Important numbers & websites

Contact phone numbers, online information, and resources you’ll need most before, during, and after a hurricane. Emergency Operations Centers Lee: (239)533-0622 Collier: (239)252-3600 Charlotte: (941)833-4000 DeSoto: (863)993-4831 Glades: (863)946-6020 Hendry: (863)674-5400 Hotlines FEMA Disaster Assistance/ Registration: 800-621-3362, TTY: 800-462-7585 U.S. Small Business Administration: 800-659-2955, TTY: 800-877-8339 FEMA Fraud Hotline: 866-720-5721 Report false claims: 800-323-8603 State […]

Know your home’s vulnerabilities

Hurricane protection can involve a variety of changes to your house and property – changes that can vary in cost and complexity. A professional contractor licensed to work in Florida should carry out complicated or large-scale changes that affect the structure of your house or its electrical wiring or plumbing. However, there are several projects […]

Punta Gorda Seafood Festival

Inaugural Punta Gorda Seafood and Music Festival kicks off Friday

The Punta Gorda Seafood and Music Festival kicks off Friday with its inaugural event at Laishley Park. The free pet-friendly three-day event will feature seafood entrees cooked on-site along with other meat and vegetarian options and side dishes. Scheduled performers include: Kara Nally Band, Memphis Lightning, Damon Fowler, Frank Bang, The Whole Band, Rockin’ Jake, […]

LCSO joins forces with other agencies into impaled dolphin investigation

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s animal cruelty task force is joining the search for the person that killed a dolphin that washed ashore. Lee County Sheriff Camine Marceno says his deputies will assist NOAA and FWC with their investigations. Sheriff Marceno said that someone in Southwest Florida must know something about who may have hurt […]

Inflation impacts drive up diesel cost, creates problem for truckers

Life is a highway, but not as many trucks are on the open road these days. “As everything goes up our rates have to go up. They aren’t going up accordingly. Trucks are getting parked,” said Pete McKnight, a truck driver. Pete McKnight has been behind the wheel of big rigs, driving across the U.S […]

Wooten's airboats animal sanctuary

Employee attacked by tiger at Wooten’s Airboats and Animal Sanctuary

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to calls of a tiger attack just outside Everglades City. Deputies say this happened at Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours – Animal Sanctuary & Alligator Park, at 32330 Tamiami Trail East in Ochopee. The emergency calls tell the story. “At the back of a facility in southern collier county everglades […]

St. Matthew’s House opening emergency shelters this weekend

St. Matthew’s House announced it will open two emergency shelters this weekend. Both shelters are relocated in Collier County, one at Campbell Lodge at 2001 Airport Road South in Naples and the other at the Immokalee Friendship House at 602 W Main Street in Immokalee. They will be providing blankets, coffee and snacks for everyone who […]

Florida Highway Patrol

Fort Myers man and woman die in Hendry County motorcycle crash

Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that two people died in a motorcycle crash. This happened in Hendry County near the intersection of SR-80 and CR-833. According to FHP, at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, a 63-year-old Fort Myers man was riding a motorcycle with a 41-year-old woman as his passenger. The motorcycle was traveling west on […]

marco island suspect

Marco Island police looking for suspect who hit disabled veteran

The Marco Island Police Department needs your help finding a suspect that they say hit a disabled veteran over a parking spot. On Mar. 1, a suspect was loitering in the parking lot of the Bargain Basket Thrift Store located at 750 Bald Eagle Drive on Marco Island. The victim was a disabled man, and […]

Foundation launched in honor of student-pilot who died in skydiving accident

Justin Swaggerty was weeks away from becoming a commercial pilot when he died. A foundation in his name and honor will help other kids become pilots through scholarships. Justin’s mom hopes his legacy will carry on through future aviators. The foundation will help youth pay for a private or commercial license through Paragon Aviation at […]