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What's happening in Southwest Florida

The Southwest Florida stories that are too local, too early or too ongoing for the evening news.

  1. Single source
    Traffic & Roads

    Port Charlotte

    Port Charlotte neighbors seek speed signs after truck hits mailboxes on Elmira Blvd.

    Residents along Elmira Boulevard in Port Charlotte say speeding has become a safety threat after a neighbor's video showed a truck knocking down two mailboxes. They say children cross the street after school and people avoid walking or biking there, and they want speed limit signs posted. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office says residents can report speeding concerns directly to the agency.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  3. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Fort Myers

    Lee County awards $991K contract to armor Punta Rassa shoreline

    Lee County commissioners approved a $991,300 low-bid contract with Fort Myers-based Earth Tech Enterprises to lay interlocking concrete mats along the shoreline by the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp, at the mainland end of the Sanibel Causeway. The mats are meant to cut erosion and wave energy; work should start late this year and finish in spring 2027. The ramp stays open during construction, though parts of the parking lot may close at times, and federal Hurricane Ian recovery grants pay for the project.

    Source: WGCU News and 1 more

  4. Confirmed
    Crime & Safety

    North Fort Myers

    North Fort Myers man gets 27 years in federal prison for meth operation

    Frederick Taylor, 38, of North Fort Myers was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in March to distributing methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said. Prosecutors said he ran the operation in the Palmona Park neighborhood through lower-level dealers and sold nearly a pound of meth to an FBI informant. A search of his home turned up several guns and about $12,000 in cash.

    Source: U.S. Attorney's Office and 1 more

  7. Confirmed
    Community

    Estero

    Household chemical waste drop-off at Estero Park on Oct. 21

    Wednesday, October 21

    Estero residents can bring leftover paint, cleaners, pesticides, pool chemicals and automotive fluids to Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. Nothing will be accepted outside those hours; Lee County's permanent drop-off site on Topaz Court in Fort Myers takes household chemicals on weekdays.

    Source: Village of Estero and 2 more

  9. Confirmed
    Crime & Safety

    Cape Coral

    Cape Coral police arrest two sex offenders at halfway house over phones

    Cape Coral police say two registered sex offenders living at a halfway house on Northwest First Place were arrested Oct. 12 and charged with violating probation by having internet-capable phones. The investigation began after a fellow resident reported that one of the men was viewing child sexual abuse material; detectives seized several devices and say more charges may follow. The men, identified by police as William Plumley, 29, and Enrico Mendes Jr., 49, are due in court Nov. 9.

    Source: WINK News and 2 more

  10. Single source
    Community

    North Fort Myers

    North Fort Myers shuffleboard courts host first national tournament since renovation

    The Lee County Shuffleboard Club held its first national tournament at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center this past weekend, opening the National Shuffleboard Association season. About 60 players from the U.S. and Canada competed on 24 courts that Lee County covered with an 18,000-square-foot roof and fitted with new lighting and scoreboards in a $2.2 million renovation finished in May.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  11. Confirmed
    Business

    Naples

    American Airlines to fly twice daily from Naples Airport to Charlotte from Dec. 2

    The Naples Airport Authority approved an operating agreement with American Airlines for two daily nonstop flights between Naples and Charlotte, North Carolina, starting Dec. 2. American's regional carrier PSA Airlines will fly the route on 65-seat CRJ-700 jets from the North Road Terminal, which is being renovated. It brings scheduled airline service back to the airport for the first time in years.

    Source: Gulf Coast News and 2 more

  13. Confirmed
    Local Government

    Southwest Florida

    Early voting opens in Lee, Charlotte and Hendry; Collier and Glades start later

    Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 31 in Lee (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Charlotte (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Hendry (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) counties. Collier opens Oct. 22 and Glades on Oct. 24, both through Oct. 31, and voters must bring a valid photo ID. Collier's elections supervisor says redrawn congressional districts moved more than 173,000 voters there into new districts.

    Source: WINK News and 1 more

  16. Confirmed
    Events

    North Fort Myers

    Youth sailors wrap up River Romp regatta on the Caloosahatchee

    Sunday, October 18

    The River Romp, a US Sailing Junior Olympic regatta hosted by Edison Sailing Center, finished Sunday, Oct. 18, after two days of racing on the Caloosahatchee River off North Shore Park in North Fort Myers. Sailors ages 8 to 19 raced in Optimist, ILCA and C420 classes. The park, closed to the public during the event, reopens Monday, Oct. 19.

    Source: Edison Sailing Center and 1 more