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Turn signals were not planned for the new traffic light at Bonita's newest intersection. That's the news Bonitans were dismayed to learn 30 years ago this week.

Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41, already the scene of a deadly accident, was not going to have turn signal indicators put on its newly installed traffic light. That information came in response to an inquiry by Betty Tyldesley, president of the Republican Club of Bonita Springs. She had written to the Florida Department of Transportation asking about plans for turn signals at the intersection.

"The DOT's response was from W.T. Trefz, deputy district engineer for operations," wrote The Banner. "He said that the department had made a detailed study in March 1976 of left turns from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m. He said the study indicated the protected left turning intervals were not warranted by present traffic conditions."

DOT vowed to keep the intersection under surveillance for "volume increase and development of an accident problem."

Prior to the installation of a traffic signal, the new intersection had already claimed two lives.

At the Bonita Springs Cemetery, veterans and citizens gathered to honor the war dead on Memorial Day. Members of the Veterans of World War I, American Legion Post 303 and VFW Post 4254 and their auxiliaries took part in the ceremonies.

Banner readers met former Mound Key resident Fred Hall in that issue. Hall was born in Estero in 1935 and moved with is family to Mound Key four years later. When he reached school age, the family returned to Estero, later moving to Coconut Road. He attended Bonita Springs Elementary School and Fort Myers Junior High School and graduated from Fort Myers High in 1953.

"A lot went on between, though," The Banner reported. "For instance, the hurricane of 1947 washed out the family's home on Coconut Road and they had to move back to Estero. Before that, there was the great flood of 1936."

"I can't remember it, of course," said Hall, "But I understand there was four feet of water on the (Tamiami) Trail."

Hall worked in the construction business, as a plasterer and mason. He later owned paving and furniture businesses.

Three Bonita men were arrested that week for killing a loggerhead sea turtle on Bonita Beach. Members of the local patrol unit of the Caretta Research organization chased the men after spotting them with the turtle. In their rush to escape, the dead turtle fell from the back of the truck. A chase ensued and three men were eventually arrested: Michael Lee Hodges, 20, Terry Johnson, 27 and Robert Daughtry, 34.