Latest news with #LeeCounty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cary man charged with fraudulent sale of Mustang
A Cary man who previously lived in Lee County was charged in the fraudulent sale of a 2017 Ford Mustang. Yousuf Hasona Elzeaitry, 20, was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor fraud in disposal of a mortgage property. According to an arrest warrant, Elzeaitry sold the Ford Mustang to John Holly for $5,500 without disclosing that he had a lien on it for $18,978. Elzeaitry was initially arrested Sept. 18, 2024, and posted a $10,000 bond that day by paying $1,000, but he failed to appear in court on May 7 and was re-arrested on May 20, according to eCourts. He is now being held on a $20,000 bond. Elzeaitry previously lived at 519 David Hill Road in northern Lee County and currently lists an address at 1303 Crossroads Manor Ct. in Cary, according to eCourts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cary man charged with fraudulent sale of Mustang
A Cary man who previously lived in Lee County was charged in the fraudulent sale of a 2017 Ford Mustang. Yousuf Hasona Elzeaitry, 20, was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor fraud in disposal of a mortgage property. According to an arrest warrant, Elzeaitry sold the Ford Mustang to John Holly for $5,500 without disclosing that he had a lien on it for $18,978. Elzeaitry was initially arrested Sept. 18, 2024, and posted a $10,000 bond that day by paying $1,000, but he failed to appear in court on May 7 and was re-arrested on May 20, according to eCourts. He is now being held on a $20,000 bond. Elzeaitry previously lived at 519 David Hill Road in northern Lee County and currently lists an address at 1303 Crossroads Manor Ct. in Cary, according to eCourts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cape Coral group launches recall effort against Mayor John Gunter
Cape Coral residents have launched an official recall campaign against Mayor John Gunter, citing what they call a pattern of misrepresentation, lack of transparency and failed leadership. The "Take Out the Trash Committee of Cape Coral" launched the effort during a city council meeting May 21, accusing the mayor of misrepresenting the public and pushing through controversial decisions without listening to constituents. Leading the recall efforts is Cape Coral resident Kyle L'Hommedieu. 'It's time the people of this declining city know the truth about the people who pretend to represent them,' said L'Hommedieu, chair of the committee, as he announced the petition drive to remove Gunter from office. Gunter won the race for Cape Coral mayor in 2022, securing 61.08% of the vote, according to the Lee County Supervisor of Elections election results. His opponent, Tom Shadrach, trailed behind by 13,892 votes. Gunter's term is set to end in 2026. The recall petition is grounded in state law and accuses Gunter of misfeasance and malfeasance, referencing three main votes he supported: A proposal to renovate Jaycee Park The decision to approve monthly stipends for the mayor and city council The approval of a water facility in the Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, a nature area some residents believed would remain protected L'Hommedieu, who lives near the preserve, called the decision "deplorable" and said it was the tipping point that led him to act. The recall committee has also criticized Gunter's leadership style online, writing that the mayor has 'failed to uphold his oath of office' and that 'many describe the mayor as arrogant, dismissive, and even bullying toward the very people he pledged to serve.' The Take Out the Trash Committee has been gathering signatures at local businesses and neighborhoods. The group also claims some supporters, including city employees and business owners, are afraid to sign due to potential retaliation. 'Citizens are fed up, and the momentum is growing—because people are ready for accountability,' the group said in a social media post. Mayor Gunter addressed the recall effort head-on during the council meeting and in a written response to The News-Press. "I've got big shoulders,' Gunter said of the criticism. He also noted that many critics leave before hearing staff or council responses. "I'm one vote,' Gunter said during the meeting, adding that the council makes decisions collectively. Under Cape Coral's city manager form of government, he said, the city manager handles day-to-day operations. The council makes decisions collectively by a majority vote. "If you think I've done something illegal, please go to our state's attorney. Go to her office and file a complaint,' he said. In his written statement, which he requested be published in full, Gunter defended the legality and rationale behind the votes cited in the recall petition. 'In the petition, the pensioners stated that I violated Florida Statute 112.311(6). Our decisions are made by the majority of the City Council as a whole, with the Mayor having one vote. Just because some individuals do not like the outcome of a vote, it does not mean I, or any other Councilmember, violated this statute. Additionally, their claim that I violated Florida Statute 286.011 is unwarranted. These meetings were between our State Legislators, our lobbyist, and some members of our City Council, who would discuss topics that our State Legislators would be voting on, not the City Council. Unfortunately, Councilmember Kaduk wanted to bring three unannounced guests, which was inappropriate given the meetings' structure, and I made a statement that this was not allowed and would not continue. Their assertion in this petition will not meet the legal requirements needed in both allegations; therefore, it will not rise to the standard required for 'misfeasance' or 'Malfeasance',' Gunter wrote in his statement. 'I voted in support of all three of these Agenda Items. Again, the City Council makes all decisions by a majority vote of the Council. The votes in the Jaycee Park were 8-0, the Yellow Fever Creek were 6-2, and the original Stipend was 8-0. If a Councilmember votes in a way that some residents may disagree with, that does not mean that they have violated any ethical regulation or Florida Statute,' he wrote. "Unfortunately, a small group of individuals who disagree with some of the decisions made by our City Council are exposing our city in a negative light, and I apologize to most of our community for that. For some reason, they feel the need to single me out on decisions that we make collectively as a Council. