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Web Poll Previous Poll Question

Should the federal government provide any form of student debt relief? ■ Yes, I support total student loan forgiveness, 12% ■ I agree with the proposal to forgive up to $50,000, 6% ■ Up to $10,000, 12% ■ No. This is voluntarily incurred debt and an obligation of the borrower. It’s that simple, 70%

Current Poll Question

The Welcome to Lehigh Acres Sign is in need of repair. So this is an opportunity to consider updating the artwork by adding something completely new or just refreshing the existing artwork to repair damages and fix faded colors, etc. Would you like to see: ■ The existing design repaired. ■ New artwork design all together. ■ A totally new sign shape, color and artwork.

Share your opinion at lehighacrescitizen.com

Read The Citizen online

The Lehigh Acres Citizen will take its next step into the world of digital journalism today by transitioning to a solely online newspaper.

After serving the community for more than 26 years with a weekly print edition, today’s Citizen will be the last to appear in that format.

While we will be among those who will miss holding a paper copy in hand, we recognize that readers are choosing more and more to get their news, even community news, on their phone or other digital device.

Here’s what to expect:

With the move to online, we plan to focus more on the “community” aspect of the information we provide.

Yes, we will continue to include the “hard news” stories shared on The Citizen website under “News from around the region.”

We still will continue to welcome and publish The Citizen’s popular contributed columns from organizations such as the Lehigh Acres Senior Center, the VFW and the American Legion.

We will continue to welcome letters to the editor and guest commentaries about issues of interest to the community.

But we will focus more on what is happening in our community by asking for more submissions from clubs and organizations that would like to get their message out online and on Facebook via lehighacrescitizen.com.

If you are active in the community with a civic or social club, volunteer with one of our community’s many schools or youth groups, take part in youth or adult athletics, we invite you to become part of what we hope will be an expansion of the news that matters most to you — the abundance of activities happening within our community, including where to go and what to enjoy.

We remain committed to Lehigh Acres and we are thankful to all those who have read, and contributed, through the years.

Despite our long-established online presence, it’s still a big step to move The Citizen wholly there.

But it was a big step to start a paper 26 years ago based primarily on requests from the community.

We heard you then and started a newspaper.

Hopefully, we are hearing you now as we move online.

We believe with your input, your contributions, lehighacrescitizen.com will remain your source for what is happening in our community.

Editorial

To submit a community contribution — club news, meeting or event notice, press release, business brief, sports report, letter to the editor and more — : email: News@breezenewspapers.com Online at lehighacrescitizen.com: ∫ Tap the three lines for the menu bar found at the upper left of the homepage near the magnifying glass. ∫ Click Contact ∫ Click Submit News

Ray Eckenrode, Publisher

Valarie Harring, Executive editor

What may present itself as Alzheimer’s may not be

By DR. HAROLD E. JOHNSTONE JR.

Dementia is a syndrome affecting memory, learning and making decisions that affect everyday life. The signs and symptoms of a dementia depend on what part of the brain is involved and will identify the particular disease causing the syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer’s disease is the primary cause of dementia counting for 50 percent to 70 percent of cases. There are many others, one being Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is an uncommon but not rare disease. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that nearly 700,000 adults have NPH, which is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s. However, it is much more treatable and sometimes even reversible if caught early. My story may help you do that.

When the gerontologist neuropsychiatrist diagnosed me as having “late onset early Alzheimer’s disease” I was not surprised, but I knew that he was wrong. I was 86 years old and had been referred to the gerontology clinic at a local hospital after I flunked a driver awareness test. The very kind and empathetic occupational therapist who administered the test told me that the driving deficits I showed are usually seen in patients with dementia. I knew immediately that he was right. I had noticed that my decision making and memory were not up to par and I was having difficulty walking, needing two canes to provide stability. My balance was compromised and I had fallen several times. I did a little reading, specifically “Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias,” and discovered that I had “Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.” I noted that the Alzheimer’s Association five years ago estimated that less than 20 percent of people with NPH are properly diagnosed.

NPH involves an increase in the fluid which fills the ventricles (pockets) in the brain and bathes the brain and spinal cord. The increased ventricular fluid causes pressure on the adjacent nerve cells (neurons). This causes them to malfunction and lose the ability to communicate with other neurons. It does not cause imminent death of the neurons as does Alzheimer’s but after a time, months or perhaps a few years, NPH will have the same result. The “normal” in NPH refers to the pressure where it is usually measured, the spine.

