Firefighters to perform 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State ParkTim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples
estero Firefighters to perform 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park San Carlos Park Fire Protection & Rescue Service District performs a 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park today.
Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
estero Firefighters to perform 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park San Carlos Park Fire Protection & Rescue Service District performs a 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park today.
Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Credit: Cutout Photo: Ilmicrofono Oggiono / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ A fifth grade teacher in Collier County allegedly screamed “I’ll get a (expletive) gun and shoot her” at another staff member in front of deputies in a school parking lot in 2014. The teacher, who apparently lost his cool after bumping into another teacher’s car, was disciplined by the Florida Department of Education but did not lose his license. WINK News reviewed dozens of educator misconduct and discipline reports filed by the Lee and Collier county school districts from 2012 to 2017 and found 68 incidents of teachers accused of being aggressive and violent. Reports relevant to Charlotte County schools were heavily redacted and could not be analyzed. The research was in no way comprehensive or a complete look at exactly how many educators have had misconduct reports filed and discipline issued for this type of behavior. DATABASE: Search for educators with disciplinary actions against their license Other examples include an incident involving a Lee County assistant principal that alleges she “inappropriately disciplined” a first grader and bruised the child’s arm in 2015. Another Lee County teacher was accused of slapping students and hitting others in the genitals in 2013. Both of these teachers were disciplined, but still have licenses to teach in Florida. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act [SB 7026], signed into law by Governor Rick Scott allows for some educators to act as guardians at schools and carry weapons. The law does not specifically mention taking into consideration prior educator misconduct. Named for Aaron Feis, a coach killed in the February 14, massacre in Parkland, the armed guardian program is optional and voluntary. It does not allow teachers who are exclusively classroom teachers to carry firearms unless they have a military or law enforcement background. The program also calls for specific training and psychological evaluations. “I would think districts would have the common sense to consider [past misconduct],” said Mark Castellano, president of the Teacher’s Association of Lee County, a union group for educators. Castellano said it’s inevitable that teachers will lose their cool given rising stress and pressures in the classroom, and questioned whether or not adding firearms to the mix was a good idea. The Florida Education Association, a statewide teacher’s union, strongly opposed the portion of the SB 7026 that allows arming educators and has asked the Scott to veto the funds dedicated to the guardian program. No school districts in Southwest Florida have committed to taking part in the guardian program. The Desoto County School board has already voted unanimously against participating in the program, according to Superintendent of Schools Adrian Cline. Charlotte County schools superintendent plans to ask the board to vote against the idea. Both Lee and Collier counties are still taking everything into consideration. No one from the Hendry County school district could be reached for comment during their spring break. Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden has said he’d like to train volunteer school staff to carry guns at schools, but the school board is still reviewing that idea.