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Encouragement appreciated during search for swimmer

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 […]

Obituary: William Harold Buettin

William Harold Buettin, 92, of Naples, died Wednesday morning, June 22, 2016 at Physicians Regional Hospital in Naples, Fla. Mr. Buettin was a native of Marion County, Ohio, son of the late Barney and Mildred Buettin and husband of 67 years to Arline Kraft Buettin, who survives. William served his country in WWII in India […]

Obituary: Robert Alexander Melvin III

Capt. Robert Alexander Melvin III (retired USCG), 78, of Elizabeth City, N.C. died at home Wednesday, June 15, 2016. He was born in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1938 to the late Robert A. Melvin and Eunice Goff Melvin. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn Johnson Melvin; daughter Janet Melvin Berry and husband […]

Englewood man dead after boat accident north of Gasparilla Island

■ 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 […]

Ripped away …

■ 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 […]

Family earns scuba certification through island employee

■ BY SUE ERWIN Stephanie Taylor and her husband Rodney have spent countless hours exploring the waters around Boca Grande aboard a boat owned by her father, Capt. Dumplin’ Wheeler. The Taylors and their six children are all avid snorkelers who enjoy traveling to different locations and discovering new ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Turtle nest numbers increase despite stormy weather

■ BY SUE ERWIN The Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association’s latest report for turtle nests recently showed that nests have increased for both green sea turtles and loggerheads. As of June 17, the association reported 297 Loggerhead (caretta caretta) turtle nests and 6 green sea (chelonia mydas) turtle nests on the island. Volunteers scour the […]