Apple AirPods lead LCSO to an arrest ; over $100,000 worth of stolen items recoveredHendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones
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 school speed zones 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 school speed zones 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.
Credit: WINK News Even the scaled-back version of a planned Amazon warehouse and distribution facility, the first to be located within Fort Myers city limits, will be a record-setter. Amazon.com Services LLC paid $66.5 million Nov. 18 for 143.2 acres off State Road 82, said Justin Thibaut, CEO of LSI Companies and the broker on the deal. The land has an address of 10631 State Road 82. Amazon already uses two buildings for distribution and warehouse space off Alico Road. A longtime Fort Myers-based land investor sold the land under the name Keystone Creek LLC, property records show. The building will measure about 750,000 square feet, according to Kimley-Horn and Associates, the engineering firm that sent a June letter to Fort Myers Community Development Director Steve Belden about the project. That would be the largest, standalone industrial building in Lee County history, Thibaut said. It’s almost the size of two Edison Mall shopping areas. “The indicators that Lee County and the city of Fort Myers are in growth-mode are clear, when a user like this not only enters the market as they did a few years ago in the Alico Corridor, but then doubles down by delivering another large-scale facility here,” Thibaut said. “Our area has been on the precipice of hitting key metrics that now prove that large scale distribution/delivery infrastructure and facilities like this one are needed to keep up with changing and increasing consumer demand.” The Kimley-Horn letter provides some of the details: that the warehouse will provide about 750 full- and part-time jobs starting at $16 an hour. The just taxable value of the land will rise from the current $10 million to about $500 million upon completion of construction, the letter said. The developer will pay for all sewer and water connections, the letter said, as well as a traffic signal and median cut just east of Lightard Knott Lane, about 1.2 miles east of the interstate and 1.8 miles west of the Colonial/Lee Boulevard and State Road 82 intersection. Three years ago, Amazon paused plans to build what would have been the largest industrial warehouse complex in city of Fort Myers and Lee County history. Then known as “Project Rainforest,” the original plans would have measured almost 1.5 million square feet and were to have had four buildings, with the largest being 650,000 square feet. But in 2022 during post-COVID-19 supply-chain disruptions that impacted construction, Amazon scaled back some of its warehouse expansion plans, not just across Southwest Florida but across the country. Thereafter, the same investor from this week’s deal sold parcels just to the east and west of the existing Lexington Palms at the Forum apartment complex under the C-Hack and Keystone Creek LLC names. A 64-acre tract sold for $30.8 million to Varden Capital Properties in June 2022. And a 70-acre tract sold for $30 million to Wolfson Development for a planned 700-unit apartment complex. Neither of those two projects have broken ground yet. Amazon could not be reached for comment on the timetable to develop the warehouse. But Thibaut said the proximity to Interstate 75 drove this latest land deal. “The location relative to I-75 was a key factor for this acquisition, in addition to the simple fact that large vacant properties similar to this simply do not exist in this close of proximity to major thoroughfares in Lee County,” Thibaut said. “A new flag is being planted in our area, and consumers will notice the impact as soon as its delivered.” Steve Weathers, director economic development for city of Fort Myers, called Amazon coming to the city a win for the local economy. “Any time an Amazon facility comes to your community, it brings a lot of jobs,” Weathers said. “It brings a lot of economic benefit to the area. I just think when Amazon comes to your community, it brings a lot of jobs with great benefits. They’re always a great addition to your community. And they pay taxes. They’ll increase our tax revenue and our tax base for job creation.” To read more at Gulfshore Business, click here.