NAPLES Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s first Florida theater opens in Naples The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has now opened at the company’s first-ever Florida location at Mercato in Naples.
FORT MYERS Friday’s Furry Friends: Rhett, Tag For this week’s Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK visits the Gulf Coast Humane Society to showcase two adorable animals ready to be adopted.
WINK NEWS Recall issued for ground beef sold with possible E. coli at Walmart The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a recall for several ground beef products distributed from Pennsylvania to Walmart’s nationwide.
The Weather Authority Hotter and more humid this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mild Friday morning with dry afternoon conditions and isolated storms appearing in the evening.
PUNTA GORDA ‘Party’s Over’: Dirt biking ends at Barefoot Lake The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has made it clear, the party at Barefoot Lake is over.
ESTERO Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
NAPLES Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s first Florida theater opens in Naples The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has now opened at the company’s first-ever Florida location at Mercato in Naples.
FORT MYERS Friday’s Furry Friends: Rhett, Tag For this week’s Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK visits the Gulf Coast Humane Society to showcase two adorable animals ready to be adopted.
WINK NEWS Recall issued for ground beef sold with possible E. coli at Walmart The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a recall for several ground beef products distributed from Pennsylvania to Walmart’s nationwide.
The Weather Authority Hotter and more humid this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mild Friday morning with dry afternoon conditions and isolated storms appearing in the evening.
PUNTA GORDA ‘Party’s Over’: Dirt biking ends at Barefoot Lake The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has made it clear, the party at Barefoot Lake is over.
ESTERO Crews battle 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Adriel Rivero Another scary case of check fraud as Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies said a man tried to cash several checks that were not his. He was found with checks belonging to five different accounts. Bankers at First Florida Integrity Bank stopped Adriel Rivero, 21, from trying to commit fraud. Investigators said he tried to cash a check and claimed to be an employee of the company it was addressed to. “If it’s in somebody’s mind,” said Meerpohl, who worked in insurance and liability for the bank. “They’re going to try to attempt it and you just have to be vigilant to not let it happen.” When staff questioned it, Rivero left. “Bankers are under a tremendous amount of pressure,” Meerpohl said. “The face that they put forward to the public, when they can be confident and catch someone in the act or stop something before it escalates.” Meerpohl is a customer, but also used to do insurance work for the branch. He said staff go through extensive training to ensure their ability to stop criminals. “That’s why use a bank guaranteed by the federal government,” said Robert Earheart, a customer at the bank. But it did not end there. Rivero came back in with a different check. That is when police stepped in and found 14 other in an envelope in his car. All the checks found were traced back to different people and businesses in the Golden Gate City area. Investigators are working to find out exactly how Rivero got a hold of them. Additional deputies, along with detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit, responded to assist with the investigation. Rivero was arrested and booked into the jail on the felony charges. Detectives notified the U.S. Postal Service of the arrest. They also notified the owners of the recovered checks. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of checks being stolen from mailboxes in recent months. Often these checks are then washed with ink-removing chemicals and rewritten to a new payee for large amounts of money. CCSO offers following tips to help prevent becoming a victim of mail theft/check washing: Bank online. Refrain from mailing checks, cash, gift cards or other negotiable items if possible. Check with your bank’s online services as most offer secure and easy-to-use phone apps. If you must send a check in the mail, use a gel pen to write checks as ballpoint pen ink can be easily washed off a check. Drop off mail at the post office. Take mail containing checks directly to the post office counter to be mailed, and record the names of the postal employees who take the check in case an issue arises later on. Use plain white envelopes to mail checks. Do not use return envelopes with the utility logo or municipality for tax payments on them. These tend to be easy targets for thieves. Monitor bank activity. Check bank activity online and review bank statements as soon as they are received to check for discrepancies. See something, say something. Be sure to call 911 if you see any suspicious activity near any mailbox. Report the theft. If you have been a victim of mail theft, call the United States Postal Inspectors Service at 877-876-2455 and choose option 4.