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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 | PUBLISHED SINCE 1884 Jason Gunter, who lost a hand and part of a leg in an accident, soon may win a spot in history INSIDE / A6 Bio: Get to know Fort Myers resident Jason Gunter. The event: What is an Iron- man World Championship? The schedule: See a sample week of Gunter’s training. PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST/THE NEWS-PRESS At top, Jason Gunter swims laps and participates in a 60-mile training ride in Lee County in preparation for an Iron- man competition Oct. 10 in Kona, Hawaii. He is preparing for a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race and 26.2-mile run. If Gunter finishes within 17 hours, he will become the first upper- and lower-extremity amputee to do it. Car sale figures dented BY DON MANLEY [email protected] A double whammy hit Southwest Florida’s car sellers in September: a lack of cars to sell, and a hangover from the cash for clunkers program. The sharp drop-off was expected after the Aug. 24 end of cash for clunkers — which offered buyers rebates of up to $4,500 when they traded in gas guzzlers for a more fuel- efficient vehicle. The program convinced many car shoppers to buy earlier to lock in a deal. That’s why sales here and nationwide were lower compared to the same month last year. Several local dealers said they could have sold more cars if there were more to choose from on their lots. Domestic manu- facturers idled or closed some plants while slowing production at others earli- er this year. “Our new car numbers dropped a good 50 per- cent,” said Leon Mudry, general manager of Galeana Chrysler Dodge Jeep in south Fort Myers. “Of course, the economy is down, but we’re just flat-out Fears grow for eagle caught in fishing line BY MARY WOZNIAK [email protected] A bald eagle seen strug- gling to fly over Bonita Springs with about 200 feet of fishing line dangling from its body may face a long, slow death. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and a Naples rehabilitation spe- cialist say the eagle could starve if the line traps the bird in a tree where it can- not reach food or water. The majestic bird was spotted Tuesday by Frank Gore, an employee of Nel- son Marine, as he checked docks and seawalls among the canals off Imperial Shores Boulevard near Bonita Beach. “It was a great big healthy bird,” Gore said. Then Gore noticed the monofilament line, “a straight line hanging from him about 200 feet long.” The line glared in the sun like the strands of a spi- der web illuminated in the sun, Gore said. “He kept fluttering up in the air, trying to shake the line,” Gore said. The eagle’s plight arises as Bonita Springs is about to launch a BY FRANCESCA DONLAN [email protected] ix months ago, Jason Gunter had run only as many as 8 miles, didn’t own a bike and had never taken a swimming lesson. Today, the 44-year-old Fort Myers attorney is headed to Hawaii to compete in the world’s most celebrated triathlon, the Ford Ironman World Championship. Gunter intends to finish the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2 mile run on Oct. 10. Gunter, who lost his right hand and left leg below the knee in a 1992 boating accident, has a shot at history. If he finishes the race in fewer than 17 hours, he will become the first upper- and lower-extremity amputee athlete to complete the 140-mile course, said Mike Lenhart, president of Getting2Tri Foun- dation, which supports athletes with physical disabilities. “There have been other athletes who have been amputees and double-leg amputees, but it’s unique to have some- one with upper and lower,” said Lenhart, who will be with Gunter in Hawaii. The journey from tragedy to triathlon hasn’t been easy. “Getting out of bed was a milestone,” Gunter said. “It’s one step at a time. If you look too far ahead, it’s too overwhelm- ing.” See EAGLE A2 IRON MAN S • Photo gallery: View images of Jason Gunter of Fort Myers in training. • Video: Watch Gunter train in the triathlon disciplines of swimming, biking and running. THE NEWS - PRESS THE NEWS - PRESS THE NEWS - PRESS FINAL 75¢ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009 | PUBLISHED SINCE 1884 THE NEWS - PRESS Mackindy Dieu, right, comforts Netty Fleury during a vigil Thursday for their sister, Guerline Dieu Damas, her chil- dren and others. JOHN DAVID EMMETT/ THE NEWS- PRESS Damases mourned during vigil UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS See IRONMAN A6 Business ..... D1-4 Classifieds .... E1-8 Helping out ..... B4 Lottery ......... B2 Nation ......... A3 Obituaries ...... B6 Opinion ...... B8-9 Sports ....... C1-8 Weather ...... B10 The News-Press, A Gannett Newspaper Copyright 2008 The News-Press TV grids will look a little different, reflecting the channel line- up changes Comcast has put in place over the past several months, since the company’s merger with Time-Warner cable. The Time-Warner line- up will become Comcast starting Wednesday and the Time-Warner lineup will no longer appear in the grids. NOTE TO READERS news-press.com Watch Gunter in training If you spot the eagle and it appears stationary and unable to fly, call: •CROW wildlife clinic at 239- 472-3644 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. •The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hot line: 888-404-3922. The com- mission will in turn contact local rehabilitation centers. •The wildlife Rehabilitation center at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, at 239-262- CARE (2273) 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily. HOW TO HELP BY JANINE ZEITLIN [email protected] Each of six chairs sat empty except for a single white rose at a Thursday evening vigil in Naples. The roses symbolized the loss of Guerline Dieu Damas and her chil- dren Meshach, Maven, Marven, Megan and Morgan. The children’s father and Guer- line’s husband, Mesac Damas, 33, has been charged with six counts of first-degree premeditated murder. A community mourning the North Naples family vowed to pre- vent more seats from becoming vacant and protect others from domestic violence. “Domestic violence is a social ill that must be addressed in the See VIGIL A2 Also see Sam Cook column B1 news-press.com View more images from Thursday’s vigil. See SALES A2
