THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, FIRE CREWS ARE GETTING AHEAD OF ANOTHER MAJOR WILDFIRE IN COLLIER COUNTY.

WHAT OUR WEATHER CONDITIONS CREATING THE PERFECT BREEDING GROUND FOR MORE INFERNOS THIS WILDFIRE SEASON.

BRINGING AUTHENTICITY TO ONE OF THE HOTTEST TV PROGRAMS, A FORMER CAPE CORAL, LOCAL, ADDING IN CLOSE CITY TO THE AWARD WINNING SHOW THE PIT.

AND FROM THE U.S.

OPEN TO AROUND THE WORLD AFTER LEARNING TO LOVE PICKLEBALL WHILE BATTLING CANCER, ONE MAN IS BRINGING HIS PASSION FOR THE SPORT TO NEW DESTINATIONS.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIREFIGHTING CREWS ARE CONTINUING TO BATTLE THE SECOND MAJOR WILDFIRE IN COLLIER COUNTY IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE IS SHARED IMAGES OF AERIAL EFFORTS BEING MADE TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE.

THE WILDFIRE IS AT LEAST 70% CONTAINED AFTER CHARRING MORE THAN 1700 ACRES OF THAT PICAYUNE STRAND STATE FOREST WITH THE WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUING COULD THIS JUST BE THE BEGINNING OF A VERY BUSY BRUSH FIRE SEASON?

WGCU SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS JOINS US NOW WITH THE VERY LATEST ON THE WILDFIRES AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO CONTAIN THEM.

>> YEAH, JENNIFER, I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH FORESTRY.

NOT EVEN 5 MINUTES AGO.

THEY'RE 70% CONTAINED RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT THE FIRE.

IT WAS A TUESDAY THIS WEEK THAT THEY REALLY FELT LIKE I GOT A HANDLE ON IT IN THE MORNING ON TUESDAY, THEY WERE 15% CONTAINED BY THE END OF THE DAY.

THEY WERE 60% CONTAINED.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE ON THAT DAY KHAN OF RESOURCES FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS DROPPING WATER, ALL SORTS OF NEAR CAME INTO TOWN AND THEY ALL OVER 200 FIREFIGHTERS GOT TO WORK ON THIS BLAZE TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING ITS BIGGEST AS THE THE NATIONAL FIRE THAT WAS IN THE EVERGLADES JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

AND THEY'VE THEY'VE KEPT TO CONTAIN TO ROUGHLY 1700 ACRES, WHICH IS QUITE THE FEAT.

>> INCREDIBLE WORK.

AND YOU SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS.

YES.

>> JUST THE LAVENDER, WHO IS ONE OF THEIR SPOKESPEOPLE WHO'S BEEN ON THE FIRE FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.

HE TOLD ME THAT IT'S IT'S TOUGHER AND IT'S HOTTER AND SMOKE HERE THAN ALMOST ANY ASSIGNMENT THAT HE'S HAD BEFORE.

THE WILDFIRE, WHICH HAS GROWN TO JUST OVER 1700 ACRES AND A FEW DAYS HAVE ALSO INCREASINGLY BEEN CONTAINED.

JESSE LAVENDER, A FIREFIGHTER WITH THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE HAS BEEN WORKING THE FIRE THE WHOLE TIME.

>> WE'RE ACTIVELY FIGHTING THE FIRE WITH EVERY RESOURCE WE POSSIBLY CAN GET AT THE MOMENT.

SO FOR AIR SUPPORT, WE HAVE OUR 2.

HELICOPTERS DOING BUCKET DROPS.

WE HAVE THE COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HELICOPTER DOING BUCKET DROPS AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE CREWS FIGHTING BOTH SIDES OF THE FIRE.

WE SPEAK.

>> THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE BEEN FEARING THAT THIS SPRING WILDFIRE SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WAS GOING TO BE BAD SINCE THE DROUGHT SAID IN LAST FEBRUARY, WHICH WE'VE BEEN COVERING HERE AT WTC.

YOU EVER SENSE.

THEN LAST SUMMER, THERE WERE NO HURRICANES.

THERE ARE ALSO FEW AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S NORMALLY WET SUMMER SEASON LEFT PLACES LIKE FORT MYERS WITH RAINFALL, DEFICITS OF A FOOT OR MORE.

