Florida, Punta Gorda | featured news

When a close-knit community loses a beloved member — like when Charlotte County lost sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Wilson on Aug. 5 to gunfire — experts say the amount of time needed to grieve is unknown.
What is known, they say, is when residents band together ...

The coffee-colored water that slowly has been invading Southwest Florida in recent weeks poses no serious health hazards to humans.
But to the fragile coastal ecosystems in the area, especially in the Gulf of Mexico, the damage can be substantial.
“We hav...

Charlotte County births
• Grayson Crouch, to Amy Coates and Dorian Crouch of Port Charlotte, at 12:57 a.m. Aug. 9. He weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce.
• J a’ Zen Xavier Noble, to Ashley Queen and Tony Noble of North Port, at 11:21 a.m. Aug. 12. He weighed 4 p...

Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club
• Slam Bridge winners Aug. 14: 1-Harold Clark, 4920; 2-Frank Betz, 3660; 3-Cleta Clark, 2820.

Charlotte Square Condominium Complex
• Charlotte County Bridge Group winners Aug. 10: Trudy Riley, 6080; Marty Lauer, 5750; Dee ...

CHARLOTTE COUNTY — Sheriff Bill Prummell reminds everyone to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over as the campaign by that name began today and runs through Labor Day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sponsors the campaign, ...

SARASOTA COUNTY — For those thinking about drinking and getting behind the wheel, local deputies are putting out a message that you may want to think twice — or just hand over your keys.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is participating in “Drive Sob...

Patients of the Charlotte County Health Department’s clinic will have rides next month from Englewood to Community Health Center of North Port.
Dr. Pierre Leroux is still seeing primary-care patients Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Englewood clinic, but th...

The state unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, while Southwest Florida saw seasonal fluctuations typical of this time of year, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday.
According to the DEO, Charlotte and DeSoto counties both report...

PORT CHARLOTTE — Following the Aug. 5 shooting death of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Wilson, local gun enthusiasts appreciate the minimal heat, if any, being put on them and their hobby.
“There is such a high political charge around guns and gu...

The state unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, while Southwest Florida saw seasonal fluctuations typical of this time of year, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday.
According to the DEO, Charlotte and DeSoto counties both report...