INSIDE: Legal Notices
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Wednesday, July 10, 2024
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Body of missing teen swimmer recovered By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The body of a Cape Coral teen, who went missing last week while swimming at Blind Pass on off Sanibel, was recovered by authorities Thursday following a twoday search that involved multiple area agencies. The Sanibel Police Department identified the victim as Isaac Breese, 17, a student-athlete at North Fort Myers High School. Two other teens were successfully rescued.
“On Thursday afternoon, the Sanibel Police Marine Patrol Unit recovered remains of the young man who went missing at Blind Pass after entering the water late Tuesday morning,” Police Chief William Dalton said in a statement on July 5. “With the assistance of the State District 21 Medical Examiner and the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the young man's remains were positively identified this (Friday) evening.” Captiva Island Fire Control District Fire Chief Jeff Pawul reported that the call came in on July 2 at about 11:47 a.m. for
three swimmers in distress at Blind Pass. The Captiva crew responded via rescue boat, and a crew from the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District responded via land as its station is closer. When the Sanibel crew arrived, a rescue swimmer swam out and secured two victims — a boy and a girl, both about 17 years old and both local residents. The Captiva crew got all three onto the boat. “It was a miraculous job to be able to swim out in those rough conditions and be able to save two victims at one time,” Pawul said on July 5. “It's very unfortunate
Tax Collector holding back-to-school supply drive for teachers
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See TEEN SWIMMER, page 4
‘Empty the Shelters’ initiative under way
NEWS OF NOTE
The Lee County Tax Collector’s Office is holding a back-to-school supply drive. From July 8 – July 19, customers are encouraged to drop off school supplies at any of its six service center locations. Basic supplies like notebooks, pencils, pens, markers, erasers, glue sticks, crayons and dry erase markers are welcome. Drop boxes will be conveniently located at all our service centers. For a list of locations, please visit our website LeeTC.com/Locations. Donations benefit the Education Resource Center at The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, which aims to support local teachers by ensuring they have the necessary resources, at no cost, to provide a quality education to their students. For those who cannot make it into an office to drop off supplies, the foundation has an Amazon Wishlist where items can be purchased and directly shipped to the Education Resource Center.
we weren't able to get to the third.” Informed that Isaac had also entered the water, emergency responders immediately commenced a search-and-rescue operation for the missing teen. The island fire districts and SPD were joined by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, United States Coast Guard and additional partner agencies, including the Iona-McGregor Fire District, Cape Coral Fire Department and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Adoption fees waived By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
BOOM!: July 4th bash another blast By JOHNATHAN MINEHAN news@breezenewspapers.com
Cape Coral’s Red, White & BOOM! celebration was a blast, with live music and fireworks again taking center stage at Cape Coral’s annual Fourth of July street fair. National country act and headliner Parmalee performed some of its top hits, including “Carolina,” “Boyfriend” and “Take My Name.” They also performed hits from other artists, including The Kid Laroi’s “Stay” and Usher’s “Yeah.” Ashlyn Peterson, a repeat attendee, said she was excited to see Parmalee perform and also enjoyed the late-night fireworks extravaganza. “For the last couple of years, my boyfriend Shawn, who I met down here when he started working at the hospital together, and we have come with his little sister,” Peterson said. “We usually have a barbecue every year at my uncle’s house.” The Fourth of July means a lot to residents like Peterson, who has a sister, brother and dad in the military. They were among the thousands of celebrants who filled Cape Coral Parkway at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge. Kiaya Sunn was given the opportunity to sing
See BOOM!, page 4
PHOTOS BY ERIC SCHUETTE
Highlights from Red, White & BOOM! included the fireworks show, above, and a performance by Parmalee, top.
Lee County Domestic Animal Services is taking part in a nationwide initiative with BISSELL Pet Foundation, waiving adoption fees as part of “Empty the Shelters.” The foundation is promoting a national call for adoption with its annual Empty the Shelters waived adoption fee event that began Monday and runs through July 31. LCDAS will participate, alongside more than 390 shelters in 44 states. To help shelter pets find loving homes, the foundation sponsors waived adoption fees during each nationwide event. “Lee County Domestic Animal Services has participated in the BISSELL Pet Foundation event for years,” said Lee County spokesperson Tim Engstrom. “The organization is one of Animal Services’ great partners is does an outstanding job of putting a national spotlight on the importance of pet adoptions.” Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, according to the foundation. The event began in 2016 with a goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption. More than 253,000 pets have found homes since its inception. Empty the Shelters is the foundation’s largest program, partnering with 742 animal welfare organizations in 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees. “It’s always a great time to adopt when individuals or families are looking to add See ‘EMPTY THE SHELTERS,’ page 4