Punta Gorda has become the latest city to join the 287(g) task force. The City Council met Wednesday morning to discuss an agenda item approving a memorandum of agreement between the Punta Gorda Police Department and U.S The agreement deputizes the local police department to act in accordance with ICE to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the United States or question those they suspect to be undocumented Local residents expressed mixed opinions about the agreement I would ask you to please enforce federal and state local laws They’re protect me as an immigrant,” she said I understand the pressure from both the governor and the attorney general who has already threatened the city of Fort Myers.” she stated The Fort Myers City Council has planned a special meeting at 2 p.m Punta Gorda Police Chief Pamela Smith addressed the council to clarify any misunderstandings She explained that ICE would cover the cost of any specialized officer training while the city would continue to pay the officers' salaries Chief Smith also noted that officers who have volunteered for the program include a retired border patrol agent “We will not be going out and conducting raids or pulling people from their homes,” she explained “We won’t be entering schools or churches to search for people Officers will only perform duties related to the task force while carrying out their regular responsibilities.” the agenda item passed unanimously from the council had some legal concerns he felt obligated to address after the vote had already been made “As my time as city attorney is coming to a close but I must advise the city on legal matters,” he began I believe the police chief may be under the impression that the primary purpose of this agreement is to allow city police officers to serve administrative warrants which they currently do not have authority to do If this were the sole purpose of the agreement I would have fewer concerns about the city’s legal liability.” Referencing a specific paragraph of the agreement that grants officers the authority to question suspected individuals about their immigration status the city attorney pointed out that the agreement does not offer reimbursement for potential lawsuits and requires the city to have an interpreter available both of which would incur additional expenses for the city “The city is not legally required to adopt this memorandum of agreement,” Levin concluded would better protect the city from the broad scope of authority granted by this agreement.” The city council approved the entire agreement without stipulations Marco Island has also unanimously approved the 287(g)task force model and Collier County Sheriff's Office already enforces it WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome Presented by Southwest Florida Walking Tours join in for a memorable experience as we enjoy some of the culinary treasures Punta Gorda has to offer as well as exploring the history of the town Meet local restaurateurs and sample their specialties over the course of three hours and experience our renowned Punta Gorda hospitality while exploring the charming historic downtown from one end to the other Meet friendly restaurateurs and their staff Sightseeing stops include the historic County Courthouse Exact meeting location will be provided in your confirmation email © 2025 Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau The web server reported a bad gateway error — One firefighter was hospitalized after a brush fire on Easter in Punta Gorda according to Charlotte County Public Safety Crews said around 11:30 in the morning on Sunday Charlotte County Fire & EMS crews were sent to a brush fire on Ridgewood Court in Punta Gorda The fire was sparked by a lawnmower backfire on an empty lot Dry conditions make it easy for fires to start and spread quickly It spread to about 15 acres due to the warm Damage was limited to one fence and one shed One firefighter was transported for heat exhaustion Fla — The Punta Gorda charter captain at the center of a viral vessel fight bonded out of jail hours after his arrest on Friday Court records show Brock Horner paid his $20,000 bond on Saturday He'll be in court again for an arraignment on May 5 Horner is charged with first-degree felony - charged with burglary with assault or battery Watch what police said about the confrontation at the media conference: Punta Gorda Police said he boarded another man’s boat during a confrontation that happened under the Gilchrist Bridge on April 1 The viral video — viewed millions of times — showed Horner yelling at 22-year-old Gage Towles “He jumps from the helm of his vessel onto our victim’s vessel at one point grabbing the victim by the shirt,” said Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith At one point the victim starts to fear and moves away from Mr And he became so afraid for his life he contemplated jumping.” Smith said Horner was arrested Friday night in Port Charlotte She said the confrontation stemmed from an incident two days earlier when Horner accused Towles of boating without lights before sunrise.Watch the full press conference: Smith said Towles described Horner speeding by dangerously close to his boat “This type of aggressive behavior is not tolerated in our city and we’re going to handle it accordingly as we have We want to assure everybody that the City of Punta Gorda is a boater-friendly community,” said Smith The incident sparked backlash across social media “Once he crossed the line and jumped on the guy’s boat “I do believe that charter captain should lose his license because that was absolutely unheard of,” said another “You have to respect other people’s property,” a third added “You gotta be able to calm your emotions in situations like that,” said a fourth “Road rage is road rage no matter where it is,” added a fifth Punta Gorda Police said it’s still undecided whether Horner will lose his captain’s license Coast Guard said they are still conducting separate investigations Police said this is a reminder — when tempers flare on the water Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach offers unique events throughout the year and even major (and pre-major) baseball on offer Explore below for inspiration to schedule a visit in March: There is no better place (outside of Ireland) to celebrate St Even our Tiki boats are getting in on it. If you were lucky, you got to go on the St. Patty's Sunset Cruise by Punta Gorda Adventures complete with Celtic music and a beautiful sunset Fishermen's Village also throws a family-friendly St. Patrick's party Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach in March (and February) is the place to be for baseball fans of all kinds.  