Naples man killed after crashing into utility poleCharlotte High School launches new aerospace programs for students
GOLDEN GATE Naples man killed after crashing into utility pole At 2:33 p.m. Tuesday, the man, driving a pickup truck, was traveling west on Golden Gate Boulevard West, east of Everglades Boulevard.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte High School launches new aerospace programs for students Elevating aerospace education by starting future technicians and assemblers’ young.
‘There’s room for protests and room to sit at the table’ community reacts to Christopher Jordan shooting The decision by the State Attorney’s office to not charge the Fort Myers Police detective who fired the fatal shot that killed Christopher Jordan on December 1, has now sparked two different responses. On one side the NAACP said they plan on protesting the decision and doing what they can to get the SA office […]
CAPTIVA Voting to restore the beaches of Captiva Island On the way to Captiva Beach, you see sign after sign reminding people to speak up and nourish the beach.
MATLACHA Caught on video: two men climb pole, steal American flag from local business Amber Brady, co-owner of Micelli’s waterfront restaurant in Matlacha, was upset by what she saw Saturday night.
NAPLES Barron Collier boy’s tennis wins 3A State Title The Barron Collier boy’s tennis team won the Class 3A State Championship for the program’s first title since 2014.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot’s baseball team falls in state semifinal It was a heartbreaker for Bishop Verot’s baseball team in Hammond on Tuesday. The Vikings fell to North Broward Prep 4-1 in the 3A state semifinal.
Collier commissioners consider guesthouse rentals in Urban Estates Collier commissioners moved forward with a plan to allow urban estates homeowners to rent guesthouses to address a critical shortage of workforce housing.
LCSO needs help locating man wanted for animal cruelty The Lee County Sheriff’s office is looking for a man who is wanted for violating the conditions of his release from jail after he was arrested for animal cruelty.
LOS ANGELES (AP) Matthew Perry’s death under investigation over ketamine level found in actor’s blood An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
Contractor arrested after pointing gun, following man home; records show A contractor was arrested after pointing a gun at a man and following him home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
FORT MYERS What you need to know about the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure The Florida Department of Transportation has made the decision to close the Caloosahatchee Bridge for 10 weeks while crews work on the bridge. Here’s what you need to know.
Lee County allocates $41.6M in federal money for affordable housing The money comes from the federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lee County commissioners voted 5-0 in allocating the money, part of a $1.1 billion Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery fund.
Poached closing longtime restaurant in North Naples Poached soon is going to be toast—as in defunct. The local breakfast-lunch restaurant is permanently closing next week in Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in North Naples.
PINE ISLAND ‘We’re Pine Island proud,’ Pine Island artists paint power poles Relaunching 20 years later, Pine Island artists have been painting power poles up and down Stringfellow Road to bring back color and vibrancy after Hurricane Ian.
GOLDEN GATE Naples man killed after crashing into utility pole At 2:33 p.m. Tuesday, the man, driving a pickup truck, was traveling west on Golden Gate Boulevard West, east of Everglades Boulevard.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte High School launches new aerospace programs for students Elevating aerospace education by starting future technicians and assemblers’ young.
‘There’s room for protests and room to sit at the table’ community reacts to Christopher Jordan shooting The decision by the State Attorney’s office to not charge the Fort Myers Police detective who fired the fatal shot that killed Christopher Jordan on December 1, has now sparked two different responses. On one side the NAACP said they plan on protesting the decision and doing what they can to get the SA office […]
CAPTIVA Voting to restore the beaches of Captiva Island On the way to Captiva Beach, you see sign after sign reminding people to speak up and nourish the beach.
MATLACHA Caught on video: two men climb pole, steal American flag from local business Amber Brady, co-owner of Micelli’s waterfront restaurant in Matlacha, was upset by what she saw Saturday night.
NAPLES Barron Collier boy’s tennis wins 3A State Title The Barron Collier boy’s tennis team won the Class 3A State Championship for the program’s first title since 2014.
FORT MYERS Bishop Verot’s baseball team falls in state semifinal It was a heartbreaker for Bishop Verot’s baseball team in Hammond on Tuesday. The Vikings fell to North Broward Prep 4-1 in the 3A state semifinal.
Collier commissioners consider guesthouse rentals in Urban Estates Collier commissioners moved forward with a plan to allow urban estates homeowners to rent guesthouses to address a critical shortage of workforce housing.
LCSO needs help locating man wanted for animal cruelty The Lee County Sheriff’s office is looking for a man who is wanted for violating the conditions of his release from jail after he was arrested for animal cruelty.
