Skip to main content
Search Results for “pit

PROFILE: Phelisha Doggett

BY SUE ERWIN – Phelisha Doggett, a dispatcher at Grande Aire Services for the past five years, caught the first fish at the 2018 Ladies Mix, Match or Draw Tarpon Tournament held in July in Boca Grande Pass. She was invited to fish with a team aboard the Phil-Jack, led by Capt. Matt Coleman. Catching the first […]

Turtle nest numbers up compared to this time last year

STAFF REPORT – Despite the red tide situation, sea turtle nest numbers are continuing to grow, hatchlings are making their way to the sea, and nest counts are up from this time last year. As of August 24, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association reported 687 Caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtle nests on the island. There […]

Mote scientists in Boca Grande to determine snook health

BY SUE ERWIN – Mote marine scientists were at 7th Street beach in Boca Grande on Wednesday morning to lead an assessment project on the local snook spawning stock, a vital effort needed to determine impacts to this important fishery and to develop more strategic stock enhancement actions to ensure recovery of this population as […]

Scott request provides low-interest loans for businesses affected by algae

■ STAFF REPORT Following the devastating impact of the Lake Okeechobee algal bloom and red tide, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, Florida’s principal provider of small business assistance, stands ready to help small businesses who experienced physical and/or economic injury as a result of these events. On Monday, Governor Rick Scott activated […]

ISLAND LEO BEAT … Island LEOs ready to respond by land or by air

Despite the recent red tide algae bloom experienced in the area of local Gulf of Mexico waters, our mission readiness remains high if the need for assistance on the waterway is called for. Deputy Christopher Nebel is shown in the photo conducting regular scheduled maintenance on the assigned Lee County Sheriff’s Patrol Vessel kept on […]

Profile: The Boca Beacon

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The following is an interview/autobiography (to date) of Boca Grande’s island newspaper, the Boca Beacon. We felt it best to let the paper speak its own words, and only a little proofing was required. When Henry Steel Commager said a true newspaper “is the raw material of history, the story of […]

Obituary Lacy Maresa Jenkins

Lacy Maresa Jenkins was called to eternal life on August 21, 2018. She died peacefully in her home surrounded by her family while in the care of Hospice. Lacy was born in Newport News, Virginia on December 4, 1968. She was the fifth of six children born to Benjamin Larry and Catherine Jenkins. She was […]

Is ozone the answer? Some say it may help with red tide

■ BY SUE ERWIN Mote Marine Laboratory scientists were on Damficare Street on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 14 to field-test a newly developed method for mitigating Florida red tide (elevated concentrations of toxic Karenia brevis algae) in the closed end of the canal. Scientists at Mote have created and patented an ozone treatment system […]

Two iconic island figures gone, but not forgotten: Jeff Gaines Jr. and Steve Seidensticker

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Boca Grande native Jefferson Gaines Jr., born May 17, 1935, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. He attended Boca Grande School and graduated from Arcadia High School, then attended University of Florida and graduated from Florida Southern College with a degree in computer science and Accounting. Jeff worked at Tampa […]

Fire damages Boca Bay maintenance building, injures one

■ STAFF REPORT On Friday, Aug. 3 the Boca Grande Fire Department responded to a fire call at the Boca Bay maintenance shed in the 900 block of Gulf Boulevard. Approximately $15,000 of damage was done in the small blaze. Firefighters received the call at 11:06 a.m., and arrived about six minutes later. The fire […]