Mystery Photo Quiz - Who is this man? Hint: he has political connections and some controversy has surrounded this man who is not generally found in the news. Post your comments and guesses!

Home Invasions in Immokalee/LaBelle

The Hendry County Sheriffs office has been investigating a rash of home
invasion robberies occurring in the Immokalee and LaBelle areas.

Investigation reveals it appears that the robbers target migrant workers.
The crimes are typically committed on weekends. Victims report that the
robbers knock on the front door, upon answering the door, the subject will
ask for someone in Spanish, then will push the victim back into the
residence and force their way into the home. The subjects then make their
way through the residence and gather any other occupants, assembling them
in one common location. The robbers then take money from the victims and
other personal belongings threatening them with unknown type handguns. In
several instances, the victims have been beaten and some hospitalized for
their injuries.

Joint investigations between Hendry County Investigators and Collier County
Investigators have revealed that those wanted are identified as 26 year
old, Alfredo Sonny Gomez, 24 year old Javier Martinez, 21 year old Ruben
Garza, 19 year old Jose Rojas VillaGomez, 23 year old Jaime Navarette, 17
year old Ismael Navarette, 20 year old Jose Navarette.

Law enforcement officials warn that the suspects should be considered armed
and dangerous. If they are seen it is advised that they not be approached
and that local law enforcement be notified immediately.

On May 14, 2004, the subjects were featured on Fugitive Friday on NBC-20,
as a result Ruben Garza turned himself into sheriff authorities that
evening.

This crime was also featured on Crimestoppers airing on five separate
networks and as a result law enforcement authorities have received several
tips from viewers which have resulted in three additional arrests, the most
recent in North Carolina.
Investigators are still looking for:

19 year old Jose Rojas Villagomez, 17 year old Ismael Navarette, and 20
year old Jose Navarette.

If anyone has any information that could help deputies find these
individuals please contact either Hendry County Sheriffs Office at 674-4060
or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

Family Caregiver Support

Are you a caring for a loved one 60 years of age or older? You are welcome
to attend the Family Caregiver Support Group. Support groups are held each
month. The next group will take place June 16, 2004 at 5 p.m. at the L.J.
Nobles Senior Center (LaBelle), June 23, 2004 at 5 p.m. at the Clewiston
Senior and June 30, 2004 at 5 p.m. at the Moore Haven Senior Center. For
additional information contact Barbara Marshall at (863)675-1446.
You can make someone feel better today.
How? You can share your time and talents. Provide compassionate care
through friendly visits to others who are lonely. Offer help with errands,
such as grocery shopping, or assistance with everyday chores such as yard
work. Bring joy and respite to family members caring for their frail loved
ones. Call Barbara, at FAITH IN ACTION, (863) 675-1446, to make a
difference in someoneís life through volunteering.
Volunteer Training at a new time!
The next FAITH IN ACTION in LaBelle volunteer training will be held on June
29, 2004 at the L. J. Nobles Senior Center in LaBelle from 6 p.m. For
information please call Barbara at (863)675-1446.
Relative Caregivers Group
Relatives caring for a minor child are invited to a support group created
with "you", the caregiver, in mind. Please join us and meet other
caregivers and share information and ideas; Learn new techniques to deal
with stress; Gain knowledge of caregiving issues and community resources;
Listen to guest speakers and professionals in caregiving fields. Group will
be held on June 24, 2004 at 6 p.m. at the RCMA Krome Center, 551 West
Cowboy Way in LaBelle. Call Barbara at (863) 675-1446 for details or
information. Child care and refreshments provided by RCMA.

