Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Saturday, July 26 around 9:30 a.m., a coordinated Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) activation was launched for a vessel fire in Turtle Bay, an estuary at the south end of Cape Haze near the Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Charlotte County Marine 1 arrived to find a 20- to 24-foot recreational fishing vessel fully engulfed […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
On Friday, July 25, Lee County Sheriff’s Department arrested two people for burglary and grand theft of approximately $5,000 of fishing equipment from a boat. The previous Sunday, July 20, the equipment was reported missing from Miller’s Marina. Lee County Sherriff’s office obtained a video depicting two people with shirts over their faces around 2:15 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Above, newspaper and magazine awards from last year’s convention. Boca Beacon archives The Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Island Magazine received word that has been nominated for 39 awards at the annual Florida Magazine Association and Florida Press Association contests. The Beacon is a finalist for 18 awards, including a The Jon A. Roosenraad First Amendment […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Gasparilla Island State Park at Port Boca Grande is closed due to a planned state renourishment project. It had been scheduled for earlier but has had delays due to weather. The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum is also closed; other state beach areas are open on island. […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Guess what is not being shared with the public but the Lee County Board is discussing internally? Approving the Boca Grande parking proposal triggers an immediate and expensive FY25 ($4.2M+) price tag, and by federal law, tens of millions of dollars of already approved future federal funds must also be withheld. The […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
As a young high school fisherman, I enjoyed fish legends. Big shark stories just enhanced the adventure and thrills. Everyone from Tampa Bay to Boca Grande Pass had huge hammerhead sharks Old Hitler stories. I’ve witnessed and battled some giants, and here are a few of the stories I remember. Back in ‘65 on Saturday […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO New hand sanitizing stations were being distributed to local businesses that took the “Boca Grande Pledge” to educate the public regarding cleanliness and slowing the spread of COVID. TEN YEARS AGO Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three men and were searching for a fourth who were fishing illegally near Alligator Creek. FIFTEEN […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This Friday, The Beacon office will be closed for the Florida Press Association annual meeting. The paper won 18 awards, including one for the work of the hurricane fund and for the volunteers from Lighthouse United Methodist Church who made it happen. Another is the Jon A. Roosenraad First Amendment Defense Award. Roosenraad died in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
James A. Runde, a distinguished American investment banker, author, and corporate director, passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on July 26, 2025. With a career that spanned over six decades, he was one of the longest-serving investment bankers in American history. Runde began his career at Morgan Stanley in 1974, where he rose […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Education, Featured News, Profiles.
New at The Island School this year Anne Smith may be new to The Island School, but she’s no stranger to the classroom – with 20 years of teaching experience, she’ll begin her first week on island this Monday, Aug. 4. “I was in Sarasota County for 20 years,” Smith said. “My first five years, […]