breaking
Charlotte County Schools will remain closed through May 1, Superintendent Steve Dionisio told staff and parents Monday night.
Here are the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) statistics available for Florida and our area counties, as of 6:30 p.m. March 30. The next update will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
featured
ARCADIA — A 91-year-old DeSoto County man was reported to have died Monday due to coronavirus, according to the Florida Department of Health.
PUNTA GORDA — Closures continue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In this case, however, it’s because of people not sticking to social-distancing guidelines.
featured
PUNTA GORDA — At Alligator Bay Distillers, alcohol is a multi-purpose item.
All Charlotte County Library locations are closed through April 12, due to the COVID-19 issues and the need for everyone to practice social distancing. For the latest information about COVID-19 visit https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Information.aspx.
As you might expect, there is very little “new” material to write about this week, with all of our efforts focused on getting information to our members about where to get the latest and best advice about future developments in the commercial sector, regarding COVID-19. The Punta Gorda Chamb…
breaking
ARCADIA — The first death due to coronavirus in DeSoto County has been reported by the Florida Department of Health.
breaking
A Punta Gorda motorcyclist died in a crash Saturday, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
topical featured
VENICE — Between Senior Friendship Centers in Charlotte, DeSoto, and Sarasota counties along with the state of Florida Department of Elder Affairs, help is at hand for seniors.
Add James Collum to the more than 3.3 million U.S. citizens looking for unemployment benefits.
With schools closed statewide until at least April 15 due to COVID-19, Charlotte County Public Schools has furloughed its substitute teachers.
Stressing it’s not a quarantine or a curfew, Charlotte County and Punta Gorda leaders are asking residents to use “safer-at-home practices” to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
ARCADIA — DeSoto County families in need are getting a little help thanks to the DeSoto Community Foundation during the coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus has taken a toll on all of us.
featured
Daniel Killmer didn’t want food to spoil. He wanted to help the community.
featured
When Gov. Ron DeSantis closed the state’s bars and banned restaurant dining over a week ago, it left thousands in the area unable to pay their rent or buy groceries. Restaurantgoers are doing their best to help eateries survive, through takeout, delivery, hefty tips and gift cards, but what …
featured
If you've driven by an area United Parcel Service distribution center recently, you may have noticed employees are scrambling to load those big brown trucks up with packages as quickly as possible.
breaking
Two Arcadia residents died in two separate single-vehicle crashes this weekend.
NORTH PORT — In honor of those helping combat the coronavirus, recording artist Eirinn Abu performs a live concert Sunday at WKDW 97.5-FM radio.
featured
NORTH PORT — Win Sell always said that if he didn’t have a wife and the wolves he loved so much, he would have lived in the woods.
featured
Peace River Elementary School teachers and support staff held a “Panther Parade” in Port Charlotte Thursday, showing and telling students they are thinking of them and wishing them well during the coronavirus lockdown.
ENGLEWOOD — Learning that Englewood children on free lunch programs could go hungry when they’re not in school inspired Boca Royale Golf & Country Club residents to spring into action.
NORTH PORT — The coronavirus isn't silencing us, but it has changed how our words move about.
During this challenging time I want to reassure you that your local Sun Newspapers are going continue to deliver compelling and comprehensive local news and information to you throughout this crisis. Our commitment to the readers and the communities we serve is steadfast. We will do everythi…
featured top story
VENICE — Fears of area seniors were confirmed during spring break when school was delayed due to coronavirus.
PORT CHARLOTTE — Developers of the West Port community faced a grilling from one commissioner before getting the layout they wanted in a new county agreement.
SOUTH GULF COVE — The coronavirus has temporarily closed their restaurant, but that hasn’t stopped Michelle and Burak Cakir from serving the public.
With closures of public facilities happening left and right around the state due to the coronavirus pandemic, the list is dwindling for outdoor family activities.
Sometimes it pays to “make a federal case out of it.”
Charlotte County Marriages
These are difficult times, and difficult times demand bold measures.
topical featured
VENICE — Colorado-based Lucky’s Market — which was set to build a new store in Venice — announced Friday that Aldi Inc. was the winning bidder for the lease on its Venice and Sarasota properties.
topical featured
VENICE - Missing your Venice Theatre fix? You can start getting a bit of it back tonight.
NORTH PORT — The coronavirus has started to appear in pockets of Southwest Florida, with two reported cases Friday in North Port, and a Sarasota County firefighter testing positive for COVID-19, county officials reported Friday afternoon.
topical featured
SARASOTA — A Sarasota County firefighter has tested positive for COVID-19, county officials reported Friday afternoon.
The time to stop spending money has not yet arrived, Charlotte County commissioners decided this week.
With such a dry month, some local fire departments are preparing for an increase in wildfires.
Our Southwest Florida area is most often associated with the giant fishing industry of yesteryear, but doing a little historical probing, one can learn of other early commercial enterprises. Some succeeded very well for a while but for various reasons gradually faded away and are almost forgotten.
The Punta Gorda Police Department warned citizens to stay on guard against scams related to the coronavirus pandemic.
featured
Every Tuesday, seniors would meet at the Friendship Center in Sarasota for intermediate harmonica.
featured
Melissa Crowder is a fifth-grade teacher at Deep Creek Elementary School in Port Charlotte, and she said she’s ready to connect with her students on Monday.
NORTH PORT — The Katz, a local band that traces its roots back to the 1960s, will play a “virtually live” benefit from 6 to 8 p.m., today from Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, 1037 Sumter Blvd., North Port.
ENGLEWOOD — Marty Fabiszak never thought he’d be making hundreds of bottles of unscented hand sanitizer each week instead of scented candles at his shop.
topical featured
VENICE — Venice Regional Bayfront Health said one of its patients has died of COVID-19.
featured
PUNTA GORDA — A community garden in Punta Gorda is thriving in the hands of Quality Independence, an adult special needs organization out of Port Charlotte.
A fifth coronavirus case was announced in DeSoto County Thursday, following three new cases announced by the Department of Health Wednesday.
featured
Have you found yourself using lip balm and lotion a little more?
Like every other industry, the local building industry is adapting to social distancing and the other impacts resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
A Port Charlotte man died in a Sarasota County crash Wednesday after striking a truck stopped on the median of the Fruitville Road on-ramp to Interstate 75, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.