Fort Myers Florist offers lower prices on roses for Valentine’s DayTim Aten Knows: Landert Bread rolling out local retail store
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Florist offers lower prices on roses for Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is the busiest day of the year for florists in Southwest Florida, and one florist is offering lower prices on roses.
Tim Aten Knows: Landert Bread rolling out local retail store Landert Bread’s European rolls, bread, cakes and pastries will be available to more Naples area residents starting this month. A wholesale operation for more than 12 years, Naples-based Landert is launching a retail store in Collier County.
the weather authority Isolated rain can impact your Valentine’s Day evening plans The Weather Authority is tracking isolated rain that may impact your Friday or Valentine’s Day outdoor plans.
Ponte Vedra Beach Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman accused of running over ex-boyfriend after condiment vandalism A Port Charlotte woman is accused of vandalizing her ex-boyfriend’s car by throwing eggs and condiments and then running him over with her car.
FORT MYERS Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancer A beloved dog rescue service in Fort Myers is facing uncertainty as its founder, Carey Kendzior, battles cancer.
Woman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County More than 150 items worth thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen from a Target in Collier County. Deputies arrested Kimberly McDonnell, 36, on charges of grand theft.
Egg prices leading to some locals raising their own chickens High egg prices have some people considering raising their own chickens, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach Library to reopen following Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach Library plans to reopen its doors to the public on March 16.
FORT MYERS Save This Life pet microchips closes down For many, protecting your pet is as important as keeping your kids safe.
Rosie, dog lost during I-75 crash, back home with family New information has been released about Rosie, the dog that went missing in a car crash last weekend and was found Wednesday.
Gatorama owner loses finger at feeding show The owner of Gatorama in Palmdale was bitten by one of his gators during a feeding show over the weekend and lost a finger.
WWII Veteran hits 100th birthday milestone Hundreds of people came to celebrate WWII veteran Vernon Nelson’s 100th birthday.
FORT MYERS Volunteers boost Harry Chapin Food Bank’s reach The Harry Chapin Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers to make a significant impact in the community.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Florist offers lower prices on roses for Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is the busiest day of the year for florists in Southwest Florida, and one florist is offering lower prices on roses.
Tim Aten Knows: Landert Bread rolling out local retail store Landert Bread’s European rolls, bread, cakes and pastries will be available to more Naples area residents starting this month. A wholesale operation for more than 12 years, Naples-based Landert is launching a retail store in Collier County.
the weather authority Isolated rain can impact your Valentine’s Day evening plans The Weather Authority is tracking isolated rain that may impact your Friday or Valentine’s Day outdoor plans.
Ponte Vedra Beach Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman accused of running over ex-boyfriend after condiment vandalism A Port Charlotte woman is accused of vandalizing her ex-boyfriend’s car by throwing eggs and condiments and then running him over with her car.
FORT MYERS Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancer A beloved dog rescue service in Fort Myers is facing uncertainty as its founder, Carey Kendzior, battles cancer.
Woman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County More than 150 items worth thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen from a Target in Collier County. Deputies arrested Kimberly McDonnell, 36, on charges of grand theft.
Egg prices leading to some locals raising their own chickens High egg prices have some people considering raising their own chickens, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach Library to reopen following Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach Library plans to reopen its doors to the public on March 16.
FORT MYERS Save This Life pet microchips closes down For many, protecting your pet is as important as keeping your kids safe.
Rosie, dog lost during I-75 crash, back home with family New information has been released about Rosie, the dog that went missing in a car crash last weekend and was found Wednesday.
Gatorama owner loses finger at feeding show The owner of Gatorama in Palmdale was bitten by one of his gators during a feeding show over the weekend and lost a finger.
WWII Veteran hits 100th birthday milestone Hundreds of people came to celebrate WWII veteran Vernon Nelson’s 100th birthday.
FORT MYERS Volunteers boost Harry Chapin Food Bank’s reach The Harry Chapin Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers to make a significant impact in the community.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – More than 600 people filled the Harborside Event Center for the annual Lee Interfaith for Empowerment Action Assembly to address what they believe are too many unsolved murders in the county. Angela McClary joined the hundreds of people, speaking in front of 14 different Lee County congregations who met Monday evening. Nearly two years has passed since McClary’s son, Deonte Redding, was murdered outside a home off Summerlin Road. “Each month I have contacted the detective on my son’s case,” she said. “I am told that the investigation cannot be thoroughly investigated due to overwhelming crime and death that has plagued our city.” McClary’s brother, Zachary Blue, was also shot in 2014 in the same homicide. No arrests have been made despite police offering a $25,000 reward for information. According to the Lee Interfaith for Empowerment conference, between January 2010 and January 2015 there have been 185 Lee County murders. Only 92 arrests have been made in connection to the killings, according to conference organizers. Unsolved murders are not an issue exclusive to Lee County’s most crime-plagued communities, said Rev. William Glover of Lee Interfaith for Empowerment. “This isn’t just a Dunbar problem,” he said. “This is a community-wide problem across the county.” The numbers LIFE presented would mean the sheriff’s office has only solved about 50 percent of murder cases that occurred in a five year period throughout the county. But the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that LIFE’s numbers are incorrect. “LIFE put out an erroneous media release, citing that the Lee County Sheriff’s Office efforts in investigating homicides were below par as compared to other agencies across the State and only had a clearance rate of 50 percent,” LCSO said in a written statement. “The Lee County Sheriff’s Office tracks all homicides so we are aware of the total number of cases, cases resulting in arrest and cases that remain active.” The sheriff’s office say they responded to 113 homicides between January 2010 and January 2015, according to LCSO. Deputies made 85 arrests, LCSO said, which would mean 75 percent of their investigations ended in arrests. According to the group Fort Myers Police Department’s murder arrest rate is around just 36. Chief Dennis Eads agrees his departments numbers aren’t where he would like them to be. “One of the reasons that some of the cases don’t go is there is not enough evidence or we have witnesses who don’t tell the truth. They aren’t reliable,” he said. “Sometimes they tell one story and when they get interviewed again they tell a different story.” LIFE asked Chief Eads to do more to help solve murders. Reverend Glover said law enforcement needs to stop blaming the community because people are too afraid to come forward especially when they aren’t seeing any arrests. Chief Eads has already agreed to meet regularly with the State Attorney’s Office, to identify and implement policies that other departments with higher clearance rates are using and to give quarterly progress updates to LIFE.