Charlotte County has issued a 30-day rabies alert after a raccoon tested positive for rabies, urging residents to vaccinate pets, avoid wildlife contact, and report bites, with a focus on the area around Washington Loop Road and Trails End Drive.
Blackstone Real Estate is set to acquire the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor from Allegiant Travel for $200 million, with the deal expected to close in Q3 2025. The resort, which opened over budget and suffered hurricane damages, was sold after Allegiant announced its intention to sell a majority interest. Blackstone plans to leverage its experience in large-scale resorts to enhance the property.
Sergeant Dave Musgrove is being hailed as a hero after saving a family from a deadly crash in Charlotte County, Florida. A motorcycle passed him at over 100 miles per hour seconds before hitting the family's vehicle, resulting in the death of the motorcyclist. The family expressed their gratitude for his actions, with the youngest member still in the ICU.
Deputy Sgt. Dave Musgrove of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office saved the life of a 6-month-old baby trapped in a car after a high-speed motorcycle collision. Despite the chaotic scene, he performed chest compressions on the infant, who initially had no pulse and was not breathing, until EMS arrived and detected a pulse. The baby is now receiving treatment, and both the other child and the mother are doing well. Sheriff Bill Prummell commended Musgrove's actions and thanked bystanders who assisted, while also expressing condolences to the family of the deceased motorcyclist.
The residential real estate market in Charlotte County, Florida, has reached a balance in September as inventory increased and prices stabilized. Sales for single-family homes, condos, and townhomes were higher compared to August, with the year-over-year increase attributed to the impacts of Hurricane Ian. Sellers are receiving offers close to their asking price, and there has been a significant increase in new listings. The median price for single-family homes decreased slightly, while the median sale price for townhomes and condos increased. Cash buyers accounted for a significant portion of sales, and the time to sell has increased compared to the previous year. Overall, there is a higher supply of inventory in the market.
The Charlotte County school district in Florida has implemented a ban on books with LGBTQ+ characters, stating that such books "cannot exist" in classrooms or school libraries, even if they contain no sexually explicit content. The ban is in accordance with Governor Ron DeSantis' "Don't Say Gay" law, which requires the removal of books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes. This decision has sparked concerns about censorship and the limitation of diverse perspectives in education.
A 4-year-old autistic girl, Evelyn Geer, who went missing from her temporary home in Charlotte County, Florida, was found dead in a canal by deputies. Her parents were staying in a rental home that did not have a deadbolt lock. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office released the 911 calls in the case. The incident is under investigation.
A 4-year-old girl named Evelyn K Geer, who went missing from her vacation home in Port Charlotte, Florida, was found dead in a nearby canal. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discovered her body while searching by boat. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, and Cochran Boulevard is closed between Education and Collingwood Boulevard until further notice. Anyone with information is urged to contact the CCSO.
Many unanswered questions remain after a brain-eating amoeba likely killed someone in Charlotte County, possibly by rinsing their sinuses with tap water. The health department and commissioners have declined to comment, leaving the community and the family of the victim, Scott Schmitz, in the dark. The only information released is that officials are investigating whether the victim used tap water or a sinus rinse. Meanwhile, Charlotte County Utilities will change the disinfection process of its water out of an abundance of caution, but it's unclear why. Brain-eating amoebae must live in water that’s at least 75 to 80 degrees, and experts initially theorized the killer amoeba had to come from well water, but where Schmitz lived and died in Englewood, there is no well water.