CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hosts annual Holiday Boat-a-Long Families, residents, and businesses came out to enjoy Cape Coral’s annual Holiday Boat-a-Long and Christmas movie on Saturday.
FORT MYERS FGCU head volleyball coach steps down to coach UCF FGCU coach Matt Botsford announced that he is stepping down as head volleyball coach to join the University of Central Florida Knights.
FORT MYERS Top rated prospects shine in City of Palms Classic Year-after-year some of the top high school teams featuring many of the top players in the country compete in the Fort Myers Tournament.
Meals for Hope brings Southwest Florida together to fight hunger On Saturday morning, Meals for Hope held its annual Holidays Without Hunger event, aiming to ensure no one in Southwest Florida goes hungry during the holidays.
1 dead, 2 injured in four-vehicle crash on I-75 in Collier County A collision involving four vehicles on northbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 108 resulted in one fatality, minor injuries to two others, and a large paint spill.
Lee County woman’s home transforms into Santa’s Workshop for families in need One Lee County woman’s home has looked like Santa’s workshop since June.
Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overhead The Weather Authority says Saturday is the first day of the winter solstice, and it feels like it across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Kitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse At 12 pounds and 12 weeks old, this little kitty was snatched from her home and literally dragged through the unthinkable.
Losing loved ones in the line of duty; Community offers support to Diaz family Heartbreak over Sergeant Elio Diaz’s death consumed the Charlotte County community, after the fallen hero was laid to rest Friday.
CAPTIVA Impacts of hurricane season on fishing in SWFL Whipping winds and torrential downpours are all too common with hurricanes.
CAPE CORAL What to know before gifting pets this holiday season Gifting someone a pet for Christmas may sound like a good idea but not always. Animal experts remind us that owning an animal takes a big commitment.
NAPLES ‘Beverly’s Angels’ prepare holiday sacks for kids in need Beverly’s Angels in Naples is providing kids the essentials they need during the holiday season, and they got some help from high school students across Southwest Florida.
‘He was a phenomenal human being’: Woman says Elio Diaz inspired her to turn life around WINK News has shared stories about people greatly impacted by Deputy Sergeant Elio Diaz’s work. Now we hear from a woman whose life he affected for the better.
PUNTA GORDA ShorePoint Health in Punta Gorda to permanently close If people in Punta Gorda consider themselves patients of ShorePoint Hospital, they will have to look for an alternate place of healthcare.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District gives holiday candle safety tips Holiday celebrations are a few days away, and nothing sets the mood better than candles. This warning is best given before the holidays.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hosts annual Holiday Boat-a-Long Families, residents, and businesses came out to enjoy Cape Coral’s annual Holiday Boat-a-Long and Christmas movie on Saturday.
FORT MYERS FGCU head volleyball coach steps down to coach UCF FGCU coach Matt Botsford announced that he is stepping down as head volleyball coach to join the University of Central Florida Knights.
FORT MYERS Top rated prospects shine in City of Palms Classic Year-after-year some of the top high school teams featuring many of the top players in the country compete in the Fort Myers Tournament.
Meals for Hope brings Southwest Florida together to fight hunger On Saturday morning, Meals for Hope held its annual Holidays Without Hunger event, aiming to ensure no one in Southwest Florida goes hungry during the holidays.
1 dead, 2 injured in four-vehicle crash on I-75 in Collier County A collision involving four vehicles on northbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 108 resulted in one fatality, minor injuries to two others, and a large paint spill.
Lee County woman’s home transforms into Santa’s Workshop for families in need One Lee County woman’s home has looked like Santa’s workshop since June.
Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overhead The Weather Authority says Saturday is the first day of the winter solstice, and it feels like it across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Kitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse At 12 pounds and 12 weeks old, this little kitty was snatched from her home and literally dragged through the unthinkable.
Losing loved ones in the line of duty; Community offers support to Diaz family Heartbreak over Sergeant Elio Diaz’s death consumed the Charlotte County community, after the fallen hero was laid to rest Friday.
CAPTIVA Impacts of hurricane season on fishing in SWFL Whipping winds and torrential downpours are all too common with hurricanes.
CAPE CORAL What to know before gifting pets this holiday season Gifting someone a pet for Christmas may sound like a good idea but not always. Animal experts remind us that owning an animal takes a big commitment.
NAPLES ‘Beverly’s Angels’ prepare holiday sacks for kids in need Beverly’s Angels in Naples is providing kids the essentials they need during the holiday season, and they got some help from high school students across Southwest Florida.
‘He was a phenomenal human being’: Woman says Elio Diaz inspired her to turn life around WINK News has shared stories about people greatly impacted by Deputy Sergeant Elio Diaz’s work. Now we hear from a woman whose life he affected for the better.
PUNTA GORDA ShorePoint Health in Punta Gorda to permanently close If people in Punta Gorda consider themselves patients of ShorePoint Hospital, they will have to look for an alternate place of healthcare.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District gives holiday candle safety tips Holiday celebrations are a few days away, and nothing sets the mood better than candles. This warning is best given before the holidays.
