Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
Lack of evidence closed the case for sheriffs Just after 1 p.m. on Monday, July 27 a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the Placida Boat Ramp at 6499 Boca Grande Causeway in reference to a damaged barge. The caller reported that between July 24 and July 27 his company barge that was docked […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News, Real Estate.
A July 2026 economic development report by Metro Forecasting Models, circulated online in advance of the Tuesday, July 28 Charlotte County Commissioners meeting, details growth in the west part of Charlotte. According to Metro, the west had 56,600 residents and 37,900 housing units. In 2025, the west added over 1,500 housing units and nearly 2,600 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
The Gasparilla Inn has purchased the old 3rd Street Bistro. The sale, from owners Kevin and Barbara McLaughlin, was expected to close this week. “What Barbara and Kevin did with that property opened our eyes to what it truly could be, and I don’t think we ever envisioned what they were able to put together […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
A lightning strike was the cause of a roof fire at a condo on the east side of Boca Grande North that began sometime before 7 a.m. Sunday morning. “We believe that lightning struck the building here,” said Chief C.W. Blosser of the Boca Grande Fire Department. The department observed light smoke on arrival and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO As the temperature heated up, heat exposure cases and heat-related illnesses increased. TEN YEARS AGO Animated storyteller Windell Campbell was at the Boca Grande Community Center using his voice and puppets to bring stories alive. The program was sponsored by the Lee County Library System. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO Pickup softball games were […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Bonnie Helen Simonds passed away on July 22 in Englewood, Florida. Bonnie grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, where she attended New Trier East High School before going on to graduate from Northwestern University. She later made her home in Kenilworth, Illinois, spending the winter months in her beloved Boca Grande, Florida, where she was a […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Peter DeWitt Diebold was born November 13, 1938, in Buffalo, New York. He passed away on July 13, 2026, in Boca Grande, Florida. Peter received an exceptional education, attending The Elmwood Franklin School and The Nichols School in Buffalo, New York, Upper Canada College in Toronto, Ontario, and later studying at the Boston Museum of […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Profiles, Sports & Outdoors.
Above, lightning poses dangers to buildings and people, in this 2024 photo taken near the Range Light. Sandi Firtion Florida used to be called the lightning capital, having been dethroned by Oklahoma. However, Florida still leads the nation in lightning-related deaths. There would be no argument from the residents of Gasparilla Island and Cape Haze, […]
Written by Arlene Hall on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Above, a nest near downtown washed away in the heavy surf. BGSTA photo BY ARLENE HALLBOCA GRANDE SEA TURTLE ASSOC. With this week’s tropical depression (later Tropical Storm Bertha) just offshore, BGSTA volunteers were busy documenting nests that were impacted by the resulting extreme surf. A large number of nests were just washed over with […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
Above, storm preparation in years past. File photo Nearly two months into hurricane season, the island has finally begun to see some precipitation; as the season progresses, now is the time to prepare your home for any future storms if you have not. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends developing an evacuation plan now, […]