You may have trouble detecting any difference in play the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast is a peaceful gateway to Southwest Florida As Florida’s premier ecotourism destination you’ll find us to be free of crowds and off the beaten path yet still offer the comfort and amenities discerning travelers seek Situated on Charlotte Harbor with endless miles of natural shoreline we are home to unlimited outdoor pursuits like beaches Come find out why “Our Best Side is Outsidesm” — It's been over five months since Punta Gorda has had a functional hospital and some residents are getting concerned about the lack of emergency medical care The former Shorepoint Hospital in Punta Gorda closed in October after it flooded in Hurricanes Helene and Milton what was the city’s only emergency room and hospital Watch Fox 4's Alex Orenczuk report on concerns over not having a hospital in Punta Gorda: Without access to emergency care within the city longtime residents Jackie Evans and Joe Gallo told Fox 4 they are beginning to feel vulnerable “Our concern is not only for us but for the community “We don’t have a hospital and God forbid if a medical concern comes about we can’t even go to a hospital here.” AdventHealth officially bought the hospital in Punta Gorda along with the functional Shorepoint hospital in Port Charlotte According to an AdventHealth press release about the sale the company “plans to work with the Punta Gorda community to assess its needs and determine the best way to care for its residents.” Fox 4 asked AdventHealth if it has started the assessment process and what plans it has for the shuttered hospital in Punta Gorda A spokesperson for the company responded with the following statement: “We recognize the importance of access to care in Punta Gorda I can tell you our AdventHealth leadership is actively meeting with local community leaders We are assessing the needs of the community to determine how to best serve residents and we will share updates as we evaluate next steps.” According to Interim City Manager Melissa Reichert city officials have not yet met with AdventHealth Evans told Fox 4 those conversations can’t come soon enough “[They need to] get off their you know what and do something about it you know we should count for something,” said Evans Charlotte County Public Safety told Fox 4 most patients in the city limits that are transported by ambulance are taken to either HCA Florida Fawcett or AdventHealth hospitals in Port Charlotte Those hospitals are about a 10-15 minute drive north of the former Punta Gorda hospital something residents told Fox 4 is concerning as seconds matter in an emergency “If it's a heart attack it's a life or death situation minutes just click on and it can be a problem,” said Gallo Approvals for new car washes and storage facilities in Punta Gorda will be put on pause for a period of 180 days during a moratorium begininng after the next City Council meeting Feb 5 to review current zoning for car washes and storage facilities and implement criteria adopted by city of Cape Coral The moratorium provides the city time to review its regulations and establish criteria for those businesses Julian said Council decided to take a closer look at its current regulations after a zoning official approved a storage facility on U.S they decided approvals would be made by the governing body Maps indicating current car wash and storage facility locations and areas where zoning allows new ones were included in Council’s agenda packet in addition to city of Cape Coral’s amended changes One of the first steps Cape Coral took was changing car wash and storage facilities to Conditional Permitted Uses in certain zoning districts location requirements include a minimum separation distance between uses of 1 mile and only on parcels having primary frontage on certain roadways The facilities are to be located at least 500 feet away from any major intersection involving collector and/or arterial roadways and all systems and equipment must be completely enclosed within a building Cape Coral created specific regulations regarding location requirements there has been a proliferation of storage facilities and car washes built throughout Charlotte County such as trailers and recreational vehicles Deed restrictions prohibit keeping RVs parked in driveways in certain communities and most residential garages are not large enough to accommodate those types of vehicles new large vehicle storage facilities were developed in the city and county Typical ebbs and flows of the single-family home market do not have much of an impact on the ultra Four restaurant chains and a cake shop will join seven other businesses coming this year to the new Tree Farm.. the May 5 opening of the Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH takes the health care.. Not only has Chef Brian Roland physically and emotionally returned to public life in Southwest Florida after his life-altering tragedy.. Beeline is counting on thirsty folks making a beeline to its new upscale cocktail bar at Mercato in North Naples... The 72-unit Verandas III opened and is fully occupied on Airport Road marking the final phase in the redevelopment of.. Punta Gorda became the latest city in Florida to partner with U.S allowing some police officers to take on responsibilities typically handled by federal immigration agents Punta Gorda’s City Council unanimously approved the agreement which entered the city into ICE’s 287(g) program permitting select PGPD officers to be trained in immigration enforcement granting them the power to interrogate suspected illegal immigrants and to serve immigration arrest warrants among other ICE duties Watch Fox 4's Alex Orenczuk report on why the city attorney warned council members