Collier commissioners consider guesthouse rentals in Urban EstatesMatthew Perry’s death under investigation over ketamine level found in actor’s blood
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.
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.
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.
Naples Airport presented with 4 site options in eastern Collier County Environmental Science Associates conducted an exploratory study and met with landowners interested in selling land. ESA whittled that to a list of four sites for a general airport.
Expert: Buying or renting depends on your situation Shelton Weeks, Lucas professor of real estate and director of the Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance, is asked a lot by students whether they should rent or buy.
Attorneys offer update on Bonita Estero Rail Trail project The proposed project hit a milestone in February when the Trust for Public Land secured a purchase and sale agreement for $82 million with the Seminole Gulf Railway on a 14.9-mile segment stretching from Alico Road to Collier County for conversion to a hiking and biking trail.
NAPLES Woman arrested for stealing over $150K from Naples Ballet The Naples Police Department arrested a woman for allegedly stealing over $150,000 from the Naples Ballet, a non-profit organization.
NORTH FORT MYERS Duo accused of stealing from North Fort Myers store Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on two people accused of stealing from a North Fort Myers store.
WINK NEWS Lee Commissioners award over $41.6M for rehabilitation of affordable housing units The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award more than $41.6 million in Community Development Block Grants-Disaster Recovery funds.
New York (AP) Defense rests without Trump testifying in hush money case The defense rests its case without ex-President Donald Trump taking the witness stand in his New York hush money case. Closing arguments are expected next Tuesday.
IMMOKALEE Immokalee girls robotics team competes at VEX Worlds The Immokalee High School girls robotics team got to compete and learn at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Police Department launches drone program The Cape Coral Police Department has officially launched its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program.
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.
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.
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.
Naples Airport presented with 4 site options in eastern Collier County Environmental Science Associates conducted an exploratory study and met with landowners interested in selling land. ESA whittled that to a list of four sites for a general airport.
Expert: Buying or renting depends on your situation Shelton Weeks, Lucas professor of real estate and director of the Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance, is asked a lot by students whether they should rent or buy.
Attorneys offer update on Bonita Estero Rail Trail project The proposed project hit a milestone in February when the Trust for Public Land secured a purchase and sale agreement for $82 million with the Seminole Gulf Railway on a 14.9-mile segment stretching from Alico Road to Collier County for conversion to a hiking and biking trail.
NAPLES Woman arrested for stealing over $150K from Naples Ballet The Naples Police Department arrested a woman for allegedly stealing over $150,000 from the Naples Ballet, a non-profit organization.
NORTH FORT MYERS Duo accused of stealing from North Fort Myers store Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on two people accused of stealing from a North Fort Myers store.
WINK NEWS Lee Commissioners award over $41.6M for rehabilitation of affordable housing units The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award more than $41.6 million in Community Development Block Grants-Disaster Recovery funds.
New York (AP) Defense rests without Trump testifying in hush money case The defense rests its case without ex-President Donald Trump taking the witness stand in his New York hush money case. Closing arguments are expected next Tuesday.
IMMOKALEE Immokalee girls robotics team competes at VEX Worlds The Immokalee High School girls robotics team got to compete and learn at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Police Department launches drone program The Cape Coral Police Department has officially launched its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program.
The month of February is known as the time of love, but it’s also a significant month that reflects on Black history. From national public figures like Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr, Rosa Parks and so many others, just to name a few. Black history is also in our communities, big and small. In Southwest Florida, it’s everywhere, and it continues to live on in the city of Punta Gorda, a city known for its charm, small community, and murals painted throughout the city. Mural artist Keith Goodson has painted several murals throughout Central and Southwest Florida. There are few in Punta Gorda he holds dear, too, and that’s the Black History Mural painted on Baker Center. “When I started to see and hear some of the stories and do some of my research on this particular mural, I just was intrigued by the just humanity of all of it,” Goodson said. “It’s a visual that people can connect with.” The mural Goodson painted features ten panels that reflect on the impacts Blacks made in the early stages of Punta Gorda’s development. From railroad development to local businesses to even education, Blacks had a significant role in making change in a society that viewed them as inferior. Their impacts would leave more than a mark but a legacy. A legacy Demetrius Thomas, pastor of St. Mary’s Baptist Church, knows well. “There’s a legacy that’s being put that others will see,” Thomas said. A legacy I can share with my son to pass on to each generation to let them know their grandfather was one of the first to integrate Charlotte High School.” Panel five, also known as desegregation, shows the Charlotte High Five, or some may refer to them as the Fab Five. Gertha Haddock, Minnie Lee Mitchell, Isaac Thomas, Jr., Dan Ronald Middleton, and Felix Johnson were the first Blacks to integrate Charlotte High School on September 3, 1963. Those five brave students were not only breaking the walls of segregation at Charlotte High, but their efforts would eventually lead to the desegregation of all Charlotte County schools over the next several years. Demetrius Thomas’s father, Isaac Thomas, was one of those students, and he remembers his father telling him about his first day and experience at Charlotte High in 1963. “It took a lot of bravery, Thomas said. “He would tell me the stories about it, and he was scared at first, but all the parents, teachers and students welcomed those five kids, so it was exciting yet nervous at the same time.” During those times, the walls of segregation were still enforced in some areas. It didn’t stop Thomas’s father or the others from making history in the classroom and on the field at Charlotte High. “My Dad was very involved in sports,” Thomas said. He played on the football team and he ran track for Charlotte High and played sports all the years he was in there. It was a purpose behind everything they did at that point.” A purpose that would serve a greater meaning for generations to come. Despite some of the challenges Blacks went through during those times, it didn’t stop the Fab Five from preserving and making a difference in education. “There were going to be some difficult moments they had to overcome, especially them being in education,” Thomas said. During those times, as Black students, you had to do a little bit more and study a little bit more to prove yourself. I think they enjoyed being the first five to make a difference for those who were going to come after them.” Now, their story is forever embedded on the walls of Baker Center, along with so many other stories reflecting on the Black History of Punta Gorda. Goodson highly advises everyone to go see and engage with the murals. “I would encourage anyone to come up and not only look at the mural but interact with the panel that has all the QR codes and see the stories on what the panel means and which each one represents and the story behind it,” Goodson said. The Black History Mural is located at 311 E. Charlotte Avenue at Baker Center School. To learn more about each panel on the mural, click here.