LATEST ARTICLES
Cape Coral’s Veterans Day parade canceled due to Tropical Storm Eta
The City of Cape Coral has canceled its new “drive-in” Veterans Day parade due to expected rain from Tropical Storm Eta.
Wednesday’s audience-participation parade at Sun Splash Family Waterpark had replaced the city’s usual Veterans Day parade. That previous parade was canceled this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
The City of Cape Coral Special Events division announced the news yesterday afternoon on Facebook.
City leaders plan to recognize local veterans at a smaller event next week that won’t be open to the public, the message said. “If you have a Veteran in your family/inner circle, please send us their contact information to [email protected], so we can reach out to invite them!”
Pedestrian seriously injured in Cape Coral Traffic Crash
A pedestrian was hit by a car late Friday evening in Cape Coral. The crash happened near the intersection of Pine Island Road and Santa Barbara Boulevard.
The pedestrian, named as Kalon L Brooks by Cape Coral Police, was crossing northbound over Pine Island Rd and crossed the eastbound lanes directly in front of a Kia Forte.
He was rendered aid by the driver of the Kia as well as by other passing motorists, before being taken by ambulance to a local Hospital with life threatening injuries.
It is understood that the driver of the Kia was not impaired by alcohol or drugs and speed was not a contributing factor in this crash.
Crazy Cape Coral Fishing Capers make national news
Fishing tales are usually taken with a pinch of salt, but thankfully this incredible Cape Coral story was caught on camera. And the crazy incident involving 2 fishermen overboard, a rod and a 450-pound Goliath grouper has now made national news!
Day tripper Mike was fighting a land a fish of a lifetime Friday aboard Chew On This Charters with Captain Ben Chancey out of Cape Coral when the unbelievable tale happened.
Mike lost the fishing rod overboard, but fellow angler Jenny managed to use the anchor to retrieve the rod and allow Mike to finish reeling up the still-hooked fish.
Chancey explained to USA Today/For The Win Outdoors that about 20 minutes after the fishing rod was lost, Jenny said she could see it on the bottom in the crystal clear, 40-feet deep water and asked nearby boaters for goggles. One boater had some and passed them to her.
“Jenny was planning to dive down 40 feet to get the rod,” Chancey said. “I decided to drop the anchor down so she could follow the line to the rod and reel. While I was explaining what was going on , Jenny hooked the rod with the anchor and started pulling the rod up. The giant Goliath grouper was still hooked on the line.”
Jenny’s boyfriend Eric, who arranged the surprise trip for Mike’s 30th birthday, helped clear the anchor and line, and Mike finished reeling up the grouper.
“We are calling it the unforgettable fishing miracle,” Chancey stated.
Cape Coral police seek suspect in attempted homicide
The Cape Coral Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is looking for a man suspected in an attempted homicide.
The suspect is Juan Kendrick Nieves who is aged 47, 5’8” 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a red 2018 Chrysler Pacifica bearing Florida tag 6999VC. He is wanted in an attempted homicide investigation, and is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on Nieves or his whereabouts is asked to please contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223 or 911. You can also submit an anonymous tip at www.capecops.com/tips or https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous, send us a message through our social media platforms or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
Cape Coral city council will consider tomorrow temporarily expanding outdoor restaurant dining areas
Cape Coral city council is set to consider a plan tomorrow to allow restaurants to temporarily expand their outdoor dining areas.
If approved, restaurants would be able to utilize outdoor spaces such as parking lots to make sure tables are properly spaced out and and comply with social distancing.
“This would be a lifeline to allow us to create more room to allow our customers to eat safely. Without this, it would be difficult for us to implement social distancing without reducing the number of covers we have to a point where re-opening is not economically viable,” said one restaurant owner.
The temporary outdoor seating will have to follow guidelines laid out by the city.
Businesses must register with the city by emailing the name, location, contact information, and a description of the outdoor seating arrangements to [email protected].
Cape Coral’s K-9 unit take to marine duties like ‘dogs’ to water
The Cape Coral Police Department has over 250 sworn officers and 93 civilian staff, dedicated to keeping the community safe.
The Department has a number of units: Patrol, Investigations, Traffic, K9, Aviation, Marine, and others, to serve the varied needs of the Cape Coral community.
These departments sometimes cross-train to enhance operational capabilities.
This is especially true of the K-9 unit.
And so it was yesterday when the the Cape Coral Police Department’s Marine Unit took a very special member of the team out on patrol.
K-9 Kensy and K-9 Officer Clapp went on a ride along with Marine Officer Goff. This was K-9 Kensy’s first ride on a boat. K-9 Kensy looked like she really enjoyed her day on the water, and we are told did not get sea sick!
Lee County woman arrested more than twenty times for inhaling cleaning chemicals
Police responded to reports of a hit and run this week at the parking lot of a Cape Coral Walmart. Instead, they found Jodie Lynn Schroder slumped by her car, in and out of consciousness and inhaling a can of cleaning chemicals.
It appears that Schroder had been inhaling the chemicals in a practice known as ‘huffing’, a practice of breathing fumes in order to get high. Inhalants include chemicals found in such household products as aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, glue, paint, paint thinner, nail polish remover, amyl nitrite and lighter fuel. They are sniffed or “huffed” (act of inhaling vapors).
Schroder is no stranger to huffing. She’s been booked in the Lee County Jail more than 20 times. Many of those arrests are for cheap highs on common chemicals.