THE FIRST BIG WILDFIRE STARTED AMIR 7 WEEKS INTO THE YEAR.

IT WAS RIGHT ALONG ALLIGATOR ALLEY AND THE BIG CYPRESS.

NOW NATIONAL PRESERVE SMOKE FROM THAT WILDFIRE SHUT DOWN THE ROAD.

ALSO KNOWN AS INTERSTATE 75 SEVERAL TIMES.

THE NEWMAN FIRE HAS ALSO THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN ALLIGATOR ALLEY AND HAS CAUSED EVACUATIONS IN AND AROUND THE GOLDEN GATE AREA.

BUT NOBODY'S BEEN HURT.

NO HOMES HAVE BEEN LOST.

AND LAVENDER FROM THE STATE FOREST SERVICE SAYS CONTAINING THE NEWMAN ROAD FIRE HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

>> YEAH, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE LITTLE WAYS TO GO ON THIS ONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NEED TO BE PATIENT.

WE'RE DOING OUR JOB AND AND WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS >> IN RECENT YEARS, NEARLY EVERY CATEGORY WHETHER THAT CAN OCCUR IN FLORIDA SET A RECORD ONE DIDN'T DROUGHT.

LAST YEAR.

WHAT WOULD BECOME THE WORST FLORIDA DROUGHT IN NEARLY 25 YEARS STARTED.

QUIETLY AFTER THERE WAS NO APPRECIABLE RAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

LOCAL TOWNS AND CITIES STARTED ISSUING BURN BANS TO AVOID CAMPFIRE AND TRASH BURNS FROM STARTING A WILDFIRE IN THE PARCHED WOODS.

THE FIRST BIG WILDFIRE STARTED NEAR 7 WEEKS INTO THE YEAR ALONG ALLIGATOR ALLEY IN THE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE.

IS IT A SIGN OF FEAR OF THINGS TO COME?

MAYBE.

WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE HEIGHT OF THE WILDFIRE SEASON IN FLORIDA, WHICH IS MAY JUNE JULY.

THE TIME YOU WERE HERE LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO, WARNING.

>> ABOUT THIS VERY DANGEROUS WILDFIRE SEASON DESCRIBING.

>> PINE TREES AS DRY AS MATCHSTICKS.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT WAS THE DROUGHT.

THE DROUGHT THAT STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.

HAS BEEN UNDERNEATH EVERYTHING.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T SEE DROUGHT.

YOU CAN'T FIELD ROUTE.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GO OUTSIDE.

YOU SAY, OH, IT'S DROWNING TODAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS THERE IN THE IT IS.

AND INSIDIOUS TYPE OF WEATHER PATTERN.

AND SOMETIMES THEY TAKE YEARS TO GO AWAY.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE DROUGHT TODAY?

RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE RAINS THAT WE'VE HAD, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAVE DROPPED BACK A THING CALLED THE KEEP DROUGHT INDEX, WHICH IS THE WAY THAT FIREFIGHTERS MEASURE.

HOW MUCH OIL, MUCH WATER THERE IS IN THE SOIL.

AND THAT HAS COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WHEREAS 800 IS AS HIGH AS IT CAN BE DESERT LIKE CONDITIONS AND 0 IS FULLY SATURATED.

WE WERE IN THE 700 FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND NOW MANY OF THE COUNTY'S COLLIER AND LEE AND CHARLOTTE ARE DROPPING INTO THE 500.

BUT AS WE CAN SEE, THAT'S STILL HIGH ENOUGH FOR SOME MAJOR FIRES TO BREAK OUT.

SO THERE'S A WAYS TO GO.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE DROUGHT TO GO AWAY?

HOW MUCH RAIN DO WE NEED?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO NEED.

HURRICANE OR 2.

>> THE KIND OF AFTERNOON SHOWERS THAT COME AND GO.

AND IN A TYPICAL FLORIDA SUMMER, IF THEY HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEN YES, BY AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER OR THE JOB WILL BE KICKED BACK ENOUGH.

BUT WITHOUT THOSE WE NEED THE HURRICANE AND WE HOPE IT'S ONE OF THOSE SIDE SWIPES THAT JUST GIVES US ALL THE RAIN BUT DOESN'T DO A LOT OF DAMAGE.

BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW DANGEROUS HOPING FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE REMEMBER IN WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO SIDESWIPE.

BUT INSTEAD CAME RIGHT IN AND A LOT OF US ARE STILL RECOVERING THAT RECOVERING FROM THAT STORM, INCLUDING MYSELF.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS WONDERFUL INFORMATION.

THE LATEST UPDATE ON THE WILDFIRE.

>> WE'LL KEEP ON TOP OF IT.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

>> COMING UP NEXT, BRINGING A MUSICAL TWIST TO ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST CAPTIVATING DISASTERS.

WE PREVIEW A NEW PERFORMANCE THAT FOLLOWS THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF THE RMS TITANIC ON APRIL 15TH 114 YEARS AGO.

THE TITANIC SANK AFTER HITTING AN ICEBERG IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, 1500 PEOPLE DIED AND MORE THAN 700 SURVIVED.

THE STORY OF THE TITANIC HAS BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE WAYS FROM BOOKS TO TV PROGRAMS TO AN ACADEMY AWARD WINNING MOVIE HAS WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL REPORTS TITANIC.

THE MUSICAL IS NOW COMING TO A STAGE NEAR YOU IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> IN HIS EMMY AWARD WINNING MUSICAL MORE YES THAN FOCUSES ON THE REAL-LIFE PASSENGERS OF THE ILL-FATED LUXURY LINER WHOSE DREAMS OF A NEW LIFE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE WEREN'T SCUTTLED BY AN ICEBERG.

UGH.

BUT BY THE BLIND AMBITION OF THE MEN WHO BUILT AND PILOTED THE TITANIC ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE, THE STORY BEGINS WITH THE MUSICAL'S 12 MINUTE OPENING NUMBER.

YES, THE NEWS IS IT INTRODUCED THE ENTIRE CAST OF CHARACTERS, OFFICERS AND CREW FIRST AND SECOND CLASS PASSENGERS AND THOSE WHO OCCUPY THE LOWER BERTHS OF THE 10 STOREY OCEAN LIFE.

AND CODY JONES USES THE NUMBER TO ASSURE HIS CAST.

THE 55 ACTORS DOWN THE THEATER CENTER AISLE AND ONTO THE TITANIC OPENED DEC, DRAGGING THE AUDIENCE'S HEART AND SOUL RIGHT ALONG WITH THEM.

IT'S A REMARKABLE FEAT.

THE AUDIENCE KNOWS, OF COURSE, THE PASSENGERS FATE.

MORE THAN 1500 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN DIED IN THOSE ICY NORTH ATLANTIC WATERS.

YET THE AUDIENCE IMMEDIATELY INVEST IN THE PASSENGER'S HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.

MANY YEARNING FOR JUST A SLIVER OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

JONES AND HIS FORMIDABLE CAST AND CREW ARE AIDED IN THIS ENDEAVOR BY YES, TONS, MAGNIFICENCE CORA AND TO HEARING 55 VOICES BELT, THAT MUNIS AND SUCH PEARL ANTHEMS, AS I MUST GET ON THAT SHIP.

GODSPEED, TITANIC AND LADIES MADE IS AS UPLIFTING AS IT IS.

BITTERSWEET WE ALSO HEIGHTENED THE SENSE OF DREAD AND FOREBODING DELIVERED BY ACT.

ONE SONGS LIKE NO MOON AND AUTUMN.

2 STORIES IN PARTICULAR TARGET THE AUDIENCE'S HEART STRESS.

IT'S THE FIRST REVOLVES AROUND STOKER FRANKFURT, BARRETT PLAYED BY JOHNNY SURROUNDING SCHOOL.

>> HIS >> CHARACTER HAS FLED THE COMA LINES ONLY TO END UP IN THE BOILER ROOMS, SHOVELING COAL, 7 DECKS BELOW TITANIC.

YEAH.

RUSSELL WATSON AND SUSAN DO HAND PLAYER ROAD FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS IS A DOOR AND I TO STRAUSS, HALF OWNERS OF MACY'S DEPARTMENT STORE.

IT IS THE ONLY FIRST CLASS FEMALE PASSENGER WHO PERISHED THAT FRIGID APRIL NIGHT, 114 YEARS AGO.

SHE ELECTED TO STAY WITH HER HUSBAND.

