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Rumors rife on apparent non-ICE visit 

Federal agencies say that they have not had action on island Editor’s Note: Updated 12-18-2025 from print edition to add quote from CCSO. There have been rumors of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on Gasparilla Island contractors this week but after reaching out to two federal agencies, none said they knew of a visit […]

Island parking enforcement still in ‘discretion’ mode

Lee County Sheriff’s Office enforcement is still in “reasonable discretion” mode for Boca Grande parking across Gasparilla Island during Christmas break, as most island residents do not have parking passes. In October, Capt. Todd Olmer of the LCSO told the Beacon in an email that “Boca Grande deputies are in regular contact with our partners […]

Sawfish expert at State of Waterkeeper event

Calusa Waterkeeper Joe Cavanaugh will welcome Dr. Gregg Poulakis of the Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to discuss the endangered smalltooth sawfish and its recovery in the Caloosahatchee River and beyond. The event will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at the Fort Myers-Lee County […]

Emphasis on fraud and waste from Lee Clerk’s office

Lee Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Kevin Karnes is partnering with the School District of Lee County to bring Inspector General services. This new partnership comes after an August push to search for savings within county government. Clerk Karnes announced in a news release that the Clerk’s Inspector General will begin accepting tips […]

RSW airport’s ‘refusal to provide requested documentation’ cited in recent Lee Clerk audit

The Inspector General Department of the Lee County Clerk of Court and Comptroller has completed an audit of the Lee County Port Authority’s Airside Operations and Safety, carried over from the 2023 Annual Audit Plan. The audit findings for RSW, or Southwest Florida International Airport, were “generally positive,” according to a letter from Kevin Karnes, […]

This date in the Boca Beacon: Kids Classic tarpon tournament created, Useppa liquor burglary

FIVE YEARS AGO The construction phase of the Mercabo Cove restoration project had been completed. The project was to improve water quality and reduce long-term seawall maintenance costs.  TEN YEARS AGO The new swing bridge was going through functionality testing and the opening had been delayed. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO The Gasparilla Island Kids Classic tarpon […]

DeSantis appoints Patricia ‘Trish’ Petrosky to Lee Supervisor

P atricia “Trish” Petrosky was sworn in as a Lee County Commissioner Monday, Dec. 15, on the steps of the Old Lee County Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers. She will participate in the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Lee Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 20. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the District 5 commissioner’s […]

Trolling motor stolen from Boca Grande North late November

A November theft of a trolling motor from Boca Grande North Condominium Slip #3 was reported last Friday, Dec. 5. At 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 24, a Minnkota Terrova trolling motor was stolen from a boat on a boat lift at Boca Grande North Marina, located at 6040 Boca Grande Causeway, according to the Charlotte […]

Details about January joint meeting between Charlotte and Lee counties discussed this week

A joint meeting regarding Boca Grande parking between Charlotte and Lee counties will be open to the public, but it will not have a public comment period. The meeting format came up during county administrator comments at the Tuesday, Dec. 9 meeting of the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners. The meeting will be held […]