Decreasing humidity and mostly sunny skies for your ThursdayThe Salvation Army of Collier County launches annual toy drive
the weather authority Decreasing humidity and mostly sunny skies for your Thursday The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front dropping humidity and temperatures on this Thursday afternoon.
The Salvation Army of Collier County launches annual toy drive The annual Toys for Tots donation drive in Collier County has officially begun, aiming to bring Christmas joy through generosity.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral’s new council eliminates stipend on day one People in Cape Coral are getting what they voted for: the new city council members were just sworn in, and they eliminated the stipend.
LEHIGH ACRES Man arrested for fatal hit-and-run crash with motorcyclist in Lehigh Acres A man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist on Tuesday night.
Latest details on fatal Alligator Alley crash ; 1 killed According to the arrest report, a man told troopers he got a minivan from a pastor but did not get permission to take it out because he left in the middle of the night
Enforcing state law on street camping in Punta Gorda More than a month since the new state law banning sleeping in public places went into effect the city of Punta Gorda voted on if an ordinance change was needed.
Cape Coral home vandalized; homeowner calls it a “hate crime” A man returned to his unfinished Cape Coral home to find it’s been violated and vandalized. Cape Coral police are searching for the suspect.
SWFL organizations putting donated money to good use 41 Southwest Florida organizations are still in shock about the millions of dollars they received from philanthropist Tom Golisano.
Utility scams awareness day: what you need to know Wednesday is utility scams awareness day. These types of scams target customers by going door-to-door, sending phone calls or texts and using false information online.
NAPLES Salvation Army of Collier County kicks off annual Christmas toy drive The Salvation Army of Collier County has kicked off its annual Christmas toy drive, and you won’t have to travel far to get involved.
Record Store Day Black Friday: Where to go in SWFL Record Store Day Black Friday is approaching quickly, and if you’re not looking for a new TV or a video game console, go to your local record store, as they will have exclusive deals to expand your record collection.
Manasota Key residents concerned over new development on the island Residents of a small island community are expressing their concerns about potential changes to their neighborhood.
FORT MYERS Resident reacts to plan for new Amazon facility in Fort Myers Amazon has paid $66.5M for 143 acres in Fort Myers to build a new warehouse. A resident who lives by the property said she has reservations about the facility.
ESTERO Caught on Camera: Woman accused of stealing from Kate Spade outlet A Cape Coral woman has been arrested for grand theft after she was allegedly caught on camera shoplifting at a Kate Spade store in Estero.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers basketball player returns to the court after two years Fort Myers High School basketball player Karsten Schafer played his first game in two years Tuesday night after having a spinal surgery.
the weather authority Decreasing humidity and mostly sunny skies for your Thursday The Weather Authority is tracking a cold front dropping humidity and temperatures on this Thursday afternoon.
The Salvation Army of Collier County launches annual toy drive The annual Toys for Tots donation drive in Collier County has officially begun, aiming to bring Christmas joy through generosity.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral’s new council eliminates stipend on day one People in Cape Coral are getting what they voted for: the new city council members were just sworn in, and they eliminated the stipend.
LEHIGH ACRES Man arrested for fatal hit-and-run crash with motorcyclist in Lehigh Acres A man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist on Tuesday night.
Latest details on fatal Alligator Alley crash ; 1 killed According to the arrest report, a man told troopers he got a minivan from a pastor but did not get permission to take it out because he left in the middle of the night
Enforcing state law on street camping in Punta Gorda More than a month since the new state law banning sleeping in public places went into effect the city of Punta Gorda voted on if an ordinance change was needed.
Cape Coral home vandalized; homeowner calls it a “hate crime” A man returned to his unfinished Cape Coral home to find it’s been violated and vandalized. Cape Coral police are searching for the suspect.
SWFL organizations putting donated money to good use 41 Southwest Florida organizations are still in shock about the millions of dollars they received from philanthropist Tom Golisano.
Utility scams awareness day: what you need to know Wednesday is utility scams awareness day. These types of scams target customers by going door-to-door, sending phone calls or texts and using false information online.
NAPLES Salvation Army of Collier County kicks off annual Christmas toy drive The Salvation Army of Collier County has kicked off its annual Christmas toy drive, and you won’t have to travel far to get involved.
Record Store Day Black Friday: Where to go in SWFL Record Store Day Black Friday is approaching quickly, and if you’re not looking for a new TV or a video game console, go to your local record store, as they will have exclusive deals to expand your record collection.
Manasota Key residents concerned over new development on the island Residents of a small island community are expressing their concerns about potential changes to their neighborhood.
FORT MYERS Resident reacts to plan for new Amazon facility in Fort Myers Amazon has paid $66.5M for 143 acres in Fort Myers to build a new warehouse. A resident who lives by the property said she has reservations about the facility.
ESTERO Caught on Camera: Woman accused of stealing from Kate Spade outlet A Cape Coral woman has been arrested for grand theft after she was allegedly caught on camera shoplifting at a Kate Spade store in Estero.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers basketball player returns to the court after two years Fort Myers High School basketball player Karsten Schafer played his first game in two years Tuesday night after having a spinal surgery.
Jose Ramirez,, 37. CREDIT: CCSO. A 37-year-old Immokalee man has been arrested, suspected of illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Jose Ramirez’s arrest was the first of the season. Deputies arrested him Tuesday morning, just after 7:30 a.m., while patrolling the woodlands in Immokalee. Deputies say they caught Ramirez with a bucket full of Saw Palmetto Berries. According to the CCSO report, another man was seen collecting berries along with Ramirez, but he ran off before deputies could reach him. This arrest comes after a new law promises harsher punishments for illegal harvesting of the berry, which has healing properties. CCSO’s Agriculture Unit said the consequences will be different this year. In a Facebook video posted in early July, CCSO said, “Harvesting without a permit or without written permission is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison; falsifying a harvesting document also is a third-degree felony.” RELATED: Illegal saw palmetto berry harvest leads to more than 15 arrests, hundreds of pounds recovered “You know, just like I can’t go into your house and help myself to, you know, something of yours. Why should anybody be able to go on private land and help themselves?” asked Gene McAvoy, a private consultant. CCSO said that those who want to buy the berries must have a harvesting permit, landowner permission, and a two-year, government-issued ID for the harvester. According to CCSO, failing to do so is a “first-degree felony punishable by up to one year in jail; buying and possessing unlawfully harvested palmetto berries is [a] third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.” “Farming is a hard business. So anything you do to, you know, add another profit stream to your operation, it helps farmers stay in business and keep farmland in farming,” said McAvoy. McAvoy says the price of saw palmetto berries changes from season to season, but this berry’s value in fighting cancer means more than the profit. “Saw Palmetto is used medicinally to for the treatment of prostate cancer,” said McAvoy. “They extract the chemical, and I’m not exactly sure what the name of that chemical is from the berries, but it shrinks the tumors.” Saw palmetto berries are a valuable resource that grows here in Southwest Florida. Their healing powers are a reason for the influx of thieves. According to Jeremia Mudge, a harvester at J&B Palmetto Berries in LaBelle, the berries are used to treat prostate cancer and prevent the prostate line from swelling. When we spoke to Mudge earlier this month, he said that harvesters are looking for thieves. Arrests made in illegal saw palmetto berry harvest in Florida. CREDIT: INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE “We have cameras; we have drones; we put about eight to 15 people in jail a year. It’s an epidemic. It’s disgusting. I’ve been cut and injured,” Mudge said. The harvesting season is short, lasting from late summer into early fall. For more information on how to obtain a harvesting permit, go to the Florida Department of Agriculture’s website. Ramirez currently remains in custody.