Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples AirportLCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres
naples Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples Airport The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that involved four people at Naples Municipal Airport.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the family members of a young boy found between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida Ag Expo brings agriculture and fun to Fort Myers Fort Myers is holding the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, which promises a mix of agriculture, entertainment, and education this year.
CAPE CORAL Proposal to rename Seahawk Park in Cape Coral The City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department has proposed renaming Seahawk Park to Seahawk Airfield at Festival Park.
Lee County student accused of making school threat A student from Cypress Lake High School is facing charges for making school threats.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Warm and breezy this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday with increased cloud coverage.
miami beach Gov. DeSantis annouces Freedom Boater Initative Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced several marine incentives boaters may take advantage of ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 2025 Miami Beach International Boat Show.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Drivers react to newly opened intersection on Colonial Blvd. The dreaded drive through one of our busiest intersections has been the focus of several construction projects.
Dinosaur from Shell Factory finds new home in Saint James City marina A dinosaur has found a new home at the soon-to-be Nauti-Dolphin Marina in Saint James City, Florida. This prehistoric attraction is already drawing attention even though it’s the only thing currently on the property. Dean Zoner, owner of the Nauti-Dolphin Marina, acquired the dinosaur from the Shell Factory, a local business that was going out […]
Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on Thursday The House and Senate are set to vote on a new immigration bill on Thursday. The bill aims to address illegal immigration and support federal mass deportation efforts.
CLEWISTON Community raises concerns about Clewiston Animal Services The Clewiston Animal Shelter has made significant improvements, but there is still work to be done to bring conditions to a more humane level.
Collier County beachgoers react to Gulf of America name change The Gulf of Mexico has been officially renamed the “Gulf of America” following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Beach’s closure impacts local economy; businesses seek answers Business owners on Englewood Beach are growing increasingly anxious as they await the reopening of the beach, which has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Food truck park proposal on Estero Blvd divides Fort Myers Beach locals The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency recently voted on whether to transform a vacant lot on Estero Boulevard into a food truck park.
naples Preliminary report released for New Year’s Day plane crash at Naples Airport The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that involved four people at Naples Municipal Airport.
LEHIGH ACRES LCSO searching for family of wandering non-verbal teen in Lehigh Acres Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are seeking the family members of a young boy found between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
FORT MYERS Southwest Florida Ag Expo brings agriculture and fun to Fort Myers Fort Myers is holding the Southwest Florida Ag Expo, which promises a mix of agriculture, entertainment, and education this year.
CAPE CORAL Proposal to rename Seahawk Park in Cape Coral The City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department has proposed renaming Seahawk Park to Seahawk Airfield at Festival Park.
Lee County student accused of making school threat A student from Cypress Lake High School is facing charges for making school threats.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Warm and breezy this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday with increased cloud coverage.
miami beach Gov. DeSantis annouces Freedom Boater Initative Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced several marine incentives boaters may take advantage of ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 2025 Miami Beach International Boat Show.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Drivers react to newly opened intersection on Colonial Blvd. The dreaded drive through one of our busiest intersections has been the focus of several construction projects.
Dinosaur from Shell Factory finds new home in Saint James City marina A dinosaur has found a new home at the soon-to-be Nauti-Dolphin Marina in Saint James City, Florida. This prehistoric attraction is already drawing attention even though it’s the only thing currently on the property. Dean Zoner, owner of the Nauti-Dolphin Marina, acquired the dinosaur from the Shell Factory, a local business that was going out […]
Florida lawmakers to vote on revamped Governor backed immigration bill on Thursday The House and Senate are set to vote on a new immigration bill on Thursday. The bill aims to address illegal immigration and support federal mass deportation efforts.
CLEWISTON Community raises concerns about Clewiston Animal Services The Clewiston Animal Shelter has made significant improvements, but there is still work to be done to bring conditions to a more humane level.
Collier County beachgoers react to Gulf of America name change The Gulf of Mexico has been officially renamed the “Gulf of America” following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Beach’s closure impacts local economy; businesses seek answers Business owners on Englewood Beach are growing increasingly anxious as they await the reopening of the beach, which has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Food truck park proposal on Estero Blvd divides Fort Myers Beach locals The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency recently voted on whether to transform a vacant lot on Estero Boulevard into a food truck park.
FORT MYER, Fla. – The company charged with security at the zombie-themed festival that ended in real bloodshed has had numerous problems with Florida’s licensing department, an investigation revealed Wednesday. Tyrell Taylor, 20, was shot and killed in October 2015 when a shooter open fire on First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. The shooting also injured five others. Taylor’s family attorney, Kip Sinclair said Southwest Florida Security and Investigations has been afflicted with issues as far back as early 2000s. “This is a company that looks like, at least in the past, it had been playing fast and loose with the regulations,” Sinclair said. But Southwest Florida Investigations continues to be embattled by licensing problems. Just this month, the company was fined $400 after it was discovered that one of its guards had no license to work at Zombicon. The list of Southwest Florida Security and Investigations licensing problems is significant: 2006: Owner fined for multiple charges in illegal training of security guards 2010: Owner submits fraudulent documents about nonexistent licenses 2014: Company fined for guards without licenses 2016: Company fined again for guards without licenses The problems with the security company began in 2006 with its owner, Jesse Morgan, who was fined $2,200 in for committing fraud, deceit,negligence or misconduct in the training of his security guards. Four years later in 2010, Morgan forfeited his licenses after submitting a fraudulent document claiming he was insured when he was not. Morgan blames a company secretary for misusing funds intended for insurance payments. “A secretary embezzled $10,000 and falsified the documents to cover up her theft,” Morgan said in a phone call. “She was responsible for making that insurance payment.” Southwest Florida Security and Investigations voluntarily gave up its licenses for a year after the incident, Morgan said. Taylor’s lawyer said the company renewed its licenses with the same management. “They got it back with the same owners and the same people running the company and it makes the whole thing seem suspect,” Sinclair said. In 2014, Southwest Florida Security and Investigations was fined $1,750 for using guards who had not completed required licensed training. Lawyers for Southwest Florida Security and Investigations have denied any obligation to ensuring the safety of Zombicon attendants, saying the company’s contract “didn’t provide for making sure the people at the event were safe,” according to lawsuit documents. Sinclair is calling foul on the company’s claim. “If you don’t hire a security company to help protect the safety of people of the event, what else are they there for?” he said. “They’re not there to pass out soft drinks.” Local law enforcement officials have said it is impossible to control security at an event attended by thousands of people with fake weapons. Every year, more than 20,000 people loom Fort Myers for Zombicon, according the official event website. Sinclair agrees that the nature of the festival presents challenges — challenges he said should have been addressed. “Of course it’s an issue,” he said. “And the issue is they didn’t control weapons coming in so they couldn’t tell a real one from a fake one. If they controlled weapons coming in everything they saw waved around by the zombies would be fake.” The solution to security at Zombicon is simple, Sinclair said. “All they would have had to do was to put metal detectors at those access points and say ‘Hey, no weapons’. This was a specific area with specific entry points and it could have been controlled and guns could have been kept out,” he said. Her clients death could have been avoided, he said. “People weren’t checked. People were getting in and weapons were not checked. This could have been prevented,” Sinclair said. Beyond the use of a metal detectors, Sinclair said the festival could implement another inexpensive technique used regularly at concerts. “Get a wrist band. How hard is that?” he said. “You see somebody walking around without a wrist band? They’re a suspect. Security guards should challenge them.” No arrests have been made in connection with the 2015 Zombicon shooting.