Several LeeTran bus routes will begin seasonal schedules.
Starting Sunday, Nov. 21, the seasonal schedules will begin, including the tram on Fort Myers Beach and the Fort Myers River District Trolleys.
The seasonal changes are:
Fort Myers Beach seasonal tram service will begin Sunday, Nov. 21. Beach Trolley service will begin more frequent arrivals and departures with expanded hours on Jan. 2.
Fort Myers River District Trolleys (Blue 500 and Gold 505 lines) will begin seasonal service on Sunday, Nov. 21.
The Blue Line runs through downtown Fort Myers. The route loops from the Oasis Condominiums to West First Street and McGregor Boulevard along First Street, then to Rosa Parks Transportation Center, Fowler Street and Second Street.
The Gold Line connects North Fort Myers to downtown Fort Myers. The route leaves from the Rosa Parks Transportation Center, travels over the Caloosahatchee Bridge, makes a left on Hancock Bridge Parkway, left on Moody Road, right on Skyline Drive, and right on Hancock Bridge Parkway. The route continues to Beau Drive, makes a left on North Key Drive, right on North Cleveland Avenue, then back across the bridge to First Street and returns to Rosa Parks Transportation Center.
Year-round changes are also planned to begin Nov. 21:
Route 600, Coconut Point to Creekside Transfer Center in Collier County, will transition to a year-round schedule that starts earlier in the day and ends later in the evening with increased frequency.
Beginning Nov. 21, two routes will be interlined on all trips – they are Routes 240, Bell Tower Shops to Coconut Point, and Route 600. Interlined routes allow riders to continue on to their destination without transferring buses. At the end of the Route 240, the bus will continue on to the Route 600 and vice versa. Riders on board will not have to pay an additional fare to continue on this interlined route. This route becomes the 600 without the need to transfer at Coconut Point. This is also the case when traveling northbound.
Route 40, from the Cape Transfer Center to Coralwood Shopping Center, will add 15 minutes to each arrival/departure throughout the day. Beginning and end times will not be affected.
Route 20, which serves east Fort Myers, will no longer enter the Eastgate Shopping Center on Palm Beach Boulevard but will continue to serve surrounding stops. There will be no changes to the route schedule.
Complete information about these changes can be found after the changes take place at RideLeeTran.com or by calling customer service team at 239-LEE-TRAN.
Due to a mechanical failure, the Chiquita lock is down.
The lock doors will be open and boaters may pass at their own risk. Boaters are advised to utilize the red light/green light function while transiting, to determine when it is your turn to go through.
There will be no operator after 10:00 p.m.
Please use caution while transiting the Chiquita Lock. Crews are working to determine the cause of the failure.
Officers responded to a residence in south Cape Coral in the middle of the night to a report of a shooting, and were able to get the suspect into custody and the victim needed assistance.
On October 1st, 2021 at around 1:30 a.m., Cape Coral Police Patrol officers responded to 808 Miramar Street, Unit 4, after it was reported a man had shot his neighbor. The officers established a perimeter to contain the scene and the suspect, identified as Kevin Guillory (B/M, DOB: 9-20-83).
Communication was established with Guillory, and the Bearcat vehicle was utilized to provide safety for the officers attempting to have Guillory exit the home. Guillory ultimately did come out peacefully and was taken into custody.
The victim was transported to a local hospital with a non life-threatening injury.
Detectives with the CCPD Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation, and Guillory was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, improper exhibition of a firearm, and using a firearm while intoxicated. He was transported to the Lee County Jail.
ARRESTED: Kevin Lester Guillory, B/M, DOB: 9-20-83, of 808 Miramar Street #4, Cape Coral FL. CHARGES: Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Improper Exhibition of a Firearm, Using Firearm while Intoxicated
Lee County commissioners voted to allocate an additional $208,671 in Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act funds to help rapidly rehouse about 30 households experiencing homelessness.
The allocation is part of the board’s continuing commitment to assist those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 530 individuals have been rehoused using pandemic funding from various sources.
Lee County Human & Veterans Services serves as a collaborative hub for resources—federal, state, local, private and nonprofit—designated to aid Lee County residents through supportive programs and services.
The county accepted emergency solutions grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in June and December 2020. This action allocated funds from administration and outreach to rapid rehousing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness, call 239-533-7996.
The population in Southwest Florida continues to grow, as does the rental market. Southwest Florida appears to be in high demand and, as a result, prices for rental properties have risen considerably.
Out-of-state residents search the internet for affordable housing in our region and a sizeable number of Lee County residents appear to be searching for more affordable rental options.
Finding affordable housing is often a difficult task…and the scammers know it.
When searching for rental properties, be alert to ads listing a price significantly lower than that of similar properties.
Renters should not sign any document prior to inspecting the property…both inside and out. Renters have been scammed when attempting to rent properties that don’t exist or are not for rent.
Never wire money as a deposit or payment for the first and last month’s rent…especially without a signed and verified lease.
Requests to wire money overseas or to send gift cards as a form of deposit should never be considered.
Additionally, don’t allow your online property search to result in identity theft. Do not share your personal information without verifying the identity of the party that you are dealing with. Be careful. Hackers can easily change the contact information in an existing online ad…making it seem reputable.
The FTC has a very helpful hotline…1-877-FTC-HELP. Don’t hesitate to use it when concerned or scammed.
A vehicle traveling eastbound on SW 19th Street slammed into the back of a parked vehicle, pinning a man between the two vehicles. Traffic Homicide Investigators and a Victim’s Advocate responded to the scene.
DATE: September 22, 2021, at approximately 7:30 am, at 406 SW 19th Street in Cape Coral.
VEHICLE 1: 2017 gray Nissan Sentra, 4-Door Car, Florida tag, driven by a 26-year-old male, from Cape Coral, who suffered no injuries in the crash.
VEHICLE 2: 1997 white Ford Expedition, SUV, Florida tag. VEHICLE 3: 2003 green Ford Expedition, SUV, Florida tag.
PEDESTRIAN 1: Juan Jose Jaime Franco, H/M, DOB: 8-12-86, of Fort Myers, FL. Franco suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the collision and later succumbed to those injuries. ***On September 22nd at 8:22 pm, contact was made with the District 21 Medical Examiner’s office who informed THI Investigator Wilson that Juan Jose Jaime Franco died at 4:28 pm, as a result of his injuries sustained in the crash. The next of kin has been notified.***
SYNOPSIS:
Vehicle 2 was properly parked, partially in the roadway, in front of 406 SW 19th Ave.
Vehicle 3 was parked in front of Vehicle 2, front bumper to front bumper.
Vehicles 2 and 3 were unoccupied.
Vehicle 1 was traveling East on SW 19th Ave approaching 406 SW 19th Ave.
Pedestrian 1 was collecting tools from the back of Vehicle 2, in preparation for the day’s work on a home under construction just East of 406 SW 19th Ave.
Driver of V1 stated he was unable to see due to window condensation combined with the sunrise glare.
Vehicle 1 collided with Pedestrian 1 and Vehicle 2 consecutively, pinning Pedestrian 1 between Vehicle 1 and Vehicle 2.
Pedestrian 1 suffered life-threatening injuries in the collision and had to be extricated by LCEMS and CCFD.
SPEED and IMPAIRMENT are NOT considered factors in this collision.
