Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bandsCharlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a road rage/shooting in the Punta Gorda area on Saturday night.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
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.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a road rage/shooting in the Punta Gorda area on Saturday night.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
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.
FILE – Sprinklers at a Charlotte County homeowner’s backyard. (Credit: WINK News) During the dry season, we’ve seen brush fires pop up across Southwest Florida. Now, the forestry service is warning about human-caused fires, because you don’t have to light a match to start a fire. Towering flames is a sight no one wants to encounter near their home. Already this year, fires caused homes to be evacuated in Charlotte County and destroyed more than 3,500 rental cars at Southwest Florida International Airport. And smaller fires have popped up in Lehigh Acres, Hendry County, and Collier County. With dry weather, it doesn’t take much to spark trouble. Melinda Avni, a mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service, said, “We want people to be aware of the likelihood of wildfire. We haven’t had our major onset of rain yet.” Avni keeps tabs on wildfires locally and across the state. We’ve had nearly 80 so far in our area this year, and she says, “Human-caused fires are more than nine out of ten wildfires, so please be extra cautious.” This includes avoiding parking vehicles on grass, grilling or cooking out too close to a home or under overhanging tree branches. That’s especially important since most of our area is experiencing a moderate to severe drought. “If you had a cooking fire or a fire pit and you’ve left it unattended, or maybe you just let it burn down and you consider it out, it’s not really out, you need to get some water on that, get some sand on it, stir it around, turn it over, keep it wet,” Avni explained. She says it’s about looking out for one another, “We know times are a little trying, we’re a little anxious, a little stir crazy, it’s very easy in the rush of getting back to normal to get a little ahead of ourselves.” To keep ourselves and our community safe. There are also water restrictions in place for parts of Southwest Florida because of our dry conditions. The Southwest Florida Water Management District enacted a Phase I water shortage restrictions going in effect May 12, 2020 through July 1, 2020, except where stricter measures have been imposed by local governments. Phase I water shortage restrictions apply to portions of Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Below are restrictions that apply to all parts of Lee County except for the City of Cape Coral: Even-numbered addresses (based on the last number of the address) may only irrigate on Sundays. That includes locations with irrigation systems that irrigate both even and odd-numbered addresses within the same zones, such as multi-family units and homeowners’ associations, and rights-of-way or other locations with no address. Odd-numbered addresses (based on the last number of the address) may only irrigate on Wednesdays. All landscape irrigation is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to reduce evaporation. Cape Coral: For existing installations less than five irrigated acres, landscape irrigation shall be restricted for all types of irrigation, as set forth below: Locations with an address that ends in 0 may only irrigate on Monday from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 1 may only irrigate on Friday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 2 may only irrigate on Thursday from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 3 may only irrigate on Wednesday from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 4 may only irrigate on Sunday from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 5 may only irrigate on Saturday from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 6 may only irrigate on Thursday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 7 may only irrigate on Wednesday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 8 may only irrigate on Sunday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Locations with an address that ends in 9 may only irrigate on Saturday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. MORE: Lee County Irrigation Restrictions