Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Veterans from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq came together to remember and honor each other and all other service men and women Thursday at Hodges University. They also came to hear retired Maj. Gen. James Dozier, who was awarded the Silver Star for heroism and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat in Vietnam.

A 20-year-old man was stabbed to death during a fight in East Naples on Tuesday evening, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
The name of the victim was not released by press time.

I’d like to know when the traffic lights will be in operation at U.S. 41 and 91st Avenue North at the entrance of The Mercato.

A Golden Gate Estates man initially charged with using a knife to try to rob and rape a woman visiting her brother’s grave 2 1/2 years ago has been judged not guilty by reason of insanity. It was the unusual behavior of “Joseph” Jose Eduardo Rodriguez, 31, of 6017 Pine Ridge Road, and doctors’ reports that ended in the prosecution and defense agreeing last week that he wasn’t guilty of armed robbery.

A 55-year-old Immokalee man is behind bars, accused of locking a woman inside his house, striking her with a hammer and forcing her to have sex with him. Lauro Garcia Canales, 597 Ninth St. N., was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment of an adult, and threatening a witness.

Major League Baseball Hall-Of-Famer and part-time Southwest Florida resident Johnny Bench has written an inspirational book.

A program at a local church is answering the prayers of thousands of families. It allows them to purchase healthy food at less than half the retail price and anyone is eligible to sign up.

Some residents are turning to golf carts instead of their gas guzzling vehicles in order to save money.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden was among several names rumored to be in the mix for the soon-to-be vacant University of Tennessee head coaching position. Tuesday, Gruden says he wants to stay right where he is.

Prices at the pump have plummeted, but does less money going towards gas mean people will spend more this holiday season on gifts?

Going green is the new buzz phrase filtering its way into the Collier County school system. Now, students are getting a first-hand look and what it actually means.

Gun shop owners all over Lee County are reporting high sales since Barack Obama won the presidency a week ago.

Twelve Naples firefighters have a report card worthy of hanging on the fridge. Three months after failing a test to prove they could function under Collier County’s medical protocol, the 12 firefighters have completed a 40-hour refresher course and passed a corresponding test with flying colors.
“They all scored 100 percent or nearly 100 percent and are back in service,” Collier County Medical Director Robert Tober said. “They took it seriously and jumped on it.”

Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol are on the lookout for a Ford Explorer that they believe may have struck and killed a bicyclist near Immokalee in early November.