Charlotte Opal Clark Durno-Wells Dies At 90

Charlotte Opal Clark Durno-Wells, has left this life for her Eternal home in Heaven on December 31, 2025.

Charlotte was born on March 24, 1935, in Littleton, Maine to the late Perley and Hattie Rourke Clark. She married Edward Joseph Durno, Sr. and he preceded her in death on January 15, 2001, and she later married Noah Ben Wells, and he preceded her in death on October 1, 2020. 

 Charlotte was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend who will be dearly missed by everyone who loved and cared for her. 

Charlotte was a member of Placid Lakes Baptist Church. She was a Glades County Commissioner for many years, before she retired. She loved teaching others how to pray and study God's word.

Charlotte leaves fond memories with her entire family including her four children; Edward Joseph Durno, Jr and his wife Deborah, Timothy Durno and his wife Kathryn, Kimberly Toms and her husband Thomas, and Mary Bond and her husband Gregory, four step-children; Phillip Durno, Jackie Stokes, Kim Betchwars and her husband Rob, Jaynne Sadberry and her husband Ralph, her loving grandchildren include: Tine Heflin and her husband David, Misty Dean, Matthew Durno and his wife Sarah, Jason Bond and his wife Jennifer, Sarah Williams and her husband Marcus, Ashley Johnson and her husband Scott, Danielle Jones and her husband Ryan, Thomas Noah Toms, III and his wife Donna, Corey Durno, Tiffany Nardontonia and her husband Jared, nine step-grandchildren; Sean Durno, Seth Durno, Sharon Durno, Cheryl Durno Toscano, Cheri Streeter Hubbs, Jake Streeter, Michelle Streeter, Nicole Streeter, and Lori Durno; twenty-four great grandchildren, fourteen step-great children, six great-great grandchildren, and four step-great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and close friends as well as for her beloved care-givers, Dora Williams and Miriam Duncanson.

Charlotte's life will be celebrated on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ortona Cemetery Pavilion where Pastor Jason Bond will preside. Charlotte will be laid to rest next to her first husband Edward Joseph Durno, Sr.

Charlotte was also preceded in death by her grandson; Brian M. Durno, step-children; Peter Durno, and Shelia Durno Wick, and her sister Winnie Packard.

Memorial Donations may be made in Charlotte's name with Dunklin Memorial or Gideons.

Charlotte's celebration was entrusted to Akin-Davis Funeral Home - LaBelle.

3 Dead In New Year's Day Crash

FORT MYERS, FL. -- Multiple deaths in crash New Year's morning, Thursday at 12:27 am.

Vehicle 1 (Kia Forte) was traveling east on State Road 82, west of Corkscrew Road in Collier County.

Vehicle 2 (Subaru Ascent) was traveling west on State Road 82.

Vehicle 3 (Kia Sedona) was traveling east on State Road 82, ahead of Vehicle 1.

Vehicle 1 entered the westbound State Road 82 travel lane, attempting to pass Vehicle 3.

The front of Vehicle 1 collided with the front of Vehicle 2.

Post collision, Vehicle 1 rotated and collided with Vehicle 3.

Driver 1 was pronounced deceased on scene.

Driver 2 and Vehicle 2 Passenger 1 were pronounced deceased on scene.

Vehicle 2 Passenger 2, 3 and 4 sustained serious injuries, and were transported to an area hospital. Vehicle 2

Passenger 2 was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

First Day Hikes In Florida Parks

Florida State Parks invite the public to welcome the new year outdoors with a First Day Hike on Jan. 1, 2026. Whether it is your first visit or one of many, First Day Hikes are a chance to explore the Real Florida, enjoy the fresh air and spend time with family and friends.

Participating parks will offer guided hikes led by park rangers as well as self-guided trails through beaches, forests, springs and wetlands, with trail options ranging from short, easy walks to longer, more challenging hikes. Hikers will receive a First Day Hikes sticker while supplies last.

“Florida’s state parks offer something for everyone, and First Day Hikes are a perfect introduction,” said Chuck Hatcher, Director of Florida State Parks. “You can meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts on guided hikes or find your own path on self-guided trails. Starting the year here is a simple way to connect with nature and create lasting memories.”

Visitors are welcome to hike at their own pace. Trail maps are available at park ranger stations or online, making it easy to plan a solo or group adventure.

Florida is home to 175 award-winning state parks and more than 3,000 miles of multi-use trails, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation. Visitors who enjoy a First Day Hike can continue exploring Florida’s state parks throughout the year with an individual or family annual pass, which provides unlimited park entry and includes discounts for veterans and foster families.

Find your park and plan your visit at FloridaStateParks.org.

Black Bear Hunt In Florida Nets 52 Harvested

After FWC staff presented options on highly regulated black bear hunting and the public provided their comments at the August and November 2025 Commission meetings, FWC Commissioners approved final proposed amendments to bear hunting rules, which took effect during the 2025 hunting season.

The new rules established Bear Hunting Zones (BHZ) within four of the seven existing Bear Management Units. Through a random drawing a total of 172 permits were issued across the East Panhandle, North, Central and South BMUs, and each permit allowed the harvest of one bear within the assigned BHZ.

There were 52 bears harvested during the 2025 bear hunt, which is a hunter success rate very close to other states with similar hunt parameters. All harvested bears were physically checked by FWC staff and bear response contractors, providing valuable data that will influence future management strategies. Analysis of the data collected is underway, and a full harvest report will be released in the coming months.

The FWC Division of Law Enforcement allocated additional resources to support a productive hunt while maintaining accountability among participants. Increased officer engagement and hunter education led to strong compliance with hunting regulations. Out of numerous positive interactions between officers and hunters, only one hunter received a warning for a minor Wildlife Management Area violation, and no citations were issued. Additionally, the Division of Law Enforcement investigated all reported wildlife violations, and no wildlife violations were found.

As one of the management tools included in the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan, regulated hunting allows the FWC to manage population growth rates in areas with the largest bear subpopulations. Balancing wildlife numbers with suitable habitat keeps populations healthy. Hunting is an important and effective tool for managing wildlife populations worldwide, but it is essential to recognize that managing bear populations does not necessarily mitigate human-bear conflicts. Conflict prevention and bear management practices will still need to continue.

For more information on regulated bear hunting, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit MyFWC.com/hunting/bear. Tips to reduce conflicts and general information about bears are available at MyFWC.com/wildlifehabitats followed by selecting “Wildlife” and then “Black Bears” and at BearWise.org.

Agustin Guerrero of LaBelle Wins $5 Million Lottery Prize

Today, the Florida Lottery announced that Agustin Garcia Guerrero, 58, of Labelle, claimed a $5 million prize from the $5,000,000 CA$H MONEY Scratch-Off game at the Lottery’s Headquarters in Tallahassee on December 8. 

Garcia Guerrero chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $3,053,000. Garcia Guerrero purchased his winning ticket from Sunshine, located at 17100 Tamiami Trail E. in Naples.

The last Hendry County big winner was Guadalupe Leon, 68, of Clewiston, who claimed a $1 million prize from the 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at the Lottery’s West Palm Beach District Office. The win was announced March 5, 2025. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000.00.

Leon purchased his winning ticket from Ahern’s Service Center & Conv Store, located at 1198 US 27 North in Moore Haven. The retailer received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

Scratch-Off games are a part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 74 percent of ticket sales in fiscal year 2024-2025. Additionally, since inception, Scratch-Off games have awarded more than $66.9 billion in prizes, created 2,350 millionaires, and generated more than $20.09 billion for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).