Growers Discuss Low-Carb Effect on OJ

By Donna Storter

The Gulf Citrus Growers Association 18th Annual Meeting was held June 2 at
Sanibel Harbour Resort. Approximately 175 growers, sponsors and associates
were in attendance enjoying the luncheon provided by Citrus Industry
Magazine and Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Following the luncheon and
election of slate of directors and officers, GCGA Executive Director Ron
Hamil presented original citrus artwork to the following four resigning
directors and noted their dedication to GCGA.: Hugh English, serving from
inception in 1985, George Austin, serving from 1987, Bernard Lester,
serving since 1989 and Tom Jones, serving from 1994. All were lauded with
appreciation for their tireless efforts promoting the citrus industry in
southwest Florida through this trade association.
Andy Taylor, Chairman of Florida Citrus Commission, named two key
challenges facing the citrus industry: 1) maintaining the tariff on
imported orange juice and 2) maintaining (and increasing) the domestic
demand for Florida orange juice. He boasted that GCGA's own George
Austin is chairing the committee overseeing the efforts to preserve the 70
year old tariff. Addressing the second challenge, he noted that the
bleak issue of current diminished sales are related to the current "low
carb" diet that has negatively affected many sectors of the food industry
Along with record crop production, the supply far exceeds the demand. But
according to Mr. Taylor, on the positive side, the low carb focus on
health issues reveals the vast majority surveyed are concerned for
nutrition and health food issues overall, and OJ is the most nutritiously
dense natural beverage available. He then introduced keynote speaker Dr.
Dan Gunter, Executive Director of Florida Department of Citrus who
optimistically expressed the opinion that the current "low carb" diet was
only a short-term fad, whereas the nutritional awareness issues coinciding
with it was expected to become a trend, much longer lasting with
significant impact on health-conscience consumers, thus a return increase
in sales of orange juice, especially the fresh, not-from-concentrate that
had recently become popular. He cited studies that showed weight
control is more apt to be maintained in individuals who consumed 1/4 to
1/5 of daily calories at breakfast, further noting that most orange juice
was consumed before 10 a.m.
In marketing studies aimed at determining the cause of declining sales as
well as solutions to the industry's downturn, he displayed graphs of
respondents whose orange juice consumption habits were: 16% drank orange
juice every day 10% drank orange juice most of the time on a daily basis
10% drank orange juice about half the time on a daily basis 37% drank
orange juice occasionally 27% never drank orange juice He noted that
marketing was more successful in increasing consumption rather than
initiating consumption, thus the FDOC marketing strategy now was aimed at
the 10% and 37% users.
A video of the current orange juice campaign advertisement was shown, the
one where a man is attempting to concoct a nutritional cocktail in his
blender by adding liver, bananas, and a fish, then showing a 90-calorie
glass of orange juice that contained as much nutrition.
Marketing tests have shown that 85% of viewers understand the content of
the commercial, including the references to nutrients, and most will pay
attention to the commercial and watch all of it because they are revolted
by the concoction and want to see if he will actually drink it. He
concluded that it was the responsibility of the citrus growers to grow the
product, and the responsibility of the Department of Citrus to grow the
market demand for it. His final statement was positive, that there is no
substitute for orange juice.

Citrus Growers Give Awards, Discuss Low-Carb Diets

Contributed by Donna Storter

The Gulf Citrus Growers Association 18th Annual Meeting was held June 2 at
Sanibel Harbour Resort with approximately 175 growers, sponsors and
associates in attendance enjoying the luncheon provided by Citrus
Industry Magazine and Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Following the
luncheon and election of slate of directors and officers, GCGA Executive
Director Ron Hamil presented original citrus artwork to the following four
resigning directors and noted their dedication to GCGA.: Hugh English,
serving from inception in 1985, George Austin, serving from 1987, Bernard
Lester, serving since 1989 and Tom Jones, serving from 1994. All were
lauded with appreciation for their tireless efforts promoting the citrus
industry in southwest Florida through this trade association.
Andy Taylor, Chairman of Florida Citrus Commission, named two key
challenges facing the citrus industry: 1) maintaining the tariff on
imported orange juice and 2) maintaining (and increasing) the domestic
demand for Florida orange juice. He boasted that GCGA's own George
Austin is chairing the committee overseeing the efforts to preserve the 70
year old tariff. Addressing the second challenge, he noted that the
bleak issue of current diminished sales are related to the current "low
carb" diet that has negatively affected many sectors of the food industry
Along with record crop production, the supply far exceeds the demand. But
according to Mr. Taylor, on the positive side, the low carb focus on
health issues reveals the vast majority surveyed are concerned for
nutrition and health food issues overall, and OJ is the most nutritiously
dense natural beverage available.
He then introduced keynote speaker Dr. Dan Gunter, Executive Director of
Florida Department of Citrus who optimistically expressed the opinion that
the current "low carb" diet was only a short-term fad, whereas the
nutritional awareness issues coinciding with it was expected to become a
trend, much longer lasting with significant impact on health-conscience
consumers, thus a return increase in sales of orange juice, especially the
fresh, not-from-concentrate that had recently become popular.
He cited studies that showed weight control is more apt to be maintained
in individuals who consumed 1/4 to 1/5 of daily calories at breakfast,
further noting that most orange juice was consumed before 10 a.m. In
marketing studies aimed at determining the cause of declining sales as
well as solutions to the industry's downturn, he displayed graphs of
respondents whose orange juice consumption habits were: 16% drank orange
juice every day 10% drank orange juice most of the time on a daily basis
10% drank orange juice about half the time on a daily basis 37% drank
orange juice occasionally 27% never drank orange juice He noted that
marketing was more successful in increasing consumption rather than
initiating consumption, thus the FDOC marketing strategy now was aimed at
the 10% and 37% users.
A video of the current orange juice campaign advertisement was shown, the
one where a man is attempting to concoct a nutritional cocktail in his
blender by adding liver, bananas, and a fish, then showing a 90-calorie
glass of orange juice that contained as much nutrition. Marketing
tests have shown that 85% of viewers understand the content of the
commercial, including the references to nutrients, and most will pay
attention to the commercial and watch all of it because they are revolted
by the concoction and want to see if he will actually drink it.
He concluded that it was the responsibility of the citrus growers to grow
the product, and the responsibility of the Department of Citrus to grow
the market demand for it. His final statement was positive, that there is
no substitute for orange juice.