after their vote about a dozen people spoke against the agreement during the public comment section of Wednesday’s meeting many of whom were concerned about possible constitutional and civil rights violations “I disagree with local resources being used for federal actions that are unjust and unconstitutional,” said Linda Richardson “Will the police department start asking for a passport from anyone with dark skin or broken English?,” said Jim Blue Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith tried to quell some of those concerns during the meeting saying officers tasked with immigration enforcement duties will only exercise that power during their regular patrols She also noted the department planned to start with two officers “We are not going to go out searching and doing round ups and pulling people out of their houses” said Smith during the meeting this is just when they are in their normal course of duties.” It wasn’t until after council had voted that the City Attorney David Levin spoke up and gave his legal opinion on the agreement “The city is not legally required to adopt this memorandum of agreement,” said Levin He also stated that the agreement could open the door for lawsuits against the city if officers tasked with ICE responsibilities aren’t careful “This does create the potential for liability if the city does things that run afoul of constitutional rights,” said Levin “It does not provide for any reimbursement to defend the city in case of those lawsuits.” Fox 4 asked Levin why he waited until after the vote had taken place to opine on the agreement and he said the council did not ask for his opinion Smith told Fox 4 that she’s not worried about potential lawsuits against the city because her officers are held to a high standard of conduct “I’m not concerned because I'm still going to hold officers accountable for constitutional policing having an officer that’s more educated will probably in my opinion limit our liability more than increase it.” Vice-Mayor Greg Julian spoke with Fox 4 after the meeting and said Levin’s opinion wouldn’t have changed his vote and said that he’s confident that the officers trained by ICE will conduct their new duties responsibly “I had conversations with the police chief and we talked at length about the memorandum,” said Julian “I believe in her leadership and professionalism and that our police force won’t be going out of bounds It just enables them to handle the situations better because they will have the training.” Punta Gorda’s vote came just two days after Fort Myers City Council voted down the agreement in a 3-3 stalemate which led to criticism from state leaders including Governor Ron DeSantis Hurricanes over the last two and a half years have forever changed the look of Punta Gorda City Council will review plans for rebuilding and renovating the former Bayfront Activity Center site and City Hall building damaged by the storms A presentation will offer options for the Bayfront site on West Retta Esplanade The building was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian in September 2022 and sat in disarray until it was taken down the waterfront building was demolished several months ago Only a slab remains where the structure once served as a hub for community activities and was used by organizations Punta Gorda Boaters Alliance and Historic Punta Gorda Civic Association It also was rented out for special events and wedding receptions Council recently asked staff to evaluate the Bayfront building slab and provide options for the site outdoor tables covered by sail structures for shading and a pergola that could be used as a shelter for dining trees and additional accessible parking spaces also are among the recommendations will be discussed and input provided by residents will be reviewed 21 workshop where they brainstormed to find solutions and priorities for repairing the building while others viewed a video showing the current state of City Hall Among the public’s recommendations are fixing the 1978 addition putting a new roof on both the City Hall portion and addition and replacing flooring and ceiling tiles A mold investigation and remediation also were suggested The City Hall rehabilitation project is being funded by the 1% local option sales tax approved by voters The former City Council favored building a new City Hall with the least expensive of three options costing the city nearly $16 million and the most expensive being more than $19 million Present City Council members balked at the prices and unanimously chose to solicit estimates Jan 15 for repairing and rehabbing the structure built in 1927 and its attached 1978 addition will take place at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church Elevators at the Military Heritage Museum have been out of order putting it out of the necessary ADA-compliance for city meetings The city’s lease to use the museum’s Gulf Theater for meetings expires June 30 Council is seeking an interim meeting venue until the City Hall building can be reopened members discussed using the meeting room at city-owned Laishley Park Marina as an interim meeting place Past meetings were hosted at the Charlotte Punta Gorda Library and Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUPDATED with clarification on additional infractions filed by FWC (WWSB) - A charter boat captain caught on camera in a viral altercation with a fisherman is facing more charges from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Investigators with the Punta Gorda Police Department arrested Brock Horner after he was caught on video berating Gage Towles another boater under the Barron Collier Bridge. Horner was given a no-contact order after being granted bond in the incident promising he would not contact Towles or come with 500 feet of his place of employment or residence Horner was arrested earlier this month on charges of burglary with assault and battery charges the FWC filed two misdemeanors and three infractions with the State Attorney’s Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Charges include: Registering recreational vessel used commercially Horner bonded out of the Charlotte County Jail according to the sheriff’s website In the meantime