Fort Myers roads close early for Edison Festival of Light paradeNear-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday
FORT MYERS Fort Myers roads close early for Edison Festival of Light parade Downtown Fort Myers is preparing for a big evening with the Edison Festival of Light Parade and 5K set to draw thousands of spectators.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High School student arrested for possession of BB gun According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a student has been arrested after a BB gun was found in his backpack on Friday.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers roads close early for Edison Festival of Light parade Downtown Fort Myers is preparing for a big evening with the Edison Festival of Light Parade and 5K set to draw thousands of spectators.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High School student arrested for possession of BB gun According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a student has been arrested after a BB gun was found in his backpack on Friday.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Some boaters are becoming wary of construction plans that may eventually cause the closure of a public ramp on the Caloosahatchee River. The boat ramp, located near Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers, is one of a few free options for fishers, crabbers and recreational boaters in the area. One crabber, Roger Byrd, uses the ramp regularly as a launch site and does not want to take on additional costs if it closes. “It makes you go somewhere else and it may cost you $50 to $60 a week to launch,” said Byrd, who uses the boat ramp to catch crabs from the Caloosahatchee River. “That’s money out of your pocket.” The boat ramp near Edwards Drive is preferred to the other closest, free and public ramp, which is located next to the Oasis Towers. That ramp is tough to maneuver, some boaters complain. “The trailer parking is more than 100 yards away. It’s not a good alternative,” Byrd said of the ramp near the Oasis Towers. Local businesses, who use the city-owned ramp to launch customers’ boats, are also concerned with the idea of the popular location closing. “Well, we hate to see the ramp shut down,” said Michael Leuneburg of Scottie’s Marine. “It’s part of our life-blood. We’re here on a daily basis.” But if building begins for a new Sheraton Hotel, the city said it may need to use Edwards Drive ramp and surrounding property to store construction materials. The site of the proposed hotel is next to Harborside Event Center and a city parking lot. Fort Myers officials said the approximately 40 metered parking spots and spaced for trailers will not be available, pending construction to the hotel. “It’s a very tight site between Harborside and the water basin, for the hotel,” said Don Paight, the executive director of the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency. “So the contractor has asked about using some, maybe all of the boat ramp area. More likely it’ll be some of that space for a staging area.” Closing nearby boat parking in addition to metered parking is another possibility, the city said. “It’s already congested downtown as it is, so you hate to lose any parking because we need all we can get down here,” Lerneburg said. “That is something that is still being looked at and it won’t be determined until we get closer to construction time,” Paight said. Caloosahatchee Riverwatch, a local advocacy group, is alerting boaters that the ramp may be facing closure. Paight said Riverwatch’s warning to residents is “premature.” “It’s a little premature because we don’t know exactly what those staging needs will be,” he said. Final decisions on the fate of the city boat ramp will not be made until the summer or fall of 2016, but the expected decision depends on the whether plans for hotel move forward. Until then, people like Roger Byrd will continue to hope the ramp is unaffected. “I like it here,” Byrd said. “And I’d like to see it stay open.”