Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: North Fort Myers woman charged after 30 dogs, disabled adult found in squalor

You won't want to miss Goodwill Columbus Day Sale on the Fort Myers Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday October 8th Patch AM
Thursday October 8th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Fort Myers! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

🎃 Hosting a Halloween event in Fort Myers? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.

In today's newsletter:

  • North Fort Myers woman charged after 30 dogs, disabled adult found in squalor
  • How a pay-to-play scandal is shaking North Fort Myers baseball
  • New Edison Mall venture wants to take Fort Myers small businesses higher

Also on today's calendar: Goodwill Columbus Day Sale and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: A shower and t-storm; humid, with a high of 86 and low of 74 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Humid with a thunderstorm, temps: high: 91, low: 75.
  • Saturday: Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two, with a high of 90 and low of 77 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. LCSO: North Fort Myers woman faces 31 charges after dogs, disabled adult found in home (winknews.com) — Lee County deputies removed 30 living dogs and one dead dog from a North Fort Myers home on Sabal Gardens Drive, where they say kennels were overcrowded, filthy, and unbearably smelly. Investigators also found a mentally disabled adult living without a bed, in a house lacking running water and air conditioning, leading to 31 charges against homeowner Mary Paulis for aggravated animal cruelty and neglect of a disabled adult.
   

2. Suspended North Fort Myers High School athletic director accused of pay-to-play baseball scheme (abc-7.com) — Parents in the Fort Myers area are reacting after a Lee County School District investigation alleged a pay-to-play scheme and unauthorized coaching tied to North Fort Myers High School's baseball program. Witness statements describe parents being asked to pay a private academy for roster spots, missing background checks for assistants, and troubling housing conditions for some players, prompting a termination recommendation and a new athletic code of conduct.
   

3. New local effort begins to help small businesses grow (wgcu.org) — A new venture called Business Growth Gallery has opened inside Edison Mall in Fort Myers to coach local small business owners on standing out in a crowded social media landscape. Founder Lucy Quinones and her investors are funding the space, offering free introductory sessions, paid trainings, and a gathering spot that supporters say could especially help Hispanic entrepreneurs and others ready to grow.
   

4. Lee County approves $1.5M deal to pave 94 roads in Lehigh Acres (winknews.com) — From their Fort Myers meeting, Lee County commissioners approved a $1.5 million contract to pave 94 currently unpaved road segments in Lehigh Acres starting in November. The transportation department ranks roads annually based on conditions and nearby home construction, and this program has already converted more than 52 lane miles since 2023 to improve access for residents.
   

5. Millions rely on lower-cost prescriptions from abroad. A new rule could change that (winknews.com) — A Fort Myers couple who rely on cheaper Canadian prescriptions may soon face steep cost increases because of a new U.S. Customs rule taking effect Oct. 22. The change could slow or block many mailed medications from abroad, worrying local patients and prompting bipartisan concern in Congress. Advocates urge anyone using Canadian pharmacies to secure refills before the deadline.
   

📸 Around Fort Myers

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Fort Myers

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Fort Myers Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Fort Myers PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Looking for a truly special place for dinner this weekend.
    Somewhere intimate, beautifully designed, excellent service, and preferably somewhere you can actually enjoy a conversation. I'd love to hear your… (Nextdoor East Winkler Heights)
  • Best Salon in the area
    From Natalie at the reception to our Groomer Trinity Sheena my pup never looked or smelled better (Nextdoor Loma Linda)
  • BJ's Restaurants, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial in Fort Myers. Apply here.
  • Pegasus Residential posted a job opening for Property Manager - Garrett Gateway in Fort Myers. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fort Myers here.

Ok Fort Myers! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Fort Myers