IMMOKALEE ROAD 3 injured in deadly crash on Immokalee road The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a deadly crash on Immokalee road.
NAPLES Collier deputies investigating car submerged in water The Collier County Sheriffs Office is investigating the scene of a submerged vehicle in Naples.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball reflects on season and team’s legacy FGCU softball reflects on the historic season following their elimination doubleheader Saturday as well as what made this team special.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: Scattered storms in the forecast for your Sunday Expect sun and clouds throughout the day, along with scattered rain. Some of the storms have the potential to become severe.
CAPE CORAL Do we need a federal gun database for mental illness? One family says yes One family is on a mission to create a new national gun database. It would require medical professionals to enter mental health information.
ALVA Three dead in triple drowning near the Franklin Lock in Olga The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a scene of a water rescue where three people were recovered.
PUNTA GORDA The Weather Authority helps you prepare for the hurricane season at the 2024 Charlotte County Hurricane Expo With hurricane season less than two weeks away, it’s important to start preparing.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball senior balances EMT training and Regional play Ahead of NCAA Regional play, FGCU senior outfielder Riley Oakes started EMT training as she works toward being a trauma surgeon.
PUNTA GORDA Homes For Our Troops grants veteran new home Through all the cheers and a community-wide escort, it’s a ‘welcome to your forever home for army sergeant veteran Brandon Rethmel and his family.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Beat the Heat: Stay safe during extreme weather The Weather Authority has issued a heat advisory for portions of South, Southeast, and Southwest Florida from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
FORT MYERS Leaders discuss possibility of shutting down Caloosahatchee Bridge Should residents endure two years of partial lane closures, or fully shut the Caloosahatchee bridge down for 10 weeks?
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball parents cherish NCAA Tournament experience The parents of the FGCU softball team are relishing seeing their daughters play in the NCAA Tournament.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: Hot, hot, hot Heat advisory in place for Saturday until 8 p.m.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers teen finds dead body in bed of his truck A 16-year-old in Fort Myers drove to school, drove home, drove to the barbershop and back home again. Then, he noticed a swarm of flies in the back of his truck.
Scottie Scheffler facing felony charges; local attorney reacts The attorney we spoke with told us that, at a minimum, we’d spend the night in jail before having our first appearance and getting bail.
IMMOKALEE ROAD 3 injured in deadly crash on Immokalee road The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a deadly crash on Immokalee road.
NAPLES Collier deputies investigating car submerged in water The Collier County Sheriffs Office is investigating the scene of a submerged vehicle in Naples.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball reflects on season and team’s legacy FGCU softball reflects on the historic season following their elimination doubleheader Saturday as well as what made this team special.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: Scattered storms in the forecast for your Sunday Expect sun and clouds throughout the day, along with scattered rain. Some of the storms have the potential to become severe.
CAPE CORAL Do we need a federal gun database for mental illness? One family says yes One family is on a mission to create a new national gun database. It would require medical professionals to enter mental health information.
ALVA Three dead in triple drowning near the Franklin Lock in Olga The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a scene of a water rescue where three people were recovered.
PUNTA GORDA The Weather Authority helps you prepare for the hurricane season at the 2024 Charlotte County Hurricane Expo With hurricane season less than two weeks away, it’s important to start preparing.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball senior balances EMT training and Regional play Ahead of NCAA Regional play, FGCU senior outfielder Riley Oakes started EMT training as she works toward being a trauma surgeon.
PUNTA GORDA Homes For Our Troops grants veteran new home Through all the cheers and a community-wide escort, it’s a ‘welcome to your forever home for army sergeant veteran Brandon Rethmel and his family.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Beat the Heat: Stay safe during extreme weather The Weather Authority has issued a heat advisory for portions of South, Southeast, and Southwest Florida from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
FORT MYERS Leaders discuss possibility of shutting down Caloosahatchee Bridge Should residents endure two years of partial lane closures, or fully shut the Caloosahatchee bridge down for 10 weeks?
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball parents cherish NCAA Tournament experience The parents of the FGCU softball team are relishing seeing their daughters play in the NCAA Tournament.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: Hot, hot, hot Heat advisory in place for Saturday until 8 p.m.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers teen finds dead body in bed of his truck A 16-year-old in Fort Myers drove to school, drove home, drove to the barbershop and back home again. Then, he noticed a swarm of flies in the back of his truck.
Scottie Scheffler facing felony charges; local attorney reacts The attorney we spoke with told us that, at a minimum, we’d spend the night in jail before having our first appearance and getting bail.
(Credit: Abby Cohen Pursley) A brush fire prompted the evacuations of some homes in the South Gulf Cove community in Charlotte County Thursday afternoon. The fire, in the area of Sand Domingo Boulevard, Calumet Boulevard, and Hebron Road was fast-moving, according to a county spokesman. The sheriff’s office evacuated homes as needed based on the movement and weather conditions. The sheriff’s office says eight homes were evacuated. One of the families who was forced to evacuate owns a nearby restaurant. They opened their doors to anyone in this community who also had to flee. Smoke from the fire was so thick, people in the neighborhood could barely see. “It was actually really scary because it was billowing. I mean, it was black smoke,” said Tish Shifflett, who lives near the fire. Some families were forced to evacuate with the flames close to their homes. Michelle Cakir rushed home to ensure her son was out of their house. “We got, I mean, one block back, and it was completely black, and there were particles flying in the air, and you couldn’t see anything,” said Cakir. Michelle and her husband Baruk own a restaurant nearby, the Ephesus Mediterranean Grill, and with everything unfolding rapidly, they decided to help. “Everybody was talking about being evacuated, and we were one of them. So, we just thought that instead of opening the restaurant, let’s just close it and open it only for people who got evacuated,” said Burak Cakir. Other neighbors also jumped into action. “He (neighbor) goes, ‘I’m on the roof already with a water hose, watering down my roof.’ And we just left the cart at Home Depot and ran out of the store,” said Scott Pochowski. Pochowski grabbed his hose and rushed to neighbors’ homes while also encouraging them to get a bag ready in case they had to leave. “I wasn’t six feet away and the heat intensity was so incredible. I just… Again, anybody that’s paid to run into a fire and fights this stuff has got my respect on a whole other level,” said Pochowski. Fire officials said the wind was a major factor in this fire growing to 42 acres. They said the wind blew embers from the fire into other blocks, which caused the fire to spread quickly. Although a shed and some fences were destroyed, no homes were burned down by the fire. Helicopters were deployed to assist by dropping water on the fire. Fire officials say the fire is 100% contained. Charlotte County Commissioners have scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss implementing a burn ban. That meeting will be held on Tuesday. (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety) (Credit: Charlotte County Public Safety)