ALLIE GARZA

John Albion pulled out a piece of bubblegum to show Lee County commissioners how much it will cost to transform City of Palms Park baseball stadium into an aquatics center.

The board of commissioners voted Tuesday to continue negotiations with the Austin, Texas-based National Swimming Center Corporation with the administrative agenda item passing 4-1. Commissioner Brian Bigelow dissented.

Tuesday, the fate of the park could be decided when county commissioners meet and discuss a final proposal by the Austin, Texas-based National Swimming Center Corporation to turn the old ball park into a modern aquatic arena — an $18.2 ...

After a severe thunderstorm barreled through Southwest Florida Wednesday night leaving many in the dark, nearly all customers who were without power had their electricity restored.

In a duo of Southwest Florida stops Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott addressed representatives from what he called Florida’s two most recognizable industries: tourism and citrus.

Lee County Commissioners drew a line in the sand when it came to a beach renourishment project. A discussion about The Bonita Beach Renourishment Project, an interlocal project shared by Lee County and the City of Bonita Springs, became contentious ...

After she was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer in 2007, the family of Itzel Chavez, now 4, faced an impossible choice: Subject the child to another found of chemotherapy, straining her young body and pushing it to its limits, ...

Hundreds of graduates swarmed Germain Arena on Sunday, black caps and gowns bobbing about as the classic “Pomp and Circumstance” began to play. Cheering erupted from the audience as the Hodges University class of 2011 took its seats knowing its ...

Lee County’s preliminary property values are out, and while the decline continues, it’s less dramatic in years past.

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott has delivered to county commissioners his proposed 2011-’12 budget, which cuts more than $6.3 million from the previous year’s budget, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

When Helmi McHardy graduated high school in 1943, she felt compelled to find a job where she could make a difference.

Three Collier County high schools and two Lee County high school made the Washington Post’s list of the top 1,900 public high schools in the country.

When the Red Sox return to Fort Myers in 2012, baseball fans will now be able to purchase a cold beer along with their peanuts and Cracker Jacks.

When Fort Myers Police arrived at Lookers, a Fort Myers strip club, they found Carlos Deleon-Ortiz, 29, of Lehigh Acres, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest. Inside, Juan Miguel Sanchez-Perdomo, 20, also of Lehigh Acres, was sprawled out ...

When the parents of a 9-year-old North Naples girl told The Village School of Naples that their daughter had been sexually abused in January, they believed the school would take action against the teacher. Instead, their daughter was dismissed from ...

For six years, the 4,000-acre land east of Interstate 75, sandwiched between Bonita Beach and Corkscrew roads, has been at the center of multiple disputes.

A year ago Tuesday, Marie Delly left her job at an East Naples Walmart, not to be seen again. To her family, who reported her missing two days later, it seems as though Delly — who would now be 35 ...

From the massive fire at Big Cypress National Preserve to a fire of just over 25 acres near Golden Gate Estates, fire crews from Collier County and beyond have worked to keep the fires contained.

Samantha, along with hundreds of her Vineyards Elementary schoolmates, took to the soccer field Friday at Vineyards Community Park for a March Against Bullying. During the event, teachers and students paraded around the field, all the while dancing and singing, ...

Trim Wellness Cafe isn’t a cafe by traditional standards. Customers are not greeted by a waiter when they walk inside, and they won’t find a menu to order food or drinks. Instead, a unique menu of intravenous and injection vitamin ...

Four years ago, Chicago native Sean Patrick Lee wasn't sure he wanted to attend Ave Maria University. As we walked across the stage Saturday to receive his diploma, he knew Ave Maria was the choice.

Barring any major weather developments, builder Manhattan Kraft estimates the new spring training home of the Boston Red Sox will be on its way to completion by Jan. 12, 2012, and that it will be ready for the Red Sox ...

The future of Edison Farms is still uncertain after Lee County Commissioners vetted through the purchase of 24 parcels of land Tuesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting.

The fire, which has burned 2,824 acres in Golden Gate Estates, is now 80 percent contained, Hill said, adding that rainfall from Friday night slightly helped.

