Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest ; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recoveredHendry County rolls out cameras for new school zone safety program
FORT MYERS Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest ; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recovered Through the use of Apple Airpods, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate nearly $100,000 worth of stolen items, leading to an arrest.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for new school zone safety program The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral officials approve replacement funding for hurricane-damaged stop signs The Cape Coral City Council has approved funding to replace stop signs damaged during Hurricane Milton, resulting in an emergency purchase.
Holiday events happening in Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is embracing the holiday spirit with a variety of festive events this Christmas season.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon After waking up to a cold morning, the Weather Authority is tracking warming conditions to the low 70s this Thursday.
Police release 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.
FORT MYERS Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest ; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recovered Through the use of Apple Airpods, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate nearly $100,000 worth of stolen items, leading to an arrest.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for new school zone safety program The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral officials approve replacement funding for hurricane-damaged stop signs The Cape Coral City Council has approved funding to replace stop signs damaged during Hurricane Milton, resulting in an emergency purchase.
Holiday events happening in Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is embracing the holiday spirit with a variety of festive events this Christmas season.
Collier man accused of supplying fentanyl-laced pills, enough to kill 531,500 people The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of supplying more than 10,000 fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription painkillers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral council supports construction of I-75 interchange into city The Cape Coral City Council has approved a resolution requesting support from Lee and Charlotte counties to prioritize state and federal funding for the Interstate 75 Interchange at Slater Road.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon After waking up to a cold morning, the Weather Authority is tracking warming conditions to the low 70s this Thursday.
Police release 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.
Except You album release at Ollie’s Pub on February 24, 2024. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Except You, a Southwest Florida-based thrash punk band, has released their new EP “Crushable” on recycled vinyl. The band is fronted by vocalist Angela Page. Flanking Page are guitarist Arlo Simonds and bassist Shawn Ayotte. Pete Flower plays drums. The band debuted in 2020, and during the pandemic, they continued to write and record music. They played their first show in September of 2021 and released their first EP “Never Relax” in May of 2022. The debut EP opens with “So Smol,” a quick, gritty song that sets the EP’s tone. Angela Page, Vocalist for Except You. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Recycled vinyl release Following “Never Relax,” the band released their second EP, “Crushable,” on Feb. 4. Both sides of the record were recorded at Farmadelica Sound on Pine Island. It debuted at a headbanging, moshpit-filled rager at Ollie’s Pub on Feb. 24, a Saturday night. At the show, the band sold the EPs back to back on a two-in-one vinyl that was uniquely pressed using recycled vinyl records. Roach and Roll Records, based in Fort Myers, is an independent punk label that helped with the vinyl’s release. The company they worked with, Gotta Groove Records, melts down old records to make new records out of them. The color is not derived from a mold or different dyes and is simply the result is whatever comes out of the old records. RELATED: Stellar Records opens in Fort Myers amid resurgence of vinyl records Each is their own “individual surprise,” as Page puts it. Some are see-through, but some are solid. It can be green, brown, blue, red and pink. “It is oil-based, and so when it ends up in a landfill, it takes a really long time to biodegrade, and it is really toxic,” Page said about the material used to make vinyl records. “The benefit of using recycled vinyl means that none of that vinyl will end up in a landfill. It will be melted all down and repressed into our record, so not only do we get these rad colors, but we also reduce waste overall. We reduce the environmental impact of record waste, which, lots of records get thrown out.” As a band very concerned with environmental activism, pressing their vinyl in this way was right up their alley. “It’s a dream come true,” Ayotte said. “We’ve been waiting our whole life to be on vinyl, and here we finally are, and we were able to do it in front of people we love at a venue that we love, and it was a very good time.” Vinyl has seen a resurgence with the emergence of streaming and downloadable music. With their durability, they are a permanent physical format that many collect. “We find that, in the underground community, it’s a pretty well-respected format. Lots of underground bands like to release their stuff on vinyl and sell it at their gigs. It’s a great merchandising item. There’s so much about it,” Page said. RELATED: Cape Coral businesses unite, supporting Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer “To be immortalized on wax is the term that people use, and it’s cool to finally have that happen,” Ayotte said. Except You album release at Ollie’s Pub on February 24, 2024. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Being a local original band Except You’s music is recorded, written and performed locally. “A lot of bands don’t get hometown support. They find their support outside of their city, but we find that we get a lot of hometown support, so it feels really good to be loved like that,” Page said. RELATED: Southwest Florida band DONEFOR celebrates over 100,000 streams on Spotify The band undoubtedly has a passion for their music, but it’s the passion the community reciprocates that motivates them to keep picking up their instruments. Arlo Simonds, guitar player for Except You. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Page said that nothing is like the scene here in Southwest Florida. “I think we have this middle-class, working-class group of musicians. We’re not in New York; we’re not in Philadelphia; we’re not in Los Angeles, but we know that our community shows up for each other. It’s just really great,” Page said. The band doesn’t have plans to move anywhere else because of the support they receive here in Southwest Florida, but they plan to play regional shows and are even planning on embarking on a northeastern seaboard tour while making connections and building their brand. Except You is working on a live vinyl. The 7-inch split will be released with a band from Orlando called Trash World. If you are interested in buying the vinyl, order it at Roach and Roll Records or buy it physically at Stellar Records in Fort Myers. To learn more about Except You, click here. Page also runs Love Your Rebellion, a local organization whose mission is to empower marginalized groups through the arts. Click here to learn more.