attorneys for the victim have issued a statement asking for threats and harassment against Horner’s family to stop or threats of violence - please cease all efforts to do so,” attorney Steven Leskovich wrote on his law firm’s place Horner entered a written plea of not guilty to the charges — Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is expected to address Punta Gorda’s City Council on Wednesday over a controversial county take-over of the city’s 911 center Charlotte County Commissioners delayed voting on the resolution to give Sheriff Prummell an opportunity to speak with the city leaders it would make the county dispatch the initial answering point for all calls even those from within the city of Punta Gorda Watch Fox 4's Alex Orenczuk report on a controversial proposal to change who answers 911 calls in Punta Gorda: Calls for service within the city would then be transferred back to the city dispatchers something the city’s Fire Chief Holden Gibbs told Fox 4 could add to response times “I don’t see any benefit for the citizens of Punta Gorda,” Fire Chief Holden Gibbs said “My fear is that it might delay the amount of time for our apparatus to get out.” city firefighters can dispatch to an emergency in about 39 seconds which he says is faster than the county’s dispatch time “I think they’re able to do it in about 1:19,” said Gibbs we’re about 40 seconds quicker than they are right now.” Punta Gorda’s Police Chief Pam Smith also told Fox 4 the 911 call responsibility shift seems counter intuitive to providing better service for people in emergencies “Having 911 calls go to the sheriff’s office then back to us that's going to actually increase our response time,” said Chief Smith “It actually just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.” The proposal comes after the city council already unanimously voted against consolidating dispatches with the county in February According to county commissioners during the April 8 meeting pending legislation could soon require dispatches to consolidate anyway a recommendation by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission encourages dispatch centers to consolidate and eliminate transferring 911 calls in order to be more efficient said the way the city’s dispatch operates now is in compliance with the commission's recommendations “If you’re a primary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) you have to be able to dispatch to your first responders “Because we dispatch to our police and our fire She also noted that the city cannot dispatch ambulances but the city's firefighters have advanced life support equipment and paramedics on their vehicles Another benefit of having city dispatcher's field calls from within the city is the ability to change protocols to fit the needs of citizens if we notice something is not working or if there's an issue we can go in and address that immediately and make changes," said Chief Smith Chief Smith and Chief Holden are expected to address to proposal at Wednesday's city council meeting Lee and Charlotte Counties will hold a joint meeting in Punta Gorda on Tuesday including coordination efforts in Boca Grande and interested citizens are invited to attend and provide input meeting will be between the Lee Board of County Commissioners and Charlotte Board of County Commissioners and will be held at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a wide range of topics Anyone wishing to address the boards during this portion of the meeting must state their name for the record shall be limited to three minutes (max) and shall be addressed to the commission as a body There is also a regular Lee Board of County Commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m 941.964.2995 or 800.749.2995 Privacy Policy Copyright © document.currentScript.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', '' + new Intl.DateTimeFormat(document.documentElement.lang, {year: 'numeric'}).format() + ''); Sandpaper Marketing. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy Developer Taylor Morrison will unveil model homes from noon to 3 p.m 22 in its Esplanade at Starling community in Punta Gorda that will have nearly 600 residential units when built out Esplanade at Starling has numerous developments under construction Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade brand was launched in Florida more than 12 years ago and has since expanded to nearly 30 communities the Punta Gorda community was designed as a lifestyle resort for year-round living “Esplanade at Starling offers homebuyers an exciting array of planned resort-amenities matched with beautifully appointed homes,” said Barbara Kininmonth Taylor Morrison’s Naples Division president She said residents “will enjoy a stunning resort lifestyle experience that feels like you’re living your dream vacation every day.” Planned amenities include a resort-style pool and cabanas a fitness center and signature spa services A full-time lifestyle manager located on-site will plan a variety of special events The developer allows each homeowner to select their desired level of services available “We try to avoid mandating services within our resort-lifestyle communities to provide members the most freedom,” said Cammie Longenecker Taylor Morrison’s president of resort lifestyle The community will have a variety of home styles ranging in price from the low $300,000s to the low $500,000s The single-family homes are 1,364 to 3,004 square feet two to three and a half baths and two-car garages The HOA fee of approximately $350 per month covers landscape services — mowing lawn irrigation and annual mulch replacement for the landscape beds “Residents will also experience the benefit of living at a community overseen by a professional resort management team with extensive hospitality background and a global footprint providing such services,” Longenecker said Real estate inventory in Charlotte County is high as many homes were put on the market after recent hurricanes “We are seeing a healthy buyer demand across all buyer profiles Our Esplanade communities continue to be sought out for their signature resort-style amenities wellness programs and concierge services,” she said and it will have potable water and