Photos by MICHEL FORTIER

  • Michel Fortier/Staff
FGCU president Wilson Bradshaw sings along with the Eagles fight song in the first period of their game against the Florida Gators in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.  Florida Gulf Coast University lost to the Florida Gators 62-50 Friday March 29, 2013 in a Sweet 16 match at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
  • Deborah Price, mother of two students in fifth grade, speaks out against changing the start times which would start elementary students at 9:45am.  Price was one of dozens who spoke out on both sides of the issue during public comment at the Lee County School Board meeting Tuesday night.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Scanned 12/16/02
Published: 12/17/2002
Page: A01
Estero Incorporation
photo by Michel Fortier/staff

State Rep. Carole Green, R-Fort Myers, left, and state Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, right, listen to Don Eslick explain why he opposes the proposed incorporation of Estero in the Lee County Commission Chambers on Monday night.
Credit: Michel Fortier
  • In this file photo Chris Moriconi, right, spins his daughter Macy Moriconi, 9, in the waters off of Lovers Key State Park. The family was visiting from Kentucky. The Natural Resources Defense Council put out its annual water quaslity report Tuesday afternoon. Lovers Key State Park was on the report's list of popular beaches that got three of five stars for good water quality. Michel Fortier/staff
  • A lone worker surveys a vast roof looking for damaged tiles Tuesday, the day after Hurricane Wilma swept through Southwest Florida.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • 10/24/05-Five months pregnant, Maria Dolores Barra, center is consolded by friends Sara Blanco, left and Patty Lopez, right, after coming home to Glades Haven RV Park in Bonita Springs and finding her home destroyed by Hurricane Wilma Monday.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • It was clear to Bonita Springs resident Richard Morse that Docs Beach House wasnt taking any chances with Hurricane Ivan as he passes the popular beachside restaurant on his way down to Bonita Beach Monday afternoon.  Even though Ivan will miss Southwest Florida, theres still uncertainty over the possibility of tidal surge.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Walking to the edge of the flood water, Maqaureen Purcell, 75, breaks down after seeing the devastation in her community, Fairlane Harbor on Sunday, after Hurricane Frances did moderate damage.  It was the first time Purcell had been to her home since the storm.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Canton, Ohio residents Mike Hutcheson and his son, Owen Hucheson, 5, play paddle ball on the beach with friends Monday at Delnor Wiggins State Park.  Vacationing in Naples, the Hutchesons took advantage of warm weather and sunny skies to enjoy a day at the beach. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Ben and Marie of Thibobeau make their way into the special needs shelter at Palmetto Ridge High School Friday afternoon to pick out a bed and wait out Hurricane Dennis which is expected to cruise by Naples on Saturday.  It's the first hurricane for the Thibobeaus who moved to Naples this year.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Emergency response workers from around Lee County met at the Lee County Emergency Operating Center for a hurricane preparedness and coordination meeting Wednesday. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Worrying about his irreplaceable belongings being lost in a tidal surge, Bonita Springs resident Joshua Esters, 71, places what he can in the back of his pickup truck Monday morning in preparation for Fay's arrival Tuesday. It's Esters first full year of residency.   Michel Fortier/Staff
  • A dump truck passes by rows of drain pipe along East Terry Street in Bonita Springs which is currently on schedule in it's four lane construction project.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • An Isle of Capri home, one of many, received extensive damage along with the homeowner's boat after Hurricane Wilma swept through Southwest Florida early Monday morning.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Emergency response workers from around Lee County including Bill Floyd, left, and Werner Duswald, right, met at the Lee County Emergency Operating Center for a hurricane preparedness and coordination meeting Wednesday. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • A few businesses along Fort Myers Beach, including the Lani Kai were preparing  for Tropical Storm Fay which is expected to reach hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall somewhere near Fort Myers Tuesday morning.   Michel Fortier/Staff
  • 10/25/05-Pool cages and boats seemed to show the brunt of the damage, despite Marco Island being in Hurricane Wilma's bullseye.  A majority of the buildings showed little structural damage from the air.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • National Guardsman Sgt. Ryan Atkinson signals a Hurricane Wilma survivor indicating two cases of water Tuesday at a makeshift relief point in an East Naples parking lot where thousands arrived after a television station falsely reported the location as a source of relief aid.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • 10/25/05-Even with storm shutters in place, wind damage from Hurricane Wilma is evident in this North Gordon Drive condominium building in Naples Tuesday, the day after Hurricane Wilma slammed into Southwest Florida.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Volunteers Jim Meyers, left, and Jaciel Diaz, right, throw out the old tar paper off of a roof severely damaged by Hurricane Charley over a year ago during operation 'One Body, One Spirit' Saturday in Arcadia .  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Johnathan Perez, 2, looks out the murky glass of his mobil home Sunday at Pink Citrus mobil village on Pine Island.   The lack of resources immediately after Hurricane Charley led to a public outcry for help with supplies such as generators pouring into the community.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • A crew from Advanced Roofing out of Ft. Myers was one of two volunteer groups to help needy homeowners who otherwise would not be able to fix damaged roofs due to Hurricane Charley.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Dogs barrelling down the track at the Ft. Myers Greyhound track Sunday is a sure sign life is returning to normal in Bonita Springs in the wake of Hurricane Wilma.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Greyhounds zoom around the Naples Fort Myers Dog Track Wednesday, a track which is celebrating 50 years in business.  The track will feature a $50,000 derby race Saturday evening between eight champions to cap off the 50th Anniversary celebration, the largest prize for the winning dog in the track's history .  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Daniel Enrique Guevara Vilca enters a Collier County courtroom Thursday where he was found guilty of 454 counts of possessing child pornography. Vilca could face life in prison during his sentencing on November 3, 2011. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Communities and buildings surround Naples Bay as it heads off South into the Gulf of Mexico. Taken on December 1, 2009. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Broxon Award, player of the year, Carlos Hyde.
  • Full of passengers, the 'Snook II' makes it's way down a canal and back to the Gordon River.  While dense mangroves and other foliage make the stretch of water seem isolated, encroaching development is often closer than it first appears.    Michel Fortier/Staff
  • The Southwest Florida Land Preservation Trust will host a Gordon River Greenway Symposium from 8 to 11a.m. on Friday to discuss the impact of area development and concervation efforts for area surrounding the river and Naples Bay.  Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.
  • Michel Fortier/Staff
An unidentified driver left a trail of destruction along Lee Road in San Carlos Park Wednesday morning driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed and ultimately rear-ending another vehicle.  The out of control vehicle  came within a few feet of children boarding a school bus.  Two people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries as a result of the crash.  No children were hurt in the incident and Lee Road, just south of Alico Road, was closed to traffic for a period of time.  The driver had be be extracted from the vehicle by the San Carlos Fire Department who were on the scene within minutes along with the Lee County Sheriff's Department and EMS units.

Features