Ted Rank
Ted Rank was the pen name used by writer and photojournalist Jeff C. Tavares who wrote a satirical humor column in the Venice (Fla.) Gondolier Sun under that name. The column, "And now... The News From Ecineville" debuted in the Sunday, March 4, 2007 EDition of The Newspaper. The humor column was AbOUT the fictional people and events that took place in the fictional community of Ecineville and at the fictional newspaper the Ecineville Sun. However, the columns were often commentary on the real people and events of the city of Venice, Fla and the real newspaper he worked for. ("Ecineville" was the city of Venice spelled backwards, "Ecinev", with "ille" added to the end). The Venice Gondolier Sun is owned by Sun Coast Media Group, Inc.
"And now... The News From Ecineville" column dealt with issues like the attack of a giant mutant turtle that formed as a result of red tide in the Gulf of Mexico, a report on elderly driving habits in Florida, Ecineville economic collapse turns it into a ghost town and others.
The column ran three times a week and the last column was published on Feb. 24, 2008 when Tavares who was Photo Editor of the paper and also a feature writer resigned and left the newspaper on March 7, 2008. He had been with the newspaper since November 2004.