Hendry County Emergency 911 Texting

Hendry County has launched Text-to-9-1-1, providing another way to reach emergency services for individuals who are unable to make a voice call during an emergency, including those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability.

If you need emergency assistance but are unable to speak or cannot safely make a voice call, you can send a text message to 9-1-1 from your mobile phone. To use Text-to-9-1-1, enter 911 in the “To” field and include the location and nature of the emergency in your message.

Traditional 9-1-1 voice calls are still preferred whenever possible, as they remain the fastest and most effective way for dispatchers to gather critical information and respond to an emergency.

Fort Denaud Bridge Closed To Boats Until 5 pm Monday

LaBelle, Fla. – The Fort Denaud Bridge is closed to boat traffic until further notice while FPL makes repairs to the power line serving the bridge tender house. It is expected that the repairs will be completed by 5:00 pm today.

The Fort Denaud Bridge will remain open to vehicular traffic. However, motorists should be watchful of County employees while crossing the bridge. Hendry County Road & Bridge will be performing maintenance to the Fort Denaud Bridge while the bridge is closed to boat traffic.

The boat traffic closure is necessary in order for crews to conduct emergency repairs.
Additional notice will be provided regarding when the bridge will re-open to boat traffic.

Sheriff Vehicle Involved In Hendry County Crash

FHP Press Release –Hendry County -Montura Avenue / South Hacienda Street

DATE: 8/8/26
TIME: 7:55 PM
LOCATION: Montura Avenue / South Hacienda Street, Hendry County

CASE #: FHP26ON0368884

INVESTIGATOR: Trooper B. Petty

VEHICLE 1: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe (Marked Hendry County Sheriff’s Office)
DRIVER 1: Male / Age 24 / Clewiston / Minor Injury
VEHICLE 2: 2016 Chevrolet Cruz
DRIVER 2: Female / Age 61 / Clewiston / Non-Incapacitating Injury

SYNOPSIS:

Vehicle 1 (Marked Hendry County Sheriff’s Office SUV -equipped with activated emergency lights and siren) was traveling east on Montura Avenue, approaching the posted stop sign intersection of South Hacienda Street.

Vehicle 2 was traveling south on South Hacienda Street, approaching the (no posted stop sign) intersection of Montura Avenue

Vehicle 1 proceeded past the stop sign, entered the intersection and the front of Vehicle 1 collided with the side of Vehicle 2.

Post collision, Vehicle 1 traveled off the roadway and overturned.

Post collision, Vehicle 2 rotated, traveled off the roadway, and collided with a concrete pillar and fence.

Driver 2 sustained non incapacitating injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Your Amazon Driver Is Not An Amazon Employee

Amazon does not directly employ its last-mile delivery drivers. Instead, the company outsources deliveries through two primary contractor models: the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, where drivers wear Amazon uniforms and drive branded vans for local third-party businesses, and Amazon Flex, where gig workers use their own personal vehicles.

Delivery Service Partners (DSP)

Small, independent local businesses hire the drivers and manage day-to-day operations. Drivers wear Amazon-branded uniforms and drive blue Amazon-branded vans or rented vehicles provided through the program.

Legally, these drivers work for the third-party DSP owner, shielding Amazon from direct employment liabilities, though regulatory lawsuits challenge the level of control Amazon exerts over these operations.

Amazon Flex

Independent gig contractors sign up via Amazon Flex to pick up blocks of packages from fulfillment centers. Drivers use their own personal cars, SUVs, or trucks rather than corporate fleet vehicles.

Workers operate similarly to ride-share or food-delivery app operators, getting paid per completed route block rather than standard hourly employee wages. 

