The Weather Authority Hotter and more humid this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mild Friday morning with dry afternoon conditions and isolated storms appearing in the evening.
PUNTA GORDA ‘Party’s Over’: Dirt biking ends at Barefoot Lake The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has made it clear, the party at Barefoot Lake is over.
ESTERO Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
FGCU New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis ready to build on department’s success New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis talks about the department’s future amid the age of NIL and the transfer portal.
FORT MYERS More middle-aged women being treated for acne You probably thought you broke up with it after high school, but acne is rearing it’s ugly blackheads in adult women.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
The Weather Authority Hotter and more humid this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mild Friday morning with dry afternoon conditions and isolated storms appearing in the evening.
PUNTA GORDA ‘Party’s Over’: Dirt biking ends at Barefoot Lake The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has made it clear, the party at Barefoot Lake is over.
ESTERO Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
FGCU New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis ready to build on department’s success New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis talks about the department’s future amid the age of NIL and the transfer portal.
FORT MYERS More middle-aged women being treated for acne You probably thought you broke up with it after high school, but acne is rearing it’s ugly blackheads in adult women.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
Pat and Melody started school together and graduated side by side. (Photo courtesy of Pat Ormond via CBS News) Many graduation ceremonies look different in the time of COVID-19. But for Melody Ormond, it looked different because of the classmate who graduated alongside her: Her grandmother, 75-year-old Pat Ormond. They both went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga — and graduated together. Pat told CBS News she had gone to college before, but only had a few credits under her belt. In 2017 she found herself retired and admittedly bored. That’s when Melody suggested she enroll in school. “She’s always loved learning. I just thought, come to college with me!” Melody told CBS News. The now-22-year-old was transferring to the University of Tennessee as a sophomore and since Pat had some credits, too, they would be entering at the same level. “I was like, ‘Okay, we’ll graduate at the same time, that’s perfect,'” Melody said. It took a bit more convincing to get Pat on board. “Part of how I convinced her was I told her that as the matriarch, she had the responsibility to stay inspiring to us, to all us other women in the family,” the granddaughter said. After Pat realized it was affordable, she decided to enroll. She always had an interest in archeology, so she chose to be an anthropology major. Melody was a psychology major, so the two didn’t run into each other much on campus. Pat, however, made friends of her own – both young and old. “Anywhere from the freshmen coming right out of high school and asking me, ‘Why are you going to school?’ to the older students that were auditing,” she said. “Of course, I tried to emphasize to them, ‘You have a chance to get an education right now.'” Pat said as an anthropology major, she went on many field trips, during which her fellow students would help her get around. Melody said she talked about her grandmother on campus every chance she got. “I always knew that I would go to college, always hoped I’d graduate. But I never expected Nana to be there with me,” she said. Of course, many of the students were interested in Pat’s educational journey. They would ask me, ‘Well, do you think my mother could go back to college?’ I’d say, ‘Well, you know, if she can afford it, there’s no reason for her not to.'” The grandmother said there were several older people on campus. That’s because for students 65 and older, the University of Tennessee only charges $70 a semester. For Pat, who said she always focused on putting her kids and grandkids first, that was a game-changer. After working hard for more than three years, Pat and Melody graduated. The school held a socially-distanced graduation ceremony outside last month, and guests were not allowed in person. Fortunately for Pat and Melody, they each had a family member there to celebrate – each other. In graduation and in life, the grandmother and granddaughter are side-by-side. Pat said she couldn’t have done it without Melody. “She gave me the push when I needed it,” she said.