Free Republic

Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis revealed how three of the looters were illegal immigrants 'who should not be in the US at all' 'These are people that are foreigners, they're illegally in our country, but not only that, they try to loot and ransack in the aftermath of a natural disaster,' he said In a warning to looters, Ron DeSantis said that Floridians would not be scared to evoke their Second Amendment rights if they caught an opportunist in their midst DeSantis has taken a similarly hard line when it comes to immigration Last month he was instrumental in sending...

Shocking before and after photos reveal the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian’s rampage across the scenic coastal town of Fort Myers and nearby areas Wednesday. The historic Category 4 storm ransacked wide swathes of the city, obliterating once pristine stretches of beach, leveling longtime tourist destinations and even buckling bridges. Taken from across the town of 85,000, the images capture the calm before the storm and the horrific reality of its aftermath.

All video is from the same location. The first 3 minutes is from a happy couples vacation video shot in January, 2022. Then is some video of three foolish kids playing in the rough surf. The last part is the scene of the devastation the next day. So sad...

Two people were killed and two others were injured when multiple gunshots were fired at a shopping center in Fort Myers, Florida, on Tuesday night, authorities said. "It does not appear to be a random act of violence," Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said late Tuesday. He gave no further information... NBC affiliate WBBH quoted a woman at the scene who said she was celebrating her birthday inside the restaurant Society at Bell Tower Shops when someone shot her husband in the chest as she was paying her bill. She told the station that the shooter then shot and killed...

At least two people were killed and 15 others injured in a shooting at a Florida nightclub, according to a local report.

Two people are dead and at least 13 others injured during a shooting at a Fort Myers, Florida, nightclub, according to Captain Jim Mulligan with the Fort Myers Police. Developing story - more to come

My wife and I are about 5 to 7 years away from retirement and we were looking to buy a retirement home in the Fort Myers / Cape Coral Florida area. I would greatly appreciate it if any "freepers" would just give me a few “what to look fors” and “what to lookout fors” when buying a home in the area. We are already aware of the “Chinese drywall” issues. Thanks - clifcrds

FORT MYERS - Fort Myers Police responded to a shooting at Edison Mall in Fort Myers on Friday that left one person dead. As of late Friday night, the suspected shooter is still on the loose. The shooting occurred around 9:00 p.m. outside the entrances of Macy's and JCPenney. Police say the victim, 25-year-old Thomas Arthur Goodman, suffered multiple gunshot wounds from a high-powered assault rifle. They say they believe the shooter shot around 50 to 60 rounds at him. Officers at the scene performed CPR on Goodman until Lee County EMS arrived. He was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital...

LEE COUNTY — The guy who turned heads with his emotional plea to Barack Obama during a town hall meeting in Fort Myers landed a gig with the Fort Myers Miracle. Julio Osegueda, 19, will will be the radio color announcer during the Miracle’s home opener on Friday, April 10 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Osegueda has worked at a Cape Coral McDonald’s for four years. When Obama called on him to ask the final question Tuesday, he praised the Lord for Obama’s visit and asked the president about his plans to help increase benefits for people like him.

Link requires subscription: Reaching out Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY) - Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Author: DC, Cynthia Benjamin, Staff Doctors and other medical staff volunteer time to treat patients BY STAFF WRITER CYNTHIA BENJAMIN Corey Hughes ‘ thyroid gland was bothering him - again. He needed medical attention, but had no money to get it. Hughes , 33, a computer programmer who lives in Rochester, has no steady job, no health insurance, no doctor. So, when Dr. Carolyn Mok examined him June 2 at Mercy Outreach Center on Webster Avenue, not only did Hughes get necessary treatment for his...

Julio Osegueda's question : "Oh it's such a pleasure to see you Mr President. Thank you for taking time out of your day. Ohhh, gracious God thank you so much! UAGGGGAAA", "Mr President. I am at Edison State college at my second semester . I have been at the same job at McDonalds for 4+1/2 years because of the fact that I can't find another job. Do you have any plan to make them give me any better benefits than what I already receive??" OBAMA ANSWERS: "...You will benefit from the tax breaks we are talking about, we will offset...