SUPER FINAL GLASS OF CRISTAL CHAMPAGNE AND GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP AND THEY'RE TOUCHING DUET IS A DOOR AND I JUST SING OF THEIR ENDURING LOVE, SHARED HISTORY AND RESOLVE TO HOLD EACH OTHER JUST FOR A WHILE AND DIE WITH A SMILE.

NOW THAT THEIR TIME ON EARTH, THIS THROUGH.

SURAT SAW ONE WATSON AND OWENS DUET ARE UNQUALIFIED.

SHOWSTOPPERS, BUT THE SOARING ENSEMBLE NUMBERS TELL THE TALE OF TITANIC A WAY NOT SEEN IN THE MOVIE OR THE INDIVIDUAL PASS.

TEACHERS OF THE SHIP'S MYRIAD PASSENGERS.

WE DRIVE HOME THE TRAGEDY OF THAT NIGHT IN A WAY THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IN THE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF LIVE THEATER.

THEY ALSO LEAVE THE AUDIENCE TO PONDER WHAT OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL MARVELS HAVE EMBEDDED WITHIN THEIR STRUCTURE.

THE PREDICATE FOR OUR AND DOING IF NOTWITHSTANDING REPEATED ADMONITIONS AND WARNINGS.

WE CHOOSE TO PROCEED FULL SPEED AHEAD.

>> TOM, YOU LOOK EXTREMELY COLD OR ARE YOU DOING OKAY?

YOU KNOW, RIGHT?

>> NO, I'M NOT.

ALL RIGHT.

>> THE WATER IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC IS 28 DEGREES.

>> IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SALT CONTENT, IT WOULD FREEZE OVER THE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK AUDIENCES ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ON THE WAY HOME FROM SEEING THIS?

>> WAS A FEW THINGS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST.

UNTIL THE MOMENT OF IMPACT EVERYONE ON TITANIC IS HAVING A REALLY, REALLY GOOD TIME.

AND THAT JUST MAKES THE FEAR IN THAT HER THAT THEY THAT THEY EXPERIENCE AFTER STRIKING ICEBERG ALL THE MORE PALPABLE, THE THIS PLAY IS ALSO IMMERSIVE.

THE ACTORS COME OFF THE STAGE AND PERFORM SONGS AND DIALOGUE IN THE CENTER AISLE.

SO THE AUDIENCE CAN'T HELP TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ALSO PASSENGERS ON THE SHIP.

BUT AUDIENCES ARE REALLY GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH RUSSELL WATSON AND SEASONED OWEN.

THEY PLAY IS A DOOR AND IDA STRAUS NOW AS THE SEGMENT JUST SHOWED, I DECIDED THAT LIFE WITHOUT HER HUSBAND WASN'T WORTH LIVING, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS FABULOUSLY WEALTHY AS HALF OWNER OF MACY'S DEPARTMENT STORE.

THEIR SONG IN THE MUSICAL IS STILL, BUT I COULDN'T HELP FEELING ABOUT THE BRUNO MARS AND LADY GAGA.

I WE'RE SEEING THEIR GRAMMY-WINNING SONG DIE WITH A SMILE WHILE THEY WERE PERFORMING THAT NUMBER.

>> HAS ANYONE ELSE DONE THIS LOCALLY?

THE TITANIC MUSICAL.

>> TITANIC DID COME TO NAPLES IN 2000 SHORTLY AFTER THE SHOW FINISHED ITS RUN ON BROADWAY.

BUT IN THE INTERVENING 26 YEARS, NO ONE FROM MARK OF SARASOTA HAS THE HAS PERFORMED THIS MUSICAL.

SO IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO SAY IT, THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE QUALITY OF ANYTHING THAT CODY JONES AND JOSEPH BROWER PRODUCE.

AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE IN THE PLAY AS A SIDE GIG OR >> AFTER FILLING IN OR SOMETHING LIKE WE DID HERE TODAY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE MUCH.

THANK YOU, TOM.

IF I MIGHT, HE'S BEEN CHAIRING A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S ONLY BECAUSE IT STILL CALLED.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS PERSPECTIVE WITH US TODAY.

TOM, THANKS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> TITANIC, THE MUSICAL RUNS FROM APRIL.

17TH THROUGH APRIL, 26TH AT BONITA ART FOR THE CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS IN BONITA FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN HEAD TO ART BONITA DOT ORG.

THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM TO PIT HAS GARNERED PRAISE FOR ITS REALISTIC MEDICAL PORTRAYALS.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION OF CHARACTERS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH AUTISM.

ONE OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE SHOW IS PLAYED BY FORMER CAPE CORAL RESIDENT.

TELL ANDERSON WGCUS DAYNA HARPSTER CAUGHT UP WITH ANDERSON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER CONNECTION WITH HER ON-SCREEN PERSONA.

>> I AM JOINED BY ONE OF THE STARS OF THE HIT HBO SERIES, THE PIT TAL ANDERSON, WHO PLAYS BECCA KING TAUB.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HI, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

YOU KNOW, I GREW UP WITH WGCU OH, I LOVE HEARING THAT.

THAT'S GREAT.

>> YOUR CHARACTERS, A SISTER TO ONE OF THE MAIN DOCTORS IN THE SERIES AND IS A CHARACTER WITH AUTISM.

THE WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PORTRAY THIS CHARACTER ON THE PROGRAM?

WELL, FOR ME PERSONALLY UP, I MEAN, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF JOY.

>> ASSOCIATED WITH BEING PART OF WELL WRITTEN AWARD-WINNING.

>> AND WHILE RECEIPTS SHOW, BUT THIS SHOW IS SPECIAL FOR A LOT OF OTHER REASONS.

THE STORY'S TOLD ON THE SHOW ARE ALL WAS THAT ADDRESS ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT YOU KNOW, THEY ALSO SHINE A LIGHT ON CHALLENGES THAT REAL PEOPLE FACE AND WHEN YOU SEE THAT ON SCREEN, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES A VOICE TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE EITHER BEEN SILENCE OR WHO HAVE LIVES A LONG TIME IN THE SHADOWS.

YOU KNOW, MY CHARACTER THAT THE IS AN ADULT DISABLED, AUTISTIC WOMAN WITH HIGH SUPPORT NEEDS.

WHO HAS WON LOVING FAMILY MAN, YOU KNOW, FAMILY MEMBER WHO KIND OF HAS ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING SURE SHE'S SAFE AND HAPPY IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS OUR SISTER AND SHE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE NORA DIVERGENT.

SO THIS IS A STORY ABOUT TO REAL PEOPLE AND THE THINGS THEY HAVE TO OVERCOME TO TRY TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES.

SO.

IT MEANS A LOT TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO BRING THAT GOT TO LIVE ON SCREEN AND TO GIVE HER PART OF MILL STORY, A VOICE FOR ALL OF US AND WHO CAN RELATE TO HER.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO HAS AUTISM, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU TO HAVE THIS REPRESENTATION IN THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING SHOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I TALK A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION IN GENERAL, BUT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THAT'S THE I'M A PART OF YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TURN ON THE TV OR GO TO THE THEATER, YOUR WHOLE KNOW YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND YOU NEVER SEE SOMEONE ON SCREEN WHO WAS LIKE YOU IT'S IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL INVISIBLE AND ALONE.

SO WHEN YOU CAN RELATE TO.

>> YOU KNOW, RELATE DIRECTLY TO A CHARACTER LIKE SO MANY ARE >> DR KING AND THAT CUP.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IF THAT CHARACTER HAPPENS TO BE ON A SHOW AS RECOGNIZED IN THE IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND WATCHES THE PETTIS, THEN IT REALLY STARTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST PERSONALLY MORE YOU RELATE TO THOSE CHARACTERS, BUT NOW THE REST OF THE WORLD SEES THOSE CHARACTERS ALSO.

AND THAT'S AND THAT'S TRUE REPRESENTATION.

IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT THE SHOW, I THINK WELCOMES THAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH OPEN ARMS AND THEM.

THEY ARE REALLY TOUCHING PEOPLE WITH THESE STORIES AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> HOW ARE YOU PERSONALLY LIKE OR EVEN NOT LIKE YOUR CHARACTER BACK?

A KING ON THE PIT.

WELL.

YEAH, AND I OUR DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME PERSON.

>> I LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND I DRIVE.

BUT >> WE DO SHARE A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON LIKE.

WELL, WE'RE BOTH AUTISTIC AND EVEN THOUGH OUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT NEEDS IS DIFFERENT.

