Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association would like to remind everyone to be cautious this Fourth of July weekend regarding the sea turtle nests and potential hatchlings on the beach. Fireworks and other lights on the beach can disorient nesting adults and hatchlings, and beach trash can interfere with a hatchling’s journey from […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ STAFF REPORT The Barrier Islands Parks Society (BIPS) has obtained a commercial building permit from Lee County for the Gasparilla Island Light, and now the last step will be a final NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) review. This can take up to two weeks, but according to BIPS Executive Director Sharon McKenzie, “The Coast […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN The slamming of thick steel doors, locking them shut behind armed officers in green uniforms, is enough to ensure cooperation from most visitors who enter the halls of the Charlotte County Jail. “Welcome to the rock,” said Captain Norm Wilson to a group of local media representatives during a tour of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Richard Anderson spent a considerable amount of time in Boca Grande beginning in 1988, when he worked as a planner for Lee County. When he first arrived on the island, he met Robert Johnson, the harbor pilot for Boca Grande. “That was back when Florida Power and Light used to be […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ STAFF REPORT Recent media reports on the news and on Facebook have given way to more worries for people who love to swim in the Gulf and leave them wondering: Is it safe to go in the water? According to local officials, if you don’t have open wounds and a compromised immune system, you […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: As everyone is aware, on the afternoon of Saturday, June 18, the Boca Grande Fire Department responded to a call for a missing swimmer at the Range Light. With other similar calls worked into the mix, the operation ended up being extended over the next several days. The Department would like to […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE As of press time on Thursday, June 23 two bodies have been recovered in the search for a family of four missing in nearby waters, and it’s possible the sailboat has been located as well.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 19, Dylan Gonzalez texted a photo of a juvenile tarpon to his girlfriend, Linsey Peyton. It was the first ever tarpon he had caught on fly, and he was about as happy as he could be. Dylan lived to fish, and according to […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The disappearance of a swimmer off Range Light Beach on Saturday has left many locals and regular visitors pondering whether “safe” beaches are really safe at all. Javier Castro, a 22-year-old man from Cape Coral, disappeared in the water while swimming just off the Florida State Park-maintained beach called Range Light […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN The adrenaline rush and excitement of tarpon fishing arguably make it one of the most sought-after recreational activities among sport-fishing enthusiasts. Because of its strength and fighting ability, the tarpon is Boca Grande’s top game fish. Despite its popularity, information about its life cycle, habitat use and overall behaviors is relatively […]