Sign warning intruders the house has Xfinity Home Security. (Credit: WINK News) First-time homeowners are hit with a surprise bill. They said Cape Coral Police Dept. charged the for a false alarm on their new security system. Jessica Feickert moved to Cape Coral a few months ago with her 2-year-old son and fiance. It is their first home. For safety reasons, they got an alarm system with Xfinity. Feickert told WINK News the installer said she needed to register the alarm with Lee County. However, the company told her it would register for them. Turns out that did not happen. Cape Coral Police Dept. dispatcher answers the call for emergency services. (Credit: WINK News) The alarm went off while they were not home. Feickert told Xfinity to send police to the home. “It could’ve been life-threatening,” Feickert said. “Something could’ve been stolen.” The good news was that Cape Coral Police Dept. officers found nothing was wrong. But the bad news was a bill for $75 for not registering with the department. Sgt. Patrick O’Grady, from the CCPD, said if the home is registered then they know where it is within the city. “It shows that we have a contract with them,” Sgt. O’Grady added. Sgt. O’Grady told us CCPD officers respond to thousands of false alarms each year. The fine is designed to hold alarm owners accountable for false alarms. The registration allows them to get in contact with homeowners quicker. But that does not ease Feickert’s fears for the next time the alarm goes off. Now she worries about weighing the repercussions of an emergency that turns out to be a false alarm. “Do we pay the $75 for it to be a potential false alarm?” Feickert said. “Or do we just wait it out and hope that nothing was taken?” Xfinity response A spokesperson told us it had to be a miscommunication or the installer needs further training. Typically, it is the homeowners’ responsibility to register with the proper police agency. False alarm procedures for alarm systems and police agencies Xfinity: Call you first. Call all other contacts within about two minutes; then the police are notified if no one answers. ADT– Will call you and will only dispatch to the police if you answer. If not, it will try all other contacts. Within a minute to two minutes, then it will send the police. BRINK: Sends resident a text or email to hit a button to respond. No response in 45 seconds, then it will call the police. AT&T: Call you and other contacts first. Then, if no one answers, it dispatches police. VITEX: Sends an email and text alert to respond, too. If there is no response within a minute, it will contact the police. Ordinances Collier County New Collier policy: The county says, “the text or email of the false warning comes from the actual police department. When you get an alert or call when your alarm is going off, it is coming from the actual alarm system. (Usually, you have to download an app) That’s where you will get a call, text, or message. They used to do a written warning, so this is them trying to go paperless.” According to Collier County False Alarm Ordinance 2019-04, the fine schedule for false alarms occurring within 180 days is as follows: False alarm fine schedule: First false alarm response No fine Second false alarm response No fine if registered, $25 alarm fine if not registered, plus $25 registration fine Third and fourth false alarm response $75 false alarm fine Fifth and sixth false alarm response $100 false alarm fine Seventh and eighth false alarm response $150 false alarm fine Ninth and consecutive false alarm response $200 false alarm fine Naples First response is no charge; Second response within six months of a first response is $10.00; Third response within six months of a first response and each succeeding response within six months after the last response is $75.00. Charlotte County For the first two false activation, there is no fine. But, any additional false activation within a one-year period will result as follows: Third response is $35; Fourth response is $60; Fifth response is $85; Sixth response is a required court appearance. The Charlotte County Sheriff may impose and administrative fee not to exceed $10 in addition to the above described fines. Lee County First and second false alarms $25.00 each; however, if the alarm operator has a valid alarm permit, then there is no fine for the first false alarm; Third and fourth false alarms $50.00 each; Fifth and sixth false alarms $100.00 each; Seventh and eighth false alarms $200.00 each; Ninth and above false alarms $400.00 each. The additional fine for false alarms from a non-permitted alarm system or from an alarm system with a revoked permit is $200.00. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office may reduce this amount to $50.00 if the alarm system is permitted within 10 days of the false alarm. Fort Myers Registration fee is $25 Fees for registered burglar false alarm: First response is free; Second response is $50 or alarm school; Third response is $75; Fourth response is $100; Fifth response is $150; Six or more responses is $200. Fees for non registered burglar false alarm: First response is $50.00; Second response is $150.00; Third response is $175.00; Fourth response is $200.00; Fifth response is $250.00; Six or more responses is $300.00. Cape Coral Number of false alarms in 12 months and associated fine First incident is $25;* Second incident is $25;** Third incident is $50; Fourth incident is $50; Fifth incident is $100; Sixth incident is $100; Seventh incident is $200; Eight incident is $200; Ninth or more incidents are $400; Non-Permitted or alarms with revoked permits are $200 each incident. * Fine is waived for the 1st False Alarm for registered systems. ** There shall be no fine for the second false alarm If the alarm operator has a valid permit; and provides certification from a registered alarm contractor stating that the alarm operator received instruction regarding the proper operation and maintenance of the alarm system; and provides certification that the alarm contractor has inspected the offending alarm system and found it to be either free of defects or, if any defect has been found, that the alarm system has been repaired or replaced so that, if operated properly, the alarm system shall not falsely activate.