Bonita Springs’ Angelina’s makes top 100 romantic restaurants listDEA and SWAT raid Cape Coral home, leaving community in suspense
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs’ Angelina’s makes top 100 romantic restaurants list Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and one of SWFL’s beloved eateries has made the nation’s top 100 list of romantic restaurants.
CAPE CORAL DEA and SWAT raid Cape Coral home, leaving community in suspense Neighbors in Cape Coral were startled by the sound of sirens as DEA agents and SWAT teams conducted a raid on a home.
WASHINGTON Jet collides with helicopter near Reagan National Airport A passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
FORT MYERS Matterhorn Fit opens in Fort Myers Two former FGCU athletes combined their love of movement with entrepreneurship and opened the first Matterhorn Fit franchise in Fort Myers.
Exclusive: Charlotte County Sheriff speaks out on federal immigration laws The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office made it clear that it will follow any state or federal immigration laws.
Trooper’s Law: Protecting pets during natural disasters Seeing a dog with a wagging tail will make just about anybody smile, but this pup named Trooper wasn’t always so carefree.
FORT MYERS Gov. DeSantis holds roundtable in Fort Myers Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a roundtable discussion in Fort Myers.
Immigration order prompts concern among Lee County parents Lee County parents are preparing for potential impacts on local schools following President Trump’s executive order on immigration.
Sarasota’s Mote Marine unveils tech to fight harmful red tide blooms Researchers showcased innovative tools to combat red tide at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. These advancements aim to address the harmful algal blooms affecting Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers community voices concerns over possible Verizon pole Verizon plans to install a 47-foot pole at the intersection of McGregor Boulevard and Clifford Street sparking concern amongst residents.
PORT CHARLOTTE Family of Charlotte County shooting victim speaks out A family in Port Charlotte is grappling with tragedy after deputies say Jhesandra Prestol was shot and killed by her husband, Rogelio Prestol.
The Tale of Toot: A stuffed animal rescue at RSW A missing stuffed animal sparked an unusual rescue mission at Southwest Florida International Airport.
FGCU FGCU pitcher shares his passion for photography FGCU pitcher Chase Kriebel developed a passion for photography while he recovered from Tommy John surgery in high school.
NORTH FORT MYERS Law enforcement raids home in North Fort Myers Law enforcement conducted a raid on Wednesday at a home on Everson Miles Circle in North Fort Myers.
New school times in Lee County may ease bus driver shortage The Lee County School Board proposed a plan to address its bus driver shortage by adjusting school start and end times.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs’ Angelina’s makes top 100 romantic restaurants list Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and one of SWFL’s beloved eateries has made the nation’s top 100 list of romantic restaurants.
CAPE CORAL DEA and SWAT raid Cape Coral home, leaving community in suspense Neighbors in Cape Coral were startled by the sound of sirens as DEA agents and SWAT teams conducted a raid on a home.
WASHINGTON Jet collides with helicopter near Reagan National Airport A passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
FORT MYERS Matterhorn Fit opens in Fort Myers Two former FGCU athletes combined their love of movement with entrepreneurship and opened the first Matterhorn Fit franchise in Fort Myers.
Exclusive: Charlotte County Sheriff speaks out on federal immigration laws The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office made it clear that it will follow any state or federal immigration laws.
Trooper’s Law: Protecting pets during natural disasters Seeing a dog with a wagging tail will make just about anybody smile, but this pup named Trooper wasn’t always so carefree.
FORT MYERS Gov. DeSantis holds roundtable in Fort Myers Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a roundtable discussion in Fort Myers.
Immigration order prompts concern among Lee County parents Lee County parents are preparing for potential impacts on local schools following President Trump’s executive order on immigration.
Sarasota’s Mote Marine unveils tech to fight harmful red tide blooms Researchers showcased innovative tools to combat red tide at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. These advancements aim to address the harmful algal blooms affecting Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers community voices concerns over possible Verizon pole Verizon plans to install a 47-foot pole at the intersection of McGregor Boulevard and Clifford Street sparking concern amongst residents.
PORT CHARLOTTE Family of Charlotte County shooting victim speaks out A family in Port Charlotte is grappling with tragedy after deputies say Jhesandra Prestol was shot and killed by her husband, Rogelio Prestol.
The Tale of Toot: A stuffed animal rescue at RSW A missing stuffed animal sparked an unusual rescue mission at Southwest Florida International Airport.
FGCU FGCU pitcher shares his passion for photography FGCU pitcher Chase Kriebel developed a passion for photography while he recovered from Tommy John surgery in high school.
NORTH FORT MYERS Law enforcement raids home in North Fort Myers Law enforcement conducted a raid on Wednesday at a home on Everson Miles Circle in North Fort Myers.
New school times in Lee County may ease bus driver shortage The Lee County School Board proposed a plan to address its bus driver shortage by adjusting school start and end times.
Christine Flahive (Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office) Investigators in Charlotte County are still searching for answers in the 1995 disappearance of Christine Flahive. Monday marks 26 years since the 43-year-old woman disappeared. She was last seen leaving her home on her bicycle. Investigators believe she was heading to JD’s Lounge in downtown Punta Gorda, then to a mobile home off Rollins Street. That’s where detectives are focusing their search for Flahive: on a piece of land off Rollins Street where Jonathan Payne was staying in 1995. Detectives consider the case to be a homicide and announced Payne as a person of interest in 2020 even though he died in 2011. Despite conducting dozens of interviews and receiving dozens of tips over the last 25 years, they’re still left with more questions than answers. “A substantial amount of time has elapsed and, of course, without finding her whereabouts, it makes it that much more difficult,” said Detective Kurt Mehl with the Charlotte County Sheriff Office’s Cold Case Unit last year. “We also have information from a confidential informant, a confidential source, that she is deceased,” said Cold Case Unit Detective Mike Vogel. One tip they received: Payne and his associates had access to some big machines. “Construction type machinery that could allow for burial rather deep,” Mehl said. Detectives and cadaver dogs spent a bulk of early 2019 searching several properties, including Rollins Street. They found some concerning items, but those won’t help with the investigation due to Mother Nature. “The ones we could submit were submitted, but unfortunately, due to time and degradation, there is not really anything of value to do any kind of comparison of DNA or anything of that nature,” Mehl said. Detectives believe Flahive was killed in Charlotte County and her remains are still in the area. They say finding out what happened to the Charlotte County mother is a top priority. “As investigators, we want to solve a case,” Vogel said. “I mean, that’s what we do. But also, just as human beings, we want to resolve the case for the family.” There’s still hope for solving this case. Detectives have solved four Charlotte County cold cases in the last eight years. Investigators confirmed that Phillip Barr, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Tara Sidarovich in Punta Gorda, lived on the same property as Payne, moving in a few years after Payne moved out. Barr’s ex-girlfriend’s family owned that land and the property next door, but detectives don’t believe Barr or his ex-girlfriend were involved in Flahive’s disappearance. Anyone with information regarding the Flahive case is urged to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office by calling 941-639-0013 or submitting an anonymous tip via the CCSO website or the CCSO’s free mobile app. You can also call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS. Detectives also said that if you knew Payne or if you frequented downtown Punta Gorda around January 1995, to contact them.