WE BOTH STILL NEED SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF PLACES AND PEOPLE TO FUNCTION AND BE A SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL SO.

AUTISTIC.

ADULT WOMAN.

AND AT ONE TIME WERE OFFICE OF YOUNG GIRLS AND WERE MISUNDERSTOOD PROBABLY NEED EXTRA HELP ON SCHOOLWORK AND, YOU KNOW, FELT LIKE WE WERE DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR SECOND BOOK COMING OUT THIS MONTH.

CAN YOU SHARE WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT?

>> YES, SO THE BOOK THAT COMES OUT THIS MONTH IS THE SECOND BOOK OF THE OLD TELL SERIES, WHICH CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK CREATED BY MYSELF AND THE ILLUSTRATOR MICHAEL RICH, WHITE.

MICHAEL IS AND AWARD-WINNING HOLLYWOOD ARTISTS.

AND WE MET WHILE WORKING ON A TYPICAL WHERE WE BECAME FRIENDS AFTER REALIZING HOW MUCH WE EAT HAVING COMMENT.

SO THE FIRST BOOK IS CALLED O-TOWN.

NOT TODAY.

THE SECOND BOOK OLD TOWN, NOT LIKE THAT IS A SEQUEL TO THAT BOOK.

SO IT WE FOLLOW IT.

WE FOLLOWED THE CHARACTER.

TELL WHO IS NON SPEAKING TO SCHOOL?

THE BOOKS IN HIS SERIES ALL MODELED THE LEAD, THE EXPERIENCES OF MICHAEL AND MYSELF.

SO AS CHILDREN, WE WERE BOTH CREATIVE, FELT MISUNDERSTOOD AND JUST WANT TO EXPRESS OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT WAS USUALLY VERY DIFFERENT FROM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN TOWN OF LIKE THAT TELL FINDS OUT THAT WHEN YOU DON'T SPEAK A LOT OF PEOPLE STEPPED IN TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, EVEN IF IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT.

SO.

IN THE END, HOW ALSO DISCOVERS THAT?

ITS OK TO BE DIFFERENT AND THAT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY OF DOING THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, MICHAEL OWEN, I CREATE THESE BOOKS.

SO KIDS WHO MAYBE FEEL LIKE WE DID WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND CHARACTER AND BE ENCOURAGED TO EMBRACE THEIR DIFFERENCES.

>> YOU CAN CATCH HAL ON THAT HIT STREAMING ON HBO.

MAX.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, WHEN A SPORT BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A GAME, HOW ONE MAN TOOK A LOVE FOR PICKLEBALL TO INSPIRE OTHERS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

BRINGING THE LOVE OF ON-COURT COMPETITION HALFWAY ACROSS THE GLOBE.

A PICKLEBALL PRO WHO COMPETED IN THE RECENT U.S.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NAPLES PICKED UP THE GAME WHEN HE WAS HEALING FROM CANCER AS WGCU CARY BARBER LEARNED HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME RUN SO DEEP THAT HE IS SHARING IT ALL THE WAY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

>> IT'S A SUNNY, WINDY SUNDAY AT THE U.S.

OPEN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NAPLES.

THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE TOURNAMENT IS COLLEGIAL FRIENDS WHO'VE MET THROUGH THE SPORT GREET ONE ANOTHER ENTHUSIASTICALLY MARC PALM IS PLAYING WITH HIS DOUBLES PARTNER.

HIS 22 YEAR-OLD SON, DRAKE.

THEY'RE IN THE SPLIT PRO CATEGORY, MEANING BOTH ARE PICKLEBALL PROS, BUT ONE IS OVER 51 IS UNDER 50.

BOTH MEN ARE FIT MOVING NIMBLY AROUND THE COURT, SLAMMING OR TAPPING THE LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC BALL OVER THE NET.

THEY'RE WEARING THE FAMILY UNIFORM, BLACK SHORTS AND BLACK T-SHIRTS.

MARK PALM, NOW, 51 DISCOVERED PICKLEBALL IN 2019.

HE WAS ON THE ROAD RAISING MONEY FOR HIS NONPROFIT WHEN THE PEOPLE HE WAS MEETING WITH GOT HIM INTO THEIR PICKLE BALL GAME.

HE LOVED IT.

