Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoonStudents react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
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.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
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.
Charlotte County commissioners called an emergency meeting Monday at the county’s administration building on Murdock Circle and declared a state of emergency. They announced that all county offices will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. However, essential services such as waste management pickup are not expected to be impacted. Earlier, Charlotte County Public Schools announced that schools in the county will be closed August 29 and August 30. The county’s emergency management director Patrick Fuller provided an update at the commissioners’ meeting, then later at emergency management headquarters at the Public Safety Building on Airport Road in Punta Gorda. Commissioner Joe Tiseo expressed concerns that Hurricane Idalia would wobble as has been the case in past storms that impacted Charlotte County. By late afternoon on Monday, Tropical Storm Idalia was headed toward the northern part of the state, from Tampa north to the Big Bend area. But commissioners urged the public to follow the storm closely and to have a bag ready to go in the event an evacuation is called. Hurricane Charley in 2004 was also expected to impact Tampa, but it turned south toward Fort Myers, then made landfall at Captiva Island and moved up Charlotte Harbor toward Punta Gorda, destroying parts of the city and downtown area. Hurricane Ian last year was predicted to make landfall in Tampa but instead hit Cayo Costa and ravaged Fort Myers Beach and other parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast with storm surge. Fuller said no evacuations are being ordered, since Charlotte County’s storm surge is expected to be between 2 and 4 feet. However, if the storm changes direction and the storm surge is predicted to be 6 feet at the beaches, then evacuations would be called. A number of residents are still living in travel trailers and damaged homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Fuller said. He said they might feel unsafe and want to evacuate but have no place to go. Because of their needs, a refuge center was being prepared on Monday at Centennial Park Recreation Center, 1120 Centennial Boulevard in Port Charlotte. The center opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday. It is pet-friendly and those feeling unsafe and can choose to go there. Those needing a ride to the refuge center can call Charlotte County Transport at 941-575-4000. Commissioner Chris Constance commended Fuller, and said, “You’ve got 48 hours’ worth of work in a 24-hour day.” Charlotte County Fire and EMS Chief Jason Fair was also at the commissioners’ meeting. He said Charlotte County is prepared to send emergency vehicles to areas impacted by Idalia. Constance, who is a doctor, said he cancelled nonessential surgeries in the event patients from areas impacted by Idalia, need to be transported to Charlotte County hospitals. During Hurricane Charley, when the county’s three hospitals sustained severe damages, ambulances from Tampa, for instance, transported local patients to hospitals farther north. Fair said that Charlotte County in the past has sent its own vehicles as far as North Carolina to provide help following a hurricane. He and Constance likened Florida’s 67 counties to a brotherhood in times of disasters such as hurricanes. Some residences and businesses are still undergoing repairs from the effects of Hurricane Ian last year. There are those still living in temporary trailers and residential vehicles as their homes are being repaired. Services, such as trash and recycling pickups, could be suspended for Tuesday and possibly Wednesday. A decision was expected to be announced later Monday. Some county facilities are currently making their plans. The Centennial Park Recreation Center in Port Charlotte announced it closed at noon on Monday. “This isn’t our first rodeo,” said Patti Allen, general manager of Fishermen’s Village, which has numerous shops and restaurants. She said although the village sustained roof damage and water intrusion from Hurricane Ian, “We were up and operating after a week.” Fishermen’s Village has an entire plan of action it follows ahead of storms headed to the area. The Military Heritage Museum in Punta Gorda closed ahead of Idalia and will not reopen until Friday. A Punta Gorda Code Enforcement meeting slated for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the museum was cancelled. Punta Gorda City Hall suffered damages from Hurricane Ian last year, and City Council and other city departments have been meeting at the Military Heritage Museum. Punta Gorda has a separate public works department and council member Bill Dryburgh said so far, no decisions have been made for the city.