Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News.
At the Florida Press Association’s annual meeting, the Boca Beacon won 15 awards in the weekly paper category. The awards ceremony, held on July 26 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, recognized the newspaper for its work in photography, journalism and community service. In the Feature Photo category, Publisher Dusty Hopkins earned second place […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire, Sports & Outdoors.
A Lee County Sheriff deputy shut down a noisy party boat anchored off the Gasparilla Island State Park beaches over the Fourth of July weekend. The boat was offshore, but it was so loud it ruined the peace for the dozens gathered on the beach. It was also in violation of county ordinances. It is […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
$16 million plus raised The development agreement between Lee County and Friends of Boca Grande for Boca Grande Community Center improvements was unanimously approved at the regular Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday morning, June 18. Marta Howell, CEO of Friends, spoke during the final public hearing for the plan. The first public […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Above, Bob Melvin releases one of Boca Blue’s three tarpon last Saturday afternoon in the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament. The Shaw brothers battled three tarpon together as a team. See here for more photos. Photos by Daniel.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This weekend on Gasparilla Island was not a major holiday, just a plain old summer weekend. The weather was clear, and visitors came, while so many of our regulars have gone home. The tarpon crowd kept restaurants busy Saturday night. In the story of parking, it was a tale of two places, one Gilchrist Avenue, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to use state funding to design a 12-foot wide, mixed-use trail from the Big Carlos Pass Bridge to the Big Hickory Bridge, linking Fort Myers Beach with Bonita Beach. The trail would be part of the Florida […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Capt. Brecken Stinnett and the crew of Big Mouth won the 2024 Red Gill Tarpon Tournament with five releases on Sunday evening, May 26. Second place went to Capt. Wayne Joiner and the crew of Hey, Moma! This is Capt. Stinnett’s first tournament win, said tournament director William Woodroffe. “Everybody is so proud of Brecken […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The 2024 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament concluded Thursday in Boca Grande. Overall, there were 133 tarpon caught on both days, 56 on the first day and 77 on the second. The winner, with 13 tarpon for first place, was Hey, Moma! with a $39,000 prize. On the boat angling with Capt. Wayne Joiner were Alex […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The 2024 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament concluded last night in Boca Grande. Overall, there were 133 tarpon caught on both days, 56 on the first day and 77 on the second. The winner, with 13 tarpon for first place, was Hey, Moma with a $39,000 prize. On the boat angling with Capt. Wayne Joiner were […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
About four years ago, David Merced, son-in-law of Boca Grande homeowner Marilyn Witt, was driving his family from Chicago down to the island for Christmas break when he noticed a spot in his four-year-old son Harrison’s eye. “The doctor was so surprised we had spotted it so early,” Witt said. “Most parents don’t see it […]