The intake nurse practitioner for the clinic had interviewed me, my wife and daughter as a group a few weeks before my appointment with the doctor to provide the history of my illness and to order tests in advance of the appointment. She discussed the possible diagnoses with us. When I told her that I thought that I had NPH and wanted to place an order for that diagnosis she chuckled and said, “We do see that once in a while.” She, perhaps because I self diagnosed, included a brain MRI in her orders.

The meeting with the neuropsychiatrist was not pleasant. After introducing himself to me, my wife and son, we listened to a monologue that went on in excess of 40 minutes. Some highlights were: “You have late onset early Alzheimer’s disease and there is nothing you can do about it. There are medications for it but none will work. The one most prescribed is cheap and I’ll give you a prescription for it but it won’t work. The only thing that helps is a rigid daily exercise program and nobody does that and you won’t either,” and on and on. I finally interrupted and asked about NPH. He responded “No, you don’t have that” and then went over several other dementias that he said I didn’t have either, ending with “I’ve been doing this for 17 years and I know Alzheimer’s when I see it.” I then asked about the MRI exam which was scheduled for the next day. He responded, “It won’t show anything. You haven’t had Alzheimer’s long enough to show brain shrinkage, but you can do it if you want to.”

The radiology report the next day told me: Ventricles are enlarged. Diagnosis; Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

So how might you discover that you may have this most treatable of all the dementias early enough to gain relief and perhaps reversal of your symptoms? Look for the three W’s: Wobbly, Wacky and Wet. ∫ Wobbly: In contrast to Alzheimer’s which generally starts with memory problems, NPH almost always starts with gait and balance problems, making one wobbly. My veterinarian daughter had pointed out that I was shuffling, taking small steps and not lifting my feet as I walked. She thought I might have Parkinson’s disease. I consulted an excellent neurologist who did a very thorough exam and

Guest Commentary

See ALZHEIMER’S, page 21

We want your opinion

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that — opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Lehigh Acres Citizen, 2510 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33904; faxed to 239-574-5693 or e-mailed to news@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: lehighacrescitizen.com.

Proper wheel alignment is important for vehicles in many ways. First, it provides a safer ride, and second, a longer life for your tires. As a mechanic in a previous life, I saw firsthand what happens when car owners don’t have their wheels aligned. The car pulls to one side and the tires don’t wear evenly. Ultimately, that means time in the shop and more money out of pocket.

Now take that thinking and apply it to your career and education. Our students are focused. They want to complete their degree as quickly as possible, moving in a straight line and focusing only on the elements they need. That’s the foundation for the Hodges University Wheel.

Our first wheel is for those professionals who want to complete their bachelor’s degree in organizational management. We are transfer credit friendly, so with previous military or college credits earned, it is possible to graduate with this degree in as little as one year. We selected this degree because all organizations require professionals in management positions. This degree will help you learn to make informed, strategic business decisions, gain a full understanding of the most important functions of business and management, and learn effective leadership skills for advancement. You’ll learn from a dynamic professor with practical, real-world experience, so it’s not just about learning the theory, but also applying that theory to your personal and professional life. Time is money, so in addition to graduating in as little as one year, class is held once a week, with the remaining work done on your own time. Most of our students are balancing the demands of working full time and family, so this Wheel was designed with that in mind. Best of all, students have the option to take their weekly class planned for multiple locations: on campus at Hodges University in Fort Myers, or in the Hodges Direct classrooms located in the Community Resource Center of Goodwill in Port Charlotte or in Naples at a location to be announced. Another perk for our students: they have the option to attend class one evening during the week or on a Saturday. This is especially beneficial for students that work shift schedules. By meeting once a week, our students have the opportunity to participate in a class that is engaging, challenging, and inspiring. There are also the added benefits of camaraderie with classmates. Classes start in the fall, so now is the time to learn more about the Hodges University Wheel and what it can

Dr. John Meyer do for you and your career goals. A year from now, you could be graduating with a bachelor’s degree with the

Guest knowledge, tools and confidence to take your career to Commentary the next level.

— Dr. John Meyer is president and a two-time graduate of Hodges University.

Head Start From page 1 ilies to qualify,” she said. “Prior, the income eligibility required a family to be 100 percent below poverty level, or be receiving public assistance. That definition only included SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Now the federal government has expanded that income eligibility to include SNAP.”

In other words, if families are already receiving SNAP benefits they are categorically eligible.