Legal Actions Involving Amazon's Delivery Network

The most significant recent legal action involving the Amazon delivery network is a major federal antitrust lawsuit filed by New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport on August 4, 2026. The landmark lawsuit alleges that Amazon operates an illegal monopsony—abusing its dominant buying power in the labor market—to deliberately suppress wages and enforce punishing working conditions across its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) network. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The core legal battles shaking Amazon's logistics model focus on three main fronts:

1. The New Jersey Antitrust Lawsuit (August 2026)

This first-of-its-kind state-level lawsuit claims that while Amazon publicizes DSPs as independent small businesses, they are entirely captive entities dependent on Amazon for survival. [4, 5]

The Allegations: The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General charges that Amazon dictates routing software, electronic monitoring, quotas, and anti-union messaging scripts. It also highlights "no-poaching" rules that prevent DSPs from hiring drivers from other contractors, which artificially minimizes wage competition. [3, 5]

Amazon's Defense: Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly stated the suit "is not grounded in fact," reiterating that DSPs maintain independent control over their fleet management, hiring, and business decisions. [3]

2. The NLRB "Joint Employer" Decision (June 2026)

For years, labor unions like the Teamsters pushed the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to classify Amazon as a "joint employer" of DSP drivers, which would legally force Amazon to sit at the bargaining table. [6, 7]

The Ruling: In a massive victory for the e-commerce giant, the NLRB ruled that Amazon is not a joint employer with its delivery partners. [8]

The Impact: The board found that providing training, route technology, and performance parameters does not constitute direct employment. This significantly limits Amazon's immediate legal liability for local contractor labor disputes. [8, 9, 10]

3. Amazon Flex Independent Contractor Battles

Parallel to the DSP lawsuits, states continue to challenge the Amazon Flex gig-worker model. The New Jersey Department of Labor has a concurrent, active lawsuit accusing Amazon Logistics of misclassifying Flex drivers as independent contractors, demanding back-wages and full employment benefits for these gig workers. [1, 11]

[1] https://www.njoag.gov
[2] https://www.youtube.com
[3] https://www.wsj.com
[4] https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com
[5] https://www.nytimes.com
[6] https://www.staffingindustry.com
[7] https://www.facebook.com
[8] https://support.trustwave.com
[9] https://bvwd.ca.gov
[10] https://www.rssinc.com
[11] https://www.njoag.gov

John Russell Yancey Dies At 85

John Russell Yancey, known to his family and friends as Russ, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2026. He was 85 years old.

Born on March 7, 1941, in Jacksonville, Florida, Russ lived a life characterized by steady commitment to his family and faith.

He spent over 35 years as a bank executive and mortgage banker. During that time, he became a familiar figure in Southwest Florida, helping families navigate the complexities of homeownership with patience and a calm, dependable presence. Before establishing his career, he served in the United States Army from August 3, 1961, to September 12, 1970. He retired as a Warrant Officer 2 and served in Vietnam. The discipline and perspective he gained during his military service stayed with him, and he often enjoyed sharing stories from those years.

On February 28, 1976, he married Carol. They celebrated 50 years of marriage, a milestone they recently marked. He was a devout Catholic, finding strength and consistency in his faith.

He bore the loss of his sons, John R. Yancey, Jr., and Patrick H. Yancey, with a quiet dignity.

Russ’s world revolved around his family. He found great joy in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Carol; his son, William S. Stagner; his grandchildren, Jason (Christie) Yancey, Miranda (John) Middleton, and Jay Yancey; daughter-in-law, Veronica Yancey; and his great-grandchildren, MacKenzie, Kopper, Rylee, Charlotte, Ella, and Ember. He was also close with Judy Seelback, his sister-in-law, as well as his brothers-in-law and their wives: Michael and Rosey Brockamp, and Dan and Deborah Brockamp. He held his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and extended family in high regard, always valuing the time spent together.

He bore the loss of his sons, John R. Yancey, Jr., and Patrick H. Yancey, with a quiet dignity.

When he wasn't working, Russ enjoyed simple pleasures. He was an avid bowler for many years and took pride in teaching the sport to local youth. He enjoyed watching football and was rarely one to turn down a game of cards.

A visitation will be held on August 12, 2026, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at Akin Davis Funeral Home, located at 13932 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905. A mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 13031 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905. He will be laid to rest at Alva Cemetery, on Cemetery Road in Alva, FL 33920, at 12:00 p.m.

Russ lived a full life, not marked by grand gestures but by the consistent and dependable way he showed up for those he loved. He will be deeply missed.