sewer services from Charlotte County Utilities an area where there is a potentially moderate risk of flooding 19 voted unanimously to keep its 911 dispatch center under city control in a move that blocks the county from consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office City Attorney David Levin advised that Council had the authority to exercise its home rule and keep its own dispatch center The city’s action was a reaction to Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell’s meeting with Charlotte County commissioners in December when he proposed Punta Gorda’s dispatch center be taken over by the county as 911 dispatch falls under the county’s jurisdiction Prummell shared his vision and goals for the future including consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the county and having a new dispatch center in Punta Gorda handle all police City Council members balked when they heard of his intentions and put the matter on their agenda for discussion residents urged council members to block the county from taking over Wendy Young lauded the city’s first responders and said they know how to “calm people down when they arrive.” Kathleen Davis spoke of how quickly first responders arrived at her Punta Gorda home that experienced a fire “We would not be in our house if it were not for dispatch,” she said Police Chief Pam Davis and Fire Chief Holden Gibbs explained dispatch should be kept local to provide quicker response time and better service Davis said that although the city has a “great partnership” with the sheriff’s department their departments are serving citizens “the way they want to be served.” who opposed the county taking over the city’s dispatch met with Davis and Gibbs and said she spoke with Prummell “You know our landmarks,” also noting Punta Gorda first responders are familiar with the city’s older population Lockhart asked Council to adopt a consensus to “put our chiefs at ease.” Polk made the motion and Lockhart seconded it No worries if you weren't in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach over Easter Because our area offers a plethora of family-friendly activities it's one of the most perfect places to go for Easter weekend but it's also a wonerful place to visit any time of the year!  As with most area, there were plenty of egg hunts, but no one else offered the unique experience of IguanaLand's Iguana Egg Hunt Peruse below to start planning for next year Taste of Europe Bistro presented a family-style Easter Brunch Many other restaurants were also open on Easter Sunday F.M. Don’s Laishley Crab House: 941.205.5566 Leroy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar: 941.505.2489 Ortigia Cucina & Bar: 941.646.8039 Tamiami Tavern: 941.639.6500 The Salty Tarpon: 941.844.1352 Winesett House: 941.637.9477 Farlow’s on the Water, 941.474.5343 Ken & Barb’s Grove City Kitchen: 941.460.8999 Landy’s Restaurant: 941.474.4292 Lock 'N Key Restaurant & Pub: 941.474.1517 The Waverly: 941.475.3500 The Easter Bunny also made several guest appearances at the  Port Charlotte Town Center Mall Aside from Easter events, you'll find more fun family vacation activities on our Things to Do with Kids page Why is Easter Sunday always a different date Easter is designated as the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the spring equinox Because the lunar calendar and the Gregorian (solar cycle) calendar are not in sync Easter can be any Sunday from March 22 to April 25 asked people to tone down the rhetoric after video of his client being attacked on his boat went viral "we respectfully request that all threats to Brock Horner's family and associates cease." no person should ever have to endear the experience that Mr Towles went through and the emotional aftermath that has followed Horner's actions will be dealt with through the appropriate channels of the criminal justice system." The viral video — viewed millions of times — showed Horner yelling at 22-year-old Towles Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith said Horner was arrested Friday night in Port Charlotte when Horner accused Towles of boating without lights before sunrise Court records show Horner paid his $20,000 bond on Saturday and left jail Horner is charged with first-degree felony - burglary with assault or battery the 40-year-old captain became emotionally unregulated and mistakenly bullied the younger fisherman the captain threatened the young man with violence and then boarded and commandeered his boat The young man was able to talk the captain down and the incident ended without harm But not without trauma: If you watched and listened to the video you could hear the terror in the young man's voice and I feared the amped-up hate speech could lead to violence for students or members of our community most of us have witnessed situations where "tempers flared." We can recall seeing incidents of bullying in checkout lines at sporting events or during road-rage encounters; at the very least we have all viewed examples of it on social media Black and brown low-income communities and college professors – just to name a few – have been expressing feelings of persecution and bullying because of: Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency raids.The elimination of diversity   Have the government and elected officials become bullies as well Although bullying was not originally considered an "Adverse Childhood Experience" – commonly referred to as an ACE – many mental health trauma experts now view it through that lens ACEs are traumatic events that have negative lasting effects on a child’s development and that affect how they interact with others. Nearly two-thirds of all adults have reported one ACE in their backgrounds, and 1 in 6 adults have four or more ACEs, according to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System the nation’s premier apparatus of health-related telephone surveys Our charter boat captain is a veteran U.S. Army paratrooper who had suffered a traumatic brain injury during his service in Afghanistan He is recognized as 100% disabled by the U.S Although this is no excuse for the boat captain's behavior it is an example of how trauma – and in his case post-traumatic stress disorder – can