Huffing can cause severe brain damage and seriously afflicted individuals can be seen falling down and bruising themselves. When substances or fumes are inhaled through the nose or mouth, they can cause permanent physical and mental damage. They starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to beat irregularly and more rapidly. People who use inhalants can lose their sense of smell, suffer nausea and nosebleeds and may develop liver, lung and kidney problems. Continued use can lead to reduced muscle mass, tone and strength.
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife ask residents to keep an eye out for unmarked owl burrows
Volunteers with the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife are asking you to keep a close eye out for unmarked burrows made by burrowing owls.
Cape Coral is fortunate to have the largest population of the Florida burrowing owl of any place in the world. But with more people out walking, running, and biking due to the safer-at-home order, volunteers believe more people can help protect the threatened species by reporting their new burrows.
The Friends of Wildlife group is asking residents to report a new burrow being found by phone, so that a volunteer can come out to mark the area, put up a burrowing owl protection sign and add a perch for the owls to rest on.
If you find an unmarked burrow, call CCFW at (239) 980-2593. If you see the harassment of wildlife, you can call FWC at (888) 404-3922.
The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife have also issued extensive Burrowing Owl viewing etiquette on their website :
” Although it is wonderful to view these fascinating birds up close, we need to resist the temptation of loving them to death. To help protect this endangered species, state and federal laws prohibit the harassment of burrowing owls. This includes throwing rocks at them, trying to catch them, offering food items of any kind, or getting so close that their normal behavior is compromised in any way, especially during nesting season. Nesting season officially runs from February 15th through July 10th. What many people do not realize, especially since Cape Coral’s burrowing owls are so prevalent in established neighborhoods, is that your mere presence can adversely affect the well-being of the owls. Although the owls may appear content, or tolerant of your presence, if you are too close they may be afraid to leave the nest area to hunt for food for their young. If the owls start bobbing their heads, you are already too close. Bobbing their heads is not a way of saying hello, they are getting nervous and want you to back away. When viewing burrowing owls and taking pictures, you do not stay in the area around them for extended periods of time, and maintain a minimum distance of 15-20 feet. Please consider that other people also come from all over the world to view and photograph our burrowing owls. The cumulative effect of too many people, too close, for too long, could be devastating to the young. Consideration of their needs and well-being will help us to ensure that there are burrowing owls for many generations to come. Informational brochures are available at City Hall, the Cape Coral Historical Museum, local veterinary offices, and the Cape Coral Library. For more information please visit the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife website at www.ccfriendsofwildlife.org. Finally, please be considerate of residents’ property rights and right to privacy when viewing burrowing owls in Cape Coral. Do not park in residents’ yards or driveways or block traffic flow in City streets. You may contact the City of Cape Coral at [email protected] to request a map of recommended burrowing owl viewing locations.”
Cape Coral Police Issue Top Ten Commandments For People Buying Handguns
Gun shops across Florida have seen a surge in sales as a result of the Corona virus, particularly among first time gun owners.
One Miami store owner has seen sales almost double: “Our sales are up 80 percent, with a huge increase in first-time buyers who are worried about martial law, economic collapse, unemployment, shortages, delinquents roaming the streets,” said Alex Elenberg, manager of Charlie’s Armory, “If you can’t defend your house and your family, what good are you?”
Sales have even surpassed the reaction to 9/11 and category 5 hurricanes.
This trend has also been seen in Lee County. As such, Cape Coral Police Department have issued guidance for both first-time gun buyers and some reminders for experienced purchasers.
Cape Coral Police stated that, ”With the increase in gun sales, people who have never handled a firearm will be buying handguns. Some owners have seen handguns used by friends or in movies. Without training, Learning and understanding the safety rules and guidelines is crucial for new gun owners.
If you bought a firearm and are unfamiliar with its use, please have an instructor at a gun range or an experienced shooter show you how your firearm works and familiarize yourself with your firearm. Learn how it works, the ammunition required, how to load it and how to clean it safely.” THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF FIREARM SAFETY by Cape Coral Police Department 1. Watch the muzzle! Keep it pointed in a safe direction at all times. 2. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. 3. Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it. 4. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge. 5. Check your barrel and ammunition. Make sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions, and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm. 6. Unload firearms when not in use. Leave actions open, and carry firearms in cases and unloaded to and from your shooting location. 7. Point a firearm only at something you intend to shoot. Avoid all horseplay with a gun. 8. Always wear eye protection and hearing protection. 9. Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely. Store in secure locations beyond the reach of children and careless adults. 10. Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during shooting. Also avoid mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.$20k reward for information leading to arrest of Cape Coral dolphin killer
A $20,000 reward is being offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for information that leads to civil penalties or a criminal arrest following the death of a dolphin which had been shot in the head.
“These cases can rarely be solved without the public, people coming forward and saying they might have seen something, and we can follow up on that,” said Tracy Dunn, assistant director of NOAA’s Southeast law enforcement division.
The injury that killed this latest dolphin seems to have come at close range, and a tennis ball-sized hole in the right side of the dolphin’s head, just in front of the right eye, can be clearly seen.
It’s against federal law to feed or harass dolphins, and penalties can include a $100,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
Sadly, some people feed dolphins, and some dolphins will begin to rely on being fed by boaters and will start to approach them and get close to the boats. This can then lead to hostile encounters.
If you or someone you know has information about this crime, call the NOAA wildlife hotline at 800-853-1964.