CHARLIE WHITEHEAD

• Old oak tree in front of Lee County Courthouse could find new life as an eagle sculpture Published 02/17/2010 at 8:30 p.m.

  The old oak tree in front of the Lee County Courthouse has to go. Or does it? County commissioners agreed a few weeks ago that the tree, which could date from the time of the Civil War, has become a ...

• Hombre viola a niña de enseñanza media en fiesta con drogas y alcohol en East Naples Published 02/17/2010 at 11:43 a.m.

  Un hombre de 28 años fue a la cárcel el sábado bajo acusaciones de haber colaborado con un amigo para llevar a muchachas de enseñanza media a una casa del Este de Naples a consumir drogas y alcohol, haber insistido ...

• Lee commissioners find pinch-hit financing for new Red Sox stadium Published 02/16/2010 at 12:33 p.m.

  It took a 3-2 vote for Lee County commissioners to agree today to change the financing scheme for the Boston Red Sox new spring training home. The original plan was to borrow against property tax reserves collected in the unincorporated ...

• VIDEO: Red Sox stadium rezoning approved, new financing plan on deck Published 02/15/2010 at 5:49 p.m.

  Lee County commissioners have approved the zoning changes needed for the new Boston Red Sox spring training stadium in south Lee County. Monday’s 4-1 vote _ Commissioner Brian Bigelow was opposed _ clears the way for actually building the new ...

• New Red Sox spring training stadium in south Lee County clears rezoning hurdle Published 02/15/2010 at 10:43 a.m.

  Lee County commissioners this morning approved the zoning changes needed for the new Boston Red Sox spring training stadium complex in south Lee County. The 4-1 vote - Commissioner Brian Bigelow was opposed - clears the way for actually building ...

• Cool day, no cold feet as dozens of Southwest Florida couples marry at beach PHOTOS Published 02/14/2010 at 8:44 p.m.

  There were a lot of cold hands on the beach at Lovers Key on Valentine’s Day. And as many warm hearts. Thirty-two couples gathered at the scenic beach to renew their wedding vows as the sun dropped from the sky ...

• PHOTOS: Ninjas and charity the winners in DROP dodgeball event at FGCU Published 02/13/2010 at 8:16 p.m.

  DROPping the ball is a bad thing in dodgeball. But on Saturday on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus, DROP was the whole idea. DROP is an acronym for the Dominican Republic Outreach Program.

• Deputies: Man, 28, raped middle school girl at drug, alcohol party in East Naples Published 02/13/2010 at 1:37 p.m.

  A 28-year-old man was in jail Saturday on charges that he and a friend took a group of middle school girls to an East Naples home to consume drugs and alcohol, insisted on sex if they were to be driven ...

• Corps orders Lake Okeechobee releases starting today for 2-plus weeks Published 02/13/2010 at 12:12 p.m.

  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has ordered that fresh water flow from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River for the next two weeks. And maybe longer. The Corps announced the environmental pulse release beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday.

• Lee commissioners begin chipping away at budget cuts Published 02/12/2010 at 5:35 p.m.

  Lee County commissioners have continued slashing away at next year’s proposed budget, but with a scalpel and not an ax. Commissioners decided Thursday that departments such as LeeTran, Veterans Services and the county’s Human Services Department should be unscathed by ...

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