HE KEPT AFTER THE GAME EVEN WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH B-CELL LYMPHOMA, A TYPE OF BLOOD CANCER.

PICKLEBALL BECAME A PART OF HIS RECOVERY PROCESS, HELPING HIM THROUGH EACH OF 6 ROUNDS OF CHEMOTHERAPY.

>> AND THEN ABOUT DAY 3, SLOWLY START GETTING INTO BACK.

AND SO I WOULD GET UP AND I WOULD GET OUT TO THE TO THE PARK AND I WOULD GO ON THE CHALLENGER SIDE BECAUSE I HAD NO VERY LITTLE ENERGY.

AND I WOULD JUST STUMBLE AROUND.

BUT I'LL GET ONE GAME IN AND IT WAS JUST THAT SOCIAL, SOMETHING.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF THIS MENTAL HEALTH BOOST FOR ME AND THEN EVERY DAY I WOULD GET A LITTLE STRONGER THAN THE NEXT GUY CAN PLAY, YOU KNOW, 3 GAMES.

AND THEN BY THE TIME I GO BACK TO CHEMO, ANOTHER CAME AROUND.

I COULD PLAY 7 GAMES.

SO EVERY TIME I GOT TO GO BACK TO THE COURT WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND MY DOCTOR AND SAID, LOOK, LIVE YOUR LIFE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THE MENTAL SIDE OF RECOVERING FROM CANCER DEALING WITH WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER AND ALL THE UNKNOWNS.

IT'S SUCH A BIG PART OF RECOVERY.

SO PICKLEBALL FOR ME BECAME THAT.

>> 7 YEARS LATER, PAUL IS 6 YEARS FREE OF CANCER AND COMPETING AS A PRO.

WHEN HE'S NOT ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT.

PALM IS RUNNING SAMARITAN AVIATION, THE NONPROFIT HE AND HIS WIFE KIRSTEN, STARTED IN 2000.

IT PROVIDES EMERGENCY MEDICAL FLIGHTS AND MEDICAL CARE AT NO COST TO THE RESIDENTS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 80% OF WHOM LIVE IN RURAL AREAS WITHOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE OR A HOSPITAL.

>> FOR DAVY ATION DOES 7 DAYS A WEEK RESPONSE TO MEDICAL EVACUATION FLIGHTS?

WE DROP MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES INTO REMOTE VILLAGES, TAKE DOCTORS AND REMOTE AREAS AND I REALLY DOES SAVE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAVE NO HOPE IF WE'RE NOT THERE.

>> NATURALLY, IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE, THE PALM FAMILY BROUGHT PICKLEBALL TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

>> AND SO THEY'RE OUR SPONSORS.

PEOPLE DONATED PADDLES AND WE GOT NETS AND AND THERE'S THIS ONE COMMUNITY THAT'S 50 MILES FROM THE NEAREST ROAD.

IT'S A SWAMP OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND THERE'S A HELICOPTER PAD THERE.

AND SO I'M LIKE WE SHOULD BRING PICKLEBALL.

THERE'S A SCHOOL THERE.

THE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR KIDS.

AND SO WE BROUGHT PICKLEBALL.

WE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO PLAY ABOUT THE NETS IN THE PADDLES AND IT'S BEEN SO FUN TO SEE IN A COUNTRY THAT REALLY WOMEN ARE KIND OF SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS IN A LOT OF WAYS TO SEE THE GIRLS PLAYING WITH THE GUYS AND TO SEE ACTUALLY THE GIRLS BEATING THE GUYS.

IT'S JUST AWESOME.

>> THE NONPROFIT HAS 30 STAFF AND 3 PLANES OPERATING ON THE ISLAND AND THE PALM SPEND PART OF EVERY YEAR.

THERE.

SAYS THE ENTIRE OPERATION IS FUNDED 80% BY DONATIONS AND 20% BY THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA GOVERNMENT.

TOM AND HIS SON LOST THEIR PICKLEBALL MATCH ON SUNDAY IN NAPLES.

HE SHRUGS IT OFF.

THERE'S ANOTHER MATCH LATER IN THE WEEK AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROJECTS TO GET TO.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M KERRY BARBER.

>> COMING UP ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO SAFETY.

THE RIDESHARE PROGRAM THAT OFFERS RELIABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WCU DOT ORG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING WITH A 4 TO SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.