John Charles Salus Dies At 67

John Charles Salus, age 67, of Labelle, Florida, passed away on February 8th, 2026 in the comfort of his own home with his wife, Renee, and dog Bo, by his side. 

John grew up in Fort Lauderdale with his parents, Joseph and Ethel and his brother Joseph (Patricia) who preceded him in death. 

John worked as a truck driver for Publix and as a Captain for Captiva Cruises on Captiva Island, Florida. 

In true John fashion, he was happiest driving “big things”. 

John found joy in country music, Miller Light, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends. 

John is survived by his wife, Renee, her children and John’s step children, Jonathan (Kellie), Jacki, Jordan, and Tara (Tim), and their grandkids Connor, Airilyn, Gabriella, Emmie, Jameson and Jack. 

John will be remembered fondly by his close family, cousins, friends, and coworkers. While our hearts are heavy with the loss of John, we find comfort in the fact that he is without pain and reunited with his parents and brother, somewhere on the water, in warmth, with a cold beer. 

A service to celebrate the life of John will be held at a time not decided yet.

Farmers Urged To Sign Up For Login.gov Accounts

Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) – Prepare to Apply Online

With a secure Login.gov account, producers can be the first to apply for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program.

To conduct business with FSA online, including applying for FBA assistance, producers will need a Login.gov account.

About Login.gov

Login.gov is the public’s one account for government. Producers can use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including FSA.

Creating a Login.gov account is the first step to working with FSA online.

Visit farmers.gov/account to create your Login.gov account. If you already have a Login.gov account, you can work with FSA using your existing account.

Follow the steps below to create your Login.gov account and tie it to your FSA customer record:

Create your Login.gov Account
Complete Identity Verification
Link your FSA Customer Record

Linking your FSA Customer Record

If you have worked with FSA in the past and have an FSA customer record, the system will attempt to automatically link your Login.gov account to your existing FSA Customer Record.

If you are new to working with USDA, you will need to create an FSA Customer Record. This record is sometimes called a Business Partner ID, BPID, or Business Partner Customer Record. After you verify your identity online, you will be taken to a page to fill out and submit a form to begin that process.

Work with FSA Online

Once you have a Login.gov account, you will be able to complete the following for FBA:

View your application
Certify and submit your application
Track application and payment status

For assistance creating your Login.gov account, visit https://login.gov/help/.

Obituary - Nikki Lee Burg

July 6, 1994 - February 9, 2026

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Nikki Lee Burg, a beloved wife, mother, daughter, and sister, who departed this life on February 9, 2026, in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Born in Cape Coral, Florida to Link Clay “Shorty” and Robin Sue Williams Howard. Nikki radiated love and laughter throughout her life and was a beacon of kindness to all who knew her. She enjoyed drawing, spending time with her family and close family friends.

Nikki was the cherished wife of Robert Allen "Robbie" Burg, and together they built a nurturing home that was filled with joy. She was a devoted mother to her two children, Grayson Robert and Peyton Rayne Burg, who were her pride and joy. Nikki's unwavering loyalty and loving spirit extended to her parents, Shorty and Robin Howard, and her sister, Amy O'Bannon, along with her beloved nephew, Colton Russell.

The traits that defined Nikki—her kindness, loyalty, and a wonderful sense of humor—made her an extraordinary person who touched many lives. She had a unique ability to bring smiles and warmth into every room she entered, and her laughter will be profoundly missed by all who were fortunate enough to experience it.

A graveside service will be held in Nikki's honor at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Fort Denaud Cemetery in LaBelle. Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life and share in the memories of her beautiful spirit.

In this time of sorrow, may we all remember Nikki for the joy she gave, and may her legacy of love and laughter continue to inspire us.

Ellery Uribe Dies - 23 Years Of Public Service

Hendry County Mourns the Loss of Paramedic Ellery Uribe

(February 12, 2026) – It is with great sadness that Hendry County shares the passing of Paramedic Ellery Uribe who died in his home of natural causes on February 10, 2026.

Paramedic Uribe served as a paramedic with Hendry County EMS for over 3 years and was beloved by his colleagues.

“Ellery will be truly missed. He was a beacon of light for our department, always happy to be here and to serve our community,” said EMS Chief Amy Stafford. “He thought the world of his co-workers and truly left a legacy of love, kindness and joy.”

Paramedic Uribe dedicated 23 years to public service during which he served in Estero, Riviera Beach, Highlands and Polk County prior to joining Hendry County.

The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners, EMS and all County staff offer their deepest sympathies to Paramedic Uribe’s family and invite the community to join them in prayer for all who knew and loved him.

Civics 101 - Exploring Fascism - Can It Be Fair To It's Citizens?

Can A Fascist Government Be Fair To All?

In practice and in theory, fascism is structurally incompatible with a government that treats all citizens fairly.

What fascism is

Fascism is defined as an authoritarian system with a dictatorial leader, centralized autocratic government, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

It exalts the nation (and often a particular race or ethnic group) above individuals and rejects pluralism, individual rights, equality, and democratic government.

Why it cannot be fair “for all”

Fascist ideology is explicitly hierarchical: it assumes a “natural social hierarchy” and subordinates individual interests to the perceived interests of the nation or race.

Because it suppresses opposition and dissent by force, groups who disagree or fall outside the preferred national or racial identity are systematically denied equal political rights and protections.

Historical fascist regimes in Italy and Germany, for example, imposed harsh repression, censorship, and persecution, including antisemitic laws and eventual deportations and mass violence, which directly contradict any notion of fairness to all citizens.

The illusion of “social justice” under fascism

Some fascist regimes claimed to pursue a higher form of “social justice,” offering welfare or labor policies for favored groups, but this conception of justice was explicitly anti-egalitarian and subordinated to national hierarchy and state power.

Benefits tended to be reserved for those seen as “true” members of the national community, while minorities, political opponents, and other “undesirables” were marginalized or brutalized, so even material gains for some rested on structural injustice toward others.

Human rights and fascist rule

Modern human rights frameworks arose in part as a response to the unprecedented levels of state tyranny and systematic rights violations carried out by fascist (and other totalitarian) regimes in the 20th century.

Because fascism rejects individual rights and legal constraints on state power as weaknesses, it conflicts with any rights-based standard of fairness that applies equally to all citizens.

Bottom line

A government that is fascist by definition centralizes unchecked power, enforces hierarchy, and suppresses dissent, which means it can at best distribute some benefits to some groups, not treat all citizens fairly on equal terms.

Any system that is genuinely fair for all citizens must protect pluralism, individual rights, and equality before the law, core principles that fascism opposes rather than upholds.