interact with our daily lives Recently SRQ Strong hosted a panel discussion on the topic of school bullying A key takeaway from the discussion was the acknowledgement that bullying behavior is often a result of unresolved trauma experienced by the bullies themselves a reality evidenced by multiple research projects perhaps the next time we see an incident of “tempers flaring,” we will react with a new understanding Instead of asking the question "What is wrong with that person?" we will ask “What happened to that person?” – and we will respond with compassion rather than a rush to judgment trauma does not distinguish between gender Tom Edwards is the executive director of SRQ Strong and a member of the Sarasota County School Board Punta Gorda’s City Council will be the latest Southwest Florida municipality to vote on entering into a partnership with the U.S which would allow PGPD officers to take on immigration enforcement duties which would train certain PGPD officers to help with federal immigration enforcement tasks These officers would be granted “the power and authority to interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States,” among other ICE duties Watch Fox 4's Alex Orenczuk report on Punta Gorda's proposed agreement with ICE: President of Charlotte County’s League of United Latin American Citizens told Fox 4 that giving city officers these powers could lead to racial profiling and civil rights violations “This is outside the auspices of what the city police should be doing in every sense of the word,” said Lara “I think that raises the question of racial profiling and I think that is definitely a risk in this context.” Lara also said immigrants living in Punta Gorda am I going to be subject to being asked questions Whether or not I’m a citizen?,” Lara asked Fox 4 asked PGPD Chief Pam Smith for clarification on Lara’s concerns and how officers would carry out these ICE duties if the agreement is approved by council “All Punta Gorda Police Officers are expected to adhere to policies that prohibit racial profiling and require constitutional policing They will continue to be held accountable for protecting the constitutional rights of everyone they encounter,” Smith told Fox 4 in a statement Smith added that the department would start with two officers who would use their immigration enforcement authority only during their regular duties “No one will have to cover their regular responsibilities Selected officers will continue in their regular assignments They will have the authority to execute ICE warrants when they come across a wanted person during their regular duties or as a backup officer if another officer encounters someone wanted on an ICE warrant,” Smith explained Smith said that ICE would be footing the bill for training and the city would not incur any costs other than paying the officer’s salary during training the City of Fort Myers voted against entering the agreement in a 3-3 vote The move prompted state leaders like Congressman Byron Donalds and Governor Ron DeSantis to criticize the council members who voted against the agreement It also prompted AG James Uthmeier to issue the city a letter stating the move “constitutes a serious and direct violation of Florida Law Punta Gorda’s City Council will vote on the agreement during the March 19 meeting which starts at 9 a.m the only gated 55+ community for active adults within the desirable Babcock Ranch master plan in Punta Gorda The community clubhouse features a resort-style swimming pool Residents can also enjoy outdoor activities including pickleball a dedicated onsite Lifestyle Director plans an array of social events for residents “Regency at Babcock Ranch offers a unique blend of luxury living and an active lifestyle with our newly opened amenity center,” said Tom Murray Regional President of Toll Brothers in Florida “We are thrilled to provide our residents with top-tier amenities that promote a vibrant and engaging community.” Toll Brothers offers homes available for home shoppers on every timeline including the option to select a build-to-order home Stunning single-family and villa home designs already under construction in Regency at Babcock Ranch include flexible floor plans with 2 to 4 bedrooms Toll Brothers customers choosing a build-to-order home will experience one-stop shopping at the Toll Brothers Design Studio The state-of-the-art Design Studio allows home buyers to choose from a wide array of selections to personalize their dream home with the assistance of Toll Brothers professional Design Consultants Regency at Babcock Ranch is nestled within the thriving Babcock Ranch master plan offering residents access to picturesque walking trails and additional resort-style master plan amenities The community’s low-maintenance living ensures that lawn care and exterior home upkeep are included allowing homeowners to fully enjoy their surroundings The Toll Brothers Sales Center and model homes are located at 44453 Little Blue Heron Way in Punta Gorda. For more information on Regency at Babcock Ranch and other Toll Brothers communities in Florida, call (844) 551-2787 or visit TollBrothers.com/FL Toll Brothers, Inc. is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes The Company was founded 58 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986 Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” The Company serves first-time Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona The Company operates its own architectural The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@tollbrothers.