Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Shepherd’s service dog, Spree. (WINK News photo) Even one year later, the pain and fear felt inside the hallways of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School still haunts the survivors. One survivor overcame her woes when she was matched with a furry, four-legged friend. Haylee Shepherd was determined to go back to Marjory Stoneman Douglas when it reopened last March. “I really wanted to,” said Shepherd, a junior. “I knew it was going to be hard.” Every day she would wake up, grab her backpack and begin her trek to school. “As soon as I cut through the bushes, I would just get a pit in my stomach,” Shepherd said. But, halfway down Holmberg Road, she would stop. “She would just sit there and cry and call me hysterical,” said Andrea Gilman, Shepherd’s mother. “She just couldn’t get past the building.” Gilman is referring to building 12. It is the site confessed gunman, Nikolas Cruz, opened fire on Feb. 14, 2018. Cruz killed 17 people, 14 of whom were students. The gunshots in building 12 still echo in Shepherd’s head as her class hunkered down. “They heard a lot of things,” Gilman said. “They smelled a lot of things, but they didn’t actually get to visualize and connect the dots until they were put into that hallway. They walked into a warzone.” Shepherd said she did not feel comfortable describing what she saw in the hallway as the memories still haunt her, giving her nightmares. “We tried private therapy, we tried EMDR, we tried yoga, scented oils, we got her an apple watch because she was having panic attacks,” Gilman said. “We got her a new bed to help her sleep — nothing worked.” But, one thing did ease Shepherd’s pain. “The dogs gave her the comfort,” Gilman said. “With so much going on and a single mother and three kids and school and work, I’m like I’m not getting a puppy cause even a puppy wouldn’t have necessarily solved her problem.” When Gilman heard about a Naples based non-profit focused on training service dogs, she and her daughter applied. But they were immediately turned down. The non-profit primarily works with veterans. Non-veterans can apply, but it could take up to three years to five years to get a service dog as the non-profit lacks substantial funding. Shepherd’s hopes of going back to school quickly diminished to the dismay of her mother. Gilman just wanted her daughter to be a regular child who doesn’t live in a constant state of fear. But then, something amazing happened. “A few days later, I got a phone call from the Guardian Angels saying that someone had donated a dog to an MSD student and they wanted me to resubmit,” Gilman said. Shepherd and her service dog, Spree. (WINK News photo) The mother and daughter went through the grueling application process again with the hope that they would be selected. “It was a lot of not knowing,” Shepherd said. “Just sending in the application and waiting.” Then, Shepherd was invited by Guardian Angels Medical Services Dogs to its training farm over the summer to bond with her match. “She was so sweet and gentle and soft and motherly,” Shepherd said. “It was just an instant connection where I felt safe with her.” “The minute they met,” Gilman said, “tears started pouring down my face because it was like this dog had been with us our entire life.” Spree, Shepherd’s new companion, helped her heal. Her nightmares stopped and she had the strength to return to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. “It’s unbelievable what this dog has done for her,” Gilman said.