Alex Orenczuk

Punta Gorda

Community Correspondent at WFTX-TV (Cape Coral, FL)

(OH-REN-CHUCK) 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦

Articles

TIDE TRACKER: Charlotte County installs new real-time tide sensors

6 days ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Charlotte County is turning to new technology to improve how it tracks tides and storm surges, installing five real-time tide sensors across Charlotte Harbor. The sensors, made by Hyfi, will be installed in different areas around the harbor including Lemon Bay, Gasparilla Island, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and El Jobean. The county’s Water Quality Manager, Brandon Moody, said the data the sensors will collect is invaluable.
Punta Gorda leaders push back on 911 center consolidation

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — At Wednesday’s Punta Gorda City Council meeting, residents and city officials spoke out against a plan that would shift 911 call routing responsibilities from the city’s dispatch center to the county’s. “Let's be clear this has never been about improving public safety or 911 services, this is about control,” said Dr. Keith Henderson during public comment.
TURTLE TENSION: Beach conditions pose challenges for upcoming nesting season

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — As turtle nesting season approaches, the volunteers tasked with monitoring nests along Charlotte County’s coastline are concerned damage from Hurricane Helene and Milton could impact nest numbers this year. Volunteers with the Coastal Wildlife Club in Englewood walk approximately 20 miles of the area’s coastline every morning from April 15 to Nov. 30.
Punta Gorda city attorney walks out of council meeting

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Amidst discussions regarding his contract ending and who will serve in the interim, Punta Gorda City Attorney David Levin walked out of Wednesday's city council meeting. Levin has served in this position since 2005. His contract is up in July, and the council voted at the previous meeting not to renew his contract. Otherwise, it would have automatically renewed. According to the city, Levin is currently billed $165 per hour.
Safety officials in Punta Gorda want to keep the city's dispatch independent

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is expected to address Punta Gorda’s City Council on Wednesday over a controversial county take-over of the city’s 911 center. On April 8, Charlotte County Commissioners delayed voting on the resolution to give Sheriff Prummell an opportunity to speak with the city leaders. If passed, it would make the county dispatch the initial answering point for all calls, even those from within the city of Punta Gorda.
'It's disgusting': Cloudy creek on Burnt Store Road traced to construction site

1 week ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Homeowners along Burnt Store Road in Charlotte County brought concerns to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, after a typically clear-water creek in the area turned murky. According to FDEP, it received a complaint about the creek on March 28, and went to investigate the same day. FDEP traced the cloudy water to dewatering activities at a construction site on Zemel Road.
TOY TARIFFS: Local businesses relying on Chinese imports feeling the squeeze

2 weeks ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — As the trade war between the United States and China continues, local small businesses that rely on Chinese imports are caught in the crossfire. On Wednesday, President Trump announced his administration was pausing reciprocal tariffs for several countries, but not China. In fact, the U.S. added a 125% to the already 20% tariff imposed on Chinese imports, for a total of 145% according to the White House. China also imposed an 84% on imported American goods.
Punta Gorda officials pushback on county takeover of 911 call consolidation

2 weeks ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — On Tuesday, Charlotte County Commissioners postponed voting on a resolution that would route 911 calls from within the City of Punta Gorda to county dispatchers, rather than city dispatchers after hearing opposition from city leaders. The resolution would make the county dispatch center the Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), meaning all 911 calls would be fielded by county dispatchers even if the calls came from within the city limits.
BOAT RAGE BACKLASH: Horner's attorney speaks out, wrong captain catches heat

2 weeks ago | fox4now.com | Alex Orenczuk

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A video showing an altercation between charter boat captain Brock Horner and a 22-year-old fisherman in Punta Gorda has gone viral, being viewed millions of times, with thousands of comments calling for Horner to face legal action. The video, taken on April 1, was posted to Facebook by 22-year-old Gage Towles, and shows him fishing alone on his boat near the US-41 bridge in Punta Gorda.
CAUGHT ON CAM: Punta Gorda boat rage video goes viral

2 weeks ago | wptv.com | Alex Orenczuk

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A disturbing video of a charter boat captain harassing a young fisherman in Punta Gorda is going viral, and the incident is being investigated by authorities. The video was posted to Facebook by 22-year-old Gage Towles, showing him fishing alone on his boat near the US-41 bridge in Punta Gorda. In the video, charter Captain Brock Horner, of Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters, drives his boat near Towles and begins questioning him about his use of lights.