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b7b5d22-e32c-4e9c-be46-171db4563741 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6ecd85d-9dd4-45c5-a89b-db00de49f19d Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG) — The Punta Gorda Police Department has arrested 40-year-old Brock Horner The charter boat captain at the center of a boat rage incident on Charlotte Harbor The Police Department says following an investigation Horner was arrested and charged with Burglary with Assault or Battery Police say after reviewing video evidence their marine unit established probably cause to charged Horner in connection with unlawful boarding and threats made during the altercation escalating the situation into a criminal offense." Gage Towels posted the video of the incident on social media and it's now gained national attention many online calling for the arrest after seeing the video Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Coast Guard are also conducting separate investigations No word yet on whether the captain will lose his license  “This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our waterways—or anywhere else in our city,” said Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors -- Punta Gorda Police is investigating an altercation between two boaters in their area that has garnered significant attention on social media Police say the incident happened on Tuesday under the Barron Collier Bridge in Punta Gorda Several viewers sent WEAR News the video believing the incident took place in Northwest Florida but it actually happened in the city located in Charlotte County in Southwest Florida Punta Gorda Police say a report has been filed with their department The incident involving two adult boaters is currently under investigation by police and FWC 18K shares and nearly 30K reactions on Facebook "The event has garnered significant attention on social media and we are receiving numerous calls to dispatch requesting that the department take action," Punta Gorda Police said Thursday morning "Please do not call to report this situation; it is currently being investigated by both the Punta Gorda Police and FWC Additional calls to our dispatch could slow our response to situations that require immediate attention." The City of Punta Gorda has rescinded a Precautionary Boil Water Notice that was placed days earlier due to a low-pressure event in the distribution system Resident customers no longer need to boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking The alert was issued Thursday evening after the city's utilities staff observed an increased demand for water at the Bal Harbor booster station According to information issued by Punta Gorda factors contributing to this event include: Other recommendations made by the city include urging residents to conserve water as the region enters the dry season This includes limiting irrigation to one day per week Artist and teacher Megan Roebuck is the of Sunshine Art Studio in Punta Gorda Megan Roebuck standing outside of her new Sunshine Art Studio in Punta Gorda and Megan Roebuck share an interest in the arts and creativity A young Megan Roebuck and her sister Tori Grant with their artist grandfather PUNTA GORDA — When Megan Roebuck was a child her watercolorist grandfather inspired her to become an artist Roebuck and her sister Tori would often accompany him to art galleries where his work was on display Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account 2024 at 11:20 AM ESTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - A Charlotte County man is in jail after deputies say he shot another man during a dispute at a Punta Gorda motel deputies were called out to the Jo El Motel on Tamiami Trail in Punta Gorda where a man had been shot in the stomach Deputies quickly secured the scene and with the help of a Punta Gorda Police officer also located the alleged shooter who had remained at the scene Deputies say Madison had accompanied a female to the motel and remained outside as she met with the victim at his room When the victim learned the suspect was outside he went to the parking lot to confront the suspect the argument turned physical when the victim entered the vehicle the suspect was in and the fight then moved to the ground outside The victim is listed in critical condition Thornberry was hired by clients to demolish and build two new homes on their Chasteen Street properties within the Punta Gorda Historic District little did he realize he would be embarking on an odyssey laden with roadblocks lasting nearly three months After multiple appearances before City Council he was able to apply for demolition permits in late January and recently began to work with Mayor Debi Lux on establishing new criteria for the city going forward Thornberry contends the home at 111 Chasteen St was arbitrarily placed on the local historic registry by a former staff member two-bath home on slab is located near the Peace River and was flooded multiple times including five times over the last year and a half from king tides and hurricanes Helene and Milton The city initially determined it was a historic home and subject to different rules due to its location in the 50-acre Historic District that has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991 If a home is designated to be in a historic district or of historic value it is not subject to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 50% rule limiting the cost of repairs or improvements to a damaged home to 50% of the home’s market value The Punta Gorda Historic Preservation Advisory Board on Dec 17 voted 4-2 to deny delisting the home from the local historic register but unanimously approved delisting 359 Chasteen St which originally agreed with the board’s decision Thornberry invited council members to tour the home with broken windows and an intrusion of water that allowed mold to grow He said it was a hazard because children could enter the heavily damaged structure and be injured If the city elected to keep the home on its local historic register demolition would be delayed as the owner submits a structural engineering study and obtains a certificate of appropriateness The months-long process would have ultimately delayed the inevitable City Council voted 4-1 favoring delisting 111 Chasteen St while unanimously approving 359 Chasteen St Lux voted against delisting 111 Chasteen St. Thornberry said the owner of 111 Chasteen St seeks to begin new construction as soon as possible with the design for the new home currently being developed 1,500-square-foot Craftsman-style structure to keep with the architecture of the city’s Historic District “My frustrations with the process boiled over at the last meeting and I took no pleasure in my exchanges with Mayor Lux We have since reconciled and we plan to work together going forward,” Thornberry said “My goal is to create a criterion that can be