Lee County commissioners are keeping a close eye on Tallahassee this week as two proposed bills make their way through the Legislature.

Lee County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to pay $200,000 in a pre-litigation settlement to the family of Leroy Tarver, who died Feb. 3.

With Earth Day less than a week away, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida held its annual Earth Day Festival on Saturday, celebrating the region’s natural beauty.

Mary Ann Zarb, 64, has been missing since Monday, April 11.

After a long and, at times, heated debate, the Lee County School Board has chosen five candidates to bring in for interview in May. Collier superintendent Dennis Thompson, however, was not a name brought up during discussions.

Hashman, who suffered a broken jaw, a fractured skull and brain swelling from the attack, had hoped for more serious charges.

A large, black swastika -- with the spray paint still fresh -- stirred Gilberg’s emotions.

Naples Police are searching for a person who went missing Friday in Naples.

In an effort to bring two cultures together, Lee County firefighters and four Israeli firefighters experienced live fire training on Tuesday, giving the visiting firefighters a chance to experience American firefighting and share their knowledge of fighting fires. Foreign exchange: ...

A home in North Naples sustained severe smoke damage after the motor of an aquarium caught on fire late Monday afternoon.

Hundreds of people flocked out to Stan's Idle Hour in Goodland for the 27th Annual Mullet Festival on Sunday. With plenty of beer, live music and food, attendees came from as far as Chicago to drink, dance and vote on ...

In her cramped 10-by-10-foot room, Sandy Duvernay pulls out a clean black shirt and printed pants. With the lights turned off and only a little window light peeking through, Duvernay places the clothes neatly on her bed, coupling the outfit ...

On Tuesday morning, Collier County Sheriff’s detectives, along with agents from the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement went door-to-door in Farm Workers Village and the Immokalee community, handing out several hundred updated fliers about Adji’s 2009 disappearance.

Neither rain nor cold could stop the children participating in the Greater Marco Family YMCA’s Reindeer Dash Saturday morning.

It’s a Thursday afternoon, and the yells of tiny voices shouting “kiai” can be heard loud and clear throughout Taekwondo United.

When the Joy of Giving started 22 years ago, founder Nikki Davis had hopes of giving one family a Christmas they couldn’t afford. This year, Christmas joy was given to 1,150 needy children throughout Collier County. With the support of ...

Sugar-frosted creativity could be seen at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion on Sunday, as children came out to the restaurant to decorate gingerbread houses with friends and family.

The Christmas Island Style’s Salute to Veterans was held Tuesday at Marco Charter Middle School in honor of those who served in years past and those currently serving. With retired Lt. Col. Bill Howey of the United States Marine Corp ...

Season’s greetings! The galleries at the Shops of Olde Marco celebrated their second grand opening with a season-opening gala on Wednesday. Amantea Gallery and In the Light Gallery, along with Chef’s Express and the soon-to-open Simply Cupcakes, came together for ...

Flapjacks were flyin’ and hotcakes were hoppin’ Sunday morning at the Marco Island Fire Department. More than 500 pancakes were served during the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation’s old-fashioned pancake breakfast, the third pancake breakfast held to raise money to ...

When Marco Island Realtor Starr Mier entered the conference room at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, Mier thought she was in for an afternoon of social networking.

Sunshine poured out over CJ’s on the Bay late Thursday evening after a heavy rainstorm pounded Marco Island. The temperatures dropped and the music picked up as people came to the Esplanade, drying off after the quick downpour. With Jim ...

Look out Marco Island, there’s a new troop in town. Boy Scout Troop 2010, new to the Island as of September, has big plans for their group of 10 scouts. Looking for an outreach opportunity, members of Marco Lutheran Church ...

With eleven artists, hundreds of pieces of art and three galleries, the Last Wednesday Art Walk at the Esplanade on Marco Island saw a large turnout on Wednesday evening. “Gypsies in Paradise,” was the theme of the October art walk.

Marco residents and Christmas Island Style fans came out on Sunday to Erin’s Isle for a Jazz Jam Session to raise money for the annual Marco Island tradition. A variety of hors d’ouevres and jazz and blues music were served ...