“It is important for the public to understand beyond qualifying categorically for income based on SNAP benefits there is still a selection criteria that is part of the Head Start program,” Romo said. “Families get in based on the highest number of eligibility points they receive.”

She said for example, a single mother will receive extra points, as well as those who are homeless, a foster child, or a child who has an IEP (individualized education plan).

The school district has 720 Pre-K seats available, 88 Early Head Start seats and 72 Early Head Start — Childcare Partnership grants, which is a partnership with private providers who supplement the service in private childcare settings.

“All three of those programs, the eligibility criteria includes income eligibility and qualifying based on receiving SNAP benefits makes it easier,” Romo said. The Head Start program is a comprehensive service program, which includes a team of social workers, mental health professionals, nurses, curriculum specialist, disability specialist and a family advocate, all to support the child and the family. “The idea of Head Start is to break the cycle of poverty, empower families and get kids ready for kindergarten,” Romo said. Enrollment is still taking place for Head Start. Families can complete the pre-application at https://eclc.leeschools.net/our_school/app lication_information. The Early Childhood Center accepts summer applications Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Documents needed to complete the application include: ∫ Proof of age for the child (original birth certificate) ∫ Proof of income, four weeks of pay stubs for all family members including child support, or a 1040 tax return (2021), (SNAP, TANF, SSI) ∫ Additional Documentation if applicable: ∫ Documentation of disability: Early Head Start requires a copy of the IFSP or IEP ∫ Custody papers if not the natural parent ∫ Proof of pregnancy is required when applying for Early Head Start

When the application is complete, parents are required to obtain the VPK voucher for 4 year olds, which is only available through the Early Learning Coalition, 2675 Winkler Avenue, Suite 300, in Fort Myers.

“We take applications all year long and we create a waiting list. Right now the seats are not full. We are seeking eligible families and hoping to fill our seats,” Romo said.

Any additional questions can be sent to earlychildhood@leeschools.net.

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com

The Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office mailed the initial 164,226 requested domestic vote-by-mail ballots last Tuesday for the Aug. 23 primary election.

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail Ballot for the Primary Election is 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13. Vote-byMail Ballots must be returned to the Lee County Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Aug. 23.

The United States Postal Service recommends that voters mail their voted ballots at least one week before the due date to allow for timely receipt and processing by the elections office.

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle encourages voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot “in the event they can not go to the polls due to an emergency or inclement weather,” he stated in the announcement issued by the office. Requests can be made by calling (239) 5338683 or by going online at www.lee.vote.

The races

John Albion, Joseph Gambino and Mike Greenwell will vie in the Republican primary for the District 5 Lee County Board of County Commissioners seat vacated by the late Frank Mann. The winner will face Democrat Matthew Wood and write-in candidate Angela Chenaille in a special election Nov. 8.

Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes is facing a challenge from Liza King in a Republican primary.

Congressman Byron Donalds (R-19) is facing a primary challenge from Charlotte County Republican Jim Huff.

The Florida Democratic Party will hold a primary to determine its nominee to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis. There are four Democrats running in the primary. Congressman and former Gov. Charlie Crist, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried are considered the frontrunners. Political newcomers Cadance Daniel, of Jacksonville, and Robert Willis, of Brevard County, are also running.

A Democratic Party primary will be held for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Marco Rubio. Four Democrats are running in the primary: Congresswoman Val Demings, clean energy entrepreneur Ricardo De La Fuente (who has previously run for offices in California and Texas), Tampa lawyer and former state representative Brian Rush and Miami immigration lawyer William Sanchez.

A Democratic primary also will be held for the race to challenge Attorney General Ashley Moody. The Democratic Party candidates are former state attorney Aramis Ayala, Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Jim Lewis and Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder.

Three Democrats and two Republicans are facing off in primaries for the Commissioner of Agriculture office being vacated by Fried. Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson is running for the seat against Vero Beach farmer James Shaw in the GOP primary. Author and minister Naomi Blemur, former congressional candidate J.R. Gaillot and cannabis activist Ryan Morales comprise the Democratic Party field.

Dropping off ballots and early voting

Voters may drop off their voted ballots at any office of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Election Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to voting by mail, early voting begins Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 20. There are 12 early voting locations throughout Lee County in which voters from any location or district can vote at. Those locations can be found at: https://www.lee.vote/Early-VotingInformation/Early-Voting-Locations.

During early voting, voters may drop off their vote-bymail ballot at an authorized secure ballot intake station (formerly drop box) located at every early voting site from Saturday, Aug. 13, through Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. For a complete list of early voting sites and directions, visit www.lee.vote.

