KATHERINE ALBERS

Golden Gate Fire Chief Robert Metzger has been selected for become the new fire chief for the City of Redondo Beach, Calif., the Redondo Beach City Manager Bill Workman announced Monday.

In a letter to the board of fire commissioners Thursday, Metzger announced he intends to resign his employment with the district. His employment with the department will end Feb. 10.

Collier County Commissioners approved paying David Scribner $61,250 to settle the suit and have it dismissed with prejudice. “I’m not happy. No one is ever happy when they have to sue their employer,” Scribner said.

“It is very sad that we must prepare for these types of situations, but in today’s unsettled world, it is a reality we must face,” Bonita Springs Charter Principal Deborah Tracy wrote.

County Manager Leo Ochs announced Friday afternoon that he selected Bruce Register as the director of business and economic development. Register accepted the job.

Collier County motorists who run red lights next year won't have cameras to catch them.

In all, commissioners voted to bring back 17 items for reconsideration in January, including employee contracts and contracts for the Marco Island Runway project.

Commissioner Georgia Hiller was named chairwoman of the commission Tuesday, after commissioners unanimously voted to remove Commissioner Fred Coyle has chair.

Commissioner Tom Henning placed 15 items on Tuesday’s commission agenda for reconsideration. The items range from contracts for employees to contracts for the Marco Island Runway project.

They had to talk about what they want to do to bring economic development in Collier County.

Michael Chen likes groundwork. In fact, sometimes it can be very fun.

Bruce Register said his career was shaped by the recession in the 1980s, which was in full force when he graduated from Florida State University with a degree in government and philosophy.

Bill Bradley became involved in economic development through an internship with the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce when he was a graduate student at Ball State University in the late 1980s.

As Naples Barbara Burkett prepared to leave for Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Wednesday morning, she felt calm.

“I think Capri realizes it needs to consolidate,” said Commissioner Donna Fiala, who represents East Naples and Isle of Capri.

American leaders do not have the luxury of waiting to solve economic problems like the exploding national debt, underfunded entitlements and a broken immigration system, former Secretary of State Condoleezza said Monday.

Collier Commissioner Donna Fiala is blowing past her competition in District 1 as early vote totals are released. She has 81 percent of the early vote. In District 5, commission candidate Tim Nance won 69 percent of the early vote.

His brother-in-law, Mike Anderson, wasn't so lucky. "The roof blew off at 6 p.m. on Monday," he said with a shrug. "The house had six inches of rain come in. It ruined all of the bedrooms, ceilings and walls."

In the last several years, parking lots have popped up around the airport, trying to lure travelers with lower prices. But Lee County Port Authority officials, which operate Southwest Florida International Airport, said they are holding their own when it ...

“We want to hear what the community thinks,” FDOT spokeswoman Debbie Tower said. “We consider everything — the cost, the engineering, the environmental components, the effects to area businesses.”

“When it comes to the (Collier Area Transit) system, I think we need to get rid of it. It is an inefficient waste of money,” Naples City Councilman Sam Saad said.

Despite protests from local residents, Collier County commissioners have voiced their support of a program to continue detaining undocumented immigrants.

The freeze — as in hiring — in Collier County government could come to an end.

Jennifer Edwards said her office has heard from five voters who received the letter, which she said falsely misrepresents her office.

Collier County is one of 11 Florida counties that will be eligible to receive federal disaster funds from damage sustained during Tropical Storm Isaac.

Reinhold Schmieding never saw himself as a business leader and innovator, and one of Collier County's largest employers.

The East Naples, Golden Gate, Immokalee and North Naples fire districts all signed on last month to become founding members of the Collier Fire Administrative Services.

“It’s amusing. People think they know me from my activism. That they know me from three minute sound bites I’ve said at the podium in the board room,” he said. “But they don’t really know me in those situations."

Wayne Crandall is a long-time voter, first-time campaign worker.

Most Golden Gate Estates residents don't know about the biggest issue facing them, according to Collier County District 5 commission candidate Tim Nance.

Last summer 45 neglected dogs were surrendered to Collier County Domestic Animal Services. This summer DAS officials have been working on new regulations to ensure it never happens again.

Claiming that Collier County commissioners are "abusing' employees and harming morale, the head of commission's staff asked to be fired Wednesday.

The end of the line for the Immokalee Area Master Plan amendment?

The Immokalee Area Master Plan amendment will get its vote before the Collier County commissioners. Commissioners Fred Coyle, Jim Coletta and Donna Fiala voted against Henning's motion to reconsider the Immokalee Area Master Plan amendment. Commissioner Georgia Hiller voted with ...

It's the end of the line for the Immokalee Area Master Plan amendment.

That net budget, along with a general budget of about $310 million, were set with the current millage rate of $3.56 per $1,000 of assessed property value countywide.

The CRA board is willing to remove language from the amendment that discusses a State Road 29 bypass, for example. But members are not willing to add a provision in the master plan recognizing non-conforming mobile home parks.

An outraged Georgia Hiller demanded that her fellow Collier County commissioners and the Naples Daily News retract statements made at a commission meeting insinuating that the Immokalee Area Master Plan amendment's votes could be bought.

If Gov. Rick Scott was looking for feedback from teachers on Florida's education system, he did well stopping by Lexington Middle School in Fort Myers Wednesday morning.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency wants Collier to give up more than $11 million in payments made to the county after Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina.

Four hours of debate, filled with accusations of paid votes and one Collier commissioner breaking his silence, ended without a decision on the Immokalee master plan amendment. Collier County commissioners voted 3 to 2 Tuesday to continue the vote on ...

Collier County commissioners approved a $1.98 million contract for the replacement of the White Boulevard bridge in Golden Gate Estates.

A local group says they found a way to save Collier County's independent fire districts more than $1 million — without cutting jobs or benefits.

When asked by email Wednesday what had changed that would allow him to vote on the amendment, Henning did not respond.

The goal is to help students find out what they want to do after high school and address their needs, whether they directly enter the job market or continue onto technical schools, community colleges or universities.

“We want to know, does it do what you need,” said Jim von Rinteln, a plans reviewer with the Collier County Growth Management Division, which is overseeing the project. “We want people who will use it to see

Although he lost Tuesday’s Republican primary, Coletta quickly points out that he will serve on the commission until November. And he has many things he would like to see accomplished before then.

“We want to know, does it do what you need,” said Jim von Rinteln, a plans reviewer with the Collier County Growth Management Division, which is overseeing the project. “We want people who will use it to see

“We are very well postured to respond,” said Dan Summers, Collier County’s emergency services director. “We drill frequently.”

As the primary election gives way to November’s general election, the spotlight is suddenly on challengers in races who many see as not having a chance, either because they are political novices, they are ru