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the allegations articulated in the petition do not meet the legal threshold required for any of these allegations. I have always and will continue to make decisions based on what I believe is in the best interest of our community, encompassing all 225,000 residents, not just a select few,' Gunter wrote. Removing a sitting mayor in Florida is a process governed by state law and involves multiple steps. Recall organizers must collect roughly 7,000 signatures, 5% of registered Cape Coral voters, within 30 days. The Lee County Supervisor of Elections then reviews and verifies the signatures. If valid, the mayor can submit a written defense. A revised petition including the mayor's defense must gather an even greater number of signatures within 60 days. If successful, a recall vote is held in a special election. If any phase falls short, the effort ends there. If successful, voters would decide whether to remove Gunter and potentially elect a replacement. For now, the clock is ticking. The recall committee must collect approximately those 7,000 valid signatures within 30 days to keep the effort alive. If successful, Cape Coral could be headed toward a recall election. Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@ This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral residents launch campaign to recall Mayor John Gunter
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lee County investigating double homicide in Shannon
TUPELO – A Lee County man has been jailed on a $10 million bond after being accused of killing a Shannon area couple Friday. Lee County deputy sheriffs responded to a 911 call regarding a possible incident at a residence on County Road 295 in the Shannon area around 3:30 p.m. on Friday May 23. After contacting the property owner and the resident of the address, deputies conducted a search and discovered the bodies of two individuals. The resident was taken into custody without incident. The Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green identified the victims as Frank West, 43, and Cambre Dean, 39, both of the Shannon area. They both died of gunshot wounds. Their bodies will be transported to Pearl for autopsy at the State Medical Examiner's Office. The deaths are being treated as a double homicide. Jonathan A. Kelly, 39, of Shannon, was interviewed as a person of interest in the suspected homicides. Based on the evidence gathered and the outcome of the interview, Kelly has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. During his initial appearance in Lee County Justice Court, a judge set Kelly's bond at $10,000,000. He remains incarcerated in the Lee County Adult Jail. Lee Country Sheriff Jim Johnson said the assistance of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks was key in locating crucial evidence that has been instrumental to this case.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fire tax increases sought in five of seven districts
Lee County's fire departments are facing challenges brought about by increases in operating costs, equipment replacement and a continuing lack of volunteers willing to serve. The fire departments are looking to find money to help fund the needs, sometimes using reserve funds and upping taxes in their respective districts. 'Volunteerism throughout our state continues to decrease. The fire departments in Lee County are taking steps to mitigate these issues with paid staff, assuring there will always be someone to answer the call for service,' John Rzycki, chair of the Lee County Fire Advisory Board, told county commissioners at their Monday meeting. Each department presents its proposed budget to the Fire Advisory Board, which then makes funding recommendations. The Lee County commissioners will consider the requests in their proposed 2025-26 budget. Five departments are asking to raise fire district taxes to address shortages and a lack of manpower. They are Tramway, Cape Fear, Northview, Lemon Springs and Carolina Trace fire departments. Residents living in the Pocket and Deep River districts will not see an increase in the tax rate. Tramway is seeking an increase of $138,972 in their 2025-26 budget, an increase of 19.9%, according to Rzycki. The district's tax base grew by $26.7 million. The advisory board recommends the requested increase while raising the district tax to 10.7 cents, a 2.5-cent increase from the previous year. The Cape Fear department's request has increased by $109,564 or 13.4%, Rzycki said. The budget calls for $43,000 for an increase in personnel costs and $9,000 increase for its capital budget and debt funding. Cape Fear is contracted to provide service to the Clearwater Forest Fire Department. The Cape Fear tax base increased by $78.6 million, while the Clearwater tax base grew by $1.2 million. The combined total of the two districts is $710,862,997. With $40,000 from the fund balance, the proposed tax rate is 14.4 cents, up 1.7 cents from last year. Northview is seeking to increase the district tax from 9 to 9.4 cents, but the department has had decreases in its budget in the prior years. That includes a reduction in the cost of retirement and health insurance for full-time staff and using a part-time staff instead. The district's tax base decreased by $4.9 million. With that reduction and the use of $40,000 from it fund balance, the rate would increase slightly. The Lemon Springs Department is increasing its request by 17.7% to $100,600 to cover a cost-of-living raise and more man-hours. A proposed increase of 2.5 cents would raise the tax rate to 10.7 cents. The Carolina Trace department is seeking a 15.3% increase in its funding request of $125,112. The rise is the result of an increase in salaries, providing 12-hour shifts during the day and night for 24-hour coverage. The department's tax base grew by $25.8 million. With the request and $25,000 in fund balance money, the department is seeking to raise its tax rate from 12.8 cents to 14.1 cents.
