Monserrate Rodriguez Irizarry, age 75, of Lehigh Acres, Florida passed away on Monday, July 30, 2012 with her loving family by her side.

She was born on December 25, 1936 in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Juan Jose Irizarry and Anasaria Caraballo.

A Visitation with Life Tribute and Memorial Service will be celebrated on Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 6-11 PM in the Chapel at Anderson-Patterson Cremation and Funeral Services, 2701 Lee Boulevard, Lehigh Acres, Florida 33971, (239) 368-7080.

Tax free weekend is coming August 3rd-5th.

No sales tax or local option tax will be collected on sales of clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $75 or less per item, or on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item. This three-day tax holiday is in effect from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 3, 2012, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

Jeremy Ware

Jeremy Ware is now an American football defensive back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL).

Ware was drafted in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played at Michigan State University and at Lehigh Senior High School. He played in eight games for the Raiders in 2010, recording one tackle and three passes defended. He was placed on injured reserve during the 2011 season and was released at the end of the season.

Ware was signed by the Bears on July 28, 2012.

Mario Henderson

Mario Henderson is an American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders after being selected from Florida State in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Henderson originally attended Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers. He was a 375-pound freshman who’d never played football. His first year of football was his sophomore year.

After his sophomore year, Henderson transferred to Lehigh Senior High School. Due to transfer rules, he was not able to play during his junior year. He used that time to change his physique and, in his senior year, earned a scholarship to Florida State University.

Henderson signed with the San Diego Chargers on April 12, 2012

Beginning Tuesday night 9 p.m., July 31 through Friday morning, 6 a.m.  August 3, during the  nighttime/overnight hours the intersection of SR 82 and Colonial/Lee Boulevard will be reduced to one through lane in each direction while crews pave the intersection. Left turns will not be allowed.

Flaggers will periodically stopping traffic in all directions to allow the paving operation to clear the intersection. Motorists should expect lengthy delays (10 to 15 minutes) and are advised to use alternate routes during this night-time work. Law enforcement will be onsite.

Submitted By: FDOT

On Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 12:48 a.m., deputies responded to a call in reference to a robbery in the area of Alabama Road and Arthur Avenue in Lehigh Acres.  Deputies encountered the victim, who is a taxi driver for Blue Bird Taxi.

The victim had picked up two passengers who were waiting in front of a vacant residence located on Alabama Road South.  While the victim was driving, the passengers asked him to stop in front of a residence on Arthur Avenue so one of them could obtain money from a family member for the cab fare.  Once the victim stopped the taxi in the driveway of the residence, the passengers began to choke and beat the victim, stating that they were armed with a gun.  The passengers demanded the victim’s money and were able to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash during the robbery.  The suspects also removed the keys from the vehicle’s ignition and then fled the area on foot.  A search of the area was conducted by K-9 and Aviation Units, but no one matching the suspects’ description was located. (more…)

Robert C. Schaefer, age 91, passed away peacefully at Lehigh Regional Medical Center in Lehigh Acres, FL. Robert was born July 27, 1920 in Detroit MI, son of John and Annie Schaefer. He served in the USAF as a sergeant in the South Pacific during WWII. He was employed at Michigan Bell for 42 years until his retirement.

Robert was preceded in death by 4 sisters; Viola Bagnasco, Margaret Corlett, Geneive Eckenrode, and Dorothy Schaefer who was a sister of Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Robert C. Schaefer Jr., and Christopher S. Schaefer. (more…)

Impaired drivers are a very real danger to themselves and, of course, any motorist who is sharing the road at the same time. With this in mind, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is launching a multi-faceted campaign of education, awareness and enforcement to battle this threat to our community. We have elected to publicize the names of those charged by deputies with the offense of DUI during the previous seven-day period: (more…)

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is providing the information listed below in continuing efforts to increase traffic safety awareness and education, plus to emphasize the importance of obeying traffic laws to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and death on Lee County roads.

On Tuesday, July 31, 2012, the Traffic Unit will target at least one of the following three locations for enforcement:

(more…)

The illegal sale, use and distribution of narcotics is recognized as a significant contributor to violent crimes, burglaries and thefts which can dramatically affect the quality of life in our community. Therefore, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is making every effort to take drugs off the street by targeting individuals who are active participants in this unsavory underworld. This is being accomplished through aggressive patrol, undercover operations and interagency investigations with local, state and federal drug enforcement agencies.

In the past week the Lee County Sheriff’s Office made a total of 31 drug arrests. To educate and enhance awareness of the Sheriff’s Office daily activities in this endeavor the following arrests are being listed: (more…)

Date		Forecast	Hi	Lo	POP
Mon Jul 30		Mostly Sunny	91°F	75°F	20%
Tue Jul 31		Partly Cloudy	90°F	75°F	20%
Wed Aug 01		Partly Cloudy	90°F	75°F	20%
Thu Aug 02		Partly Cloudy	91°F	74°F	10%
Fri Aug 03		Partly Cloudy	88°F	74°F	20%
Sat Aug 04		Isolated T-Storms	87°F	74°F	30%
Sun Aug 05		Scattered T-Storms	88°F	74°F	40%

By the Weather Channel

8:00 a.m. Update:

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is hoping to identify two armed men who robbed a Lehigh Acres gas station late Sunday night.

Surveillance video shows the two men rushing into Citgo station on Joel Boulevard and holding the clerk at gunpoint.

The men are seen jumping over the counter and pointing a gun at the back of the clerk’s head as they stole $400 from the cash register.

Gunman holding Citgo clerk down

If you have any information on the identity of the men, you’re asked to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

At 9:25 p.m., Sunday July 29, 2012, the Citgo Gas Station at 233 Joel Blvd was robbed. No injuries to the store personnel were reported. Currently the Lee County Sheriff’s  Office is looking for two individuals.

The Gazette will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.

Photo’s courtesy of  Kimberly Molloy “Kaptured by Kimberly Photography”