Thousands attend Cracker Day weekend at Posse Arena

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

It was a tale of two Cracker Day Rodeos at the Lee County Posse Arena this past weekend, with the first night being chilly and the Sunday performance being warm and sunny Warm or cold the competition at the 62nd Cracker Day Rodeo was hot with thousands coming throughout the weekend to see cowboys and cowgirls rope and ride The rodeo, which serves as the biggest fundraiser for the non-profit organization that is the arena, is a tribute to the Florida ranchers who moved their cattle throughout the state “We survived Ian and we’re bouncing back We are elated people were showing up this weekend It has been amazing ” said Bobbi Harrison, Lee County Posse Arena spokesperson Saturday, we were packed to the gills and everybody had a great time

The youth rodeo was held Friday night under chilly conditions Saturday’s rodeo featured some of the best talent in the country, including legendary barrel racer

Fallon Taylor Sunday s rodeo, which didn t have the bucking broncs Saturday’s rodeo had and wasn’t quite as packed as Saturday still featured some fun events such as the cowgirl trifecta and the buddy pick-up, which lived up to its reputations as the wildest event at the rodeo

Brilee Cochran a high school rodeo competitor from LaBelle who competed in barrels breakaway roping and the trifecta said the latter event gives cowgirls the ability to show they can compete all-around

I came here for the money I m pretty good at goat-tying and barrel racing My b r e a k a w a y r o p i n g n e e d s s o m e w o r k ” Cochran said I like how the rodeo community comes together like a family and competing not against everyone else but against yourself ”

Caleb Thomason who won the bull riding Sunday said he had studied the bull he rode and wanted his chance at him

A good friend of mine who passed away wanted me to do it I just fell in love with the sport ” Thomason said “It’s not about the adrenaline It seems like more of a job now

One of the things that was different this year was the announcer Tyler Cornett took over from longtime announcer Al Curry after he had served that role for years

Abraham Pickering busts a mutton at the 62nd annual Cracker Day Rodeo at the Lee County Posse Arena on Sunday

“I used to live here in Fort Myers but went to Texas to become an announcer and compete in rodeos and have more work, Cornett said I ve known Al my whole life and he’s done a great job I’m glad to carry the torch ” What wasn’t different was the reaction from the crowd Nikki Midolo of Fort

Myers brought her two sons to their first rodeo Everyone loved it

We have some friends who come here and we wanted to come and try it out I got my clothes from Gypsy Outlaws, a local business,” Midolo said “It’s really cool to see this part of Florida I’ve been here 18 years and never really knew this existed It will be one of many rodeos we attend

The Lee County Posse Arena is the only non-profit equestrian arena in Southwest Florida It was established in 1960 by Lee County Sheriff Snag Thompson and others

“Their objective was to provide a place where kids can come to ride, enjoy themselves and be safe, Harrison said We ve been rolling with all volunteers ever since

The Lee County Posse Arena is at 17401 Palm Creek Drive For more information about the facility please go to www leecountyposse com

Community Cooperative announces February Mobile Food Pantry schedule

Community Cooperative has announced i t s M o b i l e F o o d P a n t r i e s s c h e d u l e f o r

February

The mobile food pantry program is one of Community Cooperative s most innovative ways to bring food and assistance to neighborhoods with high food insecurity and that lack resources

ID is required for all attendees and bringing bags is encouraged with a limit of one mobile food pantry visit per month per household T h e C o m m u n i t y M a r k e t i s o p e n Monday through Friday, from 9 a m to noon for emergency groceries at the main campus, located at 3429 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Fort Myers

If you are interested in financially supporting, volunteering for or have any questions about our Growing Healthy Kids & F a m i l i e s p r o g r a m p l e a s e v i s i t u s a t www CommunityCooperative com or call 239-332-SOUP (7687)

February 2023 Mobile Food Pantries schedule

(For veterans and veteran families only) Wednesday

Wednesday,

(For veterans and veteran families only)

Friday Feb 17 10–11:30 a m

Wednesday, Feb 22 p m

Thursday,

FY24 budget: Council members, staff begin discussions at retreat

From page 1 property valuations reports

Until then council gave city staff the direction to use the current rates for the three taxes as a starting point Council and staff will then adjust the figures accordingl y a f t e r t h e c o u n c i l g e t s i t s q u e s t i o n s answered

Gunter said everyone needs to recognize the city was hit with a near Category 5 storm and that there will continue to be expenses there, even if the city will ultimately be reimbursed

“Hurricane Irma was in 2017 and we’re still waiting for reimbursement for that That is something you have to be aware of, Gunter said Also, because of a few bills that passed, there could be a reduction on ad valorem taxes We don t really know the magnitude ”

Cape Coral Yacht Club: Facility damaged by Ian can’t be rebuilt

ing the buildings ings

“We are not fixing these buildings so let s remove them To look at empty land is better than watching destruction and I don t want them to be a hazard, said Steinke, who added he would like to see the project done in phases which is now possible since the entire park is being redone instead of its edges

Also, work can start immediately once the permits come in, now that the city can start on seawalls and that they are not keep-

As for cost and a timeline that is unknown Originally, the timeline was 24 months, but if restaurants are added on a pier and if things go more vertical it could be longer

Mayor John Gunter said he was happy the outer footprint hasn t changed much, except for the pier the city lost due to the storm for which they will have to get a permit

But Gunter added he hopes insurance will pay for the damage done to the build-

When you see the damage Ian did and we have to adhere to the 50 percent rule like everybody else, those buildings will be replaced ” Gunter said “We will get some insurance reimbursement for those buildings

It probably won’t pay for a new building, but it will mitigate the costs and with the blank slate we can move the components of the project Hurricane Ian a near Category 5 storm with winds of up to 155 mph made landfall on Caya Costa on Sept 28 Its storm

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Sanibel Captiva and communities all along the Caloosahatchee and Gulf-access waterfront including Matlacha and Cape Coral's Gold Coast where homes near the Yacht Club complex the city's oldest and most iconic public complex took up to 6 feet of water Receding waters left the area littered with boats of all sizes and homes with inches of muck and soaked possessions and drywall

Legislative priorities: Seeking additional state funding, grants

From page 1

From page 1 March 22 2023 has been identified for placement of the Resolution

Before Wednesday's regular meeting City Council will hold a special meeting at 2 p m in Conference Room 22A at City Hall

Among the new business that will be taken up is identifying a search firm for a new city attorney and the plan on how to hire the person, as well as the extension of t h e c o n t r a c t o f C i t y M a n a g e r R o b Hernandez C a p e C o r a l C i t y H a l l i s a t 1 0 1 5 Cultural Park Blvd