LOS ANGELES (AP) Matthew Perry’s death under investigation over ketamine level found in actor’s blood An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
Contractor arrested after pointing gun, following man home; records show A contractor was arrested after pointing a gun at a man and following him home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
FORT MYERS What you need to know about the Caloosahatchee Bridge closure The Florida Department of Transportation has made the decision to close the Caloosahatchee Bridge for 10 weeks while crews work on the bridge. Here’s what you need to know.
Lee County allocates $41.6M in federal money for affordable housing The money comes from the federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lee County commissioners voted 5-0 in allocating the money, part of a $1.1 billion Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery fund.
Poached closing longtime restaurant in North Naples Poached soon is going to be toast—as in defunct. The local breakfast-lunch restaurant is permanently closing next week in Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt in North Naples.
PINE ISLAND ‘We’re Pine Island proud,’ Pine Island artists paint power poles Relaunching 20 years later, Pine Island artists have been painting power poles up and down Stringfellow Road to bring back color and vibrancy after Hurricane Ian.
During these last days of LJ’s Lounge, a popular Fort Myers Shores bar that bills itself as the last cracker honkytonk in Lee County, patrons, bartenders and owners have been soaking in the scene, reminiscing about 33 years of history as they prepare for the final last call for alcohol. LJ’s Lounge, 16500 Babcock Ranch Road (formerly known as State Road 31), is scheduled to be bought Feb. 5 by Neal Communities, LJ’s owner Linda Flaitz said. Property records show the Sarasota-based housing developer already paid a combined $3.7 million for an adjacent 86.75 acres. It is planning to build at least 561 homes or townhomes south of the Wilson Pigott Bridge over the Caloosahatchee River, county records show, with the projects called 31 Oaks and Caloosa Palms. LJ’s last full day will be Feb. 4 with 1:30 a.m. Monday serving as the last call, Flaitz said. Flaitz did not disclose the sale price for her 1-acre lot and building, which will be razed, she said, to make way for the planned widening of Babcock Ranch Road and an entrance into the new subdivision. “I’m 81 years old,” Flaitz said. “I need to get out of there. I had two other bars and two restaurants prior to this. Prior to that, I was with State Farm insurance as an adjustor. I decided to give up the office life because I love people. I’m going to miss all my friends and customers. It’s going to be tough.” Tears have been flowing this week at the bar, from the dozens of men and women who congregate there. Inside, there’s just one beer on draft—Bud Light—and mostly domestic bottled beer and liquor and two pool tables. In addition to selling the property, Flaitz said she will do separate sales of the liquor stock and the liquor license, the latter of which would carry a price tag north of $600,000, she said. When an area bar offered to buy the remaining liquor at LJ’s at a 40% discount, Flaitz responded she would rather drink it herself. That’s the kind of humor that seemed to be permeating the bar in its last days. But there also was a lot of sadness over the changing state of Alva, a rural community that’s changing into an urban one, potentially doubling from its current population of about 3,000 over the next few years because of all the planned development. Neal Communities also lobbied for and recently received a sewer amendment from the county for at least 788 homes it plans to build on the north side of the river, county records show. It owns another property, Owl Creek, that’s zoned for 440 units, and in November 2021 it purchased the lot just east of LJ’s for $500,000, property records show. Dawn and David Jamie Porter met at LJ’s Feb. 17, 2010, and they have been together since. They expressed sadness over the impending loss of the bar. “It’s just devastating,” Dawn Porter said. “It will be really sad,” bartender Brooke Thompson said. “It’s hard to see it go. But we’ll strive after. We’ll make new days and better days.” “The first night it opened,” Kenny Nichols said, “I sat right there listening to Charley Pride.” The bar’s patrons knew the day was coming, Ricky Weeks said. “I just didn’t think it would happen this fast,” Weeks said. “Everything’s happening so fast.” Weeks said he was on the fence about Alva’s future. He said he’s friends with Lee County Commissioner Mike Greenwell, who is planning a nearby shopping center that will serve the new population growth. Even Flaitz and her partner Marc Murray lamented having to sell the property. “I hate it,” Flaitz said. “I hate it that we’re selling to a community that’s going to build a bunch of houses. They need our piece of property to make an entrance and an exit. They’re going to build about 200 homes. It’s getting too crowded, too crazy out here. “LJ’s is actually the last cracker honkytonk. That’s exactly what it is.” To read more at Gulfshore Business, click here.