Voters may track their Vote-by-Mail ballot online at www.lee.vote to see when their request was received and when their ballot was mailed, received, and counted.

Requests for mail-in-ballots for the Nov. 8 general election must be received by the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Saturday, Oct. 29.

Clerk of Courts From page 1

Kevin Karnes

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Karnes as Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller in March of 2022, filling the seat of retired Clerk Linda Doggett.

Karnes, 34, is a 15-year veteran of the office and previously served as chief operating officer, overseeing approximately 300 employees in departments handling court services, finance and technology. He said he has implemented new services giving the public more convenient access to the courts while improving efficiencies for the judiciary and attorneys through video conferencing, online scheduling and online document certification.

Karnes started his career with the Lee Clerk’s office in 2007 as a part-time file clerk while seeking his degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. He worked his way up to evidence clerk, operations manager, chief of courts, and eventually, chief operating officer. Karnes has been actively involved in the community for more than 10 years. He serves on the board of directors of the United Way and on the Florida Bar grievance committee for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. He recently chaired the Cape Coral Redistricting Commission, which proposed new district maps to the Cape Coral City Council following the 2020 Census.

Karnes previously served as the president of the Southwest Florida Young Republicans from 2016 to 2020 and was on the Lee County Republican Executive Committee for nearly a decade.

When asked what prompted him to run, Karnes replied: “I have worked in the Clerk’s Office for 15 years and I’m running to remain the Clerk and Comptroller of Lee County because I have the knowledge, experience, and vision to make this office succeed. When Clerk Doggett retired, there was no hesitation on my part to file my paperwork so that I could build upon her success and serve our community. When Governor DeSantis appointed me as Clerk in March, he knew that I have the passion and ability to protect tax payer money, hold our local government accountable, and ensure open access to government records. As your Clerk and Comptroller, I serve as the check and balance on our local government and I’m committed to serving our taxpayers in the best possible way.”

When asked what his main focus would be on day one if elected, Karnes said: “My top priority as the elected Clerk and Comptroller will be putting together a property fraud task force to stop criminals from stealing the homes of hardworking citizens of this county. I’ve already started discussions with legislative leaders, property experts, and legal professionals to put forth ideas that can stop criminals in their tracks. My other top priority is to better educate county residents on how their taxpayer dollars are spent and managed. As the County Accountant and Comptroller, I want to better advertise the financial health of our county.”

When asked what major changes that he believes need to take place, Karnes replied: “For Property Fraud the state law needs to change to permit the government to address fraud when they see it. The law as it exists today, is reactive and I believe it could be changed to benefit homeowners. One specific idea is to have photo identification be filed as supporting documentation when a quit claim deed is filed with my office, that way if a document is deemed fraudulent, my office can produce evidence that helps law enforcement investigate the crime.”

When asked why he believes he is the right candidate to take on this role, Karnes said: “I’m the right person for this job because Governor DeSantis appointed me to this position. He chose someone who he knew could do the work of Clerk and Comptroller and do it well. I’m already doing the work, have no learning curve, and can immediately get to work on my ideas to serve you. In addition to those reasons, I have 15 years of working in the Clerk’s Office and have the support of many of our public officials throughout the county. I would be honored to have your vote on August 23rd.”

To learn more about Karnes and his campaign, visit VoteKevinKarnes.com Liza King

King is a Lee County native with proud Cuban-American roots. She graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and an emphasis in Forensic Psychology.

King, 47, began her career with the Lee County Clerk’s Office in 1993. A few years later, she decided to pursue her next venture as a Court Investigator with the Administrative Office of the Courts. King moved through the ranks of the Criminal Division. She served as a Pretrial Services Manager, Deputy Criminal Justice Director and then Criminal Division Director. The criminal division includes the Lee County Pretrial Services, which is a 24/7 operation, and the Lee County Probation Department. In 2018, she was promoted and is currently serving as Chief Deputy Court Administrator for the 20th Judicial Circuit.

Under King’s leadership, the Lee County Criminal Division gained accreditation through the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission. Lee County is one of only five agencies in the state to be accredited. The Criminal Division was also awarded with a NACO achievement award for the implementation of the Criminal Case Management program.

King is a certified court manager and a certified pretrial services professional (PSP). She also served as a Commissioner for the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC). She was nominated as a “40 under 40” recipient and was most recently selected as a nominee for the Women of Distinction award.

