Bonita

Recessions don’t last. Suicide and divorce does. Local experts in finance, psychology and daily life are sharing the same advice to those overcome with anxiety, stress or depression associated with the country’s recent financial and economic conundrums. Don’t worry, they say, be happy. Full story »

Though the correlation isn’t exact, most experts believe that crime does, in fact, increase during difficult economic times. It remains to be seen how much crime will increase in Southwest Florida, if at all, as the economy continues to sour, but local officials say they’re doing what they can to keep criminals at bay. Full story »

It’s Friday night in the dorms on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus, and chances are you’ll find a fair majority of students engaged in a rowdy game of “beer pong” or doing shots in a ritual known as “pre-gaming” before going out to any number of local hotspots to continue drinking.
Many of the students drinking are underage. Full story »

The Florida Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection will present state Sen. Burt Saunders with a 2008 Green Elephant award for his efforts and accomplishments in environmental protection and stewardship. Full story »

Fred Cooper quickly became a suspect in the murder of a couple in Gateway in late 2005, but he wasn’t placed under arrest based on the words of neighbors who said they saw a man who looked like him pass by their homes before the bodies of Michelle and Steven Andrews were found.
That arrest happened after the results from DNA testing reached law enforcement: that Cooper’s DNA matched the samples taken from the fingernails of one of the victims. Full story »

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The decision took maybe two minutes, Lt. Jason Brod figures. The scars will stay with him a lifetime. Moments after he and fellow Bonita Springs firefighters arrived at the burning trailer on Oakland Drive, they knew they had to search it inside. Rosa Patino, a diabetic amputee, lived there with her two young children. As a paramedic, Brod, 36, had visited the trailer maybe a dozen times to aid her. On this night, he saw a neighbor dragging the badly-burned homeowner outside, but he didn’t see the children. He went inside. Full story »

They’re taking a stand. Collier County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization members may be outnumbered by Lee County’s, but the Collier board is not mincing its words on their desire for a share of the funds being redirected from a $9.2 million earmark originally intended for a study of an interchange at Coconut Road and Interstate 75 in Lee County. Full story »

Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, will address members of the Cape Coral Rotary Club on Wednesday during a breakfast at La Venezia Ballroom, 4646 S.E. 11th Place. Full story »

While halfway through viewing properties with buyers a few weeks ago, the buyers asked to cancel the remainder of the showings that were booked on the schedule. They actually had a plausible reason. The remaining homes were only one-story residences and they had just realized that they needed more room to spread out. Full story »

Lee County can afford to build a new stadium to keep the Boston Red Sox here, Commission Chairman Ray Judah said Friday, but it needs the tourist industry’s help.
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A 27-year-old South Fort Myers man accidentally shot his big toe Thursday afternoon, Lee County Sheriff’s Office reports show.
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The Gateway murder trial continues today, Friday, Oct. 10, in Fort Myers. Fred Cooper is on trial in the case. Full story »

Here are today's traffic enforcement locations in Collier and Lee counties. Full story »

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