Studies of Southwest Florida's shorelines from Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park to Naples Beach helps in understanding coastal ecosystems and how dunes protect the coast from wind and water damage. Long-term observations have yielded novel insights into the kinds of plants that anchor local dunes, the roles they play in collecting and holding sand, and how they respond to storms and regenerate in their aftermath.
Two decades ago two young men disappeared in Naples under mysterious circumstances. Terrance Williams and Felipe Santos were both last seen with the same Collier County Sheriff’s deputy, Steven Calkins. They were both men of color in their 20s. And they were both last seen in Deputy Calkins’ patrol car. Deputy Calkins was fired after his story changed when questioned. He denied wrongdoing. He’s the only person of interest in the cases, but law enforcement never found evidence against him. This week, on Friday, Jan. 12, it will be 20 years since Terrance went missing.