She was appointed to serve on the Lee County Charter Review Commission as well as the Florida Gulf Coast University, Department of Justice Studies Advisory Board. King served on the board of the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Festival and 5K event. She currently serves on a United Way fund distribution review team and is on the board of the Multicultural Centre of SWFL-The Big Backpack event. King is currently vice president for the Lee County Republican Women of Cape Coral Club and Precinct Representative for the Lee County Republican Executive Committee. She is a member of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida and is an active member of Step of Faith Ministries, where she has recently served as youth pastor and an usher.

When asked what prompted her to run, King replied: “My only agenda is to utilize my knowledge, skills and abilities to improve public safety, conserve taxpayer dollars and serve and give back to the community that raised me.”

When asked what her main focus would be on day one if elected, King said: “My overall goals are to promote public safety; save taxpayer dollars and ensure that we provide the highest level of customer service. I also plan to focus from day one on the employees. They are the backbone of the organization. I will enhance employee relations by listening to them and understanding the employees’ concerns and then, as a team, we will ensure reasonable solutions.”

When asked what major changes that she believes need to take place, King replied: “Re-align the vision of the office to include prioritizing the foundation (core essential functions) of the organization by placing emphasis on promoting public safety, fiscal efficiency and customer service.”

When asked why she believes she is the right candidate to take on this role, King said: “I am the perfect fit. I am beyond experienced and qualified for this position with 29 years of experience -- 19 years in a leadership capacity -- both inside the Clerk’s office and in other parts of the judicial system. This gives me a better perspective on the role the Clerk’s office plays in the judicial system to improve public safety. My expertise is in overseeing operations (building sustainable systems) and employee relations shows that I am a proven and trusted leader and that is exactly what the employees and community deserve of our next Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court.”

For more information on King and her campaign, visit votelizakingforclerk.com.

greet From page 1 was listening to talk radio like I always do and Matt Caldwell comes on and starts talking about a poster that is in the schools. The poster said that any boy that identifies as a girl can go inside the girls bathroom. I said no, that can’t be happening,” Persons explained. “So I decided to attend the next school board meeting. I’m in the audience listening to the parents who are very upset about the poster, but the school board paid no attention to the parents. The lack of listening to the parents was what really got me involved.”

Two of the candidates running for County Commission Seat 5 also spoke during the evening.

John Albion, who served as a Lee County commissioner in District 5 for 14 years until 2006, spoke briefly about his contributions to Lehigh during his previous tenure.

“When I first came into office there was a two-lane road leading into Lehigh Acres. And our goal was to get that twolane road up to six lanes by 2010. We accomplished that and got that timeframe moved up to 1998 — completed, not started,” Albion said.

Other key issues on Albion’s list included finding a long-term solution related to septic tanks for Lehigh residents, advancements in bettering the critical and interior roadways into Lehigh Acres and supporting better management solutions for Lake Okeechobee.

Retired baseball great Mike Greenwell, who now owns a farm in Lee County, also announced his plans to run and spoke briefly about why he decided to make a bid for the District 5 seat.

“I’ve lived off State Road 31 for nearly 32 years. I’ve raised my kids and my family who are now raising their kids there. We have been exploding out there and steadily growing for years, and all the politicians keep telling us the same things. We’re going to fix the roads. We’re going to lower the taxes. Has anyone’s taxes gone down? So what are we paying for?” Greenwell said.

“I’m very proud to be from this town and I’ve gotten to watch it grow, but unfortunately it’s growing in a negative way. We are getting all these rooftops and houses, but we’re not getting the roads or the infrastructure,” Greenwell said.

“We have a great board right now and I think we can get in there and start making some changes. The reason things are not happening in Lehigh, Alva and eastern North Fort Myers, is we are not getting the money. The money is going the other way. So you have to have a strong enough voice to get in there, push the buttons a little bit and raise enough concern, so the money starts coming this way.” Greenwell said. “I’m that person.”

In 2010, The Lehigh Acres First organization started introducing community leaders and residents to political candidates who are seeking support from the citizens of Lehigh Acres.

According to event organizers, Lehigh’s stand as being unincorporated often denies the area the opportunity to have an impact on those who make the laws that govern its residents.

PHOTOS PROVIDED Majestic Golf Club and provided the opportunity for attendees to meet candidates running for elective office including seats on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners and the School Board of Lee County. John Albion, running for Lee County Board of Commissioners Seat 5.

Mike Greenwell, running for Lee County board of Commissioners Seat 5.

Armor Persons, running for Lee County school District Seat 5.