About ELYSA BATISTA

Information

Biography

Although life has taken her to unexpected places, Elysa Batista considers herself a Florida girl through and through.

Raised in Miami, Elysa got into journalism in high school and worked for the Miami Herald while completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Miami. After graduating from UM in 2003, she headed off to the University of Maryland to pursue a graduate degree in Public Affairs Reporting.

After finishing her adventures in Maryland, Elysa headed back to Miami in 2005 before finally making the move in August 2006 to Naples, where she has covered East Naples, Golden Gate, the Estates and minority issues for the Naples Daily News.

Since January, Elysa is part of the newspaper's Crime and Breaking News Team, and has branched out into multimedia.

Outside of the journalism sphere, Elysa, or Ely (pronounced Ellie), enjoys cooking, writing and spending quality time with her husband, family and friends.

An avid reader, with a soft spot for sci-fi and Japanese animation, Ely is also a self-admitted fan of country music, Spanish rock and Bollywood movies.

And for those who want to know ... yes, her iPod has identity issues.

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Position History

Staff Writer
08/13/2006 - current

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Bank failure: Orion's demise expected, says analyst, predicting more closures in Florida Published 11/16/2009 at 8:38 p.m. 1 Comment
As the former Orion Bank began its transition Monday with business as usual for many of its customers, a Florida banking analyst said he saw its demise coming and predicts more banks in the state will close by year’s end. ...
Business as usual today at former Orion Banks Updated 11/16/2009 at 7:41 p.m.
On Monday, it was business as usual at the former Orion Bank — now IberiaBank. With the morning chill hanging in the air, employees slowly streamed into IberiaBank off Goodlette-Frank Road before 9 a.m. A white plastic sign covered the ...
Kids rock the park-less Naples Park Published 11/15/2009 at 6:41 p.m.
Kids just want to have fun. “I really liked the dancing,” said Kerra Matheny, 7, a second grader at Naples Park Elementary. Kerra was among the more than 40 parents and kids who attended Sunday’s Kids Rock the Park in ...
Immokalee event geared toward raising awareness of human trafficking Published 11/14/2009 at 8:08 p.m.
On Saturday, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Collier County Coalition Against Human Trafficking hosted “A Day without Slavery,” an anti-human trafficking community event. It was aimed at providing seasonal farm workers and members of the Immokalee community with ...
Prime rib arrest: 2 men accused of butchering neighbor's cow Updated 11/09/2009 at 7:12 p.m. 1 Comment
Where’s the beef? Collier County deputies didn’t have a problem finding the meat butchered from a cow found at a Golden Gate Estates intersection. Deputies say two men helped themselves to some steaks after some cows escaped from a nearby ...
Naples surf shop owner accused of fondling teen Updated 11/03/2009 at 7:23 p.m.
The co-owner of a long-time Naples business is under arrest and facing felony charges after police say he fondled a teenage girl at his house. Olde Naples Surf Shop owner Jeffrey Robinson, 36, was arrested Monday and charged with one ...
Scary times for Naples Jaycees: Organization not holding annual haunted house Published 10/29/2009 at 6:16 p.m.
The Naples Jaycees have always fanned the flames with its outrageous haunted house. In 2001, they killed Osama bin Laden and made headlines in national news. In 2004, they held it at the former Hodges Funeral Home, which freaked people ...
Search for Adji: Birthday sparks national flier plan to find 7-year-old Updated 10/15/2009 at 8:37 p.m.
Tips have nearly dried up. But in the ongoing search for Adji Desir, Collier County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ken Becker said hope remains for bringing home the missing Immokalee boy. The breakthroughs in the Jaycee Dugard, Shawn Hornbeck and Elizabeth ...
Nuevos tráilers en Manna Christian Park Published 10/15/2009 at 12:01 a.m.
Manna Christian RV Park ha durado bastante considerando lo baja que se encuentra la comunidad del este de Bonita Springs, que además se rodea en ocasiones de inundaciones y controversias.
PHOTOS Rebirth: Manna Christian overcomes rising floodwaters, new trailers arrive Published 10/10/2009 at 4 p.m.
Only a year ago, falling ceilings and moldy rooms greeted residents returning after water levels dropped and an evacuation order was lifted. Many homes, including some spared by the waters, fell under the scrutiny of Lee County code enforcers, who ...