Death investigation at Target on Dynasty DriveDisplaced resident speaks out after fire at Winkler Apartment Complex
Fort Myers Death investigation at Target on Dynasty Drive The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a death at the Target on Dynasty Drive in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS Displaced resident speaks out after fire at Winkler Apartment Complex For the second time in as many days, a fire broke out at the Retreat at Vista Lake Apartment Complex in Fort Myers.
Florida politicians react to 2nd Trump assassination attempt Florida politicians are reacting after an assassination attempt at Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
FORT MYERS FMPD asking for public’s help in solving 2013 cold case The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for information regarding the 2013 homicide of Laura Howard.
FORT MYERS Possible kitchen fire at Winkler apartment complex Authorities are investigating a possible kitchen fire at the Retreat Apartment Complex Sunday afternoon. This comes after a fire at the same complex yesterday.
WEST PALM BEACH Trump safe after gunshots reported, Biden and Harris have been briefed Donald Trump was safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity Sunday afternoon in Florida, his campaign and the Secret Service said.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police seek public’s help in Carrell Road hit-and-run investigation The Fort Myers Police Department is requesting information regarding a hit-and-run involving a vehicle and pedestrian.
LEHIGH ACRES Man arrested in Lehigh Acres for holding a woman against her will A man in Lehigh Acres has been arrested for holding a woman against her will for over 24 hours, threatening her with a knife and attempting to strangle her.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: Inmate attacks, reckless driving, and a hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a man sentenced to 15 years for attacking another inmate, reckless driving, and a fatal hit and run.
golden gate Canal accident: car found in Golden Gate canal One person was transported to the hospital for evaluation after their vehicle ended up in a canal.
southwest florida How Harry Chapin Food Bank is helping SWFL families combat hunger As the price of just about everything is up, some say they have to choose between groceries or paying the bills.
naples Collier County hosts inaugural Emergency Readiness Summit To make sure we’re ready when disaster strikes, Collier County hosted an Emergency Readiness Summit.
southwest florida Hot temperatures for the week ahead in SWFL; TS Gordon to fizzle in the Atlantic The Weather Authority is tracking another day of plenty of sunshine in store for Southwest Florida. Temperatures will top out yet again in the low 90s, but when factoring in the humidity, the ‘feels-like’ temperatures will be in the triple digits.
FORT MYERS Residents react to Winkler apartment complex fire Residents of the Retreat at Vista Lakes Apartment Complex were forced to evacuate due to a fire Saturday morning.
FORT MYERS Structure fire at Fort Myers apartment complex Authorities responded to the scene of a fire at The Retreat at Vista Lakes apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
Fort Myers Death investigation at Target on Dynasty Drive The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a death at the Target on Dynasty Drive in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS Displaced resident speaks out after fire at Winkler Apartment Complex For the second time in as many days, a fire broke out at the Retreat at Vista Lake Apartment Complex in Fort Myers.
Florida politicians react to 2nd Trump assassination attempt Florida politicians are reacting after an assassination attempt at Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
FORT MYERS FMPD asking for public’s help in solving 2013 cold case The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for information regarding the 2013 homicide of Laura Howard.
FORT MYERS Possible kitchen fire at Winkler apartment complex Authorities are investigating a possible kitchen fire at the Retreat Apartment Complex Sunday afternoon. This comes after a fire at the same complex yesterday.
WEST PALM BEACH Trump safe after gunshots reported, Biden and Harris have been briefed Donald Trump was safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity Sunday afternoon in Florida, his campaign and the Secret Service said.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police seek public’s help in Carrell Road hit-and-run investigation The Fort Myers Police Department is requesting information regarding a hit-and-run involving a vehicle and pedestrian.
LEHIGH ACRES Man arrested in Lehigh Acres for holding a woman against her will A man in Lehigh Acres has been arrested for holding a woman against her will for over 24 hours, threatening her with a knife and attempting to strangle her.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: Inmate attacks, reckless driving, and a hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a man sentenced to 15 years for attacking another inmate, reckless driving, and a fatal hit and run.
golden gate Canal accident: car found in Golden Gate canal One person was transported to the hospital for evaluation after their vehicle ended up in a canal.
southwest florida How Harry Chapin Food Bank is helping SWFL families combat hunger As the price of just about everything is up, some say they have to choose between groceries or paying the bills.
naples Collier County hosts inaugural Emergency Readiness Summit To make sure we’re ready when disaster strikes, Collier County hosted an Emergency Readiness Summit.
southwest florida Hot temperatures for the week ahead in SWFL; TS Gordon to fizzle in the Atlantic The Weather Authority is tracking another day of plenty of sunshine in store for Southwest Florida. Temperatures will top out yet again in the low 90s, but when factoring in the humidity, the ‘feels-like’ temperatures will be in the triple digits.
FORT MYERS Residents react to Winkler apartment complex fire Residents of the Retreat at Vista Lakes Apartment Complex were forced to evacuate due to a fire Saturday morning.
FORT MYERS Structure fire at Fort Myers apartment complex Authorities responded to the scene of a fire at The Retreat at Vista Lakes apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
Our newsroom emails are still filling up with people complaining about contractors, especially Beattie Development. Their offices were raided by Cape police on Aug. 7. We’ve shown you how the number of official complaints has more than doubled since we broke the story, so we wanted to figure out the best advice we could give anyone considering building or remodeling. Beattie Development customers are angry. We showed you Beattie’s offices being raided by police as it happened. Dozens of people complained. The company took their money and didn’t build what they were supposed to. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll hear that there’s more to the story. Beattie was at one time a top-rated builder around here, and many customers who are now out thousands, some hundreds of thousands, did research who they hired. “We’re smart people, and we thought we had vetted him, right?” said Kristen Kramer last month. “We looked a lot on social media. We went to the Better Business Bureau. I mean, we’re doing a lot of looking and digging, and everything was really good, and then all of a sudden, there were so many warning signs in the very beginning,” We discovered that if you’re going to build or remodel, you’d better learn to find those warning signs on your own. “In many cases, they can go to the Department of Business and Professional Regulations website and find out,” said attorney Adam Linkhorst in Palm Beach County. Linkhorst gets calls from people here on our coast with contractor problems. “Oftentimes, if contractors are having a lot of problems, other folks will post things,” Linkhorst said. But we found that after all the Beattie complaints we’ve gotten, and a police raid at their office, the DBPR website shows no complaints for Beattie and an active license. While the attorney general has 38 complaints now, up from 15 when we last checked, they are not searchable on the website, so you won’t find them there. Cape police aren’t talking. Only the Better Business Bureau now shows an “F” rating, but that took months and a lot of unanswered complaints. “Ask for references and not only get the references but call them up,” Linkhorst said. Ideally, at least one person has just finished a project, one who is on a project and one who is just starting. Search social media carefully for emerging patterns of complaints, and don’t forget the clerk of court’s site for lawsuits. “And you start adding up all the little bits and pieces,” Linkhorst said. It can save you from not just paying for something you don’t get but paying twice because of a subcontractor not being paid and putting a lien on your house even though you paid your contractor. “The big picture is Florida legislation needs to change,” said Jason Yoraway, a former Beattie Development customer. Meantime, the bottom line is you’ve really got to protect yourself upfront. Another important step is to get your own lawyer to review the contract up front to make sure you understand things like what happens if building material prices go up in the middle of the project. No one at the company has been charged. Bottom line: you are your own best protection.