STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

More All

• Talkin’ Turkey: the turkey, the pilgrims and the noble bird of Collier County
• Turkey trivia test your wish bone
• How chefs celebrate Thanksgiving

Share and Enjoy [?]

Shelly Cheatham was crowned Miss Bonita Springs 1976 as part of Bonita's Bicentennial celebration 30 years ago this week.

The town enjoyed days of patriotic revelry, including a parade, fireworks, a children's pageant and the burying of a time capsule near the banyan tree.

Cheatham, 18, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Cheatham, was sponsored by the family's Shangri La Health Resort. She competed with eight other young women for the title of Miss Bonita Springs. Runner-up was Terry Konopka and Teri Trew was the second runner-up.

Forty-one little contestants were entered in the Bonita Springs Baby Pageant, with Ann Boutwell crowned Little Miss Sparkler and David Armstrong named Little Master Firecracker. Chris Lee won the title Little Mister Bonita Springs and Tracy Ann Thompson was named Little Miss Bonita Springs.

Thousands lined the parade route for the procession down Old 41. The Bonita Springs Lions Club, with a paddle boat entry, took top honors in the float category. Taking first place in the bicycle competition was Eric Prevatt, dressed as a young Uncle Sam.

In other news, plans were announced for The Suns, a condominium project on Bonita Beach near the Egret. The Suns was to have two buildings, one facing the Gulf and the other facing Hickory Bay. Prices ranged from $49,200 to $58,200 per unit. The Suns was being developed by Elliott Development Co. of Fort Myers and built by contractor Jack Stillson of Fort Myers.

The first cement was poured that week for the new community park off West Terry Street. J. Shannon Supply completed the pouring of a slab for a combination dance floor and shuffleboard site while Bicentennial Park Fund Committee members Betty Tyldesley and Jo Harper looked on. Money raised by the Park Committee at the Bonita Springs Bicentennial celebration was slated to go to the fund to provide park amenities. The next project on tap was a gazebo.

Reopening that week at Lawhon's Shopping Center on Beach Road was Gee & Dee's restaurant. Specials included roast beef, turkey or fish dinners with all the trimmings for $2.95.

At the Trail Drive-In that week, Jack Nicholson was starring in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and Elliott Gould was appearing in "I Will, I Will For Now."