Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort MyersThe Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday
FORT MYERS Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort Myers A crash involving at least two vehicles sent one person to the hospital.
The Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday Clouds and occasional sunshine this Sunday. A few brief showers are possible late in the afternoon and this evening.
TALLAHASSEE (CBS) Governor DeSantis signs AI and vape bills Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills, including a measure requiring disclaimers on certain political ads created using artificial intelligence and a bill about regulation of vape products.
ESTERO Gold Star Golf Tournament honors fallen veteran Behind each putt and swing of a golf club at the Gold Star Golf Tournament is someone who knew John Wirka Junior.
NEW YORK (AP) How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. What’s now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?
FORT MYERS Man wanted for armed robbery at Fort Myers convenience store Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help identifying an armed robber who held up a convenience store Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Rifles, inappropriate texts and Donut shop debacle This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a scary mall trip, an inappropriate coach, and a Dunkin Donuts assault.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society raises concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
FORT MYERS Car flips, one sent to hospital after two car crash in Fort Myers A crash involving at least two vehicles sent one person to the hospital.
The Weather Authority: Clouds, sunshine, wind, and the possibility of a brief shower for your Sunday Clouds and occasional sunshine this Sunday. A few brief showers are possible late in the afternoon and this evening.
TALLAHASSEE (CBS) Governor DeSantis signs AI and vape bills Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 28 bills, including a measure requiring disclaimers on certain political ads created using artificial intelligence and a bill about regulation of vape products.
ESTERO Gold Star Golf Tournament honors fallen veteran Behind each putt and swing of a golf club at the Gold Star Golf Tournament is someone who knew John Wirka Junior.
NEW YORK (AP) How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. What’s now in question is whether it will be around much longer and, if so, in what form?
FORT MYERS Man wanted for armed robbery at Fort Myers convenience store Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help identifying an armed robber who held up a convenience store Saturday morning.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINK Neighborhood Watch: Rifles, inappropriate texts and Donut shop debacle This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a scary mall trip, an inappropriate coach, and a Dunkin Donuts assault.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society raises concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
Mental health issues in the workplace As mass shootings are becoming more rampant, schools and communities are focused on mental health issues more than ever before. With the school shooting in Parkland and others, many signs were missed that could have possibly prevented the loss of life that took place. Collier County Sheriff’s Office is taking the necessary steps to make sure nothing like that happens again. WINK News took a look inside a housing unit at the Collier County jail, where Sheriff Kevin Rambosk says too many times mental health patients end up inside a cell instead of in treatment where they can get the help they need. MORE: Mental health resources in Southwest Florida “If we can refer people away from the jail to receive mental health help prior to a criminal act particularly, it will save money, it will save time, and it will make the community safer,” said Rambosk. The sheriff’s office spent more than 2.5-million dollars last fiscal year towards mentally ill inmates for medical costs and supervision. That amount excludes any food or extra staffing that was often needed. “At least half the population of the jail or more at any given time is being referred for mental health help,” Rambosk said. MORE: Mental Health court helps break the cycle of ill patients in and out of jail The sheriff’s office says that would be even higher if it weren’t for the crisis intervention training, which is an intensive 40-hour course that teaches Collier deputies how to recognize mental illness, and de-escalate confrontations that can lead to arrests. Sheriff Rambosk also says the community can take part in notifying individuals with sign of mental illness. “Communities need to be proactive. When you see someone in need of help you need to make contact with those that can help them and that’s exactly why we started the programs we’ve started here,” said Rambosk. The latest initiative led by Lieutenant Leslie Weidenhammer is CCSO’s Mental Health Bureau. “The sheriff has taken the initiative for us to concentrate on the individual throughout the process,” says Weidenhammer. “Here in the jail, letting staff know when they come in what information they have so they’re providing that to them at the jail.” From the moment deputies interact with them on the street, to their time in jail and then released, wellness checks are performed throughout. “We have a mental health intervention team a licensed clinical social worker that we have contracted with David Lawrence Center and we will take her and simply knock on the door and say hi how are you doing? We’re just here checking on you and making sure things are going well for you. Is there anything we can help you with?,” said Weidenhammer. Some of them are diverted to mental health court for treatment rather than jail time. This is a program that Tom Ruggerio credits for helping him turn his life around, after attempting suicide, when his wife passed. “The combination of that medicine, this program, and the therapy was the exact recipe that I needed. Yup, so it’s just amazing,” said Ruggerio. For Sheriff Rambosk, preventing the tragedy before it happens is what’s most important. “Without that we will certainly miss individuals that will cause harm to themselves, others, and communities, and some tragically.” He also says it is the daily interactions with the school system, David Lawrence Center, and National Alliance of Mental Health in Collier, all working together, that has been critical in tackling these complex issues.