Punta Gorda News

SUN PHOTO BY AL HEMINGWAY Dressed in ceremonial garb, John Griffin explains the role Black Seminoles had during their conflicts with the U.S., during the 13th annual Emancipation Day celebration Saturday afternoon at the Blanchard House Museum in Punta Gorda.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS Sporting multicolor hibiscus and butterflies on her hat, Marinna Rhodes, 4, waits patiently for the start of the 2013 Lil' Miss Hibiscus pageant for girls to represent the City of Hibiscus - Punta Gorda.

Edison State College honored its first family Friday evening during ceremonies at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda.

Charlotte QB Amari Washington carries against Dunbar during the second quarter Friday at Charlotte High School.

MELLINGER Heidi Lange and Kitty-Wan Kenobi of Sandman Book Co. look forward to greeting everyone at their fourth anniversary celebration Thursday.

The Civilian Gun Safety Class scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. Another class will be held in June, but the exact date has not yet been determined.

Employing "something old" in its recent fundraising campaign, the United Way of Charlotte County soared past its goal of $900,000, reaching $944,000. "I don't know what exactly to attribute it to," said executive director Carrie Blackwell Hussey.

Punta Gorda residents will soon enjoy better quality water. Wednesday, the city council approved building a reverse osmosis water treatment plant.

Each year since 1993, the Cultural Center of Charlotte County has recognized one of the citizens of Charlotte County for his contribution to the community and his continuing support of the Cultural Center.

Wow, it's the middle of May already? If you're up early this morning, please head to the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda for County Administrator Ray Sandrock's "state of the county" presentation during our Third Wednesday Coffee.

SUN PHOTO BY ADAM KREGER Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell watches as 3rd-grader Mario Scarola explains that soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico.

She was born June 12, 1940, in Irondale, Ala., to John T. and Mary Bailey Sr., and was affectionately called "Momma or Grandma Liz." Momma Liz moved to Punta Gorda when she was 15 years old, and worked for Gulf Shore Seafood for 25 years before retiring to enjoy her life.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla.- Raymond Lugo, 38, of Punta Gorda, has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release, for producing child pornography.

PHOTO PROVIDED Emily Moenning of Charlotte High School took home multiple scholarships at the High School Art Show May 2 at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda.

A dog is waiting for a new beginning in Charlotte County. Animal control says his old owner left him chained up outside all day every day.

Jeff Weiler sat in his office in the Sunloft Center in Punta Gorda recently, all smiles, and said, "I still can't believe it.

Florida Gulf Coast University's Renaissance Academy in downtown Punta Gorda seeks instructors and facilitators for its fall 2013 and spring 2014 sessions.

Mary moved from Mahwah, N.J., in 1989 to Punta Gorda. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and was a homemaker.

Durley "Eugenia" Busby, 84, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed from this life to her Heavenly Home, Friday, May 3, 2013.

As a pilot for Delta Airlines for 30 years, he flew Boeing 727 commercial airliners and wants the Punta Gorda Airport to grow and be successful - he just wants to do it with less noise, and he said he has a plan to do so at no additional cost to the taxpayers or the airport.