Chaotic lake getting fence and securityStudents affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
FORT MYERS Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
FORT MYERS Could a Ferris wheel in downtown Fort Myers work? Right now, there are talks to bring a Ferris wheel to downtown Fort Myers, but several things are still up in the air.
LITTLE HICKORY BAY Improving ‘Hell’s Gate’ safety, a notoriously dangerous waterway for boaters A push to make an area known as “Hell’s Gate” safer since it’s a dangerous stretch of water with several blind corners within Little Hickory Bay.
Fixing failed back surgeries More than a million and a half people in the U.S. undergo back surgery each year. However, classic back surgery has one of the highest failure rates of any surgery.
WINK NEWS Getting an inside look at the FEMA discount controversy Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Ian has been difficult for many and moving on can impact our wallets.
FGCU FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff playing for hometown team after labrum injury FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff is living the dream playing for the hometown team after he overcame a labrum injury.
LEHIGH ACRES Frustrated Lehigh parents want action after violent school fights go viral online Violence at a Lehigh Acres Middle school was captured and posted online.
Turtle Club beachfront restaurant relaunches in Naples After a series of private friends and family events this week, The Turtle Club will reopen May 5 and begin taking reservations again May 6.
Jimmie The Beef Guy opens in Fort Myers Jimmie “The Beef Guy” Hart opened the first Jimmie The Beef Guy in 2021 on the southeast corner of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41.
LEHIGH ACRES Chaotic lake getting fence and security Now, with all the negative attention it has gotten, some think putting up a fence is a great way to keep that bad activity out.
FORT MYERS Students affected by COVID-19 able to graduate for the first time For many young people, COVID stripped away one of their greatest rites of passage: graduation.
Deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County Authorities are at the scene of a deadly crash on State Road 29 in Hendry County on Friday afternoon.
Celebrating Free Comic Book Day in SWFL JP Sports store manager Jonathan Powell said this is a generational event that brings families together to reminisce on comics and other hobby-related knickknacks.
FORT MYERS Group rescues dogs before getting put down in Lee County Our animal shelters are packed with amazing puppies who have the sole desire to be loved.
FORT MYERS FGCU student beats all odds and is able to graduate Nearly four years ago, Marisa Manning had her heart set on going to Florida Gulf Coast University but never thought she’d find her passion for studying parasites.
FORT MYERS Victim in MLK Blvd. shooting identified as social media influencer The victim of the Martin Luther King Boulevard shooting has been identified as a local social media influencer.
FORT MYERS Could a Ferris wheel in downtown Fort Myers work? Right now, there are talks to bring a Ferris wheel to downtown Fort Myers, but several things are still up in the air.
LITTLE HICKORY BAY Improving ‘Hell’s Gate’ safety, a notoriously dangerous waterway for boaters A push to make an area known as “Hell’s Gate” safer since it’s a dangerous stretch of water with several blind corners within Little Hickory Bay.
Fixing failed back surgeries More than a million and a half people in the U.S. undergo back surgery each year. However, classic back surgery has one of the highest failure rates of any surgery.
WINK NEWS Getting an inside look at the FEMA discount controversy Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Ian has been difficult for many and moving on can impact our wallets.
FGCU FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff playing for hometown team after labrum injury FGCU pitcher Dylan Wolff is living the dream playing for the hometown team after he overcame a labrum injury.
LEHIGH ACRES Frustrated Lehigh parents want action after violent school fights go viral online Violence at a Lehigh Acres Middle school was captured and posted online.
Turtle Club beachfront restaurant relaunches in Naples After a series of private friends and family events this week, The Turtle Club will reopen May 5 and begin taking reservations again May 6.
Jimmie The Beef Guy opens in Fort Myers Jimmie “The Beef Guy” Hart opened the first Jimmie The Beef Guy in 2021 on the southeast corner of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41.
A 400-acre brush fire swept through Lehigh Acres on Friday, April 21, 2017. A growing community means officials need more resources to keep you safe. But after voters said no to a tax increase, the Lehigh Acres Fire District now has a new plan. In April, a brush fire came dangerously close to Sheena Villard and her family’s Lehigh Acres home. “At the end of the day,” Villard said, “we all could’ve come home to absolutely nothing.” “It was terrifying,” said Cyania Telus, a Lehigh Acres resident, “because I thought it was going to come closer as it got bigger.” The fire only caused a power outage. Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District said to continue operating as is, it needs a 5.79% rate hike. The chief says they need to buy new equipment to keep up with the demands. Lehigh Acres is also the only fire department in the whole county that doesn’t have a separate ad valorem tax, which would cost homeowners even more. But the chief says their highest priority is to build a new fire station. They’ve already acquired the property, but it needs money to build and staff the station. They would need roughly $6.5 million to build and equip the new station and additional $1.8 million per year to staff it. Villard told WINK News they need the new station since everything is far in Lehigh Acres. To put that in perspective, Lehigh Acres services 120,000 people in 142 square miles. However, there are only five fire stations. While in Bonita Springs Fire District, there are roughly 51,000 people within 72 sq miles. Bonita Springs has seven fire stations. The North Collier Fire District helps 150,000 people within 265 sq miles and has 10 fire stations. In June, the Lehigh Acres Fire District was hoping to do a base fee of up to $165 per year, plus an additional charge based on the value of improvements to the property. Having a “maximum” cap of $165 allows them the flexibility to lower the base fee once they get the funds they need to catch up. Robert Dilallo, the Lehigh Acres Fire District chief, said this would have been a decrease for most homeowners. However, since that measure failed in the special election, the assessment rates will be going up for everyone. Starting Oct. 1, the new rates will go into effect. Vacant lot owners were paying around $22 this past year, but it will go up to $25. Homeowners will see their $317 fee increase to $335. The Lehigh Acres Fire Board voted Monday to bump up rates by nearly 6%, which is the max before it has to bring it back to a vote. Dilallo also tells us, going back to the voters next year is still not entirely off the table. For Villard, she wants more peace of mind before the next big fire threatens her home. “It only takes not even a couple of minutes for everything to be gone,” Villard said. “So between those couple of minutes, if they get here in a timely manner because they’re close, why not?”