locked down lifted at Imagine School after ammunition found on school busPublix teams up with Harry Chapin to fight hunger
NORTH PORT locked down lifted at Imagine School after ammunition found on school bus The North Port Police Department is investigating after ammunition was found on an Imagine School bus, which has led to the school’s lockdown.
FORT MYERS Publix teams up with Harry Chapin to fight hunger September is Hunger Action Month, and Publix is partnering with the Harry Chapin Food Bank to help the Southwest Florida community.
ARCADIA 2 men accused of sexual misconduct with Arcadia student Two men were arrested last week after they allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a young student in Arcadia.
New Naples dining venue faces city scrutiny The local business venture at 1200 Central Ave. was the subject of more than three hours of discussion during the Sept. 4 meeting of City Council.
ESTERO Brotherly Bond: 2 FGCU soccer players display great synergy While born in different parts of Brazil, two Florida Gulf Coast University soccer players have developed a bond that cannot be easily broken.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms this Thursday as a trough of low pressure lingers across the state.
WINK Investigates: Beattie Development in debt for more than $11 million dollars New documents also show help may be coming to homeowners who have paid the contractor hundreds of thousands of dollars and haven’t had their homes built.
cape coral Hand grenade found inside Cape Coral home The Cape Coral Police Department and LCSO bomb squad responded to the scene located on SW 38th Street, near Surfside Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon.
Lee County school superintendent candidates debate over hot button issues Candidates competing for the Lee County School Superintendent title faced off and discussed issues and possible solutions.
southwest florida Former State Senator pushes for state-wide animal abuse registry We are hearing from a former Florida Senator who says Erick Canoura could’ve been stopped before he came to Lee County.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Man breaks into mini-golf course A man has been arrested after he was caught on camera stripping and breaking into a minigolf course.
PUNTA GORDA Support local veterans with Pet for a Vet fundraiser It is a win-win for vets and soon-to-be pets. Our sister radio station, WINK 96-9, is hosting its annual Pet for a Vet fundraiser.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Laurel wilt: the fungus threatening Florida’s avocados The citrus industry has been feeling the squeeze here in Florida for a number of reasons, the most destructive one being a disease known as Laurel wilt.
Naples real estate impacted by Federal Reserve cuts It is a beautiful home on a nice, quiet street in Naples. Take a quick peak inside, and you’d assume it’d sell quickly. Well, think again.
Hip dysplasia’s effect on young people When you think of hip pain, you usually imagine middle-aged or older adults. However, children can suffer from it, too.
NORTH PORT locked down lifted at Imagine School after ammunition found on school bus The North Port Police Department is investigating after ammunition was found on an Imagine School bus, which has led to the school’s lockdown.
FORT MYERS Publix teams up with Harry Chapin to fight hunger September is Hunger Action Month, and Publix is partnering with the Harry Chapin Food Bank to help the Southwest Florida community.
ARCADIA 2 men accused of sexual misconduct with Arcadia student Two men were arrested last week after they allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a young student in Arcadia.
New Naples dining venue faces city scrutiny The local business venture at 1200 Central Ave. was the subject of more than three hours of discussion during the Sept. 4 meeting of City Council.
ESTERO Brotherly Bond: 2 FGCU soccer players display great synergy While born in different parts of Brazil, two Florida Gulf Coast University soccer players have developed a bond that cannot be easily broken.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms for your Thursday plans The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms this Thursday as a trough of low pressure lingers across the state.
WINK Investigates: Beattie Development in debt for more than $11 million dollars New documents also show help may be coming to homeowners who have paid the contractor hundreds of thousands of dollars and haven’t had their homes built.
cape coral Hand grenade found inside Cape Coral home The Cape Coral Police Department and LCSO bomb squad responded to the scene located on SW 38th Street, near Surfside Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon.
Lee County school superintendent candidates debate over hot button issues Candidates competing for the Lee County School Superintendent title faced off and discussed issues and possible solutions.
southwest florida Former State Senator pushes for state-wide animal abuse registry We are hearing from a former Florida Senator who says Erick Canoura could’ve been stopped before he came to Lee County.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Man breaks into mini-golf course A man has been arrested after he was caught on camera stripping and breaking into a minigolf course.
PUNTA GORDA Support local veterans with Pet for a Vet fundraiser It is a win-win for vets and soon-to-be pets. Our sister radio station, WINK 96-9, is hosting its annual Pet for a Vet fundraiser.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Laurel wilt: the fungus threatening Florida’s avocados The citrus industry has been feeling the squeeze here in Florida for a number of reasons, the most destructive one being a disease known as Laurel wilt.
Naples real estate impacted by Federal Reserve cuts It is a beautiful home on a nice, quiet street in Naples. Take a quick peak inside, and you’d assume it’d sell quickly. Well, think again.
Hip dysplasia’s effect on young people When you think of hip pain, you usually imagine middle-aged or older adults. However, children can suffer from it, too.
Photo by WINK News. Seven members of Lee County Sheriff’s Office are part of the Southwest Florida Regional Bomb Squad. The agency serves five counties in the state’s region. On Wednesday, WINK News got an exclusive look at bomb squad training with the LCSO squad members. “Not many people other than the military ever get to play with explosives,” said Sgt. Fred Mazzotta, a bomb squad technician. But for these seven members of LCSO, handling highly explosive material is just part of the job. “This is one of our favorite parts of the job to come out here and deal with the explosives and blow things up,” said Rick Errett, assistant bomb squad commander. This monthly training serves as a learning opportunity. “Because a simple mistake could cost your life or someone else’s life,” said Eric Stephens, bomb squad commander. The squad members get hands-on experience with materials that could kill. “Because that’s what we deal with, and we get to see the functionality of each explosive and how it affects things,” Errett said. To learn more about all that goes into handling explosives, WINK News participated in a training exercise to recover an unknown package inside a home. It’s a tedious and cautious method; add nearly 100 pounds of bomb squad equipment. It’s important to keep a level head. “You know, firsthand just how hard it is to kind of see through that tiny little window,” Mazzotta said. “And you have to be able to decipher through all that stuff for one thing. So you have to stay focused.” The approach to these types of situations is much different than an average first response by law enforcement. “We’re not rushing in to put a fire out,” Stephens said. “We’re slow, methodical, and we have to basically shut down and focus on what we could face inside there.” First, they send in a robot. Its camera scans the room for anything dangerous inside. Then, the bomb technicians take over. An x-ray machine shows an explosive inside the box. In some real-life scenarios, they’ll throw on site. “We stay focused, Mazzotta said. “We have a mission, and we have a plan, and we stay to that.”