Wall Street might have blown Barack Obama a big collective raspberry for the underwhelming performance of his Treasury Secretary yesterday, but there are clearly still some passionate fans of the president out there. Perhaps the dramatic highlight of yesterday’s town hall in Ft. Myers, Florida occurred when a woman described herself as homeless to the president and asked for help. Pres. Obama asked the woman’s name, embraced her, and promised to do everything he could to help her. The president’s display of compassion manifestly moved another woman in the audience. Keep your eye on the woman in white in the...

Did Pres. Obama just happen to flip the coin and get heads-you-win a dozen or so times in a row? Apparently, if you believe Robert Gibbs. The White House press secretary has claimed that the neither the audience nor the questions would be hand-picked at the town halls the president conducted in Elkhart, IN and Ft. Myers, FL. I just finished watching the Ft. Myers event and . . . what do you know? Not one tough question. No one who challenged the wisdom of borrowing $1 trillion and letting Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid divvy it up. Instead, virtually...

Bishop's yoga ban is a stretch, parishioners say, Complaints end classes at south Fort Myers parish

[There an extra subject at the end of this. It has nothing to do with the main subject, but needed to be mentioned this week.] Before Thursday, I had never attended any ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. On that day, we went to Arlington for the inurnment of the ashes of a great friend, colleague, and teacher, Robert Carleson. I’ve written about Bob before, and any reader can find several find obituaries on him from months ago, when he died. Suffice to say, Bob did more for the long-term well-being of the United States than many who have served as...

At Least Ten U.S. Airports Face Closure Due to Jet Fuel Shortages Armbrust Aviation Group Press Release August 31, 2005… Airlines and oil companies are working on plans to supply jet fuel to at least ten U.S. airports that could be shut down due to a lack of jet fuel caused by refinery and pipeline shutdowns from hurricane Katrina. The airports in most jeopardy for closure include Atlanta, Charlotte, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Washington Dulles and West Palm Beach. AAG has learned that ChevronTexaco and Shell had cargoes loaded prior to the shutdowns destined for Florida ports. However,...

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - The sheriff's office was partly to blame for the death of a psychiatrist who was strangled by a jail inmate during a mental evaluation conducted in a soundproof room, a jury found. A federal jury found Monday that the Collier County Sheriff's Office was liable in the 2001 death of Dr. David Hoyer. But it found that the doctor himself was equally to blame, reducing the potential liability claim by half. Rodrigus Patten was not handcuffed or shackled while Hoyer interviewed him in an unmonitored, soundproof room at the Naples jail. Patten was awaiting a...

I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER [KJL] [Saturday] A reporter who has been around the president all day today e-mailed: I saw your post in the corner yesterday about Bush spending lots of time in Crawford this weekend. I see that you've since noticed him stumping Florida today. I've been with him...all day and am now awaiting him to arrive in Jacksonville where 40,000 or more people will fill Alltel Stadium (where the Jags play) for a rally. He helicoptered in to his first event in Ft. Myers, landing in centerfield of the Red Sox (ha!) Single-A affiliate to the screams of...

We arrived at 6am for a 10am appearance of the President. The line was already long. The crowd was estimated to be 12,000+. That’s no overestimation, every seat in City of Palms Park (Ft. Myers, Florida) was filled in addition to the infield. In my early morning scouting of the venue I noted that 1500-2000 seats had an obstructed view of the podium. In addition to the usual speeches by local dignitaries we were entertained be a country singer (Who’s name escapes me) that had the joint jumping. The President arrived and delivered a fabulous speech. It was George Bush...

A packed house showed up at FGCU in Ft Myers Florida today (10/14/04). Estimated at 2500+ The people showed up at 10am for a 12:30 appearence