Naples Daily News Weekend Digest Miss something this week? Catch up on a few of our big stories in this quick digest
Historic Monroe Station on Tamiami Trail burns down overnight
Historic Monroe Station, one of the last original existing outposts on the Tamiami Trail, burned down Saturday night, leaving the community in dismay.
Efforts by firefighters with the Ochopee Fire Department couldn't save the building in Big Cypress, which was on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Firefighters were called out about 11:45 p.m. and found the station engulfed in flames. They were able to control the fire, leaving at 2:20 a.m. — but the building was burned down to its foundation.
Bob DeGross, spokesman for the Big Cypress National Preserve, said the preserve conducted, more than a month ago, a prescribed fire in the loop unit, which included the Monroe Station. However, the burn was already inactive by the time of Saturday's fire, so he said it's "highly unlikely" any remnants or sparks from the controlled brush burn caused the structure fire.
"If there's any burn activity we would have staff involved. The fire from the burn was inactive," DeGross said. "In the evenings, the humidity gets so high any type of activity from a burn would be unlikely."
DeGross also said the Preserve was in the process of restoring the building to its original appearance.
"In 2004, the National Park Service sought funds to restore the building," DeGross said. However, the building stood vacant for years due to lack of funds.
The historic station was built in the 1920s. It was one of six built by the Collier Corp. after the company saw a need to provide gas, food and safety to people traveling along the Tamiami Trail. The stations were constructed along the Trail, 10 miles apart.
New Medicare rules for hip, knee replacements take effect in Collier
The NCH Healthcare System letter explaining a new Medicare rule for hip or knee replacement surgery doesn't mean much to a patient in pain.
But the letter has tremendous implications for orthopedic surgeons and the hospital.
After a year of wrangling between the federal government and hospital leaders nationwide, a new rule took effect April 1 that retools Medicare payments for hip and knee replacements.
Collier County is one of 67 regions nationwide where the new rule applies. Lee County is not included.
Patients with medical conditions — heart disease, obesity, diabetes, lung ailments and the like — might be hard pressed to find an orthopedic surgeon willing to perform the joint replacement because hospitals face financial incentives to avoid patients with high risks of complications, according to physician leaders with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
"An unintended consequence of a payment model such as (this) may be the 'cherry-picking' of low risk patients," according to a February article written by Drs. Alexandra Page and Mary O'Connor, posted on the academy's website. "Health systems and surgeons will be subject to financial incentives to avoid patients at higher risk of complications and hence, more expensive care."
Naples man to be honored for his service in Korea with Puerto Rican regiment
Jose Antonio Santos-Rolón braved frostbite in subzero weather during the Korean War. A fellow soldier was taken prisoner while Rolon slept nearby in a tree. He saw casualties hanging from trees.
Rolón doesn't like to talk about his experiences battling in the forgotten war. He is just grateful to be alive.
"My mom entrusted me to the virgin, Our Lady of Mount Carmel," he said. "I know she was looking after me. I'm lucky to be here."
Rolón, 82, was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Naples with his wife of 61 years, Carmen Santos, in 1993. He is a long way from his days as a 17-year-old machine-gunner with the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as "The Borinqueneers," a segregated regiment of the Army made up of mostly Puerto Ricans that served in both world wars and the Korean War. He remembers being on night patrol and seeing Chinese and Korean forces searching for American soldiers, just yards from his post. He tried to only fire his gun when he was in immediate danger.
"I didn't like hurting people," he said.
Rolón and other Borinqueneers will travel to the U.S. Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their military service on Wednesday. The medal is one of the highest civilian awards in the country.
Collier commissioners reject proposal for preferred location of Atlanta Braves spring training site
Collier County commissioners rejected a proposal Tuesday to consider building an Atlanta Braves spring training stadium at the site preferred by the team near Interstate 75 along Collier Boulevard.
Commissioners, however, voted unanimously to reach out to the Braves to see if executives would consider other properties in the county. But it's unclear if the Braves, who are in talks with Sarasota and Palm Beach over potential sites, would be interested.
"I think it's dead," said Commissioner Tim Nance, who thinks a stadium would benefit the county. "They need really good access to I-75. Maybe if we had another interchange. But the Braves aren't going to wait on us."
A representative for the Braves couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
Fifth Avenue Advisors, a private group that has worked feverishly to bring the team and Major League Baseball to Collier, isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.
"We're going to keep going. We are going to reach out to the Braves," said Gary Price, a partner in Naples-based Fifth Avenue Advisors.
Several Naples commercial projects sit idle as owners keep plans quiet
At the west end of the large vacant lot on Central Avenue in downtown Naples, between 10th and 12th streets, Harry Miller stood over a bag of golf balls and held a black Taylor-Made pitching wedge. He faced east, looking across the 8.8-acre property and its yellowing grass. He aimed toward the makeshift pin that he and his friend set up, using a wooden stake and a plastic bag, about 100 yards away.
"They mow the grass pretty good out here," Miller said before he flubbed his wedge shot.
Miller has been coming to the lot at 1075 Central Avenue to hit golf balls since 2010, after the old Naples Daily News building was torn down. The property was later sold to a company that planned a commercial development with more than 200 condominium units.
The project was approved by the Naples City Council last March, but is now on hold after a local builder, Jon Rubinton from Lotus Construction, was removed from the company's list of managers in October.
"I have no affiliation with the project any longer and have no knowledge of what the owners are or are not doing," Rubinton said in a brief phone interview. He declined to talk specifics.
The property on Central is one of a handful of vacant commercial lots whose owners are keeping plans close to the chest, including Third Street Plaza.
