CCPD office receives Lifesaving Award for water rescue

Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore has recognized the efforts of an officer whose quick action saved a man from a possible drowning

Officer Brice Bearman accepted the Lifesaving Award

The CCPD provided details of the officer s actions:

On Jan 19, at approximately 11 a m , the department received a call that a man was struggling to stay above water in a canal in the 500 block of Southwest 8th Place Bearman responded and found a man holding onto a boat but struggling

Officer Bearman saw the older man struggling in the canal and jumped in to rescue him ” a release announcing the commendation states “Officer Bearman pulled the older man and his boat to the canal bank where LCEMS attended to the male The male was treated on scene and was able to go home

The man told officers he went to the front of his boat to untangle a line and when his foot got caught he fell into the water

“He said he tried to reach the canal bank but couldn’t He stated he inflated his life vest and held onto the boat He stated he still couldn t get to the canal bank, was exhausted, and started yelling for help He said a neighbor must have heard him and called 911 The male was very appreciative that Officer Bearman jumped in and rescued him the release states

Officer Bearman entered the canal without hesitation and represented our agency with honor, bravery, and professionalism,” the release states

Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore presents Officer Brice Bearman with a departmental Lifesaving Award for his quick actions that prevented a possible drowning

CAPE CORAL POLICE DEPARTMENT

Scholarship applications being accepted for Rotary Park’s Eco Adventure Nature Camp

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Applications are now being accepted for the Adam Strongin Camp Scholarship, providing children with the opportunity to participate in Rotary Park’s Eco Adventure Nature Camp

It came about because Adam Strongin was one of our camp children who passed away, Senior Recreation Specialist Honey Phillips said He went to nature camp here After he passed away we decided to put together a scholarship program for camp kids ”

The family donated money towards the scholarship, which goes to the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, which has an account through the Community Foundation

The first scholarship was provided in 2014 To be considered a child must be 7 to 12 years old and return the form properly no later than March 31 The application can be mailed to Rotary Park Environmental Center, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral FL, 33914, emailed to rotaryparkinfo@capecoral gov, or dropped off in person

“There is an application that they can pick up here at the park Some of the schools in Lee County are providing them Phillips said There is a little essay the kids fill out (about) why they want to learn about nature and why it is important to them

A committee will read the essays and decide

Ten children will receive a scholarship for one week of camp Winners will be notified by April 10

We try to notify them quickly because our camp fills up really fast, Phillips said

There is room for 30 children each week

This year there are seven weeks of camp all with different themes for 7 to 12 year olds Themes include creepy crawlers super science week fossil fun mammal mania reptile week, survival week and shark week The camps are held from 8 a m to 5 p m at the Rotary Park Environmental Center

Some of the activities will include guest speakers fort building hiking on the nature trails catching fish in the pond as well as a lot of outdoor time and organized sports on the fields

Phillips said Fridays are water days with water games outdoors, as well as a movie the kiddos watch on the ceiling with popcorn provided

“Adam really loved nature camp He was an outdoorsy kind of kid It s a good way to remember him and hopefully give other kids a chance to partake in learning about nature, she said To get them outside, dirty and send them home tired ”