Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE It was 30 years ago this week when our publisher, Dusty Hopkins and his ex-wife Terry, published their first Boca Beacon … and oh, what a ride it has been. You might ask how a nice couple of people like them got caught up in a maelstrom of 50-gallon barrels of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN The Charlotte County Boca Grande Street and Draining Advisory Board met on Monday, Aug. 20 to discuss a variety of items on the agenda. The first topic addressed: Exotic animal control. United States Department of Agriculture employee Samantha Rushing is an iguana technician who is contracted through the county to do […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT Friday, Aug. 10 was a busy day for our staff as we took to the road to Orlando for the Florida Press Association Better Weekly Newspaper contest and the Florida Magazine Association Charley Awards. In the Better Weekly contest Art Director Daniel Godwin and Editor Marcy Shortuse took a first place in […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ 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 […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
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 […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: I read the article from Mote President Dr. Michael Crosby and was left knowing I had been completely duped. In his closing paragraphs he said, “As we see the impacts of these blooms, we are all sharing a blend of emotions-sadness, resolve, anger, desperation and hope for the future. An unfortunate part […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ 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 […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ 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 […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Charlotte County Commission staff announced on Tuesday, Aug. 14 that they would be holding an emergency meeting to discuss a resolution declaring a local state of emergency relating to red tide. The announcement was made less than three hours prior to the meeting. The meeting was open to the public, and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE On Sunday, Aug. 12 some local kids were treated to a rare sight as they golf-carted along looking for Pokemon. A small lizard was directly in their path, but it was unlike the anoles and iguanas they were used to. As they watched, it stood up on its hind legs and […]