Coastal Breeze News

Crime dropped by 6 percent during the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk announced Monday. “This reduction is a clear indication that our community is partnering with us to keep Collier County safe,” Sheriff Rambosk said. “Every time you secure your home, lock your car or mentor a child, you are making a positive difference.” He added that the decrease is particularly significant in light of the fact that the agency has implemented significant budget reductions. Over the past four budget cycles the Collier County Sheriff’s Office has decreased its ... Read More »

That’s why the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Naples Police Department are implementing a database aimed at providing emergency dispatchers with immediate access to more information than ever. The Smart911 database allows citizens to create a secure safety profile of vital personal and household information, including medications, medical conditions and even photographs of each member of the household. Information about family pets can also be entered. The safety profile will be displayed to 911 call takers immediately when that citizen places an emergency call. This safety profile provides much richer information than is currently available on incoming calls and ... Read More »

On May 12th, 2012 at 6:00 am the Marco Island Police Department received a report of a suspicious vessel in the 1500 block of Caxambas Ct.  A resident had observed a 28 Ft. vessel floating by his house without any occupants aboard.  Responding Patrol Officers located and secured the abandoned vessel which contained 23 black plastic containers of an unknown type of fuel, believed to be gasoline.  Investigation determined that the vessel had been stolen from a lift at a residence on Caxambas Ct the prior evening.  The home, as well as the vessel – a 2004 28 Ft. Pursuit ... Read More »

On June 7th, 2012, the Marco Island Police Department and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint compliance review operation, focused on alcohol sales at convenience, drug, liquor and grocery stores. This operation was preceded by the Department’s pro-active educational initiative which demonstrated its value post operation after 100% compliance with applicable laws was observed. Our educational program, which is a partnership between the business community and Department, is designed to educate and assist local businesses and their employees in becoming more aware of their legal responsibilities when selling alcohol. During the operation on Marco Island, compliance checks were conducted in ... Read More »

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s popular summer youth program kicks off Friday for the third year in a row. The fun gets under way with Hot Summer Nights from 6 to 9 p.m. at King Richard’s Family Fun Park, 6780 Airport-Pulling Road N., North Naples. Admission to the park is free for everyone. Rides are free for kids and adults can ride at a discounted price. There will be a cost for games and food. Fishing, swimming, boat-building, movies, sports, music and games are just a few of the activities that combine to continue to make Summerfest CCSO’s most ambitious ... Read More »

With temperatures in the 90s, Collier County residents are turning on their air conditioners — and deputies are turning up the heat on unscrupulous air duct cleaning companies. Ads offering a low price on air duct cleaning can seem like a great deal with minimal risk. And while most air duct cleaning companies are legitimate, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office cautions the community to beware of companies that use less-than-reputable tactics. CCSO is investigating complaints involving elderly homeowners who claim they were scammed by companies that specialized in determining the health of a home environment for $49.95. In all of ... Read More »

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children welcomes Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk to the nonprofit domestic violence center’s Board of Directors. “Sheriff Rambosk’s commitment to ending domestic violence is exhibited through his work as Sheriff, his support of the Domestic Violence Task Force, his role in National Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities and the like,” explains Executive Director Linda Oberhaus. “Today, he solidifies his commitment to peace in every home, school, business, neighborhood and community by joining The Shelter’s governing body, the Board of Directors.” Rambosk began his local civil service career in 1978 when he was appointed an Officer with the Naples ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  The Greater Marco Family YMCA will be hosting their annual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 28, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This three-hour event is free to the public and hopes to encourages kids and their parents to get out and get active. “YMCA of the USA has Healthy Kids Day events once a year, usually held the last Saturday of April,” explains Jennifer Bristow, Health Fitness and Aquatics Director of the Greater Marco Family YMCA. “Each YMCA is independent and runs their own healthy kids day, choosing what they want to do for ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Sandy Boy collects hats! Lots and lots of hats! She knits them. She crochets them. She gathers them from others who, like Sandy, want to use their talents and hobbies for a good cause. This year, Sandy’s goal is 2,400 hats for Bedtime Bundles. At this time, she has 800 and that doesn’t include the 109 that were distributed with bundles during Impact Day held at Lely High School. The 109 children were determined to be in the highest need category, ages 3-12.” Imagine the hours of time and the skeins of yarn needed for ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Many readers may remember reading about Tia Nielsen in Coastal Breeze News last year as she distributed presents she collected at Christmas to the migrant children at Six L Farms. Tia didn’t stop there! She also received Collier County Sheriff’s Office ‘Do the Right Thing Award’ and received a scholarship through the Kohl’s Cares Program. Tia is at it again! Now she has turned her love of math into an opportunity to explore her desire to teach by offering a new basic math study class to migrant children. Her goal is to assist the students ... Read More »

Nancy Richie  Have you noticed? There is a change in the way the morning and afternoon light hits Marco Island and in the way the air feels lighter on your skin. It must be fall in southwest Florida. To many, it means time for the first “snow birds” to arrive with the Island roads, restaurants and shops getting pleasantly busier. For regular beach goers and birders, the change means time for a different type of “snow bird” to arrive on the beach – seeing the end of the spring and summer shorebird nesting species, changing to the fall migration and ... Read More »

September 11, 2001 is one of the unique times in our lives that we will forever remember exactly where we were and what we were doing, no matter how close or how far we were to the actual events. Some were much closer than others, but it affected each and every one of us no matter where we were! From the first plane crash into Tower One, a sense of uncertainty and fear swept across the country, and beyond. One thing was certain, we were all Americans and we were bound together by the attack regardless, of race, creed, economic ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder Marco Island’s Police Chief Don Hunter is famous for a long stint as Collier County Sheriff. Like many of the officers now reporting to him, he came out of retirement to take the job on Marco. Unlike many of them, his backstory doesn’t include the traditional ‘boots on patrol’ career path. This “accidental sheriff” (his words, not ours) took time out from assessing what it means to have just grabbed the tiger of Marco politics by the tail to share how his early view of our justice system from 32,000 feet can help build the island’s unique ... Read More »