 years ago."

All the participants were winners walking away

Continued on page 20

Gulf Coast Preservation society
To preserve and protect the Gulf of Mexico by disseminating information and providing vital research necessary to finding solutions to environmental issues in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico.

By Jim Tucker 7:45A.M. on the Gulf beach in Boca Grande--Turtle patrol members gathered Wednesday morning to excavate and record the first loggerhead nest to hatch out this season. The nest was in first year member Marla Young's area and she had the privilege of scooping away the covering sand to reveal that ninety eggs had successfully hatched. Seven unopened eggs remained in the nest.

Recording the site involves counting the spent shells, remaining eggs, living turtles or failed hatches. No turtles were found between the nest and the water but careful records of any type of fatality are kept. A short distance away Continued On Page 5

Suncoast Humane Society Director Resigns After Eight Years

Other staff members leave as well By Linda Fudala-Tucker Citing "philosophical differences" with the current Suncoast Humane Society board of directors, Debra Parsons-Drake, executive director turned in her letter of resignation last week. In a letter posted on the SHS website and sent to the Banner, other members of the staff resigned as well including Dean Humfleet, director of operations, Jim Hanushek, director of MIS (&

Secretary of Board), Cheri Downie, director of development, as well as the treasurer, Bill Dahms, and the immediate past president, Hal Johnson. Current president of the SHS board, Kathy Damewood did not return phone calls for comment. The animal shelter serves Boca Grande as well as surrounding areas and has had some strong supporters including Jane Moore and Harm de Blij among others. The SHS has always been represented at the Boca Grande Dog Show.

Continued On Page 13

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