Eagle marks 50 years of covering island news
First publication hit the streets in April 1976
On April 21, 1976, the Pine Island Eagle published its first newspaper edition, which means the island paper is now celebrating 50 years on Pine Island.
Looking back at the 50th anniversary of the Eagle, it seems the driving force behind the stories has been the islands’ organizations coupled with the dynamic drive behind Pine Island’s ability to survive, thrive, assist, grow, extend and save. Perhaps the greatest strength of Pine Island is the common knowledge that Pine Islanders often come to the aid of one another whether in a time of personal need or a time of great tragedy that reaches the community at large and ironically brings it even closer, such as in Hurricanes, Charley, Ian, Helene or Milton.
The Eagle has strived to maintain its reputation of being the newspaper of record for the clubs and organizations on Pine Island and Matlacha.
The first editors of the Pine Island Eagle were Bob Feser, and Marilyn Feser. Marilyn was also the first advertising manager.
The first edition of the Eagle in 1976 finds that St. James City was hosting a bicentennial and a fishermans cooperative formed on Pine Island forming the Lee County fisherman’s cooperative Inc. which took over Holloway Seafood Inc. The co-op went on record saying they would pay top price for quality products and that the normal catch handled by the co-op is mostly fin-fish like mullet, trout, redfish, pompano, mackerel and bottom fish.
Artists are apparently nothing new to the island as Jo Johnson was listed, by the Pine Island Art Association, as artist of the month in the first issue of the Eagle. Her painting entitled, “Boats and Birds a view of the harbor at Fort Myers Beach,” was displayed at the Matlacha Oyster House during the month of May 1976. The artist association had 50-plus members and met every Friday at the Matlacha Civic building.
A weekly column in the Eagle of 1976 was the “Islander of the Week” and the first islander of the week was U. Curry Walton. Eagle writer Ethel Johnston wrote that Walton, who was a preacher, came from Naples with his wife, Marie, in 1960.
According to the article, the Waltons thought that Pine Island had the greatest need because, they said, it had no school, no water, one firetruck, no ambulance service and two churches with a combined congregation of 35.
According to the article, Walton credits a bright future for Pine Island based on the excellent water produced here. He also believed there must be strict but sensible zoning laws and that eternally watchful citizens would make sure that they are obeyed. He was quoted for having seen many blighted areas in Southwest Florida-great tracts of land brought up and destroyed or abandoned by big developers. He believed this must not happen here.
Preacher Walton believed that Pine Island must always be a sanctuary for people and that the people who care for it must control it and they are the people who live here.
Through the years, The Eagle has provided a wide variety of island news — from updates on the ever-active clubs, civic organizations and other groups to the ever-changing business community to oftentimes struggles with the county on what islanders believe is best for their “home.” In recent years hurricanes and recovery have seemed to dominate much the news.
Over the years, The Eagle has provided news as islanders have strived to maintain the fishing village, small town-type feel and atmosphere that has existed for decades, as the rest of the county, and Southwest Florida, have grown tremendously.
The Eagle has also published countless articles and features about island residents — “old-timers” and newcomers who have and will continue to strive to make sure “island time” is “the” way of life on Matlacha and Pine Island.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email