Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
IAOMT Dentist SMART (Courtesy: Randall Moore) An ingredient used in dental fillings could be harming our environment! Dental amalgam contains mercury and officials say possible high levels of it are getting into our water supplies. Sixteen years ago, Amanda Just discovered what was really going on inside her mouth. “I felt upset for other people that might be having a similar situation, that didn’t know that there was mercury in their mouth,” she said. That’s right: mercury. Those silver fillings she’s had since she was 13 include the metal and millions of Americans have them. Silver fillings containing mercury. (Courtesy of Michael Rehme DDS) “I got very, very sick after and I never associated it with being related to anything dental,” Just said. Just got her fillings removed and now she committed her career to the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, which is leading the fight to eliminate mercury from all dental work…and that’s not all. “The EPA said the dental offices were the largest source of mercury discharges to publicly owned treatment works,” Amanda said. Now, the City of Fort Myers is proposing an ordinance to include management of mercury amalgam—which also includes silver, tin and copper—at dental offices. “If we want to protect our environment and people’s health then it’s a very important thing to do,” said Dr. Mark Corke, D.D.S. with Laser Dentistry. He now uses what’s called an amalgam separator to make sure the mercury does not get released into the wastewater released into our environment. “I became aware of how dangerous it was and for the environment and we were discharging it into the waste stream and I felt that it was time to get an amalgam separator just to make sure we weren’t contributing to that,” he said. In 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered all dental practices to have amalgam separators in place by July 2020. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent us the following statement on the issue: Although dental amalgam waste can be a potential source of mercury at sewage treatment plants, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has safeguards in place that protect water quality and public health and safety. In 2018, Florida adopted Florida Administrative Code 62-625.110 following the United States Environmental Protection Agency releasing a new rule (40 CFR Part 441) aimed at reducing discharges of mercury from dental offices into domestic wastewater treatment facilities. The Department works closely with dental offices to provide scrap amalgam best management practices to ensure that mercury is not released into the environment or affects public health. By keeping scrap amalgam separate from other waste, it can be reclaimed and recycled. Recycling is done by qualified mercury reclamation companies through a distillation process. The mercury is then reused in new products, including dental amalgam.