Never Drive Impaired - Kathy Gilliam Arrested After Crash

Impaired Driver Crashes into Guardrail Directly in Front of State Trooper — Arrested for DUI

Lee County, Florida – November 11, 2026

On November 11, 2026, at approximately 1:24 AM, a Florida Highway Patrol State Trooper was stopped directly behind a Chevrolet sedan on the eastbound left-turn lane of State Road 82 at Ortiz Avenue, awaiting a green left-turn arrow.

When the traffic signal turned green, the driver of the Chevrolet exhibited a delayed response before accelerating forward, initially heading toward oncoming traffic. The driver then abruptly made a 90-degree left turn, crashing directly into a metal guardrail.

The driver, identified as Kathy Ann Gilliam, 59, of Fort Myers, Florida, displayed obvious signs of impairment and admitted to consuming “a lot of vodka.”

While attempting to begin a field sobriety walk-and-turn exercise, Gilliam lost her balance and fell to the ground.

Gilliam was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and subsequently provided a breath sample revealing a .225 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), nearly three times Florida’s legal limit of .08.

Gilliam was booked into the Lee County Jail.

This incident serves as another reminder of the dangers of impaired driving. Florida State Troopers remain committed to proactively identifying and removing impaired drivers from Florida roadways before they endanger innocent motorists.

The FHP warns: Never Drive Impaired

Veterans Day - Dedicated To World Peace After "War To End All Wars"

World War I—known at the time as “The Great War”—officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles near the town of Versailles, France. 

However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. 

For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day,” which was primarily set aside to honor Veterans of World War I.

In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history, and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress—at the urging of the Veterans service organizations—amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” 

With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars.

Photo: Sarasota National Cemetery by Don Browne

History Source: VA - Veterans Day History

Scam Alert - Fake Jury Duty Calls

LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has received several calls reporting calls from individuals claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office or the US Marshalls Office, claiming they failed to appear for Jury Duty. IT’S A SCAM.

The scammers often spoof official phone numbers and use high-pressure tactics, threatening arrest or legal action if you don't pay immediately. The caller may appear to be very legitimate -- with caller ID showing a sheriff’s office phone number and an official-sounding voice on the phone; recently victims are reporting the calls show no caller ID. The caller tells the potential victim to stay on the phone and to not hang up.

The scammer demands immediate payment (usually via gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto) to avoid fake arrest warrants or fines for offenses like failing to appear for jury duty.

Please know that a law enforcement agency will NEVER call to demand money or threaten arrest over missed jury duty. Just know that bail/bond is not negotiable, and the government does not ask for Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, or any other form of digital payment apps.

Here’s how to handle unsolicited callers or suspicious messages:

- Hang Up or Stop Replying Immediately: Do not engage, argue, or attempt to verify details with the person on the line.

- Never Send Payment: Law Enforcement will NEVER demand payment over the phone, via text, or demand untraceable payment methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

- Protect Personal Information: NEVER share your Social Security number, banking details, or credit card information with an unsolicited caller or texter.

- Verify Directly: If you are unsure about your jury summons status, call the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office at 863-674-5600.

- Report It: Report any fraudulent calls or scams to local law enforcement.

- Please share this post to help keep our community informed and protected.

Fire Department Practice Drill At Park

 

LABELLE, FL. -- Seen Monday, the LaBelle Fire Department doing training at the Sports Park on Forrey Drive. 

Wrecked cars were scattered at the park as they did practice drills. 

The Forrey Sports Park was recently opened with baseball, football fields, and restrooms. The park was under construction for almost a decade.

Photo Credit: Mary Tyner

Misleading Real Estate Buyer? Sierra Buys

 LABELLE, FL. -- TV ads have been popping up on local Southwest Florida stations advertising SierraBuys.com, stating they will buy your home with no added costs or commissions. This seems to be a rather typical real estate buying company that gives low ball offers to sometimes desperate home owners.

Looking at their webpage though, give no indications of the real name of the company or it's location. These are telltale signs to beware of, with some possible misleading business practices.

Most commonly these companies offer to buy at a very low price and then attempt to quickly sell the contract to a third party at a higher price.

A check with the Florida Secretary of State office shows the actual name of the company is Sierra Solitude LLC registered for business in Florida on July 24, 2026. 

The company's address is 1135 TERMINAL WAY UNIT 209, RENO, NV 89502 with a mailing address of 5150 MAE ANN AVE STE 405 #5338, RENO, NV 89523. The company's owner is JOEL W. JANSON, 5150 MAE ANNE AVE STE 405, RENO, NV 89523.

The address is a FedEx mailing drop center and an office shared with other companies.

Their TV ad shows a BBB "A" rating, but nothing shows up for the company under their Florida business name. But, a Nevada company, Sierra Homebuyers does have a BBB page with the same owner, Joel Janson of Reno. 

On Reddit, opinions are mixed regarding Sierra Buys: some reviewers reported a fast and straightforward transaction, while others noted receiving lowball offers or persistent follow-up communication.

Advice: Unless you need to sell quickly and don't care if you get a way below market value, this could be an option, and be prepared for a not as easy as advertised deal. Otherwise, contact a local real estate agent and list and sell at a normal price.