utilized at the staff level to help expedite the process to delist properties where warranted and allow people to efficiently and effectively invest in their own property and ultimately our city.” put their plans on pause after a neighbor expressed interest in purchasing the property — A disturbing video of a charter boat captain harassing a young fisherman in Punta Gorda is going viral and the incident is being investigated by authorities The video was posted to Facebook by 22-year-old Gage Towles showing him fishing alone on his boat near the US-41 bridge in Punta Gorda drives his boat near Towles and begins questioning him about his use of lights Watch Fox 4's Alex Orenczuk report on a viral video of a charter captain harassing a young fisherman: Horner accuses Towles of not turning on his boat’s safety lights earlier that day before dawn and that another boater near the bridge was the one with their lights off Horner gets closer and closer to Towels boat before Horner is heard declaring that he’s “the best charter captain you will ever meet,” and boarding Towles’ boat Several other men were on Horner’s boat at the time Towels apologizes and says "I'm just a kid." the video received more than 8.5 million views People criticizing Horner have posted their reactions to the video online and even local Jiu-Jitsu instructor Spencer Mumme who challenged Horner to take his anger out in the gym but when you tap out or you go to sleep you’re going to have to apologize to that kid,” Mumme said in a video Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and United States Coast Guard have stated the agencies are investigating the incident A spokesperson for USCG also provided Fox 4 with a statement According to the North Port Fire Department one of the men on Horner’s boat may have been a city firefighter Another man posted an apology video to @scootdaddyangling claiming he’s a photographer and was on the boat with Horner Captain Coby Leahey told Fox 4 that Horner’s behaviour makes him cringe I was almost kind of embarrassed for him yelling out he’s a charter captain this and that told Fox 4 that boat rage is a common occurrence it's just not as widely experienced as road rage “I wish I could say it's uncommon,” said Frank “But the circumstances of this one with the boats and jumping back and forth and the hollering and the greatest captain in the world that’s kind of sending it a little viral.” Florida Fish and Wildlife who is also investigating the incident sent this response: "The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is aware of a boating incident that occurred on April 1 near the Barron Collier Bridge in Punta Gorda Coast Guard are investigating this incident we will provide an update when we are able to do so." — Fire officials say a zero-turn lawnmower sparked a 20-acre brush fire near I-75 and Tuckers Grade It started on Willowleaf Boulevard in Punta Gorda around 2:30 p.m Crews received help from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office helicopter Charlotte County Fire and EMS says no homes or structures were damaged "This is your friendly reminder that Charlotte County remains under a burn ban until further notice," Charlotte County Fire and EMS posted online — Charlotte County Fire and EMS responded to a residential fire on Baynard Drive in Punta Gorda.According to fire crews two homes were impacted by the fire and are now uninhabitable.There was one minor injury from the incident.A cat in one of the homes also did not survive.The fire has been deemed accidental and the cause has not been determined When Punta Gorda City Council members visit the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee during a committee week in February one of their priorities will be requesting funding to purchase high-water rescue vehicles to be used during future flooding and natural disasters Mayor Debi Lux wrote to Charlotte County’s Legislative Delegation — state Sen Danny Nix and Vanessa Oliver — to explain why the equipment was needed Referring to a Lenco BearCat G3, she wrote the vehicle, loaned to the city by the North Port Police Department, was used during Hurricane Helene last year to help rescue 121 people who were stranded in their homes and vehicles the Lenco BearCat is a combined armored personnel carrier and high-water enclosed rescue vehicle that allows for the rescue of multiple people at a time in addition to having enough room for four officers Lux wrote the vehicle has a seating capacity of 10 to 12 people and can drive through 40 inches of standing water “allowing us to rescue stranded motorists and residents in their homes during hurricanes or the regular flooding in the city that occurs with heavy rainfall.” The Punta Gorda Fire Department also recommended the city purchase a Zeal Motor Inc One was used during recent hurricanes and was loaned to the city by Supertrak Inc The vehicle is enclosed and allows for the rescue of multiple victims at once in addition to having enough room for rescuers It has a seating capacity for eight people The vehicle is amphibious and can traverse dry or flooded areas Other pieces of equipment — two swamp buggies and a Jon boat and trailer with a mud motor — were requested by the fire department The cost for the vehicles is estimated at $172,000 trailer and mud motor is estimated at $9,000 “The City Council will select either the swamp buggies and Jon boat or the Fat Truck for the fire department and the BearCat at the request of the police department,” Interim City Manager Melissa Reichert said Lux said the city will request funding for several high-priority projects including Tiger Dams for storm and flood mitigation and funding for the design of a recommended solution derived from the Downtown Flood Study the city will seek funding for additional seawalls docks and pathways replacements and for lighting and electrical panels damaged during the hurricanes Funding is also being sought to convert aquifer storage and recovery wells to production wells and to expand the city’s reverse osmosis water treatment plant Punta Gorda also seeks to acquire land to build a new Public Safety Center in addition to advocating for funding for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather station